your
life."
Arissa's
heart soared at the sound of Richmond's voice, deadly and sincere. Instantly,
Tad released his grasp and she stumbled away from him, moving to seek
protection behind Richmond's massive body.
Even
though Arissa was safe, Richmond did not drop the sword; instead, he seemed to
take peculiar delight in caressing the cold steel against the end of Tad's
nose. The knight stood like stone, watching the blade with crossed-eyes.
"Are
you well, kitten?"
"Fine,
Richmond."
The
sword was sheathed faster than the human eye could comprehend. Arissa, relieved
that Richmond had detoured her over-zealous suitor, wrapped her arms about his
armored waist and peered at Tad from behind Richmond's massive frame.
"Be
gone with you," Richmond growled. "If I see you so much as glance in
my lady's direction, you will know the true meaning of pain."
Tad
backed up a step, his outrage overcoming his initial shock. "What goes on
between Lady Arissa and myself is none of your affair, Sir Richmond."
"I
beg to differ. Her welfare has always been my concern."
Tad
came to a halt in his quest to leave the area. The massive keep was casting
long shadows in the bailey from the afternoon sun, shielding the three of them
from the bright glare. Even though there was moderate activity in the bailey,
their exchange went completely unnoticed.
"You
are too old to fight a young man's duel, le Bec," Tad said in a low,
nearly mocking tone. "The next man you tread upon may not be as generous
as I."
Richmond
almost looked amused. "You are most generous to obey my command, my lord.
However, it is difficult to hold a sword when your hands are shaking like a
woman's."
"Woman
indeed! I shall show you a woman," he whirled, searching desperately for
any man with a weapon. "You! Yes, you! Bring me your staff!"
"No,
Tad!" Arissa emerged from behind Richmond. "That staff is no
protection against his sword!"
Tad
glared at her. "You started this, and I shall end it," his hostile
gaze came to rest on Richmond as he tightened his leather gloves. "You are
an idiot, old man. How dare you provoke my wrath. I shall crumble your ancient
bones and grind them into the earth. How easy this shall be!"
Richmond
did something then that Arissa had never seen him do. He burst out laughing
like a giddy fool, howling until his eyes ran with tears. Arissa stood by, her mouth
open in astonishment, as he nearly wept into his hand.
"A
priceless statement, my young friend," he snorted, wiping at his eyes.
Taking a deep breath to regain his control, he moved to unsheathe his sword.
"It has been a pleasure provoking your wrath."
A
puzzled de Rydal soldier handed Tad a large, leather bound staff. The knight
yanked it away savagely, immediately spinning the pole in an expert, controlled
fashion. Richmond's smile faded as he gently pushed Arissa away from him.
"Stand
over there, kitten," he said softly. "This should not take
long."
Eyes
wide, Arissa obeyed. Richmond kept his eyes on Tad even as he was aware of her
bright green surcoat fading from his line of sight. When the grass-hued garment
vanished, he cocked an eyebrow at the young knight.
"Well?
Make your move if you must."
"A
rather confident attitude."
"'Tis
I who bear the blade, not a rotting stick."
Tad
stopped twirling the staff, bringing it to bear in a defensive horizontal
position. His blue eyes gleamed with menacing delight as he prepared to
humiliate one of Henry's greatest knights.
"Mayhap
after this beating you shall leave the fighting to the youngers, le Bec. You
are too old for this kind of work."
The
corners of Richmond's mouth twitched, the threat of a smile pending. He was not
about to reply to the insult dealt; he was fully prepared to allow his actions
to answer in lieu of pretty words.
Arissa
watched the entire event unfold; even so, she would have been unable to
describe Richmond's skill in words. Every phrase that came to mind was far too
tame for a man of his considerable talent. Before
life."
Arissa's
heart soared at the sound of Richmond's voice, deadly and sincere. Instantly,
Tad released his grasp and she stumbled away from him, moving to seek
protection behind Richmond's massive body.
Even
though Arissa was safe, Richmond did not drop the sword; instead, he seemed to
take peculiar delight in caressing the cold steel against the end of Tad's
nose. The knight stood like stone, watching the blade with crossed-eyes.
"Are
you well, kitten?"
"Fine,
Richmond."
The
sword was sheathed faster than the human eye could comprehend. Arissa, relieved
that Richmond had detoured her over-zealous suitor, wrapped her arms about his
armored waist and peered at Tad from behind Richmond's massive frame.
"Be
gone with you," Richmond growled. "If I see you so much as glance in
my lady's direction, you will know the true meaning of pain."
Tad
backed up a step, his outrage overcoming his initial shock. "What goes on
between Lady Arissa and myself is none of your affair, Sir Richmond."
"I
beg to differ. Her welfare has always been my concern."
Tad
came to a halt in his quest to leave the area. The massive keep was casting
long shadows in the bailey from the afternoon sun, shielding the three of them
from the bright glare. Even though there was moderate activity in the bailey,
their exchange went completely unnoticed.
"You
are too old to fight a young man's duel, le Bec," Tad said in a low,
nearly mocking tone. "The next man you tread upon may not be as generous
as I."
Richmond
almost looked amused. "You are most generous to obey my command, my lord.
However, it is difficult to hold a sword when your hands are shaking like a
woman's."
"Woman
indeed! I shall show you a woman," he whirled, searching desperately for
any man with a weapon. "You! Yes, you! Bring me your staff!"
"No,
Tad!" Arissa emerged from behind Richmond. "That staff is no
protection against his sword!"
Tad
glared at her. "You started this, and I shall end it," his hostile
gaze came to rest on Richmond as he tightened his leather gloves. "You are
an idiot, old man. How dare you provoke my wrath. I shall crumble your ancient
bones and grind them into the earth. How easy this shall be!"
Richmond
did something then that Arissa had never seen him do. He burst out laughing
like a giddy fool, howling until his eyes ran with tears. Arissa stood by, her mouth
open in astonishment, as he nearly wept into his hand.
"A
priceless statement, my young friend," he snorted, wiping at his eyes.
Taking a deep breath to regain his control, he moved to unsheathe his sword.
"It has been a pleasure provoking your wrath."
A
puzzled de Rydal soldier handed Tad a large, leather bound staff. The knight
yanked it away savagely, immediately spinning the pole in an expert, controlled
fashion. Richmond's smile faded as he gently pushed Arissa away from him.
"Stand
over there, kitten," he said softly. "This should not take
long."
Eyes
wide, Arissa obeyed. Richmond kept his eyes on Tad even as he was aware of her
bright green surcoat fading from his line of sight. When the grass-hued garment
vanished, he cocked an eyebrow at the young knight.
"Well?
Make your move if you must."
"A
rather confident attitude."
"'Tis
I who bear the blade, not a rotting stick."
Tad
stopped twirling the staff, bringing it to bear in a defensive horizontal
position. His blue eyes gleamed with menacing delight as he prepared to
humiliate one of Henry's greatest knights.
"Mayhap
after this beating you shall leave the fighting to the youngers, le Bec. You
are too old for this kind of work."
The
corners of Richmond's mouth twitched, the threat of a smile pending. He was not
about to reply to the insult dealt; he was fully prepared to allow his actions
to answer in lieu of pretty words.
Arissa
watched the entire event unfold; even so, she would have been unable to
describe Richmond's skill in words. Every phrase that came to mind was far too
tame for a man of his considerable talent. Before
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