บท 22: Blackwood
He eyed his Uncle, the man walking through the tent flaps. His armour gleamed in the sunlight, emblazoned with the Bracken's bright yellow sigil. He roughly took off his helm. His scarred visage contorted as he gingerly probed the wound beneath his plates
"That Manderly got you good" Aerion said as the older man approached, Garrett had gone to sit with his father in the noble stands. His uncle grunted as he sat, quickly unclasping his breast plate.
"He did," His uncle agreed as he pressed against his shoulder, wincing at the pain. "But I got him" he said gruffly. Aerion snorted, his uncle had sent the man flying.
"I ride next" he said as a hint of worry entered his tone, he knew who he would be fighting.
"Blackwood right?" His uncle questioned, Aerion nodded as he triple checked all of his armour claspings and the fit. Steadily standing as he stretched his arms.
"You'll be fine" his uncle reassured "Just be careful" the older man warned seriously. Aerion had told him about the Blackwoods threats yesterday, the memory of the moment leaving a pit of anxiety in his stomach.
"I always am" Aerion joked, masking the worry that started to take hold as he turned steadily walking through the tent flaps. The applause of the crowd met his appearance, the Blackwood already atop his horse.
Waiting.
The sun beating down on him as he collected his horse off of a stable hand. Effortlessly climbing atop it, placing his helm over his head carefully and dropping the visor with a click.
He grabbed a lance from an approaching squire, adjusting it slightly in his tight grip. His eyes locked onto the Blackwood across from him. The man's armour was dull silver, a heavy black-feathered cloak draping ominously from his shoulders.
A horn blew, the crowd quietened, the silhouette of a crowing falling onto the arena below.
"Lords, ladies, knights and brave men of the realm!" The smallfolk erupted in cheers at the herald's words, only to hush as anticipation thickened the air.
"Entering the lists! Garon Blackwood of Raventree Hall, clad in the silver amour!" He announced, cheers going up around the arena.
"On the black steed, we have the young Aerion Rivers of Stone Hedge!" He announced, the crowd roared. Aerion smirked underneath his helm as the noise seemed to smash into him like a wall.
It appeared the smallfolk had chosen their champion.
He most likely had the best odds for a risky bet, he thought to himself with a grin. The stadium eventually quietened in anticipation, Aerion noticed the Blackwoods grip tightening on his horse's reins.
He took a deep breath as he leaned forward slightly, his black shield rising covering most of his body. His grip tightened on the lance, his body tensed like a spring.
The horn blasted, echoing around the quiet stadium for but a moment before the two horses burst forward. The wind whipped against him, threatening to tear him from the saddle.
The drumming of hooves matched the pounding in his chest. The sharp sound of a caw piercing through the cheering of the arena.
Aerion braced, every muscle tensing as he prepared for the impact. The Blackwoods lance aimed up, directly at his helm, he snarled. His shield rising and subtly twisting.
His lance falling slightly as it aimed for-
CRACK!
-The Blackwoods thigh. Blackwood's lance had reflected off of his shield, going directly above his head. He struck true, driving the lance into the armoured thigh, the Blackwood's shout rang out as he swayed in the saddle.
The crowd shouted and screamed in jubilation, the sound muted as Aerions heartbeat seemed to reverberate throughout his entire body. Quickly he grabbed a new lance from a squire and turned his horse around the pass.
He had the advantage, his horse once again burst forward in speed. The red ribbon standing out against his armoured arm. His lance raised and his grip tight, his eyes focused on the Blackwood.
Blackwood shifted in his saddle, unsteady and not fully prepared, Aerion felt a vicious grin tear into his face. They were seconds away, a crow's caw echoing through the field befo-
CRACK!
Aerion's lance slammed into Blackwood's chest, sending him tumbling from the saddle. Whereas Aerions shield remained firm, blocking the Blackwoods attack.
The Blackwood crashed to the ground, but the sound of his fall was swallowed by the crowd's thunderous roar of victory. Aerion raised his right fist into the sky as his horse gradually slowed.
He caught sight of nobles exchanging coin, their sour faces telling of lost wagers. He rode past the fallen Blackwood, the knight bleeding heavily from his thigh, where a splinter of wood the size of a dagger was lodged between the plates of his armour
He couldn't help the feeling of victory that rushed through him at the sight, he'd once again left the Blackwood broken.
The silhouette of the crow fell over him, the bird still circling the arena. He raised his hand once again, this time with his open palm facing the sky.
Almost as if thanking the animal.
He then took off his helm, his gloved hand brushing the hair back out of his eyes. Getting off his horse with ease, his familiarity with his companion clear to all those watching.
"Skinstealer!" The growled words of the fallen Blackwood rang out, Aerions head turning back to the Knight a baleful glare on his face. Clearly a few nearby nobles had heard the word.
Aerion approached the older knight that still laid on his back. A flash of anger passed his young face for a brief moment. The bastard slowly dropped a knee beside him, looking down at the man.
"You'd do well to leave superstition where it belongs" he paused, his dark purple eyes glaring into the man's visor. "In the stories of children and fools"
—-
Sorry for such a short chapter lol, just thought that was the perfect place to end it.
Thoughts on the story so far? Any moments you haven't liked? What's your favourite moment so far? LMK!
ALSO 108th TOP FANFIC AS OF WRITING THIS!
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