“Thank you for your assistance,” she said. “I hope I am not taking you away from anything important.”
Only my gambling game, William thought unhappily. But he simply smiled politely at her.
“Nay, my lady,” he said. “How much straw do you want?”
“A big pile.”
William started shoveling the straw into the wheelbarrow as Juliandra took a second pitchfork and began to help.
“You are a good worker, William,” she said. “But then again, you must be if you serve the Earl of Bath and Glastonbury.”
William tamped the straw down. “I do not serve him, my lady,” he said. “I serve Caius d’Avignon.”
“Who is he?”
“They call him The Britannia Viper,” he said. “He is one of the Executioner Knights, like your husband.”
Juliandra looked at him curiously. “Who are the Executioner Knights? I have not heard that term.”
“Those are the agents of William Marshal,” he said. “They are the most ruthless, skilled warriors in the entire world. Did you not know that?”
Juliandra stopped shoveling. “I did not,” she said. “My husband told me that he had served William Marshal, but I have never heard of the Executioner Knights.”
William piled more straw on. “I want to be one,” he said. “I am going to be a great knight, someday. Even greater than William Marshal.”
Juliandra smiled at the young man with big dreams. “I am sure you will be,” she said. “Do you plan to serve the king, then?”
William shrugged. “Mayhap,” he said. “It depends on what he offers me for my fealty.”
“You are going to have lords bid on your services?”
He looked at her, completely serious. “Of course,” he said. “My father says that I am worth the price.”
Juliandra bit her lip to keep from grinning at his arrogance. “Where is your father?”
“Warstone Castle,” he said. “My father is the Earl of Wolverhampton.”
Juliandra nodded. “I see,” she said, setting her pitchfork aside. “I wish you well in your quest to become the greatest knight England has ever seen, William. With so many great knights in England, you have a task ahead of you.”
William didn’t seem too concerned. The wheelbarrow was full and he rolled it out, heading for the kitchen yard as Juliandra walked after him, silently laughing at the brash young squire who wanted to be the greatest knight England had ever seen.
Over near the gate to the inner ward, she could see Alexander and Peter, dressed in full regalia and their horses loaded for travel, as they spoke to Kevin and Sean. The sun was climbing in the sky as the morning advanced, and the gatehouse that had been shut yesterday after Aeron’s visit remained closed.
Juliandra’s heart fluttered at the sight of her new husband. He had been so brave against Aeron the day before and she had heard him tell his brother that they were going to keep the castle sealed up indefinitely, at least until the situation with Aeron eased. She also knew that Alexander and Peter were heading back to Lioncross Abbey today, while Sean intended to remain for a little while. She liked the man and looked forward to his extended visit.
Kevin, Sean, Alexander, and Peter all happened to notice William driving the overloaded wheelbarrow towards the kitchen yard and there was no mistaking the curiosity on their faces. Inevitably, they looked to Juliandra, who was walking behind the young man, and she waved to them. They wavedback. Kevin broke off from the group and headed in her direction.
“You have de Wolfe doing a servant’s job?” he asked her, incredulous.
Juliandra didn’t see what the fuss was about. “I went to the stables to get fresh straw for the kitchen yard and I found him there, being taken advantage of by several of your soldiers.”
Kevin frowned but nonetheless reached out to take her hand, tucking it into the crook of his elbow. “Soldiers were taking advantage of him?” he asked. “What do you mean?”
“Gambling,” she said, lowering her voice because it was scandalous. “They were forcing him to roll dice. I saw it and broke up the game so they would not take all of his money.”
When Kevin realized what she was saying, he started to laugh. “Sweetheart,” he said in a tone that bordered on scolding. “You should know that de Wolfe is a master gambler. He is a genius when it comes to such things, so more than likely, he was taking advantage of the soldiers. He is not the innocent boy you think he is.”
Juliandra looked at him in surprise. “I did not think he was innocent, though he is young,” she said. But she put a hand over her mouth in astonishment. “Hewas the one doing the gambling?”
