A Joust of Honor

[Sir Dmitrii Zurban]

Continued from

Days had past since Lord Martin had come acalling… For the pair, it had been a visit of accomplishment. Turas Lan would have a better quality of gates and reinforced walls, and they were allowed to seek fulfillment in their relationship. The days since, they had spent together, from sunrise to sunset… though secretly, some evenings were spent on the verandas in each other’s arms. Neither had used the door between their rooms… though surely they desired to…

Now the days of the Tournament were upon them. Dmitrii was healing well, and the limp hardly noticeable… The days just before the games were filled with planning the settlement just outside the List, loading supplies and his combat equipment, and arranging everything to accommodate the tournament activities from a participants viewpoint..

For those days prior to the events, he, and Aegraine, were simply passers-by in all the preparations. Smiles and lover’s glances offered briefly in the surrounding helter-skelter of the manor.

Then came the day of the opening ceremonies and first round of jousts… Dmitrii accompanied the wagons of supplies and equipment… Aegraine would depart the Manor to her home in Turas Lan… then on to the tournament…

When Aegraine rounded the bend into Weir Lane, her little cottage was almost unrecognizable, but that her servant Dora Lynch was there standing on the front step, waving and calling out, "Mistress Aegraine! Come and see what your Da has done to the house!" She did not even need to enter the door to see that Martin and his men had revamped the humble cottage, covering the rough hewn walls with light gray granite with the windows now made of cubes of glass. The nearby homes here all had their damages from the war repaired, beyond their previous state. Inside, new furnishings fill the main room and the secondary room was adequately equipped, as well. There was no mention, but it was Elder lePower who now owned this rental unit.

"I am to accompany you to the Jousts, on your Father's orders." Dora hung her head and gave her apology. "I should of gone you to Lake Manor, I know that now. But I got wed and had my mind on selfish things, I did." There were coins paid by Martin weighting Good wife Lynch's apron pocket, so she was obliged to do as she had been hired. "I am gonna stick to you, come hail or high water, Miz Aegraine. I got my duty." The last was pronounced so firm that there was no question, Dmitrii's servants present or not, here was Dorie and here she was staying, like a tick from the woods; like a swamp leech. Dora's hawk eyes would not miss a thing concerning Aegraine, so she had sworn.

Dmitrii: Now he wore her colors, the bluegreen, which she wore most, upon his arm... and with a familiar smirk, her colors blatantly contrast to his own black and silver... Dmitrii had arrived earlier than most... his leisure days of recovery made pleasurable with Aegraine by his side.

Aegraine: Aegraine wore a blue green gown with a square cut neckline, with a pendant necklace her only jewelry. Her hair was done in part a cornet of braids atop her head, the rest hung long in waves at her back, as long as to her waist. Long sleeves to her wrists were edged with embroidery in an Irish chain design. “Gads! I am as nervous… as I were going out there, myself.”

Dmitrii: For the procession, Dmitrii rode his black Friesian, who would be covered in black material... the Cyrillic D upon all four quarters... the rider donned in black and silver... the flag of black overlayed by a silver X.... Inside his tent, the squires prepare his armour... outside a valet preps his lances... As the servants seated Aegraine, Dmi waved at her from his settlement... and smiled...

Aegraine: Aegraine stood along with Dmitrii’s servants, her own Dora chattered back and forth with Marie, exchanging comments on the spectacle of colors and pageantry before their eyes. She smiles and returns his wave.

Dmitrii: Dmi takes a long look to Aegraine and removing his helm...mouths words they both long to hear... "Ya lyub blu tyb ya..."

Aegraine: "I bet on you! " She said, too far away to be heard. "And If you win I shall learn to bake scones." laughing at the idea of her baking anything with success. Dmitrii was wearing her colors, it was as close to Aegraine could be to being in the contest herself; her heart was in it. Old Dora gave her mistress Ae a side glance and did not comment.

Bolverk: Both strong and rough hands moved together to clap for the other contestants that were already under way. The horse he had bought from Eohmark was strong and seemed fearless, hopefully it would not throw him off it's back before he had a chance to really dig in and ride. Already dressed in the armor he made himself, he moved towards the area. It was light, would hurt like hell if hit, but at least he could move his bulky frame about in it. The wooden lance was waiting for him when he was ready, but first, he would need to pick a partner. Dark eyes moved over the crowd before he spotted a possible partner. “Ah, Lord Dmitrii…. Would you care to try your hand and horse against me?”

