by A. J. Bell
“I’m afraid she’s not here at this moment, Your Highness,” he said. I looked towards the place where Lady Grace was seated and saw the disappointment in her eyes as she lowered her gaze. Next to her was her father, Sir Humle, Richard’s mentor, and Lord Gilbert, Richard’s father. Both of them shot killing glances at him because of his response. I wanted to be angry at them, but I understood. They were looking after Lady Grace and Richard wasn’t.
We were given a few hours of rest before the duels started. This gave me some time to breathe, literally, since I didn’t have to wear my stupid corset as tight when I was my female self. John wouldn’t be at the matches – I would. He wouldn’t have to be present except when it was time for him to fight.
I went walking in the gardens, where I sat by the pond and made small lines through the water with my fingers. It felt so good – all my problems turned into dust and were blown away by the wind.
“You weren’t there this morning. I looked for you,” said Richard, reproachfully, and extended his hand to help me to my feet.
“You didn’t see me but I saw you. You did great, My Lord.”
“If you were there, did you see what I won for you?” He offered me the gold pin.
“Are you sure you want me to have it?” He looked at me as if the answer to that question was more than obvious. “I don’t have anything with me I can give you in exchange.” I shrugged.
“I think you do,” he said, just before he started to kiss me with that passion only he could deliver.
I didn’t get to wrap my arms around him, because he was pulled away and thrown to the ground. “Stay away from her!” yelled Dorian while pointing his sword directly at Richard’s chest. Richard stood up with flames of fury filling his eyes.
I stood between them. “What are you doing?” I asked Dorian, but he didn’t answer me. His gaze was fixed on Richard, who I was trying to hold back by pushing my hands against his chest.
“Stay out of this!” Richard said to me, pushing me aside.
I had to try one more time. Only this time, I took Dorian’s hand and asked him to lower his sword. Slowly, he granted my wish.
“What’s your plan, Richard? Wooing her into your web of deception and then leaving her pregnant, just like you’ve done with Grace? I’m not going to allow you to do this, not with her!” Dorian yelled.
“What we do or don’t do is none of your business, Dorian, so stay out of this matter!” said Richard, clenching his teeth.
“What are you offering her? To become your lover once you are married?” Dorian took my hand and began pulling me away. “You are coming with me!” he said, but I shook his grip off.
“I’m old enough to make my decisions without help,” I said.
“You’ve heard her – now leave!” said Richard.
“I’m not leaving her alone with you!”
Richard was ready to strike, but I stopped him. “Remember your promise,” I pleaded with him. He looked at me so hurt that I regretted my words instantly.
“We’ll settle this on the jousting grounds – no games, no words. Just me and you!” said Richard to Dorian, and then he turned around and stormed off. I called after him, but he was gone in no time.
“Let him go; it is better this way,” Dorian said.
I turned around to face him, angry at his comment. “What right do you have to tell me what is or isn’t best for me? You have chosen your path. Let me chose mine–”
“I care about you. Besides, Richard needs to be responsible for his actions. Don’t tell me you approve–”
“First, in order to marry me, he first has to win this tournament. Second, I don’t need to explain myself to you. And third, I’m not one of those stupid maidens that you normally deal with!”
“First,” he said, “in order to win, he has to go through me, and that won’t happen. Second, I’m not asking for explanations from you since it is clear to me that you care not for what others think. And third, back on the Gardenhills border, you were in my bed within five minutes of seeing me.”
Those words stung me to the core! I couldn’t stop myself. With all the fury I could produce, I slapped him so hard, I thought my hand would break. “That was a mistake from which I learned a hard lesson – you can’t follow your heart!”
This time, I was the one that left him calling after me. I was so angry I was crying, so I was a complete sea of tears when I came into my tent. Father, Dash, Rosie, and Orman froze at the sight of me. “Leave me!” I yelled. “I want to be alone!”
