[color=ffd11a][h2][center][b][u]Nalashira[/u][/b][/center][/h2][/color]

Despite having camped nearly forty miles away from Andale Tower, Nala had already reached the miles of plains outside the walls of the town surrounding the imposing castle by the time the sun was a quarter through its path. She had taken her time, enjoying the walk through the forest even though it was similar to almost all others she had been in since leaving Elir Nazik. The sight of wondrous oaks full of green leaves and elms with their many branches never ceased to amaze the young girl. Her eyes up to the sky, she let her feet guide her wherever they felt and took no path made by hunters or loggers nor walking the road which split through the trees. Nala had watched squirrels and deer, boars and even a bear, as she walked her own path. 

She couldn’t help but feel a deep thrumming whenever she looked at a single thing for too long, as if she could feel the very life force within it pulsing. She shook the feeling off and went about walking with a smile. With the plains now in front of her, Nala knew that she’d no longer get to enjoy the trees but was greeted by a cool breeze which brought awe to her eyes once more as the tall grasses and wheat from farms waved with it as if in greeting to her. She eagerly found the muddy path leading towards the sprawling town and walked it, singing a light tune from her homeland. Her accent adding to its beauty in its own way as she walked, musing that the day felt far better than those in the past few had. She had forgotten all about the dream by the time she made it to the gates leading into Andale. 

Gathered around the gates were masses of people and caravans full of trade goods, their owners looking disgruntled as shouting went on further in. Men and women were yelling, some screaming profanities while other pleaded with them for entrance. It became clear to Nala that the gates had seemingly been closed to the public, a select few being allowed in should they be deemed worthy. She knew not what was going on within the town to cause such a decision to have been made so as to stop traders from entering, but it only peaked her interest even more about the town as she drew closer to the gates and guards. The men clad in near perfectly maintained armor and wielding spears, swords at their hips, kept shouting at the crowd. [b]”Stay back you idiots! We told ya you can’t enter. Not unless you are here to compete,”[/b] shouted a stocky guard as he shoved back a man who attempted to run past.

Nala tilted her head to the side and advanced closer to the guards, calmly looking at the one who spoke with a smile. [color=ffd11a]”What are they to compete for, sir? Is it some kind of, how you people call it, a joust? Or is it a knight’s festival of a kind?”[/color] Her crystalline voice shocked the guard, though he took a few minutes to adjust to her accent and comprehend just what she said. The crowd feel back with disgruntled mumbling, leaving Nala alone with but a few stragglers and the guards. The guard cleared his throat and readied to speak, only to be interrupted by the other, an older man who was quite tall and thin but obviously was more than capable for his position.

[b]”Young lady, it is indeed a tournament of a sorts. Our Lord’s son tis gettin’ married in a week and all who are capable are allowed into town, but we are to keep all merchants out because we’ve almost started to overflow with people. I’m sure a fine youngin’ like you wouldn’t be interested in any of it so it is best to scamper off now,”[/b] he said, trying to be gentle and careful with his words as he noted the swords on Nala’s hips. Nala tilted her head at him and smiled brightly at him in such a fashion that he took a step back as if stunned.

[color=ffd11a]”I imagine this… tournament would provide a fair amount of gold to those who win, yes? If so, I wish to enter the town to try my hand. It has been long since I’ve done proper training for a fight,”[/color] she said with such a sweet smile that the man simply stepped away from the road and went into the guardhouse, opening the gates with the small crank within. Nala smiled and nodded in thanks to the guard as he walked back out before advancing forward. She walked past the gate and looked up at the blue sky with white clouds. What an interesting place she had found herself in this time.