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"If you cry," he whispered, stroking her shining hair, "you'll feel better." But he knew instinctively what he suggested was impossible. She'd been through so much, and held her tears back for so long, that Royce doubted that anything could force her to shed them. She had not cried when she spoke of her dead friend, Becky, nor had she wept over William's death. A fourteen-year-old girl with enough courage and spirit to confront her armed brother on the field of honor would not cry for her husband whom she hated. Not when she didn't cry for her friend or even her brother. "I know you won't believe this," he whispered achingly, "but I will keep my word. I will not hurt your family, nor any member of your clan at the tournament. I swear it."
"Please let go of me," she said in a suffocated voice.
He couldn't help it, his arms tightened. "Je
"Don't call me that again," she said, hoarsely.
Royce drew a long, painful breath. "Would it help if I said I love you?"
She jerked free, but there was no anger on her face. "Whom are you trying to help?"
Royce's arms fell to his sides. "You're right," he agreed.
Je
Occasionally, all the knights missed, depending upon the angle and the obstacles erected in front of the quintain. All the knights, except her husband, Je
In the past, she'd been able to ignore this daily practice, but with the tournament looming ahead, what had seemed like mere exercise before, now became a deadly skill which Royce's men were perfecting to use against their opponents. So absorbed was she in surreptitiously watching her husband that she never heard Godfrey come up beside her. "Zeus," he commented, following the direction of her sidewise gaze, "is not yet the horse his sire was. He lacks a full year of training."
Je
"Aye, he does," Godfrey agreed. "But watch Royce's knee-there, did you see how he had to move it forward before Zeus knew to turn? Thor would have made that turn with a pressure no greater than this…" Reaching out, Godfrey very lightly pressed Je
Eustace and Gawin, who'd just dismounted, came over to join them, and Gawin-having heard Godfrey's remark, was quick to take umbrage on Royce's behalf. "There's naught to worry about, my lady," he boasted. "Royce is the finest warrior alive-you'll see it in the tournament."
Seeing his men watching him from the sidelines, Royce pulled Zeus out of another turn and then trotted over to them. With Je
"I'm certain," Royce declined after a questioning glance at his wife's politely uninvolved expression, "Lady Je
"But," said Godfrey with a meaningful grin as he seconded Gawin's request, "I'll wager she's never seen you miss it. Go ahead-show us how 'tis done."
With a reluctant nod, Royce turned Zeus into a tight circle and then sent him leaping forward from a dead stop.
"He's going to miss on purpose?" Je
"Watch," said Gawin proudly, "there's no other knight who can do this-"
At that instant, Royce's spear struck a mighty blow on the "knight's" shoulder, not the shield, the sandbag whirled like lightning-and missed as Royce ducked low and to the side of his horse's flying mane. Je
Baffled, she looked first to Eustace, then to Godfrey for an explanation; " 'Tis his reflexes," Gawin provided proudly. "For all his muscle, Royce can move at the blink of an eye."
Royce's smiling voice came back to her, reminding her of what had been one of the happiest nights of her life: Watch any warrior dodging lances and you'll see dance steps and footwork that will dazzle you.
"He's just that fast-" Gawin snapped his fingers for emphasis "-with a dagger or sword or mace."
This time, Je
"Oh, but he can!" Gawin crowed, delightedly. Then his face fell as Lady Je
"Gawin," Godfrey said furiously, "your lack of perception frightens me. Go polish Royce's armor and keep your mouth closed!" In disgust he turned to Eustace and added, "How can Gawin be so clearheaded in battle and an utter dolt when it comes to anything else?"
Chapter Twenty-Four
How many more do ye think are out there, my lady?" Agnes asked, standing beside Je
Je
Nobles, knights, and spectators from England, Scotland, France, and Wales had arrived by the thousands, and the valley and surrounding hills were now completely carpeted with the brightly colored tents and pavilions that each new arrival had erected for his comfort. It looked, Je
In answer to Agnes's question, Je
"Look, there's another group," Je