The King's Knights cried out in alarm, and the perceptive William immediately realized something was wrong. He dug his spurs hard into his warhorse's flanks, and the startled animal accelerated.
But by now, it was too late. William was already within range of the Lance. Eric swung his Lance and thrust at William. Years of battlefield experience had William instinctively ducking, just barely dodging the attack. The tip of the Lance grazed his neck, leaving a line of blood.
The stinging pain enraged William, but Eric gave him no time to be angry. Having missed his target, Eric's Lance immediately struck William's warhorse on its left foreleg. The sharp point pierced the warhorse's hide, and the pain made it rear up.
It stopped in its tracks, its two front hooves rising as it let out a pained shriek.
The warhorse's sudden lurch forward caught the injured William completely off guard. The reins flew from his grasp, and his body was thrown violently backward.
