Happy Medieval Monday. Today we continue the
theme, conflict. Jenna Jaxon is my guest. In this excerpt from Time
Enough to Love, a knight challenges his friend over the affections for a lady.
The outcome could be a draw or more devastating. Which will the men choose and
which who will suffer the most? I hope you enjoy the passage.
theme, conflict. Jenna Jaxon is my guest. In this excerpt from Time
Enough to Love, a knight challenges his friend over the affections for a lady.
The outcome could be a draw or more devastating. Which will the men choose and
which who will suffer the most? I hope you enjoy the passage.
Excerpt from Time Enough to Love:
Both knights had broken two
lances on the torso—their scores were even. In order to win, one would need to
either break a lance on the helm or unhorse their opponent. Either feat was
possible, but highly improbable, given the lateness of the day and the
weariness of the jousters. The best outcome would be for one lance to miss,
giving the knight to break a lance victory. Another possibility was a draw if
both men broke their lances on the torso. A draw would mean no victor; the debt
of honor satisfied without a forfeit. That outcome might be best, but she could
not help thinking in that case there would have been a great deal of effort
wasted for nothing.
lances on the torso—their scores were even. In order to win, one would need to
either break a lance on the helm or unhorse their opponent. Either feat was
possible, but highly improbable, given the lateness of the day and the
weariness of the jousters. The best outcome would be for one lance to miss,
giving the knight to break a lance victory. Another possibility was a draw if
both men broke their lances on the torso. A draw would mean no victor; the debt
of honor satisfied without a forfeit. That outcome might be best, but she could
not help thinking in that case there would have been a great deal of effort
wasted for nothing.
Geoffrey nodded slightly within
his helm, as though acknowledging a strategy confirmed. Though the decision was
unknown to her, she prayed it would make him the clear winner of the match.
his helm, as though acknowledging a strategy confirmed. Though the decision was
unknown to her, she prayed it would make him the clear winner of the match.
In an instant, Geoffrey streaked
down the lists. Alyse gasped at the ferocity with which Saracen raced toward
his adversary. Lord Braeton drove his horse fiercely as well, but did not seem
to reach the black steed’s breakneck speed.
down the lists. Alyse gasped at the ferocity with which Saracen raced toward
his adversary. Lord Braeton drove his horse fiercely as well, but did not seem
to reach the black steed’s breakneck speed.
Moments before the collision,
Geoffrey angled his weapon upward slightly, aiming again for the helm and its
additional points. Her heart flew into her throat. Should his lance glance off,
as it had earlier, she would certainly be leading the first dance with Lord
Braeton this evening. That prospect no longer held any delight for her, not
after the physical pain this match must have cost Geoffrey—and Lord Braeton—and
the mental anguish it had cost her. Had she not seemed so enthralled with the
earl, mayhap the challenge would never have been issued. Or would not have been
so avidly pursued by Geoffrey. If one of them were injured, it could surely be
laid at her feet.
Geoffrey angled his weapon upward slightly, aiming again for the helm and its
additional points. Her heart flew into her throat. Should his lance glance off,
as it had earlier, she would certainly be leading the first dance with Lord
Braeton this evening. That prospect no longer held any delight for her, not
after the physical pain this match must have cost Geoffrey—and Lord Braeton—and
the mental anguish it had cost her. Had she not seemed so enthralled with the
earl, mayhap the challenge would never have been issued. Or would not have been
so avidly pursued by Geoffrey. If one of them were injured, it could surely be
laid at her feet.
Geoffrey must win. He must.
The impact devastated both
knights. Thomas’s lance splintered dramatically along Geoffrey’s right
shoulder, twisting him around in the saddle and almost unseating him.
knights. Thomas’s lance splintered dramatically along Geoffrey’s right
shoulder, twisting him around in the saddle and almost unseating him.
Geoffrey’s lance found its mark
in the dead center of Thomas’s helm, snapping his head back with the force of
the blow. An immediate cry of pain erupted from his helmet. Alyse bolted from
her seat, raced out of the berfrois and onto the field.
in the dead center of Thomas’s helm, snapping his head back with the force of
the blow. An immediate cry of pain erupted from his helmet. Alyse bolted from
her seat, raced out of the berfrois and onto the field.
* * * *
Thomas managed to pull his horse
to a stop, and his squires ran to assist him as he dropped to the ground.
Almost as quickly, Geoffrey leaped from his horse, cursing as he ran toward his
friend.
to a stop, and his squires ran to assist him as he dropped to the ground.
Almost as quickly, Geoffrey leaped from his horse, cursing as he ran toward his
friend.
’Tis my fault if he dies. I was angered at him. Christ, why
did I not aim elsewhere and try to unseat him? Geoffrey could barely hold still as his squire
removed his helmet. “Thomas! Thomas!”
did I not aim elsewhere and try to unseat him? Geoffrey could barely hold still as his squire
removed his helmet. “Thomas! Thomas!”
Men had lowered his friend to the
ground, where he lay motionless.
ground, where he lay motionless.
Dear God! The splinters—
He stared in horror at the long
wooden slivers poking out of Thomas’s visor.
wooden slivers poking out of Thomas’s visor.
Sweet Jesu, have mercy. Holy Mary, mother of God, have mercy.
He fell to his knees beside him,
afraid to touch him lest he drive the fragments deeper.
afraid to touch him lest he drive the fragments deeper.
“Fetch the surgeon!” Geoffrey
threw the command over his shoulder, his attention fixed on the still body.
“Thomas.” He couldn’t be dead.
threw the command over his shoulder, his attention fixed on the still body.
“Thomas.” He couldn’t be dead.
Back Cover Copy for Time
Enough to Love
Enough to Love
When
Lady Alyse de Courcy is betrothed to Sir Geoffrey Longford, she has no choice
but to make the best of a bad bargain. The hulking knight is far from her ideal
man, and although he does possess some wit and charm, he is no match for the
sinfully sensual man she secretly admires, Thomas, Earl of Braeton, her
betrothed’s best friend.
Lady Alyse de Courcy is betrothed to Sir Geoffrey Longford, she has no choice
but to make the best of a bad bargain. The hulking knight is far from her ideal
man, and although he does possess some wit and charm, he is no match for the
sinfully sensual man she secretly admires, Thomas, Earl of Braeton, her
betrothed’s best friend.
From
the first, Sir Geoffrey finds himself smitten by Lady Alyse, and, despite her
infatuation with his friend, vows to win her love. When Geoffrey puts his mind
to wooing Alyse, he is delighted to find her succumbing to his seduction. But when cruel circumstances separate them,
Geoffrey must watch helplessly as Thomas steps in to protect Alyse—and falls in
love with her himself.
the first, Sir Geoffrey finds himself smitten by Lady Alyse, and, despite her
infatuation with his friend, vows to win her love. When Geoffrey puts his mind
to wooing Alyse, he is delighted to find her succumbing to his seduction. But when cruel circumstances separate them,
Geoffrey must watch helplessly as Thomas steps in to protect Alyse—and falls in
love with her himself.
As
the three courtiers accompany Princess Joanna to her wedding in Spain, they run
headlong into the Black Plague. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse
struggles with her feelings for both the men she loves. But which love will
survive?
the three courtiers accompany Princess Joanna to her wedding in Spain, they run
headlong into the Black Plague. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse
struggles with her feelings for both the men she loves. But which love will
survive?
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Wow…great excerpt. Love the time period, too. Princess Joanna's death is one of the tragedies of the plague.