[Chapter 2]  [Chapter 3]   [Chapter 4]  [Chapter 5]   [Chapter 6]  [Chapter 7]   [Chapter 8]
 
 

The tall man rode into the small village, looking around.  His cloak hood was up to hide the bronze and silver mask he wore over the right side of his pale, colorless face.  He was an albino so even before he had to wear the mask he drew attention.  Now it drew more attention than his white ponytail or his very pale skin did.  Or even his new pet, the leopard cub that rode behind him on the saddle.  He nodded at a woman who ran in front of him, smirking just a bit when she huffed in irritation.  It wasn't his first or second time in this village.  He had a friend and brother who lived here.  His house was one of his favorite stopovers on his journeys.  They could share many stories and his friend's maid made very good stew.  He rode up to the man's front door, pausing his horse when he didn't see any lights.  He saw a watching child and looked over.  "Did a plague take him?" he asked, his voice a bit higher than most men's but still quiet.  The child slowly shook his head, his eyes wide as he stared at the oddity in front of him.  "Is he traveling, child?"

"No," he said.  He suddenly frowned. "Are you a demon?  The Father said you demons came for him now and then, made him fight them."

Vorchain burst out laughing.  "No, child, I am no demon.  I'm Vorchain, a friend of his.  I do what he does, only with more style."  He smiled and got off, pulling his cub down as well.  "Lazy.  Let's see where Chauvis is this time.  Charlotte!" he bellowed, walking into the house.  His cub growled at him so he glared back.  "You, quit.  She'll feed you too."  He had to duck someone throwing something at his head.   "Charlotte?  We're starved."

"You're demon food if you don't let me read!" his friend called from the second floor.  "Shut up before you bring more demons down with your flashy manners!"

"You wound me," he called up the stairs with a grin, letting his cub go up there to investigate.  "Charlotte?"

"She's attending a birthing up the road," Chauvis said, coming down the stairs with the cub on his shoulders.  "You stole an infant hunting cat?"

"Her mother was eaten by the last demon I fought."

Chauvis looked at the cub, then kissed her on the nose.  "Perhaps it'd be better if you stayed with one of the others," he offered, tucking her under his arm as he walked into the kitchen.  "How long are you going to mess my books up for this time, Vorchain?"

The albino grinned at his back.  "I have no set itinerary, you know that."

"Unfortunately I do."  He looked at the cub again.  "It really would be better for you to stay here or with someone else.  Someone who hasn't had their brains kicked out and damaged by fighting stupid demons."  He gave it a pet before setting it down in front of bowl of scraps.  "There, you eat, youngling."  He looked at his friend, peering at his mask.  "Didn't expand it any I see.  Though I do see new decoration."

"I couldn't resist.  I found a craftsman who appreciated my style."  He took off his cloak, tossing it across the back of a bench.  "How has the local parish been, Father Chauvis?" he teased.

"Better than gallivanting around the world with you was," he shot back, giving him a look.  "I seem to thrive on the lack of excitement, insanity, and diseased wenches vying for my coins."  His friend chuckled, patting him on the arm.  "Charlotte won't be back for a few days probably.  You'll have to do with my slop instead of hers."

"I'm sure I will."  He ruffled the short light brown hair, earning a swat in return and a heated green eyed glare.  "Aww, did your studies make you forget the company of men?" he teased.

"Don't make me pull a sword," he complained, walking off.  He leaned out the door, spotting the child petting the new horse.  "Go up the road to the Widow's house and tell my maid the heathen walking stomach is back?"  He beamed and ran off to do that.  He went back up to his study, flopping down again in his comfortable chair.  "What brings you this time, Vorchain?  More bragging?" he asked when he was joined at the very least by the cub.  It thought the books were ancient enemies and was swatting at one who wouldn't bite her back.  He took a swat at its tail, making it stop.  "Thank you.  Bat at the big one.  He'll play with you."  He put his feet up.  "No answer?"

"You really should bear heirs someday," he teased, sitting on the floor beside him, pulling the cub over to play with her. "Did you get tired of riding, Spots?"  Chauvis shook his head with a small groan at the pet's name.  "She is clearly spotted."

"Clearly," he agreed.  He heard screaming start up the road and looked out then sighed.  "Go unpossess your horse again."  He got up, going to put his horse in the small stable behind the house so he couldn't help the village ladies pick flowers.  Chauvis just shook his head.  "I'll not be bored for a few more weeks," he muttered, going back to his reading.  At least until a warm paw decided to bat at his hair to see if it was prey or not.  He looked at the cub, smiling some.  "You're picking up bad habits."  He pulled it down to pet it.  He knew it wasn't a housecat but it was still soothing.  He had loved having his last cat until it had been possessed and been burnt when he banished the demon. The cub growled, attacking his fingers, making him smile but keep reading.

"VORCHAIN!  GET YOUR MANGY, STUPID HIDE IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW!" a female voice yelled.  "HOW DARE YOU SHOW UP WITHOUT WARNING US!  YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT!"

"You're disturbing me yet again, woman," Chauvis called.  "He's dealing with his horse.  His familiar's up here."  She stormed up the stairs but cooed at the cub.  "He came with an appetite too.  How's the new young?"

"Healthy and female.  Her father's complaining."

"Did you remind him what the Church said on how children came out of his body and only grew in hers?"

"I did.  He walked off to sulk about only having four daughters and no sons."

"Next time he should try harder."  He handed off the cub.  "Here, his familiar has a bowl of scraps."

"I wondered if we were summoning something again," she said dryly, taking her back down there to play with her.  Vorchain walked in so she pelted a pot at his head, making him laugh but duck.  "You deserve worse for not warning us.  You know you always bring trouble."

"You'd think you didn't enjoy me," he teased.

"You bring problems that make my boss work and complain.  Of course not."  She looked around the kitchen.  "I suppose he didn't eat while I was gone?" she called up the stairs.

"I had bread and cheese for dinner," he called down.

"Bah.  Men!"  She looked at the cub's tail then at her.  "Good, you're not one of the stupid men."  She put her down and got to work fixing dinner.  Vorchain lounged watching her until she threw another pot at him, then he went back upstairs to hide.  "Good, that's where he belongs."  She added more scraps from the meat she was chopping to the bowl, earning a new friend for life.

"I see her temper hasn't calmed yet," Vorchain joked as he sat down on the floor again.

"Afraid not," Chauvis agreed.  "Why are you really here?  Breaking your path, needing help, or simply to annoy me?"

"Meeting.  You missed the last one and I was told to make sure you made this one since we may be admitting new members."

"Interesting.  I hadn't heard that news."  He turned the page, going back to his reading.  "I'll let you drag me off for it."

"Thank you.  No packing multi-hundred books either.  You can't ride hard and read."

"I can so.  My mare knows where she's going."  He gave him an odd look.  "Just because *your* nag doesn't like books...."

"She likes what I like."

"It shows."  He went back to reading, smirking some at the pouty look he got for it. "Find something to do other than stare.  Watching me read won't make you any smarter."

"I have my own strengths."

"True, and one of them is your stench.  Go bathe in the horse trough.  Please.  Before your stink summons something that thinks you're kin."  Vorchain punched him on the arm but went to do that, letting Chauvis relax and read again, getting back into the allegorical story he had chosen for his newest book.

"There are impressionable young women who do not need to see your demonically pale, skinny, scarred body, Vorchain!" Charlotte yelled from the window.  "Carry in buckets like a civilized person!"

"Yes, dear," he called, smiling a bit.  She loved him, it showed.
 

***
 

Chauvis looked at Charlotte later that night.  "We're leaving the day after tomorrow for the meeting."

"You're going to get me up at an improper hour, aren't you?" she said grimly.  He nodded.  "I knew it.  He always brings problems."

"You could pack the food the night before," he offered.

She snorted.  "And have you get sick?"  She stomped into the kitchen to see what was in there.  They'd have to do some improvising or she'd have to go shop and she hated to shop.  The local women hated her greatly.  Though it did mean she got good deals in the market so she'd go away sooner.  She came back and he sighed, handing over his money pouch.  "Thank you.  Anything you particularly want or are you eating at inns half the way because he'll eat all the food again?"

"He usually does," he admitted, going back to his reading.  The cub pounced him, earning a smile.  "That was a very good capture of the book, Spots."  He petted her, earning a happy kitten.  "Good job.  You'll be pouncing real prey in no time."

"You should leave her here with me."

"Vorchain wouldn't let you raise his familiar.  You know that."

"Aye, but it's stupid of him to travel with her.  She won't get the propr food on the road."

"I catch a lot of my own meals," Vorchain called from his bed.  "She gets the tender insides for right now.  I *am* a good marksman after all.  Spots, time for sleep, cub."  She went running in there to pounce him, making him laugh.  "Good girl.  Let's rest.  We'll play some more with the evil books tomorrow."  He tucked her into his armpit and let her sleep there.

"He makes a good mother," Chauvis said dryly, cracking his housekeeper up.

"Aye, but a strange looking one."  She went back to the kitchen.  "We have jerky."

"No thank you," he called after her.  "I'd rather eat Vorchain than your jerky."

"The other Fathers would be displeased if you turned into the things we hunt," Vorchain called.  "But do pack some so we can scare the others."

"Sleep, vain one, or else sleep with your horse," Charlotte called.  "You're keeping decent folk up."

"Yes, dear," he called, then giggled.  "Spots, no trying to nurse!"

"I knew the cat was going to kill him someday," Chauvis said quietly, turning the page, getting a swat from Charlotte.  "I'll have to tell Volka and Cofostat that he's nursing his familiar."  She growled and he smiled.  "What?" he asked, looking innocent.

