do something that mattered.
He wished he had made her promise to come to the ball and be his partner, even if he lost today.
He was no good with women. He never knew what was proper. If he was able to talk to her at the tournament, and if she talked to him at the ball tomorrow night, would it be too soon to kiss her on the cheek? At the banquet, had he exhausted hertoo much with all that dancing? Would she rather have sat and talked? He was so inexperienced it made him unsure of himself, which was irritating. He was never unsure of himself.
Valten was desperate enough to wish Gabe was here so he could ask his advice.
He grunted, making his squire hurry over. “What do you need, my lord?”
“Fetch me some fresh water.”
Hugo left quickly, closing the chamber door behind him.
Valten didn’t need more water, but he wanted to be alone for a few minutes. He sat down and began eating the breakfast that had been brought up to him. In spite of his unwelcome shyness toward Gisela, he felt oddly energized this morning after getting less rest than he liked before a day of combat. But Gisela had been worth losing sleep over. She danced as if nothing had ever made her so happy. She smiled as if it was only for him. He hoped those smiles meant she liked him, because he hoped to dance only with her at the ball tomorrow night.
But for today, he would ready himself for his battles. Above all, he must not injure himself too badly to dance. The time he had broken his leg had proved disastrous, as far as getting a wife.
Gisela made him not care about that, made him think it was for the best. But breaking his leg today would certainly not be something he’d be thankful for.
Friedric Ruexner would likely be his most dangerous opponent. That fiend would do anything to defeat Valten. He’d already tried to poison his horse, forcing Valten to post a guard to watch over Sieger day and night. But what else would Ruexner try? He had been eyeing Gisela during the banquet last night. Would he bother her today? Ruexner would despise her if he knew she had been the one to discover the water hemlock in Sieger’s food. But just the fact that she was the one Valten chose to be his Queen of Beauty and Love made her a target for Ruexner’s jealous wrath.
He would post a guard to watch over Gisela as well.
Hugo helped Valten dress, putting on his mail, then his armor. Soon he was ready for the day’s tournament activities. Valten closed his eyes and said his usual prayer at the beginning of a tournament day. He asked God to help him focus his mind on his task, to give him strength and skill, and to bless him with victory.
Valten crossed himself, then kissed the small iron cross around his neck. He stood and pulled his sword from its scabbard to hear the metallic zing , but it didn’t send the usual vibration of suppressed-but-eager energy through his limbs. He had been thinking for some weeks that this might be his final tournament. Was he ready to quit tourneying because he’d met Gisela and decided to pay court to her? Or had he decided to pay court to Gisela because he was quitting his tourneying?
He had no time to ponder it. He had a long string of knights to defeat, knights who would love nothing better than to beat him into the ground and make names for themselves by defeating the seldom-defeated Valten Gerstenberg.
Valten resheathed his sword. His whole body felt as taut as a bowstring. He was ready.
Gisela awoke wondering what she would wear. She had only the blue dress she’d worn the day before. Would she disgrace herself by wearing the same dress again?
The sun was peeking through the narrow window in Margaretha’s chamber as Gisela slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Valten’s sister. But as she stood, Margaretha rolled over and opened her eyes.
“Good morning, Gisela.” She stretched her arms over her head. “Oh, I’m so excited about today.” She pushed the blanket away and sprang out of bed. “Tournaments
He wished he had made her promise to come to the ball and be his partner, even if he lost today.
He was no good with women. He never knew what was proper. If he was able to talk to her at the tournament, and if she talked to him at the ball tomorrow night, would it be too soon to kiss her on the cheek? At the banquet, had he exhausted hertoo much with all that dancing? Would she rather have sat and talked? He was so inexperienced it made him unsure of himself, which was irritating. He was never unsure of himself.
Valten was desperate enough to wish Gabe was here so he could ask his advice.
He grunted, making his squire hurry over. “What do you need, my lord?”
“Fetch me some fresh water.”
Hugo left quickly, closing the chamber door behind him.
Valten didn’t need more water, but he wanted to be alone for a few minutes. He sat down and began eating the breakfast that had been brought up to him. In spite of his unwelcome shyness toward Gisela, he felt oddly energized this morning after getting less rest than he liked before a day of combat. But Gisela had been worth losing sleep over. She danced as if nothing had ever made her so happy. She smiled as if it was only for him. He hoped those smiles meant she liked him, because he hoped to dance only with her at the ball tomorrow night.
But for today, he would ready himself for his battles. Above all, he must not injure himself too badly to dance. The time he had broken his leg had proved disastrous, as far as getting a wife.
Gisela made him not care about that, made him think it was for the best. But breaking his leg today would certainly not be something he’d be thankful for.
Friedric Ruexner would likely be his most dangerous opponent. That fiend would do anything to defeat Valten. He’d already tried to poison his horse, forcing Valten to post a guard to watch over Sieger day and night. But what else would Ruexner try? He had been eyeing Gisela during the banquet last night. Would he bother her today? Ruexner would despise her if he knew she had been the one to discover the water hemlock in Sieger’s food. But just the fact that she was the one Valten chose to be his Queen of Beauty and Love made her a target for Ruexner’s jealous wrath.
He would post a guard to watch over Gisela as well.
Hugo helped Valten dress, putting on his mail, then his armor. Soon he was ready for the day’s tournament activities. Valten closed his eyes and said his usual prayer at the beginning of a tournament day. He asked God to help him focus his mind on his task, to give him strength and skill, and to bless him with victory.
Valten crossed himself, then kissed the small iron cross around his neck. He stood and pulled his sword from its scabbard to hear the metallic zing , but it didn’t send the usual vibration of suppressed-but-eager energy through his limbs. He had been thinking for some weeks that this might be his final tournament. Was he ready to quit tourneying because he’d met Gisela and decided to pay court to her? Or had he decided to pay court to Gisela because he was quitting his tourneying?
He had no time to ponder it. He had a long string of knights to defeat, knights who would love nothing better than to beat him into the ground and make names for themselves by defeating the seldom-defeated Valten Gerstenberg.
Valten resheathed his sword. His whole body felt as taut as a bowstring. He was ready.
Gisela awoke wondering what she would wear. She had only the blue dress she’d worn the day before. Would she disgrace herself by wearing the same dress again?
The sun was peeking through the narrow window in Margaretha’s chamber as Gisela slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Valten’s sister. But as she stood, Margaretha rolled over and opened her eyes.
“Good morning, Gisela.” She stretched her arms over her head. “Oh, I’m so excited about today.” She pushed the blanket away and sprang out of bed. “Tournaments
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