Word Count: 54,021
Summary of Events:
Alina watched the dressage portion of the horsemanship competition with great interest, even if she didn't entirely understand how dressage in particular worked. Éoin, having won the dressage and show-jumping portions, rode the gruelling cross-country course and — much to his surprise — came in first place, leaving him with just the flat race and a chance to get first place in all the events, which had never happened before in the history of the competition. Having been informed of the results of the cross-country race, Alina waited at Carey Derwent for the flat race to start . . .
Excerpt of the Day:
The sound of a cannon firing made Alina jump. No one else around her seemed all that startled, so she guessed it was the cannon firing to indicate the start of the flat race.
After a few minutes High Lady Enid rose. Alina got to her feet and followed the Viceregal Family as they walked to the gates of Carey Derwent to await the winner of the competition tearing through the paper banner that had been stretched across the line.
Alina leaned forward to see if she could tell who was winning. They were too far away yet to be identified, but they were moving fast, all of them crowded into a long line that wasn't as wide as the pathway they'd been given between the crowds.
It didn't take all that long before the horses — and the roar of the crowd — got closer. The riders were all hunched over their horses' backs and necks as their horses stretched out and dug into the ground to launch themselves further and further.
As they got closer Alina recognised the lead horse. It was Viceroy Magnys astride his mare Gweneira, not that she looked very grey anymore; sweat had darkened her coat to a sleek charcoal colour as she flew across the ground.
Another horse moved out to look abreast of Viceroy Magnys' horse and challenge for the lead in the race. Alina's heart pounded with anxiety. Her angle didn't allow her to be able to tell who was in the lead or how quickly the opponents were gaining.
The two men holding the paper tightened it as the horses charged closer to the banner, their manes flying behind them like standards, their bodies stretched out as long as they possibly could be.
It looked as if the two horses were side by side coming in close, but then it suddenly looked like Viceroy Magnys' lines were flapping more loosely and his mare surged ahead, bending her head down to push it through the paper first.
Alina clapped her hands and joined in the cheering as Viceroy Magnys straightened and set back in his seat to gradually slow his mare down, as did every other rider who crossed the line.
Following the lead of High Lady Enid, Alina started back toward where they'd sat and waited. Viceroy Magnys soon rode in, followed by a cheering throng. He reined his mare to a stop in front of them and nodded deeply.
High Lady Enid then rose and took up the larger ribbon sash, which she tied about the mare's neck. She then put the smaller ribbon sash over her son's shoulder. Once that was done she sat down.
Alina rose to her feet and took up the smaller chalice that indicated he'd won the flat race and gave it to him. He would be presented with the larger winner's chalice once all the other presentations for first and last competitions, among other things, were handed out.
Pronunciations:
Enid: eenihd
Gweneira: g'wehn'ayerah
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