Fallon came to his feet with fascination. “And a prince could participate alongside a common man?”
Owen nodded. “Precisely. The seats at this table would not be confined to those of noble blood. Some of the tests would be a trial of arms. But some would also be skills required of soldiers in battle, like climbing siege ladders or lifting heavy weights. As I said, each duchy will create their own. Within a few years’ time, we’ll have created a tradition that will strengthen and unify the people.”
“It’s bloody brilliant,” Iago said with a grin.
“It’s bloody dangerous,” Lady Evie countered, looking worriedly at her son.
“It is that, Madame,” the king said, walking over to her. “But so is war. And if we are going to be invaded by a stronger force, we will need to meet it with a generation of strong men. Owen will design the contest for the palace, the culmination achievement. And I think even Prince Elwis will be motivated to achieve a place at this table. Perhaps he will temper his resentment and desire for retribution in order to have the glory. I think many young men will do the same.” The king smiled kindly at Fallon.
Trynne felt the hot burn of ambition inside her own heart. She found herself speaking her thoughts aloud. “What about others participating?” she asked, looking at her father. “Could I compete as well?”
Fallon looked at her and snorted. “Of course not, Trynne. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Why is it ridiculous for me to wish to defend my own kingdom as you do?” she challenged. “Father, please! Cannot others be given a chance? The Maid of Donremy fought in battle alongside her men. She wore armor and carried that sword.” She stared at him imploringly, pointing at the blade belted at King Drew’s waist. The other women in the room were looking at her with concern. She knew she was being too passionate, but she could not help herself. If she started now, if she continued working with Captain Staeli . . .
“Trynne,” Genevieve said, rising from the bench. She came and put her hands on Trynne’s shoulders. “Your courage is commendable, but perhaps we should give this more thought. What king has ever summoned an army of women to fight in battles? It’s never been done to my knowledge.”
Trynne saw the looks of those around her and knew she’d lost. Genevieve was right. If she were to cross swords with Fallon, he would treat her differently because she was a girl. But if he didn’t know it?
She closed her mouth and nodded silently. Her eyes met her father’s.
He was looking at her shrewdly, probably trying to guess what she was thinking.
“It was just a silly notion, Father,” Trynne said demurely.
“I’ll say,” Fallon muttered under his breath, his dismissiveness making her burn with fury inside.
“You’ve always wanted to be a soldier,” Owen said with a knowing smile. “I pray to the Fountain that you will never have to be.”
As he said the words, she felt a little ripple from the Fountain.
Queen Genevieve spoke up next. “What will you call this challenge? Have you given it a name?”
Lord Owen nodded. “It will be called the Gauntlet.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Farewell Flowers
It was nearly time to return to Ploemeur, but Trynne was not ready to leave Kingfountain. She had been excited to attend Drew and Genevieve’s wedding for months. The fallout of everything that had happened—of everything that would happen—had irrevocably altered her. She could feel the difference in her thoughts, and even though the palace was the same as it had always been, it felt as if her childhood were dying before her eyes. And so, in an outward act of defiance, not yet willing to let go, she visited some of her old childhood haunts to soak up the memories that she would need to sustain her in the months ahead. In a way, it was like saying farewell to the past.
She had saved one of her favorite places in the world for last—the garden on the western portion of the grounds in the lower slope of the hill. Kingfountain’s palace was built atop the hill and surrounded by multiple defensive walls, each one filled with groves of trees, gardens, and the occasional fountain. She liked this one best because it was the location of the Espion porter door that her father had used to sneak to the sanctuary of Our Lady when he was a child. She had needled him to share the story with her repeatedly because it was his first memory of experiencing the power of the Fountain. He had learned that one of his gifts of the Fountain was the ability to resist the magic of others—just like Trynne could do.