A Knight to Remember

by Ceillie Simkiss

  The body wrapped in the blankets barely resembled a human being at all. What had once been bare flesh was now covered in thick gray and brown fur, all the way to the person’s hands which were now clenched into what could have been fists, except that they were tipped with black claws. My healing instincts kicked in as I looked at him. Two healers stood on opposite sides of the bed, holding him down.

  A glint of silver peeked out from the fur covering his torso. In a flash, I ripped the silver pendant away from his flesh. I didn’t know exactly why I had done it, but everyone standing beside me stared along with me as the fur and claws began to recede into his body. The animals that had attacked them had not been your average wolves. They had been werewolves. This was going to be a much bigger problem than I had anticipated.

  GENEVIEVE

  It had been almost a week since the date with Avery, but I had yet to hear from him. I had sent a messenger to the Palace inviting him to a dinner with our family, but we had received no word from him. It was nerve-wracking.

  To take my mind off of all things romantic, Alys had finally followed through on her threat to take me shopping for new, more fashionable outfits for the rest of the season and for general wear. She was nearly bouncing on her toes as we walked through the merchants’ district. I had to admit, her joy was infectious. I couldn’t keep the small smile off of my face.

  I was glad that Mama had not been able to join us, which was certainly something I wouldn’t have found myself thinking just a few weeks ago. It had been a long time since the two of us had spent any real time together, between her studies, my knighthood, and our inability to be alone for longer than five minutes without arguing. This morning, however, had been peaceful so far. We had breakfasted at home and had the carriage drop us off near the entrance of the district.

  I couldn’t help but feel a pang remembering the last time I had been here with Avery. Alys seemed to sense it and had told me she would keep me so busy I wouldn’t even have time to miss him. So far, her promise had been accurate. We had already been in a handful of stores as we made our way to the center of the district where I suspected we would find what she was looking for. She had always loved clothes that were as beautiful as they were expensive.

  Not that either of us had a real goal in mind for the outfits we sought. I found myself wanting to buy more of the skirts in the Fraisian style that Alys had shown me, but we hadn’t found a tailor that was skilled in creating them yet.

  “I have a good feeling about this next shop,” Alys told me as we left yet another mediocre shop. “Andreas has always been on the forefront of fashion here in the city. I’m sure ze will have something beautiful for us to try on.”

  “Here’s to hoping,” I sighed. “By the way, how did the meeting with Ianto go last week?”

  “Oh, it went well. He scolded me for spending so much of my own funds on my experiments, but you know how it is. Quality ingredients make for quality results, and when I’m in charge of other people’s lives, I need quality results.”

  I laughed. I knew that well. Ianto had scolded me time and time again for spending “too much” on balms, armor and weapons during my squiredom. I had only been able to put a stop to his issues with my spending by taking him shopping with me a few times. Once he’d seen the price of quality weapons and armor, he’d shut up.

  “Honestly, I can’t wait to see his face when he sees the price of the gown I commissioned,” I laughed. “And then the repairs? Oh, he’ll be hopping mad. But Mama approved the costs, so he can bite me.”

  “Not to mention you’re taking part in the time-honored tradition of a possible arranged marriage,” Alys reminded me then clapped a hand over her mouth. “Goddess, I am so sorry. I forgot we weren’t talking about Avery today.”

  I waved her concern off, until a deep, feminine voice rang out of the open windows of a shop just ahead of us. When I saw who was calling out to us, I nearly fainted.

  “Is that Alys of Teagan I hear?” Duchess Celeste of Wolvington poked her head out of the shops window and beamed at us. “It is! Oh, and this must be Ser Genevieve. I have been wanting to meet you! Please, both of you come in and tell me what you think of these dresses Andreas has created for me!”

  It was clear from her tone, and her position as the King Father’s wife, that it was not a request. As soon as she ducked back into the shop, I whirled on my younger sister, fury building in my chest.

  “Did you know she would be here?” I hissed, trying desperately to keep my words quiet so that the Duchess wouldn’t hear. “Was this supposed to be a fun surprise? ‘Cause I’ve gotta tell you, it’s not fun.”

  Alys’s eyes and mouth were wide open in what looked like surprise. This is the exact sort of thing I’d been dreading when I’d asked for her help.

  “I had no idea! I mean, Avery told me that his mother was a frequent client of Andreas’s but I didn’t know she would be here today! Gen, you have to believe me!”

  Pinching the bridge of my nose, I realized something. I believed her.

  This was something that she might have done when we were a decade younger, but she had really grown out of her pranks in the last few years. Knowing how anxious I was about everything involving Avery, I couldn’t imagine the Alys that stood before me planning something like this without telling me. Dropping my hand, I took a few deep breaths.

  “Okay. I believe you.”

  “You do?” Alys was still staring at me in surprise.

  “I do. But you have to help me out in there. I’ve never actually talked to her before. Only guarded her as a squire.”

  “Of course! We’re a team.”

