Chapter 15~The joust

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Birds sing all around as the sun breaks the utter silence of night the tents flags picking up in the light breeze as Matilida, Joseline, Darius, and Cydian slept in my tent the horse nearby in a side tent to keep her closer to the tent because some horses can be stolen or mistaken for another knights because they all look similar in size, shape, and color.

"Trystan it't time to get up now" Joseline whispred before she left a short soft kiss on my cheek waking me with a smile my Amber eyes opening to meet with her stormy grey ones.

 "already?" I grummbled as I sat up in bed before slipping my feet into my riding boots and standing up getting into my riding tunic before stepping outside of my tent and going to the horses side and looking her over giving her more water and some hay.

"If you ride well I will keep you and call you my own but you must promise to behave" I said to the horse as if she would understand me a sort of connection passing between her and myself as if she was more than just a horse but a long lost friend and she very well could be though who's to say.

"My lord I see that Joseline was succesfull at waking you it took me five bloody minutes before I gave up it was as if I was tyring to wake a rock" Cydian said with a chuckle before setting my armor out.

 "yes she did indeed" I said as I walked over Cydian begining to put my armor on peice by peice, meanwhile Daris was tacking up the steed I was to ride.

"The mare is ready for you my lord" Darius said leading her out and holding her steady Cydian finishing with my armor .

"Cydian when am I due at the lists?" I asked as I mounted the steed and positioned myself right in the saddle taking up the reins.

 "you are due at the lists in an hour my lord" he said and I nodded.

 "well we best be off you two can manage the lances on your own if not have the girls help you" I chuckled before trotting off.

"I told you being his squire was not a good idea Darius" Joseline said to him as she stepped out of the tent.

 "now is not the time for I told you so Joseiline" he said before heading off holding two lances one in each hand Cydian doing the same as they brought them to the lists to put in the rack where I had tied the horse already.

"Father after the joust can I keep the horse I borrowed from the merchant?" My father turned around and glanced at the horse.

 "Trystand don't you have enough horses you have a collection of them" he sighed.

 "I only have one horse father I sold the other mare I had because she was no use to me without a stallion to match her breed" I replied.

"Fine you can keep the mare but you best be able to pair her with that stallion you have" he said before dismissing me and I smiled racing down to the mare and I gave her a name right then and there.

 "your name is to be Starling" I said to her before running a hand down her muzzle in which I got a gentle nudge from her.

"My lord everything is in place for the joust on both sides of the lists and Sir Zellniok is ready" Cydian said Darius no where in sight.

 "very good Cydian now we just wait" I said as people started to fill the stands of the arena the spots going quickly as people filled in even my father had to go to the royal box early with the others that would accompiny him.

With a raised hand my father silenced the crowd and nodded to the man who started the joust "on this day the Knight of Lishengure and the Knight of Camolot will joust with lance and horse, stand for your knights people and let them fight for your honor!" he said to the people then turned to us "Sir Trystan state your ready" he said and I raised my lance having mounted and put my helm on.

"Sir Zellniok state your ready" he said to the other knight who also raised his lance the flag bearer taking his place both of us lowering our helmet visors to protect our faces should we get hit in the head when we were ready we raised our lances once more the flag bearer moving the flag flicking it up then rushing out of the way.

I tap my horse into a gallop the sudden movment causing her to rear up then ina burst of speed she moved faster than any horse I had ever Jousted with the rider and horse as one Sir Zellniok charging towards me both of us putting the lance in the cradle which is the way we hold the lance for a direct blow it helps us to control the lance better.

In seconds an ear splitting crash sounded as my lance shatters on Sir Zellniok's chestplate having rolled my sholder back I had caused him to miss his bow his lance unbroken the crowd cheering as we reset Cydian handing me a new lance Darius taking the damaged lance then we passed twice more before I had won the match advansing in the joust and securing my place on the board.

Right after the joust I walked starling back to the tent where Darius untacked her and Cydian removed my armor both of them getting to work repairing and making lances for the rest of the joust knowing I would be breaking many more lances and that I did the rest of the joust I won the last match being the hardest for I hadn't ridden against or heard of the knight on a white steed he was a better rider than most others.

This last ride was the best I had ever had he knew what he was doing and after one pass he learned that I lean my sholder back and kept my eyes on the target instead of looking away so he changed his stratagy and ended up breaking one lance on my chest and one on my shoulder which left a bruise not that it bothered me it was worth it for a bit of fun now and again.

After the run I washed up at my tent the horse being taken care of by Darius and Cydian taking care of my gear as I dressed for the feast having won the joust not letting the other knight win, I made plans to meet with this knight from a Kingdom named Black crest though I didn't know the Knights name I was intrested in how he changed tactics so quickly.

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