Chapter 11 #2
“Nay, you couldn’t. However, if there was a way to enter, I’m sure you’d be the one to figure out just how to do it.” Jonathon turned and walked back to the shop.
“Just admit it. I’m better at it than you thought,” said Raven, fishing for a compliment from him. She knew Jonathon liked her, but ever since the night he measured her for her armor, he seemed to be trying to distance himself from her and that bothered her.
“Raven, you’re only hooking rings onto a lance. It is not the same as jousting. Far from it.”
“I don’t care. Teach me more. I want to learn.” She ran to keep up with him.
“Nay. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“No, I won’t. Please, won’t you practice with me? I want to know how it feels to actually joust with a person.”
Jonathon thought about it for a second, and almost considered doing so, but knew he shouldn’t.
He’d been enjoying tutoring her in this manner.
The only thing was, the more time they spent together, the harder it was for him to accept that she’d be married in a few weeks’ time.
Then he’d never be able to spend time alone with her again.
Mayhap it was better if he just stopped this right now. It couldn’t go any further.
“I don’t have time for this.” He continued on to the shop and she followed at his heels. “I have work to do.”
“Your job during the day is to be with me,” she reminded him. “That is what my father is paying you to do, so don’t forget it.”
“If your father knew what I’ve been teaching you to do every time we make a trip to town, he would have my head.
I’m sorry, my lady, but I can no longer take the risk.
” He made his way into the shop where his father was working.
His mother and sisters helped clean the shop and also to fan the forge with the bellows.
“Where is Heathcliff? I need his help,” grumbled Jonathon’s father. “The business has been picking up again with the upcoming tournament so near and I am too old to do all this work by myself.”
“I’m here, Father,” said Jonathon. “I’ll help you.”
“Son, you spend too much time out back. Even when you are here, you are not helping me much. You are working on that armor.” His father seemed agitated today for some reason. “With you and Avery gone, I’m overwhelmed and can’t catch up.”
“I’m sorry, Father. Heathcliff was assisting me outside. Is there something I can do for you now?”
“Jonathon?” His mother emerged from the kitchen with his sister, Hildeth, who stopped by with fresh baked bread from her husband’s bakery.
“Hello, Hildeth,” said Jonathon.
“Hello,” she responded, seeming as if something was bothering her.
“Your sister has something to tell you,” said his mother.
“What is it, Hildeth?” he asked.
His sister looked over to Raven who had sat down on a chair to fix her shoe. She seemed hesitant to speak freely.
“You can talk in front of Raven. It’s fine.”
“If you insist. Brother, the townspeople had a meeting at the bakery this morning. They don’t like the fact that you are bringing Lady Raven here so often. It makes them uncomfortable.”
“It does? Why?” he asked, seeing Raven look up in surprise and listen. “She’s not causing any problems. I thought you all liked her.”
“Of course we do,” said his mother. “She is a joy to be around but, she doesn’t belong here.”
“That’s right,” said Hildeth. “This is our home and town, not hers. The townspeople believe that she should be back at the castle. They feel on edge knowing there is a noble here so often watching their every move.”
“Really?” asked Raven, standing up, looking hurt. “They feel that way about me?”
“Nay, I’m sure they don’t really,” said Jonathon, but his words fell on deaf ears.
“My lady, it’s just that the townspeople live a different life than you,” said Jonathon’s mother. “With you always here, they feel nervous that they might do something wrong and you’ll report it to your father.”
“Nay, she wouldn’t do that,” Jonathon told them. “They are worrying for nothing.”
“Nay. They’re right,” Raven softly answered. “I don’t belong here anymore than you belong sitting at the dais back at the castle.”
“Jonathon, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you bringing Lady Raven here might be putting us all in danger,” said his mother, wringing her hands together.
“Aye, Jonathon,” agreed his sister Estrilda. “If the nobles find out you’re teaching Lady Raven to joust, we will all be punished because of it.”
“I might even lose the business,” said his father. “I’m sorry, son, but I agree with the others. You need to stop bringing Lady Raven here and end this nonsense of training a lady to joust. It isn’t right, and neither is it allowed.”
“We are only commoners and live simply,” said Hildeth. “My lady, no disrespect, but you live a much different life than we do.”
“Lady Raven, we all like you, we really do,” said his mother.
“Please, don’t take it the wrong way. You need to understand the position you are putting us in by being here.
It is too risky for us. We live under the shadow of those with royal blood, and will be punished severely if word gets out about what you’ve been doing here. ”
“You’re right,” said Raven softly. “It’s not good, and it’s all my fault.
I’m the one who asked Jonathon to teach me the joust and put him in a bad situation.
Please, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re all protected, I promise I will.
I’ll talk to my father if need be. You won’t be in trouble because of it. ”
“That is kind of you, but you can’t guarantee that,” said Jonathon. “You don’t know how your father will react.”
“Here comes Avery,” announced Hildeth, looking out the front window. “He has a boy with him.”
“That’s Gerold, the son of the late castle smith,” said Estrilda. “We’ve already met him, Sister.”
Jonathon looked up. “Yes. He’s the one who we’ve been giving the clothes to and who is my apprentice at the castle. “I wonder what they want.” He met them at the door.
“Jonathon, you need to get back to the castle with Lady Raven, anon,” said Avery, looking rather worried.
“Why? What’s wrong?” asked Raven.
“My lady, you shouldn’t be coming here so often,” said Avery. “The gossip is starting to grow back at the castle about... about…”
“About what?” asked Raven.
“I think he means about us,” said Jonathon with a sigh. “You are noble and shouldn’t be spending so much time in town or with me and my family. Of course there is going to be talk about it—what did we expect?”