  My younger sister beamed at me, and I couldn’t help but smile back at her. With her by my side, I thought I might just survive this encounter.

  GENEVIEVE

  Andreas’s shop was overwhelming from the instant Alys and I stepped in. It was packed full of people of all sorts in all stages of purchasing tailored clothes, not to mention overflowing shelves. By the time we reached where Duchess Celeste stood by the open window, we were grateful for the fresh air. I was astonished she had been able to hear the conversation we’d been having from the noise in the room.

  “My lady, I’m surprised to find you here today!” Alys swept to the older, stately woman and pressed a kiss to each of her rosy cheeks. “I thought for sure you’d have more important tasks to tend to on one of your rare visits to the capital.”

  “Yes, well, I thought to buy some new things while I was here, but apparently the entire city had the same idea. But it is no matter! I’m glad to see you, dear. And this must be your sister?”

  Her eyes found mine and I dropped into the appropriate curtsy. I honestly couldn’t believe I was standing there next to the woman who had produced Avery. She was as beautiful as I had expected her to be, with her dark braids hanging loose around her shoulders, wooden beads on the end.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you have. Alys here is full of tales of me messing up her experiments and causing general mayhem.”

  Her brown eyes were warm and glittering as she looked me up and down. She smiled at me and winked. I could see the resemblance between her and the man I’d been enjoying flirting with.

  “I only told her the really good stories, I promise,” Alys chirped. “I didn’t want to scare her off from marrying into your family before she had the chance to meet you for real.”

  “Ah yes. I suppose that would be reasonable. But now you’ve met me. I’m not nearly as terrifying as the gossips would make me out to be, don’t you think?”

  She looked at me expectantly and I blushed, lowering my gaze.

  “No, Your Grace. You seem perfectly lovely.”

  She clicked her tongue and I looked up to see her still smiling at me. I couldn’t resist smiling back, even when one of the shop’s workers joined us where we stood.

  “Hello, Your Grace and ladies. It’s my ple
asure to serve you today. Do we have any particular clothes we’re looking for?”

  Alys and I deferred to the Duchess, who was all too happy to tell him what she wanted.

  “I am searching for the perfect gown for the Prince’s ball. Andreas said ze was going to make up a couple of options for me.”

  He nodded.

  “Of course, Your Grace. Please follow me. We have a dressing room prepared for you, and we can help your companions find something that suits their needs as well.”

  Duchess Celeste nodded to him and he led us all through the maze of the store. I found myself liking the woman more and more as we talked. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  GENEVIEVE

  By the time we arrived home, I was exhausted. I was fairly certain that we had tried on every gown ever created, and when you added on the general anxiety I had felt over spending the afternoon with someone I hoped would be my mother-in-law? Today had been a lot. Even Alys was less excitable than usual.

  I intended to spend the remainder of the afternoon soaking myself until my skin wrinkled, eating dinner alone and then beat the snot out of the guards in our regular evening sparring matches.

  Judging by the gleeful expression on my mother’s face, that was not going to happen. Alys and I exchanged glances and groaned in sync.

  “You two are home just in time! Your cousins from Bryn Eirian are here for the ball and will be staying with us. It’s nearly time for a family dinner.”

  For the second time today, my jaw dropped in surprise. I had always hated surprises. When I spoke, my voice was flat.

  “Did you know they were coming?”

  Mama shrugged.

  “We invited them but didn’t know when they would arrive. One of their servants rode ahead this morning to give us warning, but you two were already gone for the day.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to hide my annoyance. I didn’t do a very good job of it. Alys spoke up.

  “Mama, perhaps they would prefer not to dine so formally tonight? I know Genevieve would. We ran into Duchess Celeste while we were out today and Genevieve’s pretty exhausted.”

  “Oh, no, both Ambrose and Oriol have been resting and are ready to have the best food we can provide here in the city,” Mother replied.

  I held back a groan. That was sure to mean a full, multi-course dinner. I liked my cousin and his new spouse well enough but I was tired.

  Feeling Alys’s gaze on me, I dropped my hand from in front of my face. I wasn’t sure what she was looking for as she studied my face, but she apparently found it before turning back to our mother, her back straight.

  “We’ll need to delay dinner for at least an hour if you want us at dinner. Genevieve and I both need baths and time to decompress. If not, you can make our excuses to our cousins.”

  I blinked, surprised by her declaration. This was the first time she’d ever made such a case for both of us, not just herself. Mama turned to me, her eyes narrowed.

  “Genevieve, is that what you want?”

  “It is. I am desperately in need of some time for myself before I speak to another human being.”

  “Well. I will go tell the servants to delay the meal then.”

  I nearly fell to the floor in relief and gratefulness to my sister as my mother walked away. Despite my best efforts, I had never been able to stand up to my mother the way she had just done. Goblins, trolls, Linbournese troops? Piece of cake. Disagreeing with my mother over something as simple as the dinner schedule? Not a chance.

  Alys still stood next to me, her entire body at ease like what she had just done was no big deal. I was amazed.

