May Day in Ancona [PM for Entry]

[Nora]

The rest of the trip to Ancona had been relatively uneventful – aside from Nora badgering Luke and Cen and Sir Zobek being, well, a grumpy old man. Even with the old Knight looking after her every move, Nora was so excited to finally be away from Wilderose, even if it meant going back home. The princess still wasn’t sure how she felt about being brought back to retake the throne from Kraft’s clutches, but at least it meant she was getting away from Monroe and that stifling little town.

The sun had started to make its way towards the horizon as they arrived on the outskirts of Ancona, but it didn’t seem like the town would be sleeping any time soon. As they’d approached the clear sound of music, singing, and laughter could be heard, and colorful banners graced some of the storefronts and homes of the village. To Nora, it looked like the town was in the midst of a festival, and she couldn’t have been happier about it.

As they entered town, Nora walked beside Thunder, who she was quite taken with after their ride together. It had been ages since she’d ridden, and Cen’s horse was quite the character. But beyond that, he was quite well trained, especially for having a first-time rider – even if she was a bit experienced.

Her hand petting Thunder’s neck, Nora beamed as she looked about at the happy villagers passing them, some simply going about their day, while others were running and laughing as they ran to enjoy the festival events. The street they were approaching was blocked off by a large group of villagers, and of course the curious teen wanted to see what was up.

“I’ll be right back!” Nora exclaimed, not waiting for approval from her “Papa” before darting ahead into the crowd, peeking through into the front just in time to see the beginning of the May Day parade towards the village’s center. Everyone wore their most colorful garments, and almost every lady had a multitude of flowers strung through their hair. At the head of the parade was a beautiful young girl dressed in a crisp white dress with a crown of white flowers in her hair, who had undoubtedly been chosen as the May Queen this year. From what Nora remembered, the parade would end in the town square where the May Queen would give a speech that would officially start the festival, and then the villagers would do the maypole right after. The teen bet there were other events going on too; she could barely contain her excitement at the thought.

[Cen]

The sky began to take on the soft orange and pink shades of sunset as the day crept towards twilight. As the small party marched through the forest, the smells of civilization hit them like a wave, bread, and fruit, and livestock, and waste, and children who hadn't bathed in a number of days, and fire. Also some other smells, something musty. As they neared Ancona, the road became even easier to walk against, having endured years of feet stamping it smooth. The trees were thinning, and the sounds of the festival lighted upon their ears.

Or maybe that was only Cen's experience, he couldn't speak for any of them. Walking on the side of Thunder opposite Nora, he held the reins wrapped around his forearm. It was a beautiful end to what he believed he'd think of as a beautiful day. Instead of what he'd expected, a quiet end which would include near empty streets and a full tavern where Cen could drink a bit of ale or a glass of gin. Instead, the small city was a bustle, with children running about, men and women drinking in the street and dancing here or there. Of course the main attraction where most of the town was truly focused was the parade, headed to what was likely the town square. Suddenly, Nora was gone, and Cen only grinned. Then he looked over at his male companions and said, "I'm going to go and find somewhere to keep Thunder. Ah'll-I'll meet you at the..." He looked back at the parade then back at Luke and Edward, his grin only widened, "Well, wherever they're headed I'll meet you."

Then, pulling Thunder a bit he lead the horse toward the Eastern part of town. After a few minutes of walking, he saw a sign with a horse painted on it, and sped himself towards it. As he approached a man looked him over, then gave a few glances to Thunder. "Well, he's not the biggest we've had, but he's a massive beast. Two for the night, or seven for the week." Cen considered voicing some type of outrage, but then he considered the man's position. Many were probably coming from all over the fief, and perhaps different parts of Lycia as a whole. So, he rifled in his purse with his free fingers, and handed the man seven pieces. In his mind the lime haired youth heard his father barking at him that he was too free with his money. Still, this man needed to eat as well, and keeping many horses could definitely be expensive. "There you have it. Fourth stall on the right." Cen nodded and led Thunder to the stable.

