Page 50 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“I’ll carry it in for you,” offered Avery rushing forward, glancing over at Jonathon. “Jonathon, I’m sure you are in a hurry to bring Lady Raven back to the castle. You really shouldn’t tarry any longer.”

“Aye,” said Jonathon with a nod, looking very disturbed by this whole situation. He held the door for Raven and they made their way to their horses. Jonathon didn’t say a word.

“I’m sure everything will be fine,” said Raven, trying to make conversation and to lighten the mood. She accepted his help in mounting her steed.

“It will be, because we will no longer be coming here for you to learn the joust. It was a foolish thing for me to agree to it in the first place. I put my friends and family in danger because I didn’t consider how it would affect them.”

“But I need you to teach me. Please. It’s important.”

“I find it odd that you are so adamant about learning the joust, even after what just transpired. Is there more to this that you are telling me?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Aye, I’m sure you don’t,” he said in a sarcastic tone, leading the way out of town and back to the castle.

Chapter 12

Jonathon headed to the great hall the next morning, being stopped by Rook in the courtyard.

“My lord,” said Jonathon with a nod to greet him.

“Jonathon, how has my sister been doing?” he asked.

“Just fine,” he answered, not adding more.

“You haven’t reported a thing to us about her, and we find that puzzling since she is always getting into trouble. Is there something you’re not telling us?”

“In what manner do you mean?”

Rook looked around and then leaned in closer. “I ran across Lords Whitehead and Belmouth late yesterday while I was out. They told me they saw you and Raven at your shop in town earlier that day.”

“Yes,” said Jonathon, knowing this couldn’t end well. “Your father gave me permission to help out my family, as well as to take your sister with me. It’s no secret that we were there.”

“They also said they saw jousting lances there.”

“Yes. They’re mine.”

“I took a walk over to your father’s shop to discover not only a quintain but also a makeshift tiltyard behind the building that I never knew was there. After talking to some of the knights, I discovered they knew about it and told me it has been there for years.”

Jonathon groaned inwardly. He didn’t like where this was heading. If he asked if Raven had been involved in jousting, he wasn’t going to be able to lie. “Aye,” he answered. “I constructed the tiltyard myself. I’m sure the knights told you it is used for them to test out their armor against me before they pay. To make sure it is to their liking. I want them to be satisfied with my work since my family prides itself with quality work and perfection.”

“I see,” said Rook with a nod. “I suppose that is expected, since your father is a master craftsman. That’s an admirable thing to do. For some reason, I had the feeling Raven was trying to joust again in secret.”

Jonathon could no longer hide the truth. He needed to be upfront with Rook since the subject was brought up, and he’d been hired to report Raven’s doings to Rook and his father. “Lord Rook, I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. I found Lady Raven in the woods practicing the joust about a week ago.”

“You did? And you didn’t tell us?”

“I realize I should have said something, and I am sorry that I didn’t.”

“Why wouldn’t you report this to us? That is why you were hired.” Rook scowled at him.

“I didn’t think it important enough to bother you, with how busy you have been preparing for the upcoming tournament.”

“Aye, it has been a lot of work,” agreed Rook.

“Your sister begged me to teach her how to joust. When she saw my tilt yard, she was very excited.”

“I’m sure she was. Egads, you didn’t teach her, did you?”