The City Of Vexil.
The next morning. And once again the group have left the Merchant's Rest inn early. And by the time they make their way out of one of the gates in the north wall of the city.
The first rays of sunshine appear to the east, on what's surprisingly a cold start to this spring day here in Vexil.
As they walk from the city, Zam the ex mercenary can't help but let out a pent up breath, then he says "A little". In response to Beldane the cleric walking beside him, saying "Nervous?".
"Don't worry I'll be close by" says the fighting cleric in the church of Glaine, who follows that with "Remember, keep alert" he then adds "As you'll be attacked too, even though you're not a participant".
The youngest member of the group who is originally from The City Of Ruins nods his head in understanding as the group, along with other early risers, make their way towards the tourney field just outside the north wall of the city of Vexil.
Zam has learnt that squires along with any assistants to the competitors in Le Grande Meleé.
If they're step foot on the tourney field. Which is a high probability. Either to give their participant another weapon, or help them off the ground if they're struggling to get up. Any of the other competitors are free to attack them.
Le Grande Meleé is often the most dangerous time for a squire to a knight. Often more dangerous than actual battle.
As squires and assistants to the participants, are all lightly armoured and lightly armed too. For they can defend themselves if they have to.
But the best thing is to get off the tourney field as quickly as possible after coming to the aid of the knight, or others they're helping.
"If things are dire, his highness will protect you" quietly says Beldane in the elven language, followed by "And Dalin too".
Zam nods, for Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy is acting as Shur Kee the monk's assistant. As the short statured monk and the elven spy went ahead earlier. To register the physical adept as a late entrant to Le Grande Meleé.
"Not that I think Dalin will need any help" quietly adds the powerful practitioner of magic who hails from the kingdom of Nastell.
"Since I doubt Shur Kee will need any assistance" continues the cleric in the church of Glaine, who glances sideways at Zam, before adding "While you".
Beldane briefly pauses, before continuing on with "Yeah, you're definitely going to be out there in the thick of it".
The teenager who was scratching a meager living together as a mercenary in The City Of Ruins when the group found him. Grimaces at hearing that from the fighting cleric.
For though he knows ultimately Helbe the elven thief will see that no actual harm will come to him.
That doesn't mean he won't be attacked, and constantly too. For everyone in the group believes that sir Percavelle Lé Dic will come under heavy attack today during Le Grande Meleé.
Infact the large heavily armoured knight originally from the kingdom of Druvic will likely be the most attacked participant in the melee that makes up day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
For the simple reason he won The Lists, or The Joust as it's more commonly known as. On day one of what's the annual tourney held here just outside the north wall of the city of Vexil.
"Huh?" quietly says Zam the ex mercenary, who follows that with "They've cleaned things up". "Magic" dryly says Beldane the cleric as they near the tourney field.
For by the end of yesterday, the ground of much of the tourney field was torn up, and quite muddy in places. Especially to either side of the middle of the field, where most of the passes took place during The Joust.
But this morning, the tourney field, well the ground at least. Looks exactly the same as it did yesterday morning before things got underway. Pristine, and even without a churned up yard anywhere.
Though the rest of the appearance of the tourney field is completely different than it was at the beginning of day one.
For now for day two, the tilts have been taken away, and the entire field has been roped off. With waist high poles in the ground about every ten yards, on top of which the rope is connected to.
At the east and west end of the tourney field, there's a gap about twenty yards wide, where the participants can enter, and leave if they're able to.
And those competitors who have arrived early, are heading to either end of the tourney field, to wait for Le Grande Meleé to begin.
After the others wish them luck, then head up into the stands on the south side of the tourney field. Zam along with sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who is on foot today, as his warhorse isn't needed.
Head to the west end of the tourney field, where the ex mercenary originally from The City Of Ruins, has spotted Shur Kee the monk and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy.
Amongst those competitors who have already gathered for what's about to take place today, here on day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
The former paladin in the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che gathers a lot of looks when he and Zam join the competitors already gathered at the west end of the tourney field.
The youngest member of the group refrains from sighing as he can already see that Percy will be attacked en masse when things get underway.
The ex mercenary suspected it would be so. And seeing all those looks directed at the large heavily armoured knight, he knows both he and sir Percavelle are going to be in for a long day.
As Zam has been told by a number of the group, predominantly Lord Farque, Helbe the elven thief, Mira Reinholt the mage, Beldane the cleric, and Percy himself.
That a Le Grande Meleé could go all day, especially with so many participants that are expected to take part in today's one, here on day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
He finds out how many are taking part when he and the former earl of Lé Dic join Shur Kee and Dalinvardèl Tanith, who are standing off to the side of the group who have already gathered at this end of the tourney field, who number nearly a hundred, and that's competitors only, not counting their squires and assistants.
"Just over five hundred taking part today" quietly says Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy in his native language to the teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins.
"Hell, that's a lot" quietly says Zam in the same language, after he looks at Shur Kee the monk, who is just standing there with his eyes closed, facing towards the rising sun to the east.
The elven spy who is a commander in the Scouts and Rangers division of the Armies of Farque, nods his head in agreement with the ex mercenary.
Then Dalinvardèl Tanith or Dalin as he's more commonly called by the others in the group, shrugs his shoulders, then says "What can they do?" followed by "It's not magic from what I understand".
