There Your Heart Will Be Also by Felicia Rogers Page B

Henry won’t like it.”
    â€œWhat could it hurt?”
    Cedric left the two men to their lessons. Removing his shirt, he found a willing sparring partner and went to work. Soon he was engrossed in his own fight and oblivious to the situation surrounding him. Before long his partner tired of him and he found himself paired with the two young lads from earlier. They were fighting in nothing but tunics and breeks and doing quite well when t hey asked to spar.
    â€œVerra well. Show me what a couple of young Englishmen can do.”
    ****
    Sarra was in the library poring over copious notes when she heard the urgent voice of the young stable lad, James . “Mistress, mistress, come quick. There has been an accident!”
    Sarra grabbed up her skirts and flew to the door. Sarra’s mind raced. Was it Charism? Sir Henry? Gavin? Cook? What could have possibly sent James in with such a message?
    Sarra ran out into the great hall and stopped short. Sir Gavin swayed in the middle of the room. His face held a pale gray color.
    The silence was thick and the dripping of blood could be heard as it struck the cold, stone floor. Drip, drip, drip …
    Sarra walked toward the small crowd which was gathering around the wounded knight. I n a whisper, “Where is Charism?”
    James leaned in, “ G one to retrieve her herb box and her dagger, my lady.” Adding in a low tone , “She believes it would be better to cauterize the wound. T hey brought Gavin here to wait on her.”
    â€œCauterize?” Sarra repeated to no one but herself. T he wound must be dire to make Charism think this measure was necessary.
    As of now, Sarra’s main concern was that the incident was an accident and Sir Gavin’s injuries were the worst of the lot.
    â€œMy lady, he didn’t mean it,” Gavin blurted as Sarra approached.
    Raising an eyebrow, Sarra didn’t ask him to explain. Yet.
    Two knights flanked Gavin in case he fell and needed to be carried. Directing them with a flick of her wrist, she had them assist Gavin in taking a seat in front of the great fireplace in the middle of the room.
    â€œNow let's get a look at you, shall we?” Sarra said with more courage than she felt.
    Gavin’s armor had been removed. The blood covering his body appeared to be flowing from a gash about five inches long in the upper part of his arm. The depth of the wound was disturbing. How had it gone so deep through his armor?
    â€œI shouldn’t have done it, my lady.”
    â€œGavin, please do stop babbling until I figure out a way to help Charism with this.”
    â€œOh, my lady. He is a good friend and a decent person. Don’t be upset with him.”
    Placing her hands on her hips, Sarra stared at Gavin in the most authoritative manner she could muster and ordered, “Explain yourself.”
    Trembling from either blood loss or fear, Gavin tried to respond but was interrupted by a fellow knight. “Well, my lady, the Scot was in the lists training with us. And we asked why he doesn’t wear armor when he fights. And the Scot said it was just as easy to fight without it. So Gavin and I decided to take off our mail and try to train in breeks and a tunic. ”
    Here Gavin injected , pain lacing his tone, “ Patrick wanted to try a kilt but I refused to be so exposed, begging your pardon mistress.”
    Sarra almost groaned aloud. True to form Gavin was taking the most circuitous route possible to reach the important details. “Of course, continue please.”
    Patrick , placed a reassuring hand on his friend ’s shoulder, and continued, “Well he, the Scot I mean , came back over to us to see if we wanted to train and we agreed. He was sparring with us both and I was about to block Gavin’s blow when my foot slipped. I didn’t mean — ”
    â€œLooks like Gavin been skewered rather than cut,” Sarra muttered. So “the Scot”, Cedric MacNeil , was