"They'd want to watch."  She took the book and closed it on him, putting it on the table and blowing out the candle.  "Go to bed, both of you, before I call my sister the succubus down to make you happy again."

"Yes, Charlotte," he sighed, going to his bed in the study.  He had other books up there but she confiscated the candle and walked off with it.  "How am I supposed to get ready for bed?"

"Stripping is a natural impulse, you'll pick up things in the morning. You do so anyway," she shot back, slamming the door to her room.

He shook his head, laying down on his bed.  "I think I became a priest because I'll never understand their sex," he told himself.  "They're almost demonic but not quite enough to hunt."  He felt a sneaking thing and looked.  "Come on, you."  The cub leapt up, grabbing his hair again.  "That was a very good pounce, Spots," he said, patting her gently on the side.  "Nap now.  It's time to nap before the other female growls some more.  She's even scared Cofostat."  He settled in with her giving his hair a bath, earning a smile and a few pets until he fell asleep.  Then she snuggled down on his stomach, liking the growling it was doing.  It reminded her of her mother.
 
 

Chapter Two.
 
 

Chauvis dismounted in front of the ancient home, looking at the Roman era stonework  "I did good work on the repairs a few years back," he told himself, gathering himself and the cub, who had decided she liked his horse better, to go inside.  He put down the cub, letting her trot behind him.  "I bring Charlotte's greetings and some of her jerky," he called as he walked in.  "Vorchain's about half a day behind me leading a wench off so she won't force him to marry her.  Before anyone asks, the cub is his familiar, not mine."  He put his backpack on the table and sat down, wiggling a bit.  "Ah, better."

"Left your horse in the yard?" the young man in the corner asked.

Chauvis looked over and smiled. "Volka."  He waved with a bright grin.  His dark hair was short but shaggy at the moment. He was fairly tall, well muscled, moved like a fighter, but he was one very smart man and only those who could see his inner depths in his blue eyes ever really noticed it - which meant mostly women.  "I did.  Did the stable boy get eaten again?"

"No, he's sleeping it off.  Cofostat's younger son is joining us and they probably went to visit the same serving wenches Vorchain did.  Emanuel, people are coming!" he yelled.  He heard rapid footsteps and the front door slam.  "Ah, better."  He leaned forward to look at the cub.  "You are very tiny."

"He named her Spots," he said dryly.

"Of course he did," he agreed, shaking his head.  "Did your half-succubus send jerky to kill us all or just a few this time?"

"We decided to bring some to the new members," he said with a smug grin.  "If they can survive it they're worthy.  It almost makes up for her calling us demons and swearing at us for waking her up at half-night."

"You're a brave man," Volka said dryly, going back to his sharpening.  The dagger on his thigh was picked back up and the cub sat and stared at him, watching what he was doing.  "Good, cub."  He smiled.  "Joseph and the Brothers Chapalet will be here later today sometime."

"Probably beating Vorchain because he managed to snag her into his bed again," Chauvis said dryly.  An older man, starting to go gray, walked in.  He had been military when he was called to this duty.  His prior service showed in his walk, his posture, and his mannerism.  "Cofostat."

"Chauvis."  He shook his hand.  "Familiar?"

"Vorchain's.  He named her Spots."

"Of course he did," he said dryly.  "Son!"  He ran out, stopping to look at him.  "This is my youngest.  Yes, the blonde came from his mother before you ask if someone attacked him already."  The pale blonde with silver eyes looked at the new guy, nodding, keeping his mouth shut.  He knew his father's belt all too well.

Chauvis dug a small leather drawstring bag out of his backpack.  "Charlotte sends this for the new members."

Cofostat gave him a look then smirked and handed it to his son. "Here, it'll help with the hangover," he said happily.  His son nibbled, then turned bright red and ran to find some water.  "That'll teach him to drink on duty."  He handed the bag back. "Thank you.  Vorchain?"

"Escaping a tavern wench who wants a ring," Volka said dryly.  "Probably where the Brothers Chapalet are and Joseph."

"Joseph does find rescuing him amusing most of the time," Cofostat admitted with a smirk.  "I suppose it keeps him in shape for the fighting we all do."  He sat down, looking at his son, who was slinking into a corner.  "Charlotte is Chauvis' housekeeper and usually she cooks very well but the jerky is something we all must endure at least once."

"The cub likes it," Chauvis said wit a grin.

"Is it demonic?" Volka asked.

"No, she's very nice.  Likes to nurse off her mother Vorchain.  Likes to pounce my books and lick my hair like I'm a cub."  They other two men giggled.  "She'd find him laying down and would sneak up and try to latch on.  When he drove her off she came to lick my hair for me and get comfort."

Cofostat patted him on the knee.  "We'll have a lot of fun with this familiar."

"Charlotte wanted to keep her."  The door opened and a tall man with light brown hair and good muscle walked in wearing all tan leathers.  "Joseph."

"Should I go rescue Vorchain since I don't hear bragging?  I know I sent him to remind you after the last rescue."

"He's escaping a wench."

"Ah, that's where the Chapalets are then."  He looked at the cub then shook his head.  "She still nursing on him?"  Volka laughed again.  "I'll take that as a yes."  He picked her up, looking at her.  "You've grown."  She batted at his nose, growling a bit.  "Quit or no treats."  The cat calmed down, hanging limply.  "Thank you, Spots."  He held her better and petted her.  "Much better, cub."

"She likes Charlotte's jerky," Chauvis told him.

Joseph looked at the cat then at him.  "Was she possessed since I last saw her?"

"Not that I can tell.  She does like to pounce books however."

"Ah, good."  He went back to petting her.  If she was possessed they'd know soon enough when she tried to eat one of them.  He sat down to pet her, tossing his own pack onto the table.  "Who else is coming?"

"Charlet," Cofostat told him.  "Severtina sends her greetings and hopes you'd come bed her again."

Joseph gave him a look.  "She's as evil as Charlotte is," he said dryly.

"No she's not," Cofostat the Younger said, glaring at him.  "She's been like a mother to me.  The woman is no more evil than that cub is for following her nature."

"Evil is relative in women," his father said patiently.  "In our case, our caretaker is only slightly warped toward that side.  Usually in the plotting to find one of the others as a husband."

"The Holy Father said we can't do that anymore," Chauvis said happily.  "It frustrates Charlotte to no end.  Though I think she'd probably tie up Vorchain and make him like it.  He loudly appreciates her cooking and deviates from his travels for it often.  Which scares all my parish in the local village," he finished dryly.

"That's almost a scary thought.  Your half-succubus and Vorchain," Joseph said, then he shuddered.

"No more rescuing him," Volka offered.

"Ehh, then I'd lose my fun," Joseph said, smirking at him.  "As would the Chapalets."

"True," Cofostat the Elder agreed.  "He is quite amusing now and then."  The cub got off Joseph and crawled along the table until she could pounce his hair, earning a smile.  "Very good, young one.  Nearly as good as my son when he was younger."  His son gave him an odd look.  "You used to pounce each time I'd come in the door."

"That's because you saved me from mother fussing me into sickness," he shot back.

"Yet, you like Severtina, who fusses worse than your mother ever did," Chauvis said.  "That's odd."

"She's been kind and gentle to me.  She fusses properly and doesn't make me want to be ill."  He shifted, looking over as the front door slammed and two men walked in leading another by some wrist manacles.  "Did you arrest him?" he asked.

"No, saved him.  She had him bound in front of the town's minister," the younger Chapalet said, taking off his hat to show his short, dark hair and his brown eyes.  "We had to tell her he was married to his job and would never be home, thus stranding her with the multiple babies.  Plus that he hunted demons so she decided he was unholy.  That's why he was so pale.  The priest agreed."

"The local priest is an idiot," Chauvis said quietly.

The older brother Chapalet took off his hat, showing his curly dark locks and blue eyes.  "I see we're mostly here."  He nodded at the young man. "Apprentice?"

"Youngest son," Cofostat said.  "He's seeking admission."

"Apprentice," the two brothers agreed  in unison.  They let Vorchain go, taking his cloak from him.  "There, now you're safe.  Cuddle your cub."

Cofostat held her up.  "She pounces very well."

"Is your milk nourishing her enough or should we find her meat scraps?" Volka asked.

Vorchain snorted, petting his cub.  "You understand me, precious.  They don't because of their jealousy."  He sat down, looking at the younger man.  "Hangover?"  He nodded, looking grim. "Want some jerky?  Charlotte made some."

"I've had some," he admitted.  "It cleared my sinuses very well.  Thank you anyway.  Is the mask for fashion or necessity if I may ask?"

"Necessity.  Something took a bite a few years back," Chauvis said, giving him a look.  The boy didn't back down, he was impressed with that much even if he didn't have tact.  His father still reached over to slap him for the lack of tact.  "Time honored Cofostat family traditions?" he guessed.

"Usually," he agreed.  "Who else is coming?"

"Shaun Dolouise is back in his native country," Joseph told him.  "I sent him a letter.  It should get there sometime next month."

"Someday man will figure out how to get mail to their brethren faster," Vorchain complained.  "Something faster than even sending it by imp."

The others stared at him and Cofostat the Younger snorted.  "Do you have many such fantasies?  In them do men also fly?"  His father got him again.  "It's the truth and you know it!"

"He is afflicted as a seer," Joseph sighed.  "But he didn't rhyme so it'll be long past when we're all gone onto our punishments or rewards."

"One can only hope such massive changes don't happen at once," Volka agreed.  "Otherwise society would be thrown into shock."

"That would depend on who thought of them first," Chauvis said. "If the military did, it might.  If some higher thinker and scientist did, they might be discounted for years and then slowly have it trickle back when others started to accept it.  "Look at the theory of the flat earth.  It took generations for that to be overcome.  There's still people who believe it's flat to this day."

