Chapter 5
H unter had overslept the next morning, being so tired from the day before.Therefore, he was late getting to the mews with Luke. The spring air was chilly this morning. The sun was bright and there were little to no clouds in the sky. Aye, the day was promising to be beautiful, just like Lady Regina.
“Why can’t we have something to eat before we start working? I’m hungry,” complained Luke, not wanting to go to the mews with Hunter. The boy was more intrigued by what went on inside the castle. When they had passed by the kitchen on their way out to the courtyard, the aroma of fresh bread and what smelled like bacon made Hunter’s stomach growl as well.
“We have a job to do,” Hunter reminded his nephew. “I promised Lady Regina we’d be at the mews first thing in the morning and I’ve already let her down.”
“I would rather explore the castle than go watch stupid birds all day,” spat Luke.
“They are not stupid, and please refrain from calling them that in front of Lady Regina. She thinks highly of her birds.”
“Well, then, can I at least go talk to that stableboy named Fred? I don’t have any friends my age and he seems nice.”
“Not now.” Hunter was still upset by what happened, or rather what didn’t happen between him and Regina last night. He wanted her to trust him. He had wanted to kiss her again, and he could have sworn she wanted to kiss him as well. They’d made such a connection to each other, staring into each other’s eyes. He supposed he’d assumed too much. Because instead of kissing, she only fired questions at him left and right. She also never seemed quite satisfied with his answers.
She doesn’t want you and never will, came that evil voice in his head. You aren’t acting proper around her. She is a lady. You are just a commoner who drops his breeches at the bat of an eye. Nay, Hunter. She doesn’t want you.
Hunter was afraid his dear departed sister might be right this time. He would never be good enough for the regal, beautiful, intoxicating Lady Regina Blake. Why would she even ever be interested in someone like him? She wouldn’t. Still, he couldn’t stop thinking of her.
Even after his dip in the cold lake he still felt hot and bothered all night long. Hell, if he’d had even a few hours of sleep last night he’d be surprised. Why did this woman affect him in such a manner? Mayhap it was because she was a noble and he knew she was off limits to him. Hunter always had a longing for things he knew he couldn’t have. Not unlike Luke with all his wishes for things no commoner should ever own.
“Why couldn’t I bring my sword with me? I don’t want to leave it in our room. I want to show it off to the other boys my age.” Luke continued to complain, making Hunter’s brain throb. The hurting of his head never seemed to let up.
Both Hunter and the boy wore tunics and breeches and even shoes that were meant for a noble. Robin had made sure to leave the clothes for them so they would blend in. The tunic Luke wore was too big on him, looking ridiculous. The one Hunter wore was too small. It was tight and uncomfortable. The breeches were even worse. He was only thankful for the cloak covering him because the breeches were already straining on his body and he’d yet to even see Lady Regina today. If they got any tighter they would probably split.
“Nay, we need to keep our weapons in our chamber from now on unless we leave the castle. They will only raise suspicion.” Hunter still had his dagger on him and a dirk hidden in his boot. He didn’t like going anywhere without protection, but didn’t think his weapons were appropriate in the mews since they’d probably just scare the birds. Neither were they needed inside the castle walls being around all these knights. He was trying his best to blend in, but felt like anyone with a brain in their head would notice that he and Luke didn’t belong here. It had to be more than obvious that even with his addlepated story of being Regina’s cousin, that they weren’t nobles at all.
“Hunter, over here,” he heard the voice, looking up to see the falconer’s assistant waving him over, standing just outside the mews. Hunter hurried over.
“Good morning, Roger,” he said, noticing another man in the doorway of the mews with his back toward him. He looked to be sweeping. “Hello, there,” he called out. The man worked cleaning up bird droppings with a broom and didn’t even turn around.
“That is Cassian. He’s almost deaf so you need to speak loudly,” instructed Roger. “Cassian, Hunter said hello,” the boy shouted. Finally, the old man turned around.
“Oh, good morning,” said Cassian raising his wrinkled face to Hunter. He nodded quickly.
Hunter froze. He recognized this man. This was the master falconer back in the days when Hunter’s father still worked here at the castle. Cassian had to be really old by now since he’d seemed old way back then. Since Hunter was just a lad the last time he’d been here, he hoped Cassian wouldn’t recognize him.
“I’m Lord Hunter,” he said, not using his surname since it was the same as his late father’s. He also didn’t want to keep saying his surname was Blake since it just didn’t feel right. Growing up, his mother had insisted Hunter go by the name of Chase because that is who he was. Hunter always knew it was really because his stepfather despised him and didn’t want another man’s bastard using his surname.
“Yes, and I’m Cassian,” said the man, turning back around and continuing to sweep. He didn’t seem very friendly. Then again, if Hunter had once been a master falconer and was now sweeping up bird droppings he probably wouldn’t be smiling either.
“Where is Lady Regina?” Hunter asked Roger, scanning the surrounding area but not seeing her.
“She went to the kitchen to get the food pouch for training,” Roger explained. “Oh, here she comes now. Excuse me, but she’ll want the bird so I need to get it.”
