It had become a ritual, since they returned, for the entire group to gather at the Thatcher house once a week to share dinner and catch up. Good food and conversation often kept them up until the wee hours of the morning and that night was no exception.

Sometime late into the night, Gabby stood on the balcony enjoying the first real warm night of the spring. Leaning back against the rail, she watched her friends and family inside.

Glancing up from his conversation with Chaucer, Gareth caught a glimpse of Gabby disappearing onto the balcony. He tried to return his attention to the poet, but it was too late. His memory slipped back once again to his conversation with Gabby in the forge that morning. As it did, a familiar unsettling feeling came over him.

Until that morning, he had never questioned his new life, at least not out loud. But Gabby's question had planted a seed of doubt in his mind that had since grown roots.

He casually excused himself from the conversation with Geoff and started for the balcony. He stood silently beside Gabby for a few minutes, taking a few deep breaths of warm air before he finally spoke. "You never answered my question."

She turned to face the city, closing her eyes as the breeze blew through her hair. "Do I have to?"

Gareth shook his head. It was obvious that she wasn't happy either.

"I have been thinking about leaving," Gabby said softly.

A small smile pulled at his lips, willing to play along. "Where would you go?"

"I would joust," she replied simply.

He laughed, running a hand through his hair. When he turned to face her, she was looking up at him innocently biting her bottom lip. His smile quickly faded. "You're serious."

She nodded silently.

"Gabby, that's crazy," he said louder than he had intended.

Gabby rolled her eyes and pulled him to a corner of the balcony where no one inside could see them. "No, it's not. Not if you come with me."

"How, Gabby? I don't know how to joust. I'm a blacksmith."

"It doesn't matter," she replied. "I trained with my father for as long as I can remember. I will joust."

"But you're a woman."

Gareth's comment earned him a dirty glare from Gabby.

He sighed. "You know that I didn't mean it like that. I don't doubt your abilities, but the nobles aren't about to let a woman compete."

"There are ways around that."

"Gabby-" Gareth hung his head at her persistence.

Abbi appeared on the balcony. "What is going on?"

"Gabby has gone crazier than usual," Gareth replied, leaning against the railing of the balcony.

"Gareth," Gabby scolded, hitting him on the shoulder.

He rubbed his arm. "What? You are."

"Ok," Abbi said, narrowing her eyes at them in confusion. "Someone please explain."

"I say that we leave London," Gabby said softly, checking to see that their parents weren't listening in. "We go to France and join the tournament cycle. I can joust and you two can act as my squires. It will be brilliant."

Abbi's eyes grew wide and she turned to Gareth. "Is she serious?"

"Apparently," he replied with a shrug.

"OK, then I have only one question. Have you gone mad?"

"The idea's not that crazy if you think about it," Gareth commented, earning a curious smile from Gabby. "The three of us could easily pull this off."

Abby finally gave in, sighing. "How?"

"We lie," Gabby replied simply. "Just like my father did."

"We're going to need a better liar than the three of us," Abbi concluded.

They moved back to the doorway, focusing on Geoff.

"We could always ask him," Gabby said with a shrug. "What could be the harm in that?"

"He could tell our parents," Gareth pointed out.

"He won't," Gabby assured.

"You sure?"

Gabby shrugged. "There's only one way to find out."

As if on cue, Geoff began to cross the room toward the balcony.

"Good evening, Uncle Geoff," Gabby called sweetly.

Chaucer smiled, walking passed her to lean on the railing of the balcony. "Alright, what are you three up to?"

"We need to enlist your services," Gabby said softly, glancing over her shoulder to check that her parents were still otherwise occupied. "How would you like to come out of retirement?"

Chaucer cocked an eyebrow at Gareth. "You intend to take up jousting?"

Gareth shook his head and pointed to Gabby.

"That I can work with," Chaucer said with a chuckle, taking a swig of wine.

"Does that mean you are in?" Gareth asked expectantly.

Chaucer nodded.

"Wait," Abby said quickly, the nervousness in her voice evident. "We're actually going to do this?"

Gabby looked at the two men, who in turn nodded back at her. "I think so. What do you say, Abbi, are you with us?"

Abbi sighed and nodded. "You are going to be the death of me, Gabriella Thatcher."

Gabby threw her arms around her friend's neck.

"Don't make me regret this decision," Abbi said as she returned the embrace.

The small group stood in silence for a moment before Gareth asked the obvious question. "When do we leave?"

Gabby felt her stomach tighten as the reality of the situation began to sink in. Whether it was from excitement or nervousness, she wasn't sure, but in that moment, it didn't matter.

"I have a few loose ends to tie up," Geoff said, swirling his wine glass. "Give me until the end of the week."

"Friday it is then," Gareth said, taking a deep breath. "We'll meet at the stables on the edge of town after dusk."

Geoff smiled and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. "Relax, children. This will be the grandest adventure of your days."

He started back to the party, a little skip in his step.

"Uncle Geoff," Gabby called after him.

He stopped just inside the dining room and spun around, looking at her expectantly.

"You can't tell our parents."

"Mums the word," Geoff said with a wink. "Your secret is safe with me."

The other three watched him walk away before exchanging a nervous glance.

"Are we sure about this?" Abbi asked uncertainly.

Gabby and Gareth both shrugged.