Vorchain looked at him.  "It's not?"

Cofostat the Elder smacked him.  "Behave.  Play with your cub.  She needs her mother."

He got a scowl but he walked off with his cub.  "Come on, Spots.  We'll go play with the horses.  It's much better than the stuffy men in here.  We'll talk about how I always thought the elder Brother Chapalet was a girl in disguise."

The younger brother looked at Joseph.  "Does that mean I get to hit him or my brother does?"

"Doesn't really matter to most of us," Volka said.  "Won't make a difference anyway."

"We really should marry him off or use him as a sacrifice, something that would make him calm down," Joseph said.

Chauvis gave him an odd look.  "Marrying and being sacrificed are two *different* things, Joseph.  I thought you would've remembered that since you were married once."

He looked at him.  "She was as demonic as your Charlotte is," he said dryly.  "Not much difference, only she wanted children instead of eating me."

Cofostat the Elder nodded.  "Truly not much difference.  If you had been married you'd know that, Chauvis."

Chauvis looked at him.  "I realized the other day I became a priest because I'll never understand women.  It soothed me when Charlotte decided I was being naughty and reading instead of sleeping."  He got up.  "Someone should go save the horses from Vorchain before he teaches the cub how to do tricks."  The younger Chapalet sighed and went with his brother to pull their flashier and louder member back inside so they could have lunch.  Chauvis got an apple off the bowl on the table, sitting down again.

Volka simply laughed.  He looked at Vorchain when he was drug back in with his cub.  "Could you be much flashier?"

"I could be wearing the special armor that matches my mask," he said with a fond smirk.

"Never mind," Chauvis said.  "Volka, is there food?  We've lived on inn fare since he ate the food Charlotte sent with us."

"I think my housekeeper's in the kitchen.  I know it's neither one of yours.  We banned them from getting together or conversing after the last time when the world nearly ended."  He frowned a bit, looking at Vorchain.  "Didn't you have to bed the demon to stop that?"

"Charlotte was finding him a wife," Chauvis said dryly, heading for the kitchen.  At least until someone knocked.  "That can't be one of us.  They didn't walk in."  He went to get it since everyone else was staring.  He looked at the young woman on the other side.  She was about his height, had very deep blue eyes.  "Are you lost?"

"No, my father sent me to become one of you," she said, walking around him.  She looked in the corner, staring Volka down.  "My father is DeGuire."  He shuddered.  "He said either I come and apprentice under you or he'll have me killed as a sacrifice because I'm unwomanly and routinely beat his knights."

Cofostat the elder snorted.  "Not that hard.  My army did it about every two years until he turned traitor and came to our side."

She looked at him.  "I remember.  I also remember copying your moves from the last time you pulled my father off his horse.  Thank you.  He didn't nag or try to put me in lacy things for weeks."  That got a smirk.  She looked at him.  "All I want is a chance."

"We've never had a female member."

"I can beat most of the men in here," she assured him.  "I'm already learned in a good many of the books.  My father's pursuit of other people's things meant I had free run of the library once I had tied up the servant he had watching over me."  Vorchain snickered, turning to laugh in Joseph's shoulder.  She looked at him.  "I do know of you by reputation, Lord Vorchain.  I hope never to end up in your sights."  She looked at Volka again.  "All I want is a chance," she repeated quietly.  "I'm even willing to beat people here to prove it."

He looked at the others then at her.  "We'll give you a chance.  Did you run or were you sent?"

"He said either I'd find a home for my special skills when he sacrificed me or he'd sacrifice me to something else for being unwomanly."  Which he knew meant she ran but that was fine.  There was more to this story but she knew they'd never believe 'just a girl'.  She had to prove herself to be believed and get the help she'd need.

"He probably expected you to be taken in as one of our assistants," Chavis suggested.  "I have one, Cofostat has one."  She shrugged.  "Can you truly fight?"

"Test me."

"I'm not the one you want," he said with a small smile.  "Cofostat?"

"Son, test her skills."

"If I must," he complained, getting up.  She took off her cloak, dropping her bag off in a corner, pulling her blade.  "That's a bit tiny."

She snorted, looking him over.  "You're a bit young and snotty.  My blade's sharp and yours isn't.  How hurt can I make him?" she asked the father.

"He's the last in the line of sons."

"Then I won't castrate him.  Maybe some serving wench would take pity on him."  The young man sneered and lunged, letting her shift out of the way and strike back at him, focusing on him.  Even when the cub growled and tried to get her for it.  She scooped it up, looking at it while she defended herself.  "You're obviously female," she praised, putting her into the back of her vest with her free hand.  She finally kicked the young man back and lunged, pinning him. "Yield?" she asked quietly.

"To a girl?" he sneered.  She kneed him in the groin, making him go down with a groan of pain.

"Women are trained to handle men like you when your leashes aren't present," she said dryly, turning and looking at Volka again.  The cub batted at her tied back hair.  She pulled it out, looking at it.  "Good girl.  Very good girl."  She looked at her then at Joseph, who pointed at Vorchain.  She handed her back.  "There you go.  She must think you're her mother.  You share a similar coloring of your fur."

He smirked.  "Try me."

"If you wish.  As long as you don't try to bed me," she said dryly, stepping back.  He handed Chauvis the cub and grabbed his sword, lunging at her.  She got him from behind, giving his rear a push with her foot, then following while he was stumbling.  She got him pinned but he moved around that.  She snorted. "Trying to avoid the tavern wenches?" she sneered.

"Usually.  All women are evil."

She got him in the groin too.  "Only when men discount us."  He got up and she went back after him, starting to pant and sweat now.  He was a much better fighter than the cocky young kid.

"Hold," Volka called, looking at her.  She stepped back and Vorchain tried again.  She punched him and knocked him down.  "Vorchain, I said hold," he ordered.  He got up, wiping off his mouth.  He looked at her. "You're good."

"Thank you.  I know I still have a lot to learn.  That's why I'm more than willing to be an apprentice."

"An apprentice?  You're still a girl," Cofostat the younger sneered.  She turned and punched him back into the pillar he had collapsed against, then wiped her hand off, putting up her blade.

Cofostat the Elder looked at Volka.  "She's not bad.  I've seen women who could fight in battles as well as men."  He thought she seemed familiar.  He knew DeGuire from around the same court but he didn't know his family or him very well.

"Many of the things we hunt are drawn to women," Chauvis said quietly.  "It's why we've never allowed a female member other than our helpers in the past."  He looked at her.  "Do you know the history of the group?"

"The Sorthes are a small 'family' that is made up of warriors who fight certain mystical fores.  The family is built around an older cult which was started by two very close brothers.  They ended up dying together fighting something that came to desanctify Rome.  Their younger brother kept the original group going, changing it somewhat but not totally.  He made the group's rules, had statues made to their honor, and set up the methods of hiding in plain sight, plus the rituals all must go through.  Including the initiation.  The main statue to their honor is the two brothers standing back to back, both with swords held in their hands but down against their legs in bronze.  It sits in the meeting area and everything is done in front of it.  Volka is the latest and last in the family's line so therefore he resides in the place where you all come to do what must be done. Each member lives separately to avoid suspicion but they do get together nine times a year to talk, do rituals, and to help each other.  Each member of the group has their own helpers, those who stick up for them, watch over them.  They try very hard to keep out of everyone's way but now and then members do gain notice.  Especially Vorchain because he's so unusual, loud, and active.  Songs have been written about his prowess not only in battle but also in being a fashionable fop to some ladies and a despoiler of innocence and tavern wenches at other times.  The Church itself held the group outside the power of the recent Inquisition because they owed it the holiness of Rome and the Vatican," she recited by rote.

Volka clapped.  "You do read well."

"Nothing else to do if I didn't want to be some girlish little simpering brat," she said dryly, giving him a look.  "As I said, I'd gladly take on the role of an apprentice.  I know very well I don't know enough to be out there on my own.  Though the incubus my father called to come take me and have me taught recently was not fond of me when I got done with him."  She smiled.  "All I'm asking for is you to ignore the strange lumps on my chest."

"And that you can't pee standing up," the younger brother Chapalet pointed out.

She looked at him.  "Said who?" she shot back dryly.  "I can, have, and done it from a saddle."  He gaped and she smirked.  "It's the only use of riding sidesaddle in my opinion."  His older brother burst out laughing, leaning on Cofostat to hold him up.  She smiled at Volka.

"It would be easier if you were wanting to be a helper."

"I might still end up there but I'm not helpless and I can fight, as I proved."

"As can Severtina," Cofostat the Elder admitted.  "She can actually sneak up and gut me in the night.  She's proven that a few times when I upset her too far."  He patted the one leaning on him, shoving him off.  "Lean on your brother."  He looked at her.  Then at Volka.  "We can keep her as a helper and see if she merits further training.  That's what an apprentice is basically."

"True," he agreed.  He looked at her.  "You would be willing to do that?"

"As long as I'm given a chance if I earn it," she agreed.  "And you don't let my father sell me to another demon for my purity."

"Fixing that might help," he said dryly.

"Family.  Curse."

"Never mind," Cofostat the Elder told her.  He patted her on the back.  "Chauvis?"

"I have Charlotte."

"Charlotte would do good teaching her," Volka pointed out.  "Plus you're one of the most stable of us.  You don't move around all the time like Joseph and the two madmen brothers do.  Or Vorchain."

"Not that I'd suggest that," Joseph said dryly.  "What about Shaun?"

"He'll be traveling once his family's business is taken care of," Cofostat said quietly.  "They were attacked.  Then he'll come back to the mainland and deal with things again."