“Nay. That’s nonsense.” Raven waved away the thought. “You’re my personal guard, Jonathon. No one is talking about us, and my father knows I’m here. I’m supposed to be with you. You are only doing what you were hired to do.”
“Everyone is wondering where you two go when you come to town,” said little Gerold.
“Hi, Gerold,” said Heathcliff, having entered the shop through the back door with the lances and rings in his arms.
“Why do you have Lord Corbett’s lances here?” asked Gerold.
“These aren’t his,” explained Heathcliff. “My brother made them. They’re ours. Jonathon is teaching Lady Raven how to joust.”
“Really?” asked Gerold. “But you’re commoners and not allowed to joust. And Lady Raven is a girl so she shouldn’t be doing it either.”
“Avery” growled Jonathon in a low voice.
“Why the hell did you have to bring the boy here right now?” This was all he needed.
It was bad enough that the townspeople knew Raven was coming here, but if the boy went back to the castle and told Raven’s father what he saw, there was probably going to be trouble.
“He saw me leaving and followed,” Avery whispered back. “What was I supposed to do?”
“Gerold, you can’t say anything about this,” Raven told Gerold. “Do you understand?”
“Why not?” he asked, innocently. “Do you want me to lie?”
“No one is asking anyone to lie,” said Jonathon. “We’re not doing anything wrong, we just want to keep it a secret.”
“Lady Raven thinks she’s a knight or something, and doesn’t want anyone to know it,” Heathcliff whispered to Gerold behind his hand.
“Jonathon, do something about this,” mumbled Avery. “I don’t believe the boy will stay quiet.”
“Gerold, do you like this shop?” asked Jonathon.
“Do I!” said the boy with a big smile.
“Father, Gerold has grown up as an apprentice to his late father who was the castle blacksmith,” said Jonathon. “I think he would be a good addition to this shop, don’t you?”
“What?” asked his father in surprise. “Nay, he’s too young to be of any help.”
“He’s not that much younger than Heathcliff,” Jonathon pointed out. “Besides, he knows a lot about the forge. He’s already been a big help to me at the castle’s smithy.”
“Jonathon, your father is getting older and he needs a man here to help him,” said his mother. “Not another boy.”
“I’ll stay,” offered Avery. “At least until Father gets caught up with the work.”
“Can I stay with you too?” asked Gerold excitedly.
“I’d like Gerold to stay since we’re now friends,” said Heathcliff, excited to meet someone close to his age. He didn’t have many friends in town since he was required to work at the shop all day long.
“What about the work back at the castle?” asked Raven. “Who will do that?”
“We’re pretty much caught up for now,” Jonathon told her.
“I think it’s a good idea for Avery and Gerold to help out here for a while.
At least until the knights start arriving for the tournament.
Then they can return to the castle. I can handle things by myself until then. My lady, we should be going now.”
“What about my training?” asked Raven.
“We will talk about that later,” said Jonathon. “Let’s get back to the castle before your father or brother come looking for us.” Jonathon packed up the armor he’d been working on for Raven, sticking the pieces into a large leather bag with a strap and slipping it over his shoulder.
Jonathon’s family had been nothing but kind to her, and Raven felt bad to have put them in this position. “I’m sorry,” she said, not knowing what else to say.
None of them responded.
“This was a mistake,” mumbled Jonathon, heading for the door and she followed. Just as they were about to leave, two men walked in, causing Raven to gasp.
“Lord Whitehead. Lord Belmouth,” said Jonathon. “How can we help you?”
“Lady Raven?” Whitehead looked over to Raven, his eyes drinking her in. “What are you doing here, in town?”
“This is no place for a lady.” Belmouth walked in, making Jonathon step backward. “Does your father know you’re here?”
“Lord Corbett has made me Lady Raven’s guardian,” said Jonathon. “I assure you, he knows she is with me and perfectly safe.”
“Hmph,” sniffed Whitehead. “I still don’t see why Lord Corbett would make a commoner the girl’s guardian. This whole thing is odd if you ask me.”
“My lords, how can I help you?” Jonathon’s father ran over to greet them.
“We stopped by to drop off our armor before the tournament begins,” said Whitehead. “It needs a few repairs and also polishing.”
“Yes, of course,” said Crispin. “I’d be happy to take care of that for you.”
Whitehead spotted the jousting lances lying on the floor. “What are those doing here?” He pointed to them. “Don’t they belong at the castle?”
Gerold spoke up before anyone could answer. “Those are Jonathon’s, and he’s teaching Lady Raven to–”
Avery clasped his hand over the boy’s mouth. “My brother uses them to test out the new armor with our noble customers to make sure it is up to their standards before they pay for it.”
“We only do quality work at this shop,” added Jonathon, sounding as if he were wishing these men would leave. She certainly did.
“My lords, can I see your armor that needs repairing?” asked Jonathon’s father.
“I’ll carry it in for you,” offered Avery rushing forward, glancing over at Jonathon. “Jonathon, I’m sure you are in a hurry to bring Lady Raven back to the castle. You really shouldn’t tarry any longer.”
“Aye,” said Jonathon with a nod, looking very disturbed by this whole situation. He held the door for Raven and they made their way to their horses. Jonathon didn’t say a word.
“I’m sure everything will be fine,” said Raven, trying to make conversation and to lighten the mood. She accepted his help in mounting her steed.
“It will be, because we will no longer be coming here for you to learn the joust. It was a foolish thing for me to agree to it in the first place. I put my friends and family in danger because I didn’t consider how it would affect them.”
“But I need you to teach me. Please. It’s important.”
“I find it odd that you are so adamant about learning the joust, even after what just transpired. Is there more to this that you are telling me?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Aye, I’m sure you don’t,” he said in a sarcastic tone, leading the way out of town and back to the castle.