War Week.
The culmination of Pennsic. When two great armies, the Middle and the East, meet in battle over a strip of land in Aethelmarc. The fighters took it seriously, and none other than Knight.
Mal, the first morning of War Week, sent his man off with a piece of lace tied around Knight’s left bicep, and a steaming kiss with promises of more upon his successful return.
First, he was asked to participate in the non-belted Champions battle, which was a bunch of melee battles all at once. Mal and Tyler were able to watch at a distance, as Knight moved gracefully like a cat to avoid hits, and darted beyond others’ defenses to stab through or cut off limbs. They watched as, after every person he beat, he waited to help them up.
Knight participated in every battle, and returned home every night with the piece of lace, sometimes battered, sometimes torn, but every morning a new piece of lace took its place. In the woods battle, Knight was one of the last to leave. When he did, the king of the East walked up to him and told him to remove his helmet. There, on the field, in front of all the fighters and in front of Mal, the king of the East knighted him, giving him his own white belt.
When Knight rose to the chorus of “Vivat!”, he looked to see Mal in the throng of people. After those of Chivalry gave him the token slap and a hug, he went right to Mal, picked him up, and kissed him in full view of everyone there. Knight smelled of sweat, rust and leather, but Mal didn’t care.
That night, Mal took control, to which Knight surrendered gladly.
After finding out the East had won the War (and after Knight bought a baldric to go with his white belt, symbolizing he was a Master at Arms, not a Knight of the realm), the two men packed up, shipped their clothes back home, got on Kitty and headed back to Millennium City.