Suzanne Robinson by Lord of the Dragon Page A

Valence stopped before her in the lists and dropped his lance for her favor. Then she would admit hope. Then she would smile openly. And then she would speak his name.

Dittany
    It had the property of drawing a thorn or iron out of a man’s body
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• Chapter 6 •
    JULIANA WALKED BETWEEN YOLANDE AND Laudine and behind her mother in the parade of ladies headed for the lists. Bertrade trailed behind with several of her friends while more visiting ladies followed. Havisia was too burdened with playing hostess to the Countess of Uvedale and other senior noblewomen to pay attention to her daughters. Thus Laudine could make free with earthy jests without fear of censure. Smiles and laughter issued from the group surrounding Laudine and washed down the line of women in ripples and waves of humor. In spite of her slight feeling of guilt, Juliana’s spirits were as high as the pointed tops of the Wellesbrooke towers.
    They progressed over the drawbridge at a stately pace past crowds of lesser folk who had gathered for the spectacle. Cheers went up at the sight of the ladies adorned in their richest garments. Every peasant within walking distance of Wellesbrooke had come to see the display their lord and his family and guests provided and partake of their generosity—both of food and largesse.
    At first Juliana was too engrossed in anticipation of the form of Gray de Valence’s repayment to pay attention to her surroundings, but as they neared the exercise ground that had been transformed for the tournament, she began to take note of the scene. A double wooden palisade marked the perimeter of the lists, the outer of which was shoulder-high. The inner contained many gaps, and betweenthe two was the space where squires, spare horses and armor, attendants and heralds stayed. Already a noisy multitude of humbler tournament onlookers had surrounded the outer palisade.
    Along one side of the rectangle formed by the palisades a series of lodges had been erected. Shaded by brilliant canopies, with carpets on the flooring and dazzling with multihued pennants, these were the destination of the ladies. The Welles family and their ranking guests would occupy the central lodge.
    In the distance, Juliana could hear her father’s heralds calling out among the avenues of tents, “Jousters make ready!”
    As she mounted the steps to the central lodge, she saw dozens of squires and other servants racing back and forth carrying chain mail, lances, even hourts, the protective padding worn around the neck of a destrier. As the eldest daughter, she followed the Countess of Uvedale and other highborn ladies and took her seat on the front bench set beside the chairs provided for the older women. Yolande sat beside her while Laudine sat next to the heiress.
    Her mother happened to glance her way and gave her a look of wild surmise. Juliana avoided her mother’s eyes. Only a few days ago she’d ranted about having to be in the lodges and threatened to sit in the back row of benches with the youngest demoiselles and the maids.
    A stir went up from the lodges when the six camp marshals appeared in the lists with Hugo at their head. Dressed in surcoats of fine damask and silk, they were followed by heralds and pursuivants who would assist them in judging the tournament. Behind them came the lower sergeants and varlets whose task it was to keep order, bring new weapons and clear away broken ones, and to rescue fallen knights.
    For the first time in years Juliana’s excitement almost made her wriggle in her seat. She could barely contain her impatience for the beginning ceremonies, and didn’t listen to her father’s speech at all. She did hear the blare of trumpets that announced the procession of contestants. Her spirits soared with the strength of the cheers from the onlookers.
    A forest of lances appeared—marching two by two—decorated with ladies’ sleeves, kerchiefs, scarves, ribbons, and stockings. At the head of the procession rode the