Author's Notes

Officially, the chivalric code requires a knight to announce their intent to engage a foe in battle. This is supposed to separate them from other lowly warriors by demonstrating their desire for honorable combat. As Beatrice demonstrates, blind adherence to this code can have plenty of drawbacks. Many more practical orders consider this a formality and instruct their recruits to simply mutter their challenge quietly under their breath if they want to ambush a foe.