Flower of Bulann

Chapter 6

Vior tightened his armour as best he could, he had refused his comrades offers to accompany him as a retainer, not wishing to inconvenience them. But now he understood why the samurai he fought beside had such men, his armour clanking due to his poor attempt at tying it. He had found out the next challenge mere hours ago at daybreak, the event announced was a western style joust with long spears called lances.

Worse yet, his opponent was Sir Garbrand, a man that by all accounts was an expert in the saddle. Vior had also trained to fight from the saddle, but with spear and sword, he had never even seen a lance before. 

Pushing his doubts aside he picked up the large Jousting pauldron, strapping the heavy metal plate to his left shoulder, they would score points for striking this part to not only to discourage underhanded tactics but so hopefully no man was killed.

"Are you ready, lord Vior?" one of the Hyenta servants asked with a polite bow.

Vior nodded before putting on his helmet, tying the chin strap and attaching the faceplate he seldom used.

The servant led him to the stables where his horse had already been groomed and saddled. Vior patted Moondancers neck, hoisting himself into the saddle in a single move that impressed the servant greatly.

"If you do not mind, lord Vior. I shall lead yourself and your horse to the arena, there you will make a single circuit of the arena and salute the lord Hyenta's box. A lance shall be passed to you and further instructions will be given" the servant explained, bowing to him periodically.

As he had no need to manoeuvre the horse he took in the view from his elevated position, able to see over the lower walls and the gardens beyond. He wondered which one he had met Kinna in the previous night? 

Vior steeled himself as the gates to the arena opened up, the ride there had been so tense he had missed looking out over the village below the palace. He nudged Moondancer's flanks and entered to deafening cheers that were somewhat muted by his enclosed helmet.

"The last round's winner, lord Vior Faden!" announced one of the Hyenta bannermen from below the lord's box to rapturous applause and cheers.

Kinna remained seated during the cheering, but he could see her hands clasped to her breast tightly.

Vior waved to the crowd as he began his circuit of the arena, spotting the dividing fence in the centre of the arena.

He passed by the lord's box, he rose in the stirrups and bowed to Kinna and her father, hoping the act was suitably impressive. It had taken years to perfect after all.

As he continued his circuit Vior felt slightly intimidated, the grass where the archery contest had been now stood filled by people, the hills and stands were also full to the maximum. The armoured forms of the other competitors visible at the far end of the stands. This contest would, he decided, be the closest on paper. Though from the servant's words he was clearly the underdog.

Completing his loop he reined in his horse, trotting over to a waiting guardsman that held three lances at the far end of the fence.

"Greetings lord," the guardsman said with a bow, offering him a lance which he took gratefully.

The weapon was heavier than he expected as he tested out lowering and raising it. There was no way he could keep it lowered and accurate for the full run of the fence. It would require precise timing to lower it in time to stike accurately.

As Sir Garbrand entered the arena to the same applause and cheers as he had as the guard explained the rules further.

"At the sound of the gong, there will be three passes, hitting the opponents pauldron grants a point, breaking the lance a further point, knocking back the opponent, a further point and unhorsing the opponent will result in automatic victory. Otherwise, the man with the highest total wins. With eight matches there will only be a single round today."

Vior acknowledged that he understood and sat in the saddle, resting the lance upon his shoulder. A few minutes later and the crowd fell silent, Sir Garbrand taking his lance and waving the guard assigned to him away.

Vior took a deep breath to calm his nerves, the first pass he would gauge his lances range. The second and third would hopefully be easier after that.

The gong struck and he kicked Moondancer into a gallop, lowering his lance as they closed in on Sir Garbrand. His arm tired quickly though and his lance wavered, glancing his opponent's pauldron and snapping at the tip. The knight's own lance shattering as it hit him square on, nearly throwing Vior from the saddle.

He clung on for dear life, the crowds' gasps easily audible, even in his current state of panic. The lance strike had been terrifyingly powerful, his body was unaccustomed to taking such a blow. He managed to wheel his horse around though, gaining control by the end of the fence.

Tossing aside his broken lance hr took the new one offered, knowing that he was already two points behind.

He focused his concentration on the distance he had until impact, unconsciously calculating when to lower the lance.

The gong rang again, Moondancer instinctively kicking into a gallop as sir Garbrand came charging towards him. Vior gauged where he had lowered too soon, waiting an extra few seconds before lowering the lance.

The two of them hit like bulls, each of them finding the others centre point with their lances, the force of the blow making Garbrand reel and drop the remains of his lance. Vior had braced himself and managed to remain steady, saving himself a point loss... though his lance had stayed intact robbing him of his chance to close the gap between them.

Vior risked a glance at the lord's box, worry clearly etched on Kinna's face. He couldn't hope for Garbrand to slip up here and gift him an unopposed three points, he had to win by unhorsing the best of knights.

He took up a new lance, using all his knowledge to formulate a plan, all his years of real battles, dozens of skirmishes and several duels, he had won them all and he would not lose here!

The gong sounded for the last time and he braced himself in the saddle, lowering the lance as last time and thrusting it forcefully as the two men collided in an explosion of force. The extra strength had come at a price though, and Vior found himself clinging to Moondancers mane as he spun in the saddle, the kickback of the impact almost throwing him from the horse as he dropped the last fragments of his lance, holding onto Moondancer as if for life.

Vior climbed back into the saddle, breathing heavily before stopping Moondancer at the end of the fence and turning him around, the crowd deathly silent as he did so, for if Garbrand remained in the saddle, he was eliminated and he would end his life.

Vior saw Garbrand lying in the dust of the jousting lane, deathly still,  his horse having bolted after the titanic clash that had threatened to kill them both.

He let out a deep breath and noticed he was crying, a feeling of joy at the knowledge Kinna was still within his grasp, that he still had a reason to live.

Physicians ran out to recover sir Garbrand, with the chance of injury and death ever present when falling from horseback in such a way.

He put thoughts of his opponent from his mind for now. Standing in the stirrups once more to salute the lord of the Hyenta clan, but more than that, to let Kinna know he was alright, and that he was going to make her his wife.