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He sighed. “Because you needed a guard this night and William assigned me.” He wasn’t about to tell her the whole story, but what he stated was the truth.
She frowned. “Do ye swear?”
“Aye.”
“Do ye swear it on yer oath as a knight of the realm?” she demanded again.
He cleared his throat. “Aye, m-my lady. I do.”
She still didn’t believe him, but didn’t push anymore. “Well, then, since I have never been to a knighting ceremony, ye can tell Jemma and me what goes on. Come to the bedchamber window with us; ’tis a better view.”
He obeyed, standing behind them as they gazed out the window toward the knights’ quarters. A soft glow from inside filtered through the thin windows, with shadows passing before the openings now and again.
“What are they doing now?” Jemma asked softly.
Michael braced his legs apart, crossing his massive arms across him. “Right now Adam is taking his ceremonial bath. ’Tis largely symbolic, im-mplying purification of the soul for service to God.”
“I wasna aware that English knights are so religious,” Jemma said.
“Indeed, m-my lady,” Michael insisted softly. “ ’Tis the primary purpose of a knight to uphold the laws of the church. In fact, a philosopher once wrote that the knighthood’s function is to protect the church, fight against treachery, to reverence the priesthood, to fend off injustice from the poor, to m-make peace in your own province, to shed blood for your brethren, and if need be, to lay down your life.”
Properly awed, Jordan and Jemma gazed at the knights’ quarters with new eyes. “All of that?” Jordan asked softly. “ ’Tis an awesome responsibility you hold, sir knight.”
“Aye,” Michael replied. “And one may also add to the list to protect lovely young maidens.”
The women turned and smiled at him. Jordan was about to speak when he suddenly pointed out the window. “Look, there,” he said. “Here they come.”
They were riveted to the window, straining to see all. The door was now open and they could see movement. Adam emerged, dressed in a long pristine white robe with a red mantle draped about him. He solemnly headed for the small chapel under the Northwest turret.
William was directly behind him and Jordan’s heart warmed at the sight of him. He was dressed in full ceremonial armor, his hair combed and clean-shaven. His gait was distinctive, she noticed, with a sort of arrogant and proud swagger. She wondered why she had never noticed it before. Behind him were the rest of the knights, plus several other men in armor she did not recognize. Kieran carried Adam’s sword and shield, and Paris held a shiny object in his right hand.
“What is Paris holding?” she asked Michael.
“Adam’s spurs,” he told her softly. “A symbol of his knighthood.”
The procession walked silently, with each man disappearing from their line of sight as they rounded the corner of the castle. When all had gone from view, Jemma and Jordan turned on Michael eagerly.
“What will they do now?” Jordan asked.
“When will they be done?” Jemma demanded.
“Will Adam get hit with a sword at the ceremony?”
“Does Adam have to fight William to prove himself?”
Michael’s head began to swim and he put his hands up, although he was laughing. “Please, ladies, one at a time,” he implored. “Now, in answer to your questions, they will be done at dawn. Nay, Adam does not get hit with a sword, m-merely christened by it, and he does not have to fight William. As for what will happen now, ’tis very simple from this point on. The knights will lay Adam’s sword, shield and spurs on the altar and Adam will hold vigilant prayer all night. Then there will be a ceremony at dawn in which the earl and invited guests will attend, and William will knight Adam.”
“Do all of the knights have to pray all night long?” Jordan tried to hide her disappointment; she had hoped to see William this night.
“Aye, my lady, they do,” he replied, then added with a touch of drollness, “it does wonders for one’s knightly devotion to spend an entire night kneeling in armor. There are not many things more painful in this life.”
The thought of all of the knights kneeling all night long brought giggles to the women.
“Who were all of those other knights?” Jordan asked. “I dinna recognize them.”
“Those were other honored knights Adam wished to have attend him,” Michael replied. “The Captains of Beverley, where he fostered, Deauxville M-Mount, Northumbria, Cumberland, Hawkgrove, Bitterwell, Simonson Keep, Alston, and Wellesbourne, I believe.”
Jordan snorted and turned away. “It doesna sound like much of an honor to know that ye are going to spend the entire night on yer knees.”
