Prince Edward, meanwhile, became even more frustrated when his daughter refused to speak even to him. He had barely any time to devote to the matter as it was; even after so many years the Yuletide tournament preparations went far from smoothly, and this year was worse than most. Many knights and lords had heard the story of the lost daughter returning home, and announced their intention of attending the tournament in hopes of seeing her.
On top of that, he had received some troubling information regarding her original disappearance, suggesting that Lord Argent had been behind it from the beginning, and was once again intending to threaten the tiny princedom. In frustration, he sent out a second announcement, declaring that whomever could lift the princess’ melancholy would marry her and inherit the princedom besides.
He wasn’t entirely sure where he was going, having had never ventured out this far alone, and in this direction, and he wasn’t naive enough to ask for directions. So he tried to visualize what he could recall from the maps and textbooks he’d pored over upon coming to reside with the Hales, and he was certain that as long as the water remained on his left side, then he was more than likely heading in the right direction.
Soon, after what felt like weeks but was more than likely days, he finally reached his destination, and was astounded to stumble across what appeared to be a celebration of some sort, perhaps a tournament or a parade, and the panic set in. Just what was the cause for all of this? He prayed that it had nothing to do with Summer, for he was here to take her back home, if she wanted to come, of course.
The tournament wasn’t to officially begin for nearly a week, and already the town, castle, and surrounding lands were packed with knights and nobles, lords and princes attending, many of them hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive lost princess. Summer kept to her tower, and wore a veil and heavy cloak what few times she ventured out.
Among the throngs of folk were many knights of high renown — Boyd Strongarm and his lady Erica the Golden; Sir Scott and his boon companion Sir Stiles; the foreign swordmaster Kiran; blind Lord Deucalion, still a knight to be reckoned with; Sir Jordan of the Parish, whose lover was Lydia, the most beautiful woman in seven kingdoms; and Lady Allison the Huntress, a fey lady who claimed no land as her home but wandered freely with her father Sir Chris.