The Homecoming 21.

The Stands...

"I do say Percavelle, that monk friend of yours is definitely a surprise" says  sir Galmot who looks back at the heavily armoured knight sitting on the second level of the stands.
"That he is Galmot" replies sir Percavelle Lé Dic as he watches Shur Kee the monk walk out of one of the circles after defeating another opponent in the unarmed combat event.
Next to the former earl of Lé Dic, Tamric Drubine who has been watching those on the next level down infront of them in the stands, in particular lord Milburn. Also as much as his friend Shur Kee and the other competitors in the unarmed combat of the tourney.
Turns to Lisell Maera beside him, who quietly asks him in the elven language "Why are you always watching them?" as she nods at those sitting directly infront of them, down on the next level in the stands.
The nobleborn teenager from the feudal kingdom of Sarcrin quietly explains in elven why. The attractive teenager from the city-state of Brattonbury who listens in silence, lifts an eyebrow as Tam slightly nods at lord Milburn who is sitting next to his granddaughter, the lady Linara Lé Dic.
"You think he might try something?" quietly asks Lis in the elven language after the nobleborn teen finishes explaining something to her "In the tourney perhaps?".
"Maybe" replies Tamric Drubine in the same language, the former heir to the knight of castle Drubine in the kingdom of Sarcrin continues with "Could make it look accidental, but who knows, could try it elsewhere".
The attractive teen who was brought up in the poorer areas of the city of Brattonbury, nods her head, then says "Definitely keep an eye on him" she briefly pauses then adds "And on Percy too".
"I'll stay by Percy's side" says Tam who continues with "We're in the duel which starts later in the afternoon" he then adds "He's not entering anything else apart from the grande melee tomorrow afternoon".
Lisell Maera who is only entering one event herself, which she expects to lose to either Riley Hait the mercenary ranger or Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy.
Was going to be in the duel too, not that she particularly wanted to. But the ranger Hait wanted her in that event. But lord Milburn and others who are running the winter festival tourney here at castle Lé Dic, well just outside to be exact.
Were totally against the idea of having a young woman fight in the duel event. They only reluctantly agreed to her being in the archery event.  And only because Riley Hait told sir Percavelle to speak up on behalf of Lis.
The former paladin in the order of Saint Mar-che might seem archaic in his beliefs about females taking part in combat, or combat related events in something like a tourney.
But in reality, he couldn't care less. For in battle he'll ignore a woman who is fighting on the same side as him. Just as much as he'll fight against one who is on the opposing side.
He might be flippant about the fairer sex taking part in combat, and even voice his opposition. But when it comes down to it, he doesn't really care.
Not so the local nobles here in the Lé Dic fief, or for that matter in most of the eastern region of the kingdom of Druvic.
They are totally opposed to a woman taking part in battle. And subsequently in a tourney.
To Lisell Maera who finds this totally archaic, is glad she actually decided to take part in the tourney. Just to see the reaction of the local nobles of her in the archery event.
As the last rounds are about to get underway in the unarmed combat event, sir Galmot turns and asks the former earl of Lé Dic "Sir Percavelle will you be in the lists?".
"Unfortunately not" replies sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then adds "I have no charger of thy own, hence why i won't take part in the joust".
The heavily armoured knight could ride on any horse in the lists and still probably win. Has no desire to joust, which along with the grande melee, are considered the premiere events of the tourney, any tourney infact.
"So it's just the duels and the melee is it?" asks the army commander "That it is" answers the former earl of the fief.
As the two teenagers Tam and Lis, watch and listen to what's going on here in the stands. And sir Galmot says "I look forward to crossing paths with you" to the former paladin in the order of Saint Mar-che, who just snorts at that, as he doesn't think much of the martial skills of the commander of his niece's army.
Across the lists, opposite the stands where the nobility and others are seated.
Riley Hait the mercenary ranger who is having a quiet word with Shur Kee the monk, tells him "After this next one, it will be just you and the winner from the group in the other circle".
The mercenary ranger who was brought up and trained in the elven principality of Envadarlen nods towards the other circle, where the last two competitors are stepping forward to face one another.
"Whoever wins that, beat them as quickly as possible in the last round" quietly says the ranger Hait "That is if i get to the final round" says Shur Kee the monk.
With a rather wry looking smile on his face, the mercenary ranger dryly says "Shur Kee, you could win this event blindfolded, with your hands tied behind your back" Riley Hait, who is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, continues in that same dry tone with "There's no if about it".
The short, statured monk faintly smiles at both the praise and the truth of what the ranger Hait just said, then the acolyte in the order of Bru Li quietly says "I shall endeavour to win as quickly as i can".
"Whoever it is, knock their lights out, that will be the quickest possible way" says Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman who knows the physical adept is extremely quick when fighting without a weapon. Only lord Farque and Helbe the elven thief in the group are quicker.
Shur Kee slightly frowns at the idea of knocking someone out in the last round of the event. And though a couple of the competitors in the unarmed event have been knocked unconscious. Most of the competitors, the monk included, have pinned their opponents to the ground for a count of three for the win.
Seeing the mercenary ranger looking over to the otherside of the field, where the stands are opposite them. Shur Kee slightly nods in understanding as to why the ranger Hait wants him to win as quickly as possible, and so decisively. It's because he wants to make a point to some of those watching from over in the stands.
