It was a dusty bowl of a field surrounded by great banks of lists, fairly well built. There was a royal box on the east side of the field, center line, and other boxes for the dozens of nobles that would view the games. The guide was not yet planted in the center of the field because the mêlée would come first and they needed the field clear. Marshals and pages ran to and fro across the field, preparing it, memorizing it, getting ready for the first round of the day. A surgeon and his helpers set up on the south side of the arena.
The tournament field was close to Hollyhock but Davyss brought his full complement of gear, tents and accessories to the arena. He wasn’t going to go home to rest in between bouts, instead choosing to have his tents and colors raised high for all to see. He was announcing the de Winters as loudly as he could, one of the most prominent families in the country and a name to be proud of. He was there to win.
Lady Katharine, surprisingly, had chosen to attend the games. When Davyss and his men returned from the tournament field after setting up, they were met at the door by Katharine, Lucy and Devereux.
Lady Katharine was dressed in her traditional black garments with traditional black wimple, while Lucy was dressedin a lovely red surcoat. Devereux looked stunning in the de Winter colors of black, gray and red. Lady Katharine had a surcoat and shift especially made for Devereux for this day and the results were spectacular. She looked delicious.
It was an effect not lost on Davyss. While Hugh escorted his mother to the carriage and Philip helped Lucy, Davyss went straight for his wife. He kissed her hands sweetly before kissing her cheeks.
“You are breathtaking,” he told her sincerely. “I shall be the envy of every man at the tournament.”
Devereux blushed prettily. “And I shall be the envy of every woman at the tournament,” she grinned impishly. “What a pair we make.”
He kissed her, leading her towards the carriage. “The happiest pair in all of London, I would wager.”
She smiled as he led her up to the elegant de Winter carriage and helped her inside. Her surcoat had quite a train on it and he tucked it into the carriage after her. With a wink to his wife, he shut the door and slapped his hand on the side of the carriage. It was the driver’s signal to depart. Davyss mounted his new Belgian charger, a great black beast with hairy fetlocks, and cantered after the carriage as it rumbled down the avenue.
After some morning fog, the day had bloomed surprisingly clear. The sky was brilliant blue with great cotton puff clouds skittering across it in the brisk breeze. Although there was some humidity, it wasn’t overbearing. Lucy had only to been to one tournament and her excitement was palpable; she kept pointing and jabbering about the knights, their ladies, and anything else that captured her interest. She wanted to eat custard and drink sweet wine. It was like being accompanied by a five year old with all of the chatter going on and Devereux just sat back and smiled. She was lovely and funny.
Lady Katharine, however, did not think so, and Lucy soon realized that the elder de Winter woman was growing annoyed with the constant conversation. About the time they reached Davyss’ encampment, Lucy had shut her mouth completely.
There were three tents raised; a large one and two smaller ones. The tents were made from very fine brocade in an elaborate black and gray pattern. On the door flap of the larger tent was a giant red de Winter dragon. There were soldiers guarding the area and several squires running about, young men that Devereux had seen traveling with her husband’s army. When the carriage came to a halt, Davyss suddenly appeared to help the women from the cab.
Lady Katharine exited first and went straight into Hugh’s capable hands. While he led his mother away, Lucy was handed over to Philip and Devereux was brought out last. Davyss took her straight into the large tent.
It was well appointed and comfortable inside. Devereux was properly awed by the opulence of the de Winters, as she always was. There was apparently no end to their money. Davyss sat her down on a small stool while he called two of the squires to help him dress.
His armor was on a stand in a corner of the tent and the two squires went about dressing him. Clad in linen breeches, a padded linen tunic and his heavy boots, he put his arms up as the squires placed the mail coat.
“The mêlée is first,” he told his wife. “That should go for the rest of morning. After the nooning break, the joust will commence.”
She cocked her head. “I have heard that the mêlée is to be outlawed. Is this true?”
He shrugged. “The Church is attempting to outlaw it. In years past, the mêlée could be quite violent. Men would be captured and held for ransom, much like real combat, and people tend toget carried away with the spirit of the thing. I have seen a few men fall to serious injury all in the name of sport.”
“But what of the mêlée today?” she wanted to know. “Will it be violent as well?”
He shook his head. “Men are not so voracious these days. It will be mock combat and nothing more.” He looked at her and shrugged in disappointment. “They pin flags on our backs, put clubs in our hands, and expect us to call it honorable combat.”
She thought on that a moment and, satisfied, moved on. “Do you know who you are competing against in the joust?” she asked as the squires pulled the mail hood over his head.
He shook his head and his shoulders, settling the heavy chain mail on his body. “Aye,” he grunted as the mail chaffed. “My first card is against Sir Paris de Norville, who rides for the Earl of Northumberland.”
“Do you know him?”
Davyss grinned. “I have known de Norville for many years,” he replied. “A more arrogant man you will never meet. I look forward to bragging rights when I plant him on his arse.”
“Do you not like him, then?”
Davyss laughed. “I like him a great deal,” he looked up and winked at her. “But I am still going to send him to the ground.”
Devereux smiled at her husband, who seemed truly devilish about the entire thing. She continued to watch as his squires suited him with other pieces of armor, including massively armored gloves. Davyss also had the advantage of having pieces of plate armor, which most knights did not have. These were newer measures of protection, expensive and heavy pieces of metal that covered his chest and arms. Over that, the squires draped him with his tunic bearing the de Winter coat of arms.
Davyss was a very large man, made larger by the mail and armor he wore. It was a truly intimidating sight. When he wasproperly and completely dressed, he turned to his wife with a smile.
“Are you ready for an amazing spectacle, my lady?” he asked.
She stood up from the stool, suppressing a smile at his enthusiasm. “I suppose,” she sighed dramatically. “But if you end up with bumps or cuts or your brains hanging out, I will not lift a finger to help you. Not one finger.”