Dmitrii: Dmitrii nodded to Bolverk with affirmation. “Best way to start the day I presume…” The helm was tucked under his arm, his left hand holding the reins of the large black Friesian… Then he took time to look toward Aegraine.

Meanwhile, on the runway of the List, others were engaged in combat. The thunder of hooves resounded as heavy horse challenged light chargers. The crash of lance to armour resulted in splinters of one lance, and the thud of a rider to the ground. Yet another unseated knight fell to the dirt in a puff of dust.

Dora: "Do they use them broke off lances for kindling?" Dorie got shushed by her employer. “What do they do with the broke off lances? Seems they be good for something." She fanned herself with her apron end. "Twere terrible scarey, it were. And this match, too!"

This run would be two of the Mo’r Triath’s men… two members of General Maahes’ heavy horse… The men leaned forward in their saddles and prepared for the crashing of the Tilt. As the horses neared, the knights clamped their knees to their horse’s sides… then crash… both lances shattered with splinters flying thru the air… both riders jolted from the hit, but remained in their saddles.

Dora: "Kindlin' wood fer certain that time!"

Dmitrii: Dmitrii had been notified that his and Bolverk's runs were postponed... with that he made his way to the settlement and removed most of his armour... then he made his way to the stands... finding Ae and sitting next to her... "G'day M'Lady..."

Aegraine: “Good day, to you, good Sir." she did not want to call him Dmi, in public, yet.

Dmitrii: He pointed to her colors upon his arm... "For yu my dear..." he whispered into her ear... "I am glad yu came..." Spoken so none would hear...

Aegraine: One hand she moves Dora from jabbing at her in the side. "Dorie, please. Here are a few coins, go and find yourself some festival foods."

Dmitrii: He would attempt to control his manners around her... the widow Dora did not know how close these two had come in their relationship. Dmi would smile... "Lady Dora..." he said in greeting.

Aegraine: "I would not have missed this day, for almost anything." she answers in a like voice tone.

Dora: Nods, clutches the coins in her hand. "Greeting Sir; I was just going to the sweetmeat sellers."

Dmitrii: He nods at Dora, then settles his attention upon Ae...

Aegraine: "I was so nervous! It was as if I were going to be out there on horse, lance in hand! I was seeing things through your eyes."

Dmitrii: His hand went automatically to her face, touching her softly... "I'll be alright... its just a peaceful joust...” then dropped away suddenly as he looked around to see who saw...

Dora: Dora's cap was bopping along, through the crowd and the old one did not look back; she was headed for candy with honey and nutmeats; candied grapes and apple. She had no idea...no urge to look back.

Aegraine: “I saw it was not as bad as battle, but you know, once the horses run...it is not in a person's reaction to hold back.”

Dmitrii: His hand took hers as they sat innocently next to one another... their hidden clasp of hands made his heart thunder in his chest. "Aye, tis get hectic in the heat of a joust,... and this way, no one dies..." he smiled, the familiar quirk of his beard.

Aegraine: "No one dies; I like that part, for a good change." Smiling.

Dmitrii: Again he leans to whisper... "I hate this sneaking around we must do... I want to yell to the world that we are in love dear..."

Aegraine: “First things first… My Father first, now he knows… Then the rest of the world… all in order, ok? For Father?" Still has respect for the old man.

As Dmitrii sat with Aegraine, his attention was upon her more than the tournament… and suddenly a man dressed in full armour, his standard unfamiliar neared the rail near the pair… Opening the visor of the helm, his eyes narrow… “Lord Zurban… I challenge you to a run upon the List… At stake, shall be the honor of Lady Aegraine… and her hand in marriage…” Rhupert Lewellen Jenks, aide to Lord lePower, had taken his future into his own hands… He had decided, whether wisely or unwisely, to challenge Lord Dmitrii for Aegraine’s hand.

Dmitrii merely glanced at the knight upon his arrival, then veered his attention back to Aegraine. Until – Until the knight raised his visor and offered a challenge. Dmitrii slowly looked at the man… and immediately recognized Lord lePowers’s aide… With a questioned look to Aegraine, he paused…

She gasped and looked agape to Dmitrii, "Can he do that? Challenge you with my hand as a prize?" Surely this was a joke, yes it had to be that. "Rhupert? If you jest, know that in this land you might be taken serious." The time working with the plans for wall repairs had been nothing but business, she had not seen a hint of humor in the man thus far.

