Page 24 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Nay, I won’t,” he said. “I’ll do whatever you say.” Avery grabbed Jonathon by the arm. “You know how much I want this.”

“All right then, go pack a few things. I’ll need you to help me load up some of my tools as well.”

“Right away, Brother.” Avery ran to get ready.

“Father, Lord Corbett said he’d pay for another man or two to help out here at the shop until our return,” Jonathon told him, gathering up a few things he would need.

“Fine, fine,” said Crispin, his eyes still on Lady Raven. “She’s a real looker, that one,” he said.

“Yes, she is pretty, I agree.” Jonathon opened up a leather bag and started to load his personal files, stones, and punches. He then looked around for his favorite hammer.

“She’d make a good wife for you, son.”

“Stop it,” Jonathon grumbled, his eyes flashing over to Raven, hoping to hell she hadn’t heard his father. Thankfully, Jonathon’s mother and the rest of his family were busy seeing to the lady’s needs. None of them were paying any attention to him. “She’s a titled lady and I am just a common man. How could you even suggest such a thing?” He found his hammer and loaded that into the bag as well.

“I’ve heard this one also has a mind of her own. I know Lord Corbett has a hard time handling her. That’s why he’s assigned you to watch over her, isn’t it?”

“I’m her personal guard, Father. And only until the tournament, when the winner will take her as his wife.”

“I have a feeling there is more to this story than you are letting on.”

“That is all I can tell you.” He yanked the ties closed on the bag. “I’ll need to borrow a few more tools if you don’t mind. The smithy at the castle is pretty primitive, and I need to get started on my masterpiece to present to the guild masters.”

“Sure, take what you need,” said Crispin, his eyes still on the girl. “What did you decide on? For your presentation piece, I mean. It needs to be something different and unique and of the highest quality if you want to be awarded the title of master craftsman.”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t had time to think about it.”

“Well, it is getting harder and harder to be accepted as a master of the trade. If you can’t impress the guild judges, you might have to wait another year, Jon. After all, it seems like you’re not going to have any real time to construct it, now that you have another job to tend to.”

“I’ll do it, Father. If I have to stop sleeping for the next month to get it done, I will. I want to become a master craftsman more than anything, and you know it. I want my own shop.”

“I know, Son.” He slowly looked back to Jonathon. “But mayhap life has other opportunities for you.” His eyes traveled back to Raven again.

“I know what you’re thinking, and stop it. You know as well as I that nobles and commoners don’t belong together. It’s not allowed. It’ll never happen.”

“You like the girl, don’t you?”

“What are you saying?” Jonathon busied himself, not wanting to answer his father truthfully.

“I’m saying, the girl has eyes for you.”

“You’re imagining things. She does not and never will. Besides, even if she did, nothing could ever come of it. In three weeks’ time, she’ll be married to a noble.”

“Mayhap,” said his father, sounding as if he knew some secret.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” asked Jonathon.

“Nay, son. You know I’d never keep things from you. I suppose I was only hoping that someday one of my children could really make something of themselves.”

“I am. I’m going to be a master at my craft and follow in your footsteps.”

“Mayhap my footsteps aren’t the best ones to follow.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Go where your heart leads you. Don’t settle on something just because you think it is what you’re supposed to do.”

“I can’t believe you are talking this way,” said Jonathon, knowing every father’s goal is to have their sons follow in their footsteps.