The Red Spear reached down, put his hand on the smaller ropes, then paused. He changed his mind and picked up the thick rope.

The crowd cheered or booed, depending on preferences and where they’d bet their metal.

The count rode over to Gozen, just as he picked up the other end of the rope. A murmur swept over the crowd; the group surrounding them stood. Brother Qown found himself feeling both guilty and grateful Dorna had found them such a nice spot.

Then the Black Knight pulled the rope from Gozen’s hand and motioned for the young knight to move to the side. He wouldn’t be the one fighting this bout. She would.

“Can she do that?” Brother Qown whispered to Dorna.

“Aye,” Dorna replied. “There ain’t much a Black Knight can’t do, truth be told. Taking over one side of a contest is the least of it. If she wins, it’s her victory, but it’ll still count for the Sifen family.”

“And if she loses?”

Mare Dorna slapped his chest. “Shut your mouth, priest. My count don’t lose.”

The Black Knight rode to the field’s center. The Red Spear rode after her, holding the other end of the rope, just long enough to allow both riders to sit on their horses several lengths apart.

“Are they—?” Brother Qown frowned and leaned forward. “That’s a children’s game.”

“The rules are simple enough for that, aye. Each rider holds one end of the rope and don’t let go. The one who does, loses. If they’re pulled off their horse, they’ll let go.”

“But this single contest won’t decide anything, will it?”

Dorna glanced back at him. “I reckon it will decide how much the Sifen family charges for their mangoes.”

“What? But—” Brother Qown raised his chin in the direction of the prisoners’ cages. “I meant about that.”

Dorna studied the cages, her expression sullen. She looked around in case anyone eavesdropped. “Problem with that is—”

The crowd roared.

Dorna broke off whatever she’d been about to say and jumped to her feet. Brother Qown craned his neck to see what had happened in the ring while he’d been distracted.

The match had ended.

The Red Spear clambered to regain his footing after he’d fallen off his horse, who stood at the side pawing the ground and looking surprised. A referee ran over to talk to the warden, or rather, to the warden’s nurse, but the outcome seemed clear. The referees hoisted the Sifen family’s flag, a yellow-and-blue field affixed with a trade group’s square mark.

Winner.

Dorna slapped Qown on the shoulder. “Told you.”

Count Janel, or rather, the Black Knight, now had everyone’s attention.