Dmitrii did not smile, nor offer that infamous smirk. Though his steel-gray eyes darkened and narrowed to slits when he looked to Jenks. Only softening when he looked to Aegraine. “I am afraid common law chivalry can my dear…” his hand took hers into his between them; and he looked around. The crowd seemed to gasp at the challenge and held their breath for a response.. And upon Ae’s words to Jenks, Dmitrii released her hand and stood; the crowd around them glancing between the men, now focused on Dmitrii. Aegraine and his relationship had now been exposed to all of Turas Lan.

As it was, Martin lePower did promise Jenks introduction to his daughter, with a possible courtship, if she agreed, once they got acquainted working on the Turas Lan wall and Gate reconstruction. That promise got lost in the shuffle, when Le Power gave permission for Zurban's courtship. Chalk it up to a very old man getting a tad forgetful but Jenks thought he had a good case. In that light, Rhupert made his challenge of Dmitrii and stood, waiting for an answer.

"Well?" Jenks tipped his head to one side, so anyone might see from his helm a mocking smirk, for them both to contemplate. "Do you accept my challenge or no?"

The look upon Dmitrii’s face was emotionless… a blank stare as he focused upon the challenger. “Ready yer horse, knight… I accept.” Then Dmitrii kissed the top of Ae’s head… “It will be alright m’luv…” and turned to leave the stands. The kiss may have been for her, but he was sure it would agitate Jenks.

Rhupert challenged Dmitrii, in spite of what his Boss told him, that to make trouble or mention Aegraine’s name in connection with a joust challenge would cost him is position with the lePower family business. It was a reckless act, in contrast with Jenk’s serious everyday manner. There was another side to this man, desperate to make his way in this world, by any means. His talent with stonework should have been enough but progress to fortune and fame by that route had taken so long, Jenks was not about to wait any longer, now that he saw a way into the lePower family for life.

“I left her name out of it. Did you not notice?” Behind the faceplate of his armor Rhupert Jenks smiled a wry grin and continued to select his first weapon of choice, before the first run against Zurban. Alan, Aegraine’s older half brother had come to the family tent and waited, purposely to see what Jenks was about. The aide did have permission to enter the lists, but this action was not what any of them expected.

“What? Why that one? Don’t you want to take his head off or something like you did with that fellow, back in Paris? Broke his neck, didn't you? “ Alan folded his arms, restricted by his Father’s orders to let the hot head be and his own determination to see that Jenks did not choose an unfair lance, for he had been known to do so before.

“No. I cannot injure too badly a man already walking with a cane; I just want him to lose. Besides, if I damage him too much, Aegraine will dislike me before she even gets to know me.” Actually, Rhupert liked that Ae was quiet and serious about her work with the wall design and construction. He himself was a most serious faced person, almost to the level of grim.

“Honor? How can you base this challenge on my sister’s honor?“ Alan was at a loss for what to say to Martin, who had come to watch the Jousts, unannounced.

“I asked questions, everywhere I went and trust me, you do not want to know.” There was one item in the friendship of Ae and Dmi that irked Rhupert to no end. “I will tell you anyway, your sister traveled overnight with the man in question, without other companions, out into the wilderness. And I say that is not correct conduct! I make that clear - I will not stand for such behavior!”

Good thing Jenks been wearing his faceplate, for Alan readied his fists to smash that upstart’s mouth until his teeth fell out. Instead, Alan backed off, fuming. Was this true? “You have not heard the last from me! If justice be done, I will be watching your sorry carcass carried out on a stretcher! And then see what the old man says about that.” With that Alan wheeled about and stomped on back to his father’s side, unsure what to tell the old man concerning the rash Jenks.

Meanwhile, Aegraine sat watching the events, among Dmitrii’s servants, with the maid Marie at one side and her own servant Dora Lynch, at the other. There was great commotion among the servants and the adjacent crowd, concerning the challenge to Zurban.

“Can they do that, Mistress? Put your hand up as prize for what you told me was a game?” Dora asked, all the while nibbling on toasted pine nuts with honey, from a parchment twist.

“I guess so. Dmi seems to think it’s legal.” Aegraine just stared at the empty lanes, waiting for the next match to be announced. “Father gave his permission …I thought courtship would be so lovely…but this I never dreamed.”