The doors were both propped open, and as the young man and Thunder entered the building, several other horses began to act out, neighing and whinnying loudly. Both rider and horse looked to both sides, and after a moment, Thunder started to stamp his feet. Cen pulled the horses reigns hard, and the horse seemed to calm, and allowed his rider to lead him deeper past the stalls. Finally getting a good look at the still loud horses, Cen saw what the issue was. Many were stallions. Big ones. Cen looked hard at a pair of black ones that seemed ready to break loose of their stalls at the sight of Thunder and realized what they were, war horses, just like his own. That was... disconcerting. However, they were probably just posturing, they'd been quiet before Cen and Thunder had made their way in, and they'd probably quiet down once they saw Thunder wasn't scared. So he led Thunder into his stall, got his bags and saddle off of him, and patted the horses muzzle for a bit. Checking to make sure there was no one else around but he and the horses, Cen softly sang a few lines of a drinking song into the horses ear. The big galoot liked music, and the young rider needed him calm. Then he closed the stall, and before making his way out, saw there was a small barrel of apples.

The Cornwellian gave the horse one without thinking, realizing only after the beast had wrenched it from his hand that the apples probably weren't free. Angrily, he thought of how much coin he'd given the man already, and that there'd be no way of him knowing Cen had given his horse an apple from such a big bunch. With a strokes of Thunder's neck, Cen left the stable, and started for what looked like the center of town. Then with a sigh, he turned about, and walked back to where the man sat near the stable. "Ah fed mah horse an apple. How much does that cost?"

---

To his surprise, Cen had made it to the center of town before the parade, and waited there with a few of the townsfolk who weren't participating in all the festivities but still longed to watch it. He merely listened as they talked, and considered going and buying a treat from all the vendors that had set up around the little area. However, he heard a bit of a conversation that held his attention. "-two frum Laus, and another frum Pherae, and tht's just today!" "Ha! Can't wait to show Rodney, ya never fergit yer first joust." Cen's face wasn't sure what to do, a grin split his mouth, then it washed away in an instant and fear took his eyes for just as brief a time. His face going blank, his feet moved him towards the men speaking without the young rider having to tell them to. "I'm sorry to interrupt but, did you mention a joust?"

[Edward Zobek]

Edward scowled in frustration as he tried to follow Eleonora through the crowd. He couldn't keep up. Where the young woman was small and lithe, he was tall and stiff, and most importantly, old. Try as he did to keep in good shape, there was nothing like being young. What he wouldn't some times for a younger body...

"Nora!" he shouted, his head whipping about as he followed escaped princess. In a crowd like this it was incredibly easy for someone to up and grab the foolish girl, so he had to make sure he didn't lose sight of her. His fixed gaze caused him to repeatedly bump into the assorted revelers, who in turn threw him hard glances, but he didn't care. The important thing, the most important thing, was that he keep Eleonora safe. If that meant that party-goers got peevish, then so be it.

"Nora, don't you ever run off like that!" Edward's long unused fatherly instincts were kicking in, complete with the kindly yet reprimanding tone. "These crowds are awful. It's too easy for you to get grabbed!" The wizened viscount placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, his grip both relieved as well as firm, then looked up at the celebration that Eleonora was so eagerly watching with narrowed eyes. Oh, it was a parade. In his moment of focus Edward had failed to notice it, but it was hard to imagine how he had seeing it now. All sorts of people in garments of every color were walking in line, tossing about freshly picked flowers and waving strands of kaleidoscopic dancing cloths. They were singing, and dancing, and playing instruments; all the kinds of festive things that made for a good celebration. In fact it didn't take more than a few seconds before Edward found himself caught up in the merrymaking, but he didn't allow himself to be distracted by his enjoyment as he needed to make sure that the princess would not be running off like that again.

"Do you understand?" he tried to keep his voice as friendly as possible, given the girl's intensely negative reactions to his sterner tones, but the fact that he had to shout over the sound of the noisy crowd didn't help his attempt.

---

“Well look at this, Blaser, a tall one!” one of the men observed, looking up at the blonde-haired newcomer.
"That he is Teddy, ha ha! Like a string bean!" the other man laughed. Teddy took a moment’s pause as he looked Cen up and down, then stared up at the young man with a bit of a cocky smile. “Ya, I said joust. What of it?” The man puffed himself up as he spoke, as if unconsciously trying to measure up to Cen’s ridiculous height. “Ancona is the biggest town in Old Cornwell. Yeh don’t think we’d have a festival without a joust, now would yeh?” He laughed, gave Blaser a wry look, then clapped Cen on the arm. “Take my advice, though, and don’t sit in the front rows, ya? When weapons go a flyin’ you don’t want to be the head that gets to stop ‘em.”

[Luke Pendragon]

Stepping into Ancona had Luke reliving a lot of childhood memories. The memories of long trips out to this part of Lycia in order to do some trading and trying to sell whatever crops they had harvested that season ran through Luke’s mind as they walked a bit through the town. The fun part of making those trips was always whenever the festival was going on or they were visiting family friends. Many a Pendragon child would enter the events that would be going on around these parts. Ever since their father’s incident they rarely came all the way out here.