“Yes. Yes, of course,” said Hunter, turning to see Regina coming from the keep. She was smiling and talking to the woman who Hunter had seen sitting up on the dais yesterday. “Good morning, my lady.” Hunter bowed, noticing Luke pouting and kicking at the ground. “Luke, it is proper to bow in the presence of ladies.”
“I forgot.” Luke bowed but said nothing to the women.
“Hunter, you’re late,” snapped Regina.
“I apologize, my lady. I didn’t sleep very well and couldn’t seem to get up this morning.”
“Well, you’re up now, right?”
When he saw the smirk on Regina’s face as well as the other woman’s, he realized just what he’d said and how she was probably thinking about what happened last night down at the lake. He didn’t appreciate her snide comment, nor the fact she’d obviously told her friend all about it.
“I am Lady Sage, Robin’s wife,” the woman with Regina introduced herself. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you last night, but you weren’t at the meal.”
“I apologize, Lady Sage.” Hunter stepped forward and took her hand, bringing it to his mouth in a kiss. “I am honored to be in the presence of the lady of the castle.”
Sage giggled and looked over at Regina. Regina wasn’t smiling.
“This is my nephew, Luke.” Hunter released Sage’s hand and nodded toward Luke.
“Nice to meet you, Luke,” said Sage, sounding so friendly and as if she were going out of her way to be nice. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”
“I guess. Why does it matter?” Luke crossed his arms and continued to kick at the dirt. “I have to spend all day watching dumb birds.”
“Luke, that’s enough,” warned Hunter. “Show some respect. What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know what I’m thinking. I’m so hungry that I can’t even think.”
“Didn’t you eat this morning?” Sage asked the boy.
“Nay. My uncle wouldn’t let me.” Luke glared at Hunter. “I can’t even show anyone my sword. This isn’t any fun at all.”
“It’s not supposed to be fun,” Hunter told him. “We’re here for a purpose and don’t forget that. Lady Regina, we are ready to work.”
Regina looked over at Sage and they exchanged glances. Regina had told her sister-by-marriage all about Hunter and how handsome he was. She also told him that Hunter was having trouble bringing up the boy on his own.
“There has been a change in plans,” she announced.
“Really? What, Lady Regina?” asked Hunter.
“Since Luke is too young to be training as a falconer, I’m afraid he’ll only be a distraction to the birds.”
“So, what are you saying?” asked Hunter, looking confused.
“I suggest that during Luke’s stay here he finds a different job to do.”
“You do?” Luke looked up, suddenly interested. “Like what?”
“Oh, I don’t know. What do you think, Sage?”
“Let me see.” Sage tapped her chin with the tip of her finger. “Is there anything you like to do?”
“I like to practice fighting with my sword. Can I practice with the knights?” Luke’s eyes opened wide in excitement.
“Luke, stop it,” warned Hunter. “The knights don’t want you getting in their way.”
“No one seems to want me.” Luke was back to being difficult.
“Lady Sage, isn’t Robin going to be training his knights in the practice yard today?” asked Regina. “Mayhap Luke would like to watch.”
“Would I!” Luke was so excited his brows soared and a smile spread clear across his face. “How do I get there?”
“I can take you,” Sage offered. “But first we’ll need to stop in the great hall and get a little something to eat. I’m finally feeling better but only if I eat a little something every few hours.”
“We’re going to eat? I’m hungry, too! Come on, let’s go.” Luke took Sage by the arm and started to pull her toward the keep.
“Remember, you’re just watching the knights and that is all,” Hunter called out after him. “Leave the sword in your room and stay out of their way. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you,” grumbled Luke, hurrying toward the keep with Sage.
Hunter looked over at Regina. “Thank you.”
“For what?” asked Regina, her eyes dancing with amusement.
“For helping me with the boy. Now, at least, mayhap he’ll stop complaining so much and give my poor head a break.”
“Hunter, I was serious about what I said. What we’re about to do is not for children. It could be truly dangerous. Remember, these are birds of prey.”
“I remember,” said Hunter, thinking of the way the bird last night acted like it wanted to take off his head when he’d tried to pet it.
“I promise, you will see me do things that you’ve never seen anyone do before.”
“Really?” Hunter liked the sound of that. “And what, my lady, might one of those things be?” Was she purposely playing with him and trying to get him aroused? He stared down at her, wanting to eat her up. He liked a woman with spirit not to mention a playful nature. This one had mischief written all over her face.
“You’ll find out in time.”
“Will I be able to join in on what you are going to do?” He grinned.
“Oh, I don’t think you’re skilled enough. But you are more than welcome to watch.” She licked her lips, about driving him mad. Then she turned and headed to the mews leaving him standing there with sultry promises floating around in his head and his mouth hanging open.
“Oh, no, my lady,” he said to himself. “Like hell if you think I’m just watching.” He followed her to the mews trying to ignore the seductive sway of her hips that she probably had no idea she was even doing. Damn, this was going to be a long day.
“Be sure to stand back when you watch because what I’m going to do is dangerous,” said Regina once they’d ridden to an open field used for training the birds that was close to the castle but not inside the castle walls.
