Page 141 of The Robber Knight's Love
Well, if the Saracen got past those two, allthe better. That would leave the infidel for him.
Reuben's eyes moved on once more, finallylanding on the sight they had saved till last.
Ah!
The man was tall, almost as tall as Reuben.His stature, though, was completely different: slim and sinuous,with long limbs that moved in swift, graceful little movements ashe directed his horse this way and that. His face was slim, too,with high cheekbones and deep-set dark brown eyes: an aristocraticface. Reuben didn't let the slightly overbearing set of theknight's features mislead him, though. It was the way he moved thatmattered. And his grace and swiftness told Reuben this man had morethan enough reason to be proud of his skills.
He, too, was already in armor. But he didn'twear his helmet yet, so Reuben could see the darkness of hisskin—by no means as dark as that of the Saracen, but still hintingat years spent under a burning sun. The man met Reuben's eyes. Fora moment, their gazes locked. Then they disengaged again. Reubencould almost hear the slither of steel on steel.
He leaned sideways to the drinking knights.“Excuse me, Sir, but who is that?”
Theknight, who was even younger than Reuben, so young that he hadprobably only recently received his accolade,[61]followed Reuben's gaze. “That? You don't know who that is? Heavens,man, where have you been?”
“Until a few days ago, on a ship somewhere inthe Mediterranean.”
The young knight laughed joyfully. “Well,that explains it. That's Sir Tomasso di Zaragoza, the Sicilianchampion. Everybody says he's a wizard with the lance.” He pointedto the lance resting on the Sicilian knight's pack horse. It wasjust as long and slim as its owner. Reuben realized immediately youwould need enormous strength to hold it, but it would give you aninvaluable advantage against knights with shorter lances. Raisinghis bottle of wine, the young man winked at Reuben. “Supposedlyhe’s the best in the whole of Italy. I mean to find out if it'strue.”
Reuben doubted very much the inebriated youthwould last long enough in the jousting to have a chance to meetthis paragon. But he himself might. And he was looking forward toit very much.
By now, the Imperial procession, with thelong line of knights behind it, had almost reached the top of thehill on which the Royal Palace was situated. In front of them laythe castle courtyard, surrounded by high wooden stands. The crowd,which by now had lost most of its fear of the mighty elephant,surged in behind the procession to fill the stands and every otheravailable spot around the lists, the roped-off area in which theknights were to ride against each other.
A pursuivant[62]in a Hohenstaufen[63]surcoat, doubtless one ofthe apprentices of the herald Reuben had met before, stepped intothe middle of the courtyard and raised his hands.
The crowd quieted. The knights reined intheir horses. Only the Emperor and his company continued on, untilthey were arrayed behind the pursuivant. It was a majestic picture:the Emperor on his living gray throne, surrounded by his people,faced by his loyal knights.
Well, apart from the Saracen, who wasprobably hatching plans for an invasion. But, Reuben reflected, youcouldn't have everything, even as an emperor.
“Welcome!” the pursuivant called out.“Welcome in the name of his Majesty Friedrich II von Hohenstaufen,by God's grace elected Roman Emperor, exalted sovereign, at alltimes furtherer of the Realm and King in Sicily, Germany, andJerusalem. On this beautiful day and in the presence of our Lordwho ever blesses his Majesty the Emperor in all his endeavors, hisMajesty has ruled to hold a tournament in this royal city ofPalermo, at which all the loyal knights of the Empire may measuretheir skills against each other, and against travelers from faraway,” he gave a courteous bow to the Saracen and the two Poles,“so their arms might grow in strength and their swords ever staysharp in the defense of the Empire. And you, the people,” he added,opening his arms, “have been invited to behold your noble lords'strength, so you may know that you are protected and can sleepsafely at night.”
And, of course, it was also a splendidopportunity to revel and carouse. However, the herald didn'tmention that. Reuben knew that such things were rarely given as theofficial reasons for tournaments.
“Now, my lords, ladies, gentlemen, andcitizens of Palermo, while the Emperor takes a short rest from histravels, there will be music and song for your entertainment!” Thepursuivant pointed to the steps of the castle, where several bardshad taken up positions. The crowd roared their approval.“Meanwhile, will the noble knights please prepare for thefight...”
He left the sentence hanging in the air,promising, and the crowd roared again. Then the music beganplaying, and the pursuivant bowed to the knights, marching off thecourtyard, around the castle, and beckoning them to follow him.
Reuben, who had been patiently waiting allthe time, gave his horse the spurs and followed the other knightsaround to the back of the castle, where tents had been erected forall the warriors to change into their armor. Most of them availedthemselves of the courtesy. Reuben, however, already in his armor,simply got off his horse so as not to exhaust the animal and slowlywent through a series of simple exercises to warm and relax hismuscles. He wanted to be perfectly ready.
The other knights took their time. He had towait for about an hour before the first of them emerged from theirtents. With some of them, he suspected, the long time they tookpreparing for the fight might not be due to perfectionism, but tothe fact that they were too drunk to get the armor on correctly.Once they were all gathered in the back yard, it was evident toReuben that on several of the younger knights, their armor hungrather loosely and made rattling noises as they walked.
The two Poles, the Teutonic Knight, theSaracen, and the Sicilian, however, looked very well armed. Reubenfelt his analysis had been confirmed. These were the ones he wouldhave to watch out for.
Finally, they heard the music stop. From thefront of the palace, they heard the crowd’s renewed roar as thepalace doors swung open. No doubt the Emperor had just emerged totake his seat.
Only a moment later, the pursuivant appearedamong the gathered knights, bowing deeply. “Will the noble knightsplease mount up?” he asked. “The Emperor summons you. The time hasarrived.”
The Smashing of theWorld
Reuben swung himself into the saddle and had to workhard to suppress a cry of excitement. This was the moment he hadbeen waiting for! He was sure that the thrill was evident on hisface, but he didn't care. Let his opponents think that it was thesame boyish excitement as on the faces of the drunken youths whohad ridden up here to the castle with him. He would show them theirmistake soon enough.
Carefully, he placed his great helmet on hishead, but kept his visor open. He wanted to be able to see theglory he was riding towards. At a nudge, his horse started forward.Around him, the other knights had started riding in a slow trot,their lances held aloft and their surcoats fluttering in the freshbreeze coming up from the ocean. Reuben could feel the power ofchivalry all around him, the honor and tradition of this noblecontest of arms in which he was about to partake. He breathed indeeply, thinking that air had never smelled so sweetly before.
They followed the pursuivant along the backwall of the castle. The excited murmur of the crowd slowly becamelouder. At the corner of the castle, where an impressive stonetower rose into the sky, the pursuivant stopped and turned.
From around the corner, the herald Reuben hadmet a few days ago appeared, and he bowed to the assemblednobles.
Reuben reined in his horse, as did theothers.
“Will the noble knights please remain here?”the herald asked. “I shall call out your name one by one, and thenyou will each ride into the lists, ride once around the courtyard,greeting the Emperor, so all the people may know you and your coatof arms.”
