Daughters, Swords &Dragons

It was evaluation day the sun was up and smiling, the sky filled with soft happy clouds a promise of excellent weather everything even the colour of sky matched the flapping flags of Alcons dragon.

The day was perfect except the mood of the princesses were contrasting to the weather the queen of Alcon, normally the king was present but he was on his journey to Silverston weria was seated on the throne at the arena.

The present nobles cheered at their loudest and hardest, watching the princesses in their tents from the safety of the wooden bleacher.

They were slightly on the edge as their maids helped them into their armors.

Deyanira wasn't interested in participating at all unfortunately, it was compulsory "Must I do this, I have no interest in this sort of thing. I just want to sleep!"

Elfia deyanira's maid flicked her nose tip gently "Your highness this is your duty as princess you can't skip it."

Eris wrapped her blonde mane in a tight up knot her maids too startled to assist her "This is how professor Moontar likes to evaluate our physical progress."

"when other kingdoms wouldn't let their princesses touch horses or swing swords, then lock them away in a tower guarded by dragons for safety..." Valdis grumbled as they made their way to the central combat area.

Each of them taking their places between the lines opposite each other facing their opponents "We are made to summon the dragons and fight each other to the death on battle field."

Intoxicated by the thrill of the moment Moontar made the announcement "Presenting the princesses of Alcon, the tamer of beasts, warriors of Silverston and protectors of the six kingdoms. Today they joust using swords in an artistic combat of fencing, I hope you all enjoy it as the three best will be awarded a medal."

She raised three shining medals gold, silver and bronze the sun glinted off their edges in delight almost as blinding as moontar's grin "Mount!"

At her words serafelle and Valdis mounted their destriers, the handsome black beast powerful beneath their cuisse.

One reckless move and they might really die but that wasn't the point.

No one was to get hurt or cut in this match all they had to do was give a show of swords and unseat the other in other to win. "You exaggerate sister I'll go easy on you." Sera smirked.

Or so they thought, they unsheathed their swords the anger of the sun gleam off the fuller. "In the name of the emperor Vastus Roveriasazar! the lion of Silverston, the dragon of the six kingdoms and the ruler of the six kingdoms Begin!"

The trumpets sounded, dust filled the air as they spurred their horses into a gallop, grip of their swords burning into their gloved hands, their horses closed the gap with remarkable speed, the audience watched breathes stuck in their canals.

Swords meet swords with a fierce thunderous clash while maintaining control of the steeds skillfully. Serafelle takes the offensive parrying fiercely while Valdis counters her attack with equal strength and agility. "You've gotten better." sera remarked.

"You've gotten easier." Valdis smirked then regretted it as Serafelle circled her horse trying to look for an opening.

Making Valdis circle hers as well their horses maneuvering each other "Spoke too soon." she muttered under her breath.

Serafelle tried to gain the upper hand but Valdis is alert, quick and precise with her attack also aiming to gain the upper hand.

Their swift strikes aim to unseat the other, heavy breathes and chest heaved as they fought fiercely swords clashing in appreciation of the other.

"How have the girls been doing lately?" Queen Weria directed the question to Moontar who was deeply involved in the match.

Moontar watched as Serafelle feints to the right drawing Valdis into a vulnerable position "Deyanira is exceptional at everything, Neera is an outstanding talent, Emery has her specialties, Eris is probably going to be the next god of war, Valdis is excellent in anatomy and physiology, serafelle..."

Seizing the opportunity serafelle delivers a powerful Sway over Valdis's shield that glances off Valdis's shoulder armour, the crowd heaved.

The force nearly throwing Valdis off her horse but she recovers quickly regaining her balance then counter attacks with full force. "Serafelle is a bit talentless."

Queen weria clenched her jaw "How is that possible?"

An agitated sigh left Weria's parted lips "I believe she has a defect."

Weria threw her a scorching look "Are you saying my daughter is insane?" she whispered for fear others might hear.

"I wish it were not so your highness."

Serafelle and Valdis were seriously engaged in the match now, sweat dripping from their brows and hair sticking to their scalps "Give up?" sera offered.

Valdis spat "not a chance!" their swords struck in a series parries, the tension was so thick in arena that one could not slouch.

