Free While Angels Slept by Kathryn Le Veque Page B

calming and she set the boy on his feet, wiped the remainder of
his tears, and instructed him to go to the kitchens and get some watered wine
for the lady knight.  When the boy ran off with the dog close behind, she
looked at Tevin. 
    “Charles was
always a gruff, hard man, but he was never cruel,’ she said. “I fear that Brac’s
passing may have changed him. This madness shows no sign of letting up.”
    Tevin put his
hands on his hips, his dark eyebrows furrowed for effect. “I’ll not let him
take his grief out on you if that is what you mean,” he said. “If I have to
lock him in the vault for the safety of you and your son, I shall do it without
hesitation.”
    “I am sure there
will be no more transgressions, my lord.”
    He just stood
there, looking at her as if he didn’t believe her.  In the corner, the lady
knight shifted slightly, grunting when her ribs pained her. It was enough of a
noise so that Tevin and Cantia took their attention away from each other and
focused on her.
    “Are you in
pain?” Tevin asked her.
    Val tried to
shrug, but with a broken collarbone, it was not a simple gesture. “As much as
is to be expected, I suppose.”
    “I shall bring
you more willow bark,” Cantia turned for the door.
    “Wait,” Val
stopped her. “Though I appreciate your kindness, my lady, that brew makes me
exceedingly tired.  I find the pain tolerable.”
    “As you wish, my
la…lady.”
    Cantia wasn’t
quite sure how to address the lady knight and the room fell into an awkward
silence. Tevin lifted his hand in Val’s direction.
    “Lady Cantia,
this is my sister, the Lady Valeria de Reims,” he introduced them. “I apologize
that I am so late with introductions, but it did not seem the appropriate time
yesterday. Please know that we are both very grateful for your delicate care of
her injuries.”
    Cantia dipped
her head in Val’s direction. “A pleasure, my lady.”
    “My pleasure as
well, Lady Penden. And my thanks.”
    Cantia gazed at
the fair haired lady knight, feeling foolish for staring at her and realizing
that they both knew that she was staring at her. It wasn’t hard to read her
thoughts. Val smiled a toothy grin that was both impish and charming.
    “I know, it’s
not usual to see a woman in armor,” she said. “Blame my brother. He would
swordplay with me as a child and I grew to love it.”
    Cantia looked at
Tevin, an eyebrow lifted in mock reproach. “You turned this lovely woman into a
warrior? How dastardly.”
    He pursed his
lips, knowing this was a battle he could not win but willing to make the
attempt. “Do not believe everything she tells you.  I had no hand in this. She
would blame me when the truth is that I cannot get rid of her.”
    As Val burst out
in giggles, Cantia went on the attack, however in jest. “She should be married
to a fine lord and have many children about her. Why are you so selfish that
you would force her to bear arms? Haven’t you enough men at your disposal that
you do not need to force your sister into armed servitude?”
    As Val hooted,
Tevin threw up his hands as if to defend himself. “My lady, if you have any
ideas on how to get my sister out of armor and into feminine garments, I am at
your mercy.  Perhaps you can succeed where I have failed.”
    Cantia fought
off a grin, winking at Val as the woman stifled her snorts in her hand. “You
are a wicked brother, my lord.  See how your sister suffers because of you.”
    Tevin, too, was
fighting off a grin. He simply shook his head and turned away, knowing that any
further words from him would only be twisted by Cantia’s humorous tirade.  On
the other hand, he was perfectly willing to be a target if it would help her
forget Charles Penden’s brutality.  Moreover, this was the first light moment
they’d had since his arrival to Rochester.  He was discovering that she had a
delightful sense of humor.
    Cantia, for her
part, had indeed forgotten her cut lip.  The levity of the moment