It went on and on, just as Vietta had said it would. There was no one central place of action to watch; it was, literally, everywhere. About a half hour into it, one of the men on the ground had managed to regain his feet and took off running. This was a highly illegal move in the competition. Two knights on horseback chased the man down and carried him, between them, back to the sidelines where squires and soldiers were watching over the captives. Humiliated, the knight was forced to sit with other downed knights in a collective group of shame.
Knights on horseback went after each other, too. If one was unseated, the horse could be kept as a prize by the man who unseated him. Annavieve’s attention was riveted to Kevin even though Adonis and Thomas were also still seated, as was Gorsedd, but Kevin seemed to be attracting the most attention. Already, he had unseated three knights and those horses were now tethered over near the east side of the lists along with Kevin’s six prisoners. Four Dorset soldiers and a tall, well-built youth were watching over the booty. The youth, however, seemed to be very involved in what Kevin was doing.
Competitors were allowed three weapons– if one was dropped, they were not allowed to pick it back up again. They had to use a spare. So far, Kevin had only dropped one club and the tall youth had provided him with another one. He still had that one, clubbing another man, who was still standing and fighting, with it and then reaching down and grabbing him by the neck. He proceeded to drag that man over to his group of captives. The youth would stay just out of the fighting but he was following Kevin’s every move. Every time Kevin captured a manor a horse, the youth was right there to take it from him. The teamwork was rather good.
In all, it was quite impressive to watch. Kevin had the great ability to command the horse with pressure from his knees whilst wielding the club in his right hand, skillfully smashing men on the shoulder or neck, avoiding the head, to send them falling. William and Victor had been watching both Dorset and Salisbury men alternately, crowing with delight over a well-clubbed victim and then clapping with victory when the victim was hauled away. Victor made sure to point out that his men, including the victims of Thomas and Adonis, had fourteen men captured, which was a massive haul. They also had six horses as prizes. Salisbury, with Gorsedd and two lesser knights in the fray, could only claim seven captives and two horses.
Victor had the boasting rights, at least at the moment. The event went on for at least two more hours and, at that point, the only men left were those that were very mean and very tough. Annavieve, long having since grown bored with the skirmish, had taken to playing a card game with Vietta, who had brought a beautifully painted deck. Having been to many of these affairs, she knew that boredom, for the ladies, set in fairly quickly. The men were still very involved with what was going on but most of the women wished they were elsewhere.
“I am famished,” Vietta finally said after they finished their sixth game of Bone Aces, a game where they would collect cards that would not go over the number thirty-one. “Are you hungry, my lady?”
Annavieve had been fascinated with the cards. She’d never played card games before and Vietta was more than happy to teach her. Still, she sat, examining the beautifully painted cards.
“A little,” she admitted.
Vietta turned around, eyeing her father a few seats away. A big blond man with a beard, he’d been yelling encouragement tohis son for the entire game. Fortunately, his son was still seated, so Hereford’s honor was still intact.
“I will see if my father will allow us to find a food vendor,” Vietta said. “Wait here.”
Annavieve did. Cards still in hand, she watched as Vietta went to her father and, using every father-daughter ploy she could think of, coerced the man into allowing her to leave the lists in search of food. Annavieve thought that was the end of it but as she watched, something surprising happened; begrudgingly, and with an unhappy glance at his daughter, the earl stood up and walked to the edge of the box. Facing Salisbury and Dorset now, he addressed them.
“Lord de Ferrers,” he said in a deep, pleasant voice. “I would like to seek permission on behalf of my daughter for your wife to accompany her into the town. It would seem that the ladies are hungry and wish to find something to eat. I will send a contingent of ten men with them as well as my daughter’s nurse, if you will allow it. The duchess will be well protected.”
Surprised, Annavieve looked at Victor, who seemed frustrated that he had been distracted from Kevin’s domination of the game. He glanced at Annavieve before looking to de Lohr.
“Greetings, de Lohr,” he said, sounding impatient as he ignored the question. “Your son seems to be holding his own in a sea of predators.”
De Lohr nodded proudly. “He is a strong lad,” he replied. “I have every confidence in him.”
Victor grinned smugly. “Not against my knights,” he said, wagging his finger at the man. “You will soon owe them a great deal of money.”
He meant when they captured de Lohr’s son. But the earl simply grinned. “We shall see,” he said. “Now, about the food, may my daughter have the pleasure of your wife’s company?”
Victor frowned, once again forced to think on his unwanted wife. “Food?” he repeated. “Now?”
De Lohr laughed softly. “I am afraid the ladies are not as excited about the competition as we are.”
Victor waved his hand irritably at de Lohr. “Take her, then,” he said. “I will hear no more about her.”
It was a curt reply. William, watching the exchange, sought to make up for the impolite duke. “That is quite thoughtful of you, Myles,” he said, addressing de Lohr as Victor turned away. “Forgive me for not yet extending my greetings to you. I believe we have all been caught up in watching the match.”
De Lohr looked out over the field just to make sure his son was still seated. “Indeed,” he said, turning back to Salisbury. “It is agreeable to see you again, William.”
“And you,” Salisbury said. “Oh… and Myles?”
De Lohr cocked his head. “Aye?”
“I have something I must ask you later, when this is over,” he said. “A question about a woman who may still be in your employment. Dorset has a link to your household, I believe.”
De Lohr was curious. “What link is that?”
“We shall discuss it later, if you please.”
De Lohr simply nodded, puzzled by the mention of a Dorset link to his house. There was no way he could have known what Salisbury really meant and he regained his seat as everyone’s attention returned to the game.
Salisbury, of course, had meant Annavieve’s mother, perhaps still serving the House of de Lohr but he didn’t want to shout that for all to hear. Later that evening when they feasted after the bout, he would ask the man about the duchess’ mother because he knew Victor wouldn’t.
As the men settled down to continue watching the bout, Vietta’s mother pulled forth her silken purse and spoke to a wimpled woman who was sitting behind her. She handed thewoman a few coins as the woman, wrapped in fabric from head to toe, with only her face showing, stood up and tugged on Vietta. Vietta tugged on Annavieve, who stood up quickly to accompany her new friend to the food vendors. William aided her out of the box because Victor wouldn’t. Annavieve hardly cared. She was coming to be hardened by Victor’s coldness. Her gaze sought Kevin one last time before she left the lists. She hoped he was in the same mounted position when she returned.
