Chapter 12
Jonathon headed to the great hall the next morning, being stopped by Rook in the courtyard.
“My lord,” said Jonathon with a nod to greet him.
“Jonathon, how has my sister been doing?” he asked.
“Just fine,” he answered, not adding more.
“You haven’t reported a thing to us about her, and we find that puzzling since she is always getting into trouble. Is there something you’re not telling us?”
“In what manner do you mean?”
Rook looked around and then leaned in closer. “I ran across Lords Whitehead and Belmouth late yesterday while I was out. They told me they saw you and Raven at your shop in town earlier that day.”
“Yes,” said Jonathon, knowing this couldn’t end well. “Your father gave me permission to help out my family, as well as to take your sister with me. It’s no secret that we were there.”
“They also said they saw jousting lances there.”
“Yes. They’re mine.”
“I took a walk over to your father’s shop to discover not only a quintain but also a makeshift tiltyard behind the building that I never knew was there. After talking to some of the knights, I discovered they knew about it and told me it has been there for years.”
Jonathon groaned inwardly. He didn’t like where this was heading.
If he asked if Raven had been involved in jousting, he wasn’t going to be able to lie.
“Aye,” he answered. “I constructed the tiltyard myself. I’m sure the knights told you it is used for them to test out their armor against me before they pay.
To make sure it is to their liking. I want them to be satisfied with my work since my family prides itself with quality work and perfection. ”
“I see,” said Rook with a nod. “I suppose that is expected, since your father is a master craftsman. That’s an admirable thing to do. For some reason, I had the feeling Raven was trying to joust again in secret.”
Jonathon could no longer hide the truth.
He needed to be upfront with Rook since the subject was brought up, and he’d been hired to report Raven’s doings to Rook and his father.
“Lord Rook, I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner.
I found Lady Raven in the woods practicing the joust about a week ago. ”
“You did? And you didn’t tell us?”
“I realize I should have said something, and I am sorry that I didn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t you report this to us? That is why you were hired.” Rook scowled at him.
“I didn’t think it important enough to bother you, with how busy you have been preparing for the upcoming tournament.”
“Aye, it has been a lot of work,” agreed Rook.
“Your sister begged me to teach her how to joust. When she saw my tilt yard, she was very excited.”
“I’m sure she was. Egads, you didn’t teach her, did you?”
“My lord, I knew if I said no, she’d only keep sneaking away to practice on her own in the woods. If so, it was only a matter of time before she got hurt.”
“You do make a good point.”
“I figured, at least if she was with me, I could guarantee her safety.”
“Oh. I see your point.” Rook put his hand to his chin in thought. “I suppose you did the right thing,” said Rook as they started to walk to the great hall together.
“I’m glad you agree.” This was not at all what Jonathon expected Rook to say.
“Yes. My father will agree with it, once I tell him.”
“You’re going to mention it to Lord Corbett?” This bothered Jonathon more than anything. Everything was coming to a head, and it wasn’t looking good for him or his family now. Even if Rook thought it was a good idea to teach his sister the joust, Lord Corbett, he was sure, wouldn’t be so forgiving.
“Don’t sound so worried. My father is happy you stopped Raven from sneaking off to places, and that you have been chaperoning her. It takes the burden off of him. It was driving him mad.”
“I was supposed to stop her from doing those type of things and I only assisted her instead. I am sorry, my lord. It won’t happen again, I promise. I even told her I wouldn’t train her anymore, so you needn’t worry.”
“Nay, you have to train her.”
“My lord?”
“I want you to do it.”
“I don’t understand.” This confused Jonathon more than anything. “You do?”
“Aye. You see, we know that until my sister marries, she is going to keep doing stupid things like this. She is a stubborn wench and won’t listen to reason.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed that.”
“My mother is afraid she’ll hurt herself, but my father and I believe she’ll be safe as long as she is in your care.”
“Thank you for your confidence. I will do my best.”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing for now.” They approached the great hall and stopped before they entered.
“My lord, just to be clear,” said Jonathon softly. “You really want me to keep training Lady Raven in the joust?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“I’m not a knight and haven’t had any real training. I’ve taught myself the sport, and honestly, I’m not really that good at it.”
