A makeshift tourney ground had been set up on a wide expanse of muddy ground outside White Harbor.
A straight, hard-packed earthen track ran down the center.
A thin wooden post marked the exact midpoint of the track.
The perimeter of the tourney ground was fenced off with rough wooden rails, hemp rope, and shields.
This was both to prevent warhorses from charging out and to stop the excited crowd from rushing in.
Seven or eight freelance knights stood by the rails to maintain order.
These were acquaintances Tom and the others had made recently.
Don Quixote had hired them for the day to keep the peace at this crude, makeshift tourney.
Outside the fence, a crowd of curious commoners had already gathered.
On the other side, several raised wooden platforms held Rodney the fish merchant and some of his merchant acquaintances.
Dozens of white banners emblazoned with a bloody hand fluttered in prominent spots around the grounds.
The air smelled of mud, horse sweat, sea breeze, ale, and roasted meat.
In the distance, sails could be seen on the Bite.
To attract more spectators, Don Quixote had hired several cooks to roast meat nearby.
He provided free roasted meat and cheap ale to the commoners who came to watch.
Although the portions were small, it was enough to lure in plenty of commoners looking for a free meal.
In less than two hours, a bustling scene had formed around the crude tourney ground.
————
Rodney looked at Don Quixote beside him with confusion:
"Ser Don Quixote, the cost of hosting this semi-public tourney must far exceed the payment I'm offering for the escort mission!
"I don't understand your purpose in doing this."
"The Bloody Hand Mercenary Company is new to White Harbor," Don Quixote smiled:
"To make everyone believe in our strength and our knightly qualities...
"Hosting a small, semi-public tourney like this is the fastest way to achieve that, isn't it?"
Three days ago, Rodney had planned to have two knights in his long-term employ test the skills of Don Quixote and his three companions.
But Don Quixote suggested hosting a small, semi-public tourney instead.
The participants were fixed.
One side was the four members of the Bloody Hand Mercenary Company; the other side was a group of knights Rodney had gathered.
No outside knights were allowed to compete.
But fishermen, sailors, freelance knights, and others from around White Harbor were welcome to watch.
It wasn't entirely private, nor was it open to the public.
Hence, a semi-public, miniature tourney.
As for why not host a fully public tourney...
Rodney was just an ordinary merchant in White Harbor, lacking the status and prestige of the great merchant princes.
And Don Quixote even less so.
In short, they were commoners and didn't have the standing to host a public tourney.
Even so, organizing this semi-public miniature tourney had required Rodney's connections and cost Don Quixote over ten Gold Dragons in bribes.
White Harbor was a trade city, after all, more pragmatic and money-driven than the castle towns of the North.
As long as there was no rebellion or riot, the lords sometimes turned a blind eye.
Spending money to buy a permit for a tourney to gain fame was common.
Some wealthy merchants had even bribed the city lord to host large public tourneys in the past.
But without the tacit approval of the White Harbor authorities and House Manderly...
Even holding a semi-public miniature tourney like this would be a provocation.
It could easily lead to the City Watch dispersing or attacking them!
Seeing this boldness in Don Quixote, rare for an ordinary freelance knight, Rodney had already silently acknowledged Don Quixote's status.
————
A sworn knight of the White Harbor City Watch, invited by Rodney and attracted by Don Quixote's coin, announced loudly:
"Remember, a tourney is not about killing, but demonstrating courage and skill.
"Win, and you get fine mail, a strong warhorse, and a chance to be knighted by the Lord!
"Lose, and you either get lost or train harder.
"You are all here voluntarily, witnessed by the Old Gods and the New.
"This tourney officially begins!"
After his opening speech...
The sworn knight in full plate armor stepped back with little interest and was immediately surrounded and flattered by the nearby merchants.
Not long after, an old knight, also from House Manderly, acting as the judge, announced:
"The lance is the knight's arm, the horse is the knight's legs.
"If you can't master the charge, you don't deserve to be called a knight.
"Listen up!
"Mounted lance charge, one on one!
"Start from the barrier, charge in a straight line!
"Unhorsing your opponent or shattering your lance on their shield counts as a win!
"Three misses, and you lose!
"To yield, raise your lance above your head, and both sides stop immediately!
"Witnessed by the Old Gods and the New, the first round begins!
"First match: Ser Tom of the Bloody Hand Mercenary Company versus Ser Cassius!"
Hearing this, Don Quixote, standing on a raised platform to the side, turned his gaze to the makeshift list.
Tom was the first up.
His opponent was a freelance knight long employed by one of Rodney's merchant friends.
The two knights rode to opposite ends of the track, reined in their horses, and angled their lances toward the ground.
Then, the two knights slowly rode, controlled their horses, waved their lances, and thrust at fixed targets to warm up before the match.
Before long.
The two knights raised their blunt wooden tourney lances.
These were hollow, breakable wooden lances.
At this moment, the old judge gave the order again:
"—Charge!"
The warhorses beneath the two knights stepped out almost simultaneously.
From a walk to a gallop!
Then from a gallop to a charge!
Hooves pounded on the wet earth, dull as drums.
Many of the commoners watching held their breath.
Soon, two lances crossed in mid-air!
Unfortunately, neither hit their target.
"Hahahaha, just as expected from no-name freelance knights." A groom laughed dissatisfiedly:
"Tsk tsk, with that skill, even I could have a go."
"It wasn't that bad, at least they didn't fall off. I watched a tourney once," someone else offered a more objective evaluation:
"Where a knight couldn't even control his horse. He hadn't charged more than a few steps before he fell off!
"Nearly choked to death laughing!"
Inside the list, Tom rested his lance against the ground, breathing heavily:
"Huhu, damn it, don't be nervous, don't be nervous. Isn't this the chance for fame I've always dreamed of?
"I have to seize it!
"The opponent isn't that great, not as strong as I imagined. He's about my level.
"I can win! I, Tom, can definitely win!"
After Captain Don Quixote stated he wouldn't go first...
Tom and the other two had argued for quite a while over the order.
In the end, Tom had barely won the spot thanks to his usually outstanding performance.
He had been looking forward to this with excitement for a long time.
He absolutely could not fail!
...