A Roll of the Die - 1. Inception
Copyright© 2026 by Michael Loucks
Chapter 91: Day 120
The day of the Royal Tournament dawned with bright sunshine and only a few puffy clouds. The temperature was pleasant, and festive pennants flapped slowly in the light breeze. As the city came to life, the Knights, along with their squires and pages, were already bustling about, preparing for the day's contests.
Sixty-two Knights would participate in the sword on foot competition, forty-eight would compete in the joust, and forty-two in the sword on horseback, with two hearty Knights competing in all three events, a significant challenge few had ever attempted. As they prepared, the viewing stands and the grassy areas around the arena began to fill. Matthias and Lilia, as a noble and his wife, could sit in the main reviewing stand.
As they took their seats, troubadours sang and played, and jugglers entertained the growing crowd. Matthias smiled, remembering how A Knight's Tale had likened tournaments to what were, in the OP, modern sporting events, especially football matches, both the European and American kinds. As far as Matthias saw it, the only thing missing were team attire and foam fingers. That thought about Chaucer's story reminded him of The Reeve's Tale, which portrayed millers as liars, cheats, and thieves, something that Matthias was observing firsthand.
The sporting event analogy gave Matthias an idea — to introduce baseball caps to Nystria. He wouldn't produce them, but if he could retrieve several, he could give them to Laurel and ask her to secure canvas and produce them. He'd much rather wear one of those caps rather than the traditional wide-brimmed hat, similar to a fedora, that he wore when he did not need to wear his leather helm. That would require another transit, but was not sufficient reason to spend the necessary resources.
"How do you think Milos will do today?" Lilia asked.
"He is determined, but he is young and has much less experience. His first bout is evenly matched. After the thirty matches, they will draw for new opponents. Because the number of competitors is not found in the geometric sequence beginning with one and using two as the common ratio, there will be byes in the first round for the most senior Knights."
"I have no idea what any of that means!" Lilia protested.
"A geometric sequence is a series of numbers you derive by starting with a fixed number, in this case, one, and multiplying each number by two to derive the next one. That gives you the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, and so on. In a single-elimination competition where you reduce the numbers by half, you do not want an odd number to remain. If you use the sequence I just described, you will always have a properly matched set of bouts until you reach the single winner.
"Milos said sixty-two Knights were competing in sword on foot, which is the most popular competition, as it is a skill every Knight must have. That means, in the first round, the two most senior Knights will not have a first-round bout because sixty divided by two is thirty, and thirty plus two is thirty-two, one of the numbers in the sequence, and ensures each Knight will always have an opponent until there is a winner."
"Where did you learn that?"
"It's taught in every school, usually around the 8th grade, which is when students would have around fourteen years. In my OP realm, going to school is mandatory from your sixth year to your eighteenth year, though it is possible to leave when you are sixteen in some circumstances."
"You'll have to explain more about that later. Does the joust do the same?"
"No. They joust in groups of four, each against each other. Anyone unhorsed is eliminated, and the two Knights with the most lances advance to the next round; an unhorsed Knight may not advance even if he has the most lances. The competition continues until only two Knights remain. They then have a head-to-head joust with the first to five lances winning if neither is unhorsed. Being unhorsed is an automatic victory for the other Knight."
"And if both are unhorsed?"
"If both are able to continue, they do so, with the same rules about lances and being unhorsed. If a Knight is unable to continue, he withdraws, and the other Knight is the victor. If both cannot continue, the Knight with the most lances is the victor. If they are equal, the more senior Knight is declared the victor. According to Milos, that has never happened in the history of the Royal Tournament."
"The Queen said a Knight died in the joust two years ago."
"It is rare, but it happens on occasion, as do severe injuries."
Just like professional sports in the OP, Matthias thought, especially automobile racing, but also baseball, football, and hockey, to name a few.
"How is the sword judged?" Lilia asked.
