Perils of Wrath

by Park, Elsie

“Or you,” she added.

  “We’ll spend every day, all day, together, never leaving each other’s sight . . . except for the privy of course.”

  “And sleeping,” Gail piped in.

  Roland glanced at the maid, giving her an annoyed expression at her obvious statement. “But I might place a guard outside your door to make sure neither of you sneak out for food or have anyone deliver it.”

  “You really don’t trust me,” Audri stated, her pride hurt.

  Roland lifted his eyebrows along with the plate of shortbread again as if to say do you blame me?

  “Very well,” she relented, knowing she had no one but herself to blame for his loss of trust.

  Roland nodded. “Until tomorrow, Lady Squire.” He produced a knowing smirk and then turned on his heel, returning to his chamber and taking her plate of shortbread with him. Her eyes bore into his retreating back, ideas formulating in her mind about how she might test his temper during the next two days. She smirked, looking forward to this challenge. She felt like a little girl thinking of ways to tease a childhood crush just to get attention. The thought brought her up short, and she shook her head. He may not be as bad as the rest of Festus’s knights, but he was still the one Festus had ordered to tame her, and that made him an obstacle, not a friend, especially in this challenge.

  But, oh, what a handsome obstacle he was. If she was to endure his presence, she’d enjoy every moment she had to test the resolve of this auburn-haired knight.

  Chapter 6

  In the morning, while getting dressed, Roland thought of ways he could test Audrina’s determination to abstain from food. He looked forward to it with boyish anticipation, admitting an agreeable inclination to spend more time with her. He didn’t deny she was much easier to get along with now than she’d first been. By heaven, he’d even seen a change in her maid—thanks to Sir Heath. Roland knew Audrina had a long way to go for Festus’s taste, but the knight was satisfied with how well she was doing.

  Sir Heath, arriving early per Roland’s request, escorted the ladies to the great hall. As Roland left his own chamber a minute after them, several servants entered Audrina’s room to clean it and make her bed. Roland discreetly pulled aside the same ten-year-old lass from yesterday and asked if she would search Lady Gibbons’s chamber for edibles and then report to him in the great hall. The girl seemed a little unsure, but being as he was a knight, she dared not question his authority. Roland alluded to a small reward if she completed the task and the girl’s eyes lit up. She nodded her compliance, saying she’d do so promptly. Roland smiled and continued to the great hall.

  To keep Audrina in his sight and to begin testing her, he had Heath sit her at the knights’ table. This drew unpleasant expressions from a few of the other knights, but Roland was satisfied to see most of them simply ignored her, suggesting that her position was becoming old news. There were a few who still made the occasional snide remark but nothing that affected either him or his squire.

  He grinned at Heath as the man took a large portion of cheese from the serving platter, breaking off several chunks and eating them. Roland partook of the ham. Audrina stared at the food but didn’t reach for it. Beside her sat Gail, who refused to eat as well, Roland noted—a noble gesture of support.

  The young servant girl he’d solicited to search Audrina’s chamber entered the great hall and approached him. She curtsied and leaned in toward his ear.

  “There’s only a small cabinet containing a handful of nuts, sir—twelve nuts, to be exact,” she whispered with shy regard toward whom she spoke.

  Roland nodded, logging the information away. “Thank you, lass.” He handed her a small coin for her investigation. Her eyes lifted to briefly meet his, and she smiled in gratitude before quickly exiting the hall.

  His female companions sent him questioning looks, but he said nothing of the interlude.

  “And how are you enjoying your fast so far?” Roland asked after biting into some bread. “Remember, should you feel the need to eat, thus losing our little challenge . . .” He waved the bread between them. “That is your right.”

  Audrina’s eyes crinkled at the corners as her mouth turned up, ending in a mischievous smirk. “Oh, I have no intention of losing our challenge, sir. This trial will be a difficult one for me, but mark my words,” she leaned forward, placed her folded arms on the table, and looked him in the eye, “this is your trial, too. Let’s not forget. Two days, let alone one, is a long time for one to remain . . . unaffected. Anything could happen to quash your resolve.”

