The Knight of Chivalry

Chapter 29

Throughout the time that Simon spent on the training field with his friends more lords, knights and people in general had come into the city. Simon would meet some of them on the field whilst others he heard about from the other knights or from his lord when he returned to the estate. Sometimes they would arrive in big groups as they had decided to travel together on the road other times they would be quiet small and could quietly come into the city. The biggest procession to come in though was met by the king at the gate as it was the king Emanuel and his party coming into the city. The king and his son road into the city on big horses and looked very gallant in fine armour, the king wearing a golden crown atop his head. Even though he looked to be in his early fifties he still looked like a strong man who kept himself fit. His son was a much younger version of him though he looked a bit fairer and the ladies in the crowd all swooned when they saw him. Behind them came a big wheelhouse where the king’s queen and daughters must have been sitting. It was the king’s oldest daughter, Elizabeth who was to marry Edward and so unite both kingdoms together. Behind the wheelhouse road various knights and lords from this southern realm, in total there must have been fifteen hundred people in this procession including guards. Once all the greetings and hand shaking was done between the two kings they set off up into the city and the crowd that had watched the entrance dispersed. The king and his family would have places of honour in the palace, the rest of his party must find rooms elsewhere in the city and those were becoming shorter in supply as more people came into the city. The inns and over boarding houses were making a lot of money from this as their rooms were in high demand from the really posh and grand places in the inner rings to the flea ridden places in the lower halls, all were getting filled. Some had left the city and set up tents on the ground outside the walls and would come back in to get food and such. The market bustled each day with lots of people buying and selling their goods, this tournament had brought a lot of wealth into an already wealthy city.

            There were others who profited from the increase of people in the city, from bakers and farmers who sold their produce to weapon smiths and armourers who were providing gear to the knights who were to fight in the tournament. The whores of the city also gained a lot more custom as men had needs that they require servicing and all of them were glad to take their money to do it. The cleaner and more beautiful ones in nicer brothels cost more than other ones that weren’t so clean and men would go see those at their own risk, usually the guards of the lords who weren’t as well as off as the knights. Cutpurses and thieves were also making more, even with an increase in guards they managed to get the purses of the unwary travellers, all over the city. Crime also increased a bit but that was mostly drunken brawls from the taverns and rarely did it go any worse.

            With the tournament being just three days away the king held a banquet in his hall for the lords who had come to the city as there wasn’t likely going to be any more coming so close to the tourney. Lord Reiner was of course invited and he took his family and his knights with him to the feast. The banquet hall which they entered was massive, it was very long and wide with very high ceilings and had several tables set up. There was already quite a few people here who were being waited on by servants, the high table though was empty. The lord went and sat down in his seat which was the third table away from the high one which was quite an honour whereas Simon and the other knights was placed further away. They got a mug of ale from one of the pacing servants carrying trays of them and sat and talked amongst themselves whilst they waited. More knights came and joined their table, some Simon knew and he greeted them warmly others he did not know and so was introduced to them. After about an hour or so the banquet hall became filled with people, all of which sat at their assigned tables. It was then that the two kings entered the hall and walked up to the high table and were seated with their queens and children. Once they were the feast began with food being brought out by the servants, they were served first of course but there was plenty to go around for the rest of them. The food was exquisite as they were dished from all of the kingdom as well as some foreign ones from the southern one and Simon ate his fill from them. There was plenty of drink as well and the more people drank the louder and happier the feast became with lots of laughter and singing breaking out from time to time. Once everyone had tasted the last dish the king got up and banged his mug upon the table which quietened the hall.

            “My friends I bid you welcome and thank you for coming, not only to this fine feast I set on but to attend the tournament in celebration of my son Edward getting married to the princess Elizabeth. The wedding will take place shortly after the tournament so I implore you to stick around for that as we shall have another feast to celebrate that with lots more food and drink. I know we are all looking forward to the tourney, I am myself and I wish luck to all the knights here who are going to take part in it, I know you all shall fight honourably and give me and others a lot of entertainment. Drink and be merry this knight and we shall see you again when the tourney starts, cheers” the king said and he lifted his mug and drank heartily, the other people in the hall followed suit. Musicians then came into the room and the servants pushed some of the tables to the walls to make a dancing space. Lords and ladies took to the floor as the musicians struck up a lively song and more drink circled the room. The welcoming feast lasted well into the night and everyone had a lot of fun and got very drunk during it before heading back to their accommodations to sleep it off.