He would be lying if he said he didn’t miss it and he was sure he wasn’t the only one who felt that way among his family. It was a shame; this would have been so much better with his family with him especially with all the festivities going on. It wasn’t long before their party of four ended up being a party of two. Nora had bolted off somewhere and Cen had to go take care of finding somewhere for Thunder. At least they had a heads up for one of them separating from the group; Sir Zobek was probably quite frustrated with the other.

Luke did his best to follow behind the older male as he chased after Nora but he got a bit stuck in the crowd. After a while of excuse me’s and squeezing his way through he managed to make it to the front of the crowd but not exactly where Nora and Sir Zobek were. Before he could look around for them he had gotten distracted by the parade and more specifically by the girl who had been crowned the May Queen. She looked extremely familiar to Luke but he couldn’t put his finger on it exactly.

”Well I’ll be damned! If it ain’t good ole Lu Pendragon!” A voice would call out, derailing Luke’s train of thought. He turned, facing the person who had called out to him, using a nickname he hadn’t heard in quite some time. A large grin grew on the young lad’s face as an old friend walked up to him. Auburn hair, bright amber eyes and a smile permanently plastered on his face it was a great pleasure for Luke to see his dear old friend Kenneth “Ken” Cauldwin. ”Man I haven’t see this guy in years! See one of you Pendragons is a rare sight and I’ve been lucky enough to spot two! How ya been?! And what brings you all the way to Ancona? You won’t believe who was made May Queen this year!” The taller male threw his arm around Luke dragging the boy along with him.

Ken sure didn’t give Luke any time to think or regain his train of thought as they moved through the crowd. ”It’s good to see you too Ken. I’m currently traveling with a group and Ancona was one of our stops,” Luke spoke, giving Ken a bit of an explanation as to what was going on with him. ”I should probably find them,” He added looking around to see if he could spot Nora or Sir Zobek. There was something however that Ken had mentioned that Luke almost didn’t catch. Did he say two? Was it one of his siblings that Ken ran into? Maybe his sister!?

Before Luke said anything he spotted Nora and Sir Zobek and began wondering how he managed to get so far from them. Putting that aside the two lads made their way over to them, after Luke explained who they were. ”It’s really easy to get lost in these crowds, Luke would say as they reached the other two. Ken would move his arm from Luke and smile at the two. ”It’s a pleasure to meet some of Lu’s friends! Name’s Ken it’s nice to meet y’all,” Once Ken had gotten a look at Nora he slid in closer and attempted to put on that Cauldwin charm he was known for. Now whether or not it worked was a different story.

”Why hello there beautiful what’s a precious thing like yourself doing in Ancona? Here to watch the tournament?” Luke rolled his eyes at Ken, despite the years the guy never changed. Luke’s focus then went to Sir Zobek probably owning him an explanation as to who that was trying to flirt with Nora. ”That right there is Ken Cauldwin he comes from a family of blacksmiths. Nice guy though a bit “friendly” and gets distracted around girls,” There was a lot of downplaying when it came to how distracted Ken got around girls, it was ridiculous to be frank.

[Nora]

Nora had heard Edward shouting after her from behind, but it barely elicited more than an eyeroll and a sigh from the teen. Like any unwise young person, the princess had already all but forgotten that she’d been kidnapped only a few days earlier, too excited by the sights and sounds of someplace other than Wilderose.

Of course, it was apparent that Sir Zobek had not forgotten as he grabbed the girl’s shoulder, evoking the kind of moody sigh and frown only a teenager could manage. “I’m fine, aren’t I?” She shrugged her shoulder a bit, as if to try and remove his hand, but her focus was turned towards Luke as he approached with someone new; he looked to be around the same age as she and Luke, and even she could admit that he was fairly handsome. Not that that really mattered to the magenta-haired teen, anyways.

As Luke approached commenting on the crowds, Sir Zobek spoke again, asking if she understood. “Yes, yes, I do!” She said quickly, her frown turning to a smile as Ken introduced himself, giggling at his nickname for Luke. Her cheeks grew as pink as her hair as Ken asked why they were in Ancona; thankfully for them, Cen was off stabling Thunder, so Nora didn’t have to lie - well, as much as she usually did at least.

