Tempered Steel by Paul J Bennett

Author:Paul J Bennett [Bennett, Paul J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paul J Bennett

9

Motherly Advice

Summer 1094 SR

* * *

It was dark by the time Charlaine returned home, having first ridden to the keep to alert the baron to the presence of the Orcs. She had hoped Ludwig would accompany her to Malburg, but it looked like his father had other ideas, for the young noble was ordered to return to the hills with some of the baron’s soldiers.

Now she found herself stripping off the saddle of poor Emerald, who looked exhausted.

“Where have you been?” came her father's voice, startling her.

“Out riding,” she replied. “We went into the hills to the north.”

“We?”

“Yes,” she said. “I was with Ludwig.”

“Lord Ludwig?” Tomas asked.

“Of course. Is there another Ludwig I don’t know about?”

“Don’t get clever with me, Charlaine. You gave your mother quite a shock.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” he continued, “that she was worried sick about you.”

“She’s always worried about me.”

“Yes, but this time you were gone all afternoon, without a word to either of us.”

“Sorry. I hadn’t intended to, but the weather was so nice we decided to go riding.”

“You had to come and get the horse,” Tomas said. “It’s not like you couldn’t have ducked inside and told us what you were up to.”

“True, but I was worried you might not give me permission.”

“And so you thought you’d just take Emerald?”

“You know what mother’s like,” she said. “Can you blame me?”

“You’re not a child anymore, Charlaine.”

“And yet you still treat me like one from time to time.”

“Can you blame us? You’re our only daughter. It’s our job to look after you. We can’t do that if you're off riding around the countryside.”

“I’m a grown woman,” Charlaine insisted.

“Then act like one. Now get inside. Your mother’s waiting for you.”

“I have to brush down Emerald.”

Tomas held out his hand. “Give me the brush. I’ll take care of the horse. You get inside and see your mother.”

Charlaine passed it over, and headed inside, overwhelmed by an intense feeling of doom.

Her mother sat in a chair, sewing a piece of cloth. “What have you been up to?” Estelle asked, her voice clipped.

Charlaine could sense the danger lurking in her mother's words. Knowing she could no longer avoid the inevitable, she dove in headfirst. “I was out riding with Ludwig.”

Her mother's eyes widened. “He's a noble,” she said.

“And what of it?”

“It is not your station in life to be in the company of such a man.”

“We went riding, Mother, nothing more.”

“You are treading particularly dangerous waters, Charlaine.”

“Why? Just because Ludwig is a noble? We’re only friends.”

Estelle deShandria sighed. “It’s much more than that, daughter. Come. Sit down. It’s time you and I had a real talk.”

“I won’t be lectured,” Charlaine insisted.

“And I wouldn’t dream of doing so, but you have led a sheltered life. It’s high time you were told a thing or two.”

Charlaine took a seat, though relaxing was the farthest thing from her mind. “Very well.”

“Nobles are so much different from us,” her mother began.

“I know. I’ve been told a number of times. I understand, I truly do.

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