The History of Tournaments
Tournaments in the old days were what a football game or race are to us today. They were places where men could show their skills, impress beautiful ladies, boost the morale of a people, and give the winners a taste of victory!
There were many contests involved in tournaments. Usually these ceremonies would last for several days, with the smaller contests in the beginning, and they would end with the greatest contest of all.
It usually began with the common people showing their skills in things like quarter staff fights(the most common everyday weapon of England) pulling heavy loads, and wrestling.
Then it would go up to archery(also a common sport in England. It was mandatory for all boys to learn the use of a bow, this law gave them the deadliest archers in all of Europe. Which in turn won many of their wars. I have tried to copy the archers of Baton after these English bowmen.) After the greatest archer was rewarded, the more knightly contests would begin.
The field for the tournament was several acres long and wide, with great stands on either of the sides. The higher places were for the lords and ladies, a special place being reserved for the prince or king watching the event. The lower seats were for smaller aristocrats, merchants, small landowners etc. And then there were large green areas set aside for the yeomanry, the farmers and craftsmen.
On one side of the field knights and barons would set up small tents with their standard outside. This is where they waited and prepared for battle. If a knight wanted to challenge another he would throw his mail glove down in front of the other knight’s standard. Pages and orderlies spent the time sending messages, polishing their lord’s armor, and preparing his horse.
When all of the contestants were signed up, the reigning champion would pick a Queen of the tournament. He would pick the fairest face in all of the crowd. I believe it is more than likely that a lover knight got to show his affection in this way sometimes. 
Many of the knights wore tokens, or gages, as they were called, given to them by the queens of their hearts. Sigh!
When the lady had been picked, she was given a fine seat beside the king and queen, in order to judge the tournament from a better view.
Then the jousting, sword fighting, and battles would begin! Heralds would blow their trumpets, and the knights would charge!
Jousting was a knightly skill that took a great amount of strength and horsemanship. Two knights would face each other at the opposite ends of the arena, holding their reins in one hand, and holding their lance in the other. The trumpet would blow, and they would charge furiously down upon each other! The goal was to unhorse your opponent. Sometimes the lances would meet, and crack each other, sometimes it would hit the knight in the face and unhorse him.
Other knightly contest were sword fighting. Sometimes in the saddle, sometimes on the ground. I believe that fighting in the saddle was more popular. And then they fought with battle axes, or maces. Huge axes that you could sweep around and crack your opponents skull.
Did the contestants ever get hurt? Yes. Sometimes men were damaged for life or killed! But in those days, honor and glory were more important than death.
Sometimes in contest two champions were chosen to lead opposite armies. They would set their standard up, and then other men and less important knights could choose either side to join. Then they would fight, using battle tactics and maneuvers to win the battle.
At one tournament in history, hosted by King Edward III of England, he had a wooden castle constructed and put up overnight. Then he had the champion of the day before choose whether he would attack or defend it. Then the opposing champion took the other side. It was a marvelous show to watch! For it had never been done before in the history of tournaments.
I have only written knightly contests. For you must remember that Prince Nettle is an invader in the land, and must keep his whereabouts a secret to King Frederick. So he can only match his own followers against each other. But a real tournament would have been much larger.
And now let the tale begin!
The royal castle of Goodenburg; the capital of Hobblestone, was as picturesque as a castle could be.
It stood on a rising hill with strong, but beautiful stone walls surrounding the gardens that grew on the hillside. A clear river ran through and around the castle garden, not only making the spot more beautiful, but also creating a natural moat that was always full.
The castle itself was large and airy for a castle in those days. Only the windows on the first floor were loopholed, those on the remaining floors opened out onto a veranda that ran along the entire length of the wall.
This castle itself, which the good King Frederick and his beautiful Queen Annika called “Wilmnsburough” was obviously not the principal defending castle of Goodenburg. In case of an attack the king would remove his family to another fortress that was built above Wimnsburough by a secret passage dug beneath the earth.
This castle was called “Rockton” and much more formidable than Wimnsburough.
