Lady Paige rode out ahead of her company as they rode out of the Keep, heading down the hill towards the town and the bridge that lay beyond. Much to Ralph's disappointment Walter already had him working on that day's school work. Walter rode right beside him looking over periodically as Ralph read from his reader.

Until that moment Ralph had been convinced that Walter would be a very relaxed teacher and they would spend a good deal of time in some kind of games. Had he known Walter had made a promise to his Mother to ensure his education and that he had no intentions of breaking that promise he might have chosen to stay home.

Walter had grinned inwardly at the sullen face Ralph made as he announced school was in session.

The other problem Ralph failed to realize was as the only student he would be fully under scrutiny of his teacher the entire time. He grumbled as they passed by the school house and all his friends were out playing and Mistress Florence stood on the porch outside and waved as they passed by.

Paige formally waved back at her. She did a quick glance back at Walter but saw he was pointing at something Ralph was reading and smiled. She diverted the company around the market so as to not inconvenience the townsfolk or slow their own progress waiting on people to move out of the way any more than was required.

Happy and Toby rode just behind their Lady, with Walter and the wagon behind them. Sir Sylvester and Cabe brought up the rear. Victor expertly drove the team pulling the wagon while his wife Sara rode beside him.

As Ralph came to the end of the chapter he was reading Walter grinned at him and messed his hair before he pulled his lute around. He began playing a melody none of them were familiar with but quickly that melody seeped into the very pores of their bodies. Everyone began speaking and smiling a bit more. Even the horses seemed to perk up as they listened and enjoyed the music when Walter lifted up his voice.

Ralph smiled as he recognized the words as the chapter of the story he had just finished reading.

Walter grinned at him as he saw the recognition in his eyes and winked. As he came to the end of the chapter Walter slung his lute back over his shoulder and got out Ralph's math book and together with him he began explaining the next chapter.

Ralph found he enjoyed the lessons more after Walter started playing his lute like clockwork every hour.

As they stopped for lunch Ralph was nearly bursting with energy and while Sara began working to prepare lunch Walter looked to Paige and smiled. "Would you care to take a walk my Lady? I figure it would be a good way to help Ralph settle down from all the inactivity. Plus it would be good for our legs."

Paige smiled and nodded. "That sounds good to me Walter, Ralph come with us."

The trio walked off into the brush leaving the company to carry on. Paige held Walter's hand in her left and Ralph's in her right as they walked.

The afternoon passed quickly as they traveled the road. Ralph was surprised he'd finished his studies well before school would normally let out. He even had time to finish all of his homework. He frowned slightly when Walter moved up to ride beside his Mother. But Sara engaged him in a game of Ridley Ridley Ree.

As they went about setting up their camp along a small stream for the night Ralph stepped over to his Mother. Paige smiled as she looked back and saw him standing as she drove a tent stake for the tent she would use. "What is on your mind Ralph?"

Ralph smiled. "When we first started this morning I was kind of glum about it because I thought Walter wasn't going to so strict about my schooling. But he really made it a more fun then it ever was. Could he continue to teach me after we get home?"

Paige smiled to herself. "I don't know Ralph. That is a big responsibility he might not want. Plus, what about all your friends at school? Won't you miss them?"

Ralph nodded. "Probably, but maybe they would like to have Walter as their teacher too."

Paige laughed before she grew serious. "I don't know about that. But we'll see how things go until we get home. If you learn well and Walter thinks he would be interested in teaching you full time we can discuss it. But Ralph, don't try and pester and badger him into it. It is one thing to take on a roll like that for a short time and another full time. And it isn't why he agreed to come work for me."

Ralph nodded.

Ralph looked up at the same time as Paige did. They looked down the road they'd been traveling and saw someone on horse back a good distance away, moving fairly quickly towards them.

Paige stood holding her hammer and stepped out waiting. As the rider drew closer the rest of the company heard and looked out. Walter looked out and frowned. "That is a Cleric of the wise Lady."

Paige looked back in surprise. "You can see that much detail from here?"

Walter nodded. "I've got excellent eye sight."

Toby whistled. "I'd say so. You must be 20-5 vision. That is impressive."

Ralph looked at Walter puzzled. "What does that mean?"

Walter smiled. "That means the level of details you can see at 5 feet I can see from 20 feet away. It is exceedingly uncommon."

As the rider drew closer they saw it was the temple Mistress from Paige's private temple. Paige frowned as she rode on up to camp.

"Mistress, what is wrong?" Paige asked with concern.

The Mistress slid out of the saddle. "Horses are fine enough animals but I hate riding them." She looked at Paige. "I need to speak with you my Lady."

Paige nodded and gestured towards the fire that had just started burning.

