Lord Argent delicately removed the point of the dagger from his skin with a fingertip. “Am I to understand you are challenging me?” he said silkily. “Very well, I accept. Of course you understand that as a ruling lord, I cannot run the risk of being unexpectedly killed over such a trifle — I’m sure you’ll be just as willing to face my champion, won’t you, Sir Isaac?” The expression he showed couldn’t be mistaken for a smile, despite the flashing of his teeth.
He turned and beckoned to his retinue, and a burly, dark knight, fully half a head taller than Isaac, stepped forward. “I’m sure Sir Ennis will bear my honour proudly.”
“Yes, you,” he reiterated firmly and didn’t even bat an eyelash as his dagger was moved to the side, although inwardly, he was panicking; his heart pounding away in his ribcage as his eyes widened a little. “That depends on who your champion is…”
He trailed off then, a faint noise of surprise escaping him as he gazed helplessly at the man before him, wondering just what it was that he’d gotten himself into. But then, if he was willing to sacrifice himself to stand up for his family’s honour, then he should willingly accept the consequences.
Summer clapped her hands to her mouth in horror as the huge knight shouldered his way forward to face Isaac. Surely he wasn’t going to continue his challenge! She glanced at Prince Derek appealingly, but the prince’s face was closed and seemingly indifferent. Even Cora seemed unmoved.
There was a moment of complete silence, and then the prince leaned forward, his chair creaking. “We will meet on the tournament fields tomorrow at noon, then. Sir Isaac, as the offended you have the right to choose the style of combat: jousting or swords.”