  Roland stopped chewing, realizing he wasn’t the only one who had spent time planning for this. But why should this have surprised him? This was Lady Audrina Gibbons, the hell-cat of Guildon who held years of experience under her belt. Testing the limits of those holding authority over her was second nature. He saw the cunning in her eyes, read the challenge in her face, and knew he’d be in for a bumpy ride.

  But one thing Roland enjoyed was a challenge. He was intrigued, seeing this contest with new eyes and a renewed excitement, much like a boy playing a stimulating game with his comrades. His mouth curved up into a roguish leer, and he too leaned forward, staring at her across the table.

  “I’ll welcome anything that comes my way, and I’ll face it head on with—” He was interrupted by a sharp pain in his shin from something hitting it under the table. He thought it was one of the castle’s mangy dogs and leaned down to shoo it off, but nothing was there. Straightening, he saw Heath and Gail staring at him, but his squire sported a deliberate smirk.

  His face heated. She’d kicked him. And hard enough to bruise! Already she was trying to goad him into losing his temper. Not wanting to lose this challenge at its onset, he forced his anger down and breathed deeply.

  “Something amiss?” Heath asked beside him.

  Roland shook his head. “No,” he answered slowly, seeing Audrina snicker with satisfaction. The way she looked at him with her haughty mouth and brown eyes gave him a sort of enjoyment, one of unanticipated attraction. The diminutive grin at the corner of her mouth made her look quite pretty. A smile, rare as it was, changed her entire profile.

  “One of those mangy dogs ran into my leg,” he lied to Heath. Oh, yes, this challenge had certainly begun, and she’d regret that action before the two days were through—if she lasted that long. He hid his upturned lips behind a spoonful of food. Ah yes, he was going to enjoy this little game with one of the few people in Guildon he was beginning to admire. But he’d dole out plenty of challenges in return. Audrina’s growing charm or not, he still didn’t want to lose.

  Roland swallowed the last of his breakfast down with some milk before standing.

  “To the tent,” Roland instructed.

  They all stood up just as a guard approached Heath. The sentry whispered something in his ear and jerked his head toward the head table, drawing Roland’s attention to where Sir Doyle sat eyeing them.

  Heath turned to Roland. “Go on. I’ll join you shortly.”

  Roland nodded and started for the doors, the ladies following behind. He stepped to the entryway leading out into the damp courtyard but turned and glanced up at the head table before exiting.

  Heath was leaning down, listening to something Doyle said to him. At the same time, they lifted their eyes and looked at Roland across the hall. Were they discussing him? Was Doyle wondering why Heath was around Roland so much? Why would it matter to Doyle unless Heath was neglecting his other duties? Heath had assured Roland he was not. Perhaps they were discussing the troublesome knights interfering with Roland and Audrina. Heath did say he’d take care of it.

  He turned and led the women out to the training tent. The weather was damp but not overly wet, so most of the knights opted to train in the field, leaving the tent sparse in numbers. That suited him just fine.

  “Have a seat,” Roland said, inviting Audri to sit on a wooden
stool by the large table covered with weapons of all kinds. Roland sat on the opposite side of the table and faced her over the weapons. “Since you are fasting, I will not require anything overly strenuous today.”

  Audri let out an audible sigh of relief. She had been worried over how well she’d do on an empty stomach—one that was already growling for sustenance. In the back of her mind, however, she’d hoped he would have made her do something challenging so that she’d faint from weakness, forcing him to allow her some nourishment. But it appeared this wouldn’t be so.

  “We’ve been through weapons and their uses several times,” he reminded her as he picked up a short-sword with one hand and a sharpening stone in the other. “You’ve handled the arms quite a bit, but are there any questions you have?” He started running the stone along the blade.

  She understood most of the weapons, and she enjoyed practicing with them as well, but there was something she was curious about. “I’ve noticed the regular sentries training with the crossbow but haven’t seen the weapon used among the knights. Why is that? You’re a knight and yet I recall seeing you with a crossbow in your chamber. I’m interested in how it works and wondered why you haven’t shown me how to use it.”

  Roland’s hand stilled, his eyes remaining on the blade. He breathed out through puckered lips, as if wondering how to respond. After a minute he said, “There is generally an intolerable relationship between crossbows and knights.”

