Chapter 119 - 118: Hair Like Gold.

Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Hair Like Gold.

The following morning blooms fresh and clear, and the wind coming in off the plains smells like snow settling on the tops of far off mountains.

It’s crisp, and light; good for cooling soldiers dressed all in armour, and it hadn’t rained the night before so the ground’s free of mud. No danger of horses slipping if their riders know what they’re doing.

All in all, it’s a good day for jousting.It’s early yet; early enough that the stands are yet to fill, but already soldiers are beginning to stream in with their horses in tow.

There have to be dozens of them --hundreds might not even be a stretch --each one of them looking indomitable and grand in their gleaming armour, and adorned by their lord’s colours and sigils.

Their horses too, are in pristine condition, and decorated to match their masters, and they whicker and dance anxiously between the tents as though they can sense the undercurrent of tension in the air.Drogger understands.

While the archery had been a spectacle, for sure, and competitive enough in its own right, the simple act of pitting a man directly against man was a different thing entirely. It didn’t quite have the bloodshed entertainment value of a duel, but it was fast, brutal, and dangerous, and for those who revelled in that kind of thing, dramatic.

For a lot of soldiers, it was a chance to show off. And, where possible, make their opponent look very bad while doing it.

His king may have advertised this tournament as a kind of friendly competition; a celebration of kinship, and union, but where soldiers were concerned, competition was just that -- competition ; and when it came to matters of personal pride, and that of their kingdom, well, things could get, well....Competitive.It’s already starting.

As he knew it would. One doesn’t have to listen too hard or for too long to notice the subtle barbs being traded between soldiers. Nothing too offensive or too malicious, mind --this is a friendly event, after all, and no soldier wants to be responsible for starting a war --but just enough to get under their opponents’ skin.

Taunting an opponent was supposed to be childish, and unbecoming of a soldier, or a prince, for that matter, but that never seemed to stop them.

Case in point, only a short distance away, the Prince of Movang appeared to be making a right pain of himself again, and Drogger ground his brow in despair as he recognised just who his chosen victim was.

The tension between the recent King of Cabaga and Prince of Movang was well documented.

Not the kingdoms themselves, so much --the pair were almost neighbours, in fact, and shared a number of trade routes.

Their Queen mothers were close friends, and reportedly most upset that their dear sons just couldn’t seem to get along.

It was a good thing the resentment seemed, for the most part, one sided.For someone not competing today, the Prince of Movang sure seemed to have a lot to say; much to the growing impatience of his captain beside him.

Unlike his prince, he was in full plate --clearly intending to compete in the day’s event --and for serving someone so notoriously flashy, it’s surprisingly plain. Obviously well-cared for, and gleaming, but unadorned save for his prince’s sigil stamped into the breastplate.

A man after Drogger’s own heart. Armour was for function over form, after all.Thankfully, said soldier has more sense than his prince, and promptly wheels him away before the relations between their kingdoms are irreparably damaged.

But he doesn’t seem to like it, and Drogger has to wonder if he shares, for some reason, his Lord’s distaste for the man.

And if he hears the prince tell his captain to make sure he knocks the guy off his horse, well, that won’t be the last time he hears that today.It is kind of the point of the sport, after all.

Relieved that his intervention wasn’t necessary (this time), Drogger resumes scanning the proceedings for any sign of rising conflict.

Predictably, it’s everywhere, but nothing so far that could be perceived as a credible threat. Guard detail is another of his duties, and one that he undertakes without complaint, but a small part of him does wish he was competing today.

He’s not one for pandering to a crowd, or showing off, but there’s something about representing his kingdom in a battle of strength and finesse that fills him with a sense of pride.

​It’s a shame that he won’t get the chance this time, but he has full faith in the soldiers who will.

​" --Drogger, what a surprise; you’re here early," Ynoro’s song-song voice trills from just behind him, not sounding at all surprised, and when Drogger turns, his old friend is ambling towards him in half his armour, like he’d gotten distracted halfway through and had forgotten to finish.

​Plausible. One glimpse of a pretty face and Ynoro damn near forgot his own name.

​"Morning," Drogger greets cordially, and then decides to point out the obvious.

"You’re not ready."

​As anticipated, this is news to Ynoro, and when he looks down to find that he is in fact, missing parts of his armour, his expression morphs to one of mild surprise.

​"Oh, would you look at that," he remarks, like he’s just discovered a small hole in one of his socks, "Now how did that ---oh, wait, I remember; you see, there was this stable hand --"

​It’s almost like a game of theirs; Ynoro starts telling him about the new girl he’s fallen in love with, and when Drogger inevitably tells him he’s not interested, he gets ignored.

​" --She had the most beautiful blonde hair, Drogger," he swoons, eyes alight and filled with stars, "And the kindest voice. You know, I think there was a real connection there, Noog."

​"Of course." Sometimes it’s best to play along. Especially when Ynoro calls him by his first name. It means he’s in too deep. Until the next pretty face crosses his path, at least.

​" --When she told me how good my horse’s teeth were looking, I could just tell she was interested."

​"...In your horse ," Drogger deadpans flatly, but as usual his lack of enthusiasm goes unnoticed.

​" --Oh, there she is ," his friend gasps, bodily grabbing Drogger and pointing entirely conspicuously at a young, golden-haired stable hand as she roams past with two magnificent horses in tow.

Ynoro’s outburst makes her look their way, and she blushes when she sees two uniformed soldiers staring at her. " She looked over here ! Did you see that! She must have been looking for me."

​There’s no getting through to him. Drogger gave that up years ago.

​"Wasn’t she bewitching , Drogger?" he sighs, waving at the girl’s back as she goes. To Drogger’s --and possibly even Ynoro’s --surprise, she actually flings a look back over her shoulder as she scurries off; a blush rising up the back of her neck. "And did you see her hair? Like real gold, Drogger. It looked like sunlight.

Have you ever seen hair so beautiful?"

​Actually, Drogger has.

​But he can’t tell Ynoro that.

​Not with who it belongs to.