I spent the next few hours thinking, getting angrier at Richard, Dorian, and everyone else around me. I didn’t leave the tent, but waited until it was time for their match. I waited patiently until it was time to see them try to kill each other because of me in the jousting arena.
The trumpets sounded for the first time, indicating to the knights to be ready. No need for Richard or Dorian to be announced, because everyone had already gathered to see their favorites – a battle between the First Knight and the Peace Ambassador of the Everlands, a battle between two Titans.
Mounted on their horses, they both waited for the sign to begin – a trumpet’s blow. As soon as the sign was given, with their lances held steady under their arms, they charged at each other with the force of thunder.
Splinters flew as their shields collapsed at the end of each other’s lances. They returned back to their starting posts and dismounted. After unsheathing their swords and with their shields still on their other hands, they advanced towards each other. A shower of sparks followed each clash of their swords. The gasps of the multitude made my skin crawl. The intensity of the fight was keeping me on edge. One second, Richard seemed to be ahead, but then Dorian took over. After fighting for a while, Dorian invited Richard to surrender, but Richard refused because he was so insulted. Mistake number one – never get angry. Richard charged, infuriated at Dorian, who deflected the blow with his shield, and then kicked Richard in the stomach, sending him staggering back. The crowd was thrilled with the outcome of the fight. Richard, angrier than ever, charged one more time. Mistake number two – never let your opponent know your next move. It wasn’t hard to guess what Dorian would do as he deflected the blows one more time. Yet, Richard brought the element of surprise this time, at least for a second, when he turned around and hit Dorian with the hilt of his sword on his back, making him fall quickly to the ground. I gasped loudly enough that Richard heard me and turned around to see me. Mistake number three – never lose sight of your opponent like Richard did.
With strength renewed, Dorian got on his feet and struck Richard on his face so hard that he fell unconscious to the ground. Dorian buried his sword in the ground, next to Richard, and put his helmet on the hilt, bowing to the King. The sign of his victory. Then he knelt next to Richard and removed his helmet so that everyone could see that Richard was knocked out. I ran into the arena and pushed Dorian to the side. I then grabbed Richard’s sword and aimed it at Dorian’s neck who showed no sign of fear.
“My Lady!” shouted the King, but I dismissed his call.
“How could you?” I asked him through clenched teeth. Shane ran into the field too, and standing behind me, he took my arm, forcing me to lower the sword.
“I’m not sure what’s on your mind,” he whispered, “but you’re threatening the King’s nephew – the Champion of the Everlands.”
I didn’t care, but I forced myself to let go of the hilt when I heard Richard mumble, “I am sorry.”
I fell on my knees by his side and took his head between my hands.
“It will be all right, My Lord–” but my words were cut short, as were my hopes of being with him.
“I believe it’s my turn to take care of him,” said Lady Grace, standing tall beside me. “It would be appropriate since he is bound to be my husband,” she said.
I stood up and dusted myself off. “Allow me to help one last time,” I pleaded. I almost begged her.
“No!” she replied. “I wan
t you away from him as far as possible, starting now! I don’t want you to talk to him or even look in his direction–”
“There is no need for rudeness, Grace,” said Dorian to her.
“You’ve done your part, Dorian, like you promised. I thank you for that, but I no longer need your opinion in this matter.”
I looked at Dorian. “You’ve done your part? You did this for her? Mark my words, Dorian, my brother will crush you! He’ll do what I can’t right now. He’ll tear you to pieces.”
“Your brother?” he asked in surprise.
I turned around and walked out behind Richard, with my head held high, as Grace and Shane helped him out off the field. There was no doubt in my mind. I won’t lose. I won’t rest until I get my revenge. Tomorrow, Shane will be just a casualty of war, my very own war, I thought as I made my way to my tent.
