A Knight's Tale: Kenilworth by Gabriella West

Author:Gabriella West [West, Gabriella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2017-09-18T23:00:00+00:00

News came that the King had attacked Northampton on April 3rd. Earl Simon immediately left Kenilworth with a group of reinforcements to help his son. Thomas and I continued our practice, as we did not like sitting around and speculating on what had happened.

Late one afternoon, past the first week of April, I looked around and noticed a thin and weary-looking Simon standing at the door, sword at his side. “Go on,” he said quietly. He sat at the side of the room watching us. I advanced on Thomas and he dodged me, but in moving around so much he managed to trip, and I stood over him for a moment, looking down. It pleased me that Simon should see this, but it bothered me to put him in this position.

Tom gave a rueful grin. “All right, damn it. You win.”

I helped him up.

Simon was standing beside us. “Very sportsmanlike. I like your footwork, Will. It’s good.”

“Thanks, my lord and welcome home,” I said casually. I was trying to avoid looking at him. I had the faintest suspicion what he was really there for. “What news?” I asked. “Is the town secure?”

“We lost the battle at Northampton yesterday. I thought you two would like to be the first to know here, besides Mother. I escaped and raced back as fast as I could. I’m unhurt, but they captured our entire garrison when they retook the town.”

We both turned to look at him in shock. His face was pale and tense.

“Does this end it?” Thomas asked.

“Not a chance. No, it’s more of a beginning. A foul beginning, certainly.” He clapped Thomas’s shoulder and Thomas moved away slightly.

“It’s lucky your father, Sir Hugh, was not among the prisoners.”

“That’s true,” Thomas said.

Even Simon seemed to notice his coolness now. “Well,” he said, “I should probably take my leave to go rest, but I’d actually like to show Will a trick while I’m here.”

“I can stay,” Thomas said to me.

“No, there’s no need,” Simon answered, drawing his sword. His tone brooked no argument.

I nodded to Thomas and he shrugged, making his way to the door with slow steps. Simon followed behind him and slid the bolt.

“I want to show you how to disarm someone,” Simon said to me as he returned. “I’ll disarm you. I didn’t want to embarrass you in front of Thomas.”

“It wouldn’t embarrass me,” I answered. The room seemed very quiet suddenly. It was awkward that we had not embraced in greeting, and frustrating that I longed to. “It might have been a useful thing for him to know.”

“Oh, I doubt he’ll ever progress to that point,” Simon murmured. He had put on a thick white jacket and was advancing toward me, sword up. “Come, Will. Let’s see how you withstand this.”

We had never fought together. It made me extremely nervous because his confidence and skill showed through, and I knew I was up against an opponent who would not spare me.

We moved toward each other. Simon had a long reach, and I quailed whenever I looked at his face, his intent eyes.

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