The Homecoming 23.

A Festival Tournament...

Riley Hait the mercenary ranger slightly grimaces then mutters "Fuck" after letting the last arrow of the final round in the ranged combat event fly from his longbow.
As the two judges make their way to the targets, the ranger Hait whose final arrow hit the target, though he's not sure if it's exactly on the bullseye like his other arrows, looks over at Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy who is in the final round against him.
The elf from the principality of Alínlae who can easily see the targets over a hundred and fifty yards away, nearly four hundred and fifty feet, basically half the length of the large field down from castle Lé Dic where the tourney is taking place.
Has a wide grin upon his youthful looking face as he looks at the mercenary ranger who was raised and trained by the elven warders in the principality of Envadarlen.
"Fuck" mutters the ranger Hait again when Dalinvardél Tanith the elven spy says to him "I wonder who's looking after Dorc until lord Farque shows up?" the grinning elven spy pauses for a moment then he adds "I know it's not me".
The mercenary ranger who in actual fact is really a hordes outrider from the southern tundra by the name of Zubutai Timaginson, who just happens to inhabit the body of Riley Hait, mutters "Fuck" once more, and sourly smiles.
The ranger Hait shakes his head as the judge at the spy Tanith's target lifts up the red coloured flag to indicate the winner. And as the crowd cheers, Riley aka Zubutai the barbarian hordesman says "Well done" to the elven spy.
Dalin wins a longbow and quiver of newly made arrows, which though well made, is clearly inferior to his and the ranger Hait's elven made weapons, or even the longbows used by Lisell Maera and Tamric Drubine.
The elven spy from the principality of Alínlae gives the longbow and arrows he won to the third place getter, a local huntsman, who is more than appreciative to get a newer and better bow than he has currently.
He thanks the spy Tanith, and clutches his new bow as he walks away to his nearby family, who like him, has traveled from the east of the fief to take part in the late winter festival tourney.
There's a break for the midday meal, or more precisely feast, as food has been cooking, since last night, and throughout the morning. For those who are attending the tourney, as well as those taking part in it.
The group of Riley Hait, Dalinvardél Tanith, Dorc da Orc, Shur Kee the monk, Lisell Maera and Tamric Drubine. Sit upon the ground and on wooden camp stools infront of one of the tents as the late winter's day, which started out quite cool, has turned out to be a pretty mild day.
The group of foreign visitors, not just to the Lé Dic fief, but to the kingdom of Druvic itself, are joined by sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who was just chatting to his niece, the lady Linara Lé Dic, and others.
As sir Percavelle gets something to eat, and carries out a stool from within the tent, and sits down with the others, the ranger Hait nods towards both the former earl of Lé Dic, and Tamric Drubine, and says to them "Just the two of you left for today".
Tam nods, while sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who takes a mug of ale from the tray of a passing servant, says "Indeed my fine fellow" the heavily armoured knight glances at the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin and adds "It shall be between me and the youngster here in the final I'm sure of it" Percy pauses then says "That's unless of course we shall meet in an earlier round, where i shall be victorious of course, no slight against you young man, but I'm just so much better than you are".
Tamric Drubine faintly smiles and takes no offence at what the former paladin in the order of Saint Mar-che just said. While Riley Hait, Dalinvardél Tanith and Lisell Maera all roll their eyes at the boasting of the heavily armoured knight. And Shur Kee the monk, like Tam, just shakes his head at the comments of the nobleborn knight.
Meanwhile Dorc da Orc mutters "Choke on your pork chop there ya cunt" as he sourly smiles at sir Percavelle who is chewing away on a pork chop. The large ork, who'd only admit to himself, deep within his brain, that the former earl of Lé Dic is actually any good in a fight.
Looks over at Tamric Drubine, then says to everyone "Me fucken think Tam is gonna win". Sir Percavelle shakes his head and sourly smiles, but doesn't say anything in response to the large ork who he knows is only trying to goad him into an argument.
"You fucken know why?" says Dorkindle who grins, then with the ox leg he's gnawing on, which he points in the direction of Tamric Drubine, he adds "He got his magicky fucken sword".
The former paladin in the order of Saint Mar-che blinks in surprise, then he looks sharply at the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin. And though sir Percavelle Lé Dic has his own magical sword, it's too short, and not fit to be used in a duel against an opponent with a longsword.
Unlike Tam's magical weapon, which is indeed a longsword, which can protect him from being hit when he wants it to.