  Audri heard footsteps at the entrance of the tent and turned to see Sir Heath arrive.

  “All right, what did I miss?” Heath posed as he plopped himself down on a stool beside Gail. The maid didn’t look at him, but Audri saw her face flush. Audri suppressed a grin.

  “Nothing much,” Roland answered. “I was about to explain to my squire why the crossbow isn’t found among knights’ weapons. Would you care to enlighten her?”

  “Ahhh, the crossbow,” Heath offered, turning his attention to Audri. “No, you wouldn’t see that weapon anywhere near a knight. Though formidable, it’s considered an armament of cowardice by the knight because it’s made for long-range attack, and knights consider close combat to be the most honorable way to fight. Being that the crossbow requires little skill and can be used by any untrained soldier, old man, or even a child to pierce through a knight’s armor, it’s viewed as an inhuman weapon, and one without honor. It was even banned for a time by the Pope in . . . 1096, I believe.” Heath glanced over at Roland with a smirk. “I am, however, recently tempted to change my mind about the crossbow after witnessing the exceptional marksmanship of Sir Roland. If a knight as noble as Sir Roland sees the benefit of such a weapon, and even favors it above most others, I dare say I shouldn’t be so fast in rejecting it based solely upon the negative view of knights who, in truth, fear it.” He nodded an approval.

  Roland grinned down at the table. “Much appreciated, Sir Heath,” Roland declared before looking at Audri. “Older crossbows are impossible to ratchet atop a horse, but the most recent type, like the one I have in my chamber, is smaller and has an ingenious pull lever that allows it to be carried and used while riding—with practice, that is. It is my weapon of choice, second only to the sword. Perhaps that makes me an atypical knight, but I don’t care.”

  Audri knew all about being an “atypical” knight. Well, a knight in training anyway. And she felt a peculiar surge of excitement at having a genuine interest in something Roland was equally fascinated with. It created a tentative bridge, spanning the persistent rift between them. But did she want that? Didn’t she want to push him away, not draw closer to him? Her warring feelings confused her, giving her a headache. Or maybe it was just the hunger.

  “Very well, we’ll talk crossbows this morning, and later I’ll train you on them. You too, Sir Heath, if you’d like.”

  Heath raised his hands up to chest level, his palms facing out. “Whoa now, I said I’d show an open mind about its use. But touching one? I’m not sure I’m ready for that kind of disapproval from Guildon’s occupants.”

  Gail and Audri laughed, and Roland grinned again.

  “As you will, but if you change your mind . . .” Roland said.

  “I’ll let you know,” Heath affirmed as he folded his arms across his chest.

  “Fair enough,” Roland accepted. “And as for you, Lady Squire, we’ll begin with the mechanics. If we can get our hands on one, I’ll show you—”

  “Pardon, Sir Roland.” A child’s timid voice averted their eyes to the shadowy corner of the tent near where they sat. It was Bryant, the boy who had hesitated to take a sugary fritter during cena when Audri’s was denied. He stepped forward holding a mud-covered crossbow. “I was sharpening weapons yonder and overheard. This crossbow had been sitting untouched in the corner for some time.” Though the weapon wasn’t considered very heavy for an adult, weighing a little over a stone,3 the slight boy, who was smaller than other boys his age, carried the three-foot-long weapon with some effort. He grunted when he handed it to Roland.

  “Well, now, what have we here?” Roland exclaimed, taking the unarmed weapon from the boy and examining it. “Well, well. The mud makes it appear old, but it’s the most current model. How fortunate. What an insightful lad you are.”

  Bryant beamed at the praise, and Audri smiled at Roland’s kindness toward the child. Another mark in Roland’s favor, curse the man. Bryant had become one of her favorites among the young boys; his quiet and caring attitude toward her and others etched a place in her heart.

  “And did this have a bolt and pull lever with it perchance?” Roland queried.

  “Yes, sir. Over there.” Bryant dashed back to the corner where he’d gotten the weapon. Scampering back to Roland’s side, Bryant first handed him a thick metal bar about a foot long. The tip was dull and rusted. Next, he hoisted a lever onto the table.