It was a lovely, quiet afternoon. The sunshine was the type that makes you feel peaceful and sleepy. The inhabitants of Goodenburg were going about their usual buisness in an orderly way.
But the quiet was broken however when the sound of pounding hooves upon the principal highway, and those nearby hurriedly moved out of the path of the horse and rider.
The rider was a tall and splendid young man with a wavy head of blonde hair. He was dressed in royal blue and gold, and his magnificent stallion was dusky gray.
He sped on past the startled merchants and straight on to the castle. When he had gone there were murmurs and people began to speak in groups.
“Ah, Prince Giam is back early from Baton. It would seem that he has not been there at all, for usually when he goes to visit his Uncle Harold and beautiful cousin Elise he stays for over a fortnight! I wonder what his buisness may be. I hope not for you my dear, that he has found some hidden beauty in Baton and is riding hither to tell his father of it.”
The gentlemen was speaking to the daughter of a silk merchant, Lady Lysbeth, a sweet, pretty little girl who had caught the Prince’s eye at several of the balls that had been given at the castle.
She blushed prettily, and responded with eagerness,
“I have no claim upon the Prince’s affections Master Holmbrook, if he wishes to love another lady, let him do so and I will wish him well. However, I do know the Prince well enough from the brief conversations that we have had that he would not react that way if he were not disturbed. Prince Giam, though gallant and spirited, is prudent, and will one day make a wise ruler for us all. I do hope all is well in Baton.”
Meanwhile the palace servants had seen the Prince’s hasty entrance to the town and a groom was already standing to take his horse the minute he arrived. Prince Giam galloped up to the gate, leaped off of his horse while tossing the reins to the groom, and continued on inside.
He hurried on until he reached the private royal parlor. He entered and made a hasty bow to his mother and sisters.
The apartment was bright and cheerful, with some light colored rugs to soften the walls, and a few comfortable couches to recline on.
Queen Annika arose on his entrance. She was a tall and stately woman, with her blonde hair wound and coiled into a beautiful crown atop her head. She to was dressed in blue. The princesses were both younger than the prince, the elder, Princess Lianna looked like the king, dark hair and bright brown eyes. The youngest princess, Princess Desria looked like no one but herself, with shocking red hair and dancing china blue eyes; eyes which had woven their way into all of the hearts of the merry young men of the land.
“What is this my son! Can something be the matter?” Asked his mother, rising up in alarm. He opened his mouth to reply, but then the king walked in and he paused to bow in greeting.
“What! Back so early son? Did the beautiful province of Baton cease to give off charm?” He asked in his deep voice while he gave him a hearty embrace.
“No indeed sir, for I have not been to Baton. My tale is simply this, Silvester’s horse threw a shoe and we were forced to stop at an inn in Gervais to have it mended. But the horse was lame in the morning so I decided that I would journey on alone and he would join me again when his horse was better. I had only gone mayhap half a mile when something glittering and red caught my eye. Dismounting I reached under a bush and found this trinket snagged on a thorn.” Saying this, he drew out Elise’s prized necklace into view.
Queen Annika recognized it soonest, and gasped as if in pain.
“Oh! That was Joan’s necklace, the one Harold presented to her on her wedding day. I remember it well for your father and I were united on that same day. But after her death, it was given to Elise. And you found this on the side of the road my son?”
“Yes mother. It was simply hanging on a bush.”
His father stood and paced the room. Then he turned to his wife and said,
“Elise would not loose a precious heirloom like that at her own will, and what would it be doing fully twenty miles from Baton! This means evil Annika, I hope that my poor brother is not troubled or harried. We must send spies at once to Baton, this very moment, in order to ascertain what the trouble is.”
Then he and the Queen hurried from the room. Princess Lianna now rose and gave her brother an affectionate kiss.
“I must say, this may be selfish of me, but I am half glad that you had reason to start back so soon. I hate to share you with anyone but ourselves, and the castle is dull without you.”