“I understand,” answered Hunter, not really understanding but wanting to be agreeable.
Regina had Hera, her gyrfalcon on her glove today. She’d told Hunter this was the largest and oldest of her birds. Hunter hadn’t even been in the mews yet and wasn’t even sure how many birds the mews housed or how many birds Regina owned.
“I’ll help you from your horse, my lady.” By the time he slid off his horse, she had already dismounted, managing to keep the bird balanced on her hand. She reached over and gave him the reins of her horse.
“Be sure to secure the horses a good distance away. I don’t want them to frighten Hera.”
“Of course, my lady.” Hunter secured the reins of the horses to a tree and followed her to the center of the open field.
“Today, you’ll see me use this.” She used her free hand to pull something out of her pouch. At first glance it looked like feathers attached to a rope and wound up around a wooden handle. All he could think of was the whore he’d once spent the night with who enjoyed spanking and whipping, and odd things that did not interest him in the least.
“You weren’t jesting when you said this was going to be dangerous.”
“What did you say?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
“Nothing,” he remarked, not really sure what was about to happen. “What is that thing?”
“This is the lure,” she told him.
“Yep,” he said, swallowing deeply, thinking that is what the whore called her sex toys, too.
“Oh, so you’ve heard of it then?” she asked in surprise.
“Probably not in the same manner you mean. Why don’t you explain it to me.”
“Of course.” She handed it to him. “Hold it while I remove Hera’s hood. I took feathers to make it seem like a bird she’d be hunting in the sky. And to the feathers I attached a piece of raw meat. It is all attached to a rope that I will whirl around in the air.”
When he took it, he realized it was a device used for training birds, and not a sex toy after all. It was a line wrapped around a heavy weighted handle.
“Why did you name the bird Hera?” he asked, watching her expertly remove the bird’s hood with one hand while keeping Hera balanced on the other.
“I name all my birds after things to do with the sky. Hera was the wife of Zeus, the god of the sky, lightning and thunder. You know, in Greek mythology.”
“Oh, yes,” he said, not really knowing anything about mythology at all. He knew how to read and write, fight, and also how to grow crops. He wasn’t skilled in book knowledge or literature of any kind. Instead, his skills had to do with fighting and tracking and hunting and killing.
“Thank you,” she said, taking the lure from him. She sent the bird into the air. Hera lifted off her hand and took up into the sky. It was magical to watch the bird’s wings span out as she soared through the air almost as if she were floating. This bird was a much bigger bird than the one he’d seen her with last night. The bird was also a lot more impressive. “I’ll attach a piece of raw meat to the end of the lure now.” She dug into her food bag and did so.
“Got anything cooked in there?” he mumbled, feeling his empty stomach growl, stretching his neck to see inside the bag.
“Pardon me?”
“Nothing. Go ahead,” he said with a nod. “Continue.”
“There is a certain way to do this but it takes a long time to learn. I don’t see the point of even teaching you since you are not really going to be a falconer at all.”
“You spin it around in the air, right?”
“Yes. This teaches the bird to hunt other birds and catch them in midflight.”
“I’m watching,” he said, taking a step back when she started to swing the lure around in the air over her head.
“Timing and accuracy is of utmost importance. I don’t want the falcon to have to fly too close to me. I have to be sure to toss the lure out when she gets close.”
“Why is that?”
“These birds can fly very fast, and even dive through the sky at great speeds,” she said swinging the rope with the lure around her body and even spinning her body around from time to time. She seemed to do figure eights on one side of her body and then the other. “I don’t want the bird or myself to get hurt. Now move further back. Here she comes.”
Hunter did as instructed. He watched in awe as the bird flew back and forth making circles overhead. Regina continued to whirl the lure in the air around her, doing what she told him was a left-handed pass that was not as close to her body as a right-handed one. It was like a beautiful dance with the lure whirling through the air to one side and then the other. The bird flew back and forth swooping down and then going back up into the air again to try it all over.
After about a dozen passes, when Hera returned, Regina brought her arms together and threw the lure straight up in the sky, letting go of the rope altogether. Hera’s talons grabbed onto the lure in midflight. Holding it, she drifted slowly to the ground never letting the lure go.
“Come on,” said Regina, rushing over to the falcon.
“Why did you let go of the lure?” he asked, not understanding her method.
“I did that purposely so Hera wouldn’t get hurt. The weight of the handle is too heavy for her to carry away and it gently guides her to the ground. Now, as her reward, I will give her a piece of raw meat. She’ll let the lure loose so I can have it, and get back on my glove where she has been trained to go. I am careful never to feed the birds too much or they would have no desire to return to me.”
Hunter was impressed. The bird did exactly as she said.
“You are quite a talented woman, Regina.” He held nothing but admiration for her, watching her work as a falconer.
“Lady Regina,” she corrected him.
“Pardon me?”
“I am a noblewoman. You must be sure to use my title, so don’t forget again.”
Any attraction between them was brought to an abrupt halt at that. Just like that lure being stopped in midair and brought right down to the ground.