Of Swords And Horses (The Ostler's Boy Book 2)

Chapter Seven

"I won't bore you with every detail of this tale," I said. "I won Archery, it's not hard. You get points for every bullseye you strike; you lose one for every out. I didn't have any outs, as I am not a simpleton; I'm a capable hunter. It was a swift move onto each round, and as I said, I won."

"I like this weirdly shy Elías, I dare say," Svana said. "And I like that even in your houndiest of days, you remained quite civil. Good for you."

I ignored the comment. "The second trial," I said, "was Swords. Where the game, Swords and Horses comes from, you'll know."

"Aye, yes," she blinked. "I am familiar. Though there aren't any horses in Swords?"

"That part's from the joust," I said.

"Then they should call it Arrows and Swords and Horses, don't you think?"

I laughed. "A bit wordy, perhaps."

"A bit."

"As a Knight, you'd better be able to hold your own in sword on sword combat. Especially in my position, as the newest member of this squad. Of course, I was competing with more than just my brothers here on the Eisson estate, but rather men from all over Oreia. Men I'd never known, a few I had, all certain they deserved my shield on their arm."

"They assumed your uncle gave you the position?" she asked.

"Maybe some. Others just felt they were that good," I winked. "I'd competed well, despite. It's not difficult to win against your adversaries. As Eliza would say, you just have to pay attention. Because of this, I noticed things like if they had a bad knee, or if they favored a certain hand, and, being ambidextrous, I would switch to my left if I decided it."

"Aye, of course," she snickered.

"There was one individual I sparred hard against in both the beginning and the ending rounds. We traveled through the brackets, neck to neck in points, until we were pitted against each other in the final draft. A man from Crild, and a worthy fighter, that's for sure. I took more than one strike from him. One of them in the side of the head!"

"Oh my, God!"

"It'd nearly rendered me unconscious. Might have killed me if not for the helmet. It certainly gained a rather roaring cheer from the audience, fueled by their appetite for pain! As my vision settled back in place, and I regained my feet, the corner of my eye caught something odd. Her Majesty had stood from her chair; her hands were over her mouth. I saw them depart from her face, and saw her check on either side of the roped-off area she was in for any witnesses to her reaction. She swept the back of her skirt behind her as she sat down, and I wondered if she knew I was looking at her, by the way her fear stilled."

Svana nodded. "She was worried for you."

"Jousting, on the other hand, is very different," I went on. "Dangerous."