Chương 130: The Challenge

I trotted my horse in front of the crowd, facing the gathered lord and thegns. As far as I could tell, the only two Ealdormen at Castle Urcia were Lord Ceonwin and Lord Hinlaw, but the rest of 'nobles' under the shelter were thegns. They stared at me curiously. Well, there was no backing out now. I couldn't just pretend I hadn't said anything. Shutting my eyes, I used my Focus to call up a list of all the thegns' names, then ran through it.

I didn't know who was here right now, but I could challenge someone who wasn't. All that mattered was that the thegn was still in the tournament. I turned my attention to the list of shields hanging above the stable gates. Only about sixteen remained, now, but this was the third round of the joust, and these were only the starting shields. Some had a mark of pain across the family sigil, indicating a recent removal from the tournament.

There were only about eight left, since my joust was near the end of the third round. There were only a few other jousts to get through. Still, I knew which thegns were still registered in the tournament, and who I could challenge. Next, I was up against Sir Peofrith, a small, obscure thegn with lands just northwest of Lord Ceonwin's domain. It would be convenient to take his holdings, if nothing else, then for the location alone.

He also had no direct affiliation to the Warlord, not that I could tell from what little information I could find about him. So, when I did defeat and unhorse him, there would be no backlash from higher up the food chain. He was as good of a choice as any. I trotted over, then tapped his green shield with my lance.

"I would like to issue a challenge to Sir Peofrith." The crowd broke into confused murmuring, and I couldn't tell whether they approved or disapproved, or if the development just amused them. Finally, the messenger stood up atop his judging platform, and, raising a hand, said, "Silence. What grounds do you issue this challenge on, Sir Ricdine?"

"This is a trial-joust, is it not? I am within my rights to put anyone I wish on trial." I searched the crowd, trying to see if I could pick out Peofrith. I didn't even know what the man looked like. The messenger narrowed his eyes, then said, "An old tradition, but yes, it is permitted. You must defeat and unhorse the thegn you put on trial, in order to inherit his lands. Is Sir Peofrith—""Enough of this," came a different voice from the crowd.

Lord Hinlaw, wearing his gold-yellow robes, stood up from his seat in the nobles' booth, surrounded by his family and squires. He rested his hand on the hilt of his Great Warbrand.

"Sir Ricdine, you make a mockery of this tournament, and you insult my presence—and that of Lord Ceonwin! Rescind your challenge at once. I'll tolerate no uppity thegns snapping away at the border regions of my domain." I met his gaze, then glanced at the messenger, then back at Lord Ceonwin. Nowhere in the rules of a trial-joust did it state that an Ealdorman could overrule a challenge like this. But who would question Lord Hinlaw publicly? Lord Ceonwin kept his lips sealed. I took a deep breath.

Sir Ricdine could make enemies, as long as Levi didn't inherit them.

"I will not, my lord," I said.

"I am within my rights, as per Article 10B of the trial-joust procedures." I paused, then decided to ham it up a little more.

"Sir Peofrith harassed a farmer of mine who was passing through his lands. He delayed my subject's journey and caused great distress, and I do not wish for it to happen again." That was nonsense, of course. I had no idea who Peofrith was, but there was plausible deniability that the harasser had actually been one of his servants or squires or sons, so it wouldn't last long-term. Besides, we were already going to challenge each other in the joust.

My claim against his honour would soon be settled on the lists no matter what I said.

"Belay that order, messenger," Lord Hinlaw snapped.

"Sir Ricdine, you may have authority to make the challenge against Peofrith, which may stand, but then my family has authority to make a challenge against you."

"You ridicule the sanctity of this tournament with your distractions!" a noble boy shouted. He stood up beside Hinlaw, long blond hair fluttering in the breeze, gold gilded robe swaying. Hinfic. He was the one actually riding in the tournament, not his father.

"I, Sir Hinfic, challenge Sir Ricdine. He will cede all his lands to me should I unhorse him. If he is eliminated before he faces me, then the challenge shall be automatically decided against him." This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"And if I win and unhorse you?" I demanded.

"You won't," Hinfic snarled.

"You're a Titanium."

"And if I do?"

"You will be entitled to his holdings," said the messenger, interjecting.

