Page 6 of Last Knight (Knights Through Time #7)
His entire family was gathered around the table.
The ever-present loneliness Christian normally felt was replaced with joy at seeing Charlotte’s new babes.
It was decided to change the failed wedding feast into a celebration of new life.
The hall was filled with sounds of merrymaking as the musicians played, voices carried through the hall as the men drank and jested, and his brothers teased him that it would soon be his time.
In truth, he liked the noise. Winterforth was barren without the sound of children running about, stealing tarts from the kitchen.
To have his family close was as much as he could ask for.
He stretched his legs out under the table. ’Twas a good day.
Lucy draped one of her scarves around his neck and sat down beside him. “I’m sorry the kids played tug-of-war with the dogs and ruined your scarf. I made you another in blue to complement your eyes.” She smelled of wine and wool, the silver of her hair shining like the moon in the candlelight.
“I’m awfully sorry about your betrothed.
We all want you to be happy. So don’t marry the next girl that comes along just because she’s available.
Make sure you care for her. I promise, the wait will be worth it.
” She brushed off her skirts as she stood, her gaze finding William.
“After all, you’ll be married the rest of your life. Might as well enjoy talking to her.”
“I would be content to find one who would converse with me at all.” Christian watched her go then turned his attention to the other women, shamelessly listening while pretending to enjoy the music as the women spoke of womanly matters.
The boy who’d found him in the hovel ran through the hall. Christian reached out and caught him. “Where are you off to?”
“He ate the tart I was saving for later, my lord.” The boy glared at the retreating backside of another boy. One much larger.
Christian eyed the lad with a practiced eye. “He’s bigger than you, and I’ve heard no one can best him among the stable boys.”
The boy lifted his chin. There were crumbs on the front of his tunic, and they fell to the floor as he hopped about telling Christian what he would do to the boy when he caught him. Christian listened, making appropriate sounds until the lad was done.
“Might I offer a suggestion?”
The boy leaned forward to hear him above the noise in the hall.
“When he is in the privy, push him in, then run like hell. ”
The boy grinned. “He’ll pound me, but ’twill be worth it.”
“Aye. ’Tis good to stand up to those who are cruel to others.” Christian hoped the boy wouldn’t take too harsh a beating. Standing up for himself would show the bigger lad he would not back down. And some days that was all a man could ask.
Christian spent the evening talking to the lads about swords and battle and all the chivalrous duties a knight must perform. There was a warmth that filled the hall. Not from the fire, but from those within the walls of Ravenskirk.
Charlotte had changed Henry for the better. All of his brothers were different. How might a wife change Christian?
Would she scream at him or be kind? Mayhap she would watch him in the lists when he brawled in the hall with his brothers, cheering him on.
As the years passed, what would it be like to have his family all together?
It was important his brothers and their wives thought well of his bride.
She would be part of the family he loved.
All the women were beautiful, and he hoped his intended’s visage would be pleasing.
And when he made love to her, she would not turn away, but enjoy the act that would result in sons.
The merrymaking continued long into the night, and Christian was the last to retire to his chamber.
As he stepped over men sleeping in the hall, he stopped to admire the painting Jennifer had done of Henry, Charlotte, and their son.
Beside it was a painting of Ravenskirk Elizabeth had painted.
He would ask them to paint his home and family when the time came.
The next morn Christian fussed over Charlotte and the babes, slapped Henry on the back, and filched the remaining tarts. He gave one to the lad who had tracked him to the hut. The boy had a black eye and split lip, but was otherwise unharmed.
“How did you fare?”
The boy grinned and sat on the stone wall facing the lists .
“You should have seen him. Splash. He flailed about, screaming like a wee girl. Didn’t know he couldn’t swim.”
The boy hitched up his hose. “I fished ’em out and said don’t ever cross me again.”
“Good for you. Where is he now?”
“Skulking about.” The lad held his nose. “In all me life I’ve never smelled such a stench.”
The scarf Lucy had crocheted Christian was warm as the wind whipped through the courtyard. His family had come out to see him off. A lump formed in his throat at the thought of leaving them and traveling to Winterforth alone.
