"Lady Thatcher."

Gabby stopped laughing instantly when she heard her name being called. Rolling her eyes, she turned reluctantly to find a knight riding up to the fence. "Sir Lawrence."

He bowed his head to her. "You are looking as lovely as ever."

Gabby had to fight the urge to scoff and flee, choosing instead to bow silently.

"I will win this tournament for you, my lady. And we shall dance together at the feast tonight."

The very idea made Gabby's skin crawl. Sir Lawrence was nearly fifteen years her elder, a single knight who enjoyed preying on young noblewomen. "I fear, my lord, that you are mistaken. My father will win this tournament, and I will dance with whomever I choose. Good day, sir."

She quickly turned to leave, with Sir Lawrence watching her in shock. Abbi glanced between her friend and the knight for a moment before running to catch up to Gabby. "That was uncalled for."

"Urgh, can you blame me," Gabby asked, glancing back at Sir Lawrence, cringing.

Abbi rolled her eyes, pointing toward the nobles. "Your mother is waiting."

Gabby crumpled her face in protest. "Do I have to?"

Abbi gave her a little shove before she started toward her mother and Kate, who sat near the lists.

Jocelyn leaned toward Gabby as she joined her in the bench. "Where have you been, young lady? Must you always be late, even to your father's final joust?"

"I'm sorry," Gabby murmured inaudibly. She turned her attention to the joust just as Sir Anton struck his final blow, advancing to the next round. She cheered with the others, watching him ride over to his men.

The rest of the tournament continued without real event, her father advancing easily to the final round, where he would face Sir Anton.

Scanning the field, she caught a glimpse of her father smirking at the young knight. She smiled, knowing full well what was going through his mind: a challenge. It was rare to find someone of William's caliber to joust.

As Chaucer gave his final introduction, Gabby felt her eyes begin to water slightly. She loved living among the knights traveling from tournament to tournament, seeing the world with her friends and family by her side. It was all that she had known. The thought of leaving that life behind was frightening.

Trying to block thoughts of her impending future, she blinked the tears away and turned to watch the two knights tilt. They struck each other squarely on the chest, both breaking a lance.

Will rode back toward his squires, trying to catch his breath after Anton's solid hit.

"This kid's not half bad," Will said as he lifted his helmet.

Roland held up another lance for him. "He's a bit reckless."

"I know," Will replied, lowering his visor again before continuing quietly, "Reminds me of me twenty years ago."

They tilted again, each breaking a lance.

"You can beat the boy any time now, Will," Watt commented as Will approached.

Shaking off the last blow, he smirked at his friends. He took a deep breath to prepare for the final tilt of his career, the pressure mounting. He glanced across the field at Anton, who was reining his horse anxiously. Will couldn't have picked a better knight to face in his final joust. He felt something akin to passing the torch.

When the flag dropped, he charged toward the young knight with surprising fervor. He took careful aim, hitting Anton squarely on the chest. He smiled under his helmet when he felt Anton's lance glance off his shoulder, staying intact.

Gabby cheered with the other nobles as her father took the podium and the lord handed him a gold cast lion. She and her mother accepted the congratulations of the nobles around them before filing down onto the field.