In reply to Zam asking him "What happens if Shur Kee goes into one of his trances, and starts doing what he does?".
The ex mercenary grunts, then looks at sir Percavelle Lé Dic, who has the faceplate of his full helm up at the moment.
And there's a slightly sour look upon the face of the noble born knight as he looks sideways at the short statured monk, who hails from beyond The Southlands. The far east coast of the continent, and the kingdom of Wah Lee to be exact.
Zam refrains from grinning, as he knows the former paladin in the order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che is always cautious around Shur Kee.
So much so, that the nobleman from the south of the kingdom of Druvic keeps well away from the physical adept during battle.
Even Percy's bitter rival Dorc da Orc keeps clear of the short statured monk during combat. And for that matter so does everyone else in the group with the exception of Lord Farque.
After a nudge from the spy Tanith who quietly tells him in elvish "I guess they're betting on Shur Kee".
The teenager who hails from The City Of Ruins looks away to the south stand, and spots members of the group already placing bets with a number of the betmen who have started business for the day.
The ex mercenary then looks up into the morning sky, when Dalin quietly says to him "More spectators this morning" followed by "Some what a better view".
As coming over the north wall of the city are a couple of the small, single masted airships that can be hired in the city for sightseeing flights.
The small vessels are packed with spectators who want the best view of what's to take place on day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
As the small airships circle above the tourney field, though not flying directly above it, as both The City Council and The Mage Council forbid it.
Zam sees that more and more competitors have gathered here at the west end of the tourney field, as well as down at the east end.
The youngest member of the group slightly nods to himself as he sees that the vast majority of the participants are not knights. But fighters of every other description you can think of.
From guards, both city and private guards. To armsmen, in the Vexillian army, as well as armies from across The Southlands. As well as all types of mercenaries one can think of.
All with different types of weapons, as well as different types of armour. Though a lot of them have at least one piece of heavier armour, usually a breastplate.
Zam sees that the knights are outnumbered by the others. Because there's hardly any landed knights participating in Le Grande Meleé.
For across many nations, nobles believe that a melee in a tourney. Is for those of lower ranks in society. For the commoners, and not anyone of noble birth.
The ex mercenary is pretty sure that Percy is one of only a handful of landed knights competing today.
All the other knights taking part on day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil all belong to various knightly orders.
The youngest member of the group has also spotted a number of clerics taking part in Le Grande Meleé.
Clerics who won't be able to use their magic during the melee. For just like yesterday during The Joust, spellcasting is banned on the tourney field.
With the exception of healing magic cast by those, under the jurisdiction of the Mage Council, who are helping to run the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
As more and more people full up the stands to the north and south of the tourney field, Zam along with Dalin look to the east end of the tourney field.
And see that the master of ceremonies and his assistants have made their way up onto the platform that's down at that end.
The ex mercenary also spots a fair few members of order of the Knights of Saint Mar'che, amongst the competitors waiting to make their way onto the tourney field.
Far more than took part during The Joust yesterday, on day one of the Spring Tourney of Vexil.
"Hell, there's a lot of people alright" says Zam to Dalinvardèl Tanith, who nods his hooded head in agreement with him.
As now there's at least over two hundred competitors in Le Grande Meleé, along with their squires and assistants at this end of the tourney field.
Where a number of the tourney attendants, as well as city guards, and couple of mages, stand across the gap in the rope that goes around the tourney field.
Two of the attendants hold a couple of rolled up scrolls, and a little bit later, about a sand glass after dawn.
The master of ceremonies at the end of the tourney field, with a magically enhanced voice, says "Let in the entrants!".
"When your name is called, you can enter!" calls out one of the tourney attendants with the scrolls, who unrolls one, and starts reading names from it.
His fellow attendant with a pair of scrolls does likewise. And the two alternate calling out names of those participating in Le Grande Meleé.
Sir Percavelle Lé Dic or sir Percy of Druvic as he's going by, name is called out fairly early, within the first twenty participants.
And the large heavily armoured knight makes his way through the section where there's no rope, which marks off the tourney field.
As for Shur Kee the monk, he's one of the last names called out, he finally opens his eyes when he hears "Shur Kee of Wah Lee enter!" being called out by one of the attendants.
Zam the ex mercenary and Dalinvardèl Tanith the elven spy share a look as they watch the short statured monk who wears no armour, just his losse fitting clothing. Carrying just his staff, walk onto the tourney field.
Where the combatants, who have entered from both ends of the tourney field, are spreading out as they wait for Le Grande Meleé to get underway.
As the last few names are called out, Dalinvardèl Tanith says to the youngest member of the group standing next to him "Get ready for anything".
The spy who previously served in one of the more prominent noble houses of his homeland of Alinlae, continues with "This melee could be over by midmorning".
Dalin briefly pauses before continuing with "Or it could last late into the afternoon" the spy Tanith shrugs as he adds "Who knows?".
Zam the ex mercenary just nods to that, as they, along with the other squires and assistants, who are spreading out around the tourney field.
Along with the competitors in Le Grande Meleé, look towards the platform at the east end of the field.
And wait for the master of ceremonies to get day two of the Spring Tourney of Vexil underway with the commencement of Le Grande Meleé as just over five hundred participants get ready for combat.
On what's a cool, not to mention a sunny spring morning, here just outside the north wall of the city of Vexil . . . . . .
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