“Dust. I’ve dust in my eye.”
Edward simply smiled and for once didn’t say anything, which told Christian they all knew how he was feeling.
“Send word when you’ve arrived home.”
Edward too wore a scarf, and as Christian looked around, he saw most of the people wearing Lucy’s scarves and hats.
“Be careful going home. There have been odd happenings.”
Robert sidled up to them. “Connor.”
“Aye. I owe him my life for saving me from the Johnston hanging me.” Edward grimaced.
“Do you know what’s being said about our fearsome brother?” John embraced Christian, and he knew his brother understood his feelings. For John had been alone many years before rejoining the living.
James rocked back on his heels. “’Tis said you have powerful protection.”
“From faeries,” William added.
Edward scoffed. “Nonsense.”
“Nay, brother.” Robert spoke in a low voice so the lads in the lists wouldn’t overhear them. Christian leaned forward too. He wasn’t superstitious, but what had happened…
Robert continued, “You survived Maude trying to poison you. The Armstrong and Johnston failed to kill you, and were both killed in your stead, and now the Scots believe you to be immortal.”
“I’d wondered why there hadn’t been any raids of late.” Edward stroked his chin. “I won’t soon forget what happened.”
“What are you lot whispering about like a bunch of gossips?” Melinda held out a parcel.
“Charlotte sends her love. We all do. There’s food for a se’nnight in there.
Be careful.” She kissed him on the cheek and turned to James.
“I’ll remind you of this day when you call me an interfering busybody, James Rivers. ”
“My shrew of a wife, how I love thee.”
She blushed. “Flatterer.”
“Go on,” Henry said.
“It was an hour or so before dawn when we were attacked. One of the Scots had seen the thief’s face and knew ’twas not me who burned.
” Edward’s brother shivered. “The sky opened, the rain lashing us, then the lightning filled the sky. As I watched, Connor took an arrow through his hand, went down on one knee…” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “He vanished.”
“Now the Scots believe you ate Connor for supper and that is why they could not find his body.” William chuckled. “They may never vex you again. I shall remember this in case I needs strike terror in my enemies’ hearts.”
John gaped. “You would eat your enemy?”
“Nay.” William scoffed. “But I would make sure no one ever found the body so they thought I did.”
“Do you think the same thing happened to Connor as did your wives?” Christian paled at the thought of Connor finding himself facing the Romans.
“Mayhap. We will never know.” Henry pulled Christian into an embrace. “What an adventure he must be having. I will miss you, brother.”
Christian bade each one goodbye—his throat pained him so that he did not trust himself to speak without bawling like a babe.
Before he rode out of the gates, a commotion sounded, the dogs running out of the keep as if chased by demons from hell.
Each dog was dyed a different color. One yellow, one green, and one a rather sickly shade of blue.
The boys ran after them as fast as their small, chubby legs would carry them.
Jennifer chased after them brandishing one of her paintbrushes.
“You little monsters, you used all of my paint.”
She came to a stop and blew the hair out of her face before turning to the group. “Did you see what they did? They painted the dogs.”
He couldn’t hold it in: Christian threw back his head and laughed as William and John narrowed their eyes.
“Your time is coming,” John said.
Elizabeth clapped a hand over her mouth, but the giggles escaped. “Maybe they were just trying to help you.”
Jennifer waved the paintbrush at her. “If you want me to make more paint for you, you’ll quit laughing, otherwise you’re out of luck.”
Elizabeth hugged her sister-in-law. “You know I’m only teasing.”
“I know. But it makes me mad.” Jennifer huffed, a bit red in the face, the scent of her paints following she and Elizabeth wherever they went.
Halfheartedly, she called after them, “You better run, you little monsters. I’m giving your slice of pie to the dogs.”
The boys were wise enough to remain quiet.
As he rode out across the bridge, Christian thought of Winterforth filled with the sound of laughter, the loneliness banished for good. With one last look at Ravenskirk, he had the feeling the next time he was here, his life would be irrevocably changed.