by Alexa Aston
“You will have one more day to rest up, for we are staying all of this day at Kinwick and will not leave till tomorrow,” Avelyn shared. “Uncle Geoffrey sent word to Michael that we had arrived at Kinwick and will remain another day. He is eager for the Sandbourne men to spar with his own soldiers.”
Without voicing it, Avelyn thought that her uncle was especially glad that Kenric Fairfax had shown up as one of the members of the escort party. As they dined in the solar together the previous evening, her uncle had again complimented the young knight and his skills so much that she was sure the man’s head would swell and then burst.
But she was curious to see Sir Kenric in action. Her uncle was an experienced soldier, having fought in the wars in France on two different occasions. If he held Fairfax’s fighting skills in esteem, then the knight surely was a talented soldier.
She helped Sela dress and then seated her so she could braid her long locks. Avelyn had to take time to plow through the tangled curls with a comb.
“I’m sorry my hair is such a mess,” Sela apologized. “Tilda took it down and brushed it out for me. I was so tired from riding that I must have fallen asleep while she did so. ’Twould have been difficult for her to rebraid it for bed with me sprawled.”
“Don’t worry. I rather enjoy doing tasks such as this,” Avelyn reassured her.
“I know your sister is eager for your company. I hope she doesn’t mind our delay.”
“Nay, she won’t. It’s only a single day. Besides, Michael would do anything for my uncle. Granting a favor of allowing us to stay an extra day so the men can train together is nothing.”
“Why? Is Lord Michael in your uncle’s debt?”
Avelyn began separating Sela’s locks of hair as she explained. “Michael came to foster as a page into the household where Uncle Geoffrey and my cousin, Raynor, served as squires. The two took Michael under their wings and tutored him, something he never forgot. Then Michael came to Kinwick once he became a knight, wanting to serve under Uncle Geoffrey’s leadership. No one but Uncle knew that Michael was destined to become the Earl of Sandbourne upon the death of his father.”
“That’s an interesting secret to keep,” her friend mused. “If I was to be an earl, I would shout it to the heavens.”
“That’s not my brother-in-law’s way. He is a very humble man. Then a short while after his arrival at Kinwick, Michael accompanied the de Montfort family to my sister’s wedding.”
Sela whipped around. “Wait . . . I don’t understand. Your sister was marrying someone that was not Lord Michael?”
Avelyn laughed and turned Sela’s head back into place. “Elysande was betrothed to another man and she was set to wed him. But she met Michael and they fell in love at that very first meeting. Then Elysande’s betrothed died.”
“Convenient,” noted Sela.
“Oh, it became much more complicated,” she assured her friend. “But in the end, Uncle Geoffrey petitioned the king on Michael’s behalf, telling him what a wonderful knight Michael is and how he would be honored if his niece married such a man.”
Sela smiled dreamily. “So they are a love match. That’s so rare. I envy them.”
“Uncle Geoffrey and Aunt Merryn have been in love forever. Since they were children. And Cousin Raynor fell in love with a woman he rescued from highwaymen in a forest. Beatrice is beautiful and smart, and Raynor tumbled hopelessly into love with her the minute he set eyes upon her. At least ’tis what I believe. They both say it took longer.”
She paused. “I wish the same for myself, Sela—to find a man whom I love and want to spend the rest of my life with.” Avelyn finished the last braid and tied a ribbon at the end.
“I don’t know about all this talk of love,” Sela said. “I only know I want to wed a handsome man so that we will have enchanting children. He must wealthy enough to keep me in beautiful clothes, but I would prefer that he’s kindhearted, as well.”
“Do you wish to remain at court?” she asked.
Sela shrugged. “It’s all I know, having grown up in its midst. But who knows? Mayhap, I shall learn of country ways on this trip and find my own knight without Father’s help.” She thought a moment. “Why, it could even be someone such as Sir Kenric Fairfax.”
Avelyn’s gut twisted in a peculiar way. “What? Surely, you jest.”