When Dmitrii kissed Aegraine atop her head, before he went to get ready for the challenge match, was that a kiss goodbye? She could scarcely think about anything between now and the ultimate victory which was to decide her fate. There was nothing to do but trust Dmi to do his best in the joust match.

“You castle folk got it bad.” Dora sighed, for she had wanted her employer to be happy, as she was. “I got to say yes or no to Clovis, make up my own mind. You got your Father, the Majesty and the Majesty Lady and the laws and the Church and public opinion and like that there. Now this challenge joust.” The older servant lady sighed and patted Aegraine’s arm. “Somewhere, somehow Love ought to come first, eh?”

None too slow, Dmitrii walked thru the crowd, making his way to his settlement. “Ready Troika… we have a run to make…” then he began to don his armour with the assistance of a squire… “It is an honor challenge… the lance tip shall be the tri-prong, non sharp… not the fistcap… I intend to break his shield… if not his will…” with one glance he looks at the scribe. “Watch his lance for his tip… if he dons a lethal point, alert me…” Dmitrii did not think Jenks would be of foul play, but he did not know this man… and this man WAS challenging him for his love’s hand.

[Sir Dmitrii Zurban]

War joust… peace jousts… He had done both… but this was the first time he had participated in such an old custom as a chivalric honor joust… And against a man so unfamiliar to him. To what extent would he take the battle? Questions such as that veered thru his mind.

Now was the time to make their way to the List; accompanied by his squire and assistants. He poised himself at the end of the List. Lances were in the stands, his swords in the rings of his saddle on either side. Dmitrii stepped upon the stand… and wheeled one leg over the saddle. As he settled into the leather seat, he looked to the stands and nodded his head to Aegraine. Then his squire placed the shiny helm upon his head; adjusting it for the curls of Dmi’s hair. Then with a flip up of the visor, Dmitrii looked to his opponent at the far end of the list.

At the opposite of the list, there, Jenks sat calm upon a dark brown brick of a horse with the same color dark brown barding as was the horse himself. He wore the colors of lePower, argent and black, on a banner from Aegraine's family collection. His gauntlets had nicks and dents from previous use and the armor Rhupert wore had seen better days, days in Jousts in Paris, Grasse, and VanDrier. This day Jenks aimed high for a woman beyond his station, a connection to a wealthy family and more than that, to see Zurban flattened and beaten. He did not like the man, to the nth degree. If he had to break this one's neck, it was not a first choice but entirely in keeping with Jenks' history.

The crowd had been heightened to a fervor at the announcement of an honor joust between Lord Dmitrii Zurban and Lord Rhupert Jenks… The hearld, atop a platform near the Mo’r Triath and Mo’r Okesula’s seats, yelled in a loud voice of the participants near run. Then he looked to the Mo’r Okesula and bowed, then in a loud voice swooped his hand toward the list as he rose to speak… “MiLady Mo’r Okesula, tis a run of honor… tis a run of love… for one has asked for the Lady’s hand in marriage, the other is to seek justice… With your permission, the flag’s shall start this run…”

A flagman walked to the center of the list… on one side, was the black flag and silver diagonal cross of the Zurban… the other the colors of lePower… The Herald getting approval from the Mo’r Okesula pointed to the flagmen and dropped his hand… the flags quickly rose and the men moved from the list…

Dmitrii slammed down the visor and took the lance from the squire and leveled it in the ready… and when the flags rose, Dmi spurred the big black Friesian. The huge animal sank at the rear quarters and his heavy front feet came off the ground as the rear feet pushed forward. Dmi leaned forward in the saddle as the Friesian lurched forward and began to sprint hard down the run…

The left hand gripped the reins, whilst the right hand hefted the lance across the imaginary center-line of the horse… As Troika thundered heavily down the run, Dmi clenched his knees down upon the sides of the horse’s front flanks and leaned heavily forward in the saddle… the lance under his arm, the gloved hand at the lance shield.

Distance shortened between the two riders with every millisecond… thunderous hooves kicking up dirt with every step.