“We were passing through - wait, there’s a tournament?!” Nora asked, her eyes lighting up and smile widening. It seemed they were passing through at a great time, a fantastic time as any! Wilderose’s festivals were always so small, and there were never enough people interested in a tournament of any kind to actually hold one. If there was one thing she missed from Etruria - besides her family, of course - it was attending jousts and fencing tourneys, which her brothers always got to participate in (and usually won).

Before Ken answered, the end of the parade officially passed the spot they stood in, prompting the crowd to begin to flow towards the town square. Looking between the three men, Nora exclaimed. “Come on, I don’t want to miss anything!” While she didn’t run off as she had before, Nora did begin to follow the current of the crowd, excited to see the square that was undoubtedly set up for the festival.

[Cen]

String bean. That was clever. Cen definitely hadn't heard that insult hurled at him a few thousand times in his life. If he had been four inches shorter, he still would have been tall and men would have actually found him intimidating. Instead, he was so tall that his strength was stretched across his long frame and hidden, and little men thought it made him fragile. He disagreed.

"Any joust interests me, I've trained for them before." Cen answered the man's question on what of it, and the men both looked at him with an odd expression. They gave him their odd looks only for a few moments before both men burst out laughing. The lime haired youth wore his annoyance visibly, he had not been jesting. In Laus, as a page before he had been given into Felane's service, Cen was trained in very few knightly disciplines. He had learned the heraldry of Lycia for the last hundred years or so, was taught the bare minimum of lance and swordplay, but most days were spent on jousting. Cen had attended many tournaments held in the fiefdom over his time there, and had seen the many mistakes a man could make. Since he'd first entered the world of Lycia's warrior gentry, Cen had dreamed of seeing his name in the list. He had faith that he would represent himself well if ever he was to ride in a joust.

As the laughs of the two men died down, he saw that faith wasn't a shared one. "I'll keep my seating in mind, but I doubt I'll be leaving my seat in the saddle." With that Cen stalked away from the two men, and took a seat at another part of the square. The rider would have to remember to find out where he needed to go to put his name in the joust, but for now he would meet back up with his companions. Looking over at a man hocking meats for the people waiting, Cen decided it would be good to treat the family that had offered to travel with him for a bit, so he rose and hurried over to the man. He bought two spits of pork and two spits of turkey, and began to gnaw on one serving of the pork as he turned and saw the procession moving towards the town center. The lime haired rider could not see any of the folk he'd came to Ancona with, so he simply sat down, hoping that he would see them soon.

[Edward Zobek]

The typically stoic Edward couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the overly friendly greeting this handsome youth had pulled out for the princess, then sighed when it actually elicited a rosey glow from her cheeks. Either Eleonora was too easily wooed, or Sir Monroe really had starved her of the attention of young men. Whatever this case, this young man would not be getting too involved.

“Keep your breeches on, boy,” Edward ordered as he pushed himself between this “Ken” fellow and his magenta-headed charge, but it seemed that despite her initial reaction to the man Eleonora was one step ahead of him. She was already walking off with the crowd.

“Come on, I don’t want to miss anything!”

Edward was quick to fall in behind the princess though he did so tentatively, not willing to let her leave his sight but unsure if he would let her reach her intended destination. Was it wise to let the girl attend the festival? Crowds made the old knight nervous, and the festival grounds was going to be rife with crowds; crowds of Anconans, crowds of Santaruzi, and likely crowds of travelers from all throughout Lycia as well. It would be easy for someone to trail them or approach them unnoticed, a risk the viscount would rather avoid. But it was also likely true that if the viscount refused to let Eleonora attend the event he’d have to drag her to the nearest inn kicking and screaming. That would draw far too much attention. Edward could already imagine himself fighting off some overzealous citizen who had decided to stop him from “abducting” the poor girl.

“Just stay close, yes?” muttered Edward as he scanned the crowd they were now being swept up with. He’d do his best to not jump at every shadow or hooded figure that crossed before them, but he would also not be making any apologies if he did decide it relevant to act. “I see young Cen there in the stands,” announced the old knight, extending a finger towards the mossy-haired man who was sitting near the jousting arena a ways off. “The bench next to him seems to be empty. We can take a seat there and watch the joust.” If they had to do anything at this festival, the joust was a good choice. Keeping Eleonora anchored to a single event rather than wandering from spot to spot would make it easier to see to her safety, plus she seemed to have less of an urge to run away from Cen than she did the viscount. Hopefully his presence would keep her just a bit more still.