"As is the trial-joust regulation." I swallowed. This wasn't good. If I lost, anything I earned for Peofrith would go to Hinfic anyway. And worse, they'd figure out the holdings I claimed to have in my thegnage papers were made up. I'd have to escape and hope no one found out it was me. But if I won, I'd be making enemies with Lord Hinlaw, and most likely, the Warlord. It was going to happen sooner than later, though. Why not get it over with? I wasn't ready, that was why. I was a Titanium.

How could I openly go to war with the Warlord and expect to come out on top? I would be crushed like an ant. But I didn't have to go to war right away. I just had to start building up my following. I could smooth over tensions once this was all over, but victory was my only option right now. I had to try.

"What say you, Sir Ricdine? Lord Hinlaw demanded.

"Will you face my son?"

"I accept the challenge," I said, looking confidently at the nobles. Hinfic was only Silver, still. But he was a strong silver, probably about halfway through the tier, and he wouldn't go down as easily as Sir Leoheard had. Hinfic had probably trained from birth for this occasion. I wouldn't punch up against him so easily, not when he himself was probably capable of punching above his weight. I snapped Burr's reins, then turned back to the outer gate of the lists.

"If there is nothing else, my lords, then I have preparations to make." No one else objected, so I figured I was free to leave. Burr jumped the fence, then trotted off the makeshift jousting ground. I rode her back to my tent, then dismounted and brought her inside. Once inside, I sat down, pulled off my helmet, and cradled my head in my hands. That had escalated too far and too fast. If I won, I was still just going to be scrambling to keep my head above the water. But I had no choice now.

Tightening my fists, I stood up, then walked over to Burr and gave her a hug around the neck.

"You've been a good horse. Sorry for all this… chaos." If I was going to make this work, I'd need to reach Silver, and hopefully by the end of the tournament. A hundred Presence. Three hundred and fifty regular attribute points. It took me months to gain fifty Presence. How could I just gain fifty more? I'd figure it out. I had to. The library had to know, and Lord Ceonwin would hopefully be able to help. I wasn't done for yet.

~ ~ ~ That evening, after I returned to the castle and caught up with the last of my daily training, I met with Lord Ceonwin in his office at his summon. I shut the door, then turned to face him.

"Sir? You called for me?"

"I take it you know why I'm speaking with you?"

"Yes, sir." I chuckled, keeping things vague. I didn't know how much I should say. He certainly knew I was Ricdine by now, or could guess. But I didn't want to put any memories in his mind that could later be read by the Subtle Men, and I wanted to give him as much wiggle room as possible to disavow me if need be.

"The challenge—""Don't speak too openly," he said.

"You don't know who might be listening."

"Yes, sir."

"Hinlaw will have the support of the Subtle Men," he whispered.

"They may be everywhere, and you cannot be too careful. As of now, no names. When your senses are as powerful as a Gold's, you will be able to hear many things, but it is easier to focus when you hear your name spoken. It is safer not to say anyone's names—if you don't want them to hear." I nodded.

"What do you wish to speak to me about?"

"If you were to gain land, and that land were to belong to a different Ealdorman, that would make you a great deal of enemies. But I'm under the impression that it is…unavoidable."

"Yes, sir."

"You will need to reach Silver sooner than later, then. After you claim your lands, you would be wise to negotiate a truce with the greater powers, promising loyalty to them, as you build your armies and network. Afterward, what you do with those armies and loyalty is up to you. This is not an unnavigable situation, but you will need advice. I am willing to help those who are willing to help themselves, though. And you seem more than capable of making friends within the army."

"I only know one commander, sir."

"Commander Galliard has continued to speak highly of you. He would follow you."

"I'm only a sergeant."

"For now, yes," Lord Ceonwin said.

"Were you to skip over being a sergeant, and move straight on to thegnage, you would technically rank higher than a commander. A military thegn, serving under me like Sir Sidal or Sir Aldhelm, would be a very valuable asset. You could build your lands, and become an Ealdorman yourself, then command a much larger army." I nodded.

"I understand, sir. My trouble is reaching Silver…quickly." He knew I was Ricdine, that was certain. There was no point in telling him and purposely incriminating myself to anyone who might be listening, though.

"Presence is workable," Ceonwin said.

"If you can increase your income slightly—if you give me another reason to insist that your daily income is increased, for example—you will be ready by the end of the tournament. Your bigger concern should be the rest of your attributes."

"Yes, sir. Do you have any advice?"

"Keep pushing yourself. Use your infused food where you can, and keep working with riftrocks. Grow as fast as you can, and hope that it will be enough to reach Silver in time."