“Why not? He is, by far, the best-looking man I have laid eyes upon, and I have seen many a handsome man at court.” Her eyes went soft and dreamy. “That dark, curling hair and strong jaw and chiseled cheekbones? Not to mention his great height and broad shoulders. I’m sure Sir Kenric is a man who would know how to please a woman.”
“But don’t you find him overconfident?”
“I like confidence in a man. And, after all, men will be men.”
“Yet he is in service to the Earl of Sandbourne,” Avelyn pointed out. “It doesn’t seem Sir Kenric has the wealth or position you seek. I fear you must find a different suitor in order to please your father and yourself.”
Sela gave her a mysterious, womanly smile. “Who knows? Mayhap, Sir Kenric does possess lands and a title—and keeps it in secret—as your brother-in-law did.”
Avelyn stood, suddenly tired of their conversation. “Enough nonsense from you. Come. We’ll be late for mass if we don’t hurry.”
She rushed them along to the chapel, where they entered just as the mass began.
Yet throughout the entire service, Avelyn wondered why it bothered her that her closest friend seemed interested in Sir Kenric Fairfax.
*
Avelyn walked to the soldiers’ training yard with Merryn, Alys, and Sela. Hal rode on Geoffrey’s shoulders ahead of them, pointing out things and babbling about them, though no one paid him a bit of attention. Merryn had nursed Edward and left the babe behind with Tilda.
Alys carried a small basket for Merryn. “This contains things Mother and I might need in case any of the men are injured,” she told Avelyn.
“They get hurt when they train?”
“Not often,” Merryn assured her. “It’s usually bumps and bruises to tend, but I like to be prepared.”
They reached the yard. Avelyn saw it was filled with men milling about, talking with one another. She recognized the men from her escort party as they mingled with the soldiers of Kinwick. Her eyes swept the area till she located Kenric Fairfax. He stood with Gilbert, the captain of Kinwick’s guard, his body relaxed even as he held a longbow almost as tall as he was.
“Come up here,” Geoffrey called to them over his shoulder.
She saw a raised platform at the front of the training yard. Geoffrey lifted Hal from his shoulders and placed him on it before he swung up on it himself. As the women approached, he leaned down and grasped each one under both her elbows and whisked them to stand atop the platform.
“Oftentimes, I stand up here with Gilbert to observe the training exercises,” he explained to Avelyn and Sela. “The height allows me to see over the entire area. I’m able to watch many pairs at one time and see where correction is warranted.”
“Geoffrey says he’s often up here, but I believe he’s down among the men most of the time,” Merryn revealed.
He laughed. “At times, I do like to show the men a thing or two.”
Merryn sniffed. “Admit it. You spend most of your time down there sparring with the rest of them.” She gave him a stern look, her eyebrows raised.
Geoffrey gave his wife a sheepish grin. He lifted her hand and placed a tender kiss into her palm. “You know me well, my love.”
“Just promise me you won’t train today.”
He cocked his head. “Are you worried that Sir Kenric might best me?” he teased.
Merryn shrugged. “I merely think you should watch and see if there is anything new that these Sandbourne men might teach you and our own men of Kinwick.”
He drew her close for a lingering kiss. Avelyn bit her lip, hiding her smile as she looked away. Her aunt and uncle made no secret of their gre
at affection for one another.
Geoffrey broke their kiss. “I’m off to learn. I bid you a good day, ladies, and hope you’ll enjoy what you see.” He leapt to the ground and gave Hal’s head a pat before he headed to where Gilbert and Kenric spoke.
“My . . . goodness.” Sela watched Geoffrey stride away and then looked over to Merryn. Then she glanced at Avelyn, her eyes round. “You did say they were a love match.”
“They are forever kissing,” Alys declared, shaking her head.
Merryn squeezed her daughter’s shoulder. “You, too, will enjoy kissing your husband someday, my dearest.”
The young girl crinkled her nose. “I doubt it.”
The men began with target practice, using longbows made of yew that were over six feet in length. Merryn told them that this weapon had played a huge role in the victories the English had won at both Crecy and Poitiers, battles Geoffrey had taken part in. The archers alternated shots between Kinwick and Sandbourne soldiers, moving the target back each time to a greater distance. After several rounds, Kenric remained the lone representative from Sandbourne.
