Page 90 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Quit lying. I am looking right at the knight.”

“She’s not lying, my lord.” Jonathon flipped up the visor to let Corbett see his face.

“You?” asked Corbett in confusion. “What the hell are you doing up on that horse? You can’t enter the competition. You have to be a noble.”

“Father, listen to me,” said Raven. “I have something to say.”

“I’m not going to be made a fool of, Armstrong. I have no choice but to imprison you.” Corbett was doing exactly what they thought he’d do, but Raven couldn’t let him. Jonathon didn’t deserve it.

“Father, listen to me,” she cried.

“Corbett, I think you’d better give your daughter your ear,” said Devon. “After all, she is in love with Jonathon, and he is the one she wants to marry.”

“What? You knew about this?” Corbett now glared at Devon.

“In Mother’s defense, she didn’t know that I, or Jonathon, entered the competition,” said Raven.

“What about you?” Corbett asked Rook. “If you’re helping the armorer, you must have known as well.”

“I just found out today and tried to help Raven,” said Rook. “I wanted to win so she didn’t have to marry a fool like Whitehead.” Whitehead used this delay to his advantage, holding his lance high and getting the crowd to cheer for him. “Then you disqualified me and ruined that plan,” finished Rook.

“That’s why I’m jousting,” explained Jonathon from atop the horse. “I’m doing it to save Raven from having to marry a man she doesn’t love.”

“And from getting killed, since she can’t joust worth a damn,” added Rook.

“I’d normally be angry at you for that comment, Brother, but unfortunately it’s true,” Raven told Rook before turning back to her father. “I love Jonathon, Father. I would do anything to marry him.”

“You can’t marry him.” Corbett’s anger grew. “He’s just a commoner. He’s a goddamned armorer.”

“He’s also a mercenary and good fighter,” said Rook, coming to Raven’s defense. “Father, I have to disagree with you on this one. Raven should be allowed to marry Jonathon if she loves him.”

“Thank you, Rook.” Raven smiled at her brother.

“Nay. This can’t be happening.” Corbett ran a hand through his hair. “All I ever wanted was for my children to marry nobles. Is that too much to ask?”

“It is, when it is someone I don’t love,” said Raven. “Father, please. I want to marry Jonathon.”

“My lord, I know I have nothing to offer,” said Jonathon, looking over to Raven now, holding his hurt arm. “That is, I have nothing but my love to offer your daughter. I will do anything to protect her, and try my hardest to give her the life she needs, I promise. Just give me the chance is all I ask.”

“I don’t need anything but you, Jonathon.” Raven looked up at Jonathon, holding on to his leg. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

“Nothing could hurt as much as watching you marry anyone but me,” Jonathon answered.

“All right, that’s enough,” said Rook. “Remember, we’re still in the middle of a tournament here.”

“Nay. Nay, I can’t agree to it,” said Corbett through gritted teeth. “Raven, you are to marry a noble at the end of the tournament, and I won’t change my mind about it so don’t try to stop it again.”

“We’ve already coupled,” said Raven, getting ready for her father to pull Jonathon off the horse and strangle him with his bare hands. “I can’t marry another man. What if I’m already pregnant?” she asked.

“You what!” Corbett’s eyes bore fire. “Keep your voice down,” he ground out. “God’s eyes, I will kill you, armorer, for touching my daughter.”

“I initiated it, Father,” Raven admitted, raising her chin. “And I want you know that I lost my virginity long before I ever knew Jonathon.”

The herald called out that it was time for the final pass. They were tied in the score and this pass would determine the winner of the competition.

“Raven, you will be the death of me yet,” said Corbett looking ready to explode.

The crowd cheered and roared, wanting to see the end of the competition.