#bergen_county

A mutter to Siv as she accepts a new lance, "The Baron has been practicing."

"He's pivoting with your rolls better this year." Siv observes

The Baron has to pause for a moment, as the judges, ken him to see if someoen fairfortuned him

"Mm. And he feinted well on that first pass...." A deep breath and she lines up again for the next pass.

And the flags drop

"C'mon!" Dagmar grips her tabard, twisting the hem.

The Baron does not fall into the trap of arrogance. Five years plus being unhorsed will cure even a sidhe of that

Stormwake is getting impatient and wants his rider to finish this! She does her best to comply. Rock steady in the charge....

Once more the two clash. This time, Kealan chooses the long direction to pivot.. and the Chief's accuracy is dead on! She nearly unhorses him as he misses her! it is...

2-2!

And folks gasp as it ends in a tie!

Aiden frowns. “They should go another pass.”

A small shake of his head, as yet another tie occurs!

Nadeen says "That's up to them. They can insist on a Tiee breaker. It's up to them"

Baron Kealan rides out to talk to Brekke

Brekke returns and meets Kealan in the center of the field. "You are a stubborn target this year, Baron."

"Best joust of my life" He admits "I swear. They wanted to check me for a fair fortune.. and I agreed with it. " He says and looks about "Well, if I were smart I'd take the tie and claim for once I didn't lose to you." A smile "But the people might be upset. Up to you, Baroness. you've been the most gracious victrix I know in the past. I leave the choice to you"

She glances to the crowd, then says, "We shall give them one more run. It is a strange year, Baron. If the Hearth can lose the cooking contest, you may unseat me yet." A nod, and she signals to the judges (and crowd) that there will be one more pass.

And so there is.

The crowds cheer! A chance!

Even Aiden finds himself on the edge of his seat! “Good show! That Dapple is impressive, but Bergen’s stallion is prime. I can see why your Baroness takes him each year.”

An Ailil cannot quite praise a Gwydion, but their horses are fair game.

Stormwake's bristling. he wants the win, and glad tie was ruled out. Tying is like kissing a donkey. Sure, it's CLOSE but.. blah

Brekke readies and murmurs to Stormwake, "One more, to show him your best work." Then she takes the lance from Siv and Connor. "Stand ready."

Stormwake nods!

Well bobs his head

And the flags fall

Instead of spurring him to top speed, Brekke coaxes Stormwake to a strong but slightly slower pace, perhaps to throw the Baron off? But her lance remains steady and leveled directly at its target.

It appears to work, the Baron speeds ahead, ready to repeat the clash and pivot, but his timing is thrown

Aiden can see his mistake.. his horse is a fine animal, but when the rider falls into a rhythm and does not adapt, the horse is likely to trust his judgement- even into folly

“No, she’s at a canter- where you are aiming is not where she will land!” He murmurs, intent!

Nadeen listens realizing that for an Aill, the man is almost VARICH Skilled for patterns, at least when it comes to horses

Brekke feels the brush of the Baron's lance past her side as her strategy shift works

And she bring her own lance for a forward 'punch' a bit later, but a lot surer!

The baron scrambles to stay on, but it is a credit to his mare that she understands and shuffles! and they stay together

But the tie is broken!

"The winner, Rivervale!"

Nadeen says to the Baron Aiden "Perhaps the mare is worth breeding, Baron AIden?"

She lets out a "Ha!" at the final win. Coming back around to meet him, she extends a hand and raises her visor to reveal she is actually grinning. "You kept your seat! We must work extra hard at the fields next season."

“She is a fine creature!” Admiring. “And she knows her rider well - and he her. Marvelous bout.”

"Yes!" Dagmar cheers!

Sylvi joins in on the cheering, having been biting her lip for much of the match.

It’s a good thing that singing is over, because Piper is like to sprain her voice cheeering!

Brekke shakes Kealan's hand, then raises her fist once again for the crowd before riding off and dismounting.

"At least I don't owe you a keg to ransom my horse. Didn't want to lose this one even for a moment:" the baron grins and sshakes the hand

The crowd cheers. There ewill NOT be famine!

Briar grumbles. “I guess it’s no horse stew tonight.”

Tove says to Dagmar 'I got to tell you, I was SCARED? Is that weird?"

On the sidelines, Brekke works quickly to cool Stormwake and to get water for herself. There will be another match soon enough.

Gwen says to Briar "Come on, horses aren't for eating." A smirk "Emu are"