| So the young knight, now fully accoutred and | | | | As he turns to prepare for the charge, our young |
| spurred, finds himself on campaign. He's facing his first | | | | knight notices the two little strips of cloth on the |
| full cavalry charge. Let's set the date at 1090. | | | | back of his lord's helm, another sign of seniority. He |
| He can feel the power of his great destrier and has | | | | grips the rein with the hand of his shield arm, the left, |
| to pull down hard on the curb bit to control the | | | | and holds his lance in an upright position. The order |
| animal, who smells blood and the excitement of the | | | | comes to trot. They'll keep at this pace for as long |
| coming engagement. The knight wears a coif, the | | | | as possible before breaking into full gallop. |
| mailed head cover and now takes his helm from the | | | | They keep their lances upright, and our knight |
| pommel of his saddle and holding it by the nasal, | | | | watches his destrier's ears twitch, then lay back, |
| slams it on his head. Hard young eyes glint on either | | | | snorting so hard through his nostrils that he expects |
| side of the nose piece, just a hint of apprehension | | | | to see flame. The gap closes amazingly rapidly and |
| showing. | | | | the duke yells the order to lower lances and full |
| He walks his mount a little behind the line, where he | | | | gallop. He drops back into the middle of the rank. Our |
| tests the weight and balance of his lance. It feels | | | | knight feels the immense power of the destrier's hind |
| surprisingly light in his hands. He's immensely strong | | | | quarters as at long last he's given his head. |
| now, stronger certainly than most men would be | | | | Choose an opponent and look at him, not the tip of |
| today. But he knows, too, that he's keyed up, like an | | | | his lance. It might make you flinch. Our knight's lance |
| athlete before an event. | | | | is now over the back of his destrier's neck, to the |
| The order comes to form up in line abreast. Finally, | | | | left of the horse's head. He sees a knight in like |
| after trying to rear and then have a bit of a crab | | | | position coming straight for him. He feels the solid |
| walk, all the knights manage to bring their destriers | | | | thud of his weapon against his opponent's shield, |
| together. They're so close, their knees are touching. | | | | while at the last possible moment, just before they |
| His shield, now of the long, kite-shaped type, has | | | | clash, he turns his shield very slightly outward. |
| painted upon its red field, the black,elongated head of | | | | The other, expecting a solid encounter, feels his lance |
| a wild boar, a rendering more mythical than real. This | | | | slip on our man's shield, while the shock of being hit |
| is his lord's device, for he's been retained as a | | | | by such an incredible force, twists him awkwardly in |
| household knight in the service of the nobleman, a | | | | the saddle. He knows he shouldn't, but our boy has a |
| duke, at who's castle he's trained all these years. | | | | quick glance over his shoulder. He thinks he spots the |
| The duke himself rides to the front and says a few | | | | man on the ground.. what's left of him. The earth's |
| words, which are whipped away by the wind blowing | | | | now a mass of bloodied mud, horse waste and the |
| from their rear, for which they're most grateful. Fixed | | | | odd limb. He drops his lance and his sword flashes |
| to the head of the duke's lance is a nobleman's | | | | into his hand. The butchery's begun.. |
| gonfalon, larger than the penon of a senior knight. | | | | |