The boys were in the tavern having a good time. There were bets being placed on the floor. Roland and Geoff listened to them as Watt tried to get the attention of the serving girl.
" Thatcher, the fool, did you see him loose today? I say on fifty franks that he won't be able to go on for the shame," a man said with a laugh.
" Wouldn't you? He getting knocked off his pony by a girl," another said.
Roland heard this, " I will take that bet. He lost to a Draco and there is no shame in that . He will continue,"
" Roland, you best be using your own money. I will not loose mine," Watt said.
"Let him do what he must. Our Will's honor won't be taken by a little girl," Geoff.
Will was still angry. Not so much at Lady Draco, but at himself. He had let himself loose and his honor had a bruise on it. He missed Jocelyn so and wish that he could be with her at that very moment. She rarely, if ever, had spoken of her mother to him. He had thought her to be dead. He had met her father, yes, but not the lady of the house.
'They must not be on well terms,' Will thought. He just knew that had to be it.
The Lady Draco was having problems of her own that night. She had competed in three events and other than being warn, she was hurt. In the sword even on foot, she had hurt her ankle and it was now swollen and black and blue.
" Put my boot back on, Darius," Aurora said to her herald.
"I don't feel that is wise," he said
" Do it!" she yelled
He did so and she cried out loudly enough for God himself to hear. She then limped her way to her horse and got on carefully.
" I have to go see Kate. She is preparing my new armor,"
Darius looked at her cautiously, " You should stay here instead. If you are not able to walk next Thursday, you can not compete,"
" If I can not walk, I will merely just compete in the mounted events," she said and then hit the horse with the reins. It did not take long for her to arrive at the smith's tent. The entire troop was there conversing when she did so.
" Good evening Kate, gentlemen," Aurora said.
" Pompous of that horse aren't you?" Kate said.
" I find him necessary after today's doings,"
" To proud to walk, madam?" William said.
" No, to in pain," she said getting of and cringing as she stepped to take a place to sit, " I have an idea for what you can do for me," she took out a piece of parchment and handed it to Kate.
" If possible, I would like for you to make the dragons, there, out of bronze," she said as she pointed to the twisted illustration of the two dragons intertwined.
" It will be difficult, but I can do it if the price is right," Kate said as she examined the picture.
" You compete on Thursday?" Geoff asked.
" Aye. No matter my condition," she said, " my father would stop at nothing, why shouldn't I ?"
" Because your a," Watt started to say.
" A what?" Aurora asked
" A girl," he said
" Oh, is that so?" she said
" Yes," he said loudly.
" Oh," she said and then reared back and hit him in the face, knocking him from his seat. The others laughed as Watt got up and wiped the blood away from his nose.
" Didn't hurt," he said over teared up eyes.
"Dear lady, I feel you shall fit in fine around here," Roland said to Will's continued dismay.
She would had normally smiled, but pain soared through her and she cringed and cried out. Will's heart softened some and he went to go look at it.
" Here, let me see," he said using a gentle hand and took up her foot into his lap and very carefully pulled the boot away. "Damn, this thing's about the size of a mace head. You shouldn't be on it at all,"
"Don't worry about it, sir. It may swell a great bit, but the sooner I can walk and do, that will be all the better," Aurora said, avoiding his eyes. Something about him made her feel very small. " Sir, I offered you my hand once. You did not take it. I do it again. I ask you, please take it," she said holding out her hand. It was not much different from his in shape. It was callused and the knuckles were scared. He thought for a moment as he sat there studying it and then took it in his.
" You need not call me sir. Makes me feel old coming from you. William will do," he said.
" And Aurora will do for me. People only call me Lady Draco at banquet and court," she said smiling again, still there seemed to be a strange tension between them.
" Oh, you need not to wear this boot. Keep it bandaged for maybe a day or so," he told her.
" Thank you kindly," she said, " I really must be going. It's getting late," She said as she gathered her things and then she whistled for her horse that came up close right by her. She grabbed hold of the saddle and pulled herself up with out the aid of her left leg.
" Sleep well you all," she said as she went to leave.
" You as well," William called after her.
" Oh hate is used to cover up love," Roland said teasingly.
" What?" Will said.
" It has been nearly two months since you have seen Jocelyn," Watt said.
" Its not like that. I swear to it," William protested.
" Well, lord, if you don't want her, I don," Watt said.
" I don't think she's interested," Kate said, " Broken noses aren't attractive to her,"
" Its not broken," he said, softly touching it, " Ow,"
The night drifted on seemed like forever. William didn't do much sleeping. Mostly thinking and worrying. He didn't know what to think about Jocelyn.
He made up his mind that he would go see her is she couldn't come see him. His thoughts stayed on this as he lulled off to sleep.