The Mistress shook her head. "I need to speak with you privately my Lady."

Paige's eyebrow rose before she nodded. "Sir Sylvester, would you see to the Mistress's horse? We'll be back shortly."

As they started walking off Walter stepped over. "My Lady, should one of us come with the both of you?"

Paige smiled and her heart ached for him to come. She reached out and their hands touched.

The Mistress shook her head. "I'm sorry Minstrel. The words are for our Lady only." She pulled Paige's hands back.

Paige frowned but stepped up and kissed Walter tenderly before turning and walking off with the Mistress.

As they walked along the bank of the stream Paige grew tired of waiting for her to start. "Just tell me what you need to say Mistress. There is no sense in beating around the bush about it."

The Mistress nodded. "Please understand my Lady these are the words of the wise Lady and not me."

Paige nodded.

The Mistress swallowed. "The wise Lady is concerned about you. Specifically your jealousy, she has noted it several times now. Concerning the interest some of the other women of your lands have with Walter. She was quite distressed in how you felt this morning passing the school house."

Paige frowned but nodded.

"She knows that it comes from your experiences with Drew. It was one of the reasons she tried to guide you away from forming a deeper relationship with him." The Mistress continued. "But she knows you loved him and it was understandable that you pursued it. Still she would have rather you hadn't of."

Paige nodded with tears in her eyes. "I'd thought that was the case. I'd hoped that I was wrong though. What does she recommend I do? After what Florence did Saturday morning it left me with such loathing for her and insecurity about myself. Will Walter feel I'm enough for him?"

The Mistress nodded as she stopped walking and turned towards Paige. "It won't be easy my Lady. You have a bit of an arrogant streak, a pride if you will that you don't like revealing when you are wrong. She recommends you speak with the Minstrel. Speak the truth with him and listen as much with your heart as your ears. Trust in her choice for you."

Paige looked up at the Mistress and half smiled at her words. She laughed. "Well that is certainly true. When has anyone ever liked revealing their shortcomings? Very well I will speak with Walter when we get back. Thank you for bringing the words of our Lady to me Mistress or is there more?"

The Mistress smiled and shook her head. "Is it okay if I stay the night with you and head back in the morning?"

Paige smiled. "Of course it is Mistress."

They turned and walked back to camp.

All four tents were now erected and they had put up a table and chairs as Sara was preparing dinner. Walter was sitting with Ralph and going over his work from the day. Ralph looked up and saw his Mom and he jumped up and ran over and hugged her. "Mom, I got all A's today."

Paige smiled. "That is wonderful Ralph." She looked to Walter as she hugged him and Walter smiled and nodded his head. "Mistress Florence is going to be quite impressed with you when we get back."

The Mistress moved on over to her horse and pulled her bedroll from it.

Ralph grinned as he held up his papers and Paige looked them over and nodded.

Walter stood and slowly walked over as she looked at his papers. He reached out and took her hand into his. He asked softly. "Is everything okay Paige?"

Paige smiled and handed the papers back to Ralph. "Excuse us Ralph. I need to speak with Walter for a bit." She held Walter's hand and turned before walking away with him. She stopped suddenly and looked back at the company. "We might be a little bit. Don't hold up dinner if we're not back right away." Without waiting for a response she turned and continued walking down the stream bank with Walter.

They'd walked quite a bit further than she'd walked with the Mistress and Walter felt she was just delaying. He stopped and pulled gently against her hand. "Paige, as enjoyable as walking with you in this place is, what's wrong?"

Paige turned and looked at him reluctantly and then looked to the ground.

Walter smiled and he gently squeezed her fingers as he reached up and lifted her chin. "You can trust me Paige, what is wrong?"

Paige swallowed as she looked into his eyes. "It is uncomfortable and I am unsure where to begin."

Walter looked about and saw a couple of large stones. He gestured. "Would you like to sit down my Lady?"

Paige looked over where he pointed and nodded.

After they sat down she was still quiet. Walter reached down and grabbed her right ankle and pulled her leg up. Paige stared at him and watched as he undid the clasps that held the boot in place and then slid it off. He removed the leather padding and pulled her sock off. He put her foot on his lap and reached down and pulled her other ankle up and quickly removed her other boot, padding and sock.

He took hold of her right foot and began to gently squeeze and massage her foot. "Wearing those plate boots has got to be uncomfortable."

Paige smiled as he worked on her foot and she nodded. "The leather padding makes for an unpleasant smell."

Walter laughed. "Is that what I smell? I thought perhaps there was a skunk about the area."

Paige grinned and gently hit his shoulder. "Hey now, I am the Lady of these lands. You should be nicer to me."

Walter looked up at her and grinned. "Indeed, how unchivalrous of me. Please forgive me."

