"So... Haven connected your two less than flattering identities? That is less than ideal. Also remind me to kill you later for seeing my sister's legs." Silver's eyes flashed at his companion.
"Noted," Ethyn answered, too embarrassed by the events to be afraid of the threat.
"But not before I kill Nuall. Seriously, that man wants me to crush his heart with my heel." The Guardian cracked his knuckles. The young blonde knight had already made it to the top of Silver's list of those needing to be ended, second only to Borit.
"He does have that effect on people." Ethyn looked away. The dark forest reflected his sullen mood.
Every effort to make the boy react had failed. Silver sighed. "Even with all you told me, it isn't as bad as I was expecting. You made some mistakes, but I do think the situation is still salvageable."
"I'm not done..." the green-eyed man pursed his lips.
"Oh." The Guardian grimaced. 'What else could this mutton-head have done?'
"If only I had left after the ceremony," Ethyn moaned. "But of course there had to be a ball..."
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After Sir Samberg left the throne room, he and Cyneheard went and changed into formal attire for a feast and a night of dancing. "I've never seen you preen like that even at your best," Cyneheard teased when he saw the young man adjust the part in his hair for the hundredth time.
"The king said I had great promise. He didn't say that about anyone else. What kind of pressure is that? I have to live up to his expectation." Ethyn pulled a single strand of hair down his forehead and brushed the rest backward.
Cyneheard scratched his bearded chin. "Eh? It is only the king you are trying to impress, then?"
The young man blushed, pressing his mouth shut lest his thoughts come spilling out. But Cyneheard was not done prodding.
"Was it just me, or did the princess seem to be covering up something for you?" The old knight sat down on the bed of Ethyn's room and raised his bushy eyebrows at him.
"Her Highness was covering for herself..." the young man answered, having moved on to smoothing his tunic and adjusting how it was tucked into the belt.
"I see, I see. About that story you were going to tell me. The princess was involved in your washroom fiasco, wasn't she?"
Ethyn froze his peacock like grooming and slumped his shoulders. "Yes, yes she was..."
"That explains why she said you had met. You poor thing," Cyneheard chuckled, but Ethyn could not see why he was amused.
'It was a disaster!' he wanted to scream. But since his sponsor asked no more questions, Ethyn decided there was no need to explain further.
"A piece of advice." Cyneheard's face became serious. "Avoid Nuall tonight so you do not have another washroom incident. I have used my pull with the steward to make sure that the two of you are not seated near one another. His antics are despicable, but he hasn't done anything that can cause him to be removed from his station, so I am afraid we are stuck with him for now."
"What if I told you he claimed he was going to marry the princess? And that he would wheedle his way into the King's good graces." Ethyn's lips curled back in disgust as he recalled the other man's claims.
Unfortunately, the elder knight was unfazed. "Who doesn't desire to marry that lovely daughter of the king? And we all want to be in his good graces, so as long as Nuall is respectful, there is no harm in trying to please your sovereign."
Any hope Ethyn had of satisfaction was gone in an instant. Nuall would have to do something truly despicable and then Ethyn would have to prove that his nemesis had done it. The cunning man was too smart to get easily caught.
That was why the blonde knight had chosen a nobody like Ethyn as the target of his actions. Ethyn had no noble backing for Nuall to worry about. And now that the squire was a full-fledged knight, Nuall could do almost anything he pleased. It was infuriating.
Looking at the fire in Ethyn's green eyes, Cyneheard doubled his caution. "Do not be rash, my boy. If you need me to be a buffer, I can stay with you until you find some lovely lady to occupy your attention."
Breathing deeply through his nose, Ethyn shook his head. "I shall be fine. And you have far too many friends at the feast to worry about me. I do hope I see you on the dance floor as well!"
"These old legs? No thank you! Maybe if my wife were here this year. She was devastated to miss because of her sickness. But as for me, I will gather round with the confirmed old bachelors this evening. They gossip worse than the ladies anyway." Cyneheard did not seem saddened by the prospect.
"Old men gossip?" Ethyn was surprised. But he shouldn't have been. How else were they supposed to get all the news?
"Indeed. Now if you are done trying to make yourself look like the king's prized pony, we really should head out." Cyneheard groaned as he stood. Seeing his sponsor, who was now his peer, struggle to stand, Ethyn gave a small smile.
"You weren't kidding about those old legs were you?"
Cyneheard glared at the young man. "Hush your mouth, young whippersnapper!" he drawled with his teeth hidden. Then he gave a lopsided grin. "Be careful with your name calling, or I might be tempted to ask the princess to dance myself. Then I can ask her about her version of what happened in the washroom."
Ethyn blanched paler than the marble stone statues in the front hall. "Don't you dare!"
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The dinner passed quietly. Ethyn was strategically placed between two daughters of noblemen who were more than happy to make idle chatter and be coy. Ethyn was able to engage him his normal pleasant manner.
By the amount of laughter they gave him in return, each found him very charming...which he was under normal circumstances. He laughed with them, happy to let the joy of the day filter into his thoughts.
'I am a knight. I have achieved my dreams. I am the luckiest man alive tonight.'
His happy musings led to lively conversation. Taking a sip of juice--Cyneheard's words of warning had made him request to have it instead of wine-- Ethyn swallowed and finished his story.
"So I waited until the last moment and ran straight at the horse."
"Wasn't that foolish?" the woman on his right asked as she covered her lips.
"Maybe, but it wasn't a warhorse. So I did not think it would attack. Sure enough, it reared back and threw the thief to the ground. Then Sir Cyneheard and I arrested him and brought him to justice."
"You are very brave, Sir Samberg," the lady on his left said with a gentle smile. Her admiring brown eyes were by far her prettiest feature.
"I would not go that far, but I couldn't let the farmer's only horse be taken. It is my job to protect others...how did we get on this topic again?" Ethyn realized he had been bragging without even meaning to.
"I asked about some of your adventures," the first lady averted her eyes. "I hope I did not offend you."
"Nothing about you is offensive, my lady. I doubt you could offend me even if you tried, so do not fear on my account." The young knight flashed a dashing smile.
The petit woman was very pleased. She touched her cheek. "You are too kind."
Not to be outdone, the taller woman took his hand. "Please tell us another story! I am sure you can fit one in before dessert comes."
"Yes, please! I have always wondered what the brave men in armor do. It is like I am living the moment right beside you," the first woman cooed.
'Wow these ladies must both want to be knights! Too bad that cannot be.'
Ethyn cleared his throat and began another tale, happy for the enthralled audience. He was so enthralled himself that he failed to notice someone else in the dining room was watching him as well.
And she was less amused by what she saw.