"If a Knight is driven from the fighting square, his opponent gains a point. The same is true if he is driven to his knees. If he is felled, his opponent gains two points. Points are also awarded for disarming your opponent or making him drop his shield. The first to five points wins. A Knight who fails to regain his feet quickly can be ruled defeated by the judge."
"Why not continue blows to prevent him from rising?"
"Because this is brotherly competition, not true combat. A Knight who attacks after scoring a point is considered dishonorable and may be disqualified by the judge."
"Not always?"
"If the Knight judging the bout determines it was a combination move — a shield bash plus a strike with the sword, for example — that is allowed, as it is nearly impossible to stop mid-combination due to the weight of the sword."
"Could you do well?" Lilia asked.
"No," Matthias replied. "I fight with a rapier, or occasionally a light sword, and in leather, not in chain or plate. My primary weapon is a dagger, used in stealth, or my light crossbow. It is far safer to creep up on an opponent and cut his throat than to give him a chance to skewer me. The Knights would consider that dishonorable."
"Does Milos see it that way?"
"Of course, but he also accepts that not all opponents deserve to be fought with honor, as they show none. He would never strike an opposing Knight who was unprepared, though once mortal combat begins, he would show no restraint. Of course, he would accept the yield of another Knight and a plea for mercy, and take the Knight prisoner."
"What of others? Soldiers in the Army, for example?"
"They are not due the respect owed to a brother Knight, so it would be up to the King, and usually no mercy would be given."
"Men have very strange views," Lilia observed.
Matthias nodded. "And we say the same about women!"
Below the reviewing stand, squires chalked fighting squares on packed earth. The arena had filled while they talked — pennants snapping, vendors calling out to sell roasted nuts and ale, the rhythmic clang of practice blades from the Knights' pavilion. Matthias felt the stand tremble slightly when a party of mounted Knights trotted past on their way to the lists.
Trumpets sounded, announcing the arrival of the King and Queen, who were accompanied by High Priest Godric and the Knight-Commander. For the most part, the assembled throngs cheered. There were a few calls of 'Purify', but they were quickly silenced, likely the result of 'rough justice' meted out by others in the crowd.
What did not happen was any general unrest, nor were any signs of disrespect made to High Priest Godric, who was adorned in the proper robes, as well as bearing the insignias of his office — a staff and medallion. He took his place in the center of the arena while the King and Queen were escorted to their private viewing box, not far from Matthias and Lilia.
"High Priest," King Robert called out, "please give the blessing!"
High Priest Godric recited the traditional prayers to the gods, followed by the Knights parading past him as he swung a censer, which had been handed to him by an acolyte. He blessed each Knight in turn, and as they filed past, they moved to take their place standing rank and file before King Robert.
"Knights of the Realm!" Robert said in his booming voice. "I declare the Royal Tournament open!"
The Knights all raised their swords in salute as the crowd erupted in a raucous cheer. The Knights departed in procession, and the High Priest took his place next to King Robert, with the Knight-Commander sitting next to the Queen, who was to Robert's right.
Matthias noted how young Godric looked in full regalia beside Robert's box — a boy holding a censer where Titus had meant to hold the Realm hostage.
"What do you think, Count Matthias?" Count Morgan of Peterborough asked. "Perhaps a wager?"
"I do not know the Knights well enough to make an informed wager, and last year's champion is sitting in the Royal box, wearing a crown!"
"My money is on Sir James in the joust — he was defeated by King Robert last year, before the late unpleasantness. It was a close thing, too, five lances to four."
"A reasonable choice," Matthias confirmed.
"For sword on horseback, I would wager on Sir Paul, who is last year's champion. For sword on foot, Sir Aidan is likely to prevail, despite being young. Your Sir Milos may advance quite far, given what I have heard about him."
"I certainly hope so!" Matthias declared.
"If a wager is not forthcoming, perhaps some business during these preliminary bouts?"
"I am always open to mutually beneficial undertakings."
"I examined the new mill built just outside Haven," Count Morgan said. "I understand it is possible to draw water with a similar mill."
