‘This way, miss,’ he said, beckoning her to follow him. Chara seemed uncertain. ‘The Varlish area is to the right,’ he told her. ‘You are standing in the wrong line.’
‘I know where I am standing, sergeant,’ she replied. ‘It is not unlawful to enter the clan area.’
‘That’s right, miss. Once the festivities are under way there is freedom of movement for all Varlish. But the festivities are not under way, and you have not yet presented your disc to the steward. Once you have done so, and entered the correct area, you can do as you please.’ People were staring now, and Chara reddened.
‘Best go, lass,’ said Jaim Grymauch. ‘We’ll see you later.’
Chara stood for a moment, then disengaged her arm from Kaelin’s and crossed to stand behind Taybard Jaekel. Sergeant Bindoe followed her, then leaned in and whispered something that Kaelin did not hear. Taybard Jaekel did, however, and Kaelin saw the young man’s face go white with anger. He swung round, but Bindoe had walked on.
Chara seemed close to tears. Kaelin heard Taybard say: ‘Ignore him, Chara. I’d be proud for you to walk with me, and I’ll escort you back to the clan area once we’re through.’
The clan line began to move. Kaelin glanced back, but Chara and Taybard had vanished into the throng. Jaim laid his hand on the young man’s shoulder. ‘I have to register my presence for the tourney. I’ll see you by the pieman’s stall in a while.’ Kaelin nodded, still distracted by the events at the entrance.
Aunt Maev hooked her arm in his. ‘Don’t let Bindoe get to you, Kaelin. The man is scum. Put it from your mind. Look!’ She pointed across the field. ‘There are jugglers. I have always loved to watch their skills.’
Banny tapped his friend on the arm. ‘Shall we explore?’ he asked.
‘Why not?’ answered Kaelin.
For some while the two young men wandered the area. Already there were thousands of spectators, while fresh columns of new arrivals could be seen on the hill roads leading from Eldacre. The Five Fields were filling fast. To the north was the equestrian area, largely a Varlish entertainment, since most highlanders owned no horses. Special collapsible fences had been erected to reduce the risk to horse and rider, while at the far end straw dummies had been fastened to several rails for the martial events. Kaelin enjoyed these, watching the horsemen thunder across the field, their sabres shining in the sunlight as they slashed at the heads of the dummies. The skill of the horsemen was high – the straw figures were attached to ropes and hidden men would tug and sway them as the riders approached. The object was to lop the heads from as many straw men as possible in four passes.
Most of the stalls in the large clan area had already been set up; crafts like pottery, jewellery, clothing, cutlery had been placed around the eastern perimeter. Cattle dealers and merchants selling agricultural merchandise were in the south. Here there was much activity. Clansmen loved to engage in barter. A man could sit happily for several hours arguing the merits – if he owned it – of a particular plough or work ox, or the demerits of a pony or a wolfhound if he didn’t.
Kaelin and Banny moved through the throng, heading for the cluster of food stalls and the rough benches set close by. Kaelin kept glancing across to the Varlish area, seeking sign of Chara Ward. The smell of roasting meats from cooking pits made him realize how hungry he was, and the slab of dark bread and fresh butter at breakfast seemed insubstantial now following the two-hour walk. He fingered the few coins in his pocket and decided to wait until dusk.
At the centre of the field three circles had been marked out with ropes, and already two men were fighting within one of them. As the blows rained in the crowd moved closer. Kaelin recognized one of the fighters, a herdsman from the High Pines settlement, half a day south of Old Hills. The fight was brutal and short, the herdsman catching his opponent with a high right cross that hurled him from his feet.