Princess Desria now spoke up in her merry way,
“Aye sister! If but Elise would visit us more here, then Giam wouldn’t have to be tramping about the country to visit his pretty cousin. But, perhaps if we were to invite Lady Lysbeth up more often we would not be saying farewell half so much.” She added coyly.
He smiled with good nature, the mischievously,
“Ah, and perhaps my young sister Desria wouldn’t be so sharp with her tongue were she to marry to one who could hold her, maybe to a Sir Victor?” Sir Victor was a haughty young knight that was, as he put it, “madly in love with her”. And he was one that Desria detested with every bone in her body.
She colored, and raised her hand to slap him, but he dashed out the door with her following. Lianna, looked about to see that no one was watching, then picked up her skirts and ran after them.
Miles away, another princess stood looking out of her window. She had changed out of her peasant costume, and was now wearing a lavender silk dress with yellow silk edging and inserts. Her hair was loosely braided back, and new emerald necklace sparkled in the rising light on her neck.
It was Elise, staring out of her eastern window in her room the morning following the capture. In truth it was Count Augusto’s old room, but Prince Nettle had added some softer hangings on the walls, and fitted it out to be a proper ladies room.
Genevieve was not there, for on arriving at the castle, Elise asked permission to give her to the charge of the cook, thinking that she would be safer there than with herself. The Prince agreed and Genevieve had been turned over to her capable and sympathetic hands.
But now she had no distraction, and her thoughts were wholly on her predicament. Paul was in the dungeon, and she was little better than a prisoner herself, for the doors to her suite were locked from the outside.
“If only there were another way, the window maybe?” But her thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door and the entrance of the Prince.
“Ah, good morning darling. Dear me! That necklace does look lovely on your neck. It was the best I could find in Forton, one of Hotten’s principal harbor towns. I had intended it to be a wedding gift, but we will just call it an engagement present.” He had walked over to her and was looking at her turned away face. She moved over to the other side of the room listlessly.
“It is a fine gift Prince. Might I have a walk in the garden? The morning looks fresh, and I am accustomed to walks as a part of my routine.”
“Yes my dear, I shall accompany you.” Opening the door he called for a maid and asked the lady’s cloak be brought. Spreading it over her he took her arm and they walked down the path out to the garden. They walked in silence for a moment, Elise wishing that she could dart away all the time, but sensibly stayed put. Then the Prince broke the silence.
“I have decided that we shall be married at the end of the week. I shall procure a priest to marry us from one of the nearby villages. As for your attire, there is no need, as I have already picked one out for you.”
“Ah, and I am sure, most sure that your taste exactly suits mine your highness.”
“Most assuredly Elise, I had it fitted up before my journey, on a maid that is about your size and height. It looked pretty as a picture on her, but pale in comparison as it will look on you.” Elise said nothing.
They walked on again for a time then a servant approached and asked their highnesses what their pleasure for the dinner would be? Elise had a sudden thought. Turning to the Prince, she said with her most charming smile,
“Would you mind my lord, if I were to accompany the servant to see the cook? I have a particular desire for one of my favorite dishes this afternoon, but it is delicate to make.”
“You may, but I will escort you there. You seem willing enough now, but for all I know my pretty clever bird might find an exit to fly from if I am not around.” Said the Prince smiling. Elise resisted the desire to strike him in the nose and merely nodded.
They walked on down through the servant’s quarters through the many bowing people. None had been harmed in the conquest of the castle, to them, it mattered little who their master was. If this man was to be better than their natural master, who was the object of cruelty, then they would be happy indeed.
On entering they found the head cook and her maids waiting to curtsy. As the Count had done, Nettle saw nothing amiss in the order of everything and was pleased. Elise of course noticed a large flour pile beneath the counter, and a bowl of vegetable peelings pushed to the back of the counter, but she said nothing.
The cook smiled and asked respectfully,
“Is thar anythin’ I can get for th’ lord and lady?” Elise looked her meaningfully in the eye.
“Ah cook! Well, I would enjoy a nice rabbit stew for dinner today, it is one of my favorite dishes. And perhaps you had better have something a bit more extravagant the supper, as the priest may, or may not be dining with us.”
