Festival of Roses

Many of the knights had gathered at the Sign of the Fiddle and Flower after the wrestling, hungry and in high spirits. Harben sat slightly off to one side, occupied with more serious thoughts. He was beginning to doubt himself, and his choices, and it weighed heavily on his furrowed brow and he drank deeply from the mug of ale in his hand.

With time to spare after the wrestling Leovall had wandered into the Fiddle and Flower with the other knights, keen to learn how men of Reach celebrated a good bout. Spying the Harben from across the room and remembering his coat of arms he excuses himself from the company of three local knights to head over. He makes sure to take his wine with him.

"Ser Harben of House Varner!" Leovall declares with enthusiasm as he approaches, just noticing the young knight was isolating himself a little. He couldn't have that; best to raise his spirits so they could talk properly! "Good effort out there. I hope you don't mind some company." He says, arriving at the table and flashing a big smile. "Our invitation to this fine tournament was your family's kind gesture to distant kin. I came over to thank you on behalf of House Marten and to ask how you all are."

Harben set aside his thoughts and smiled. He half rose, bowing a little to the heir, “well met, Ser Leovall. Thank you for the kind words.”

Nodding in acknowledgement he sets his drink down, tapping the top of one of the chairs. "May I? I imagine it'll be some time before I meet another of your House. We are probably long lost cousins." Leovall points out merrily.

“Yes, yes! Of course,” Harben indicated for Leovall to sit and dropped back into his chair. “You and your steed put on an incredible show yesterday. I imagine you and Lord Marten- uh, Lord Tremaine,” he clarified, “will be the top contenders in the joust.”

"Flatterer! And we've just met." Leovall says in jest, lifting his glass to Harben. "I jest. It's nice of you to say. The joust is actually my main focus." Quashing some down he lowers his cup and grins. "I think you're right about Lord Tremaine. His steed, Ardent, is as much a great beast as my own. Still, it might surprise you, but I've never jousted in a tournament before so actually..." His jovial tone became a little more subdued as he smiled shyly. "Well, I'm a little nervous about losing my wits the first time I'm called up for a pass."

Surprised by Leovall’s candour, “I have jousted a few times, not many. But it is to men such as yourself and Lord Tremaine whom I look, whom I aspire to be like.”

Leovall sets his glass down and smiles, leaning back. "Now you will make me blush. To me you're the more experienced knight Ser. Surely you are being humble?"

Thinking back on his performance in the wrestling, and knowing that many of the other contestants would be able to put that strength to good use with a lance in their hands, “I hope I am being realistic, Ser. It serves me none to overplay my skills when all will see for themselves, if I make the lists.”

"You can't have done worse than me! Did you see that giant man? No, actually, I hope you didn't." There is a clear grimace just at the memory of it. Clearing his throat he quickly moves on. "How about a spot of practice tomorrow afternoon or next? You aspire to ride well like I, while I could use something to help me focus. I'm sure after we'll each have tips for the other."