Page 49 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Jonathon, do something about this,” mumbled Avery. “I don’t believe the boy will stay quiet.”

“Gerold, do you like this shop?” asked Jonathon.

“Do I!” said the boy with a big smile.

“Father, Gerold has grown up as an apprentice to his late father who was the castle blacksmith,” said Jonathon. “I think he would be a good addition to this shop, don’t you?”

“What?” asked his father in surprise. “Nay, he’s too young to be of any help.”

“He’s not that much younger than Heathcliff,” Jonathon pointed out. “Besides, he knows a lot about the forge. He’s already been a big help to me at the castle’s smithy.”

“Jonathon, your father is getting older and he needs a man here to help him,” said his mother. “Not another boy.”

“I’ll stay,” offered Avery. “At least until Father gets caught up with the work.”

“Can I stay with you too?” asked Gerold excitedly.

“I’d like Gerold to stay since we’re now friends,” said Heathcliff, excited to meet someone close to his age. He didn’t have many friends in town since he was required to work at the shop all day long.

“What about the work back at the castle?” asked Raven. “Who will do that?”

“We’re pretty much caught up for now,” Jonathon told her. “I think it’s a good idea for Avery and Gerold to help out here for a while. At least until the knights start arriving for the tournament. Then they can return to the castle. I can handle things by myself until then. My lady, we should be going now.”

“What about my training?” asked Raven.

“We will talk about that later,” said Jonathon. “Let’s get back to the castle before your father or brother come looking for us.” Jonathon packed up the armor he’d been working on for Raven, sticking the pieces into a large leather bag with a strap and slipping it over his shoulder.

Jonathon’s family had been nothing but kind to her, and Raven felt bad to have put them in this position. “I’m sorry,” she said, not knowing what else to say.

None of them responded.

“This was a mistake,” mumbled Jonathon, heading for the door and she followed. Just as they were about to leave, two men walked in, causing Raven to gasp.

“Lord Whitehead. Lord Belmouth,” said Jonathon. “How can we help you?”

“Lady Raven?” Whitehead looked over to Raven, his eyes drinking her in. “What are you doing here, in town?”

“This is no place for a lady.” Belmouth walked in, making Jonathon step backward. “Does your father know you’re here?”

“Lord Corbett has made me Lady Raven’s guardian,” said Jonathon. “I assure you, he knows she is with me and perfectly safe.”

“Hmph,” sniffed Whitehead. “I still don’t see why Lord Corbett would make a commoner the girl’s guardian. This whole thing is odd if you ask me.”

“My lords, how can I help you?” Jonathon’s father ran over to greet them.

“We stopped by to drop off our armor before the tournament begins,” said Whitehead. “It needs a few repairs and also polishing.”

“Yes, of course,” said Crispin. “I’d be happy to take care of that for you.”

Whitehead spotted the jousting lances lying on the floor. “What are those doing here?” He pointed to them. “Don’t they belong at the castle?”

Gerold spoke up before anyone could answer. “Those are Jonathon’s, and he’s teaching Lady Raven to–”

Avery clasped his hand over the boy’s mouth. “My brother uses them to test out the new armor with our noble customers to make sure it is up to their standards before they pay for it.”

“We only do quality work at this shop,” added Jonathon, sounding as if he were wishing these men would leave. She certainly did.

“My lords, can I see your armor that needs repairing?” asked Jonathon’s father.