The former earl of Lé Dic, who like the others are all looking at Tamric Drubine, says "Now here, you can't be using a weapon such as that in a tourney". "Yes he can cunt" says the ork warleader who is trying to goad the heavily armoured knight into an argument with him.
Then remembering something from when he first met sir Percavelle nearly nine years ago, the large ork from the southern polar region says "You used that fucken magicky sword of yours in that melee we was in all those years ago cunt" Dorkindle whose eyes are wide, grins then adds "Remember, when me beats you and take that magicky fucken sword from you".
Percy sourly smiles at the mention of that very first encounter with the large ork, then he clears his throat and says "No such thing occurred".
While the warleader of the ork race says in astonishment "Why you lying fucken cunt" sir Percavelle quickly says to the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin "You won't be allowed to use the magical, and frankly evil properties of that sword of yours young man" the heavily armoured knight continues with "My young niece has a druid in her service, who I'll assume will alert the judges of our contest if you use the magical power your weapon possess".
"Fucken blowhard making up shit" mutters Dorkindle after hearing what the former earl of Lé Dic just said. "Don't worry Percy, i have no intention of using the magic my sword has" says Tamric Drubine who pauses for a moment, before he continues with "I don't need to use it, because i have every intention of beating you with my own skill and ability" he pauses once more, then adds "Of course that's if and when we meet one another".
While sir Percavelle Lé Dic looks utterly flabbergasted that Tam would suggest he'd beat him in a duel. Riley Hait, Dalinvardél Tanith, Shur Kee and Lisell Maera all look at one another.
They can appreciate the confidence in the former heir to castle Drubine in the north of the kingdom of Sarcrin. And for someone who is near fifteen years old, he's extremely well trained and skilled with a sword. None of them yet think he's a match for sir Percavelle Lé Dic, and could defeat the former paladin in a duel.
Not so Dorc da Orc, who barks in laughter at the incredulous look upon the face of the nobleman who once ruled the Lé Dic fief, then the weaponsmith from the wolf tribe of orks looks over at the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin and tells him "Ha! That's it" followed by "Fuck him up Tammy".
"Tammy?" mutters the son of the former knight of castle Drubine who isn't too keen on Dorc da Orc calling him that again.
"Well, whatever happens" says Riley aka Zubutai Timaginson after a little while of silence, apart from Dorc da Orc chuckling away to himself and murmuring to himself in the ork language about something, as he sits there on the ground, grinning from ear to ear, while staring at the former earl of Lé Dic.
"We'll find out later this afternoon" adds the mercenary ranger from the elven principality of Envadarlen, as the duels are expected to begin after the feast, and continue throughout the afternoon.
They may carry on tomorrow morning if the competitors aren't whittled down enough. For tomorrow is reserved for the joust, and the grande melee, which will end the late winter festival tourney here at castle Lé Dic.
They continue their meal, with sir Percavelle Lé Dic and Tamric Drubine occasionally glancing at one another. With the younger noble feeling confident with the chances of at least matching the local nobleman, if not beating him if they should face off against one another in a duel.
While the former paladin has a slightly startled look upon his face whenever he looks at the nobleborn teenager from the kingdom of Sarcrin.
It's doubt the heavily armoured knight is feeling. Something he's not accustomed to, and frankly something he doesn't particularly enjoy.
All the while, Dorc da Orc continues to chuckle and murmur to himself in his native language while he watches Percy. Though that's when he's not shoveling food into his large gob, or alternatively drinking everything in sight.
The feast is soon over, and the call for those participating in the duel is put forth. This is the first of the three prestigious events in the tourney, or any tournament for that matter.
And quite a number of local nobles are taking part in it. This being the first event that any local noble is a part of.
The others taking part in it, are soldiers, predominantly officers. Or those soldiers deemed highly skilled with a sword.
The only non local taking part in the duel. Is a visiting nobleborn teenager  from the kingdom of Sarcrin. Who along with other competitors, make his way to the front of the tent closest to where the stands are located. There straws are drawn to see who will face up against who, in the first round of the event.
Tamric Drubine has to draw three times before he eventually draws a short straw. He's not until later in the first round, and he's up against a local nobleman in the first round.
Not so, sir Percavelle Lé Dic who draws one of the first short straws. And he's up against an experienced soldier, who immediately forfeits. And will have to fight an extra duel to progress to the next round.
While the former earl of Lé Dic is the first person through to the next round, without even doing anything. And without the first duel actually taking place.
It's just the start of a long afternoon for this event in the late winter tournament here at castle Lé Dic . . . . . .