The acolyte in the order of Bru Li goes back to watching the two competitors in the other circle who are tussling upon the ground, trying to pin one another for the win.
He knows that whoever the victor is between the two, he'll easily beat them decisively and quickly in the final round of the event.
Back in the stands on the otheside of the field, lady Linara Lé Dic who heard her uncle snort at what sir Galmot just said, says to him "Don't you think much of my commander uncle?".
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who is as obtuse as one can get, well most of the time he is. Sees the slight teasing smile upon the small face of his niece, and he says "Well Linny, i can't say that I've actually seen sir Galmot in battle".
Infact he can barely remember the man, who was only a newly anointed holder of his father's lands when the former earl was last back here in his family's fief.
And what he's seen of the army commander training and practicing over the last couple of weeks since he and the others have arrived. He's thought sir Galmot to be adequate in his swordsmanship, but nothing of excellence.
The heavily armoured knight, who has been the grand champion of many a tourney, including the king's tourney in the capital Leeabra, numerous times. Tells his niece "Just that he'll be no match for i, the great Percavelle if we would to meet in the dueling circle".
The nobleman who is an ordered knight as well as a knight of the realm, nods down at lord Milburn and tells his niece "Even you're grandfather Kievar will attest to this".
Both Tamric Drubine and Lisell Maera see the sour look that briefly passes over the face of lord Milburn at his first name being used, before he says "I'd agree with your uncle Percavelle m'lady".
The older nobleman who is basically the regent of the fief, even though no one would say that out loud and admit it. Nods away to the right along the stands, and says "I think only sir Parvin might be the only one who could test your uncle in a duel".
Sir Percavelle would agree with that twenty five years ago, though he's always thought the spendthrift Parvin was better in actual battle, than in a duel in tourney.
Says "Not anymore, Parvin has enjoyed too many fine meals and goblets of wine of late, for him to match blades with me in the dueling circle nowadays".
The former paladin in the order of Saint Mar-che, who is never one to offer praise on anyone. Glances sideways at the teenage noble from the kingdom of Sarcrin sitting beside him, and says to those sitting down infront of them "Young Tamric here will be the only one here to offer me some competition" he slightly pauses then adds "Infact if the young chap was a bit older and more experienced, i would say he'd even push the great Percavelle to his limits".
The former earl of Lé Dic should know, after all, over the last few years, he's been one of three instructors, along with lord Farque and Mira Reinholt the mage, to Tamric Drubine when it comes to swordwork.
And as Tam's eyebrows lift in surprise at that praise and admission from sir Percavelle Lé Dic. Those sitting on the stand, down and infront of them, turn their heads and look back up at them.
"M'lord, is what my uncle said true?" asks the ten year old lady of the fief as she looks at the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin "M'lady, your uncle Percavelle is not one to boast" says Tam, who faintly smiles as next to him, Lis coughs to cover a laugh that's slipped out of her mouth "About others" adds the former heir to castle Drubine, who then says "So I'd believe what he's just said".
There's a few head nods, and speculative looks by those sitting on the stand infront of them, and others to the sides around them, and up behind them on the third level on the stand when they hear that.
And as people assess Tam, Lisell Maera spots the calculating look that fleetingly crosses the face of lord Milburn.
The attractive teenager from the city-state of Brattonbury quietly mentions this in elven to Tamric Drubine, and the nobleborn teen from the kingdom of Sarcrin nods his head to indicate that he saw it too.
"Ah look, the small monk is in the final now" says sir Galmot as Shur Kee the monk has easily defeated his latest opponent.
"Not much in the way of a rest between bouts" quietly says Lisell Maera in the elven language "As if Shur Kee needs it" says Tamric Drubine as they watch the short, statured monk who just a few moments ago, stepped back out of one of the circles across the lists, approaches the other one that his opponent in the final bout is moving towards.
The last two men standing in the unarmed combat event of the tourney step into the circle. And a few moments later, the sergeant at arms who is the judge of the bout, shouts "Fight!" at the two of them, as the gathered crowd cheer and holler for the two competitors.
There's just a brief quick movement from Shur Kee, who is easily half a foot shorter than his opponent, who is a soldier in the army of the fief.
Most didn't see it, but the soldier hits the ground, completely knocked out, after the much smaller man, kicked him in the side of the face before he even knew what was happening.
"Ha!" says a gleeful sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who then adds "That fellow didn't even see what hit him". Nor did most of those watching the final bout of the unarmed combat event in the tourney.
The former earl of Lé Dic looks away to the right along the stands, and calls out in a triumphant tone of voice "Parvin old chap, you owe me a bit of coin wot!".
"Well that was easy" Lisell Maera quietly says in elven Tamric Drubine as Shur Kee is congratulated by those on the otherside of the lists who are nearest to the circles where the unarmed combat event was just held.
"That it was" quietly says Tam, who wonders if the other events they're entered in will go so easy. And that they'll get the same reaction from some of those watching, especially amongst those in the stands on this side of the filed. Like lord Milburn who has a slight look of concern upon his face after seeing how easily Shur Kee the monk defeated every opponent he came up against . . . . . .