![]() ![]() At either end of the tilt the knights wiped sweat from their brows, as squires brought them fresh lances. Joanna forced her eyes back to the arena. ![]() ![]() He told Joanna so whenever she mentioned her fears for his safety, laughing at her protests as he silenced her with clandestine kisses, more forward and demanding each time they met. His skill on horseback was the talk of Yorkshire. It was true that today’s encounters were between knights untried in battle but Sir Roger was the best and brightest. Roger Danby would win the joust Joanna’s certainty was iron hard. ‘He has twice the experience of Sir Roger.’ ![]() ‘Sir Godfrey will win,’ his companion replied. Sir Godfrey must unseat him or deliver a strike to the head to win,’ muttered a man to Joanna’s left. To watch was agonising, but not a watcher, high-or low-born, could bear to tear his or her eyes from the spectacle before them. In the stands the women gasped in alarm, clutching each other’s hands in excitement and suspense. The crowd roared, stamping feet, pounding fists against the wooden fences that separated them from the contestants. The riders wheeled their mounts round to face each other once more. Lances met armour, splintering on impact and sending shards of wood cascading across the lists. Hooves thundered on the ground as the horses charged. ![]()
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