Page 84 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Jonathon, did you find my sister?” asked Rook, coming to join him. The onlookers moved out of the way since Rook was a noble.

“Unfortunately, I did,” he mumbled, his heart racing and his eyes focused on Raven as she fought with Whitehead. She was good, but how long could she keep it up, fighting a strong man twice her size? This was ludicrous and he needed to do something to stop it.

“Where is she?” asked Rook, looking around.

“You’re watching her fight Whitehead,” said Jonathon.

“What are you saying?” asked Rook, confused.

Jonathon turned to face Rook. “Your sister is in disguise as the Frenchman Nevar.”

“Huh?” Rook looked over to the men fighting. “You’re wrong. That is not Raven.”

“Do you know the Frenchman?” asked Jonathon.

“Nay,” said Rook, shaking his head. “Neither does my father.”

“And doesn’t it seem suspicious that the man’s name is Jonathon Nevar?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“She used my name, and spelled her name backwards for the surname. Plus, she is wearing the armor I made her. Raven joined the competition in disguise for some odd reason, but she is going to get hurt or even killed.”

“She’s holding her own for now, but you’re right,” agreed Rook. “If she has to joust, she will get killed. She can’t compete against trained men. Not in the joust. I’m going to end this right now.” He started forward, but Jonathon stopped him.

“Nay. You will embarrass her as well as your father,” said Jonathon.

“Why is she doing this?” asked Rook.

“My guess is that she is trying to win the tournament so she won’t have to marry one of the nobles.”

“My sister is a fool! I’m going to strangle her, I swear.”

Raven noticed them. When she glanced their way, Jonathon swished his hands through the air, trying to silently tell her to leave the competition. He realized his mistake as soon as he did it. Taking Raven’s attention for that one moment caused her to lose focus. Whitehead unarmed her and knocked her to the ground. Then he put his foot on her chest and raised his sword in the air. The crowd cheered, and the announcer proclaimed him the winner of this hand-to-hand combat.

“Sir Whitehead will move on,” said the herald. “Sir Nevar, please leave the field.”

“I’ll kill him for touching her,” snarled Jonathon watching Whitehead with his foot on Raven’s chest and his sword raised in the air. Jonathon was ready to jump the fence and punch the man, but Rook stopped him.

“Don’t,” warned Rook. “She doesn’t seem hurt. Just let her be.”

Raven jumped to her feet, grabbing her sword and hurrying from the field. She ran past Rook and Jonathon without saying a word to them.

“Let’s follow her,” said Jonathon.

“You go. I need to tell Father about this,” said Rook.

“Can you wait?” asked Jonathon. “I mean... give me a minute to talk to Raven first.”

“Fine,” said Rook with a sigh. “Convince her to withdraw from the competition. If she does it now, no one has to know what she did.”

“I’ll try my best,” said Jonathon. “Let me talk with her. Then I’ll meet you at the platform and let you know what she said.”

Jonathon saw Raven sneak into a shed. He also noticed Albert standing outside of it.

“Albert?” he asked. “You’re part of this deception?”

“I didn’t want to be, but had no choice,” said the boy.