Free Knight Errant: A Highland Passage Novel by J.L. Jarvis

city. From under a blanket, a man sat up and reached out his good arm to help the stable boy mount behind him. They rode south toward Roslin while, back in the city, three pairs of monks slipped back inside the friary gates.
    After hours had passed, Robert and Violet pulled off the road to a place where water rushed down a hill and over some rocks. The horse needed water and rest, as did they. Robert helped Violet down then handed a bundle to her. Hiding behind a tree, Violet changed from her stable boy’s clothes into her peasant bodice and skirts, while Robert pulled off his monk’s robe. He tried to look strong and healthy, but he fooled only himself. He looked pale. She made sure that he ate some bannocks before they were on their way again.
    For a long while, they rode in quiet, breathing the scent of fresh grasses. Morning sun barely shone through the faint veil of mist still clinging to the round wooded hills.
    When Robert wearily exhaled, Violet said, “You’re tired. You could use another day’s rest.”
    “Whisht, woman. You worry too much.”
    “You must be feeling better, as grouchy as you are.” She gave him a wry sideways look.
    His only answer was an impatient grunt.
    Violet suspected he was more fatigued than he would admit. If he wouldn’t rest, she would try to distract him. “So how did you become a knight?”
    “On a battlefield, after a battle.”
    “You must have done something brave to be honored like that.”
    “No more than any warrior would,” he said.
    “But there must be more to the story.”
    “No.”
    Violet nodded. So conversation wasn’t going to happen. Silence settled once more between them.
    By the time they stopped at midday, Violet could stand it no more. “What have I done?”
    “Done?” Robert looked at her as though he doubted her sanity.
    “Something’s wrong. You won’t talk to me. You’re clearly frustrated or angry with me, and I don’t even know what I’ve done.”
    He leaned forward and set his elbow on his knee. “What you’ve done?”
    He looked genuinely angry, but Violet didn’t regret having asked. At least now they could get it out in the open.
    Robert looked away and heaved a deep sigh. “You've done nothing wrong.”
    Violet cast a sideways glance toward him. “Well, that just isn’t true.”
    He shot her a piercing look while he spoke in a voice that was quiet and measured. “I would never lie to you.”
    Violet could neither think nor speak for a moment. When she did, it was all she could do to conceal the effect of his anger. She felt wounded, unsure, and a little bit angry. “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand you.”
    “There’s naught to understand.” He walked away to the top of the brae and looked out at the glen.
    The wind blew through the gentle green grass, which hissed as it yielded to form waves of silver. Violet watched him walk away. The smart thing would have been to let him go, let him keep his dark moods and thoughts to himself. She was better without them—or him. And now who’s lying? She rose and went to him.
    Without looking at her, he said, “I should have left you in Perth.” Violet took in a breath, preparing to argue, but he interrupted. “For your sake.”
    “Really?” Now it was Violet’s turn to be annoyed. “You can't mean that.”
    “But I do.”
    “Have you forgotten that mob? I might have been trampled to death. Would you rather have left me to that?”
    Robert nodded. “Possibly, but instead, you’ve been attacked—not once but twice—by what I believe are trained assassins. And now you are fleeing with a man whose good sense is clouded by his own foolishness.”
    Mouth agape, Violet tried to find the right words.
    Before she could speak, he said, “’Tis time we left.”
    So that was that, according to Robert. Except that Violet was tired of him shutting her out. After what they had been through together, she didn’t think asking for just a bit more disclosure was too demanding.