Dmi saw the approaching man’s lance coming right at him… and braced himself for the impact, as he narrowed his eyes and aimed his own lance… Dmitrii’s left shoulder and breast was protected by a small shield attached to the armour…

As the impending impact approached, Dmi knew that he had three runs at the list… and… possibly ground combat… to defeat Jenks or be defeated. The latter unacceptable!! Milliseconds seemed to be hours as the two men sped towards one another…

Then in an instant, the challenger’s lance struck his shield and the impact rattled Dmitrii’s teeth… the lances, including his own, exploded into shreds of wooden fibers that fell to the ground or blew away in the wind…

The crowd gasped, as if in unison, as the lances exploded and Dmitrii rocked backwards. The Kievan Rus warrior rocked back in the saddle… but he was still seated ! The big black Friesian rode to the end of the list and rounded the corner back to his own end. With that the crowd cheered as Dmitrii, the favored of the run, worked a sore arm… then waved to the crowd as he made his way back to his end for the second run.

Now his chances of winning was reduced… He quickly settled into the saddle and received his second lance from the squire..

Jenks wheeled his dark horse, StanHywet, and extended one arm to receive the second lance from his squire, without seeming to even look at it, for which lance was to be second was pre-decided. He sat tall and hid that Zurban’s bone jarring hit had even phased him. Of course it hurt, but it was not his style to let on. “Let the crowd encourage Dmitrii, let him get overconfident and then we will see.” The challenger thought.

Rhupert’s horse wore a chanfron over its face, complete with cheek pieces and crestpiece, the design matched the helmet its rider wore. They moved as one mind, horse and rider, onto the start place and stood ready for the next run.

No crowd cheered Jenks this time, the usual atmosphere at jousts in a foreign land. All the better, was his attitude for the less attention his less-than-grand image got, the better to be unexpected.

Now his attention was only at this one task, this one run to unhorse Zurban. Each segment of a jousting series stood alone, a thing in itself.

Lances on the rests, shields in place, the flags were up and next signaled. A second run began.

Face to face, they glared on the move, fast and headlong into the center both black and brown horses raced, as if it were their contest; their riders mere decorations to wear.

Faster even than the first run, the combatants hit center of the lane and clashed in a whirl of dust and new broken lances, once more.

Jenks struggled to hold his seat in the saddle, very close to landing upon the ground, but close only. He had to look again to make certain, but there he was. Zurban still seated atop Troika; himself still riding StanHywet.

The response of the crowd was uproarious and those had seating rose in a tumultuous thunder of voice and applause. The only name Rhupert heard, through it all was “Dmitrii…Dmitrii… Zurban!”

“Ack! This is not as easy as I had hoped.” Rhupert thought but did not speak, as he reached for the third lance. His squire backed off and stood hands folded, watching. The young squire glanced one time over his shoulder and spied Lord lePower and Alan standing at the far end of the crowd, both of them arms folded and not in the least amused. Good that Jenks had his mind and eyes on the runs.

All waited while the debris from the second smashing of lances was being cleared. It helped the combatants to focus in that small break of time. Then it was going to begin all over. This third run had to come to some conclusion or it was going to go into hand to hand combat?

The second run was better than the first… This time, the greater impact was upon Jenks. Though once more Dmitrii’s aim was well placed, he did not unseat the challenger. As Troika turned and stood impatiently at their end of the list, the squire obtained a third and last lance. Dmitrii worked his helm to a more straightened position… then accepted the lance.

The crowd was chanting his name… and waving. He glanced to them… then to Aegraine… and then refocused his attention to Jenks. Lowering the visor, his knees automatically clenching at the horse… The lance laying across the centerline to the left. Spurring the horse’s flanks, the Friesian lurched forward, the front feet raising off the ground, the powerful back legs vaulting the equine. Its rider leaning forward in the saddle…

Hooves thundered under all the weight of horse and rider… Speeding their way toward one another, the men glared from slits in the visors… milliseconds later, they were meters from one another. The tips of their weapon slamming into the opposite’s shield… the lance-impact-against-shield was so powerful that it unseated both men… each falling off the rear of their own steed.

Head over heels he flew… off the saddle to a horse racing away… In a flurry of dust, he found himself upon his back, like a turtle out of water. The thud of armour-to-ground caused him to be momentarily breathless. Once he regained his senses, he rolled to his knees and stood slowly.

