of knights and lords. Above that, she has land I want and is pleasant and comely. She has not the substance to be shrewish and” -- he shrugged and kicked a pebble on the ground -- ”it will not pain me to give her a place in my bed.”
Alaric looked up and took a breath. “ Do you love her?”
Conan cleared his throat in embarrassment. “ She is shapely and well kept. I have felt a passing fancy for those maids who would play their favors for a knight, and it turned quick to passion. You need not fear that I am ignorant. This I feel for Edwina: I tell you true, I am anxious to have her. But what is love, my lord? Is it something more? I love my horse and my bird and I serve them as faithfully as they serve me. By my oath I would honor and protect her to my death. I know of nothing more to be pledged.”
Alaric smiled with satisfaction. Conan’s word was his life.
“ Medwin grows impatient with Edwina,” Conan contin ued. “ He would have her married. I dare not tarry any longer over the prospect or I will find her gone. She has told me that Medwin strongly considers Tedric. I will speak to Medwin tonight if you permit it.”
“ Medwin will not stay you, but I fear you will anger Sir Tedric beyond your ken. Be certain, son, that you seek Edwina for herself and not as a means to best Tedric yet again.”
“ It is not in my mind to have another battle with Tedric. I do not think he will challenge me. It is Edwina I want. I will not lose the lady and her lands to Tedric.”
Alaric placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “ Conan, be sure of what you do. If Tedric had not requested Edwina’s hand in marriage, would you ask for her now?”
“ Yea, Father. Perhaps I would not seek out Medwin this very night -- Tedric’s threat to what I want urges me on. Yea, Edwina is a choice mate for a man. She is a timid creature, but I am not an oaf and know the ways to court a maid.”
“ Then see the matter done, Conan,” Alaric said. “ And I wish you the very best.”
When the hour was late and the feasting finished and empty platters laden with bones and scraps either thrown to the dogs or carried away, Lord Alaric rose and called those in the room to his attention. When some order fell over the crowd of men and maidens, Alaric raised his cup high.
“ On this night of good cheer, what could be more fitting than to herald more good news. My own son, Sir Conan de Corbney, will pledge himself in marriage to the daughter of my friend and neighbor, Sir Medwin.” Medwin rose and held his cup high, looking with brotherly affection toward Alaric. “ Sir Conan will wed the fair lady Edwina some months hence and gives his promise to honor this betrothal. To Sir Conan!” he shouted, drinking deep. The crowd within the hall echoed his salutation. “ To the lady Edwina!” he shouted, again raising the horn and drinking deeply of the heady wine. Again the hall echoed its approval.
With glad tears in her eyes, Udele rose with dignity and made her way to the young couple, embracing and kissing them both. Knights approached to congratulate Conan, and many a maid rushed to Edwina to enfold her in their arms and wish her well.
Across the hall where Tedric sat with his father and two of his brothers, he grabbed Theodoric’s arm and said between gritted teeth, “ I had made my offer of marriage to Medwin for his daughter.”
Theodoric snatched his arm rudely from his son and looked at him closely. “ On this day you will not interfere,” he ground out with threatening slowness. “ You will wish Conan well and shame this family no more if you will be called my son!”
Theodoric rose and held his horn high, drinking to the celebrated couple.
In the throng of well-wishers came Chandra, making her way gingerly to her sister and Conan. By the time she reached them, tears were staining her cheeks. She embraced Edwina and they held each other close, both shedding tears that were born of emotions alien to the
Alaric looked up and took a breath. “ Do you love her?”
Conan cleared his throat in embarrassment. “ She is shapely and well kept. I have felt a passing fancy for those maids who would play their favors for a knight, and it turned quick to passion. You need not fear that I am ignorant. This I feel for Edwina: I tell you true, I am anxious to have her. But what is love, my lord? Is it something more? I love my horse and my bird and I serve them as faithfully as they serve me. By my oath I would honor and protect her to my death. I know of nothing more to be pledged.”
Alaric smiled with satisfaction. Conan’s word was his life.
“ Medwin grows impatient with Edwina,” Conan contin ued. “ He would have her married. I dare not tarry any longer over the prospect or I will find her gone. She has told me that Medwin strongly considers Tedric. I will speak to Medwin tonight if you permit it.”
“ Medwin will not stay you, but I fear you will anger Sir Tedric beyond your ken. Be certain, son, that you seek Edwina for herself and not as a means to best Tedric yet again.”
“ It is not in my mind to have another battle with Tedric. I do not think he will challenge me. It is Edwina I want. I will not lose the lady and her lands to Tedric.”
Alaric placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “ Conan, be sure of what you do. If Tedric had not requested Edwina’s hand in marriage, would you ask for her now?”
“ Yea, Father. Perhaps I would not seek out Medwin this very night -- Tedric’s threat to what I want urges me on. Yea, Edwina is a choice mate for a man. She is a timid creature, but I am not an oaf and know the ways to court a maid.”
“ Then see the matter done, Conan,” Alaric said. “ And I wish you the very best.”
When the hour was late and the feasting finished and empty platters laden with bones and scraps either thrown to the dogs or carried away, Lord Alaric rose and called those in the room to his attention. When some order fell over the crowd of men and maidens, Alaric raised his cup high.
“ On this night of good cheer, what could be more fitting than to herald more good news. My own son, Sir Conan de Corbney, will pledge himself in marriage to the daughter of my friend and neighbor, Sir Medwin.” Medwin rose and held his cup high, looking with brotherly affection toward Alaric. “ Sir Conan will wed the fair lady Edwina some months hence and gives his promise to honor this betrothal. To Sir Conan!” he shouted, drinking deep. The crowd within the hall echoed his salutation. “ To the lady Edwina!” he shouted, again raising the horn and drinking deeply of the heady wine. Again the hall echoed its approval.
With glad tears in her eyes, Udele rose with dignity and made her way to the young couple, embracing and kissing them both. Knights approached to congratulate Conan, and many a maid rushed to Edwina to enfold her in their arms and wish her well.
Across the hall where Tedric sat with his father and two of his brothers, he grabbed Theodoric’s arm and said between gritted teeth, “ I had made my offer of marriage to Medwin for his daughter.”
Theodoric snatched his arm rudely from his son and looked at him closely. “ On this day you will not interfere,” he ground out with threatening slowness. “ You will wish Conan well and shame this family no more if you will be called my son!”
Theodoric rose and held his horn high, drinking to the celebrated couple.
In the throng of well-wishers came Chandra, making her way gingerly to her sister and Conan. By the time she reached them, tears were staining her cheeks. She embraced Edwina and they held each other close, both shedding tears that were born of emotions alien to the
Similar Books
