If Not For The Knight by Debbie Boek (ebook reader below 3000 TXT) 📖

The boy's features relaxed and his lop-sided grin appeared again as he extended his hand toward Calder and said, “Deal”.

Calder could not help smiling down at him as they shook their agreement. He felt better, hoping that he now had an unwitting accomplice in Radolf, who would tell him when things went wrong, as Regan would not.

Regan found that her heart actually stopped beating in her chest when she turned from watching what was happening to Edgar, only to find Calder holding Radolf in his arms and talking with him.

When it did start to beat again, it pounded so furiously in her chest that Regan feared she might pass out. Will Calder see himself in Radolf? she worried, feeling close to panic.

Seeing Radolf smile, she was able to relax a little. He had a fear of most men, no doubt due to Edgar's treatment of him. Although still nervous that Calder might realize their relationship, she could not help feeling a warmth blossom in her chest as she saw how comfortable Radolf was with him.

She watched them curiously as Calder and Radolf shook hands, then walked side by side back down the steps toward her.

“Stay away from them, you Norman bastard,” Edgar screamed from the other side of the courtyard. Calder frowned when Edgar's outburst caused Radolf to run and hide behind his mother's skirts.

Calder turned toward Graeham. “Gag him,” he ordered coldly.

Graeham quickly ran over and roughly tied a wad of cloth over Edgar's mouth.

Calder forced his features to relax as he turned back to Regan.

“You have quite a son, Regan,” he said, smiling down at her.

“Thank you,” she replied, still upset at everything that was happening, but unable to keep her face from beaming with pride as she ruffled Radolf's hair.

Radolf had also watched as Edgar was gagged and now drummed up his courage and stood proudly at his mother's side. “I'm still gonna be a assissant.”

She smiled tentatively at Calder. “Is that what your conversation was about?”

“Of course,” he replied, with a wink at Radolf. “There's money involved, you know. Men have to come to agreements on these things.”

“I'm sorry about what happened,” she began, but the shake of his head stopped her in mid-sentence.

“I need to know just one thing,” he said, the humor gone from his eyes now. “Do you want me to release you from our agreement?”

She hesitated for a moment but could not deny the truth when he looked at her that way. She would pay for it once Edgar was freed, but knew that she could tolerate anything if it meant she could be near Calder.

“No, I don't want you to release me,” she answered softly, wanting to touch him, to hold him, to let him keep her and Radolf safe from Edgar and the others.

It took all of his willpower to not reach out and caress her face at that moment. Instead, he looked over at Edgar, who was still glaring at them. “Come inside for a moment then, I'll show you where you can work. Then I'd best be about my own duties.”

He looked down as Radolf put his tiny hand in his own large one and walked side by side with him up the stairs and into the Manor.

“I have paper and ink set up for you over here.” He indicated a table in the corner. “For today, just list the different households for me. It should not take more than a day, should it?”

“Oh, not even that long,” she replied confidently. “That's the easy part.”

“Good. Leave your papers with one of my men when you are done.” They stood awkwardly for a moment, neither sure of how to address the subject they needed to discuss.

“When will Edgar be released?” she asked hesitantly.

“I wish never, but I will have to let him go later this afternoon. Will you be all right with him?” She could hear the concern in his voice and was touched by it.

She started to nod her head, but Radolf interjected. “Can we live here with you, Lord Cawer?”

“Why would you want to do that, boy?” Calder asked curiously.

Radolf just shrugged his shoulders, but he looked upset.

“Come, Radolf,” Regan said, her face flushing, “you and I are fine in our own home. We take good care of each other, don't we?”

“Yes, but Daddy might come there again,” he whined tearfully.

“Shush, Radolf,” she said sternly, flushing an even deeper shade of red, not wanting their secrets spilled to Calder. “It is none of Lord Calder's concern. We will be fine, Milord.”

He knelt down in front of Radolf. “I am always here if either of you need me. Will you remember that?”

Radolf nodded and gave him a hug, his little body shaking as he began to sob in Calder's arms.

Calder looked at Regan worriedly, hoping she was right and that there would be no repercussions for the two of them. But, just in case, he would be sure to have a little talk with Edgar before releasing him that afternoon.

“Radolf,” he called firmly, and the boy let go to look up at him, “all will be well. I have much work to do and must go now. You look out for your Maman, all right?”

Radolf wiped his nose with his sleeve as he nodded to Calder.

“Well, then,” he said, reluctant to leave, “I will see you tomorrow.”

“Yes, Milord,” Regan answered, bowing her head to him and leading Radolf over to the table that Calder had indicated. She hoped that she was not misleading all of them by insisting that all would be well with Edgar once he was released.

Calder spent a busy day riding from site to site, helping to resolve problems and making sure that the work was being done according to his instructions. He was in an ugly mood due, no doubt, to the fact that little more than half the group of villagers assigned had shown up that day.

It was early afternoon when Garrick came riding pell mell toward him. "Draco and the surgeon have arrived, M'lord," he said, a little breathless from the hard ride.

“It's about time,” Calder replied, turning Alerio toward the village and spurring him forward. He leapt off the horse when he reached the Manor, tossing the reins to Garrick as he bolted up the steps.

He found Draco waiting for him in the Great Hall. “The surgeon is with your brother now, Milord.”

“Good. He is not doing well at all, Draco,” Calder replied, the sadness evident in his voice. “Your trip was uneventful?”

“Once I made my way through His Highness' moronic aides to get to his side, all was handled quickly,” he replied, his gravelly voice even deeper due to his fatigue.

“I should be with Aric.”

Draco put his hand on Calder's arm as he turned to go up the stairs. “Wait, Milord. You must let the surgeon work alone for now. And I need to speak with you first.”

Regan must have finished her work for the day, because the Hall was empty as the two men sat down on opposite sides of the long table. Draco handed him a missive with the King's seal affixed to it.

“What is this?”

"Read it for yourself," Draco replied, not sure how he would react to the news.

After reading the document over several times, Calder continued to stare down at it in silence. “You know what this says?” he finally asked.

“Yes, the King told me of its contents.”

“So, believing that my brother is about to die, he has given these lands over to me?”

“Yes,” said Draco. “He does not want to give Roderick a chance at them.”

“I see,” Calder murmured thoughtfully. He had never wanted to be a landowner and told the King that repeatedly when offered one of his fiefs. Apparently, his wishes were not to be taken into account, after all.

“The country is close to being at peace,” Draco said quietly, knowing how Calder felt about this issue. “There is less need for men such as you and me. Perhaps it is for the best to have a place of your own to call home.”

“Perhaps, Draco,” Calder replied absently, “but we will keep this between us for now. I will not have Aric know of the King's insult to him.”

“As you wish, Milord.”

The surgeon came downstairs just then, and Calder yelled loudly for one of the servants to bring them food and ale. Once they were served, Calder addressed the surgeon.

“How is he, Gideon?”

“Not well, as I'm sure you have seen,” the tall, slight man said, shaking his head sadly. “He will not last out the week, Calder. There is nothing I can do for him, save help him sleep through the pain of it.”

Calder laid his hand over Gideon's. “I ask only that you do whatever you can to make his passing easier for him to bear.”

“I will