The morning came faster than thunder follows lightning in a storm. I waited impatiently on Stardust until I could get rid of some of my anger. When the sign was given, Shane and I charged with our lances pointing at each other. He missed me completely, but I got him square in the stomach. He didn’t stand a chance, even if he had tried harder. Shane was one of the few who knew me to be a woman but was not afraid to fight me. I guess he wasn’t expecting me to actually knock him off his horse. His fatal flaw was thinking that, because I was a woman, I didn’t stand a chance against him. Too bad he learned the hard way that he was wrong.
I dismounted my horse, unsheathed my sword, and waited for him to get up, but he didn’t. I buried my sword in the ground, just like Dorian had done the day before and bowed to the King in the same manner. The crowd was speechless. There, on the ground, lay their very own champion. All the odds in our match leaned towards him, as well as all the bets. If I was correct, the only one that put some money on the table in my favor was Orman, and I had just made him rich.
I stood by Shane for a moment “Are you all right?” I mouthed.
He had a “how-did-you-do-it?” look on his face.
“Sorry, my friend,” I said, “you underestimated me.”
I walked in the opposite direction from where I had come and stopped in front of Dorian, looking at him straight in the eyes. Defiantly, I mouthed just loud enough for him to hear me. “You’re mine!” I pointed first at him with my index finger and then back at me, then stormed off. The crowd was still quiet when I left.
All evening, even after the second and third match of the day, people talked about how Sir John had finished Sir Shane in seconds. I felt bad for Shane, but on the other hand, I had proved to them, especially Dorian, that nobody would bring me down.
Three more matches followed that morning, resulting in four more champions. There was yet another banquet to announce who would fight who among the champions. Sitting at the champions’ table would be John, Sir Dorian, Sir Angelo, Sir Serge, Sir Gabriel, and Sir Evan. Everyone on the court was invited to witness the drawing. After tomorrow’s matches, the three winners would take part in a melee, a match of all against all.
“Tomorrow’s first match will be between Sir Gabriel and Sir Evan.” Everyone in the room clapped in approval. Four names were left, mine included. Sir Gabriel and Sir Evan shook hands in front of the guests as was customary in such an amicable fight. His Highness the King put his hand back in the bag with our names and mixed them around one more time before drawing another name. “The next champion to joust will be…” Suspense built in the room. “Sir Dorian LaFonte against…” He shook the bag one more time. “Sir John Giles.” That meant Sir Angelo and Sir Serge would be in the next match. Dorian and I stood up. He extended his hand towards me to shake it, but instead, I balled my fist and hit his hand down hard with mine. I leaned forward and whispered to him, “You’re dead!” Then I quietly went back to my seat where I remained for the rest of the night.
Chapter 36
The winner of the morning match was Sir Gabriel. As their match ended, just a slight drizzle of rain came down on the Everlands. By the look on the skies, it wasn’t going away anytime soon, meaning I would be fighting in the mud.
“Maybe you should convince them to move your match to a much drier day,” said Orman.
“Maybe you shouldn’t fight,” said Father. “I’ve a bad feeling.”
“What’s the matter with you two? Do you not think I can defeat him?” I asked, offended by their requests.
“I’ve seen you fight. You do stand a good chance against him,” said Dash. “If you can manage your emotions,” he added.
“Great!” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “You’re supposed to be on my side. You’re my friends and family, and you’re asking me to back out.”
“I’m on your side,” said Richard, walking towards me. Thankfully, I was dressed as John. “He’s my cousin, and nothing will change that, but I owe to him the fact that I’m engaged to another woman and not your sister. I would like to see him eat some dirt for what he has done to Elle… Is she available? I would like to speak with her,” he said.
“She has gone back to Andora. Don’t look for her anymore, Richard,” I said as firmly as I could, but in reality, I was dying to take him in my arms at least one last time.
“I understand,” he said. “Would you please give her this?” He handed me a gold chain with his mother’s ring hanging on it. “I wanted her to have it,” he said, full of sadness.
“It doesn’t belong to her.” I gave it back.
