An Uncertain Choice

Was Sir Derrick that one? Even though he didn’t choose to be?

Throughout the day, I’d learned that Sir Derrick had apparently already gained a reputation throughout the realm for his jousting skills. Even so, I couldn’t mask my nervousness when he took his place at the end of the long list and positioned his lance in one arm for the charge.

The herald finished recounting their great deeds and then sounded the trumpet. The loud blare pushed me to the edge of my chair, and I gripped the armrests until my knuckles turned white.

Sir Derrick dug his spurs into his warhorse and jolted forward. Dust from the hot afternoon swirled around the horse’s thundering hooves. Sir Derrick picked up momentum, aiming his lance at the crest of his opponent’s shield. The other knight had done likewise, and they galloped at full speed toward one another.

My fear rose, almost as palpable as the stench of horseflesh and sweat.

Sir Derrick rode straight and tall, the tail of my scarf gliding in the wind from his helmet, where he’d tied it. The strength in his arm didn’t waver. His lance was unswerving. The power of his body matched that of his beast.

Even so, I had to keep from closing my eyes in a grimace at the moment of impact between the two knights. Their lances cracked against each other’s shields with deafening booms. The impact jarred both of them, and Sir Derrick struggled to stay atop his horse, gripping the beast with his thighs and righting himself just in time. But his opponent was not so fortunate. He wobbled and then slipped off, falling to the ground with a thud that surely knocked the wind from him.

My breath whooshed out too — ?containing more relief than I’d realized.

The crowd broke into wild cheering. Sir Derrick had been their favorite all day, just as he’d been mine, even though I’d done my best to cheer all the knights equally.

When he reached the other end of the list and reined his horse, he turned. At the sight of his opponent still on the ground, unmoving, Sir Derrick spurred his horse back toward the knight, jumped off, tore of his helmet, and threw himself on the ground next to the man. He’d already loosened the man’s headgear by the time the squires reached their master.

I watched, each of my breaths tight with worry. A jousting tournament was likely to be riddled with danger and injuries. I’d been thankful that so far the day had been uneventful. Except for the usual scrapes and bruises, no one had been injured.

After several tense moments, the knight on the ground finally lifted an arm, allowing Sir Derrick to help him to a sitting position. After a few more minutes, Sir Derrick positioned his arm around the nobleman’s waist and helped him to his feet.

“’Twould appear Sir Derrick is the champion,” said one of the young ladies sitting nearby.

“Why am I not surprised?” laughed another of the women.

“What will you reward him, Lady Rosemarie?”

The questions and chatter flowed around me, bringing back the memory of my promise to him earlier in the day and sending warmth into my stomach. What would he request of me? I didn’t dare think he might actually ask for a kiss.

And if he did . . . would I give it?

I shivered, but not from cold.

“He’ll likely want a full purse of silver,” said one of the ladies. “After all, he owns nothing and has no prospects, unless the duke or High King is yet planning to reward him for his service to the country.”

“He has no family estates awaiting his return?” I couldn’t keep the question from escaping, although the moment it left my lips, I regretted asking. I ought not ask for information that Sir Derrick had not willingly given me.

Of course he’d told me he had no wealth or family honor, but I hadn’t supposed that meant he was completely landless.

“I don’t know Sir Derrick’s entire background,” said the woman next to me. “But I’ve heard rumors that his father once ruled lands far to the north. When Sir Derrick was but a lad, his father’s castle was attacked by a rival lord who massacred the entire family. If not for a nursemaid who escaped with Sir Derrick, he would have been killed too.”

“Oh my,” I whispered, horrified to think of the pain Sir Derrick had suffered at losing his entire family in such a brutal manner. My gaze chased after him as he assisted the injured nobleman to his tent.

Even when he made his way back to the list a few minutes later, amidst the wild cheering of the crowd, a strange ache had wrapped around my heart and wouldn’t let go.