Free One Knight's Bargain by Alexandra O'Hurley

ONE KNIGHT’S BARGAIN
     
    Knights of the
Temple
     
     
    Alexandra O’Hurley
     
     
    Copyright
© 2013
     
     
     
    Near
Paris
, 1285
     
    Sybille de Campion moved her wooden sword before her,
chuckling as her little brother’s battle cry ripped from his lungs. She
deflected the strike and twisted her sword to swing back in attack. He moved
his feet, lowering his center to take her blows before repelling her strike.
Sybille had started slowly, letting Nicolas become accustomed to the force of
her sword, but with each jab, she increased the pressure to see where his
comfort level was. Instead of facing her, Nicolas jumped to the stairs, leaping
over a coiled rope and out of Sybille’s reach.
    “Nicolas! Stop with the theatrics. I’m trying to teach
you the basics.”
    “I don’t need basics. I’m an expert swordsman. Felix
and Gui showed me all I need to know.”
    “ Gui is seven, and Felix is eight. They have not learned much at all yet. And who do
you think taught them what they know?” Sybille crossed her arms over her surcoat , her sword dangling from one hand. “You are no
expert, little boy. Now come back here and face me.”
    “But I’m not supposed to fight with girls.”
    Sybille looked down at herself and back to him. “Do I
appear to be a girl today?”
    Nicolas snickered as he gazed at her standing before
him in their father’s chainmail and surcoat . “No, you
look like an ugly man.”
    “I suppose I do not make an attractive knight.”
Sybille laughed as she glanced down at herself once more. “But with our parents
away, this is the best I can do to teach you to protect yourself. So come down
here and let us start over.”
    Nicolas jumped back down to the ground, widening his
stance and preparing for her attack. The bailey was empty except for them. Gui and Felix leaned against the
tower wall above them, watching them fight.
    “When will our parents return, Sybille?”
    Sybille paused, worry gnawing at her gut. Her parents
should have returned weeks ago. The longer they left the house near empty, the
higher the risk of bandits raiding their meager supplies, if they didn’t lay
claim to the old fortress completely. “I do not know, Nic. I wish I did. Each
day that passes I fear for the safety of our home.”
    “We have Guillame and Petior to defend us.”
    “They are no longer young men, Nic.”
    “They are strong knights and will keep the bandits at
bay. Father told me so before he left.”
    “They are the only men left, besides the three father took to protect them as they went to
Paris
. All the others either left for the
Crusades or left when the gold dried up.”
    “The gold dried up?”
    Nicolas might only be six, but it was about time he
started to learn the truth. She had shielded him for as long as she could. “It
is about time you knew we are destitute.”
    “What does destitute mean?”
    “Poor.”
    “We live in a fine castle. We are not poor.”
    “Do you see any people here? We have one old servant
and two old knights. They only remain because they are too old to leave. No one
works our meager fields. We have no tapestries to keep our hall warm, no candles
to light the night, no animals to get meat or milk from. Our parents and
brothers have left with every item of value to sell in
Paris
while we sit here waiting for anyone to
barge in and take over our home. So this is why you need to learn to protect
yourself, Nicolas.”
    “Sybille, men approach!”
    Sybille turned to Gui and Felix, who were now standing close to the
tower wall. Both boys ran down the tower steps and rushed through the bailey,
across the bridge, and up the barbican steps. She moved forward, to get a
better look as Nicolas rushed past her. All three boys were already at the
crenellated wall before she could even get to the bottom steps of the barbican.
Her father’s chainmail slowed her progress, and it took a moment to ascend. All
three boys stood gazing over the edge, their little bodies barely