Men of Iron

A festive air of anticipation surrounds the jousting lists as spectators assemble. Myles watches the crowd from his pavilion while his armor is fastened on. Lord George and a troubled Sir James wish Myles well. Gascoyne affixes a necklace, the favor given by Lady Alice, to Myles’s armor. With Gascoyne by his side, Myles rides out to the jousting pitch. The Sieur has symbolically declared the knights of Dauphiny and France better than those of England, and the women of Dauphiny and France more beautiful. Myles publicly refutes this position and will joust to defend the opposite opinion.

As this is Myles’s first joust, a herald steps forward and claims Myles’s helmet. The ransom for its return is given to the herald, who declares Myles eligible to enter any contest he chooses from this moment on. The preliminary exchanges complete, Sir James takes a moment to reiterate coaching points to Myles. He thinks the Sieur will not try to unhorse Myles, but instead simply break his lances against him. If the Sieur tries to unseat him, Myles should do his best to do the same.