Detective Liam Niles: The Last Crusade by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

The training sessions:

Day one…..

Saren in her first trimester, looking out the window watching Tremen with a lance in his hand, going into the stable, places it aside to saddle a horse with his father. In urgency, she rushes to the door, opening the door in haste, then scurried to him.”Tremen, What are you doing?!”

Tremen, buckling the horse with the saddle. “ What does it look like I’m doin? I’m saddling a horse.”

Saren, stood for more answer. “Yes, but why?!”

Trey, tightening down the buckle.

“Because I have been challenged by

‘Marquess Reban’ in a game of joust.“

He sarcastically said in old -tudor-like-English accent of nobility.

Saren, stood in his way in protest. “BUT YOU DO NOT KNOW THE FIRST THING OF JOUSTING! YOU COULD GET INJURED!”

Tremen, placing his robust hand gently upon her arms,gently pushing her aside. “ Then I will get back on the horse and keep going. This is a game of joust for the honor of your hand in marriage. And I will win, or die trying.”

Saren, in horrid expression, places herself between him and the horse. “DON’T YOU DARE GET ON THAT HORSE! OR I WILL…!”

Tremen, clutching his hands upon her soft face, forcing his mouth to her mouth, then with a smack of theirs lips, pulls back from her. “Wish me luck.” Placing his foot into the stirrup, pulled himself upon his horse, grins at her.

Saren, grabs unto his leg. “THIS SILLY GAME OF SHARP SPEARS WILL BE THE DEMISE OF YOU!!!!”

Tremen, with sly grin. “Then I will come back haunting you in our bed. “ He takes her hand, kisses upon it. “The lances tip. They’re blunted.” Gripping the reins. On one side of him, his father Trey as spotter holding a part of the reins for safety, on the other side, his Uncle Liam, as second spotter, readily prepared as they move forward in training.

Saren, watching them in despair. “I HOPE YOU FALL IN A MUD HOLE THEN YOU WILL SEE SENSE!!!”

Tremen, turning to her for a brief moment, gives her a gestured kiss from his fingers, then turns back to his quest.

Saren, in a fit of heated lovestruck outrage, gently covers her baby bulge with boths hands. “Don’t you dare be like your daddy!” With brute mouth, walks back home.

Liam, about to prepare his Nephew for training. “Right. Here are the seven rules for joust.

The first rule….

The ultimate goal is to unseat your opponent from their horse as winner.

Second rule:

There are two judges assigned to both teams, so that they can ensure that the knight who have jousted the best are declared the winner.

Third rule:

The tournament will take place over three days. You will be running four rounds of courses or passes with three charges In each course.

Fourth rule:

We declare that if any knight should drop his lance whilst charging, without ever coming to blows, his opponent should raise his lance and not strike him, for it would be unchivalrous to strike an opponent who had no lance.

Fifth rule:

If a knight shatters both lances by striking his opponent, and the knight who has been struck knocks him off his horse, even though he did not splinter his lance, a tie shall be declared between him and the knight who splintered the two lanes of the tilt.

Rule six

If no one is unhorsed after the set charges, the winner is decided by Foot combat by a sword fight to break a tie.

The seventh rule:

Respect for each opponant. After a match, the victorious knight would often show respect to the defeated opponent, sometimes offering assistance or recognizing the defeated of their bravery. Also known as good sportsmanship.”

Tremen, giving him a second look. “Really? One would think that after the sixth rule, your fighting with fire.”

Trey, with smirk at Liam. “Remember in our day Brother?”

Liam, looking into the far distance, taking a big sigh of defeating the purpose of reality. “Right. Tremen. Your first day, of month one begins. First up. To make friends with your horse…..

Trey, as spotter. “Ready son?”

Tremen, with smile. “Yes Sir. You see. No problem. Of course its just my first day. But I think I’m ready for the next step. Question.

Does the horse feel my readiness?” Suddenly, the horse, sensing his unsteadiness, lifts its front hoofs up into the air, its back hoofs balanced onto the ground as Tremen, not expecting the horse’s sudden move, falls off backward and slams his back hard onto the ground, spawled out.

Trey, giving him that , ‘ I told you so’ look.

Tremen, seeing his father’s disgraceful look, pushes himself back up onto his feet, getting back on the horse.