The cook nodded simply, but Elise could detect the understanding gleam in her eye.
“And when my lady, should I begin preparations for th’ weddin’ supper?” Again Elise looked her in the eye.
“If all goes as planned, the ceremony will take place on the upcoming Saturday. Good day to you cook!” So saying she turned around with the Prince and walked out to the path again.
The cook curtsied as they left, and as soon as the door was shut she had a whispered conference with one of her maids. The girl nodded and walked out to speak to one of the stable boys.
Later that afternoon Elise was seated in the principal hall of the castle. The Prince was not with her, but Berbon and a dozen men stood a respectful distance away, to keep guard over her. She was playing with Genevieve, who had been brought to her for the afternoon while the cook was busy.
The door opened and the Prince strode angrily in. Elise looked up innocently and asked what was troubling him. He walked up to the couch that she was seated upon and turned to look at her.
“Twenty priest in the province and not one available before a fortnight! I have sent round to all the larger villages that are prosperous enough to have churches, and everywhere was met with trouble. For it seems all of their priest have journeyed up to some remote cabin on the western border in order to do some kind of penance ritual, and won’t be available for another half a month! If I had not been with you all morning I would assuredly thought that you had done something to prevent the ceremony.” He looked at her piercingly.
She returned the gaze calmly, then said,
“I give you my word of honor Prince, that I have not told anyone directly to send the priests away. As you yourself said I have been in your company for the whole of the morning.”
He looked pleased, then stood up again, and walked about. An idea struck him, and a he walked over a moment to speak to one of the guards. Elise leaned down and whispered smilingly to Genevieve,
“But I won’t promise that I haven’t indirectly told someone to send the priests away. God bless the cook! For she has done a good service again.”
The Prince returned to her side again, and said almost in a mocking tone,
“I have just sent for Sir Paul, perhaps we may find something interesting to amuse us with him added to our discussion.”
Elise colored and felt exceedingly angry. This man was a vicious villain indeed! She would have dreaded to be hated by him.
She stood up hastily, put Genevieve on her shoulder, and walked over to the window. The Prince looked up at her,
“Indeed! I had thought you to be rather in love with that low knight. And yet you act disturbed by him, is this perhaps a good sign for me?”
She turned on him like a snake ready to strike, and almost spat out the words,
“It is not by his noble presence that I am disturbed, it is the fact that we must be degraded by having your vile person here to make insults against all things good and pure!” The Prince looked angry for a moment, then his smile returned and he said,
“Ah, I have picked well. A little spirited beauty like you is exactly what I need to keep life interesting.” Elise turned red in exasperation, but was kept from responding by the entrance of Sir Paul.
She turned away to the window to hide her tears in Genevieve’s soft little head, and Paul simply stood in the doorway taking in the scene before him.
The Prince looked up triumphantly at Paul and said in a supposedly courteous tone,
“Ah, the great Sir Paul! It is quite a pleasure to have the said champion of Hobblestone among us.” Elise turned again, so overcome with emotion that if she had had wings I believe she may have flown to the moon.
Paul saw her expression, but wisely didn’t say anything. He did however return the Prince’s mocking gaze with one of cool courage.
The Prince saw the expression, and for once in his life he felt intimidated. Many times he had run against antagonists who had been formidable men, but he had always been able to conquer them. But now he felt that this young man in front of him to be superior, and the feeling frightened him.
He quickly pushed the feeling aside however, and stood up to walk over to the window where Elise stood. Looking at Elise he said,
“I have been thinking dear, that maybe since we cannot procure a priest as soon as we had hoped, perhaps we should find some other form of amusement. A tournament say, at the end of this week. I have many knights who are skilled in their arms. And archers that are well worth seeing. We could perhaps reward the best archer with a new bow, and the most skilled knight with a kiss from the fairest lady in the land.” Elise turned to him and said,
“Ah, which I suppose would be you? Well sir! As we are not yet married and you may not be the most skilled knight I strongly urge that you find a different prize or you will find me quite unavailable at the tournament!”
