“And I would wager he has missed it long enough this year past,” Sebastian said. Then he looked thoughtful. “In fact, I do believe you even saved his life once. He owes you everything.”
“Sparing his life and saving it are two different things,” Mathias said quietly. He didn’t want to talk about that particular incident. In fact, he didn’t want to discuss that part of his life at all. Politics had separated him from his friends. A king had stripped him of all that he was. Nay, he didn’t want to talk aboutit in the least and Sebastian knew it, but Sebastian had jelly for brains sometimes.
But Sebastian didn’t have so much jelly for brains that he didn’t know he had broached a sore subject with his brother. Mathias kept himself so bottled up, however, that sometimes Sebastian wondered if the man cared about anything at all. But he knew, deep down, that he cared a great deal.
“He would be honored to have a de Reyne in the family,” he said confidently. “De Lara views you as an equal, Mat. You know he does. Ken and Stephen view you as a brother. Mayhap it is time to speak of such things again. Mayhap… mayhap it is even time to contact them again.”
Mathias kept his mouth shut as he removed the shoe from the water and moved to the horse. Bending over, he pulled the horse’s hoof between his legs and fitted the shoe. The horse tried to move around a bit and tried to kick at him but Sebastian set his food down and went to help his brother. He held the horse firm as Mathias hammered on the shoe.
Dropping the hoof to the ground, he wiped the sweat off his brow and moved back to the fire where the remaining shoe was being heated.
“Mat?” Sebastian said quietly. “Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“What say you?
Mathias pulled the shoe out of the fire, his face red from the heat and exertion of wrestling with the horse. “What would you have me say?”
“Tell me your thoughts,” Sebastian pushed. He could see that he wasn’t getting anywhere with his brother so he ventured onward in an attempt to prompt him. “I heard something the other day that might be of interest.”
Mathias was only half-listening to him. “What is that?”
Sebastian reclaimed his food and chewed on the last of the meat. “Henry de Beaumont is trying to put Edward Balliol on the throne of Scotland instead of the infant David,” he said. “I heard some men speaking of it the other day. De Beaumont will need knights, Mat. Mayhap this will be an opportunity for us.”
Mathias looked at his brother. “De Beaumont is allied with our king,” he said frankly. “If we take up arms for de Beaumont, do you not think that Edward will catch wind of that? Nay, brother, I will not lose my head for a Scots rebellion.”
Sebastian knew that would be his brother’s response but he wasn’t pleased with it. He tossed aside the stripped bird bone and stood up, his manner growing agitated as it so often did.
“I do not want to be a smithy the rest of my life,” he hissed. “Mayhap you find comfort in swinging a hammer instead of a sword, but I do not. I will be a knight again someday, I swear it, and if it is without your support, then so be it.”
Mathias wiped the sweat off his brow. “Patience was never one of your virtues.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that times change. Tides and the flow of power change. You must be patient, little brother. We will not be like this forever, but for now, it is what we must do to survive.”
Sebastian wasn’t satisfied with that. He was about to fire off a volley of insults at his brother’s lack of courage when a soft voice interrupted him.
“Excuse me?”
It was a gentle female voice. Startled, Mathias and Sebastian turned to see Cathlina standing at the entrance to their stall. Lit from behind by the nooning sun, her silhouette gave off an ethereal glow as she stood at the threshold. Wrapped in a yellow linen cloak, her dark hair was braided and draped over her right shoulder and her dark eyes glimmered as she fixed on Mathias.
“I am so sorry to interrupt,” she said politely. “Do you remember me? You saved my sister and me yesterday from a brute, right out there on the avenue. I do hope you….”
Mathias cut her off, gently done. “Of course I remember you,” he said, realizing in a rush that he was both surprised and glad to see her again. “Are you and your sister well?”
Cathlina smiled warmly at him, thrilled that he remembered her. “We are very well, thanks to you,” she said. Then her gaze passed between Mathias and his brother. “I did not mean to intrude. I will only beg a moment of your time and then I promise I shall be gone.”
Sebastian was the first one to move towards her, his enormous red-headed presence overwhelming. “Lady Cathlina,” he said, a smile on his lips. “’Tis a welcome interruption, you are.”
Cathlina looked at the big, ruddy-faced brother and couldn’t help but be a bit put-off by him. He was smelling and sweaty and large. She instinctively took a step back as he came close.
“Thank you,” she said, eyeing him. “How do you know my name?”
Sebastian pointed to Mathias. “My brother told me,” he said. “I am glad to hear that you and your sister are faring well after yesterday’s fracas.”
Cathlina nodded. “Well indeed,” she replied. “Thank you again for coming to our aid. In fact, that is why I have come. I have brought you something in the hopes of emphasizing our gratitude.”
