The Master of Verona

All fifteen new knights looked exquisite in their identical uniforms. The only difference among them was that no two bore the same feather in their cap. Here there was a peacock plume, there the pinfeather from a duck.

Entering from the west, directly opposite the Scaliger's balcony, they rode around the pit twice, then made for the center where they dismounted and knelt. A struggle for Pietro.

With solemn voice Cangrande read off the names of the chosen. When he came to the names of the Triumvirs he had to stop, so deafening was the applause. Then the Capitano called everyone into prayer, after which he gave all of them the charge of the Code of knighthood. He listed first the three ideals — Justice, Right, Piety — and then the four houses — the house of the Church, the house of the Widow, the house of the Orphan, and the house of the Oppressed — they must defend as cavalieri.

Bishop Francis came forward to recite the ten commandments of chivalry:

Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches, and shalt observe all its directions.

Thou shalt defend the Church.

Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them.

Thou shalt love the country in the which thou wast born.

Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy.

Thou shalt make war against the Infidel without cessation, and without mercy.

Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God.

Thou shalt never lie, and shall remain faithful to thy pledged word.

Thou shalt be generous, and give largess to everyone.

Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

"Now," commanded the bishop, "I call upon each of you in turn to proclaim two of the tenets in the Code of knighthood. Ser Bellinzona, you may begin."

Oh God. No one had told Pietro about this! Let's see. There are thirty-six tenets in the Code. Which should I choose? His choices mattered a great deal, for they would characterize his life as a knight from this day forward.

On the far end the man named Bellinzona raised his head and proclaimed, "Live for freedom, justice, and all that is good! Never attack from behind!" There was applause.

The next declared, "Administer Justice! Die with Valour and Honour!"

Bastard took three! Dying with Valour and dying with Honour are separate! Pietro resisted the urge to administer a little justice of his own.

"Destroy evil in all of its forms! Respect women!"

Two more good ones gone. Pietro was almost at the end of the line, with only Mariotto and Antony coming after him. Though he could repeat tenets used by other knights, it would be frowned upon. He had to find two of his own — but which two were obscure enough that no one in front of his would take them? He hardly wanted his life as a knight to be defined as "Avoid torture" or "Exhibit manners."

"Never attack an unarmed foe! Fight with Honour!"

Obvious. I knew they'd be snapped up right away.

"Always keep one's word of honour! Avoid cheating!"

I can't believe someone used the cheating line. He must be more panicked than I am.

"Exhibit self-control! Fight for the ideals of Capitano, country, and chivalry!"

Clever, swapping out king for Capitano.

"Exhibit Courage in word and deed! Be polite and attentive!"

There's a rather noncombative oath. Pietro listened as the list went on from knight to knight down the line towards him. Since many of the tenets overlapped, there were many references to Honour, Courage, Freedom, and Justice. One fellow, clearly desperate, used the torture line, which got a loud jeer from the crowd.

Pietro was planning on two that he thought were rather obscure — Always maintain one's principles, and Avenge the wronged. He was lucky to have thought of those two, because he couldn't remember any others that were yet unused.