After the opening round, challengers rose one after another to depose the champions still holding their places, and the ribbons marking each title changed wrists faster than a gambler's coin changed hands at a dicing table.
The Wolf of Bracum fell first and fastest of all, overtaken cleanly by Lord Merry of Lonsium, who barely had time to enjoy his new title before losing it in turn during the second round of challenges. Lord Cleio Hervius shone that day every bit as brightly as the silver star blazoned across his sigil, breaking four lances in succession against Lord Merry, neither man willing to yield an inch, before finally unhorsing him clean on the fifth pass and claiming his place among the challengers to a roar that shook the very stands.
"So much for the son of a traitor," Owen muttered, ''Good only when fighting against old men. Good rider that Cleio''
Vilon decided not to reply to that, as he watch mesmorized by the fierceness of the challengers.