  “Thank you so much. I could not have handled dinner with the whole family right now.”

  She wrapped my hand in both of hers and squeezed gently, unexpectedly bringing tears to my eyes.

  “There’s no need to thank me. You and I are a team. I’m supposed to help take care of you, remember? Now go get into the bath before she changes her mind.”

  Laughing, I wiped my eyes with my hands and rushed to the back of the house where the bathing chambers were. It was nice to have Alys as an ally.

  AVERY

  My head was swimming, my back ached and I was exhausted. After discovering that my soldiers weren’t being attacked by your regular forest variety of wolves and sending word to my cousin to send help, I had spent that evening, and the whole next day in the library reading everything there was to be found about every sort of unusual wolf. At that point, Bertrand nearly dragged me from the library and into my bed with a promise to wake me in six hours.

  I had never dealt with anything like this before, even during my apprenticeship to the palace healers after graduation. I had always thought werewolves were a myth, but clearly I was mistaken. Now that I was awake and thinking more clearly, I knew it had been the right thing to do. I couldn’t help anybody if I was asleep on my feet. Not to mention, the longer I went without sleep, the worse my handwriting got. If I had gone on any longer without a nap, not even I would’ve been able to read the notes I’d taken.

  Now that I was properly awake, I could turn these notes into something that resembled a healing plan. Hopefully. There were a lot more of them than I remembered writing. I started to lay the pages out on the table in front of me, then realized that wouldn’t work to help me visualize it the way I needed to. The realization of what I needed came to me in a flash. I snapped my fingers and a servant popped out from behind the shelves. I couldn’t help but wonder how long she’d been there, but decided to save that question for later.

  I needed my large cork board and three different colors of yarn. It was the best way for me to see everything and make connections between everything on the different pages. It had gotten me through my years at the Academy and much of my best spell work. I was sure it would work for this, too. After explaining what I needed, she scurried off to get them. I got back to organizing my notes.

  After a few minutes, I heard the creak of the wheels that made my cork board mobile and several more sets of footsteps than I was expecting. Turning, I was surprised to see the servant bearing a basket of yarn and two people in healer’s robes shuffling behind her with the cork board in tow. I didn’t recognize either of them, but judging by the dark circles under their eyes and furrowed brows, they’d gotten even less sleep than I had. I frowned.

  “What’s the matter? Has something happened to the soldiers?”

  They exchanged confused glances, but didn’t say anything. The servant cleared her throat.

  “Your Grace, these two healers came straight from the palace to assist you.”

  Both of them nodded. The taller of the two reached their hand out and spoke in a gruff voice, introducing them both. They must have ridden from the palace within an hour of getting my message in order to be standing here right now.

  “I’m Tomas and this is Vincent. You should refer to both of us with masculine pronouns. Knight Commander Cedric sent us at your letter.”

  He had a strong grip. I was surprised to hear him roll his words together in a Fraisian accent but let it go. The amulets around their necks bore the distinct magical aura marking them as palace healers.

  “A pleasure to meet you both. I’m Duke Avery of Wolvington, but I don’t stand on formality with other healers. Call me Avery and use masculine pronouns, please.” When they both nodded, I continued. “Have either of you ever treated werewolf victims before? I did all the research I could to see what there was to be found-”

  Vincent cut me off. His features and general expression reminded me of a lightning bolt - delicate but determined - but his voice was light and reedy.

  “Show us your research and we will share what we know. It has been a long time since anyone has treated werewolf attacks in this country and the only notes we were able to find were… incomplete.”

  That was odd. I knew it had been a while since there had been an attack, but usually the palace scholars kept all healing notes well organized
.

  “Give me half an hour to get myself set up and I’ll be able to show you. You two must have ridden hard. Would you to like to sleep for a while before we begin working?”

  They exchanged glances again then shook their heads at the same time.

  “We are both accustomed to little sleep while working. If there are couches in here, we will rest there until you are ready for us.”

  Without requiring a command, the servant who had brought them to me made her way out of the room.

  “Of course. Can we offer you any food or drink? Anything you need within reason while you are here is at your disposal.”

  Tomas smiled a thin, toothless smile.

  “I believe that your cook has already taken pity on us and will send someone up with a tray momentarily.”

  Apparently my confusion showed on my face. His eyes tracked the movement of the servants who were rearranging the furniture to allow for the couches to be out of direct sunlight but near enough that I could reach them without hunting for them.

  “We came up through the servant’s quarters,” he explained. That made sense if they’d come from the main road instead of the forest route I’d taken. Coming up that way was the fastest way to get to the library. “Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to get some rest. It has been a hard journey and I suspect this healing work will be intense.”

  I nodded and he flopped unceremoniously onto the couch. Within moments, he had wrapped himself in the thick blanket the servants had provided and turned into the pillows on the back. Vincent was already snoring on his own couch across the room. It was time for me to get my research set up so that we could all understand what I had found and what they had brought with them.