Page 144 of The Robber Knight's Love
Reuben’s eyes narrowed in concentration.Could he throw the man off his horse in the first run? Probably.Wilhelm looked like a slightly tougher nut to crack than theknights Reuben was used to dealing with, but only slightly. Reubencould see that he was holding his lance too far back for an easymaneuver. Yes, he probably could unhorse him. The questionwas—should he?
The two contestants were only yards apartnow, racing towards each other. Reuben lowered his lance, fittingthe butt into his armpit. Then, he leisurely leaned back.
A second later, it hit him—the blow of SirWilhelm's lance, thudding against his shield and rocking himbackwards. But Reuben had received far worse in his time. Hisleaning back in the saddle had absorbed part of the blow, and hisshield had done the rest. The lance hadn't been aimed straightenough to do any real damage and had slid off the shield to theside.
So had his own lance, on Sir Wilhelm'sshield. But Reuben was not worried about that. He had achieved histrue aim. He had downplayed his own abilities in front of the otherknights, who, he knew, were watching closely, sizing up theirfuture opponents. He had performed his charade. Now for thekill.
At the end of the lists, Reuben whirled Ajaxaround. Sir Wilhelm was attempting the same with his unruly mountat the other end, but having considerably less luck with it. Reubenwaited. It would have been churlish to charge at an unpreparedopponent.
Finally, the black-bearded knight had turnedhis horse. Through the slits of his visor, Reuben could seeconfidence shining in the man's eyes. He was sure he was going towin.
Not wasting another moment, Reuben spurredAjax on. The huge black horse sprang forward, running even fasterthan before. Reuben held his lance upright and rock-steady. As hepassed the Emperor, Reuben thought, just for a moment, he saw aknowing smile on the sovereign's face. He rode on, ignoring it,ignoring the crowd, ignoring everything, his world narrowing downto a black tunnel, at the end of which was Sir Wilhelm vonRichtershalden.
Sir Wilhelm lowered his lance.
Reuben did not move his.
A worried whisper went up from the crowd.That foolish young knight would get himself speared if he didn'tmove! He had hardly managed to defend himself the first time, andnow... It looked like he was too stunned to lower his lance. Itlooked like it was already too late for him.
Suddenly, Reuben's lance swooped down in adeadly arc. From one moment to the next, the butt sat snugly underhis armpit, the lance was straight, and aimed true.
He leaned back, and braced himself.
He heard the crash, the cry, the gasps fromthe crowd, and smiled. Sir Wilhelm sailed out of his saddle andcrashed onto his back with the force of a sledgehammer. His shieldflew off his arm and clattered against the stands.
Taking a deep breath, Reuben took a look athis fallen enemy. Sir Wilhelm lay there, on the ground, dazed.
Reuben unfastened the leather strips whichheld his helmet in place and pulled it off his head, shaking outhis longish black hair. There was an audible “Awww” from the ladiesamong the spectators. Most of them looked at least as dazed as SirWilhelm. The strong jaw, the fiery gray eyes above highcheekbones... They hadn’t expected this! From the young knight'slarge proportions, most of them had been expecting some kind ofugly giant underneath that helmet. As soon as their error wasrevealed, the eyes of the ladies wandered over Reuben's impressivephysique with an entirely new appreciation.
Sir Wilhelm, however, did not seem to sharethat appreciation. He glowered up at Reuben with all the force hecould muster. It wasn't very much. He was still a littlecross-eyed.
“You...” he mumbled.
Reuben drove his horse forward until it cameto a stop beside the fallen knight. Dust welled up from the hoofsand drifted over Sir Wilhelm, staining his surcoat brown.
“Be careful what you say, Sir Knight,” Reubensaid, casually. “We have had a disagreement, but we have fought itout as behooves true knights.”
The audience exchanged looks, and the ladiesstuck their heads together to whisper. What was this? Theravishingly handsome young stranger and that disagreeable oldfellow—well, he was only thirty or so but you had to admit helooked old in comparison with the beautiful stranger—had had adisagreement? A fight, even? What had it been about? Had it beenabout the old one's daughter? Was the young knight in love withher? What a pity that would be...
All around the ladies nodded energetically.Yes, what a pity.
But if the young knight was in love, he wouldbe wearing a token of his lady's favor. A hundred eager female eyesdissected Reuben for any piece of clothing or trinket that mighthave originated from a lady. A satisfied sigh went up as they foundnone.
So, he was still available!
While the ladies thus made carefulobservations, Sir Wilhelm, still on the ground, was apparentlytrying to grind his teeth into dust. The angry grinding noiseseemed to irritate Reuben's horse, and it stamped a hoof downinches from Sir Wilhelm's head.
“And now,” Reuben continued, “that we havefought out our disagreement, and I have won, you know what mustcome next.”
The grinding noise intensified. Sir Wilhelmdidn't look as if he were about to open his mouth. He started tosit up.
Quick as a snake, Reuben slid out of thesaddle. His sword appeared in his hand and stopped Sir Wilhelm inmid-movement.
“I'm afraid,” Reuben said gently, “that Imust insist.”
The entire audience held their breath. Onedidn't get to see such a spectacle every day. Tournaments were onething, but this... Would there be blood on the courtyard soon? Theexpressions in the audience ranged from eager, to frightened, toconcerned, but no one dreamed of interfering. This was a matter ofchivalry.
“Perhaps,” Reuben suggested, “you can't findthe right words. How about this: 'I most humbly apologize for theunjust insult done to you in regard to your noble parentage andswear on my honor as a knight that I shall refrain from arepetition of such unchivalrous behavior in the future.'”