Paul now spoke up eagerly in order to relieve the pressure now put on Elise ,
“Perhaps Prince, a strong stallion or new suite of armor would become the prize better!”
The Prince looked furiously at him, then strode across the room so that he might look Paul full in the face.
“I do not need your impute you scoundrel! I am quite capable of arranging matters myself. And you shall pay for your insolence, for I now challenge you to a jousting and sword duel this upcoming Saturday!”
He half expected Paul to refuse him, for he was an accomplished swordsman. But Paul didn’t flinch, he looked the Prince square in the eye and replied,
“I accept your challenge and will look forward eagerly to try your metal.” This was said calmly, as if he was mentioning the time of day.
Elise meanwhile, was inwardly thrilled! She had seen both men at different tournaments, one when the Prince had been vying for her hand before, and the other at a tournament her father had given in honor of her birthday. Though she knew the Prince to be good, he was not superior to Paul. Paul was by far the best swordsman she had yet seen, and it was said that he was the best in Hobblestone.
Genevieve began to fuss, so Elise sent for a maid to take Genevieve to the cook. The Prince sat down again and watched the faces of his two companions.
Once Elise had relinquished Genevieve with a kiss to the maid, she walked across the room to speak to Paul. The Prince stood up to intercept her, but she got there first.
“Well now Sir Paul, you shall have to represent Baton as best you can. For in order to do justice, I must say that the Prince is an acclaimed swordsman. I have seen him at the tournament my father gave some eighteen months ago when he was our guest.” The Prince looked well pleased.
Paul smiled coolly, and replied,
“So I have heard. And I believe it will be a worthwhile contest.”
The Prince now looked angry again, and ordered Berbon to take Paul back to confinement, but this time in a simple room near the bottom of the castle. As he was to meet this man in battle, he must at least be fair by giving him decent lodging.
Elise asked permission to go to her room, and was escorted there by the Prince himself, who locked the door behind her, then went to talk to his captain knight, Sir Edward.
It was three days later. A large square of ground had been leveled and fenced off. It was surrounded by bright flags of blue and green, and there was the Prince’s principal standard, a black raven with a red sword.
Posts with the different barons’ standards were spaced evenly along the side with their tents placed behind the fence. Orderlies and pages ran up and down the sidelines sending messages, polishing armor, and preparing their masters horses.
A few yards from the edge of one of the side a grandstand was set up. Two great chairs were set up upon it, then less ornate ones were set up around them.
Elise sat in one, the Prince in another beside her.
The unfortunate Count Augusto was seated below them, at the Prince’s foot level. He was dressed in rough clothes and chained to a wooden chair. His scowl finished it off into a very unpleasant picture.
Elise was dressed in a beautiful sunset peach dress with trimmings of gold. Her hair was braided with gold ribbons and white flowers. She was a fair Queen of the Tourney indeed!
She surveyed the arena and field in search of Paul. There he was! Seated quietly on a bench near one of the tents that housed the less great knights. He was wearing a simple suit of armor, with no standard except for a chain of gold with a small blue cross.
Elise’s heart swelled, for her father had given him that chain a few months hence when he had sent him on a journey north. He had kept it safe and treasured it as a gift from a man of heart, father of a lady of heart.
Tears swelled in her eyes for a moment, as feelings of forlornness began to fill her heart. She pushed them aside however, and looked at the Prince.
“I don’t remember sir if we had fixed upon a prize for the champion. Have you selected a suitable one?”
The Prince smiled at her interest, and then pointed at a large dark bay stallion being held by a groom nearby.
“That my love, is Forbear. He is the pride of my stables, for his blood can be traced nigh seven hundred years. He is fleet as the wind, and strong as an oak! He is a fair prize indeed.” Elise smiled sweetly.
“And I suppose my lord, that you would not bid such a high price were you not certain of winning the tournament yourself.”
“Indeed. For as you yourself said so graciously but a few days before this, you have seen me in battle, I am a worthy swordsman. And not one here can outmatch me.”