"That is so," Matthias agreed, as the first Knights were announced.
"I also understand you are willing to sell the plans for the mills."
"I am willing, subject to a license fee for each mill that is built, paid either in silver or flour. The challenge is finding a skilled smith and tinker who are able to make the complex parts for the internal works."
"I have two very skilled men in my County, which I am sure you know is the most distant, lying far to the north, on the coast east of the Highlands. I would like to send my smith and tinker to Newtown to be trained by your men, and to secure the right to build as many mills in my County as I see fit, and to offer to build mills for Count Douglas in his County to the south of mine."
"That can be done," Matthias replied as a cheer went up for a Knight who had both disarmed his opponent and driven him to his knees with a combination of blows and shield bashes.
"I would prefer a deal where I pay you a fixed amount for the license and for each mill, rather than an annual fee. The distance makes the arrangement you suggested difficult. I do not mean to deprive you of your just profit, only to pay it in a lump sum."
"I am open to that," Matthias replied. "If we agree, that would apply to mills in your County. If you build outside your County — and you would not be limited to just yours and that of Count Douglas — they would be subject to the same conditions."
Another cheer arose as the same Knight drove his opponent from the square, disarming him in the process for a victory.
"Take heed, Count Matthias," Count Morgan said with a smile, "my man, Sir Devin, is very strong!"
"And yet, you placed your wager on Sir Aidan?"
"I placed bets on both! As for your offer, I accept. I do not like my people being at the whim of the Millers Guild, who charge a premium because my farmers have no option but to haul their grain to the Guild's mill in Harborough, nearly three days by wagon due to the rough roads in the north."
"Then we are of one mind, Count Morgan."
The two Counts shook hands just as the next bout was announced. A general agreement between them having been reached, they discussed and negotiated, and by the time Milos' bout was announced, they had agreed on the details, including timing and payments.
🎲🎲🎲
Milos, with Queen Miri's token tucked inside his tunic, which he wore under his armor, made his way to the entrance to the arena, with Stefan walking in front of him carrying the shield bearing Matthias' crest. Because Stefan was only a page, he stopped at the entrance and handed Milos the shield.
"Fight well, Sir!" Stefan exclaimed.
Milos nodded and walked into the arena to take his place next to Sir Nelson, his opponent for his first bout. Both men faced the King and raised their swords in salute, then took their positions in the combat square.
"Brothers!" a fellow Knight, who was judging the bout, called out. "Prepare!"
Both Knights raised their swords to acknowledge they were ready.
"Fight!"
Milos quickly advanced so as not to be trapped close to the edge of the square, and Sir Nelson wisely did the same. Milos was about a step further away from his corner because he had moved more quickly, but that yielded little advantage given the size of the square. Adopting a defensive stance, he blocked a strike from Sir Nelson with his shield and made a counter-strike, which Sir Nelson sidestepped.
They traded several simple attacks until Sir Nelson tried a combination strike followed by a shield bash. Milos absorbed the blow, twisted, and hit Sir Nelson in the back with the flat of his blade, causing Sir Nelson to stumble. A shield bash drove Sir Nelson to his knees, giving Milos the first point.
As honor dictated, Milos retreated two steps and readied himself. As soon as Sir Nelson was on his feet, Milos attacked, driving Sir Nelson backwards, eventually forcing him out of the combat square, scoring a second point. That necessitated a reset, with both Knights in their respective corners. At a signal from the judge, they advanced to the center of the square.
The rest of the bout proceeded along the same line, and Milos scored five points without yielding a point. He was proclaimed the victor, and he and Sir Nelson both saluted the King, then sheathed their swords and shook hands.
"Well fought, Sir Milos!" Sir Nelson declared. "Good luck in your next match!"
"Thank you, Sir Nelson. I hope to be able to give you a rematch next year!"
"I will be ready, Sir Milos!"
They exited the arena, and Milos handed his shield to Stefan.
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