Chauvis sighed.  "I'll try to talk Charlotte into it, Volka, but you do have the library here.  She seems to be a researcher instead of a priestly sort."

He looked at him.  "Charlotte would finally have someone to teach."

"She's talked about giving me a Goddaughter," he said smugly.

"Which would be a horror on the world," Joseph said, giving him an odd look.  "You'd let her?"

"Not like I'm bedding her, Joseph.  I am a priest."

"Point."  He looked at her.  "Do you wish to stay with the priestly one or here?"

"He lives closer to my father," she said.  "Would that make his life more dangerous or less?"

"Your father is an annoyance anyway," Vorchain said dryly.  "You're the only heir right?"  She nodded.  "Hmm."

"Women may still not inherit estates such as ours," she said grimly.  "It was given for service to the King.  It would go to whoever I married and I would have to marry within a year."

"Someone needs to settle Vorchain down," the younger Chapalet offered.

"I'd rather join a nunnery," she said grimly.  "Especially since my family's women have been cursed to either find love or to marry and kill for wealth.  I'd rather not rob bards of their amusement."  The others laughed.  The cub pounced her foot and she smiled, picking it up to cuddle.  "Is the silly one ignoring you?"

"Her name is Spots," Vorchain said.

"Spots.  It does fit you."  She petted her head gently, looking at Volka.  "It's not my call, but that warning did have to be given."

"I'm keeper of the library more than a warrior," Volka told her.  "I don't need a helper like that.  Cofostat?"

"Severtina would warp her.  Besides, I do the military and weapons training.  She doesn't need much help from me.  Her training was clearly all by watching others fight and then practicing in front of a mirror but she'll learn with Chauvis."

Chauvis nodded.  "That's fine.  Send someone to warn Charlotte."  He pulled out the bag.  "Jerky?" he asked with a smile.

She nibbled, then nodded.  "A bit spicy but I poisoned our cook at home once when I was learning to cook so I've eaten worse of my own cooking."  She finished it, sitting down beside his chair on the floor.  "What do I do now?"

"Go change out of those things," Volka told her.  "Unless you want to wear sweaty leather things?"

She shrugged. "I have in the past.  It doesn't bother me if it doesn't bother you."

Chauvis patted her on the head.  "Vorchain is staring," he told her.  "It's best if he not get any ideas."

"Can I castrate him if he does?" she asked Cofostat.

He considered it.  "He's not of my line.  I can't demand heirs from him," he decided.  Vorchain pouted and he smirked at him.  "I believe you already have a few daughters anyway."  He looked at her.  "Go change.  You can be pretty and we won't care around here.  We see you for your skills and your mind, not your womb."

"Then I'll go change.  Can I borrow a bucket so I can do my hair?" she asked Volka, who shrugged.  "Kitchen?"  He pointed.  "Thank you.  I'll be back in a few minutes."  She grabbed her bag and cloak, heading to ask for some water and a place to clean up.

"Well, this meeting is certainly going differently than our last initiation," Joseph said finally, getting a pinch from the older brother Chapalet.  Spots hopped into his lap, staring at him.  "Are you possessed?"  She nudged his hand.  "Ah, greedy.  That's fine.  You're feline and it's natural to you."  He stroked her gently, letting her sleep on him for now.

"She'll be the biggest barn cat ever," Chauvis joked.

"Think of the mice she can hunt," Cofostat the Elder joked.

Vorchain glared at him.  "She'll be raised naturally.  She'll learn how to hunt beside me as well."

"You do pounce Charlotte very well," Volka admitted dryly, going back to his sharpening.  She came back. "So, daughter of DeGuire, do you have a name?"

"Ancelin Feronia Thera.  After my mother and grandmother.  It's a family tradition to give three names to girl children.  That way they don't feel slighted when their family name is taken by marriage."

"Latin for Handmaiden, Latin  for the goddess of springs and woods, and Greek for the unmastered or wild," Chauvis translated.  "Your mother had high hopes.  Do you practice the old ways?"

"Now and then I can do some poultices but that's what any good warleader's daughter should be able to do," she admitted.  "I'm no healer, no heathen dancing around the moon, and no wise woman.  I make no allusions to my abilities."

Volka nodded.  "That'll work for us.  Good."  He looked her over.  Her hair was now braided wet and then curled up in a bun on the back of her head.  Her dress was soft, well worn, and a simple man's cotton instead of something grander.  She wore only one piece of jewelry, a locket.  "Your father or mother?"

She knelt in front of him.  "My grandmother."  He smiled at the miniature painted in there.  She closed it and stood up, going to sit beside Chauvis again.  "Am I allowed to read the books in here?"

Chauvis nodded.  "I'd start with the scarlet one.  It's a deeper history of the group."  She smiled and went to get it, coming back to sit beside him.  "You could use a chair."

"I could ruin my posture by bending over so I don't have to squint too.  Doesn't mean I'm going to," she told him, going back to the tale unfolding in front of her.  The others laughed.  "I put my horse out back while I was out there but didn't stable him."

"You ride a gelding?" Cofostat asked.

She looked at him.  "No, I ride a young stallion I broke myself.  I handfed him when his mother died shortly after labor.  We were a lot alike in those days," she said with a small smile.  He smiled at that.  "Are you planning on going to beat my father again? If so, feel free to taunt him."

"Do you need to gather things from there?" Chauvis asked.  "Other clothes," he suggested at her odd look.  "Other weapons, other books perhaps?"

"I have all that hidden with a friend nearby.  I can easily get it on the way back to your house."

He nodded.  "That'll do."

"I'll send Emanuel with a message for Charlotte," Volka promised, going to find his groom to do that for them.  She was surely among the spicy and mean women who helped them.  If she was more, they'd see.  Chauvis had trained him after all.  Cofostat had been trained in how to fight the dark by him.  He may look young but Rome adored him for what he knew and could do long before he took up the mantle of priest.

Chapter Three.
 

Later that night their last few members came in.  Another older man, though a bit younger than Cofostat the Elder.  He wore glasses and had his hair slicked back.  His green cloak was shaken out and hung up in the doorway. "It's pouring again.  God must be thirsty with all he goes on the world," he said in greeting, grinning some.

Ancelin looked up and smiled.  "They're in the kitchen talking about the cub, Lord Charlet.  They said to tell whoever else came in to join them unless they were demonic or my father."  She went back to her reading.

"Volka got a handmaiden?" he asked her.

"No, I'm in training."

"Volka?" he called.

"She's an apprentice," Vorchain yelled.  "We're in the kitchen with the cub!"

"What cub?  A possessed thing?" he muttered.

"No, his familiar is a leopard cub he named Spots," she said, still reading.

"Of course he did," he sighed, heading in there.  He pointed.  "Females now?  By the way, Shaun's on his way in and so is the other new member."  He nodded at the young man at the table.  "Yours, Cofostat?  I seem to remember Severtina guarding him from anyone unholy the last time I was at your house."

"Mine," he agreed.  "She's an apprentice.  Her father's DeGuire."  Charlet shuddered.  "She said he tried to sell her purity to a demon."

"Probably not the first time," Joseph said dryly.  Someone else slammed the door.  "Shaun's here."  He got up, going to watch him stare at the new apprentice. He was very much a traditionalist.  It was going to be fun watching her run him over too.  "Shaun."

"Joseph, we have a new female helper?"

"Apprentice," she said.  She looked at him, her finger marking her spot in the book.  "I'm also not deaf so you could actually talk to me instead of overtop of me.  It is rather rude."  He gaped at her and she smiled.  "I'm Ancelin."

"Daughter of DeGuire," Joseph filled in.

Shaun looked at her, his brown eyes staring her down.  "You're Abigail's daughter," he said finally.

She smiled more gently and nodded.  "I am.  You knew my mother?"  She stood up, looking him over.  He was about five years older than she.  "I almost seem to remember you but you were younger, nearly a schoolboy."

"She was my mother's friend," he admitted quietly.  "Why are you here?"

"I was told to find a home where my special skills could be used or I'd be sold off to the next demon he summoned after I beat the first one."

Shaun laughed.  "You did what, girl?"  She grabbed her bag, pulling something out and handing it to him.  He gaped, staring at her.  "How did you get this?"  She kneed him in the groin, looking down at him, then plucked it from his hand.  He made squeaky noises but Joseph laughed.

"That is a woman's weapon of choice," Joseph agreed.  "May I?"  She handed over the pendant.  "His mark."

"I took that off him when he was down.  Was it just my banishing potion or do they not work on them?"

"They don't work on them," Chauvis said as he walked out.  He looked at the mark, then smirked.  "His mark.  Did you get anything else?"  She tossed over the other thing from her bag, letting him catch the small band of crystals.  "Hmm, his power center.  Is he trapped?"

"Unless father unsummoned him, banished him, or whatever.  I was trying my hand at a banishing potion and nearly stomped my foot in pique when it didn't work.  It gave me a migraine to be so girly for a moment."  She sat down again, going back to the history book.  "Did the two brothers have female helpers too?"

"A sister," Chauvis said.  "Before you ask, she died childless thanks to one of the demons they destroyed when it had her."

She nodded.  "I'm sorry for her if she wanted children then."  She got back to her reading.  She finally got tired of Shaun staring and smirked at him.  "What did you expect from the daughter of my mother?" she asked him.

He whimpered, letting Chauvis help him up.  "Not this!  Your mother was always very proper!" he complained.

"I am when necessary.  Otherwise being a girl makes me nauseous," she said dryly.  "The same as the sight of lace being brought over to be put on me does.  Literally twice."  She turned a page, going on.  She squinted, looking at a word.  "Was that crossed out?"

