These assaults-at-arms seldom end without two or three being killed.

However, you youngsters will not hit as hard as trained knights; and if the armour be good, no great damage should be done." "Do you think that I shall be one of the ten ?" Walter asked anxiously.
"Just as if you did not know you would," Geoffrey replied, laughing.
"Did you not win the prize for swordplay last year?
And twelve months have added much to the strength of your arm, to say nothing of your skill with weapons.

If you win this year again--and it will be strange if you do not--you are like enough to be chosen captain.

You will have tough fighting, I can tell you, for all these young aspirants to knighthood will do their best to show themselves off before the king and queen.

The fight is not to take place on horseback, I hope; for if so, it will be settled as soon as it begins." "No, it is to be on foot; and the king himself is to give orders as to the fighting." "You had best get out that helmet and coat of mail of yours," Geoffrey said, "I warrant me that there will be none of finer make or of truer metal in the tourney, seeing that I made them specially for you.