Avelyn watched carefully, noting how most of the men strained each time as they shot, their arms quivering—except for Kenric Fairfax. He seemed to press the entire weight of his body into the horns of the bow, using his bulk and height to his advantage. It didn’t surprise her when he claimed victory in the contest.
He proved generous, though. She saw how he demonstrated several times to others how he maneuvered the longbow and explained how he sought the target. He, Geoffrey, and Gilbert then supervised groups of men in the exercise. She could see how his method of firing the weapon brought success to those he instructed.
Next, the men competed in throwing javelins. Only Sir Martin from Sandbourne came close, but Kenric still claimed the role of the man who tossed the weapon the greatest distance down the field. He and the other knights spent several minutes speaking with the Kinwick soldiers, who practiced, in turn, what they’d heard. Avelyn saw that, immediately, many of them tossed their javelins a much greater distance than before, thanks to the advice of Kenric and Martin.
Finally, the men began breaking into pairs. Hal came to his feet and began jumping up and down in excitement.
“Hal adores swordplay,” his mother explained. “It’s his favorite activity.”
“I know nothing of it,” admitted Sela. “I’ve never watched men train in any manner.”
Merryn began pointing out different soldiers and the weapons they held, from lances to poleaxes, before she turned her attention to those holding swords.
“That is an arming sword. It’s used for cutting and thrusting. And over there is an estoc sword, designed for stabbing.” Merryn glanced around. “Do you see Alaric? He has a patula, which is a short sword.”
“I didn’t think the men would train today with real swords,” Avelyn said.
“Many times they’ll use a wiffle—a practice sword. Today, though, Geoffrey wanted them testing true weapons so he could pass along to our men any small bit that would aid them in becoming better at swordplay.”
“At least they are putting on protective gear,” Sela said.
Avelyn saw many of the men donned mail coifs and hauberks, some even fastening on protective shoulder plates. She hoped Alys would not have to bring out her medicine kit. Already, the air seemed charged with excitement as the men started up. The sound of clanging steel filled the air. She had to keep from flinching every time she heard the noise.
Her eyes searched again and found Kenric. Her heart pumped wildly as she watched him pull his clothing over his head. He tossed it aside and she stopped breathing.
Stripped to his waist, his bare chest exposed broad shoulders and sculpted muscles. A fine dusting a dark hair covered his chest, trailing down to a flat stomach. Avelyn couldn’t help but stare.
Sela leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Even if he has no money or title, I would take him as is. I would pay him to have me. I have never seen a finer specimen of manhood. The women at court would fall at his feet with one glance.”
Avelyn found her mouth dry and could not reply. She forced herself to breathe as Gilbert handed Kenric the largest sword she’d ever seen. He held it in both hands, swinging it to get a feel for it as he approached Alaric, a tall knight from Kinwick.
Alaric grinned at his opponent and, soon, the two men were caught in a dance of motion, thrusting and parrying. She couldn’t tear her eyes away as the muscles in Kenric’s back rippled and flowed. Her entire body stilled as only her eyes followed their duel.
Then Geoffrey interrupted them, asking a few questions. Kenric demonstrated some moves, slicing the sword through the air. Avelyn began watching his feet, treading as lightly as if he danced in the great hall as his sword cut through the air.
Kenric stopped and handed the bastard sword to Geoffrey. Gilbert then gave him two weapons and did the same with Alaric.
“Merryn, what do those men have?”
Her aunt turned her attention to where Avelyn pointed. “Ah, they each have an arming sword in their right hand and a main gauche in their left. That’s a small dagger, but it can be deadly.”
“Is it difficult to fight with two weapons and two hands?”
Merryn smiled. “Not by the looks of those two.”
Avelyn focused on the pair of knights, locked in a duel of will as much as physical movement. Slowly, the entire training yard came to a halt to watch the two men battle one another. Cheers erupted each time one of them came close. She could see both sported a few cuts from close calls and it made her grow anxious. She didn’t want Kenric to hurt Alaric, a jovial man with a quick wit and quicker smile, but she didn’t want Alaric to injure Kenric either.
