They didn’t go up the streets together, and that was probably for the best — if they spent any more time together, one of them would break. And then Lord Argent would win by default. She believed in him. She had to believe in him.
She let Cora and the other ladies fuss over her, putting her in one of the princess’ dresses and adding a veil so Lord Argent and Sir Kit still wouldn’t recognise her, hardly responding to their words. They, of course, had no doubts about the day’s outcome, and she desperately tried to take strength from their certainty. Only Cora seemed to understand her fear, and kept her close by her side.
They filed into the raised stands by the side of the field, directly overlooking the centre of the area, and Summer’s gaze fixed immediately on Sir Kit and Sir Ennis, practising in the middle of the field. The Argent champion was huge, and he wielded his sword with great two-handed strokes.
Sir Isaac felt his erratic heartbeat thumping away in his chest, and even his mask of confidence couldn’t hide the perspiration gathering on his forehead, the slight sway to his footsteps as he forced himself to keep on walking. His panic only increased upon noting how many of the locals of the Kingdom had gathered to watch this event, and he winced upon registering that many of them would see his shameful defeat.
He knew he was strong, but he was nothing short of a weakling in comparison to his opponent. Isaac was at least a head and shoulders shorter than him, and the other male was at least twice the width of him, if not more. But what Isaac lacked in brawn, he made up for in brains, and thus he was quickly calculating if the Knight had any weaknesses, and if there were any ways that he would be able to use them to his advantage.
Derek pulled him to one side before Isaac went out onto the field. “I was starting to be concerned,” he muttered, teasing a little. He looked Isaac over and frowned a little. “You can’t do this if you’re thinking about her, Isaac. Focus.” He pointed to where the ladies would sit, surrounding the throne. “I’ll be there. All you have to do is remember your training. He’s big, but he’s slow. Don’t try to block. Just get out of the way. You’re faster than he is and you’re better than he is.”
Stepping back, the prince pulled his sword and beckoned to Isaac. “Let’s have a few passes before you go out there.”