Elise said nothing, but thought,
“There is one who can outmatch you. And you are to meet your reward this very day.”
The Prince then raised his hand, and the heralds blew on their trumpets. The contest had begun!
First the smaller knights of his train tried their swords against each other. Sir Thunbrook le Mar, and Sir Uriah vi Omar. Sir Uriah won, striking Sir Thunbrook from his horse on the second turn with his lance. Sir Thunbrook was struck in the chest, and fell to the ground with the wind knocked out of him.
Next Sir Uriah was matched against one of the mightier knights, Sir Lionel of Viva, a knight baronet. Meaning that he was a baron and in charge of a section of land, whereas Sir Uriah simply ruled a small county.
Elise watched as he struck him to the ground, much as he had Sir Thunbrook.
And the next knight, an even better warrior, Sir Rogue of Shimton.
She felt puzzled. Something didn’t make sense, if Sir Uriah were truly the better warrior, why did he not have a greater position? She turned to the Prince and asked,
“Surely this warrior of yours, Sir Uriah, is a sharpened tool. And you say that he only rules the small county of Omar?”
The Prince smiled and said,
“Yes my dear. I had not known him to be so good. Perhaps I shall raise him to the rank of knight baronet.” And he chuckled.
Elise didn’t like something in that chuckle. So she turned her attention from the Prince to Sir Uriah.
He was now battling against one Sir Fern de Carn. He seemed to be using the same tactic that he had on the other knights. He held his lance in his hand, and rested the end in the crook of his arm. Whereas his opponents always held theirs just in their hand.
Elise was puzzled even more, the other knights had been holding it correctly, and Sir Uriah was holding it the hard way.
Then it dawned on her! The other knights were holding the lance the correct way, the way you would hold them if your lance was the correct length! Therefore, Sir Uriah was holding his in his arm because it was longer!
Having a longer lance meant that you could strike your opponent before he had a chance to strike you! Now the whole plot was laid out in front of Elise.
Prince Nettle had given Sir Uriah a longer lance so that he might defeat all of the other knights, including Sir Paul! And if he had the same results with Sir Paul as he had had with the other knights, Sir Paul would be stricken from his horse and so wounded that he would not be able to battle against the Prince. Then the Prince would battle against Sir Uriah, who would change lances so that the Prince might win.
Elise was furious, she must warn Paul! But how? For the next five knights she was racking her brain, trying to think of a way that she might warn him without letting the Prince know that she was onto his scheme.
But luckily for her, a Divine hand created a way for her to give him the message. Sir Uriah had vanquished all of the knights except for Sir Paul and the Prince. And Sir Paul was signed to go next.
But before he rode out into the arena, the Prince called him over to the bandstand. Paul rode up and looked him in the face. The Prince cleared his throat nervously,
“Sir Paul of Baton. You are the only foreign knight here, and therefore must make a good show to all of my courtiers. And since the Queen of the Tourney, Princess Elise, is your liege lady, she may say a few words to you.”
Elise brightened hopefully, then spoke slowly, choosing her words with care.
“Well Sir Paul, the only thing I can say to you is this. Show your metal and do well. You come from Baton, a worthy land, though we have shorter lands than many of our opponents lands. Stay humble when necessary, and rise when you have the chance.”
Sir Paul bowed his head in understanding, then took his lance and rode off to the middle of the arena.
Elise glanced slyly over at the Prince to see whether or not he had caught their hidden conversation. He seemed to be watching Sir Uriah eagerly, and hadn’t noticed the slightest thing. She breathed a small breath of relief, but then held it again as Paul took his place at the end opposite of Sir Uriah in the lists.
The trumpets blew, the knights charged down upon one another! Elise watched tensely as the space in between the pounding horses’s hooves narrowed. Fifty yards, the thirty, fifteen, ten…
Now she looked up with burning eyes in agony to see whether Paul had been thrown or not. The scene before her showed how clear was his head.
