Page 47 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Whatever do you mean? I’m easy enough to understand.”

“Hardly. Between you wanting me to teach you to joust and also make you armor, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were planning on competing in the tournament yourself.”

“Me?” Raven forced a laugh and tried to sound flippant. “I’m a girl. I could never do that.”

“Nay, you couldn’t. However, if there was a way to enter, I’m sure you’d be the one to figure out just how to do it.” Jonathon turned and walked back to the shop.

“Just admit it. I’m better at it than you thought,” said Raven, fishing for a compliment from him. She knew Jonathon liked her, but ever since the night he measured her for her armor, he seemed to be trying to distance himself from her and that bothered her.

“Raven, you’re only hooking rings onto a lance. It is not the same as jousting. Far from it.”

“I don’t care. Teach me more. I want to learn.” She ran to keep up with him.

“Nay. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“No, I won’t. Please, won’t you practice with me? I want to know how it feels to actually joust with a person.”

Jonathon thought about it for a second, and almost considered doing so, but knew he shouldn’t. He’d been enjoying tutoring her in this manner. The only thing was, the more time they spent together, the harder it was for him to accept that she’d be married in a few weeks’ time. Then he’d never be able to spend time alone with her again. Mayhap it was better if he just stopped this right now. It couldn’t go any further.

“I don’t have time for this.” He continued on to the shop and she followed at his heels. “I have work to do.”

“Your job during the day is to be with me,” she reminded him. “That is what my father is paying you to do, so don’t forget it.”

“If your father knew what I’ve been teaching you to do every time we make a trip to town, he would have my head. I’m sorry, my lady, but I can no longer take the risk.” He made his way into the shop where his father was working. His mother and sisters helped clean the shop and also to fan the forge with the bellows.

“Where is Heathcliff? I need his help,” grumbled Jonathon’s father. “The business has been picking up again with the upcoming tournament so near and I am too old to do all this work by myself.”

“I’m here, Father,” said Jonathon. “I’ll help you.”

“Son, you spend too much time out back. Even when you are here, you are not helping me much. You are working on that armor.” His father seemed agitated today for some reason. “With you and Avery gone, I’m overwhelmed and can’t catch up.”

“I’m sorry, Father. Heathcliff was assisting me outside. Is there something I can do for you now?”

“Jonathon?” His mother emerged from the kitchen with his sister, Hildeth, who stopped by with fresh baked bread from her husband’s bakery.

“Hello, Hildeth,” said Jonathon.

“Hello,” she responded, seeming as if something was bothering her.

“Your sister has something to tell you,” said his mother.

“What is it, Hildeth?” he asked.

His sister looked over to Raven who had sat down on a chair to fix her shoe. She seemed hesitant to speak freely.

“You can talk in front of Raven. It’s fine.”

“If you insist. Brother, the townspeople had a meeting at the bakery this morning. They don’t like the fact that you are bringing Lady Raven here so often. It makes them uncomfortable.”

“It does? Why?” he asked, seeing Raven look up in surprise and listen. “She’s not causing any problems. I thought you all liked her.”

“Of course we do,” said his mother. “She is a joy to be around but, she doesn’t belong here.”

“That’s right,” said Hildeth. “This is our home and town, not hers. The townspeople believe that she should be back at the castle. They feel on edge knowing there is a noble here so often watching their every move.”

“Really?” asked Raven, standing up, looking hurt. “They feel that way about me?”

“Nay, I’m sure they don’t really,” said Jonathon, but his words fell on deaf ears.