Hugues had been occupied since awakening in polishing Ramsay’s armor, which had been packed in his baggage and no longer met with the squire’s approval. The lances had to be collected from Rufus’ armory, along with the higher saddle necessary for the joust. Ramsay checked them all thoroughly, alert for any deception, though he found none.
A barrier had been erected down the middle of the field in preparation for the joust, of which there would be three. Foudre had been outfitted with his mail caparisons, with the fabric caparisons overtop. The metal chamfron secured over his face. The saddle had been changed to a higher one to give Ramsay the right seat, and the reins changed to those of chain so they could not be cut. Well accustomed to these defenses, Foudre stood calmly.
At either end of the field, small tents from Rufus’ stores had been erected, their sides rolled up that the horses might be sheltered from the sun. Hugues brought water from the stream there for Foudre, although the destrier, like Ramsay himself, partook of little before the contest.
Ramsay had donned additional plate armor, abandoning his tabard and replacing his leather gauntlets with metal ones. His helm for the joust closed in the front to protect his face and there was a brace upon his shoulder for the lance. Since the battle was à outrance, they would battle to the death. The coronel head from the lance was removed, leaving only the sharp metal point.
Aye, and it was sharp. With force, it would penetrate chain mail, perhaps even puncture the plate armor.
The sun was warm for May, the skies clear overhead. The area designated for their battle was surrounded with spectators, both aristocrats and villagers. Lady and Lord Haynesdale had chairs brought from their tent to observe the spectacle, while others sat upon cloaks or straw pallets. There were even some recent arrivals of that morning who remained upon their horses, the better to improve their view.
Ramsay waited, mounted upon Foudre, at one end of the field as the sun reached its zenith. Rufus rode through the gates of Dunhaven on his destrier, slowing the horse to match the progress of Evangeline as she walked by his side. She looked pale to Ramsay, her gaze downcast, and he watched as Rufus saw her seated beside Lord and Lady Haynesdale. She wore a blue kirtle and her hair was braided back. Rufus waved to those gathered with confident ease, as if assured of victory, then turned to Ramsay. Ramsay was certain he felt a chill under his opponent’s scrutiny.
At Rufus’ gesture, Ramsay urged Foudre forward. The two knights bowed as one to the three on chairs, then nodded to each other, their manners formal.
“Lady Haynesdale,” Rufus said. “May I rely upon you to call the start?”
“Of course!”
Rufus gave Ramsay a glance. “I say my armorer will stand judge along with Lord Haynesdale.”
“I agree,” Ramsay said, although in truth, it mattered little. One of them would not leave the field and there was little to adjudicate over a corpse.
The armorer came to stand behind Evangeline, and Ramsay wondered whether he stood guard over the contest or the lady.
He was about to turn Foudre, when Evangeline stood up abruptly. “If you please?” she said, her tone so fierce that Ramsay could not imagine that any would deny her. Both he and Rufus remained motionless.
To his surprise, she was removing a length of silk from her waist. It seemed she had bound it above her girdle and he understood that she had planned this gesture. She did not so much as look at Rufus as she approached Ramsay, her gaze steady.
He lowered his lance, awed anew by her valor, and heard Rufus intake a sharp breath as she bound the length of silk around his lance.
She showed one and all that she favored him over her betrothed.
Ramsay knew Rufus would not let such an insult slide. He nodded to Evangeline, acknowledging her tribute, and could not entirely suppress a smile of satisfaction. Then he turned Foudre.
Each knight walked his horse to the end. Foudre had a little lift in his step, a sign that he welcomed the return to familiar tasks. Hugues ensured that the lance was securely settled in the brace, even as Evangeline’s token fluttered in the breeze. It was wrought of gold gossamer silk, delicate and sheer as a flower, and there could be no greater contrast between it and the weapon it graced.
The sound of Ramsay’s pulse was in his ears, and he was warm in his armor beneath the sun. This was the moment he always felt the finality of the competition. Once it began, it was simply a task to be completed, every thrust requiring a parry, every move of his opponent prompting him to speculate upon the rest. It became a calculation of probabilities, as natural to him as breathing.
But before the first call, he always wondered at the folly of it all.
What did he know of Rufus? That the man was unafraid to injure a steed. His opponent’s first assault would be upon Foudre.
Ramsay nodded that he was prepared. He saw Rufus nod similarly. Lady Haynesdale stood and lifted her arm, a scarf fluttering from her fingertips. It seemed no one breathed. Certainly no one made a sound.
Then she dropped her hand and shouted “Begin!”
* * *
Evangeline could not bearthe uncertainty of the contest. Though Ramsay seemed calm and resolute, Rufus was almost jubilant. She could not stifle her suspicion that her former betrothed meant to somehow tip the balance in his own favor.
She gripped her hands together in her lap as Lady Haynesdale stood and inhaled sharply when that lady made the call.
Foudre leapt forward even before Ramsay touched his spurs to the creature’s side, thundering along the barricade toward Rufus’ mount. The dapple stallion bowed his head in the last moment before the lances found their mark, a move that proved fortunate beyond all.
For in the same moment, Rufus suddenly dipped his lance tip toward the destrier’s face. The metal tip slid over the horse’s mail caparison and collided with the metal grieve protecting Ramsay’s thigh. At the same time, Ramsay’s lance struck Rufus so hard in the upper arm that he twisted to one side from the force of the blow.
Evangeline rose to her feet, outraged beyond all. Rufus had meant to injure the horse!
