The Day of the Tourney
At the tourney grounds by the third gate of the Threefold Gate, in the stands.
Edric scanned the surroundings. "Cousin, this is the most people I've ever seen. The tourney really draws a crowd."
It wasn't even dawn yet, but many smallfolk were already crowding against the barriers, or perched on nearby rooftops and battlements, trying to secure a good view.
Vendors wove through the crowd, hawking lemon water, pickled olives, and roasted snake meat.
"Watching a tourney is free entertainment for most people. Everyone loves it." Arthur called over a vendor and tossed him a Silver Stag.
"Where there are crowds, there's demand. Merchants, troupes, pickpockets—they all smell the opportunity."
Edric took the lemon water and olives from Arthur and added, "Also smiths, farriers, and grooms serving the knights."
"Exactly." Arthur knew Edric had been spending time with squires lately, learning the ropes.
As time passed, nobles in litters began to arrive, and the stands filled up.
At the northern end of the lists, five pavilions for the champions had been erected. Five shields bearing different sigils hung before them.
The Sun and Spear of Prince Oberyn Martell.
The Hooded Hawk of Lord Franklyn Fowler.
And the yellow-and-red flames of Ser Ulrick Uller, the red-and-black hand of Ser Ryon Allyrion, and the red cockatrice of Ser Tremond Gargalen.
"You're early." Lady Nym sat down next to Arthur. "Planning to enter the lists tomorrow or the day after?"
"Obviously." Arthur said seriously. "I judge Prince Oberyn should last past the first day. What do you think?"
Lady Nym glanced at him. "Not necessarily. Anything can happen in a tourney."
"Willas Tyrell, the heir to the Reach, had his leg crushed by his horse in a tourney. His opponent was my father."
Edric leaned in. "I've heard that story. The squires say, 'Even a flower must break its leg for the blazing sun.'"
"Edric, that was truly an accident," Lady Nym explained.
"My father told me himself. He didn't intend for that to happen. Afterward, the two of them even corresponded frequently, exchanging knowledge on breeding horses and hawks."
Arthur: "Why aren't you over with Arianne? The view should be better there."
On the dais at the northern side of the grounds, the banner of House Martell fluttered.
Prince Doran sat in the high seat, with Princess Arianne in the seat of honor beside him.
Around them were many others: the Norvoshi Captain of the Guard with his longaxe.
Grey-robed maesters, stewards, the Treasurer, Prince Doran's sons Quentyn and Trystane, and the Prince's cousin, Ser Manfrey Martell.
Ser Manfrey had served as Castellan of Sunspear while Doran secluded himself in the Water Gardens due to his illness.
Although Ser Manfrey held the title and authority, everyone in Sunspear knew that Oberyn was the true power behind the throne.
Beside Arianne sat several Sand Snakes and Oberyn's paramour, Ellaria Sand.
Lady Nym narrowed her eyes. "What, tired of me already?"
"Uh... you know that's not what I meant." Arthur waved his hand hastily. "Just asking casually."
"Did you invite some..."
Doooo-doooo-doooo—
A series of horn blasts interrupted Lady Nym's interrogation.
Edric stood up excitedly, pointing at the distant pavilions. "Look! The champions defending Princess Arianne's honor are coming out!"
The five knights who had received tokens from Princess Arianne yesterday emerged from their tents, clad in exquisite Dornish armor adorned with their houses' unique decorations.
Squires held their warhorses on one side, while others prepared blunted tourney lances of pine, roughly twelve feet long.
Among the five, Prince Oberyn was the most distinctive. He wore a greathelm.
Greathelms usually consisted of a cylindrical body and a flat top, but Oberyn's had a rounded top to better deflect blows.
Atop the helm coiled a viper made of red copper.
The visor had narrow slits for vision, breathing, and ventilation.
Oberyn's greaves, vambraces, gorget, cuirass, and skirt were all in the red, yellow, and orange colors of House Martell.
His cuirass was made of gleaming copper scales of varying hues.
Under the sunlight, the scales on his chest reflected the sigil of House Martell: a red sun pierced by a golden spear.
His round steel shield was polished to a dazzling shine, bearing the same sigil cast in a mixture of red gold, yellow gold, white gold, and copper.
The five champions mounted their horses one by one and rode a lap around the outer track, basking in the cheers of the crowd. Finally, they reined in beneath Prince Doran's dais at the north end, standing tall with lances and swords.
Arthur watched the five champions showing off in the arena. With their appearance and the atmosphere, he had to admit they looked pretty cool.
Beside him, Edric was captivated, staring straight at the knights, unaware he had spilled his lemon water.
Doooo-doooo-doooo—
The horns sounded again.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd and the herald's introductions, five challengers rode into the lists from the south side.
Arthur recognized two of them: Count Anders Yronwood and Ser Elwyn Blackmont. The herald introduced the remaining three as a landed knight and two mystery knights.
Lady Nym asked, "Do you think Count Anders will challenge the Red Viper, who killed his father, or the Old Hawk, his old nemesis?"
"The Old Hawk," Arthur answered without hesitation. "Prince Doran sent his eldest son, your cousin Quentyn, to be fostered by Count Anders. He wouldn't be so tactless."
As Arthur spoke, Count Anders rode forward and struck the shield of the Hooded Hawk representing Lord Franklyn Fowler with his lance.
"Hmph." Lady Nym lowered her voice. "I actually hoped he would choose my father."
Compared to Prince Quentyn, who had been fostered at Yronwood, Lady Nym was undoubtedly closer to Arianne.
Due to the previous generation's feud, Lady Nym held a natural animosity towards House Yronwood.
Arthur: "Are those two mystery knights your people?"
Of the two mystery knights, the tall one struck the shield of the Red and Black Hand of Ser Ryon Allyrion.
The slender mystery knight chose Ser Tremond Gargalen as their opponent.
"What 'your people'? Our people," Lady Nym corrected. "Want to know who they are?"
"No." Arthur shook his head. After learning the purpose of Arianne's plan, he hadn't asked much else, focusing on his jousting practice.
Aside from Daemon Sand, he really didn't know who the other five challengers were.