Kassar's lance had hit the side of the target ring, and the desert-dried wood had shattered under the impact.
"Well." Mahmoud turned to Nicetas with a laugh. "The target is destroyed."
"Let us put another ring on," said Nicetas promptly, just as Kassar rode up.
Kassar's face was tight with fury. "The rings are different sizes. It will not be fair if you have a bigger ring to hit."
"I want a smaller ring," said Nicetas with a faint smile.
Mahmoud sent a boy galloping to the target pullers with the order to attach a new ring to the ropes. From where he stood, Daoud could not even see daylight through the new ring. In the distance he saw a whirlwind raising a cone of sand, a sand devil, spinning near the red cliff.
"Think that there is a crusader charging at you, and you have to hit him in the eye to stop him," Mahmoud suggested to Nicetas.
"If it were, I would not let him get close enough for me to see his eye," said Nicetas dryly.
"Go!" Mahmoud roared.
Nicetas screamed across the field. The rumh flew.