[Luke Pendragon]

Luke prayed that Ken didn’t decide to do something stupid when Sir Zobek stepped in his path. Luckily the youth just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at the older male. During his younger years Ken would have been much more confrontational with someone standing in his way and telling him what to do, especially someone that he didn’t know. Luke was glad to see that his friend matured some and loss that hot temper of his, or at least it seemed that way. The blonde lad let out a relieved sigh at the sight of Ken just letting things go but Luke knew better, he’d probably make advances toward Nora at some later time.

It was nice seeing how excited Nora was for all of this, the parade, the tournament. It reminded Luke when he was younger and would come to the May Day parade, such fun times. The two lads would follow behind Sir Zobek and Nora before coming to a stop right before the stands. ”This is where I’m going to have to let ya go, Lu.” Ken would say, making Luke stop and turn toward him. ”You know with that tournament today there’s a lot that needs to be done so I’ve got to get ready.” That part had surprised Luke, he hadn’t remembered the last time he saw Ken participate in one of these events.

”You know it might not be too late for you to sign up. Cauldwin and Pendragon, taking the tournament by storm! It’ll just be like old times except we won’t have to watch our siblings from the sidelines.” Ken laughed, lightly patting Luke on the shoulder. The idea hard certainly piqued Luke’s interest but he wasn’t completely sure about it. Jousting was never his forte and quite honestly he just wanted to watch but the gesture was appreciated of course. Now Luke was a terrible rider but his sister and a few of his older brothers were much better than himself.

”How about you win for the both of us? Ken Cauldwin, tournament champion! Ladies will come running then. And you might have a chance to win seeing how a Pendragon hasn’t entered” Luke joked, the two sharing a laugh. Though was sure that this was disappointing for Ken but he was positive his friend would understand his decision. ”Well if this Pendragon entered he’d get knocked right on his arse! Might be a farm boy but you were never much of a rider. Anyway give it some thought.” The two shook hands before Ken started to make his departure.

As Luke turned around to meet up with the rest of his traveling companions Ken had one more thing to say. ”Oh! Your sister says hello!” And with that Ken was gone, a troubling development for Luke as that little statement had him asking many questions. With a disappointed sigh Luke made his way to where the others were. ”Did you find a good stall for Thunder?” Luke asked his question which was direct towards Cen as he made his way toward the older lad. There were probably plenty of stalls but having to end up using the less than satisfactory ones due to overpopulation would be a shame.

[Nora]

“I will, I will,” Nora dismissed the old knight, waving him off as she too spotted Cen. Almost instantly a beaming smile crossed her features, and she nearly laughed at the sight of him holding what looked like four total shanks of meat. After spending time with one another on the walk to Ancona, Nora felt most comfortable around him and even considered them friends. It was a quick time to decide something like that, to be sure, but Nora had never been one to shy away from making bold decisions. Besides, Cen was nice, nicer than anyone she’d met in a long while. It was comforting to think she might have a friend in him now.

Pushing through the crown while half-mindful of Sir Zobek’s warning, Nora finally made it through to the stands where Cen was sitting. “You must be hungry!” Nora finally laughed, sitting down right next to the green knight. “Here, want me to hold one for you?” Nora offered, offering her free hands to the man while also looking out over the small arena that the Anconans had set up for their events. The majority of the onlookers simply stood on foot, opposite of the structure that had been built up for the Count, his family, and his court. Flags flew at various posts along the rail down the middle of the strip where the horses and their riders ran. The events had already started, but the day’s joust was yet to come.

Instead, as they watched, the knights were doing various displays of their aptness accuracy with various weaponry while atop their steeds: picking up rings with the tip of spears, slicing small banners clear through with knives and swords. At the same time, a handful of women danced in front of the count and his wife while a flutist and harpist accompanied them. All in good fun, of course, but for Nora it was all merely a distraction to tide the crowds over until the main event.

“Do we know when the joust is starting?” Nora asked loudly, having not been really listening to any conversation her companions might have been having. She was so excited she could barely contain herself.

[Cen]

Gnawing on a hunk of pork the former squire watched as the riders in the field went about various miscellaneous feats on horseback that would do nothing in actual combat. Cen could never forget all those times he'd won a battle by lifting a bunch of rings with his lance, he'd heard stories of knights winning whole wars by picking up more rings than anyone had ever thought they could.

