Chapter Eighteen #2
“Now, you do,” Maksim said. “I fostered like everyone else. I trained for battle like everyone else. But until yesterday, I’d only seen one actual skirmish.
Knowing that Gleann na Fola is a busy castle, and a military establishment, I was hoping you’d let me stay on here and gain some experience.
I cannot go to my grave as a knight saying that I’ve only experienced battle twice. I would be ashamed.”
Gar smiled. “I do not mind at all,” he said.
“I would be fortunate to have you. In fact, I can arrange for you to serve at other de Wolfe properties if you wish to gain more experience. Gleann na Fola is remote, and we do not always have trouble with the Scots, so another castle, eventually, might be to your liking.”
Maksim seemed both relieved and encouraged by Gar’s response. “That is extremely generous, Gar,” he said. “I would appreciate that.”
“Then it is settled,” Gar said. “You can stay here until such time as you feel like you want to go elsewhere, but meanwhile, I am certain Mattie will be thrilled to have her brother here. So will I.”
Maksim was pleased. “Excellent,” he said. “Now, you must assign duties to me like everyone else. I will need something to do. I cannot simply lie around and eat your food and drink your wine.”
“Do you want to start tonight?”
“Anytime you say.”
Gar gestured to Andreas, who was returning to the table.
“All of the knights are inside right now, my brother included,” he said.
“Of course, I have senior soldiers all around, at the gatehouse and on the walls, but you can start by walking the grounds and familiarizing yourself with this castle and the posts that are set. You’ll need to know that if you are to serve here. ”
Maksim was already on his feet. “I’ll do it now,” he said. “Shall I take the night watch, then?”
“Aye,” Gar said, his eyes twinkling at Maksim’s eagerness toward duty.
“I’ll send word to the sergeant at the gatehouse that we have the addition of a new knight.
Once you’ve made your rounds, go to the gatehouse and find a man named Winebald.
He’ll answer any of your questions. For now, let him take the lead until you become more familiar with how we do things around here. ”
Maksim was more than happy to do that. “I will,” he said. “Is there usually a knight in command on night watch?”
“It is usually my brother, Reed, but he is not here at present.”
“Understood,” Maksim said. His next words were sincerely delivered. “Thank you, Gar. The opportunity is appreciated.”
“You are welcome,” Gar said. “I hope we do not bore you to death.”
“I sincerely doubt it.”
As Maksim headed out, Gar summoned a servant and gave him a message to give to the sergeant at the gatehouse regarding the addition of Maksim. Andreas, Tor, and Atreus were just sitting down again, with wine in their hands, as Mattie appeared.
Clad in red silk, she looked astonishingly beautiful. In fact, Gar had never seen such a well-dressed woman in his hall and he rose to his feet as she approached.
He could hardly believe she belonged to him.
“My lady,” he said, a gleam of appreciation in his eye. “May I compliment you on your beauty? You positively shine, Mattie.”
The way he said the last few words caused Mattie to blush furiously.
There was a seductive lilt to them. The truth was that after spending most of the day in the kitchens with Brickie, with whom she had come to a tentative truce, she had retreated to the chamber she shared with Gar because she wanted to wear something special for the evening meal.
She just felt as if the occasion called for it, given the fact the man had told her that he loved her, and she wanted to look pretty for him.
It seemed as if every day with him was getting better and better, and looking her best just felt natural.
She was happy and all was well in the world.
“I am glad you think so,” she said as he lifted her hand to his lips for a sweet kiss. “Because all of those trunks we hauled from Hensingham contain garments such as this and I will be wearing them to please you.”
“Good,” he said, helping her sit. “I am glad we did not lug those heavy trunks around in vain.”
Mattie giggled. “We did not, I assure you.”
“You are worth it.”
With that, Gar commandeered a cup of wine for her and now that the lady of the castle had made an appearance, the meal could begin in earnest. Jordan, Caria, Rhoswyn, and Avrielle eventually joined those at the table, though Mariane remained with Perseus, who seemed to have caught a bit of a cough, so he was prescribed hot, watered wine by Jordan and told to stay in bed.
Difficult as it was to keep a three-year-old in bed, Mariane was doing her best with it.
Life, at Gleann na Fola, was settling into something warm and wonderful.
As Mattie looked around the table, she already felt a kinship with these people.
They’d been through a wedding and suffered a battle together, most of them.
There was a bonding experience in both of those events and for the first time since coming to Gleann na Fola, Mattie was starting to feel as if, perhaps, she actually belonged.
She sincerely hoped so.
But that sense of peace was about to change forever.