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William admired Deinwald’s horse for he was a truly magnificent animal with a reputable sire. He was also, however, quite young and unruly. Perfect for Deinwald’s temperament.

“He will calm down,” William remarked. “He did quite well in the skirmish yesterday.”

Deinwald snorted. “Hell, when I wasn’t fighting the Scots, I was fighting with him.” At the word ‘Scots’ he glanced down at slumbering Jordan. “I shall take her if you wish to ride into Northwood alone, as you usually do.”

William did not look at him. It seemed to him that the offer had been more of a request. Deinwald wanted to be the one seen riding in with the beautiful young woman. She looked quite fairy princess-like the wildflowers woven into her hair.

“Mayhap,” William said vaguely.

Deinwald looked off into the distance. “Another hour at least at this pace.”

A breeze blew one of the flowers from Jordan’s wreath onto her face. William reached down and tried to remove it as gently as he could, but true to form, she awoke with a start.

“Are we there?” She sat bolt up, banging her head on William’s helmet. “Ooch.”

He snickered and put his big hand over her small one as it rubbed her head. “Nay, we are not there yet, my lady. Did you sleep well?”

She winced. “I felt fine until I collided with that bucket ye wear on yer head,” she said. “Take yer hand from my head, English, ye’ll muss my hair.”

He complied, rewrapping his arm around her waist. Deinwald was watching her closely as she smoothed her hair and straightened her flowers.

“My lady, you have weeds growing out of your hair,” he said. It was the closest William had ever heard him come to speaking pleasantly to her.

She sneered at him. “Yer one to talk, Deinwald Ellsrod. Yer hair looks like it hasna seen soap in a year.”

“Aye, ye tell him, Jordi.” Jemma was several feet behind her but had heard everything. “He looks like a caveman.”

Deinwald looked over his shoulder and flipped up his visor, scowling at Jemma. “Keep yer Scot opinions to yourself, banshee.”

Jemma stiffened and Kieran tightened his grip. “Why does everyone call me a banshee?”

Deinwald began making faces at her. “Because you are wild and daft like one,” he yelled back to her. “And because your face is…ahhhh!” He made a horrible face and rolled his eyes fiendishly.

Kieran’s visor came up. “Look who’s talking – the king of the Scot-dogs,” he looked at Michael, his ever-ready audience. “Did you see his face just then? He really looks like that. The face we see now is the result a white-witch’s spell so that mere mortals may look upon his face without turning into a pillar of salt.”

Jordan was craning her neck around William, trying to watch Kieran and Jemma as they harassed Deinwald.

“Ha.” Deinwald countered. “At least I do not have to ride with Lady Medusa.”

“She is not Medusa,” Jordan jumped in. “And she is no banshee and I demand that ye stop calling her that.”

“Why are you spoiling our fun?” Paris said from behind his closed helmet. “Would you prefer that we call you banshee?”

“Call her banshee and I will call you out,” William said, not turning around to look at any of them.

Jordan gave them all a triumphant, childish smile and stuck her tongue out at everyone who was looking at her. From anyone else it would have been an arrogant gesture, but coming from her it was sassy and fun.

“Dunna call me banshee.” Jemma was back to the same old song. “I dunna like it.”

“Fine, then, we must think of a new name for you,” Paris said. “Help me, if you will, Lady Jordan. Does your cousin have a nickname?”

Jemma shrieked. “Dunna ye dare tell them, Jordi, or I swear….”

Jordan smiled quite devilishly. The knights saw that the game was afoot and began pounding her with questions while Jemma screeched her threats. Jordan quite enjoyed fending off their pleas and questions, turning her back and hiding coyly in front of William while denying their inquiries. Underneath his visor, William was smiling broadly.

They were relentless. Finally, Jordan turned back around to face them if only to gain some peace.

“Enough.” she called out and they went quiet. “I will give ye a hint and that is all. The rest ye must do on yer own. Her nickname had to do with waterfowl.”