In the midst of both riders impacting, and the resulting unseat occurred, the crowd gasped in unison… a roar of words began to chant for the riders…

Squires from both sides were gathering the horses and removing the knights’ swords from the saddle rings. Once each combatant had his sword, a flag will drop and ground combat would begin…

Dmitrii shucked the helm from his head and took the dual swords from the squire. With a flick of the wrist… the crowd gasping again, Dmitrii shook away the heavy gauntlets and then cut away the heavy boot and leg coverings. He would fight without full armour. His curly black hair matted against his head from sweat. Both wrists spun the twin swords as he crouched slightly, summing up his opponent… Now the duel was on !!!

Rhupert hauled himself to standing, stunned that he had been unhorsed. His armor got a few dents this day and these were the first from getting knocked off his horse. StanHywet was led away, still pawing the ground as if ready for another run.

Now it was serious, if the first three contests had not been grim enough. Jenks watched what armor Zurban discarded and did the same, to make this a fair fight in the eyes of all onlookers. The lePower squire handed him a favorite sword and made sure Rhupert had a shield before running back to the sidelines, to watch and learn.

When the two men stood ready for the signal to start, it was then Rhupert Jenks noticed that Dmitrii was armed with two swords. Until this moment, he had no information about his opponents fighting style. Now he was concerned. Jenks’ forte was the Joust and tavern brawl no rules fist fighting; how he was going to do in a fair sword fight was up in the air.

Twin blades spun as the wrists guided them in circles. Showing off? Possibly, but doubtful. Dmitrii wanted not only to beat this man, but to make sure he would not disgrace Aegraine nor him again. This was combat in peacetime?!! But a warrior such as Dmitrii, who, now, was in his element… on foot, swords in hand, facing an enemy face to face…eye to eye, would know nothing as of defeat.

His steel-grey eyes narrowed as he evaluated the man. No shield for Dmi, his skill with two swords would prove enough.

The collective crowd held its breath, or at least its vocal expressions while time to strike with sword approached.

To Aegraine, this was a life defining moment. Everything could change in one swing of a sword or a missed slash. She did not notice her Father and half brother Alan, across the way, observing all that went on.

The moment came and both men faced each other; one taller with menacing swirling twin blades and the other shorter, with not such a long reach but a sword with experience. Jenks held a shield and had some reservations if this were fair to be shielded; however he had only the one sword. Sunlight reflected off the three blades and seeing this picture, the crowd waited to see who would strike the first.

Dmitrii was walking forward while Jenks stood almost in the same spot, his stocky build and low center of gravity that was such a plus in jousting did not help him now. Jenks’ sword was old, brought from the Holy Land by an ancestor who had gone on Crusade, a few generations ago. It was longer than most modern swords, its weight suitable for one with arms as strong as Rhupert had.

Onward, always pressing the attack… Dmitrii, the Mo’r Triath’s Weapon Master, never was known as conservative, but even in practice, he never backed off, even the least little bit. Now in a match of honor, with Aegraine’s future and her honor at stake, this would definitely not be the case today…

They neared and at the same moment swords swung across the space between them; Jenks sliced at Zurban’s mid section, while holding his shield to cover his opposite side. Both of Dmitrii’s swords hit at Jenks, a one-two timing; the second clanged on the stripe pattern shield, like a gong for the start of round one. It began.

Aegraine held her breath while beside her Maire was barely able to watch and old Dora did more than mumble her prayers of protection, she was shouting out. “Almighty! Save the handsome one!”

As Jenks swung at his mid-section, he automatically parried one sword as a guard, whilst the other attacked… the steel to steel clash of the left hand sword against his opponent’s sword, while the smashing blow to the man’s shield made his opponent stagger…

the crowd was almost silent, save the simultaneous gasps, as the two men battled… feet shuffled the dust as an off-rhythmic series of metal-upon-metal echoed in the List.

Dmitrii blocked an overhead swung of Jenks’ sword with his right hand, then spun quickly around, his left sword striking Jenk’s torso armour in the back… Dmi grunted as sparks flew… his sword dented the armour heavily and knocked Jenks forward… Then as the man turned and swung downward at Dmitrii’s shoulders, he raised the sword of the right hand at a right angle of his arm, blocking the downward chop. With Dmitrii’s back toward Jenks, responding to the block, he then spun low and swung at Jenks’ leg.

Dmitrii did not have much time, except enough to thrust a shoulder at the stripe-patterned shield that came toward him. With a thud the shield hit Dmitrii’s shoulder causing him to drop one sword and stagger sideways. One again the crowd gasped in unison – Dmi clearly the favorite.

