She grinned as she licked her fingers. “It is,” she agreed. “We rarely travel from Kirklinton, mostly because Mother does not like to travel. Oh, she pretends that it is father’s issue and that he does not like his children exposed to the wicked world, but we know it is Mother. She tells my father that there are wicked people about. Why, when Abechail was nearly abducted, it only reinforced her stance. She was none too excited about us coming to town for the tournament, but Father had promised Abbie so he could not very well refuse her.”
Mathias listened to her, the sweet lilt of her voice, and knew he could listen to her speak forever. “Your little sister,” he ventured. “If it is not too bold to ask, what is her affliction? You said she was unwell.”
Cathlina sobered as she picked at her bread. “It started a little over a year ago,” she said. “Abbie was perfectly healthy and then she developed a cough she could not get rid of. She began coughing up blood and had pain in her chest. She lost a good deal of weight and her skin turned such an odd gray color. The physics have all told us that there is something wrong with her lungs. They think it is a cancer of some kind and there is nothing they can do for her. She spends days and weeks in bed takingpotions that the physics make for her, but every day she seems to weaken more and more.”
Mathias had stopped chewing, listening to her tragic story. “I am truly sorry for you,” he said quietly. “I wish there was some way to help her.”
Cathlina smiled sadly. “As do I,” she said. “We try to pretend that nothing is wrong. We go on with our days and treat her as we have always treated her because she does not want to feel different.”
“Does she know she is very ill?”
Cathlina nodded. “She knows,” she said softly. “She uses it to her advantage. She has coerced my father into buying her a white pony, a goat, and three puppies. She has an entire menagerie of pets.”
She was giggling as she said it, perhaps trying to deflect her own horrific sadness, and he grinned because she was. It was evident that she was greatly distressed by it but didn’t want to give into the anguish, not just yet. That would come soon enough. Mathias shoved the remainder of the meal into his mouth and chewed.
“She is a very fortunate lass to have you as her sister,” he said, gazing at her with some admiration. “I saw you try to fight off her abductor. You are exceptionally brave.”
Cathlina shrugged modestly. “I was terrified out of my mind,” she admitted. “I did not realize what I was doing. All I knew was that I could not let the man take her.”
“It was your bravery that saved her.”
She grinned, embarrassed, not knowing what to say to him. She wasn’t used to having praise heaped upon her, but he did it quite freely and she wasn’t hard pressed to admit she liked it. It made her feel very special. She put a bite of mutton in her mouth and chewed daintily.
“Do you know who you compete against in the next round?” she asked.
He shook his head, brushing off his hands on his boots. “Nay,” he replied. “They will not draw lots until this round is complete.”
“Have you competed in many tournaments?”
“Many, indeed.”
“Here you are!” came an unfamiliar voice into the conversation. “I have been looking everywhere for you.”
Mathias and Cathlina turned to see Sebastian walking up on them. The man’s skull cap was removed and his long, curly red hair flowed freely to his shoulders, dusting the top of the frayed and stained peasant’s tunic he was wearing. Mathias stood up as he brother approached.
“Sebastian,” he greeted, indicating Cathlina. “You remember Lady Cathlina.”
Sebastian looked down at the perfectly beautiful woman seated on the stone steps with the trencher on her lap. He nodded his head in her direction. “Of course I do,” he said. “She makes wonderful cakes.”
Cathlina grinned as she set the trencher aside, her sweet face upturned. “I am glad you enjoyed them,” she said. “It was the least I could do for your assistance.”
Sebastian could see, in that instant, what had his brother so smitten. He hadn’t had much opportunity to speak with her since their introduction and he could see that she was indeed a lovely and well-spoken young woman. If she had Mathias’ attention, then she must be something special, indeed.
“It was our pleasure,” he said as a twinkle came to his green eyes. “In fact, I still have the brute in stocks back behind the stall. I can give you a stick and you can beat him if you wish.”
Cathlina giggled. “As righteous as that sounds, I am afraid I must decline. I will leave the beatings to you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am sure.”
Sebastian was grinning because she was. She had a charming little manner about her. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer before turning his attention to his brother.
“The pole you smashed on de Lara is not repairable,” he told him. “Unless I can find another length of wood, we will have to use the remaining two and hope those do not shatter.”
Mathias scratched his forehead in resignation. “I suppose that was to be expected,” he said. “How is de Lara?”
Sebastian shrugged. “St. Héver said he is well enough,” he replied. “The only reason he forfeited was because his wife was so upset. He plans to watch the rest of the tournament from the lists.”
