Lienz City is bustling.
At least, it's bustling today.
In the taverns, weapon shops, and blacksmith shops, people are swarming; Knights adorned with various square banners, nobles, noblewomen, and even more servants fill this small town.
Losa and his group temporarily settled down at an inn.
Model squatted in front of the fireplace, drying everyone's clothes soaked by the incessant drizzle.
Laine perfectly accomplished his mission, bringing back the lances and shields Losa and Hans needed, and overseeing the blacksmith shop workers shoeing the two newly acquired Hungarian horses in the backyard.
Losa held a bowl of steaming hot oatmeal porridge, sipping it slowly.
Hans was polishing the freshly acquired lance, his expression visibly tense.
Like Losa, he was previously only an attendant and had not truly been to a battlefield.
Therefore, although his martial arts were quite good from an attribute standpoint, the lack of validation inevitably left him somewhat lacking in confidence.
The specific time for the tournament wasn't announced, but by afternoon, nearly the entire city began flowing towards the hunting ground outside; they naturally knew the tournament was about to start.
The hunting ground was for the lord's private use.
Hunting privately was a crime, with varying degrees of punishment; stringent lords might even execute poachers among their subjects.
Common people were seen by many lords as mere grain-eating livestock, while only noble meat-eaters were deemed truly human.
Losa's group followed the crowd all the way to the hunting ground.
The place was already overcrowded.
In the very center of the hunting ground, a wooden grandstand built around the combat arena displayed a grandeur reminiscent of the Ancient Empire Beast Fighting Arena.
Count Leopold's seat was at the very top.
From left to right hung the Eagle Shield Emblem of the Great Germania Empire and the Red and White Shield of the Babenberg Family.
On both sides were wrap-around stands, arranged from top to bottom.
For the mostly rudimentary venues of medieval tournaments, this was akin to a modern large stadium capable of holding tens of thousands.
Losa mused, "This Count Leopold is certainly an ambitious man."
"It's said this Count Leopold also intends to join this round of the Crusaders' Eastern Expedition, but out of respect for His Majesty's dignity, he is still in the preparation phase."
In past years, the Emperor and the Pope were fiercely at odds.
The struggle between imperial and papal powers was nearly at a boiling point; the Emperor coveted the wealth of a clergy that could rival entire nations, trying to weaken their power.
The Pope wished nothing more than to rally a host of sovereignty-loyal lords to attack the Hohenstaufen Family.
Although, due to various reasons, no fighting ensued, the Pope did excommunicate the Emperor.
Even if both parties are now showing hints of reconciliation, without the Pope restoring the Emperor's ecclesiastical standing, some minor feudal lords still dare not act independently.
Though Great Germania is loose, the Emperor still holds authority.
After all, as the head of the Hohenstaufen Family, Emperor Henry also controls the Swabian territory, one of the four original powerful nations of the Empire (namely Swabia, Saxony, Frankonia, Bavaria), wielding considerable power.
The Emperor is both the Emperor of the Empire and its most powerful feudal lord.
Of course, strictly speaking, Bohemia is the most powerful nation within the Empire, but since Bohemia is mainly inhabited by Slavs, it has always been on the periphery of the Empire's power center.
Losa remarks that Count Leopold is an ambitious person, and the scale of this tournament he is hosting is clear evidence of that.
In fact, the vast majority of knight tournaments do not offer prizes.
The champion gains fame and honor, which is the greatest reward.
In each match, the victor, much like winning a true war, can demand ransom from the loser or receive their armor and horses as rewards.
Thus, hosting a knight tournament is, for many lords, a cost-effective affair.
Knights can showcase their valor, whether attracting a lord's attention to rise, from a landless knight to a feudal knight.
Or gaining fame and then negotiating their worth, are all good opportunities.
In essence, a knight tournament is like a massive job fair, and almost every knight participates in these grand gatherings.
Unfortunately, Losa's father, Count Werner of Algo, is too impoverished.
He simply cannot afford more knights and has never thought of holding a tournament to recruit them.
