The young knight rolled to his knees, attempting to stand up and keep a distance from the enormous red-haired knight. “He… he was slow and lazy,” he stammered, his arrogance gone now that he was being challenged by two very big men. “It is within my right not to pay him for a job he did not complete when he said he would.”
Sebastian reached out and grabbed the man by the neck as Justus, lured from the opposite side of the stall by all of the scuffling going on, came around to see both of his sons standing and two armed knights in various positions on the ground. The big old man with the long gray hair went straight to Sebastian.
“What are you doing?” he hissed, pointing fingers at the man in Sebastian’s grip. “I have warned you against harassing our customers.”
Sebastian didn’t let the young knight go. “He is trying to cheat us out of paying what he owes,” he told his father. “He tried to attack Mathias.”
Justus looked at his eldest son. “Is this true, Mat?”
Mathias had positioned himself between Cathlina and the men tussling, including his brother.
“He tried,” he confirmed. “But it is of no matter. His horse is finished and he owes a crown. If he refuses to pay, as he has declared to be his intention, then we keep the horse. Hopefully he has reconsidered, as a knight without a horse is a sorry sight indeed.”
The young knight had managed to yank himself away from Sebastian and was fumbling angrily for his purse. Mathias untethered the charger and held out a hand, refusing to hand the reins over until the young knight paid him in full. By the time the young knight got the reins in his hand, he was so angry that he yanked at them and the horse took offense. A big head swung at the young knight, nearly knocking him over, as the young knight and his companion stumbled from the stall.
When they were gone, Mathias went about his business cleaning up as if nothing was amiss. Sebastian, however, followed them out and stood in the entry to the stall, watching them walk down the street with an expression that dared them to turn around and look at him. He would have liked nothing better than to go charging after them.
With the situation settling down, Justus eyed his two boys before realizing that Cathlina was standing back in the shadows. Surprise filled his expression as his gaze beheld her lingering on the fringe.
“A lady?” he said, pointing to her. “God’s blood, there is a lady here. Does she have business with us?”
Mathias put his hammer on the anvil and began to remove his leather apron. “This is the Lady Cathlina de Lara,” he said.“It ’twas her and her sister that we did a good turn for yesterday. Lady Cathlina has come bearing gifts to thank us.”
“Good turn?” Justus was still confused. “What do you mean?”
Mathias had a half-grin on his face, his eyes on Cathlina as he spoke. “The lady’s sister was nearly abducted yesterday,” he said, trying not to be thankful for such an event but it was the reason that had introduced him to the lovely young woman. “Sebastian put their accoster in the stocks back behind the stall.”
Justus was aware of that particular circumstance. “The animal with one eye who will not speak?”
“The same.”
“He was still there last I saw.”
“He will be there for a few days or until Sebastian has had his fun with him and decides to let him go.” He set his leather apron down and pulled a leather vest off a nail. “I will be gone for a few hours, Father. I must escort Lady Cathlina home.”
Justus’ gaze was still lingering on Cathlina, thinking on the events of yesterday as Sebastian had told them. He and Mathias had all but swooped out of the sky like avenging angels. Mathias was a bit more modest, but in looking at the beauty of the lady before him, he began to suspect that one or more smitten sons were on the horizon. It would be hard to look at all of that beauty and not be bewitched by it. That spelled trouble.
“I am sure she has her own escort,” Justus said. “Your presence is needed here. With the tournament beginning tomorrow, we have more business than we can handle. I cannot lose you, even for a few hours.”
Mathias put the leather vest on over his rough tunic, securing the fastens that held it snug to his body. It was, in truth, a measure of protection against sharp objects, like swords or daggers, because the leather was heavily woven and fit his enormous torso like a glove; tight against his broad chest andsnug against his slender waist. Since he was disallowed armor, the vest was the next best thing.
“I will not be gone long,” he assured his father. “And Lady Cathlina has no escort. She bravely rode here alone but I certainly cannot let her return alone.”
Justus could see the glimmer in Mathias’ eyes when speaking of Lady Cathlina and he knew the man was already infatuated. It hadn’t taken long at all, but he hardly blamed him. Still, he had to discourage it quickly.
“Then I will send Sebastian to escort her,” he said. “You are needed here.”
The glimmer vanished from Mathias’ eyes when he looked at his father. “NotSebastian,” he growled, leaving no room for discussion. In fact, the last time his father heard that tone, they were in battle. “I will return in a few hours and do not let Sebastian touch anything in that basket. If he does, I will puthimin the stocks. You will tell him that.”
Justus sighed heavily, realizing there was no way to discourage his eldest. Strangely enough, he was rather glad for the lady’s appearance when it came to Mathias. The man hadn’t shown so much interest or concern about anything in well over a year. The Mathias that had lumbered around the smithy stall since that dark January day had been morose and sullen, quiet. A mere shell of his former self. But this Mathias was much more like the Mathias of old; humorous, concerned, and interested in what was going on around him. Aye, the lady had done that much, at least. Justus had no choice but to relent.
“Return as quickly as you can,” he said, with reluctance. “We shall be working long into the night as it is.”
The glimmer was back in Mathias’ eyes. “I will, I swear it.”
When Sebastian found out where Mathias was going, he tried to follow until Mathias slugged the man in the chest so hard thathe fell into a big puddle of horse urine and got covered in the stuff.
As Mathias and Cathlina walked off, Sebastian vowed to get even.
