No one could have asked for more perfect weather on the final day of the tournament. The sky was the clearest blue with perfect white clouds slowly making their way along. The weather was warm with a cool breeze to cut through the heat. It was a perfect day to be outside in the arena and I was excited to arrive. I made sure that I was not left behind by my stepsisters this time. Today was going to be the most exciting day of the entire tournament with the royal joust and the final rounds of the other games. I was not going to miss a moment of it. I had already decided that this time I would not be holed up above everyone else in the box. No, I would get out and see what went on during a tournament outside of the arena. On the previous tournament days I saw performers in the crowds and people selling baubles and things out of bags or boxes. I felt like I had missed much of the tournament by staying in one place. I would not make that mistake again. It would also have the added bonus of getting me away from Giselle and her nauseating flirting.
I ignored Giselle's triumphant look when I did not follow them to the royal box. She could have another day with Christian. The more time she spent with him only meant he had more time to find out how horrible she really was. I wondered if I would be able to find Kol. He said he would be near some knight's tent. It was as good a place as any to start exploring so that was where I headed.
The tents were easy to find with their bright colors and banners. Outside their tents, each knight's sigil hung on a banner. I did not recognize many of the sigils that were sewn onto the gently blowing banners. The area was almost a rainbow with how many colors the tents were made out of. Many of them were striped, but there were some that were solid colors and others whose colors split right down the middle. Other people were wandering between the multihued fabrics and knights were laughing while their squires readied their armor. I passed near a man who was calling for the first two knights who would be competing in the joust. He was part of the staff as he wore the royal colors and he was holding a list as he quickly passed from tent to tent.
After wandering almost to the back of the haphazardly placed tents, I saw Kol standing with one of the knights. They stood beside a banner that had a green lightning bold sewn on a black field. It must have been Sir Marc. Shyly, I approached the two of them. For a moment I wondered if it had been me Kol was talking to yesterday when he said where he could be found. What if he was just talking to Curtis and Clover? It would seem highly impertinent of me to seek him out uninvited. I did not have time to reconsider because Sir Marc pointed me out to Kol.
"Well, well, well, look who found us," Kol turned to look at me. He did not look surprised to see me and I was relieved. "Marc, this is my friend Ebb."
Sir Marc bowed as gracefully as he could in his armor then he took my hand and gently kissed it. "Niko has not told me he knew such a beautiful young maid. I am sure I will never speak to him again after he tried to keep such beauty to himself."
Beside his friend, Kol rolled his eyes. "Ebb this is my friend Marc. You should be careful of him because he is known to leave more broken hearts than broken lances when he jousts in a tournament."
"Listen not to my foolish friend, fair Lady Ebb. He is in the unfortunate predicament of being bound to one woman and not yet married. Being in such a state can make a man jealous of other men who are free to admire the beauty of other women freely." Marc was a shameless flirt it seemed like and his unabashed advances made me smile.
"Of course, Niko is jealous of a brave knight like you," I joked.
Marc grinned broadly when I joined in his teasing of Kol. He was rather handsome with sandy blonde hair that just brushed his ears and bright blue eyes. He wrapped his arm around Kol's shoulders and gave a squeeze. "Don't worry, little Niko, maybe one day your daddy will let you be a big strong knight just like me. I'm sure you could do just fine, maybe be a javelin thrower. Those guys don't have to do much and are all muscle and no brain. There's not much skill in throwing a stick across a field."
"Opposed to all the skill it takes to hold a stick while riding at another man on a horse. I've heard the men also have very little brain to show for it when they participate in activities like that. I think it has to do with all the blows to the head they take, it damages the brain. By the by, how many knocks have you taken to that pretty head of yours?" Kol grinned impishly from where he stood next to Marc.
The knight removed his arm from Kol and stepped away. "Now there's no need for that, Niko. I was merely saying. Enough about you though, I want to get to know your charming lady friend better. Do you live in the city?"
I laughed at their banter and answered his question. He really was quite charming in his forwardness. When he stepped away from Kol, I noticed Marc stepped closer to me. I wasn't sure if this move was deliberate or not. "I am just visiting Pharyss. I come from a small town in the north."
Marc nodded. "I have travelled many places in Lantine and the north is quite lovely. Are you enjoying your stay?"
We continued chatting about Pharyss and the celebration. Marc had arrived in the city the day before the tournament began and spent most of his time practicing for the joust. He was to be part of one of the last rounds of the first jousting match. He had met Kol on a previous trip to Pharyss earlier in the year. While the two of us talked, Kol stood to the side and starting toying with the cuff of his shirt.
"It seems we are boring Kol," I commented when I noticed.
He looked up from his sleeve and smiled. "Of course you aren't, but I do think that we should talk about something else now. Not that I do not love watching you two become love birds, but I think we can find more interesting topics of discussion. Perhaps we can talk about what is going on today with the final day of the tournament. That's very exciting for a lot of people."
Marc laughed. "Is that jealously I hear, Niko? Besides, you know you are only here because your parents insist on you making an appearance. You do not care one bit about what is going on today."
Kol's smile turned into an pretend annoyed frown. "How many times to I have to tell you to stop calling me by that silly nickname? I am certainly not jealous; I have a lovely lady love somewhere around here that I am going to marry. It would not bode well for our future if I were to be jealous of other men. Speaking of which, I should probably find dear Paislee and at least say hello before the end of the day."
"Suit yourself," Marc shrugged. "I will be more than happy to stay and chat more with Miss Ebb here."
"Sir Marc and Sir Peter, report to the arena for the next match in ten minutes!" The man called as he circled by again. A boy hurried over to Marc with a helmet and a lance. Another was leading a large tan horse with a dark mane over. It looked as if he would not be able to stay and chat like he said.
He took his helmet and lance from his squire. "It seems time has gotten away from us. I must make sure I am prepared for my match now. It was lovely to meet you, Ebb, and I hope to see you again soon." Marc again bent over to kiss my hand and I blushed at his attention.
"You go out there and bash away at Sir Peter with your stick," Kol joked. Then he added a bit more seriously, "Be careful and good luck."
Marc nodded his thanks before turning away to be attended to by his two squires. His horse was stamping impatiently nearby while his master got ready. I had heard stories of men who had died in the joust and I hoped nothing would happen to Marc today. He was nice and I rather liked him, despite his bold flirting. Before long, he was leading his horse off to the arena while his squires followed – one holding his lance and one holding his banner.
"Well, shall we go watch?" Kol asked.
I eagerly nodded and we went to the arena to watch from the stands. This time I would watch from within the cheering crowds and not from above as before. It would be exciting to be so near to their energy. The joust was the favorite competition for most people so even from so far outside the arena I could still hear their cheers.
Ooh, the last day of the tournament. It's going to be good.
So I think I might start limiting myself to posting maybe one chapter a day. If I don't the story will be over too soon. So here is today's chapter.