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Page 167
Eager William had run ahead, so by the time they reached the stables, they found that his horse and Geoffrey's and Ian's were already being saddled. The tourney ground was no great distance. Walter, Simon, and the ladies elected to walk. They arrived before the mounted members of their party and looked about. However, they were very early, and there was little enough to see. The lodges were set up: bare benches somewhat sheltered from the wind by a three-sided pavilion in gold and red and barely warmed by braziers of charcoal. The cushions to make the benches comfortable, the footstools and foot warmers, all the bright appurtenances that would give an air of festivity would be brought down by servants when the spectators came.
A decent distance from the lodges and back from the jousting field, a troop of men-at-arms with their master-at-arms watching keenly were already busy keeping the commons in order. At the moment it was no difficult task. Many of the people had walked all night to see the jousts and partake of the largess that would be distributed. Most of them sat or lay around the large bonfires they had been permitted to make, resting, eating, and drinking. Later, under the influence of free beer and brawn and excitement, they might become rowdy and the men-at-arms might be forced to break a few heads to calm them, but now all was quiet merriment.
The highborn group gave them a glance and a smile, but there was nothing to hold their interest. They passed around the empty lodges, Simon walking between his mother and Rhiannon, Walter between Joanna and Sybelle, both groups talking animatedly. When they had cleared the end of the pavilion, they could see the lists. And here there was activity, with William not the only eager boy. Around the marshals of the joust there was a milling crowd of younglings kept only minimally in order by the few more indulgent, or more sober, masters who had come down to the field. Simon and Walter both smiled and advanced on the crowd. The women exchanged glances.
"My dears," Lady Alinor said, glancing from Rhiannon to Sybelle with a wry smile and a little sigh, "bride and bride-to-be, and both I believe, truly beloved, you have just seen the limit of your powers. When the trumpets sound, you will have lost your men. Remember it. Have patience and courage."

 
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