Chauvis looked then shook his head.  "Blood."  She nodded, working out what it must be in her head.  He looked at the other new person.  "Welcome.  Your name would be?"

"Philippe DuLovaire," he said with a French accent.  "You?"

"Chauvis."  He shook his hand.  "Your accent, from near Nice?"  He smiled and nodded.  "Welcome.  This is Ancelin.  Joseph is against the wall.  The others are in the kitchen."

"Need me to help cook?" Ancelin asked.

"Ha!  She does do girlish things," Joseph said.  She glared at him and he walked off snickering.

"I don't sleep anymore," she called after him.  "And I'm known to be mean to my father's faithful creatures."  She shook her head, going back to her reading.

"Yes, she'll get on well with Charlotte," Chauvis said, shaking his head.

Shaun stared at him.  "You're going to train her with Charlotte?  She'll warp her, Chauvis."

"Yet I still won't be the whore some tavern wenches are," Ancelin said dryly, squinting at another word.  "Were they reading during a battle or was it a nosebleed?"

"Nosebleed," Chauvis admitted, smirking at her.  "Volka had it when he was younger."

"Hmm.  Poor man."  She figured out that word and kept going.

The new guy looked at her then at Chauvis.  "Female helpers?"

"Now and then.  She's asked to be an apprentice to the group so we'll start her there and see if she can handle the full skills.  She beat Cofostat's son earlier and tied with Vorchain.  Come on, I'm hungry.  I rode in with Vorchain."  They followed him into the kitchen.  "Ancelin, that would include you," he called a minute later.   She walked in with her book, finding an empty seat with a glance up.  Volka took the book and put it down, giving her a look.  Chauvis chuckled.  "He does that to me too," he shared.

"I was only going to read until we were ready to have a meeting or eat.  I wasn't going to be rude," she assured him quietly.

Volka smiled.  "No reading in the kitchen unless you're preparing a banishing potion, Ancelin."

"Yes, Volka."

"Good girl."

"Should I neigh?" she asked.  "Or am I to be treated like a hawk?"

Joseph laughed.  "You're more spirited than either but more touchy than a hunting hawk," he assured her.

"I never did get along with them.  Maybe that's why," she said, then shrugged.  "It's not my thing.  I'm only decent at archery.  Nearly got my father's second-in-command twice when I blackmailed him into teaching me."

Vorchain looked at her.  "How did you do that?"

"His new wife didn't know about his mistress and her three children," she said with a smirk.  "Or his boy."

"Ah," Cofostat sighed, shaking his head.  "I remember him.  He was good in battle."

"He was," she agreed, smiling at him.  "I've been pulled along behind my father a few times when he thought I'd get into trouble.  Either that or he was trying to find someone to take me so he wouldn't have to pay a dowry for me.  What did happen to him?"

"The battle outside the Grove in Greece."

"Pity.  He was decent to me, even if he had little patience for questions."

"How did you get taken with a war camp?" Cofostat the younger asked.  "Father never managed it with us."

"Father put me and a bodyguard in a carriage and had us follow him within a day's ride."  He shuddered.  "Exactly.  I still think he was trying to have me stolen as a pawn so he wouldn't have to pay a dowry."

"He'll try it again if that was his intention," Chauvis assured her.  "Saying that one of us has had you."

"Not going to happen," she assured him patiently.  "I'd rather be a nun."  They all smiled at her.  "I would.  Even though sewing tapestries all day would give me hives."  The housekeeper came in. "Need help?"

"Sit," she ordered.  She sat again, getting comfortable.  She looked at Volka.  "Vorchain's cub is in the stew?"

"She's not to be cooked," Vorchain said, going to get her out of there.  He found her balancing on the edge of the pot, trying to lick at the stew inside.  "Spots!"  He pulled her off, getting a growl.  "Do not steal food.  We'll feed you!  You know I always feed you!"

Chauvis got some of the jerky, handing it to her to gnaw on, making her much happier.  She settled in his lap, then looked around the table, getting up and going over to stare at Joseph, who took her off the table and cleaned it off again before the housekeeper saw her do that.  Chauvis chuckled.  "She's very strong willed."

"She is," Joseph agreed, watching her crawl over his lap to get to Volka, who gave her a pet on her way across him, still dragging some jerky with her.  She climbed up the younger Chapalet's chest to get to his shoulder, then over to Ancelin's shoulder and snuggled in her top, making her look down at the cub.  "Seems she found a comfy resting spot."

"Better you than some heathen brat or a demon," she said, letting the others laugh.  "Would it be impolite to turn my father in to the King?"

Chauvis coughed.  "It might get your inheritance taken."

"Half of it is my mother's.  That's all I wanted anyway," she assured him.  "I wish no formal knighthood.  He can give it to whoever he wants."

Volka considered it then nodded.  "If he is truly getting dangerous with his plans, someone should stop him.  Shaun?  You know their king."

"Fairly well," he admitted quietly.  "He would listen to her but questions would be asked."

She looked at him.  "According to Mother's journal there was a question of my parentage anyway.  Her journal said my father drugged Mother once and gave her to a his friend."  Shaun gasped, staring at her.  "It's my half-sister that I've got my things stored with."  Chauvis and Vorchain both choked.  "Father's mistress," she said blandly.  "Nearly my age and we're fairly close."  She looked at him again.  "With that being said, I don't need permission from him to go study.  I am of age to do things without parental permission even if I am a girl."

"Someone would question your purity," Shaun told her.

"They can have a doctor check."

"True."  He stared at her.  "You really are as big of a brat as your mother ever was, aren't you?"

"I don't know but I'm told that I'm much like her quite often."  Shaun opened his mouth.  "I was only eight when she died."

"I'm sorry."

"There's doubts there too," she said gently.  She got up and pulled something out of her journal in her bag, bringing it back.  "That was with her when she died."  She handed it to him, looking at him.  "The last I knew that wasn't one of Father's enemies.  I saw his standard with Father's troops a few times."

He looked at it then handed it to Volka, who shuddered.  "No, that's one of ours," Volka agreed, handing it to Chauvis.  "Are you marked?"

"He had my maid draw something on my shoulder," she admitted, lowering her collar to show him.  "I was asleep when she did.  I woke up before she did more than that."

Chauvis got up to look, nodding.  "It's demonic," he agreed.  "That's how he tied the incubus to her."

"Can we destroy the incubus?" she asked, sitting down again.  The cub yawned at her and Chauvis gave her another piece of jerky for her.  "Here you go, Spots."  She grabbed it in her paws, gnawing on the tough meat.  "Is it possible?"

"To banish.  Destroying is harder," Shaun said.  Joseph put down the band of crystals.  "With his power center we can do much," he decided, taking it to look at.  It made him flinch, making him shake his hand until the feeling came back.  "He's not a weak one."

"Her father would only summon the best," Cofostat pointed out.  "He always took the best horse in his regiment, all the best lodgings."  He looked at her.  "Were you at the battle in France?"  She nodded.  "The one watching from the hill?"

"He had my bodyguard hold me up there.  That was about the third time I'd been pulled with his troops.  I did cheer when he got brought down.  Apparently he heard because that night he gifted me with a pale yellow lace dress that made me nauseous.  He looked so surprised when I stomped off too.  I don't know why."

"Your father wanted a doll to play with," Joseph told her.

"He wanted a delicate little daughter he could sell off for political marriages," she agreed.  "I'm not."  They all smiled at that.  "It only took him until I was six to learn that.  I think the time I upended the hot oil onto his legs was instruction enough."

"What had he done?" Shaun asked.

She smiled.  "Wanted to introduce me to a nice older man who might someday be my fiance.  Mother giggled and said next time to be more subtle."

"Hmm, for a child that's not bad," Chauvis admitted.

Cofostat cackled.  "I was wondering why he didn't lead the next battle.  You're.... seventeen summers?"

"This last winter."

"When is your birth day?" Shaun asked.  "If I remember right, October?"

"All Saints Eve," she said with a grim look at him.  "Mother took herbs to speed it up.  I was born just before dusk that night from her journal."

"Wise of her," Volka admitted.   They all nodded.  "Cook?" he called.  "We're hungry too.  Spots didn't get any."

She stomped out with the bowl of stew and bread.  "You could help carry."

"I offered," Ancelin said, starting to stand up but she pushed her back down.  "Are you sure?"

"It's a man's job to carry heavy things."  She gave the cat an odd look.  "Teaching it bad habits?"

"She snuck over to nibble on me instead of her nanny," she said with a grin for the older woman, who only laughed and walked off again.   She went to help anyway by getting the bowls and spoons.  She brought them back while the cook brought in a pitcher of milk. "Thank you, Cook," she said, smiling at her.

"You're welcome.  Learn cooking from Charlotte, just not the jerky."  She went back to her part of the kitchen.

Volka looked around.  "Say Grace as you will it."  They all mumbled something and he dished out food, handing Ancelin a good portion of stew.  "So you can share."

She looked at the cub, then over.  "She's napping off the strain of sneaking over."  She dug in, moaning.  "This is better than mine."

Chauvis smiled.  "Charlotte does a good stew.  Vorchain likes to detour to get fed every few months."  He took a bite and nodded.  "New mushrooms.  Thank you, Cook."

"Welcome, Chauvis.  I know Vorchain ate all your food so you've been eating slop at inns the whole way over."  She brought over more stew, adding it to the bowl.  "There, for the hungry, growing boys.  Not you, Vorchain."

"If he grows more maybe his body will hold his ego," Charlet said before taking a bite.

"Not funny," Vorchain complained.  "I earned my ego and reputation, thank you."

"Yet the young lady fought you to a draw?" Charlet teased.

