Page 62 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“What does that mean?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You can’t stop it.”

“I have plans, Jonathon. You won’t have to worry. I promise.”

“Let’s hope so,” he said, heading to the door. “Because I won’t sacrifice my job, my reputation, and my family for a spontaneous decision to have one night of passion.”

* * *

“I’m ready,” called out Raven, sitting atop her horse behind Jonathon’s father’s shop in town. She was determined that today was the day she’d conquer the quintain. Time was running out. If she wanted to learn this joust and hopefully win the tournament, she needed to get better at it quickly.

She lowered the visor on the helm that Jonathon insisted she wear. It wasn’t made for her. It was the helm of a man and too big for her and also too heavy. It kept slipping and it took all her concentration to keep her chin up so she could see where she was going. Still, she felt good about this. The lance in her grip didn’t seem as heavy and cumbersome as always. Perhaps she had a newfound strength after making love with Jonathon. Or mayhap all this practice was giving her muscles. After all, swinging the hammer in the forge gave Jonathon those bulging muscles in his arms that she adored.

“Go,” shouted Jonathon from the other end of the practice field.

Kicking her feet into the sides of her horse, Raven raced across the field toward the quintain.

“Pick up the tip of the lance. Raise it higher,” he shouted. “Focus, focus.”

“Faster, faster,” yelled Avery. “You need more speed.”

“I’m trying,” she called back, aiming for the target on the quintain, hitting it and already cringing, ready to feel the air knocked out of her as soon as the sandbag walloped her in the back. To her surprise, she rode right by, hearing the squeaking of the swivel arm, but wasn’t hit from behind. She turned her horse to see the sandbag slowly swinging back and forth.

“I did it? I did it!” she screamed, excited that she’d finally conquered the struggle with the quintain. “Did you see that, Jonathon? I did it, didn’t I?” She threw the lance down.

“Aye,” he said, walking over to meet her. Avery rushed over and picked up the lance. “You did it,” said Jonathon, sounding less than enthusiastic.

“I finally beat the quintain.” She ripped off her helm.

“Yes, you did. So you’re done. Let’s prepare to go back to the castle. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Nay, wait. I want to try it a few more times to make sure it wasn’t just dumb luck.”

“All right,” he said with a nod. “Two or three times should suffice. Then we’re finished with the joust.”

“Finished? Nay, I’m not. I’ve only just started.”

“What do you mean?”

“I need to try it in competition. Against a man. For real,” she said.

“No, you don’t. This is good enough, Raven.”

“No, it’s not. I am going to learn to joust against someone. You need to fight me, Jonathon.”

“What?” His head jerked back in surprise. “Nay. I’m not going to joust against you.”

“Why not?” she asked. “I need to practice against a real person. Since I will be rejected back at the castle, you’re going to have to do it. I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” She turned and rode back to the start.

“Nay!” he called after her. “I don’t have your armor finished yet.”

“I can’t wait for it. I’m running out of time and I need to learn the joust right now.”

“Damn, she’s stubborn,” Jonathon said to his brother. “I thought that would be enough to suffice her, but no, she wants to battle against a live person. What the hell is the matter with her? And what is her all-fired hurry?”

Avery shook his head. “The real question is what’s the matter with you for allowing her to even do this?”

“I’m only trying to make her happy. Plus, her father wants me to keep her distracted so she doesn’t scare away all the knights who are starting to arrive for the tournament.”

“They’re arriving already?” asked Avery. “The tournament isn’t for another two weeks yet.”