"At the edge of the hills, within three leagues upon either hand of Gobred's castle," explained Richard.
"And no others live in all this great valley?" demanded Blake.
"You have heard mention made of Bohun?" asked Richard.
"Yes, often—why?"
"He calls himself king, but never will we refer to him as king. He and his followers dwell upon the opposite side of the valley. They number, perchance, as many as we and we be always at war against them."
"But I've been hearing quite a bit about a great tournament for which the knights are practicing now. I thought that Bohun and his knights were to take part in it."
"They be. Once each year, commencing upon the first Sunday of Lent and extending over a period of three days, there hath been from time immemorial a truce declared between the Fronters and the Backers, during which is held the Great Tourney, one year in the plain before the city of Nimmr and the next year in the plain before the City of the Sepulcher, as they call it."
"Fronters and Backers! What in heck do those mean?" demanded Blake.
"Thou art a knight of Nimmr and know not that?" exclaimed Richard.
"What I know about knighting would rattle around in a peanut shell," admitted Blake.