Paige grinned and leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Can I ask you for your honest opinion?"

Walter looked up and nodded as he switched to her other foot. "I know Bards have a bad reputation my Lady. But I promise never to be deceitful to you in any meaningful way."

Paige looked at him with her eyebrow raised.

"I mean if Happy plans a surprise party for you for example I won't tell you about it. But if it is something important I won't ever lie to you." Walter grinned before looking back down at her feet.

Paige reached over and lifted his chin and turned his head to look at her. "What was your first thought when you saw me in my bathing suit Saturday?"

Almost instantly he grinned as his mind recalled her in perfect detail. "Remember when I told Ralph about my eyesight?"

Paige frowned wondering what that had to do with anything but nodded.

"You were almost forty feet from us but I could see every detail of you as if you were about ten feet from me. And my first thought was to the wise Lady, declaring you a goddess." Walter looked deep into her eyes.

Paige blushed and pushed against his shoulder. "Stop it, you did not."

Walter nodded. "As the wise Lady is my witness, I did. You are simply a perfection which no other woman could ever hope to aspire too."

Paige smiled inwardly but shook her head. "My muscles are too much, too big and mannish from all the training. While Drew never complained he certainly became more passionate when I was pregnant with Ralph and the fat layer under my skin increased. It concealed my muscles beneath it more."

Walter stopped rubbing her foot and looked up at her. He reached over and took her arm and unbuckled her vambrace and slid it off her forearm. His fingers touched her wrist and ran up and across the muscles in her forearm. "Perhaps you didn't notice but I am not some ninety eight pound weakling my Lady. Muscles are beautiful and sexy too."

Paige blushed at him.

"I'm quite sure that you were just as beautiful and sexy pregnant as you are when you aren't." Walter brought her arm up and leaned over to place kisses up her arm from her wrist to just below her elbow. He kissed each ripple of the muscles in her arm.

Paige smiled. "Well there in lies the problem the Mistress brought to me. All because of how I felt with Drew. That first morning I grew jealous when Happy told me Linda had rubbed herself against your arm. I didn't realize how much you already meant to me and I wanted to do her real harm. Had Happy not dragged me out of the great hall I might have. And then Saturday when Florence was at the lake, I was so mad at you. I thought you had invited her. I was jealous because of how feminine she looks in comparison and then at the way she flaunted herself at you in half of her ass hanging out. I could never publicly wear something like she did that day. And then again as we traveled past the school house she stood out on the porch and waved at us. I was so jealous I looked back to see if you had noticed."

Walter took her other arm and removed the vambrace from it and was touching her muscles as she explained. Walter frowned and shook his head. "I hadn't. I was working with Ralph already on his school work." Walter smiled. "But as to Florence, are you kidding? Compared to you she looks like an adolescent girl far from maturity."

Paige blushed furiously. Paige nodded finally. "I saw you were talking with Ralph at that point. See, Drew had a wandering eye as they call it. It had always made me feel insecure. And those actions brought it all back up again. I'm sorry."

Walter nodded as he kissed up her other arm. "You have done nothing to be sorry for as far as I am concerned. I'm sorry if any of my actions even remotely made you feel that way."

Paige smiled as his lips touched her skin. "Nothing you have done has made me feel that way. But apparently this morning was too much and the wise Lady sent the Mistress to me to address my jealousy."

Walter nodded. "I understand Paige. I really do."

Paige smiled. "When have you been jealous?"

Walter grinned. "Remember Lady Benji?"

Paige grinned instantly. "Seriously, why would you be jealous of him?"

Walter turned to face her and slid her right leg to the left side of his torso and scooted closer up between her legs, her left leg sliding along his right side as he moved a little closer towards her while pulling her closer to him. He stopped once there her knees touched his hips and slipped his arms around her waist. "I was jealous because he dared to have feelings for you, even though those feelings weren't returned by you."

Paige grinned as she leaned in and kissed him. "So what is the solution?"

Walter kissed her back. "Paige, I was serious that morning outside of the Keep. I am yours, no matter what anyone else thinks or wants. When we are apart, I feel like I am hollow. When we are together, I feel the need to touch you."

Paige grabbed hold of Walter's leathers just above her knees and pulled Walter in closer and hugged him tightly to her. "I am yours."

Greetings! Hoping you are all well!

Marie - What about 'A Knight on Honeymoon' isn't finished for you? I will be returning to the 'A Knight's Tale' story line tomorrow with the first chapter of the Drew series.

Very glad those of you who read the Honeymoon series enjoyed it It is always great hearing it was enjoyed.

I haven't yet decided what to title the drew series. 'A Knightly Father' perhaps?

To the Adventure! -Tim