Page 86 of Picking Up the Gauntlet

“Nay, I couldn’t,” said Jonathon.

“Well, we can’t let her joust. I guess it is time to tell my father and let him handle this.”

“I wish you wouldn’t. There has to be another way.” If they did this, everything would blow up and everyone’s lives would be affected. Jonathon couldn’t have that.

“Then tell me how, because I’m not seeing it,” said Rook.

Jonathon was about to leave the shed when his gaze fell on the bag with the armor in it. “If Raven doesn’t have her armor, she won’t be able to compete in the joust, will she?”

“Nay,” said Rook. “It is in the rules that every man competing in the joust must have proper protection.”

“Then I’m taking it back,” he said, shoving the helm in the bag and picking up the armor.

“How is that going to solve the problem? She’ll still end up marrying the winner of the competition. And since I didn’t participate in the second event, I can’t joust, or even be in the tournament at all. It is a rule that to proceed to the final event, you have to have competed in the first two. Which I haven’t.”

Jonathon saw the tunic with the fake crest on the ground and picked it up. “You haven’t, but Sir Jonathon Nevar has.”

“What are you thinking?” asked Rook.

“I’m going to take over the guise of the Frenchman.”

“Nay.” Rook shook his head. “You aren’t allowed to compete. Besides, you don’t have armor, and I know you won’t fit in Raven’s since it was made for a lady.” He nodded at the armor Jonathon held.

“Nay, I won’t fit in that. I do have my own armor, but it is back in town and there is no time to get it. However, we’re about the same size. Since you’re not going to be using your armor, let me wear it.”

“You? You’re going to win a joust? Hah!” Rook found the thought amusing.

“Mayhap I won’t win, but I have to at least try. I won’t give up Raven without a fight.”

“As soon as everyone discovers who you are, you’ll be imprisoned for posing as a knight. Think of what you’re doing.”

“I no longer care,” he said. “If I have the chance of helping Raven, I will risk my life to do it.”

“How the hell is this going to help her? Even if you did win for some odd reason, you still won’t be able to marry her. You’re a commoner, Jonathon, or have you forgotten?”

“I wish I could,” he said, looking down at the tunic with the French crest in his hand. “I should have spoken to your father earlier like Raven wanted me to. I was a fool, and now I know I’m going to lose her.”

“Then why even do this?” asked Rook. “You will lose everything if you do.”

“I have to do it to prove to Raven how much I really love her. And as for possibly losing everything, it no longer matters. Because without Raven in my life, I will have lost everything that really matters.”

Chapter 21

Raven was furious that Jonathon had distracted her, causing her to lose the sword fight to Sir Whitehead. Whitehead had gone on to win the complete round. If she had won, there would have been no need for the joust. Now she would be required to joust with Whitehead in the finals since she won the archery round.

This tournament was set up a little differently than usual. Her father said the winners of the first two rounds would be the only ones to compete in the joust for Raven’s hand in marriage. Afterwards, there would be an opportunity for each of the competitors to joust, but the prize—meaning her—was off the table. Any other prizes would be money only.

“Well, Daughter,” said her father. “In just a short while you will be betrothed to either Sir Whitehead or Sir Nevar. Which one do you fancy?”

“Oh, Sir Nevar, without a doubt,” she said, sitting on the platform next to Lark.

“Quit your scowling, Raven. You’re going to scare them both off,” said Corbett.

“I can’t help it. I told you, I don’t want to get married. Not to either of them.”

“Corbett, mayhap you should listen to Raven,” said Devon. “You don’t want her to be unhappy, do you?”

“I have a feeling there is nothing that would make our daughter happy,” answered Corbett.