The instant before Sir Uriah’s lance would have struck Paul’s helmet, he ducked low and drove his lance into the exposed breastplate of his opponent. It was like hitting a brick wall.
Sir Uriah fell like a log onto the ground, his senses knocked from him. Paul rode quietly over to the side of the arena to await the next contest.
Elise felt like cheering, roaring aloud! Instead she looked coyly at the Prince. His face had turned a nasty shade of greenish white, it was clear that this particular contest had not gone as planned.
The heralds blew in honor of the victory, and then the Prince’s horse was led up to the grandstand by his head groom. He stood up shakily for a moment, then straightened his back, bowed to Elise, and mounted on his horse.
Now the heralds blew a great fanfare in honor of the Prince. Then for a moment there was complete silence as the champions sized each other up. Elise wasn’t doing anything but praying.
Then the trumpets sounded again, and the Prince and Paul charge furiously down one on the other! The entire crowd sat on the edge of their seats while the rivals charged furiously.
They had met! Their lances shivered with the shock as they clanged together. The riders continued in away from each other, then they swung back around and charged again.
Elise watched with growing excitement as they charged again, but then her heart sank. An archer nearby was stringing his crossbow and aiming it directly at Sir Paul!
Rising up she shouted out,
“Humble yourself Paul!” He heard and bent low, just in time, for an arrow went singing over where his head had previously been.
Elise turned red with anger, and shouted out with the voice of a giantess,
“Dare you try a trick like that again coward Prince and you shall regret that you were ever born!” Then she sat down with the bearing of a queen.
The Prince charge with fury down upon Sir Paul! Instead of charging back however, Paul pulled his horse back and simply waited. The Prince’s lance was aimed directly at Paul’s visor, and at the speed he was riding a blow like that could kill him!
When the Prince’s lance was barely a few feet from his face Paul ducked, driving his blunt lance beneath the Prince’s lance arm.
The Prince’s lance fell to the ground, and he bent over in the saddle, his shoulder broken.
But gnashing his teeth in dark anger, he quickly drew his sword out with his left arm and stabbed at Paul. Paul parried the blow with his lance, which he threw at the Prince.
While the Prince was ducking, Paul drew his own sword and swept at Nettle. Nettle blocked and their horses stamped round and round each other while their masters fought furiously.
But, the end of the fight was inevitable. Paul pulled his horse back to avoid one of the Prince’s sweeping blows, but then he lunged forward at an exposed area on the Prince’s left arm. The sword hit home, and the Prince fell to the ground with one broken shoulder, and one bleeding arm.
Meanwhile, Elise had risen out of her seat, and edged over to the rail of the grandstand, apparently so that she might see better. But in reality so that she might be ready. The courtiers around her were so engrossed in the fight that they did not notice.
As soon as Prince Nettle fell Paul wheeled his horse around and charged for the bandstand. Elise leaped onto the rail and then sprung onto the back of the saddle when Paul raced by!
A shout was raised, and some attempt was made to stop them. But the sight of Paul’s earnest brown eyes filled with the fire of battle, and his red sword raised high above his head, they quickly changed their minds. Paul and Elise broke through the crowd, and then galloping at breakneck speed, they charged out into the countryside!
Meanwhile King Frederick’s spies had returned, with news of an attack on Baton! There wasn’t a moment to lose! Quickly the army was called out. Officers were sent hasty messages, and the calvary horses were speedily groomed.
The King himself decided to ride at the head of the relieving army, with his son riding with the calvary. Queen Annika, and the Princess’s Lianna and Desria saw them off.
“Pray my dears, that we might not be to late to save my noble brother. Pray also that we may find Elise, who is undoubtedly away on some other adventure, for her necklace was found beyond Baton.” He kissed them, the mounted his horse and shouted out to the assembled army,
“Friends! We ride now to save Baton, one of our finest provinces, and my noble brother Harold. Stand firm and steady, though Nettle’s men are seasoned warriors, I have complete confidence in the warriors of Hobblestone!”
With a shout the army began their charge forward for the freedom of Baton!