She didn’t enjoy seeing these two warriors, no matter how skilled, pitted against one another. Fighting was beyond her understanding. Avelyn knew that men seemed to be a mystery in general, but she couldn’t comprehend why they had to fight.
Yet despite her reluctance in watching the two men fight one another, she remained spellbound all the same. There was a beauty in their movements—the arc of a sword cutting through the air and the wave of muscles undulating across Kenric’s shoulders and back. She continued to stare, her pulse pounding, her nerves frayed.
And then Kenric’s arm shot out, so fast it was a blur. He jabbed Alaric’s shoulder with the main gauche. Blood spurted from the wound.
Avelyn’s insides turned as nausea flooded her.
Kenric jumped back and dropped his weapons as Alaric fell to his knees. Gilbert called a halt to the fighting. Merryn and Alys squatted on the edge of the platform before they jumped to the ground to rush to Alaric’s aid. His hand had gone to the gaping wound in his shoulder. Blood poured between the knight’s fingers. Merryn shouted orders as Geoffrey motioned for the crowd to step back.
Avelyn glanced to Kenric and saw the stricken look on his face. He turned without a word and strode from the training yard.
Without a conscious thought, Avelyn followed him.
Chapter 9
Kenric hurried away from the training yard. Anger at himself seeped deeply into his pores. He had not meant to injure Alaric. He had enjoyed sparring with the soldier, who tested him more than any man had since he’d met Geoffrey de Montfort during his visit to Sandbourne. The earl had extraordinary skills and patience, and he’d nearly gotten the best of his opponent. If not for young Hal calling out and distracting his father at a key moment, Kenric believed de Montfort might well have proven victorious in their match.
“Sir Kenric!” someone called from a distance behind him. “Wait.”
He refused to turn around, for the reason he’d become so reckless lay in that lilting voice.
He’d been aware of Avelyn Le Cler from the moment she arrived at the training yard. It was almost as if he could smell her subtle scent of vanilla carried by the slight breeze of the May morning which came and enveloped him. With every contest, he preened a bit more as he bested b
oth Sandbourne and Kinwick men alike.
Kenric couldn’t understand why he felt the urge to impress this woman, only that it filled him till he could think of nothing else.
That need to stand out and gain her admiration caused him to be reckless. Careless.
“I said—oh!”
He heard the surprise in her voice and glanced over his shoulder without breaking stride, only to see her take a nasty tumble. Without hesitation, Kenric raced toward her.
She sat sprawled on the ground, her skirts hiked up to reveal trim ankles and very shapely calves. A hot frisson of desire ran through him.
Avelyn rubbed her ankle. “Stupid hole,” she muttered.
Kenric saw she had stepped into a groove in the ground. “I suspect you’ve twisted your ankle, my lady.”
She glared up at him. “Of course, I did. A woman knows when she’s turned an ankle. She doesn’t need a man to tell her she has done so.” Her eyes narrowed. “Especially when she was chasing after said man and he deliberately refused to slow down to see what she wished to speak to him about.”
He bowed his head. “I am contrite, my lady. I fear I didn’t hear you because I was upset at myself.” He knelt beside her. “May I?”
She shrugged. “If you wish.”
Kenric grasped her calf in his left hand to steady her leg and fought down the thrill that rushed through him as his fingers wrapped around it. He gingerly touched her ankle with his right, feeling to see if it might be broken. Finding it intact, he slowly rotated her foot.
Her intake of breath caused him to halt. He met those blue eyes, fair as a summer’s sky.
“I’ve twisted it,” she informed him. “I’ll put myself in Merryn and Alys’ capable hands.” She frowned and looked over her shoulder. “But first I need to get back to them.”
Avelyn’s hand reached out and covered his own, the one that still held the calf he couldn’t seem to part with. “Why did you leave the training yard so suddenly?” she asked, her voice soft as silk.
He found he couldn’t look away and answered her honestly. “I lost control. I was showing off. I should never have carried through with the movement. I could have touched Alaric with the dagger and withdrawn just as quickly without penetrating him.”