If the man thought he was a fool, so be it.
“A bad habit I picked up over the years,” he finally said. “I found I had more control that way. I know it is a bad position and it leaves the wrist exposed, but the sword I used had a guard on it to protect my fingers, so I was comfortable in doing so. Unfortunately, I seem to have passed my bad habit on to the soldiers.”
Jonathan could see that Eric was embarrassed and he shook his head firmly. “Not at all,” he said. “Now that you explain it to me, I understand why you showed them your technique.”
“It is not much of a technique,” Eric admitted. “I haven’t been to…”
Jonathan wouldn’t let him finish. He turned to the group of soldiers and held up a hand to silence their chatter. “Sir Eric has explained why he showed you how to hold the sword in such a manner,” he said loudly. “I have heard his explanation and I accept it. Each man must be comfortable with their weapon andthat is how he was comfortable with his, but I would suggest until you become adept with your sword that you hold it further down on the hilt. If you decide you’d rather hold it closer to the blade, eventually, then that is your choice.”
He was trying to restore the respect for Eric that he had stripped away with his callous comment. The man he’d scolded initially for holding the blade poorly asked another question of him, and he went to the man, entering into a discussion about sword techniques. Douglas, who had been silent through the entire exchange, agreed with Jonathan completely. Eric’s waywasa foolish way. But he also knew that Jonathan was now trying to save the man’s pride in the face of his men.
It was a complicated situation.
“Le Kerque,” he said to Eric. “I was thinking about riding over to Tatworth and seeing how the situation was. Would you care to go with me? I could use your counsel.”
Eric shook his head. “You are kind to ask, but I will remain here,” he said. Smiling weakly, he dipped his head. “If you will excuse me, I have tasks that await.”
He moved away before Douglas could say another word. As he watched the man walk off, he heard Isabel’s low voice.
“I have a need to speak with you, Sir Douglas,” she said. “Come with me.”
She turned toward the keep. Feeling like he was about to have his bum slapped, Douglas followed. He remained a step or two behind her because she was walking quickly and he suspected she didn’t want him to take pace beside her. The woman had a clipped manner at the best of times, and he thought this particular incident might have something to do with what they’d overheard from Jonathan. Lady Isabel didn’t like her knight insulted and it had been clear from the beginning that she was protective of him. Douglas was coming to suspectthere was more going on there that she didn’t want anyone to know.
So he remained silent.
Isabel took him into the keep and into that lavish, two-storied solar that was so impressive. He entered the chamber and shut the door behind them, but he didn’t move away from the panel. He remained there, legs braced apart, hands clasped behind his back, and waited.
It wasn’t long in coming.
“I do not appreciate Sir Eric being demeaned to the very men he is training,” Isabel said as she turned to him. “But I suspect that has been going on since you and de Wolfe began helping with the training. Showing how much better you are than Eric.”
Douglas shook his head. “We are not better than Sir Eric, my lady.”
“I heard that de Wolfe is Blackchurch trained.”
“He is, my lady.”
“And that gives him the right to glorify it over a mere knight who did not have that opportunity?”
“He is not glorifying it over anyone, my lady.”
Isabel, who had been mostly pacing since entering the chamber, came to a halt and glared at him. “I heard it with my own ears,” she snapped. “De Wolfe called Eric a fool and I will tell you, quite plainly, that I will not stand for that. I will send you all back where you came from immediately if there is one more instance of that behavior. Am I making myself clear?”
Douglas nodded. “You are, my lady.”
He didn’t say anything more, mostly because he wanted her to have her complete say before he began to defend both himself and Jonathan, but given what they had just heard in the bailey, he really couldn’t blame Isabel for her reaction.
“I never wanted you here to begin with,” she said, growing more agitated. “With Tatworth subdued and his armydisbanded, you are unnecessary. I do not even know why you are still here. Can you tell me that?”
Douglas made sure to look her in the eye as he spoke. “Because the situation is volatile, my lady,” he said. “Tatworth’s army has been disbanded, that is true, and he has allies who are currently ostracizing him.”
“Then you are not needed!”
“But the situation could change,” Douglas said evenly. “According to what I have been told, Tatworth has been tight with his allies for years. Generations of alliances. If he should convince them that he has been wronged, then they may decide to support him again and march on Axminster simply out of vengeance.”
“But—”
“The situation is not stable, not at all,” he said, cutting her off. “We are here, and remain here, to deter anyone from attacking Axminster purely out of a misplaced sense of revenge. My brother, and my father, have been long allied with your father and brother. They feel that this is what they would both want.”