Volka coughed.  "I had them draw.  He was taunting and she was being a pure one against his teasing.  We would've had to listen to him whine for years after she took his manhood off."  Ancelin giggled, hiding it behind her hand.

"Then Charlotte would've complained too," Chauvis sighed, shaking his head.  "At least he has the furry daughter."

"You're not funny either," Vorchain said, staring him down.  "I'll have you know I don't need heirs."

"I've heard you've got three so far," Shaun teased with a smirk.

Vorchain stuck his tongue out at him.  "Jealous?"

"Not hardly.  I don't need heirs, legitimate or otherwise."

"How is the family?" Cofostat asked.

"My mother looked at me in the doorway and told me to go away.  She didn't want me to burn down the village who had hurt them."  He grimaced.  "She said my younger brother had handled it."

"Did he?" Volka asked.

"If he didn't, I'm sure they got the point I will be," Shaun told him.  "I did leave that message clearly."  He ate another bite.  "This is good, Cook, thank you.  I spent the last four days on a crossing ship."

Ancelin pushed over the bowl of stew.  "Want more?"

"Let me finish first, girl."  He dug in again, weathering the dirty looks.  "I'm almost surprised.  Even the most manly of women wear jewelry."

"I have my grandmother's locket.  That's all I need," she told him.

"No crucifix?" Chauvis asked.

"It's gaudy and has emeralds.  Why would I want to wear it in public?  That's for high mass when we have to be dressed up for the holy holidays."

"Good point."  He nodded.  "We'll see what you have stored."

"About three bags of things and I can get my father's mistress to send it to me," she promised.  "I'll have to pause there for a few hours but nothing else."

"We can do that.  It's nearly on the way," Chauvis said.

"I still can't believe we're going to let Charlotte train her," Shaun said.

"Her or Severtina," Cofostat the Elder pointed out.

"Then I like Charlotte.  Severtina is a bit...loud," Shaun pointed out.

"Happy too until she has to gut something," Joseph agreed.  "I watched her help with the fall butchering a few years back.  She was making a lot of complaining noises and sickened faces."

"As do I," Ancelin agreed. "I don't mind it for a good cause but I'd rather not see guts anytime soon."  She looked at Chauvis, who shook his head.  "We don't?"

"The village does.  I get to bless them first but I'm not asked to help with the gutting."

"Thank you."

"You can if you want."

She gave him an odd look.  "Does anyone ever *want* to gut things?"

"Good point."  He ate another bite, smiling when the cub's head popped out of the top of her dress.  "Done with your nap, Spots?"  She yawned and climbed out, crawling across the table to investigate the two new men.  Shaun took her off the table before Cook could see, settling her in his lap to pet her.  "Charlotte sent jerky for the new members."

Shaun gave him an odd look.  "Don't torture them.  They'll never get others in and we'll be doing this in our old age if we make it that far."

"That's why I had the son," Cofostat said smugly.  His son glared at him so he smirked back.  "It was.  Someone has to follow in my footsteps."

"Your armor swims on me, Father.  The girl would better fit it than I."

She looked him over.  "We can let you try on one of my old corsets.  You're about as skinny as I was before I developed.  I was told they do wonders for the figure."  He spluttered.  "It also helps make sure you don't slouch.  Especially when you ride."

Cofostat gave her an odd look while the others laughed.  "Don't give Severtina any ideas.  She hates his slouch."

"Think about how strong any army would be if they were trained in corsets," she countered with a bright smile.  "You'd have perfect posture for sword work and riding. You'd get more obedience with the threat to tie them tighter.  You'd get less whining about the wenches going to the higher ups instead of their lowly selves, and they'd eat less," she offered.

He shook his head.  "I know a few units I could try that with but the King would be upset."  She opened her mouth.  "I know he wears such things for court matters, but on the battlefield it would be a hindrance to ducking."

"Let them train with it and not travel with it.  They'll quit whining about walking so far," Joseph said.  "Her plan does have merit, even though it is rather mean."

"And it's not mean to us?" she snorted.  "Who was it that wanted women's waists so small that our guts get pushed around yet want us able to bear children?  It wasn't women.  We have more sense about our bodies than that."

"Many men have unreasonable desires in their women," Chauvis agreed.

"Not me, I only want mine to be warm and soft," Vorchain told him.  "Willing, calling my name in pleasure."

She blushed and coughed. "True yelling or just any yelling?"  He gave her an evil look.  "My maid said sometimes good ladies did that.  Only wenches and whores yelled like that for real."

"No wonder we keep rescuing him from the tavern," the elder Chapalet said dryly.

His brother snickered.  "Half of them yell out fakely anyway," he assured his brother.  "Especially when they see Vorchain naked.  There've been a number who've yelled upon sight of his nether regions from what I'm told."

Ancelin blushed brighter but shrugged.  "Alas, I cannot compare nor do I want to compare before anyone offers.  I'll keep my purity until it becomes inconvenient or I find someone who actually likes me for my brains.  That was not a hint," she said when Shaun opened his mouth.

He laughed. "Your mother said much the same thing from what my mother told me.  For some reason she still married your father."

"Yes, and for that, Grandmother cursed us all to either find true love or marry for wealth and then take it when we've destroyed them," Ancelin said.  He gaped.  She nodded.  "Grandmother was Greek and her temper knew no bounds from hers and mother's journals."

"Your mother had a feisty temper that used to get me in trouble," Shaun told her.  "Always playing jokes."

"Is she the one I got the gift to soap armor from?"

"Possibly," Shaun admitted, eating another bite while Cofostat choked.  "Did it to yours?"

"No, her father used to slide around the first day out."

"He kept telling people to make me learn to sew and knit," she defended.  "I'd rather not.  He even tried to tell someone I'd have a husband who could read recipes for me."  That got a mass head shake.  "Too late by that point but oh well."  She ate another bite.  "Cook, are you sure I can't help?"

"No, dear.  The men can help.  They're big and strong because they're men.  Until something happens to them."

"Well, at that point, they're all welcome to borrow my corsets to hold them upright," Ancelin said, making the cook cackle in her corner and Volka groan, shaking his head.  "It can help hold on bandages."

"Chest plates can do the same," Cofostat assured her.  "It's more manly than a corset."

"Tried one?"

"Severtina," he said dryly.  The others laughed.  "She was mad I wouldn't bear a daughter for her to spoil.  Got me one night.  I woke up in it and makeup.  It was not pretty when I finally caught her that afternoon."  His son gave him an odd look.  "That's why she won't go into the hayloft.  I caught her and spanked her until she prayed for mercy."  He scraped his bowl and got more stew.  The cat's head popped over the table.  "No, you stay there."  Spots, of course, walked over and sat down, sniffing his bowl, even putting her head down in it before he could stop her.  His son grabbed the cat, tossing it onto the floor.

"Be nicer to her, she's only young," Vorchain complained, picking up the pouting cub to hold and cuddle.

"She had better not be on my table," Cook called.

"We're trying very hard," Chauvis promised. "She does like your stew."   He watched as the cub again swatted Vorchain's bowl then licked her paw.  "She's very good at hunting already."

"I'd call that gathering," Volka offered.  "Ancelin?"

She watched.  "Gathering.  She doesn't have to kill it so it's not stalking or hunting behavior."  She finished her stew and got another piece of bread to sop up the juices.  Chauvis pushed the bowl over.  "I'm full."

He looked at her.  "We all belch and eat our fill.  Cook complains if we don't."

She pinched him on the cheek.  "You're very sweet but I caught and ate a rabbit last night and today."  He shook his head, getting himself some more then pushing it back down the table.

"Snare?" the younger Cofostat asked.

She nodded.  "Almost.  It tried to run through me when a dog was chasing it.  Got caught in my cloak.  I clubbed it on the head until it quit moving.  The dog got to play with the bits and then it ran off."

"Wolf?" Volka asked.

She shook her head.  "Hunting hound.  There's wolves around here?"  They all nodded.  "Huh.  I guess my fire scared any off."  She finished her bread, taking her book back and wandering off.  "Let me know when we're doing something else."

"Sure," Volka agreed, waving after her.  He looked at the others.  "She's spirited."

"Someday she'll make someone a very frustrated husband," Shaun sighed.  "Her mother might be proud of that.  I'm not sure."

Volka looked at him.  "We can only guide her and help keep her safe from her father's plots," he pointed out.  "Her mother would appreciate that."

"Her mother would be screaming because she could use a sword," Ancelin said as she came in to get herself some more milk, taking it back to the other room to read in.  "Other than that Mother would be very proud I think.  She used to oil down Father's armor so he'd slip off his horse."  She walked off again.

Cook and Cofostat the Elder both snickered at that.  "She's one strong girl," Cook warned.

Chauvis nodded. "She and Charlotte will either hate each other on sight or get along a bit too well."  He looked at the others.  "Initiation tonight?"

"Can we play with her incubus?" the younger Chapalet brother asked, looking nearly manic in his glee.  "Please?  It'll be fun.  We can torment him with her and all that good stuff."

His older brother patted him on the head.  "Calm down, Tobias."

"But, Leonard!"

"Later, we can play with the incubus later and maybe she'll help you trap the one who keeps trying to hit on you too."

He shrugged.  "Might be nice."  The others all stared at him.  "Never date a witch," he said blandly.  "They get mean when they break up with you."

"That's about how I learned of the group," Cofostat sighed.  "When my first wife went insane she cursed me to see demons and spirits then killed herself."  His son gave him another odd look. "That's when Severtina showed up one night.  I honestly thought she was a spirit when I first met her.  She never seemed to be in the same place when you blinked."  The others laughed and nodded.  "Then the second wife died."  Ancelin came back to get a towel.  "Spill the milk?"

