Chapter 22 #2
“We’ve decided your exquisite, unique work has earned you the title of Master Armorer,” announced Shroud.
“Yay!” shouted Gerold, jumping up and down and clapping his hands.
“That’s great, Brother. Congratulations!” said Avery, going to shake his hand, but stopping since it was in a sling.
“Jonathon, your dream came true,” said Raven, smiling from ear to ear. “That is wonderful.”
Jonathon should have been ecstatic but instead he felt sullen. “Thank you, guild masters, but I don’t feel as if I deserve the title.”
“Why ever not?” asked Shroud.
“I don’t understand,” said Wilkin. “You will be recorded as a master now, and will be able to open your own shop and employ your own journeyman.”
“Thank you,” said Jonathon, not wanting to sound ungrateful. “However, I don’t have the money to open a shop of my own, and I know that is a prerequisite. Right now, I can’t even work in the forge because of my hurt arm. I don’t feel it would be right to use the title until it fits me.”
“Oh, that’s a shame,” said Shroud. “Being made a master means you need to open your own shop.”
“As well as be married,” Wilkin reminded him.
“Would this help with opening your shop?” Rook entered the room, handing him two pouches of coins.
“What’s this?” asked Jonathon, taking the pouches from him.
“One pouch is the money Raven won in the archery competition, and the other is your pay. We had a deal, remember?” said Rook.
Jonathon’s eyes flashed over to Raven.
“Rook told me everything, don’t worry about it,” said Raven. “You were only doing your job. And I can’t collect the prize money, so it might as well be yours.”
“Thank you. I will take the money, but not to put toward my own shop,” said Jonathon. “I will give it to my father instead so he can hire another man to cover my position until I am healed.”
“I don’t understand,” said Raven. “Jonathon, this is what you’ve always wanted. Why are you dismissing it as if it doesn’t even matter? You’ve just been made a master. You deserve your own shop.”
“It’s what I used to want,” Jonathon told her, feeling a gaping hole in his heart. “Nothing has been the same since... since I met you, Lady Raven,” he said, making her blush.
“What’s going on in here?” Corbett ducked to enter through the doorway, walking into the small shop, followed by Devon.
“Father? Why are you here?” asked Raven.
“I came to talk to you about Sir Whitehead, Raven.”
“Your betrothed,” said Jonathon, the words dripping off his tongue.
“We’ll be on our way then,” said Wilkin.
“Wait,” said Raven. “Father, we don’t have a castle smith anymore. Jonathon is the best one we’ve ever had. Can’t he stay here at Blake Castle as our new blacksmith and armorer? He’s just been made a master by these men.”
The men nodded and bowed, being introduced to Corbett and Devon.
“I think that is a wonderful idea,” said Devon. “Doesn’t a master craftsman have his own shop though? This can be yours, Jonathon.”
“We’ve been meaning to expand it,” said Rook. “Mayhap this would be a good time to do so.”
“If you need a journeyman and an apprentice, you’ve got them right here,” said Avery, motioning to himself and Gerold.
“I would like you to stay, Jonathon,” said Gerold. “I’m lonely since my father died. It’s been nice having you here with me. You are like a second father to me. Avery too.”
Avery reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair.
“Should we write that in our notes then, Master Armstrong?” asked Shroud.
“Aye. Will your new shop be inside the walls of Blake Castle then?” asked Wilkin.
“I-I’m not sure,” said Jonathon, still rubbing his arm. “I don’t think I’d feel comfortable living and working here at Blake Castle.” He looked over to Raven. “Not anymore. Besides, I’d have to be married, and I’m not.”
“We’d give you time to find a girl to marry,” said Shroud.
“I just don’t know,” said Jonathon. “I’d have to think about it, I guess.”
“Well, when you decide where your shop will be set up, send us a missive to let us know,” said Wilkin. “We have another appointment, and need to leave.”
“Congratulations, Master Armstrong,” said Shroud, as the two men made their way out the door.
Raven knew exactly what Jonathon meant when he said he wouldn’t be comfortable staying there.
She would be married to another man, and he didn’t want to have to see that.
It didn’t make her any more comfortable, but she couldn’t just let him walk out of her life like this.
Her days wouldn’t be the same without him.
She wouldn’t give up so easily. She and Jonathon needed to be together.
“Before you decide, Jonathon, give me a moment to talk to my parents, please,” said Raven.
“Raven?” asked Corbett. “What’s this all about?”
She pulled her parents over to the side. Her brother, being nosey, joined them too.
“Father,” she said in a soft voice. “Are you sure you can’t do something so Jonathon and I can be married?”
“Now Raven, you know the rules. The winner of the tournament claims your hand in marriage.”
“But the tournament was forfeited,” said Raven. “It was never really finished, so no one actually won.”
“That’s right,” agreed Devon. “Sir Whitehead was only proclaimed the winner because his competitor pulled out.”
“Thanks to you, Sister,” added Rook.
“I did it to save Jonathon’s life,” said Raven.
“Corbett, do something. This is your only daughter,” said Devon. “Don’t let things end this way.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do?” Corbett crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not like we can have a rematch now, can we?”
“He’s right, Raven,” said Rook. “Jonathon would have to be a knight or at least a noble to legitimately go up against Whitehead again.”
“Can’t you make him a knight or something?” asked Raven, already knowing the answer, but having to try.
“Not on your life,” said Corbett. “It doesn’t work that way and you know it. He wasn’t even supposed to be out on the field during a tournament. I can’t let him get away with that.”
“Now, Corbett,” said Devon. “We’re the only ones who know Sir Nevar’s true identity, so what does it matter what Jonathon did or didn’t do?”
“And Raven. Don’t forget Raven pretended to be the French knight first,” added Rook. “You’ll have to punish her too,” he said, getting a nasty glare from Raven.
“Well, couldn’t you at least make Jonathon a lord, Father?” Raven kept on trying. “Give him an honorary title mayhap?”
“The only way for a commoner to be titled is if they are married to a noble,” said Corbett.
“Like me?” asked Raven. “Oh please, Father, let us be wed. Then you can give him a title. Please, do it. I don’t want to marry anyone else but Jonathon.”
“You’re not going to leave this alone until I agree, are you?” asked Corbett.
“If you make me marry Lord Whitehead, I will not only keep fighting with my weapons, but I will find every opportunity to run away from him.”
“Don’t threaten me, young lady,” warned Corbett.
“I’m sorry, but I’m trying to tell you how I feel,” said Raven.
“Dear, I don’t think it’s really a threat,” said Devon. “It is just who our daughter is, and I believe she will do just what she said. I think we need to stop trying to change her and just accept her for who she is.”
“Rebellious,” said Rook, adding his opinion to the conversation with one word.
“Are you two really in love?” asked Raven’s father with a sigh.
“Oh, we are,” she answered. “We really are.”
“Will you help them, Corbett?” asked Devon. “Remember, when we fell in love it was rather uncommon and forbidden as well. Still, it all turned out for the best.”
“Yes, I remember, dear,” said Corbett. “And also remember that my parents are living proof that true love can cause a lot of problems, too.”
“It can solve problems as well,” said Raven. “Just give us a chance to show you.”
“I’m not sure what you plan on showing, but I don’t want to see it,” said Rook jokingly.
“Stop it, Brother.” Raven hit Rook on the arm.
Corbett glanced over to Jonathon and then back to Raven. “If you two really feel this strongly about each other, then this is what I’ll do.”