Page 30 of Knight School Chronicles Box Set

“ H e won’t help you.”

Gareth deflected Alden’s blow, the sounds of clanging steel echoing all around them. The training yard was filled more than usual with new recruits and those who had been serving the Guardians for years. It was a long, hard fight, restoring the empress to the throne, but a worthy cause.

“He must,” Gareth said between strikes and parries. Their swords continued to meet each other in a rhythmic dance. He and Alden were well matched. After a time, the men slowed.

“Your sword arm is strong and sure,” Gareth said to his friend.

“When I was young, my father exchanged lessons for the forging of swords. It earned him little coin, a fact I realized only as I grew older.”

“He sounds like quite a man.”

“Aye,” Alden said, glancing at their instructor, who was currently engaged with Roland. Others stopped to watch the pair too. They were as well matched as Gareth and Alden, more skilled than either of them but suited to each other.

Their sparring intensified. A fierce exchange of blows elicited shouts from all around them. Smiling, Gareth tried to predict who would emerge victorious. Roland was as skilled with the sword as Darien was with the bow.

“He is quite good,” Gareth said, referring to their friend.

“Better than Sir Eamon?”

“Younger,” Darien said, coming up from behind them. “Stronger. But not more skilled. In four exchanges, I would guess each would be victorious twice. Their weaknesses balance the others’ strengths.”

Though the archer had been with them for just two sleeps, he had become a fourth spoke in a wheel of new recruits. The man charmed everyone around him—the other knights, their instructors, the servants. It was impossible not to like him, and Gareth did as well as anyone.

“I believe you are right,” he said. “It does seem Sir Eamon may be tiring.”

“Perhaps if you do plan to speak to him, if he loses to Roland, you should wait.” Alden sheathed his sword.

Gareth did the same.

“You will ask him about Lady Evelina?” Darien asked.

Last eve, he’d told Darien what Alden and Roland knew already: that he had been meeting the baron’s daughter in secret. He also confessed to all four men his worry that she could soon be betrothed and his unwillingness to let such a thing occur.

“I will,” he said, knowing Alden did not agree.

“He may be more loyal to Lady Evelina than her father,” Alden said, “but that does not mean if you confess your intentions, he will keep your secret.”

“Sir Eamon knows we meet and has said nothing,” he countered.

“Nor does he bear any love for Ashcroft,” Darien added.

Both Gareth and Alden looked at him just as Roland stepped back and tossed his hands in the air. A draw. The gathered crowd cheered.

“Why do you say as much?” Alden asked Darien.

“As you know, I was welcomed at Ashcroft Manor like you. He hid it well, but the sword master bears no love for Lady Evelina’s father.”

“That does not mean he will be complicit in Gareth’s scheme to win the lady’s favor,” Alden said.

“There is no scheme,” Gareth countered. “Simply a desire to be with her.”

Now was his chance. As the instructor dismissed the field, he left his friends behind and caught up with the imposing instructor.

Where others refused to approach him, Sir Eamon’s perpetual frown and full beard not encouraging dialogue, Gareth had no such reservations.

Sir Eamon had been kind to him, and more importantly, to Evie.

He liked the man and, more importantly, had none other with whom to discuss the very serious matter of Evie’s potential betrothal.

“Sir Eamon?” he called.

Slowing, Eamon turned just before he reached the armory. He looked Gareth up and down, as if trying to determine something.

“I wish to speak to you, sir,” he added, as if the instructor had not already reconciled that fact.

“About Lady Evelina?”

“Aye.”

“Come.” Sir Eamon led him away from the armory toward an open part of the field often overrun with knights training at swordplay.

But it was nearly time for the midday meal, so most had abandoned the field.

Evie had already told Gareth she could not meet him today, as her father was entertaining visitors once again.

Thankfully, they were not guests of the matchmaking sort.

When they were far enough away not to be overheard, Gareth blurted, “I would offer for Lady Evelina’s hand in marriage.”

Sir Eamon was less surprised by Gareth’s admission than he expected. Crossing his arms, Eamon asked, “Do you love her?”

He did not hesitate. “Aye.”

“Does she feel the same?”

They’d not exchanged vows of love, but Gareth knew his mind. And could guess hers as well.

“She said she’d gladly have me, as I may have told her I’d never let another man do so.”

It was blunt, crude, but also the truth. Sir Eamon took in a deep breath as if steeling himself for more. Gareth forged ahead.

“No other man will,” he repeated, knowing the truth of his words. “But I would have an ally in this, if our union pleases you. And if it does not, I ask only for your continued silence until I can speak to Lord Ashford myself.”

“Her father will never accept your offer of marriage. His aims are high, as you know.”

“Just yesterday, Lady Elara told us of the seizure of Lincoln Castle.”

“A recent development, aye.”

“I assume members of the Guardians were partially responsible?”

By taking Lincoln Castle, Empress Matilda’s foothold in the heart of England was not only a military coup but a symbolic one as well.

It was a message to her followers that she could indeed challenge Stephen’s rule and would be seen as the most important event in her years-long struggle to claim the throne.

“Partially?” He smiled. “Without them, the seizure would not have been possible.”

Gareth had thought of nothing but that seizure, and of course Evie, all night. The two seemed unrelated, but perhaps they were not.

“Most assume Stephen will not allow it to stand. He will likely besiege Lincoln himself, will he not?”

“We are preparing for the possibility, aye.”

“Allow me to lead that mission.”

Finally, he did manage to surprise the sword master. “It would be the most dangerous of any mission yet. A battle will very likely ensue if Stephen’s forces dig in to a siege.”

A fact he knew well. “Allow me to lead that mission. If it is successful, and Matilda’s men retain such a foothold, it will be the tide to turn the revolt.”

His words were true, and Sir Eamon could not refute them.

“I will ask,” he added, “to be rewarded with Lady Evelina’s hand in marriage.”

Eamon shook his head. “If you were to survive such a battle, there is not a guarantee Lord Ashcroft will agree to such a boon.”

“A chance I am willing to take.”

He was quiet for a moment. “If Stephen does lay siege and you were to lead the charge to raise it, I would expect your family’s title and lands to be offered as a reward when Matilda takes the throne.”

“Agreed,” Gareth said.

“But Lord Ashford? I cannot be as certain.”

“I’ve no other plan, sir.” For good measure, he added, “No other man will have her but me.”

A statement arrogant enough to have been uttered by Roland. But the truth, nonetheless. Gareth remained silent on his second plan, one which involved running away with Evie—something he would not wish for her. But if it were the only way they could be together?

“You are determined to have her?”

“I am.”

“Let me think on it. You are a good man, Gareth. An honorable and noble one who would serve our Lady Evelina well. But this will be an important mission and cannot be taken lightly. Nor is it my decision alone.”

“Of course.” It was as much of a concession as he could hope for.

“I will take my leave and find you this eve, or mayhap on the morrow.”

He bowed. “Very good, sir. Thank you.”

Gareth took his leave.