Sera swung her sword with years of swordsmanship and horsemanship landing a blow of the hilt of Valdis sword, sending it flying "I win." sera smirks everyone screams.

"It's best if we betrothed Valdis to the crown prince instead." Moontar suggested then announced "Serafelle is the winner!"

Emery and Eris match wasn't a battle in the first place, eris was a warrior with only two strikes of their sword she sent emery flying off her horse in a heartbeat. "This is an unfair match." emery grumbled.

This was however Deya's first year fencing the eight year old sat up straight mounted on the much stronger beast opposite her much more experienced twelve year old Neera.

Neera was strong she gave Sera a hard time last year, and came second after her.

She had an advantage of three years experience before deya, she was a prodigy. "It's your first time I'll be gentle."

Deyanira yawned "Please let's get this over with I need my beauty sleep."

A frustrated frown drew Neera's eyebrows together "Take this seriously deya this is a fight for honor."

Deya rolled her eyes "I don't care about honor, I just want to be a princess and wear my pretty skirts."

Disgust made Neera wrinkle her nose "How irritating."

Neera had the advantage in everything but deyanira was a monster.

As soon as they charged at each other deyanira flipped her sword using the pommel to slam against Neera's shield.

Neera fell straight off her horse the crowd was shocked, that broke sera's record of fastest jouster in Alcon.

"Incredible." Weria whispered as Moontar made her way to the area to present the medals.

"That's my baby!" Weira exclaimed in excitement.

"Gold goes to Deyanira! wonderful performance!" Moontar cheered.

Everyone was happy except sera "What so I get silver?"

Moontar placed the medal over the neck of the unexcited Sera "Deya gets first place because she broke your record sera no hard feelings."

"Yeah except that I'm first to lose." sera said bitterly throwing her helmet in anger.

"Sera you beat every single one of your sisters for so long can't deya have this moment?" Weria asked concerned placing a hand on her shoulder.

Weria took the silver from Moontar mouthing silent words through clenched teeth "My child is not a defect!"

Moontar realized she had pretended not to hear the conversation earlier.

Placing the medal over sera's neck she whispered "Gold is for winners but silver is for legends okay darling."

"Then bronze is what?" Neera asked Weria kissed her forehead.

She smiled "Bronze is for heroes now how about some dinner?"

"But the nobles?" Moontar protested and Weria gave her a look.

"Dinner now!" was all Weria said and her daughters followed behind her.

Moontar returned to the podium to pick up her notes, Prince Garth who sat there this whole time scoffed "They are angry at their prizes yet I do nothing but decorate a chair."

Moontar stood straight and did not stutter as she said her next words "Your duty is to be the next king of Alcon and serve the emperor." She placed a warm hand on his shoulder to encourage him.

Eris was fuming blonde hair flowing wildly as she gulped the contents of a bottle "Fourth?" she scoffed "I can tell you that sera and I, are on par in skill."

The maids helped them out of their armours and tended to their sores in the tent "Your highness this is but a mere test of strength and stamina in terms of magic Valdis, Emery and Deya have the most talent."

"So I'm still place fourth in magic?" Eris tried not to whine like a child.

A maid massaged Neera's shoulders "And I third as well, I hate it."

Professor Moontar's expression was closed "I don't think you all understand the purpose of today's test. You are not each other's competition and bringing each other down is not what I aim to teach you. You are not mere knights."

Sera relaxed as the heavy armour was taken off her "Then what was the lesson?"

"You are the princesses of Alcon the nations symbol of power! you represent each kingdom and will be it's defender and protector, it's secret weapon do you understand that? The sooner you do the harder you'll work. Your mission is to summon a dragon or at least a beast without that..." Moontar scolded harshly "You all have failed miserably."

The silence was so loud even their breathes were quiet.

"Its best if we don't tell sera about her defect." Weria, had told her, even the king had told her as well but sera would not be able to grow if she was controlled by the mere thought of imperfection.

Sera wiped her face with a wash cloth as Moontar thought of a way to motivate her "As for you sera you are weak with no extraordinary talent but you are the first Alcon. The first born blood of dragon, the first princess and I believe in you." with that she left their tent.

In Seras head all she thought as all her sisters left her in the shadows of the tent.

"I'm weak, I'm a defect, no talent?... ME?!"