The crowd booed at him, displeased by his apparent unwillingness to continue fighting. He was so close, the contest almost over, and he would give up now? Someone shouted of the Azure Knight’s sudden cowardice, insulting his mother.
But then the Prince rose, lifting both hands, and amazingly the crowd quieted. “Do you wish to forfeit?” he asked the Azure Knight. A page stood at his elbow, lifting a fresh lance to the knight.
He flinched and clenched his jaw, reaching for his lance as his Page returned it to him, bristling at the offensive remark aimed at his mother, before he gazed furiously at the impostor before him.
“How dare you…” he breathed out as he mounted Buttons once more, fighting the urge to remove his helm to reveal his true identity, and it was clear that whoever was before him knew who he was. “He’s dead!”
The knight claiming to be Sir Camden grinned widely, but in a strangely good-natured way, as if he was merely looking forward to light competition and not tearing the Azure Knight’s heart to shreds. He clapped his helm on, arrogantly leaving the visor up.
Above, the Princess rose again, clasping both hands to the rail surrounding her seating, and leaned forward, the better to see. She dared give no sign of approval to either knight. Playing to the crowd, stamping and screaming, the false Sir Camden raised his hand and waved before swinging up into the saddle and accepting a lance.
“CHARGE!” came the command, and the two knights thundered toward one another.