Pursuit of the Sun 1.2

Gautier’s lance is adorned with tokens of ladies’ favor from tip to hilt, but he tied the Zurich ribbon over the helmet’s crest in the form of a red cat clutching a sword in its paw – now Zurich can enjoy the envious glances of his female neighbors. Demetius Callas, not wanting to be outdone by the Scarlet and the constable, tied all the ribbons around the neck of the grinning goose perched on his helmet, which gave the latter an even more absurdly fierce look, and its owner – a few harmless chuckles. The Nameless one still didn’t say a word, and Osbert, seizing the moment, teases Cassius and Raimund:
-- If he knocks out my eye, I hope you’ll stomp on him properly in the final...
-- What’s with your attitude, old man? Stomp on him yourself, get ahead of the game, it’s not that hard.
-- I’m just too old for all this, -- the viscount wrinkles his face. -- At my age, I should be sitting in a warm lodge and sipping wine, but when our regent is still in the saddle, it feels awkward to refuse the tournament.

Added 52 seconds later

Before the duel, Cassius carefully examines Demetius’s horse. How much faster it potentially is than Darkness.

It’s hardly faster, but it looks taller and more massive.