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Morven's own party closed in around her, pressing her with eager questions in
lowered tones. Where had she learned such a feat?
"Oh," said she. "The shipmen taught me, and practise has given me skill. 'Tis easy,
needing only a steady hand and. an accurate eye."
"I have seen that done often in Spain, but seldom in England," Thur assured them.
The Bonders declared that they would most assuredly try their hands at it, and Morven
instructed: "Make ye a straw target and practise at that, for if you throw unskilfully at
anything hard, such as a tree, you risk breaking the point of your knife."
A fanfare of trumpets cut short the discussion by announcing the first knight to
arrive. He was a splendid figure in full battle array, riding a great charger almost
enveloped in trappings of blue and silver cloth. Two squires rode behind, one carrying his
helmet, the other his shield and spear. He was greeted by shouts of applause from the
people, who left their various amusements to line each side of the entry to the lists.
From thence onward there was a continual influx of spectators and contestants,
nobles, lesser gentry; merchant princes and commoners until every place in the stands
was occupied and tilting ready to begin.
Jan noted with excitement that his lady of the hawking party sat in the very centre
of the principal stand beneath a large crown of gilded wood, from which streamed
festoons of flowers and rows of little banners fastened to cord, forming a sort of bower.
The rough wood of the stand was covered with cunningly stitched tapestries and carpets
brought by the Crusaders from the east, and valuable beyond all price. These gave a very
sumptuous air, while overhead floated banners and pennons bearing coats-of-arms and
devices worked in every known colour, almost dimming the radiance of the clothes of the
audience. Like some gorgeous Limoges enamel they shone forth, these lists at Smithfield,
set in the vivid emerald of the spring grass against the deep blue of the sky, and lit up by
the sun.
Today Jan's lady was dressed in gleaming white and silver, the material
shimmering in the sun with every movement. A chaplet of white roses wreathed her
night-dark hair, and a silver veil streamed beyond it. They learned that she was to bestow
the prizes, and that she was the lady of Lord Jocelyn of Keyes.
"She is indeed a wondrous beauty," sighed Jan, and, as though she heard him, she
turned upon him the blue-black depths of those unfathomable eyes, so that he blushed
scarlet, while a little smile brushed her lips. Among all the ladies there she was easily the
loveliest, and amid
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all that riot of colour and positiveness she was a pale emblem of the elusive. In
consequence all the men's eyes were turned upon her in longing ... which was exactly the
effect she had set out to achieve.
When the actual jousting began, however, they discovered that this was a
spectacle for the privileged few ... for those seated either side of the list. They could see
each knight as he rode to opposite. ends of the tournament field, they could see him
wheel, and spur his horse to the charge, with visor down and spear couched, they admired
the thundering advance and heard the shock of the encounter, which seemed to shake the
very earth. They heard the plaudits of the spectators, and the jubilation of the victors, but
all the excitement of the actual seeing was denied them, and after half a dozen repetitions
of the same scene they grew weary, especially as they had no personal knowledge of the
contestants and no interest in their fate.
So they wore away their day in dancing, singing, archery, feasting and admiring
and when the Bonders left the held early in the afternoon the majority of the crowds were
still at it and would carry on until late nightfall.
The four strolled across the pleasant fields until they came to the city of
Westminster The beautiful Confessor's Abbey was still sadly in need of repair, and as
they stood looking at it, one of the brothers came to them. He was an old man, with a
gentle face, and kindly, short-sighted, peering eyes. As they entered the church he
followed them in, and soon became their guide. He told them its history, pointing out its
perfection over every other building, as he avowed in his enthusiasm. It was through him
that they had their first sight of Canute's palace, which stood nearby, and which, owing to
his friendship with one of the stewards, they were able to inspect. They were not greatly
impressed, though the old brother, immersed in the past and full of old traditions, pointed
out certain details with an enthusiasm born of long acquaintance.
But Jan had his own notion of what a castle should be, and this was nothing like
it, and Olaf by far preferred his wild wind, so altogether Canute s achievement paled into
insignificance beside the splendour of Westminster Hall, the Banquet Room of the Red
(the greatest room in the world unsupported by pillars), as old Brother Carol pointed out
with pride.
Afterwards they wandered down to the riverside, where, coming from a little row
of shops was a most appetising smell of cooking. It was long past midday, and they were
hungry. Drawing nearer, they discovered that these shops sold cooked food of every
description, suitable alike for rich and poor purses. Servants were coming with covered
dishes and
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going away with roast venison and birds. Housewives with baskets bought according to
their means.
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