“And neither do you need to be. I’ve seen you in the practice yard with your sword. You’re good with weapons, so I’m sure you know enough about the joust to quell my foolish sister’s wish to try it.”
“True enough,” he agreed.
“So, keep her distracted. That is perfect. The knights are going to start arriving for the tournament soon. We don’t want her scaring off any of them beforehand, since one of them needs to end up marrying her.”
“I understand.”
“Good.” Rook blew air from his mouth. “Just make her think you’re teaching her.”
“Then... you want me to lie to Lady Raven.”
“Not lie. Just give her whatever it is she wants, and keep her away from the arriving knights,” said Rook with a smile. “You see, we want you to keep her happy and distracted at the same time.”
“I-I see,” said Jonathon, not able to stop thinking about how distracted Raven and he had become in the forge when he was measuring her for her armor. “I think I need to tell you something else, Lord Rook.
“What’s that?”
“Lady Raven has asked me to make her a set of armor.”
“What?” Rook’s eyebrows raised and then he burst out laughing. “What in God’s name does she want that for? It’s not like she’d ever really need to use it.”
“She didn’t say why she wanted it, my lord. However, it seemed very important to her. Should I deny her request?” He’d already started making it, but wasn’t in a hurry to tell Rook that part.
“Nay, not at all,” said Rook with a careless wave of his hand through the air, sounding as if it was too trivial to take his concern.
“Go ahead and do it, by all means. Let her live out her addled fantasies now, while she still can. As soon as the tournament is over and we’ve secured a proper husband for her, it’ll be that poor man’s job to put an end to all Raven’s silly antics.
Then you will be free of her once and for all. ”
“Aye, my lord,” said Jonathon, feeling unsettled about how things had taken an odd turn.
He didn’t think feeding the girl’s interest in something she shouldn’t have or do was a healthy alternative.
Still, he couldn’t deny the orders of the lords of the castle either.
He also felt upset by Rook telling him he’d be free of her once and for all.
He didn’t want to be free of Raven. The last thing he wanted was to have to give her up to another man. The knot in his stomach became larger.
“Is something wrong?” asked Rook. “You look as if you’re bothered by something.”
“Nay, my lord. I was just wondering if Lord Corbett will not find this all... improper?” he asked.
“Oh, of course, my father will think it’s not right for my sister to joust or have her own armor, but he’ll get over it, I assure you.
I will convince him that whatever it takes to get my sister to the altar is well worth it.
Right now, all that matters is that you pacify her and keep her away from the potential suitors so she doesn’t scare them off before the wedding day.
The competitors usually arrive well before the day of the tournament, to pitch their tents outside the castle and to have time to become familiar with the area where the competition will be held. ”
“Aye,” said Jonathon, opening the door to the keep for Lord Rook.
“You’re doing a fine job, Jonathon.” Rook patted Jonathon’s back. “Keep it up and you’ll be rewarded greatly when this is all over, I promise.”
Jonathon followed Rook into the great hall, feeling uncomfortable and on edge.
He didn’t see that being paid more as a potential reward for him in the end was a reward at all.
The more time he spent with Raven, the more he had feelings for her.
Just the thought of her having to marry a noble like Whitehead or Belmouth made him ill.
She was a beautiful woman, and much too young and full of life to have all her dreams and desires smothered by the likes of them.
Raven deserved someone better for a husband.
Or at least someone she half-liked. He actually felt sorry for the girl and wished for her sake that things could be different.
Or mayhap he was really only feeling sorry for himself, since he wished he could be the one marrying Raven.
That, he supposed, was a fantasy of his that he needed stifled, since they would never be allowed to marry.
She was of noble blood and all he had running through his veins was the soot from the forge.
“Raven, I miss ye since ye’ve been away so much lately,” said Lark to Raven the next morning. “I came to England to spend time with ye, and it seems we are never together lately.”
“Well, you will be seeing a lot more of me now that Jonathon has refused to train me anymore.”
“I think it’s a good thing,” said Lark, opening the shutter on the window and letting the fresh air and sunshine into the bedchamber. “Ye should be here to greet the knights and nobles as is expected of you. The competitors will be starting to arrive for the tournament any day now.”
“Why would I want to greet the knights or even talk to them at all?” Raven sat up in bed and yawned, stretching her arms above her head.