With one sword, Dmitrii smirked… stepping forward, swinging the sword in varied patterns, first clashing against the man’s sword, shield, and sword again… he pressed the attack… Jenks allowed him to move forward, only to parry away Dmi’s sword, then slam him with the shield… Dmi staggered, and smirked wickedly… Then pressed the attack again…

Ten minutes of aggressive combat would prove tiring… for both men. Thus, Jenks made one mistake, he allowed Dmitrii to get within reach of the downed second sword… Using his foot, he flipped the sword in the air and caught it with his right hand… then he aggressively attacked the challenger. Battering the man’s shield with both swords, alternating with no precise rhythm, he was able to rattle the man enough, making his lose his shield… then it was two to one… and Jenks was on a backward retreat.

As Jenks attempted to step forward and bring the sword downward, Dmitrii caught the weapon in the crux of the crossed twin swords, and with a twist of his arms, and a flick of wrists, flung the man’s sword from its grasp… and struck Jenks in the face with his elbow knocking him down on his back. Immediately Dmi stepped forward, his boot upon the man’s wrist… the twins of death crossed and went to the man’s neck. “Yield MiLord…”

Sharp blades nicked both sides of Jenks’ neck, closer than a good shave would, if the man had not a full beard. Good sense allowed the defeated man but one response to Dmitrii. “You win; I concede.” He let go of his grip on the shield and held both hands slightly upwards. It was over. As Rhupert was regaining his footing, amid the shouts and joyous cheers of the audience, he spoke aside to Zurban, for his ears only. Up to this point, the men were by custom not to speak with any but the royal squire.

With the words of concession, Dmitrii withdrew his swords and held both by the left hand, and extended his right to the downed man. “T’was a grand combat MiLord… better than I expected…” as he assisted the man to his feet, then shaking his hand, which sent the crowd’s roar even louder.

“Take good care of her. If you ever need my help, I will be there; your humble servant.” Jenks picked up the sword he had been using and hilt forward, offered it to Zurban, the victor. The item in question was of old style, sharp and straight, with decorative motif on the quillions. There was no question, here was a very old Templar weapon.

Dmitrii took the sword and examined it careful. “Templar… curious…” he explained softly. Smiling that familiar smile, he handed the weapon back to Rhupert. “I shall nay take yer sword MiLord… I shall take good care of Aegraine, know this sir...” Dmi smiled again and shook his head still holding Rhupert’s hand… “Bear no loyalty to me other than sword brothers… but yu may offer yer fealty to Lady Aegraine…” then with a nod of his head, he released Rhupert’s hand.

In the stands Dora was jumping up and down, waving her arms and yelling out to the high heavens. “Yes! Thank you Lord! All is right on earth today!” The coins clinked in her apron pocket and she was reminded of her promise to repay that bribe to watch over Aegraine.

Across the way, Martin discussed the match with his son Alan, and let his thoughts be made clear. “I do not want to lose my aide for this thing he has done. If he wants to be a part of our family, make it so. Is your wife’s niece, the one in your household, sixteen yet?”

“Rebbeka? Yes, sixteen, at least.” Alan had no idea if that was correct or not but he was anxious to placate his father. “Her and Rhupert?” Something about picturing these two together made Alan laugh.

And as it was, Dmitrii placed his hand at Rhupert’s back, introducing the man to the crowd, and raised his other hand with the swords…then crowd went crazy with excitement. Not only had Dmi won, but gained a friend and ally in his victory. Dmi simple smiled at the man and looked around the stands.

As the two men stood in the List enjoying the popularity, the next event was beginning to ready for their runs… Dmi nudged Jenks’ back and they walked from the List arena.

Aegraine had watched the match to the end, so much relieved that things went as she had hoped. She shoved her way through the throng which now mobbed the wooden fence and she hung onto the railing and asked one and then another, “How is Dmitrii? Can I speak to him?” Her words were lost in the uproar.

The two men retired to their own areas, where their squires and attendants were removing their equipment to wagons. Along the way back to his, he saw Aegraine at the rail. Handing his swords to one of his attendants, he walked to her, removing his gloves. He could tell she was a bit concerned, a bit excited. As he approached, his hands covered hers on the rail; and offered her a loving squeeze. “M’Lady Aegraine… I am victorious… yer honor is in tact.” He offered her a smirk… “And now our love shall be questioned and rumored about… and all shall know how we feel for one another.”