Page 48 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“My lady, it’s just that the townspeople live a different life than you,” said Jonathon’s mother. “With you always here, they feel nervous that they might do something wrong and you’ll report it to your father.”

“Nay, she wouldn’t do that,” Jonathon told them. “They are worrying for nothing.”

“Nay. They’re right,” Raven softly answered. “I don’t belong here anymore than you belong sitting at the dais back at the castle.”

“Jonathon, I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you bringing Lady Raven here might be putting us all in danger,” said his mother, wringing her hands together.

“Aye, Jonathon,” agreed his sister Estrilda. “If the nobles find out you’re teaching Lady Raven to joust, we will all be punished because of it.”

“I might even lose the business,” said his father. “I’m sorry, son, but I agree with the others. You need to stop bringing Lady Raven here and end this nonsense of training a lady to joust. It isn’t right, and neither is it allowed.”

“We are only commoners and live simply,” said Hildeth. “My lady, no disrespect, but you live a much different life than we do.”

“Lady Raven, we all like you, we really do,” said his mother. “Please, don’t take it the wrong way. You need to understand the position you are putting us in by being here. It is too risky for us. We live under the shadow of those with royal blood, and will be punished severely if word gets out about what you’ve been doing here.”

“You’re right,” said Raven softly. “It’s not good, and it’s all my fault. I’m the one who asked Jonathon to teach me the joust and put him in a bad situation. Please, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re all protected, I promise I will. I’ll talk to my father if need be. You won’t be in trouble because of it.”

“That is kind of you, but you can’t guarantee that,” said Jonathon. “You don’t know how your father will react.”

“Here comes Avery,” announced Hildeth, looking out the front window. “He has a boy with him.”

“That’s Gerold, the son of the late castle smith,” said Estrilda. “We’ve already met him, Sister.”

Jonathon looked up. “Yes. He’s the one who we’ve been giving the clothes to and who is my apprentice at the castle. “I wonder what they want.” He met them at the door.

“Jonathon, you need to get back to the castle with Lady Raven, anon,” said Avery, looking rather worried.

“Why? What’s wrong?” asked Raven.

“My lady, you shouldn’t be coming here so often,” said Avery. “The gossip is starting to grow back at the castle about... about…”

“About what?” asked Raven.

“I think he means about us,” said Jonathon with a sigh. “You are noble and shouldn’t be spending so much time in town or with me and my family. Of course there is going to be talk about it—what did we expect?”

“Nay. That’s nonsense.” Raven waved away the thought. “You’re my personal guard, Jonathon. No one is talking about us, and my father knows I’m here. I’m supposed to be with you. You are only doing what you were hired to do.”

“Everyone is wondering where you two go when you come to town,” said little Gerold.

“Hi, Gerold,” said Heathcliff, having entered the shop through the back door with the lances and rings in his arms.

“Why do you have Lord Corbett’s lances here?” asked Gerold.

“These aren’t his,” explained Heathcliff. “My brother made them. They’re ours. Jonathon is teaching Lady Raven how to joust.”

“Really?” asked Gerold. “But you’re commoners and not allowed to joust. And Lady Raven is a girl so she shouldn’t be doing it either.”

“Avery” growled Jonathon in a low voice. “Why the hell did you have to bring the boy here right now?” This was all he needed. It was bad enough that the townspeople knew Raven was coming here, but if the boy went back to the castle and told Raven’s father what he saw, there was probably going to be trouble.

“He saw me leaving and followed,” Avery whispered back. “What was I supposed to do?”

“Gerold, you can’t say anything about this,” Raven told Gerold. “Do you understand?”

“Why not?” he asked, innocently. “Do you want me to lie?”

“No one is asking anyone to lie,” said Jonathon. “We’re not doing anything wrong, we just want to keep it a secret.”

“Lady Raven thinks she’s a knight or something, and doesn’t want anyone to know it,” Heathcliff whispered to Gerold behind his hand.