>>6342944>>6342971>>6342994You decided to calm yourself while watching Bohémond, your brave knight. He had a first bout against another man that you knew, Swede Neutralsson. It was self evident that compared to the lordling that never had waged war, your Bohémond was a better knight. They were more or less of the same age but what a difference in experience. On the other side Swede Neutralsson had an armor of plates, clearly knew his jousting and was not a bad knight. He was a strong young lad who was gallant and chivalric. Of course you cheered for your friend but you hoped that nobody would be hurt too badly. It was always better when a contest of arms between fine knights was without casualties.
You cheered for Bohémond when he fought, and Ancel helped him carry his new spears and it was at this moment that you remarked your error. Of course ! Of course ! The grip on the lance, of course they had some strange "arrêt de lance" or part to stop the lance from probably sinking too much into an ennemy, something that you did not have in France, and you remarked that the young Swede Neutralsson gripped his lance using it and even leaning more on it, for precision, unlike what you were accustomed with. So it was it, a grip to allow more precision while charging with these longer lances than those you were accustomed with. Habile ! You tried to make sign to Bohémond after he lost the first boot by three points, so he could change it, and tried to memorize it. How simple it was when you could watch from the sides, and were not in a great helm with a small visor, everything was understandable. You hoped that Bohémond heard you. Unfortunately not, you told Ancel to tell him about the grip. But even without that he used his experience to touch the torso of his opponent, but Swede got him on the shield. Unfortunately, like you, Bohémond lost his first match by one point.
The Duchess, who looked to be mildly bored but had the courtesy of not showing it, congratulated him while some ladies whispered about his bravery because he did not fight in plate armor. How ? How !?! He was brave and you were poor... Ah, the differences of judgment between a knight and a Lord... Or perhaps you were old ? Twenty seven years... To Bohémond's twenty three. These ladies looked to be the age of your Rose, mmmh, that was a hit on your ego. Still, you cheered up your friend telling him that he had fought well, you explained him that you fought that Swede's victory (you congratulated him too) was because of his grip on his lance while you showed Bohémond that some ladies would love a knight who was a trouvère too, ladies love sometimes consoling the vanquished. Whatever you had to prepare for your next bout.