Thus far, Losa hasn't had the chance to truly partake in this popular pastime of medieval noble knights.
Of course, knight tournaments are also very dangerous events.
In many tournaments, casualties are rare to be absent.
Even using the easily breakable White Beech Riding Lance, with its round blunt sword head, real combat can still easily result in casualties and lifelong disabilities.
Especially for those whose armor is incomplete, from fallen families, with only a set of ancestral armor considered an antique, penniless knights.
Often in a single encounter, the enemy will find the weak spot in his armor and deliver a fatal blow.
Yet they still flock hoping to be valued by the Feudal Lord, and recruited as a Feudal Knight.
Model enthusiastically said: "Master, I heard attendants like us in foot battles can also participate in the tournament."
Losa shook his head: "Better not, only knights can kill knights. If you unintentionally, accidentally kill a knight, you might pay with your life."
This statement instantly poured cold water on Model.
At this moment, melodious singing emerged from the crowd.
A minstrel from northern Albion, holding a lute, sang and danced along.
These Celts living on the islands seemed born to be singers and dancers, singing timeless classics.
Occasionally, they would improvise.
A minstrel spotted Prajna, who was wearing a veil, his eyes lit up, and he started playing the lute, dancing alongside: "Ah, the black-haired beauty from the East walks alongside our brave knights..."
Singing while showing a pleasing smile, reaching out to Losa.
Losa smiled wryly, signaling Laine to place coins in the minstrel's hand.
Prajna looked at the scene expressionlessly, she was a master of expression control, just from her eyes, there was no psychological fluctuation visible.
A giant long table was filled with delicacies, roasted wild chicken, peacock, even swan, various game, and large bottles of fine wine, for guests to partake at will.
It was much like a modern buffet.
Some knights and their companions were already knocked out drunk, dancing wildly beneath the stand, accompanied by the minstrel's song.
Under the Count's stand, at the center of the arena, there was a long barrier surrounded by a simple wooden fence.
When the tournament starts, knights will enter from both sides of the barrier to compete, avoiding warhorse collisions that could cause irreparable damage.
The stands were already filled with numerous noblewomen who had arrived first.
They whispered, surveying the knights appearing in the arena.
Some noblewomen didn't hide their favoritism towards certain knights in the field, casting flirtatious glances and wreaths.
Many noble couples joined by political marriage rarely restrained each other's behaviors, making both parties, although married, uninhibited.
If these noblewomen fancy a knight, it's said they might not only invite him as a guest into their private quarters but also sponsor him with funds to purchase equipment, and maybe even develop into long-term lovers.
Up ahead, a knight with painted bird feathers inserted on his head, akin to a peacock striving for courtship, was waving towards the stands.
His handsome appearance and fair skin instantly elicited a chorus of shrieks from the noblewomen.
Participating in the tournament, vying for the affections of the noblewomen and ladies on the stands, to receive sponsorship, even freeload, is equally a pursuit for knights.
Losa keenly noticed, in the crowd, a knight wearing worn armor exchanged a glance with a young lady on the stand.
The young lady's gaze was filled with anxiety, while the knight's face showed determination.
Clearly, it was a love story between a fallen knight and an aristocratic lady.
If a knight can win the competition or stand out, garnering favor, he has the hope of marrying the aristocratic lady.
But Losa didn't hold much expectation for him.
An excellent set of armor enables knights like Losa to fight ten to one against Magyar nomadic cavalry.
Armor and no armor, quality armor and old armor, are entirely different concepts.
"The tournaments of this era are really interesting."
Losa mused.
"Hans, have you attended similar events?"
Hans shook his head and said: "In our time, tournaments had become social performances, knights dressed colorfully, like pheasants, without any combat."
He was also dazzled, heart pounding, already fantasizing about easily defeating enemies and receiving cheers in such a scene.
"Look, the Count has arrived."
Someone exclaimed excitedly.
The crowd instantly erupted.
In this entertainment-starved age.
They were immensely grateful to this generous Count for spending such a large sum of money, allowing them to enjoy such a lively event.