Page 36 of Chivalry in the Meadow
Across from him waited Sir Alaric, dressed in black and gold, his easy smile hidden behind the visor. He too was handsome, but not as handsome as Sir Cedric. He seemed so calm sitting there on his horse.
Both were quiet, being still.
In that quiet moment of waiting, Mia watched them and held her breath.
The charge which followed was like watching a storm break.
Sir Rowan’s lance struck first, but Sir Alaric twisted with inhuman grace, at the last moment, his counterblow catching SirRowan’s shield with such force that it sent him reeling in the saddle.
Gasps rose as Sir Rowan barely righted himself, before reaching the end of the tilt.
Mia caught a flicker of movement behind an oak near the lists. Something low and quick, darting between the roots.
What was that? Some kind of animal?
She heard Sir Alaric announced as the winner of this bout.
By the time the final pairing rode in, Sir Gareth in deep green, and Sir Elias, Sir Alaric’s ally, clad in bronze with a sunburst, Mia’s attention was split.
Lilly’s gaze sharpened at Sir Elias’s appearance.
There was something in the way he carried himself, as if the pomp of the tournament was a mask for something quieter.
Their pass was fierce, and the crowd gasped, as both lances splintered in perfect unison. Yet Mia couldn’t shake the image of shadows sliding, just beyond her sight.
There was some kind of animal out there, she could feel it.
She squinted to try to see better. She could almost see it.
If she looked long enough, maybe she would learn what it was. This felt important. And it was distracting her from the jousting. She was torn between the two.
The knights wheeled their mounts around, saluted one another, and then prepared for another round as fresh lances were handed up to the knights.
Between bouts, the knights rotated opponents, lances replaced with fresh ash poles as they prepared to battle again. Rivalries flared.
By the final rounds, the air was electric.
Shards of broken lances littered the lists. The men were clearly not going easy on each other, which built the excitement, and made the event seem even more real.
Sunlight flashed on steel, and the cries of the crowd rose to fever pitch as they cheered their favorites on.
Mia’s gaze, as she watched the knights, darted between Sir Cedric’s showman’s flair and Sir Alaric’s unshakable focus. At times, Mia could feel both their eyes on her, though neither looked directly her way, still she sensed their attention and awareness of her.
“Are you ladies enjoying yourselves,” Finn asked. He’d slipped next to his cousin and was holding a mug of what was likely beer.
“Yes!” Mia said. “It’s so exciting!”
“I’ve chosen a favorite,” Lilly said. “When do we bestow our favors?”
“Any time you choose,” Finn said. “I thought you might’ve done so, before the jousts.”
“We were running late,” Lilly said. “Mia had some excitement, but I’ll explain later.”
“Okay,” he said.
“I wonder when they’ll ask us for our favors,” Mia said.
Finn shook his head. “Knights donotask ladies for their favors. That wouldn’t be chivalrous. It’s for the lady to bestow, as she chooses. This is a matter of honor.”
