i-i know what is right ... '' she was spared the need to say more , however , by the sudden blast of clarions as the trumpeters rode onto the field , followed by the heralds , who waited until there was a semblance of quiet and then began proclaiming the rules : the tournament was to be preceded by three jousting matches , the herald cried out , the three matches to be between the six knights judged to be the finest in the land .