Early the next morning at breakfast the Bear announced that because of the heavy snow there would be no riding. The pages gave a round of cheers they had not looked forward to another freezing day. The squires, who knew what was going to happen, groaned.
The Bear continued, "What we are going to do is have a little war. We are going to divide you up into two teams. And you are going to have a battle in the palace.
"You can use your staffs, your bows and wooden practice knives. The arrows will be padded and coated with chalk as will be the staffs and knives. Blue chalk for team Palace and red chalk for team Stable. If you are marked with chalk you are dead and out of competition. The knights will be the judges and will pick the teams and appoint the leaders. With each skirmish a new leade
