Page 44 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Not now,” he told her, taking apart the quintain while Lark and Albert collected the lances.

“Put that back, right now,” she commanded.

“Raven, I think Jonathon is right,” said Lark. “We should get these things back to the castle before anyone notices them missing.”

“Nay. I planned on practicing the quintain today.”

Jonathon ignored her and loaded the quintain into the back of the wagon with Albert helping.

“Lady Lark, if anyone is looking for your cousin, please tell them she is with me today,” said Jonathon, helping Lark to the wagon seat. “I’m going to be spending the day in town back at my father’s forge. Lord Corbett already knows that. Just let him know Lady Raven is safe with me and under my protection. We will return later.”

“Aye, I’ll tell them,” said Lark. “Albert, can we go now?”

“I’m ready.” Albert joined Lark, taking the reins of the horse to drive the wagon.

“My father won’t like that I’m in town,” stated Raven.

“It was his idea for me to take you with me.”

“Goodbye, Raven,” said Lark, waving as they rode away.

Once they left, Raven asked Jonathon a question. “How do you know how to joust?”

“I learned a long time ago and have been doing it for years. As a bonus of hiring out my sword to so many different lords, I was allowed to practice with weapons against the knights and other soldiers on occasion.”

He helped her mount her horse.

“Swordplay I can see, but only knights or nobles are allowed to joust, so how could you have learned to do it?” asked Raven.

“It doesn’t matter.” He rode with Raven as they headed for town.

“I had no idea you were skilled in so many different things,” said Raven. “Now, tell me. Can you teach me to joust or not?”

“I could, but I won’t.”

“Why not?” she asked. “I really want to learn.”

“I don’t think your father or your brother would agree with it.”

“They don’t agree to anything I want to do.” Totally frustrated, she rode in silence for a short time before Jonathon started to question her.

“Tell me the real reason you want to joust, and just mayhap I’ll reconsider.”

“Really?” she turned to face him, suddenly feeling hope again. Mayhap her plan would work after all. However, she didn’t want to tell him why she really wanted to learn to joust. If he knew the truth, he’d try to stop her from doing it. She would have to answer in a roundabout way.

“I know once I’m married, I’ll have to lay down my sword and I will never be allowed to try the things that interest me in life again.”

“So, you’re saying you want to get your wild ways out of your system before you are forced to act like a lady?”

“I’m saying, no man would ever let his wife try the joust, let alone use a sword, even though I am highly skilled in using weapons.”

“So I’ve found out,” he said with a nod, looking over at her and smiling.

“I told you why I want to learn, so will you teach me then?”

“Well... all right. I’ll teach you the joust, even though I know I’m going to end up regretting it.”

“Oh, thank you!” she shouted, so excited by this that she felt like throwing herself into his arms and kissing him, even though she was on a horse.