took hold of one of the two loops. 'When you begin training with the Hawks, I'd advise you not to wear this,' he announced.
'Would they jeer him, Baron?' Ingelram asked, frowning over that possibility.
Royce laughed. Lord, they were ignorant… and young. He twisted the loop until he had it firmly wedged between his fingers. He kept his gaze on Justin all the while. The boy's face was turning red. 'They won't jeer him,' he told Ingelram. 'But they sure as hell will take advantage.'
Royce tightened his hold until Justin could barely move. 'Then they'll take their sweet time as they beat some sense into Justin for wearing such a contraption.'
Nicholaa was horrified when her husband laughed at Justin. She didn't interfere, though, and when the full explanation had been given, even she realized that the leather covering wasn't a protection but a weapon that could be used against her brother.
Justin understood, too. As soon as Royce let go, her brother took the covering off.
'You've been excused,' Royce told the three soldiers.
In unison they bowed to their baron and turned to leave. Justin walked between Bryan and Ingelram. Nicholaa stood next to Royce as she watched her brother walk down the first slope.
She didn't realize she'd taken her husband's hand. He could feel her trembling. He squeezed. 'Do you feel better now that you've spoken to Justin?'
She kept her gaze on her brother's back. 'Yes.'
Then Ingelram's voice reached her. The young soldier obviously thought he was far enough away not to be overheard. 'Are you getting enough to eat?' he drawled out in a horrible imitation of a woman's high-pitched voice.
Bryan immediately joined in. 'Would you like my blanket tonight, Justin?'
Nicholaa's brother retaliated by shoving Ingelram with his left shoulder and trying to trip Bryan with his right foot.
Both Ingelram and Bryan were laughing, and-miracle of miracles-Justin joined in.
Royce forced himself not to laugh. He didn't want to hurt Nicholaa's feelings. He turned to look down at her and found her smiling.
'I was coddling him like a mother,' she admitted. 'He laughed, Royce, didn't he? I haven't heard his laughter in so long I'd forgotten. Thank you, husband.'
He wasn't sure why she thanked him, but she suddenly threw herself into his arms and kissed him; His wife did lose a bit of her smile when he announced that she wouldn't be able to talk to Justin again until the first phase of his training was completed, in approximately sixty days. She didn't argue with him. Royce thought that was a nice change.
He didn't see his wife again until the dinner hour. She sat beside him at the table, but as soon as the meal was finished and he and Lawrence began to discuss their plans for the following day, Nicholaa excused herself from the table with the request that she be allowed to go up to the chamber.
That routine became the standard. A full two months passed in a peaceful, organized manner. There wasn't one outburst of anger, one surprise to put him on his guard, or one argument. Royce should have been pleased with this remarkable turnaround. He wasn't, though. Nicholaa hadn't lost her temper in almost sixty days. If she became any more serene, he thought he'd have to start checking to make certain the woman was still breathing.
Her attitude frustrated the hell out of him. She granted his every wish. Even before he realized he wanted something, she was there giving it to him.
Her passionate nature asserted itself only when they were in bed together and he was touching her. She couldn't act serene then. Royce was thankful for that blessing, but he wanted more. God's truth, he wanted his impossible wife back.
He missed her glares when she wasn't getting her way. He missed their arguments, too, especially the ones he couldn't possibly win because she was so stubbornly illogical. But most of all, he missed lecturing her.
Nicholaa wore a smile from the time she got out of the bed in the morning until she closed her eyes at night. It seemed to be a permanent condition, and it was making him daft. She couldn't be that happy. No one could be that happy. The sparkle was missing from her eyes, too. She didn't laugh, either.
But then, laughter was spontaneous, wasn't it? And Nicholaa didn't do anything spontaneous anymore.
God help him, he'd done this to her. He took full blame for the change in her. He was getting exactly what he'd set out to get. The problem was finding a way to undo the damage. He considered one plan after another, but none seemed acceptable. Then Justin solved his problem for him-rather nicely, too. It was mid-June. Royce was in the lower bailey supervising the training of the experienced soldiers. Lawrence, who commanded the Doves, rarely requested Royce's assistance.
Today proved to be an exception however. Lawrence called Royce down to the lower hill, and when his baron reached his side, the vassal motioned for Ingelram and Bryan to begin sparring.
Justin stood to one side, waiting his turn.
'Those three have become fast friends,' Lawrence remarked. 'I'm pleased with Justin's progress on the whole. You can see he's regained the weight he lost, added a bit more bulk, too. Swinging a sword and lifting stones have added to his muscle. Aye, he's coming along nicely.'
Ingelram knocked Bryan to the ground, let out a shout of victory, then turned to Justin. Bryan rolled out of the way as Justin swaggered forward. Ingelram and Justin put on quite a show for their baron. Several other soldiers formed a wide circle to watch.
The longer Royce observed, the more he frowned. 'Tell me this, Lawrence,' he asked. 'Is Ingelram sparring with Justin or dancing with him?'
'Exactly,' Lawrence muttered. 'That's why I wanted you to watch, Baron. No matter which man I pair with Justin, the result is always the same. I don't think they do it on purpose, but the men soften their attack when I pit them against the boy.'
Royce nodded. He let out a shrill whistle, drawing everyone's attention. Justin was still a bit wary of his baron. He'd been grinning while he battled his friend, but his expression was contained when he turned to Royce.
'I'm in the mood to knock a few of you on your backsides,' Royce announced. 'Who wants this privilege?'
It was a rare honor their baron bestowed upon the younger soldiers, and each was eager to be the first to take on the challenge.
Yet while the soldiers rushed forward, Royce noticed they also tried to keep Justin at the back of the line. Even now they were trying to protect him. Their friendship for Nicholaa's brother could very well get him killed.
Justin wasn't about to be left out, though. He shouldered his way to the front of the group.
'How many will get this opportunity, Baron?' Justin called out.
The others now lined up behind him, with Ingelram and Bryan flanking him. Justin was acting as their spokesman, and Royce was so pleased with this turn of events that he almost laughed. Lawrence had kept Royce informed of Justin's progress, of course, but seeing the boy now standing so tall and proud still took him by surprise. It warmed his heart, too.
'I'll only waste enough of my valuable time to fight four of you,' Royce drawled. 'Since you've taken it upon yourself to speak for the unit, you'll be one of those four. Pick the other three, Justin, and then put yourself last, as befits a leader.'
Justin nodded. He started to turn to his friends, then stopped. 'And if one of us knocks you on your backside, Baron?'
Royce did laugh then. 'He will be suitably rewarded.'
Justin smiled. A conference was immediately called. Royce and Lawrence stood by while the soldiers decided among themselves who the other three would be.
'You've done well,' Royce told Lawrence in a low whisper. 'His body's strong now.'
'He's ready to train,' Lawrence replied. 'So are the others, Royce.'
The decision was finally reached among the Doves. A redheaded soldier by the name of Merrill strutted forward. He bowed first to Royce, then to Lawrence.
Royce took a step forward. 'We won't use weapons,' he decreed.
Merrill immediately unstrapped the sheath from his side and handed the sword and covering to Justin. Then
