Page 77 of Knight School Chronicles Box Set

“ I t was kind of the instructors to give the men this day,” Amalia said to Evelina as they sifted through herbs. It was the biggest market day of the year in Blackwood Village, with vendors coming from far and wide to sell their wares.

“Gareth was easily convinced.” Evelina plucked out the rosemary Amalia had been looking for and handed it to her.

“It is still difficult for me to see him as an instructor when he was a new recruit not long ago.”

“That is Gareth’s biggest challenge,” Evelina said. “But one he overcomes easily with his horsemanship skills. The men know, I believe, he had much to impart.”

“Do you have dill?” Amalia asked the vendor.

“I do not,” he said, taking Amalia’s coin for the other herbs she’d purchased.

The two women walked away from the wooden stall toward another.

“It is still difficult for me to believe you are married. And a countess.”

“Do not,” Amalia teased as Evelina bowed to her. She did it often, not to mock her, but to “become accustomed to her new station.” “We were more friends than we were lady and maid, and so we remain friends. ’Tis all, nothing more or less.”

“I will stop.” Evelina smiled. “But it will take some getting accustomed to.”

“Where are the men?” Amalia asked. Roland and Gareth had been with them just moments before.

“You were speaking with the vendor,” Evelina said. “They said to meet them at the Enchanted Quill.”

As they walked, she asked Evelina what news Gareth had heard at that morning’s briefing.

“I am certain he shares that news with the others now,” Evelina said. “He does not believe the Guardians will be sent unless there are signs of an ensuing battle.”

“The siege could last for some time,” Amalia said. Since they’d left Oxford, King Stephen’s forces, and those of his allies, had laid siege to Oxford, trapping Matilda inside.

“Indeed,” Evelina agreed. “The consensus is that it would be more prudent to allow her allies to offer aid while the men continue to train here.”

For now, it seemed, Roland would be safe.

“Good news indeed,” Amalia said, opening the door to the inn.

The Enchanted Quill was one of Amalia’s favorite inns, though she’d visited few in her lifetime.

She never felt unsafe inside, and perhaps because the innkeeper was a woman, it seemed a place she could come even without Roland, though he was too protective for her to do so alone.

Since becoming his wife, there had been many changes in her life, including having a guard with her whenever Roland was not around.

Her heart skipped a beat seeing him in the corner.

Roland sat with Gareth, Alden and Darien, all four drinking ale...all four looked at them as she and Evelina made their way toward the group.

She moved to sit beside him on the bench, but Roland pulled Amalia onto his lap instead.

“Ooo,” she said, having been taken off guard. “Roland,” she whispered into his ear. “Should a countess do such a thing as sit on a man’s lap in public?”

“Not any man but her husband,” he replied. “And aye, you should.”

Laughing, she turned to the group. Evelina sat beside Gareth, and both of them were smiling at her.

“I do not understand,” Darien teased Amalia, “how you could have such a man as a husband.”

“I do not understand it myself,” she admitted. “He is the most arrogant man I’ve ever met.”

“She did say as much at one of our very first meetings,” Roland admitted as the serving girl poured her and Evelina mugs of ale.

“We were speaking,” Gareth said to her and Evelina, “of the situation at Oxford.”

Evelina smiled at Amalia as if to say, “as we suspected.”

“I understand”—Amalia took the mug of ale Roland offered—“you will remain here?”

“For now,” Alden said. “Aye.”

The group went silent for a moment, likely all considering what might happen next.

With the king still a captive, and the empress under siege, the outcome was as uncertain as ever.

But Roland and the others had taken a pledge to honor and protect the empress until she was crowned queen, and so they would remain at Castle Blackwood for now.

With her husband and friend by her side, Amalia was content. But she was also worried about what might come next.

“To the Sacred Oak,” Alden said.

All six of them raised their mugs.

“God save the future queen,” Darien said more quietly.

They all drank.