However, his inner criticism fest was interrupted by the strawberry haired young woman plopping herself down next to him, and commenting that he must be hungry. His face spread into a wild grin, and he said something incredibly clever. What he said was, "Um, what?" Then he looked down at all the spits of meat in his hand, and laughed, then added, "Oh, I'd like that actually, I got one of these for each of you." He handed her the slab that she'd been eyeing then extended the other two to the two men.

He smiled at Luke, nowhere near his grin at Nora but still quite a personable one, and answered him, "Yup, got Thunder squared away. Luckily they had stalls that I thought were big enough for the big fella." Cen stretched his legs just in front of himself, and straightened his back. Watching the men ride did naught but make him want to bust Thunder out of the stable and ride around himself. He'd like to be in the joust honestly, and if the lists would take him he would. If he had to guess he'd say that the lists would be open until the festivities died down tonight, and he would be able to sign up well before tomorrow. So, that happy thought on his mind, he asked the others, "So, have you all enjoyed the festival so far? The parade look'd like it must've been fun to watch."

The two men didn't have long to answer before Nora broke in and asked when the joust was. As Cen started to answer that it was tomorrow, a pair of women behind them leaned forward and answered for him. "It's not much longer dear, it'll be just a little after the May Queen's speech." What? It was today? That changed things. The lime haired Cornwellian needed to at least give an effort to be added to the lists. He sat in silence for just a few moments before standing up and saying, "I'm sorry to run, but ah-I have something I need to get done." Then without a word he left the stands and walked down towards where he saw what looked like a squire working on polishing a shield.

"Excuse me." The boy looked up at Cen, ready to apologize for something. He was covered in freckles, and had floppy black hair that covered his left eye. "Yes? Yes sir?" Cen could have laughed at this noble's son calling him sir, but he felt constrained by time. "Could you tell me where they're taking names for the joust?" The young boy turned and pointed, and Cen nodded and clapped him on the shoulder, then hurried off to the stable that housed Thunder and his saddlebag.

---

After entering and leaving the stable in a rush, Cen approached the stall where a man was finishing the list and began to speak before the thin nosed man could ask him any questions, "I am Cen, of house Cedidale from Cornwell. I squired under Felane Minos, and if you search for my name you will find it among those of Laus. I would joust today."[/color] The little man gave him a skeptical look as he flipped through the parchment in front of him and put a thin finger to his lips. When Cen looked down at the sheet that finally caused the man to stop rifling through the names of Lycian Heraldry, and saw his name there, with the family's ancient crest next to his name.

The man said, "You are a squire, a squire may only take part in this joust with the sponsorship of his knight." Cen nodded, and reached behind his back, pulling the only gift he'd ever received from the older man and placing it on the stall top in front of him. The man uncovered it, and revealed a shield, painted in halves. On the left side was the Sigil of Cedidale, the tan checkered field with a golden trident, though now the trident was halved. On the other side was a solid light purple field with the front half of a rearing horse. It was half his 'sigil' and half that of the man he'd served up to his death.

The little man said, "This doesn't prove you'd be representing him. Or that you are even Cen Cedidale of Cornwell." Cen leaned forward and put his finger on his families' line, then began, "My father's name was Cedidale, my brothers are Cedidale and Cebron. My uncles are named Cedric, Cortyn, and Caldwell. My grandfather is named Cedidale, and his brothers are named Murtaugh, Rorric, and Cal. His father was Cedidale, and his brother was Cebron. His father was Cedidale, and his a father, and his father. I can do this all day with any name on your little parchment," probably, "put my name on the list, I'll tilt with anyone."

The little man narrowed his eyes, then looked over at his page, and yelled sharply, "Duncan! It appears Sir Rory of Pherae will not go uncontested for his first tilt, add the name Cen of Cornwell below his." He gave Cen an amused expression, but the tall rider was too elated to pick up on the smug nature of the man. He hurried off to fetch Thunder and everything else he would need, grabbing his shield.

---

As the women behind the travelers watched the tall fellow go, the one who'd already spoken turned to her friend, "Say, what was the name of that pair of Knights from Pherae you had staying at the inn last night? The other woman quickly replied, "Alfred something and Rory other. They were real knightly, came in actin' like they owned the place. Alfred was a bit quieter, probably on account of him being older, but the younger fellow was drunk within minutes of his arrival. Started walking around, pinching all the girls, telling the whole common room how he was going to unhorse three men today!" "Three?" "Three, that's right. Wasn't long after he went to his room that the other knight told me the truth, that the young fellow had never actually bee in a joust, and that he'd only been made a knight two years ago." The other woman gave a giant 'harumph.'