"No, one of the windows is leaking near the books."  She went back to clean that up, stuffing the rag in the crack.  She came back.  "It's in that painted window."  Volka nodded.

"I'll fix it tomorrow," Chauvis promised.  That got a smile from Volka.  "Do we want to do initiations tonight or taunt her incubus?  I believe those were the two suggestions."

"As long as I get to kick him at least once more for trying to have me," Ancelin said, shrugging a bit.  "I don't much care."  That got a mass of smiles.  "Should I be armed?"

"No," everyone said.

"We'll wait and see how cranky you become first," Volka said with a smile.

She gave him a look then outside at the moon then back at him. "I'm not a werewolf to need chained."  She smiled and went back to the reading while they laughed.

Volka blushed at that, shaking his head.  "She is very strong," he agreed.

Everyone else nodded at that.  She was going to be a lot of fun with the group.
 
 

Chapter Four.
 

Ancelin rode into her friend's courtyard, sliding off her saddle into the groom's hands.  "Thank you, Paul."  She walked up to the door and knocked.  "Is Marjorie not in?"

"She is, Lady Ancelin."  She let her in, letting her up to her half-sister's room.  "Lady Marjorie?" she called before opening the door.  "Your friend is here."

"Ancelin!" she called, rushing over to hug her.  "What happened?  Did you run away?"

"Father told me to find somewhere my skills were more useful before he sold my soul off," she said grimly, walking inside.  "Is it all here?"

"In my wardrobe.  What happened?"  She sat down beside her, patting her friend's hand.  "I see you changed from your normal wear into a dress."

"I heard your mother was in residence."

"You're lucky.  Your father was here until last night waiting on you."

"Our father, Marjorie. I do know who fathered you even if I do not know which one fathered me."  She gaped. "There's things you and your mother should know."

"Let me get her.  Oh, you don't mind if I took the blue flowered dress, right?"

"I despise it.  Have it," she agreed, smiling.  "It's frilly and lacy."

"I'm not like you, dear.  I like lace as do most girls our age."  She went to get her mother. "Mother, Ancelin's back from her trip."

"Now?"  She has good timing," she said grimly, getting up to follow her.  "Ancelin, do you mind if I keep the gray silk?"

"That's fine," she agreed, smiling at her.  "I even put on a dress for you."

Even if it was a common cotton dress it was better than the breeches the child wore.  "Thank you, dear."  She kissed her on the cheek.  "Now, what happened?"

"Father tried to hand me to an incubus."  Both girls laughed.  "I'm not joking," she said flatly.  "I went to a priest to have it checked."  They stared at her so she moved her collar out of the way.  "He's fought off the creature for me," she said quietly.  "I'm going to report him later."  They gaped harder.  "Also, in my mother's journal I found a few things.  One of them being you might be in danger.  The priest found out what I knew.  Mother was killed by one of father's not-so-enemies."

"You met who?" Marjorie asked.

"Father Chauvis.  I'll be studying with him for a while," she told her.  "Upping my reading and research skills."  She looked at her father's mistress.  "The marker found with her body spoke of it.  I carry it in my journal and he agreed with what I knew."

"He knows Cofostat," she said flatly.  Her lover had been given his title when their country had annexed part of another one.  He had been their knight and Cofostat had fought him many times before he had changed sides.

She nodded.  "I had lunch with him yesterday, Lady Elizabeth."  Her face fell.  "I'm sorry but he knew which enemy it was.  Father Chauvis took it to him and he agreed.  He told him exactly who it was."  She leaned forward, pulling something out of her skirt pocket.  "Also you should see this."  She handed over the journal open at the ribbon bookmark, letting her read.

"I do not know why the wine tasted funny that night but my husband's friend has since been giving me very smug looks.  Now I find myself with child," she read out loud, then gasped, looking at her. "You?"

"Me," she agreed.  "Which means I can be taken out of the succession for my father's things, but not for Mother's.  All I want are mother's things.  The rest is yours for all I care and you can keep him but I would be aware of what he's doing."

She handed back the journal.  "This is all very fantastic."

"Yet I'm marked and still pure because I fought him off," Ancelin said quietly, staring her down.  "Reading has come in handy in my life."

"Is Father Chauvis on his way here?"

"I left him about a half-day back," she admitted.  "I'm going to study at his house with him and his caretaker.  It'll be totally proper and his reputation is beyond reproach."  That got a dual nod from both of them.  "I'm going this afternoon to tell his Lord and Master what happened. If you wish to show up and claim things for Marjorie, I think it would be a good time."

"I'll think on that," she agreed regally.  "What about your things?"

"Mostly from mother's trousseau," she said with a smile.  "I know better than to take anything of his from the house.  He'll try to have it taken back."

Her near-stepmother nodded.  "He's trying now."

"He can try.  He still had my maid mark me."

"She ran off," Marjorie said.

"Good.  Much better for her.  Perhaps her next employer won't make every female in the household wear a chastity belt so he's not tempted."  She stood up.  "Can I gather my things for my trip?"

"I'll have them sent, Ancelin," the older woman said.

She smiled.  "I don't want you caught in the middle."  She kissed her on the cheek.  "Besides, I packed lightly.  It'll go on my saddle."  She and her friend gathered things, taking them down to tie them to her saddle.  She smiled and hugged her.  "You'll know where I'll be if you wish to have your maid write me.  Be safe."

"You as well.  Shouldn't you change?  That's fairly common."

"It's the last one I bought with his money," she said with a wink, remounting and waving before nudging her horse to trot off.  Once she got out the gates she rode up the road to the city, going to talk to the King.  She paused at the gates, looking at the sneering guard.  "I am Lady Ancelin DeGuire.  My father's in deep trouble."  He let her inside.  "Thank you."  She rode into the courtyard, sliding off again and smoothing down her hair.  She tied her horse off, nodding at the groom.  "Leave the things alone please.  If my father comes, feel free to protect yourself."  She walked inside, nodding at the herald.  "Has my father had his audience?"

He gave her a shocked look.  "He's in a few people, Lady Ancelin."

"Thank you."  She walked that way, going to wait her turn.  Her father finally was called and he stepped forward.

"My ungrateful daughter has run off, Your Majesty."

"Why?" he asked.  "Your daughter is usually quite sensible."

"Because he had me given to an incubus so he wouldn't have to pay a dowry for me," Ancelin said, waving from her spot.  "May I approach?"

"You may, Lady Ancelin."  He looked at her.  "Can you prove your claim?"  She stepped closer, showing him the mark.  He hissed.  "You're sure?"  She pulled a letter from her pocket, handing it over.  "From?"

"Father Chauvis.  I sought his counsel when I left."

He nodded, humming as he read it.  He looked at him.  "He does say that.  He also said that she somehow got the demon's mark from him?"

"I have learned how to protect myself against my father's orders," she said, then she shrugged.  "Many young women feel the need to protect their virtue these days, Sire."

"Good point.  You can fight?"

"I can."

"With a sword?"

"Can I challenge him to prove it?" she asked.

The king stared at her.  "He is a trained knight, young lady."

"Your Majesty, there's things you do not know," she said quietly.  "If I may show you something else?"  He nodded so she handed over the journal.  "By my mother's hand.  Also, I asked the good Father about the banding mark we found with mother's body, finding out it was one of his fellow knights who killed her."

"How dare you!" her father shouted.

"Shut up, Father, if you are in fact my father.  By mother's own hand," she said, turning to glare at him.  "You had her drugged and given to your friend.  I know you're not castrated, I have a half-sister.  Was it simply to humiliate my lady mother or did you need that sort of thrill?"

"I'll disown you!"

"All I want is my mother's things."  She looked at the king.  "I believe that's fair.  He humiliated her.  He had her killed.  I asked the Father's opinion on that as well and he went to another Knight for verification on that enemy.  He did say he had heard he did things like that for pay instead for honor."  Her father tried to hit her so she kicked him in the stomach, shoving him back.  "You are not my family," she sneered.  "No father would ever sell his daughter's purity to a demon."

"You were with men this weekend," he sneered back.

"I'll gladly let the court physician check to prove I'm still pure.  I was in the company of a priest."  She looked at the King.  "All I want is what was my mother's.  If I have to challenge him to get it, so be it."

"You'd fight him?"

"Or pick one of the squires, giving them his titles if he lost," she agreed.  "Whichever you deemed more fair."

"I like that idea better than you fighting, Lady Ancelin."  She nodded and looked around, pointing at one.  "That'll do.  Squire Henry."  He stepped forward.  "Will you take this challenge to her honor for her?"

"As you wish it, Sire."  He took off his helmet.  "Lady Ancelin, please get out of the way?"

"Of course."  She walked up to stand next to the king.  "All I want is what was my mother's.  I believe that's fair," she repeated quietly.

"Do you plan on marrying?"

"No, but I do have plans.  Father Chauvis said I could study with him for a while until I made later plans."

He looked at her.  "I didn't take you for going into an Order."

She snorted, shaking her head.  "I'm not, but he is a very learned man, Sire.  I could learn much from him that educating myself missed."  He nodded at that.  "He has accepted me.  I'll be learning with his caretaker and him so it'll be very proper, even though I know he has no designs on me."

"I do like the good father.  He's very special."  He waved a hand and the squire lunged, making him wince.  "He's having a bad day."  Her father managed to get the knight down to the floor so she picked up the fallen sword.  "Ancelin."

"It's not right to let one of the pretty young men that dot the court take up my battle, sire."

"Think you can beat me?" her father sneered.

"I've watched you fight and fall off your horse for years, Father."  He lunged and she ducked the blow, getting him back.  She managed to tire him out, watching for his usual stupid move.  He rushed past a feint and she got him with her belt knife, right into his stomach, making him fall down.  "As I said, I've watched you fall off your horse and disgrace this kingdom for years by going out to bully the neighboring areas for your own greed."

