The crowd rumbled under the heat of the sun. It was midday, so the heat had only begun to reach its peak. The courtyard around the gray brick castle was filled with the residents of Horizon District, which was the capital of Ashland. All the citizens were waiting to see the Queen of Ashland’s announcement. The future of the kingdom starts with the queen’s announcement. Every district would be watching the queen’s speech since broadcast technology had been revived about twenty years ago. It felt like the kingdom was finally past the survival and rebuilding stage. Ashland was a full country that traded with the other countries along the Sea of Davina and the Navian Strait. It was an exciting time to be alive.
“Are you sure about this, your majesty?” General Lloyd Brown of the Ashland Armed Forces asked the queen. He looked over the queen with great concern. King Philip’s murder was never caught, and no one knew why the king and queen were attacked that night. He worried the queen’s life was in danger. General Brown had just returned last night from collecting all the candidates for the Queen’s Challenge from each district.
The queen appreciated the General’s concern. He has been her closest adviser this past year and a dear friend. Sometimes she wished she could confide in him completely, but even a queen has secrets she won’t share with others. She took his hand in hers, so he could escort her to the balcony. “Lloyd, you worry too much. This is the beginning of a new future for our kingdom. It wouldn’t kill you to smile.” She grinned at him, causing him to blush slightly and give her a small smile. “Better. Much better.” She wrapped her arm around the general’s arm. “Let’s get the festivities going!”
General Brown escorted the queen onto the grand balcony. Cheers blocked out all other sounds as they waved and walked toward the podium. Several guards were posted across the balcony, which eased the general’s worries a bit, but all the cameras made him nervous for the queen. Almost all Ashlanders would be watching the start of the Queen’s Challenge today. He left the queen at the podium and stood behind the queen to her right. He prayed to the Creator that today would go well.
Queen Reia Ash stood on the balcony of the Mortar Palace looking down at the sea of citizens below. The crowd was worked up into a roaring cheer that still gave the old queen goosebumps. The people of the capital were dressed in their best dresses and slacks although the sun was bearing down on the crowd, causing everyone a sticky and sweaty discomfort. The sun had risen to its peak only thirty minutes ago, which meant there was no end in sight. Queen Reia hated having her people suffer from the summer heat, but the time had come to announce the candidates of the Queen''s Challenge. She stepped toward the podium on the large, stage-like balcony to begin the first royal speech broadcasted to all the districts of Ashland at once. Queen Reia straightened her maroon gown with princess collared, beaded bodice with sheer beaded sleeves that flowed into a pleated, A-line skirt. Rushing over, her personal maid, Helen, fixed a misplaced hair of her strawberry blonde haired braid and straightened the black plated and diamond encrusted tiara. Minister Guy Gordan called for attention and cued the queen that the broadcast was now live. Cameras focused on the queen as she smiled at her citizens beneath the balcony.
“The passing of King Philip Ash, my beloved husband, has taken its toll on me as a wife and the entire kingdom. If Philip was here with us, he would be overjoyed by the journey our kingdom is about to embark on. Please, take pride in knowing that Philip will be smiling down on our kingdom as he watches from the Creator’s Paradise.” An image of her beloved husband flashed through her mind. Her smile diminished for only a moment as she refocused on the cameras. “Today, Ashlanders, marks yet another benchmark of success for our great kingdom. Today, I will finally announce the candidates each of the twelve districts voted for to enter the Queen''s Challenge!”
Queen Reia paused as the clatter of the crowd consumed the air around. She signaled for the crowd to quiet as she began to speak. “The Queen''s Challenge is a competition that will decide my successor since Philip and I were unable to give Ashland an heir.” Queen Reia took a deep breath. “The Queen''s Challenge will have the candidates face trials that will help us find the best progenitor of a new dynasty for Ashland! The three left standing at the end of the trials will become the princesses of Ashland, and then face off in a final election, which will be decided by the people of Ashland. The king and I had planned to find an heir to our great kingdom together, but together, Ashlanders, we will find an heir worthy of our great kingdom. A true daughter of Ashland will continue to nurture our kingdom into the next era for Ashland.”
Another eruption of cheers, forces the queen to pause her speech. Excitement hummed in the air. The queen glanced back at the balcony doors where the girls were waiting to be announced. These young women appeared nervous as a whole as Hellen, the queen’s maid, tried to calm the candidates.
“Please welcome the Queen’s Challenge candidates as I present them to you all.” The queen gestured to her maid to open the dark blue curtain nestled between a pair of double doors. A camera focused on the curtain as it opened revealing the first young woman in a yellow gown like the golden meadows of her district. Her voluminous, golden brown hair was in tight little ringlets, which framed her sharp cheekbones and soft violet eyes. “Amity Bellrose of District Golden Meadows.” Amity walked forward and took her place on the far right of the balcony just like the women had practiced before dawn this morning.
“Tylee Jones of District Foundry,” the queen called out, and the next woman walked out from the opening in a black gown with silver scrolling details. Her gray eyes sparkled against her dark brown hair, which was tied back into a long ponytail. Tylee holds her head up high, but her walk was masculine in the way she moved. The queen called, “Erina Drake of District Black Bear Cliff.” A long faint scar ran over the left green eye and captured the attention of the camera as the next candidate strolled out of the double doors. Her gold, wavy hair was tied back at the top while the bottom fell loosely to her shoulders. Her green gown matches the color of the deep forests of her district. Something about her seemed wild as she settled into her place next to Tylee.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
“Roisin Castile of District Elder Tree,” the queen continued her list. A small red headed woman stepped out of the opening. Her light blue dress made her sky blue eyes stand out more against her braided red hair. She was the shortest woman to be presented so far. “Vestra Fairchild of District White Sands,” the crowd began to whisper as the next young lady stepped out onto the balcony. Vestra was one of the more mysterious candidates in the bunch because she looked nearly identical to the Minister of White Sands’ daughter. From her straight, thick, black hair to her deep indigo eyes to her golden tan skin, there wasn’t much difference between her and the Minister’s daughter. The similar appearance was nearly scandalous due to the rule against nobles competing in the Queen’s Challenge.
