Sansa Stark watched Margaery from beside her with some jealousy. Margaery was much cleverer than she was and seemed able to bend or stand firm as needed, as befitted someone of steward stock.
"Ser Barristan Selmy the Bold, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard," the herald shouted.
"The valiant Ser Balon Swann, archery champion of the last Hand of the King's tourney, a knight of the Kingsguard." The crowd first cheered for the White Knights, especially Ser Balon, who had distinguished himself at the previous tourney. (Because Anguy had not attended.)
"Knights of House Tyrell of Highgarden, Ser Garlan Tyrell and Ser Loras Tyrell, strong contenders in the tourney."
The two brothers from Highgarden entered. After suffering so many blows, the Knight of Flowers was much steadier this time.
"Loras."
"Loras." The Knight of Flowers still wore magnificent silver armor. It gleamed with silver light, inlaid with paired black vines and black roses, the roses made of black gemstones.
Renly was in the North, which was little different from being dead, and part of Loras had vanished forever as well.
Eddard and the spectators looked at Loras's gems. Highgarden's extravagance truly was extraordinary. The previous year, the Knight of Flowers had worn sapphire forget-me-nots.
Loras's cloak, however, bore only three blooming golden roses on the Green Cloaks. He no longer used a hundred flowers to set them off.
The Knight of Flowers received the most praise. Even in the distant northern lands, tales of him circulated.
Ser Garlan was much more understated. He was steadier and taller, and his cloak bore two golden roses on a green field.
"With three men missing from this Long Spear Joust, the competition will be fiercer," Ser Loras, the Knight of Flowers, told his elder brother, Ser Garlan Tyrell.
"I hear the gambling houses are