  Roland picked it up. “The shape of this resembles a goat’s foot, giving it the name Goat’s Foot Lever.”

  “May I . . .” Bryant hesitated. “May I stay and watch?” His eyes didn’t meet Roland’s but remained on the ground as if embarrassed to be so interested in it.

  “What would your knight say if he knew I was instructing you on the crossbow?” Roland inquired with clear concern about stepping into another knight’s territory.

  “I . . .” Bryant’s eyes lifted to meet Roland’s and Audri saw the glistening of tentative tears. She could also tell he was struggling to hold them back. “I haven’t a knight, sir. I am yet a page but had hoped to be esquired by a certain knight by now.” His eyes dropped to the floor again, his lip quivering.

  “And who had you hoped would mentor you?” Roland asked with a soft voice.

  “Sir Curtis.” This answer didn’t come from Bryant but from Sir Heath. And there was a tinge of grief in his voice. “We’re saddened by Sir Curtis’s death and know he’s gone straight to Heaven for the noble life he led.”

  Audri remembered hearing that Sir Curtis had died a few years ago at the age of seventy-six, having lived much longer than the average knight, or person for that matter. She glanced at Heath. She’d also heard that Heath was Sir Curtis’s son but that Curtis had disowned him, the reason unknown to her. No one ever spoke of it. Sir Curtis, however, had been one of the few knights in Guildon who had kept to a true code of honor.

  “Sir Curtis had promised to take me on as his squire even though I was small and wasn’t of noble birth. After he died, I begged to stay at Guildon. I didn’t want to go back home.” Emotion filled Bryant’s young voice. “I get fed more at the castle than at home. Ma and Pa are so poor. They have five other children besides me. I have been allowed to stay here to continue my page duties, running errands for anyone who orders me, but I know that no one will esquire me because of my size and lowly state. Sir Curtis was the only one who showed an interest.”

  Audri’s heart ached for him. She had no idea his situation was so dejected.
She could only guess how alone and unsure he felt, trying to busy himself with anything asked of him, hoping that would keep him from returning to the deprived living conditions at home. Would another knight see his determination and take him on as squire despite his supposed disadvantages? Most of the knights already had squires or simply didn’t want to be bothered with one. It’s probably just as well, Audri thought. The Guildon knights will only poison the young boy’s mind with immoral behavior.

  “Well, young lad, you clearly can’t go about knightless, can you?” Heath said, puckering his lips and rubbing his grizzled chin with thumb and fingers.

  The boy shook his bowed head.

  “Then there’s only one thing for it,” Heath announced. “As I currently have no squire to pass on my valuable knowledge and skills,” Heath began as the boy lifted his head and looked at him with hopeful eyes, “I see no reason not to take over the honorable Sir Curtis’s intended position as your mentor. Can’t imagine why I hadn’t considered it before.”

  Unless, of course, it was Sir Heath who took on the boy, Audri mused.

  Bryant’s mouth spread out and upward, baring all his teeth except for two upper molars that were lost and awaiting new growth.

  “Oh, Sir Heath,” Bryant was elated, leaving Roland’s side and coming to stand in front of the larger knight. He bowed to his newfound mentor. “I am honored to be your squire. I’ll do everything you ask of me and be the best squire ever!”

  Heath placed his large hand on the boy’s bony shoulder and looked him square in the face. “I know you will, lad. I see the truth of it in your eyes. And as your first assignment, I order you to stay and listen to Sir Roland’s presentation on the crossbow.” Heath used a firm voice, but his minuscule grin and kind eyes opposed his stern act.

  Young Bryant, still grinning, nodded his head in eager anticipation. “Yes, sir. With pleasure and rapt attention!”

  The boy’s enthusiasm rendered chuckles from those around as he plunked himself down on a stool beside his knight. Audri’s respect for Sir Heath grew by degrees after witnessing his compassion. This act confirmed there were still a few knights in Guildon who were worthy of their title. Audri saw the same admiration in Gail’s face as her maid sent a gentle smile in Heath’s direction. When Heath’s eyes moved to Gail’s, though she blushed, she didn’t avert her gaze.