The queen didn’t wait for the crowd to react to Vestra, and quickly moved on to, “Orianna Lyncaster of District West Wind.” Orianna walked out with grace as she entered on to the balcony. Her dark blue hair was tied into two long pigtails warped in golden bands. She wore a light pink gown, which complimented her pale skin. Her eyes were gold like the bands in her hair. “Pippa Dollyn of District Buffalo Plains,” the queen did her best to keep the girls moving. Pippa had freckles as plentiful as the stars of the night sky. Her eyes were brown like the oak wood of the balcony, and her hair was a dark plum pulled back into two braided buns at the base of her neck. Pippa wore a dark blue gown with gold stitching, making it the more expensive of the gowns seen on the candidates.
“Kezia Ballister of District Rivercreek,” another name rolled off the queen’s tongue. An olive complected woman walked onto the balcony. She was the tallest woman among the group thus far as her brown and gold gown only reached her ankles instead of the ground. Her sapphire eyes and curly, golden brown made her naturally sharp features soften. Kezia settled next to Pippa in the line up.
The queen began again, “Suki Karin of District Port Saya.” Suki shuffled out of the double doors in a lavender gown with pink flowers stenciled over it. Her raven black hair was pinned back into a dramatic hairstyle with elegant loops with a lotus flower hair comb at the top. Her jade green eyes contrasted with her fair skin. She looked the most elegant among the women. “Aziza Bane of District Toba Peaks,” the queen repositioned herself at the podium. Aziza waltzes onto the balcony in a pink gown with white embellishments, making her the brightest woman in the bunch of girls. She had auburn hair tied back with a pink bow matching her gown. Her dark brown eyes and dark complexion complimented the color pallet.
“Lucina Augusta of District Violet Isles,” her majesty kept her face even as she waited for the girl to come out. Her bright blonde hair was short like the fabled pixies of old. Her medium blue eyes were complimented by her dimples. She wore a violet dress with cream scrolling on the bodice. The young woman joined the others as the group waited for the last candidate. A sigh of relief left her majesty as she said, “and Zoelle Orleans of District Horizon.” A thunder of cheers erupted from the crowd below as a girl with hazel eyes and dark strawberry, gold hair wrapped into a tight bun and layered bangs framing her face walked onto the balcony. Her dress was red and black with a corset type bodice. Zoelle was a crowd favorite because she was the daughter of a captain in the royal guard, making her not quite a noble but very well known in Horizon. The queen had paused to allow the cameras to get close ups on the young women on the balcony and for the crowd below.
“Welcome candidates, one and all!” A new voice came out from the double doors. The cameras zoomed in on a raven haired man, wearing a silver suit with a glittery maroon tie that matched the queen’s dress.
“Well, if it isn’t Jaden Dee, Horizon’s TV personality,” the queen said. She knew Jaden Dee was going to make an appearance once the girls had been presented. Jaden Dee had offered to host the Queen’s Challenge at one of the queen’s charity events last month. Honestly, she didn’t think much of Jaden Dee, but he was a nice addition to the televised event.
Jaden Dee approached her highness, and extended his hand out to the beautiful queen. Queen Reia accepted his hand begrudgingly. “It’s an honor to work with you, your majesty!” He kissed her hand and let it go.
Queen Reia didn’t let her smile falter, but there was something very fake about that man, which made her insides crawl. Fifty-two years of life on this planet, and she has been surrounded by fake people like Jaden Dee since she was born. People always kiss up to the crown even though the royal family could potentially lose its power at the election every decade. Her family has been in power for over a hundred years now, which was why Queen Reia was determined to complete the Queen’s Challenge for her people. Anything else she might get out of this competition was a bonus.
“Ashland, your candidates have been announced, the host of the Queen’s Challenge has appeared, but we are still missing two things! The judges of the challenge and what’s next for the candidates! Queen Reia, please enlighten us on the events to come.” Jaden Dee gestured to the queen to speak.
“Ah, yes. I am the first of the four judges. Then, there is Duke Byron Yates of Navien, the younger brother of King Edmund Yates of Navien. Oceana Taylor, the President of New Horizons University, and of course, the ambassador to the Kingdom of Quillian, Wazzly Higgins of District Foundry.” The queen revealed to an excitedly astonished crowd. The candidates all had stunned looks on their faces. No one expected royalty from another kingdom to get involved.
“What an amazing panel our queen has put together for a once in a lifetime competition! I am sure the events and trials will be as unexpected as the panel evaluating the candidates.” Jaden Dee encouraged the queen to explain more.
“The first event will be in two days'' time. We are awaiting all of the judges to arrive at the palace for the events.” Queen Reia answered.
“You heard it here, Ashlanders! The Queen’s Challenge starts in two days after the event. We will be saying goodbye to our first candidate at the end of the first trial until only three remain for the final vote.” Jaden Dee flashed his white teeth at the camera, but when he looked back at the podium, the queen was gone. “Queen Reia…”
Crash!
The podium blew up into tiny glass pieces that blasted the entire balcony. The people on the balcony were pelted with shards of glass. One the guards called for a medical team and an arson specialist to the scene. Panic and confusion reigned over everyone on the balcony. Some of the women were crying, and the guards were scattering around to gain control of the situation. Jaden Dee stared at the chaos as the crowd roared below into a stampede when someone moved out from behind a large, stone griffin statue.