Previous Raymond file - the Intro Page.
Narrator:
Raymonds travels take him down the road and through many villages and towns. The trail of Sir Richard is an easy one to follow. It certainly takes no tracker to read the signs of battle. Certainly, the marks made by steel shod hooves the size of dinner plates are quite distinct, along with the signs of fresh graves. All of this at a very tempting bridge. One that could be held for a long time. Raymond wanders about for an hour or two, hoping someone would come by that he could challenge, but only peasants and merchants cross the river and he gets bored. On the way back, perhaps, he will spend a day at this bridge. For now, duty to Sir Regginal calls him onward.
Not far away, he notes the smoke of a campfire, well off the road. He walks his horse off the road and to the top of a ridge. Down below is a camp being broke. His practices eye notes two knights, rich ones at that, in shining plate armour. One of them is saddling his horse, a huge brute with the colors of a cow. The device is unknown to Raymond, but that's nothing new. The other knight, a smaller man than the other, is concealed by his horse, an equally huge white beast.
Most importantly, there are a number of noblewomen in the camp. Well dressed and good looking as best as he can tell from so far away. One of them looks like the Duchess.
From off in the grass, someone whistles loudly, and all heads turn towards Raymond. Partway down the hill an armed man moves from his hiding spot. At his belt is a long sword. He stands in an area of broken boulders, making him safe from a horse charge.
Raymond holds his horse in place and then urges it to rear (knightly pose number 17) unfortunately the beast isn't properly trained so it doesn't. Raymond waits for a challenge or for a greeting.
The smaller of the two knights jumps astride his white charger - bareback!
He trots up the hill, covered shield in plain view and lance leaning back over his shoulder. As he comes within 200 yards of the knightly figure, his bell-like baritone carries clearly across the intervening distance.