The Promise of Peace by Carol Umberger Page A

first thing, not when you are good and ready. Everyone must work together for the good of all, Keifer. Just because you don’t see the need doesn’t mean you can forgo your chores. I have reasons for my orders, and I expect you to obey. You want to be a knight? First you must learn this lesson. All true knights obey their master without thought of it twice.”
    Keifer hung his head.
    â€œDo you understand?”
    â€œYes, my laird.”
    â€œNow fetch us some water.”
    Keifer took the bucket to the well and returned to fill the crock. Without being told, he checked to see if Cook needed water, but someone had already taken care of it. No doubt Keifer would get a scolding from Cook or Lady Gwenyth yet today as well.
    Seamus drank his fill and handed the dipper back to Sir Adam, who said, “Keifer will be along in a few minutes to clean the weapons. And for this other transgression, see that he sweeps out the armory as well.”
    Nodding in approval, Seamus said, “Aye, my laird,” and walked away.
    Keifer drank his fill in silence. He glanced at Sir Adam, and the man stared off in the distance, as if he’d just noticed a hole in the high wall surrounding the castle. Keifer thought it best if he remained quiet.
    Keifer replaced the dipper on a nail meant to hold it and looked up at his laird. He expected the man’s expression to be angry, but it was not. Adam pulled on his sark, covering the scar. Keifer stifled the desire to ask how Adam had been wounded.
    â€œLet us sit here in the shade a moment, Keifer.” They sat side by side on a wooden bench.
    Keifer wiped his sweaty forehead with the sleeve of his tunic. A soft breeze felt good on his face. The rest of the castle folk must have gone into the hall for the midday meal, because the bailey was deserted. Keifer’s stomach rumbled, and he looked forward to eating.
    But he could tell that Adam had more to say to him.
    â€œA good warrior is a disciplined warrior, Keifer. Part of that discipline is obeying orders. Part of it is self-control. A superior warrior masters both his strengths and his weaknesses.”
    â€œI understand, sir.” Hoping to direct the conversation away from his own transgressions, Keifer said, “You fight well, my laird. May I ask . . . How did you receive the scar?”
    A pained look crossed the man’s face.
    â€œForgive my boldness, my laird. I should not have asked.”
    â€œNo, Keifer. I’m glad you asked. When I tell you to master your weaknesses, your willingness to give in to temptation, I speak from painful experience.”
    Keifer nodded, anxious to hear about the great battle and Adam’s heroic deeds that earned him such a magnificent scar.
    â€œI do not consider my wound a badge of honor, Keifer, if that’s what you’re thinking. I gave in to temptation and nearly lost my life.”
    â€œTemptation?” Keifer was disappointed at the direction this was headed. Had Adam been hurt in a senseless brawl and not in the midst of battle?
    â€œAye. The lure of things that are not good for us.” Adam stared across the bailey before continuing. “I served with your brother Gordon. Did you know that?”
    â€œAye. Morrigan told me you knew him well. I don’t remember him myself. Only what I’ve been told.”
    â€œIf I had been as good a friend to Gordon as he was to me, he might not have died at Dalry Pass.”
    Adam recounted the events of a hot August day, when his head had ached from too much drink. “I was so weary from my revels the night before, I was incapable of mounting a successful defense when my companions, including the king of Scotland and his family, were attacked. I barely escaped with my life, and I could not come to Gordon’s rescue.”
    Keifer’s heart pounded and his stomach clenched. He’d never known the details of how Gordon had died. “Was my brother a good fighter?”
    â€œAs