“It’s hard to be the best,” Edward admitted. His lips were thin, and he was staring at his leg. “Everyone always looking to unhorse you, to challenge you. To defeat you.” He rubbed his propped leg. “I suppose I knew someone would, eventually. There is always someone better.”
Julian sighed softly. “You defended your title as best you could. I was taught honor was better than winning.”
Edward winced. “And it is.”
Julian couldn’t place blame on him. Perhaps Edward had gotten lazy. Perhaps he had gotten complacent. Whatever the reason, Julian had defeated Edward. And that would have to be enough for him. “Perchance one day, we shall meet on the field of honor again.”
Edward exhaled. “They tell me my jousting days are over.”
Guilt and disbelief slammed down on Julian’s shoulders as he glanced at Edward’s leg. He’d never wanted to be the cause of another knight’s inability to joust. “Oh, Lord. Edward, I’m so sorry.”
Edward shook his head. “It’s not your fault. I place no blame on you for this injury. I had it coming for acting disgracefully. I hit your wounded shoulder twice, and yet, you still would not fall.” He looked at him intensely, as if he could see through to Julian’s soul. “You are a worthy adversary. The worthiest opponent I have ever had.”
The words should have made Julian happy. They should have delighted him as none other could. But they did not. A heavy weight pulled at his heart. “Thank you.”
“Still, you forfeited the joust. You could have been the champion of the tourney.” Edward tilted his head to look at him more closely. “Do you love her?”
Shocked by the turn of topics, Julian opened his mouth and then closed it and then opened it to answer.
“I ask because you never came to me to seek her hand.”
Julian chuckled humorlessly. “You would never have seen me as a serious contender for her hand. I have no lands, no title, no fortune. I have nothing to offer her.”
“You have honor.”
Julian ran his hand through his hair. “That will not keep her warm or put food in her stomach.”
“No but winning a fortune in the melee might.”
Julian frowned and looked down. The melee consisted of two opposing teams of knights battling each other to best and then ransom the other. Glory and riches could be acquired by capturing the wealthiest knights. But he’d have to capture a lot of knights for ransom to have enough coin or even a chance… No. It would never be sufficient. “I’m leaving.”
Edward scratched his clean-shaven chin. “Before you go, I have a proposition for you.”
Julian cautiously straightened; his curiosity piqued.
“Take my place in the melee. Fight on Lord Yves’s team.”
Julian’s eyebrows rose. He reared back. It would be an honor to take Edward’s place and fight on the baron’s team. Still, he hesitated. If he lost, if another knight captured him, he would lose everything. His armor, sword, possibly even Storm. He had no coin to pay for ransom. He could lose everything… well, everything he had left, which wasn’t a lot. He began to shake his head. It was too risky. “I am honored by your request, but I am a simple knight. I can’t—”
“I will sponsor you.”
A bark of laughter escaped Julian’s lips. “Why? Why would you do that?”
“I’ve seen you fight. I’m impressed by your character. I think you can make a difference for Yves’s team. For my team.” Edward grinned and patted his leg. “And I can’t do it.”
Words failed Julian. He was too stunned to agree. He was too honored not to. The joust had been his main focus. He had not even considered the melee.
And still… his mind returned to Elora. He couldn’t shake the heavy disappointment weighing his body down. How could she think he was a cheat? Even now, the echo of her words and the memory of bitterness caused a painful tightening in his throat. How could she declare him dishonorable? If he stayed, she would be all he could think of. Baldwin had been right. He couldn’t win when Elora was all that was important to him.
“It would be a great honor to take your place.” He sighed softly. He would have said yes. He would have agreed to battle in the melee—he wasn’t afraid, but… he couldn’t take his mind from Elora. “As tempting as your offer is, I cannot in good conscience take it.”
“Are you certain? It could change your life. If you ransom the right knight, you could come away quite wealthy.”
He grinned sadly.Wealth. Champion.These were things he desired before he met Elora. “There is only one woman who could change my life.”
Edward pondered and added, “I have one more condition that may entice you…”
Later that afternoon, Elora sat in a chair at Edward’s bedside, her head bowed. She was chilled and clutched her hands. There was no way to make amends with Julian. There was no way to tell Julian how sorry she was, how wrong she was.