He sighed and tried to be more cheerful. “Let’s get you to the arena, or how else will you teach Dorian a lesson?”
“You go ahead. I’ll catch up with you,” I said to Richard.
We waited for him to go, and then Orman, Father, Rosie, and Dash followed me. Since there was a lot of rain coming down now, people were covering themselves with anything they could find to keep dry, but most were not very successful. Yet, the arena was still full of spectators. Dash and Rosie covered themselves too, which was the perfect disguise for any Gypsy.
Orman and Father helped me with my armor, latching it into place along with all the other parts that Ghad was able to finish before we left. They pulled all my hair up into the helmet and secured it in place, but the visor kept falling, just like the faulds – the plates protecting my hips. I mounted Stardust and got into position with my lance under my arm, aiming at my challenger across the field.
The signal was given, and I snapped Stardust’s reins and charged at full speed. Hell has no fury like a woman scorned. I was about to give Dorian a taste of my very own inferno. Before I reached him, I let go of my lance and jumped out of the saddle, quickly regaining my posture as I fell to the muddy floor below.
Dorian was unable to react since he was advancing at full speed also and had no idea what I was doing. When he passed by, I threw my shield at him, knocking him off the horse. It was against the rules, but he had it coming. Then I took Heaven and struck at him, but he protected himself from my blow, using my very own shield and kicking me back onto the ground. That’s when I knew I was in real trouble – when the heel of his mud-covered boot left not only a print on my armor, but also an indentation the size of his whole foot. I shot a quick glance at Orman and Father who both were now extremely worried. If the armor wasn’t able to withstand one kick, what would have happened if he had actually hit me with his lance or with the edge of his sword? Unfortunately, I was about to find out. Clouds were nigh indestructible if done correctly. Obviously, Ghad was not a Clouds maker yet.
At first, Dorian was just as taken aback as I was when he saw my dented armor, but then he realized this was a chance to take the lead, since I seemed to only have a fragile armor and my sword, Heaven. The dent touching my chest was very uncomfortable, because every step pushed it against my breasts. Even though it hurt, I didn’t have to worry too long about it. The first strike of Dorian’s sword on my right shoulder split the spaulder – the shield protecting the shoulders – in two and cut straight to the latch that held the breast plate and backplate together, fre
eing my chest of the pain the dent was causing me.
“Yield now!” said Dorian.
“No!” Rain began pouring down so hard that it felt like nails hitting our armor. It was very hard to see, so I tried to use it to my advantage and began striking at him, making him take a few steps back with every blow; yet, I kept my distance from him. I knew if I let him hit me again, my breast plate and backplate would fall down, as well as the faulds.
Every so often, the rain would thin out enough so I could see that the crowd was still standing in the bleachers and around the arena. Trying to attack him again, I stepped in a puddle of water that seemed shallower than it actually was. I slipped and fell to the ground. Dorian seized the moment and got me with the hilt of his sword straight on the top of my head. The blow didn’t only make a dent in my helmet, tearing the visor off, but it also struck my head. Blood streaked down into my eyes, mixing with the water from the rain and the mud in my hands. It felt like my eyes would burst out in flames. I had to remove my helmet so that the rain could wash the blood away from my eyes. I took it off just in time to roll away from Dorian’s next strike. The water on my face soothed the burning, and I was able to regain my stance. With Heaven in my right hand, I deflected Dorian’s next blow with the edge of my sword.
The rain turned back into drizzle again, so visibility came back. Dorian dropped his sword to the ground, shaking his head from side to side. The crowd was on their feet now, including the Royal Family. I realized, a little too late, that by taking my helmet off, I gave away my identity too.
“A woman?” I heard the crowd murmur.
Time stood still for a moment as I looked towards Father and my friends and thought, What have I done? I lowered my sword and fell on my knees as a sign of surrender. I knew I’d be arrested, and I thought it was over.