"You are mine!" he gasped.

"You're not dying.  The blade wasn't that long," she said, pulling it out.  She wiped it off on the hem of her dress, then took it off, tossing it down onto him.  "That's the only thing you bought me that I took from the house."  She looked at the king, not caring she was in a shift and her corset, plus a pair of breeches.  "I'll retire to put on more appropriate clothes in a minute," she said at the gapes going on.  "Sire?"

"You did beat him."

"I watched him train for years.  He had me follow the troop so someone would take me.  I did learn by watching."  That got a nod.  "And some limited bribes to his people," she finished with a smile.

"It's a wise woman who knows her mind and knows when to defer," he said.

"As I do, Sire.  Your wisdom has been spoken of by others."

He smirked.  "Sucking up won't help, Ancelin."

"I'm not.  I heard a song about it at a tavern on my travels."  He laughed.  She bowed.  "All I ask is for what I can prove is my mother's.  I've been working on her trousseau for years and been wearing them."

"As far as I'm concerned you can have anything he gave you," the King decided.  He looked at the ashamed squire, then at the knight, then back at the squire.  "You didn't do so badly, Squire Henry.  You're not very long in my service.  We will see that you get more training.  Perhaps under Cofostat."  The man on the floor hissed.  "Do get him out of here before he sullies my tiles," he ordered.  Guards came to get him.  Another person stepped forward, handing Ancelin a cloak.  "Thank you...."  Cofostat took off his hood.  "Ah, Knight Cofostat.  You did talk to her about her mother's death?"  He ignored her putting on the cloak to cover herself.

"I did.  That one is known as an assassin, Sire.  She's not asking for much.  His present mistress and daughter by her can have the rest, or whichever knight you decide on."

The king considered it then nodded. "I know you know Father Chauvis.  She is training with him?"  He nodded.  "She can read?"

"Very well.  She also managed to defeat the incubus he summoned to take her purity from her," he said quietly.  "He is not worthy of the same badges I wear if he does things like that.  Father Chauvis said he did.  I believe him, especially since she stole the mark from his throat to bring to him."

The king nodded.  "Very well.  He will be removed from the Knighthood.  I'll choose who it goes to after this.   He only has daughters?"

"And a mistress from what I've heard," Cofostat said, looking at Ancelin, who nodded.  "A daughter by her?"

"A daughter by her and me if I'm his actual heir."

The king considered it.  "It's an unusual request, Ancelin."

"I only ask my things."

"I know."  He smiled.  "Anything that is in your rooms is yours, child.  Your jewelry and clothes, your horse."

"My horse has been mine.  I handraised him," she said with a small smile.  "He hates Father."

The king chuckled.  "I can see why now.  Horses are often very wise.  Your stallion is here?"

"Outside."

"Good.  Then I'll let you pack whatever you want, child.  The rest goes to his mistress and her daughter by him as long as she can prove how she came to be."  She stepped out of the crowd, nodding at that.  "You can?"

"I can and there's proof since there was a party that night," she admitted.  "Ancelin came to me first, Sire."  She bowed deeply.

"Good.  Your daughter?"

"Only wishes to be a good wife to someone," she assured him.  "With this I can pay her husband a good dowry."

"Ancelin?"

"I have no plans that way and with the curse my grandmother put on my mother for marrying him I had best be sure."

"I've heard," he admitted.  "I was there when they married and heard her do it actually."  He stared at her.  "Very well.  Take your things and go study, child.  Father Chauvis is very honorable and if he finds you a spouse and you agree, so be it.  Your jewelry can be your dowry."

"May I change my name back?  On her side I'm still a Duchess even though the family house went to a cousin."

"Agreed," he decided, smiling at her.  "Your mother would be proud."

"I'd hope so."  She bowed.  "Thank you, Sire.  I'll pack today."  She looked at Cofostat.  "He won't mind?"  He shook his head.  "Then I'll pack tonight."  She smiled at her near- stepmother.  "I'll meet you there?"

"Marjorie's already headed there so she can confiscate the pink dresses too."

"She's more than welcome to them," she promised.  "I am not a big fan of lace.  With your leave, Sire?"  He waved her off.  "Thank you for your indulgence.  I hope no others have to go through this."  She left.

The king looked at Cofostat.  "You don't have daughters?"

"One son left," he admitted.  "A lot of other good knights do have daughters like her however.  They tend to make strong daughters."

"She was that.  Did you train her?"

"No, sire.  She watched and practiced in her mirrors while her father was gone."

"She often tied up the person her father was forcing to watch and take care of her," the mistress said blandly.  "They kept trying to make her do girlish things and she always favored the library."

The king hummed.  "It's a good thing we won't have that problem again.  I hope."  He waved.  "Go pack your daughter's things.  The house would belong to the new knight."

"Yes, Sire.  Thank you for your help."  She bowed then walked off in a swirl of skirts.  Ancelin was very strong and she had clearly amused and confused the king.  Her carriage took her there.  The two girls were laughing in Ancelin's room, packing a trunk.  "Will that fit on the back of your horse?"

"I'll have it shipped by one of the grooms if you won't mind?" she asked.

"That's reasonable.  Will you have room?"

"He said I'll have an attic.  I  can easily keep everything together."  She finished weeding out her closet.

"All that's so *plain*," Marjorie complained.  "You'll look like a nun yourself.  Take some of the finer things.  You like the blue dress."  She packed it for her, along with a few other finer gowns.  "There."  She tossed in the jewelry but Ancelin dug it out and handed her a cameo she had always liked, getting a smile.  "Thank you.  I like this on the pink dress."

"Please do," Ancelin told her.  She went to get her writing desk cleaned up, packing it in a small wooden box and tossing it inside as well.  Then a few other personal things.  She looked at the full trunk, then sighed, pulling out her other traveling bag to fill it from the hidden areas.  "Want shown into the safe?" she asked.

"Please."  They went to do that together.  The mistress claimed most of it but handed her two small bags of gold.  "For your traveling expenses and to pay him for putting up with your questions, Ancelin."

That got a smile and she nodded, going to get another sword and her bow from the armory.  The bags got tossed into the traveling bag.  She finished finding her shoes and tossed them into the trunk too, packing one of the good dresses into the traveling bag.  Marjorie closed the trunk by sitting on it and they smiled, hugging each other.  She went to pack her things onto her horse's already full saddle, getting a snort of disgust from the beast.  "I know.  We'll be there soon."  She checked the bridle, going to get her good one and the better saddle too, repacking everything onto the traveling saddle.  That got an amused look.  "From my mare.  Father got it for her because of all those trips he took me on."

"That's fine."  She took the old one and put it away.  "I'll send it too."  She nodded.  "Want another horse?"

"He has one."  Her stepmother gave her a look.  "I don't know if it's proper.  I don't want to cause a burden on him.  He lives in a small village about a half-day's ride from here."

"I'm sure there's a tavern you can rest her at," she said patiently.  "That would keep a groom from having to go."  She nodded, going to get her old mare out of the stables, putting the saddle on her then the trunk on top, tying it down.  She looked at her clothes, taking off the cloak and putting on a leather vest, wiggling free of the corset.  That got tossed to them too, making Marjorie laugh as she trotted off, leading her mare.  They waved and she smiled at her daughter.  "We'll do just fine. You'll make a fine heiress.  It's your dowry," she assured her.  That got a squeal and they went to loot the rest of the house.
 

***
 

Ancelin rode up to the village, looking around.  It was small and charming.  The people gave her odd looks.  She smiled when she paused beside an older woman.  "I'm being sent to study with Father Chauvis.  Which house is his please?"

She pointed. "Follow the screeching, child.  Do I know you?"

"Duchess Ancelin Constantsos."  That got a smirk.  "Formerly daughter of Knight DeGruire."  That got a nod.  "They'll be naming a new one soon so there might be festivities."

"I'll let the shopkeepers know.  Go to the end of the road, go left.  It's the loud house."  She smiled and rode on, letting the old woman shake her head.  "I wonder if the head priests know he's being sent young women."  She went to pass on that bit of gossip to the others.  They would get to celebrate too.

She walked her horse up to the front door, dismounting.  "Father?"  He came out to look at her, frowning a bit.  "His mistress insisted, this way I didn't have to borrow a groom to bring my trunk.  If I have to, I can lend her to someone on a semi-permanent basis."

"It's fine.  That's all you have?"

She smiled. "I think you'd be surprised how much a woman can get into these bags.  Speaking of, two have books."  He laughed, coming out to get the trunk, helping her carry it inside.  She saw the woman in the kitchen and came down from the attic, detouring to greet her.  "Hello."

Charlotte looked her over.  "Well, you're not frivolous looking."

"Nor am I frivolous.  Though my half-sister did make me pack some finery."  That got a laugh.  "Including some books."  She went to carry in the other things, handing him the books while she got her weapons.  Then the rest of the bags went into the corner beside her bed.  He handed her something and she stuffed it into her pocket. "Sorry.  Didn't know I had packed that in there."  She went out to lead the horses around back, taking off their saddles and bridles, letting them drink from the trough while she filled it.  She rubbed them both down, letting Charlotte show her where to put the tack.  "You can borrow her if you want.  He's a bit picky.  I hand raised him when his mother died."

"Thank you.  It'll make a bit of gossip."

"There's plenty of that," Chauvis called from the back door.  "New knight?"

"He knocked down the squire, I stabbed him in the gut," she said bluntly.  "The King did take his commission away from him for summoning demons."  She smiled sweetly.  "He said he hopes never to have another of me."  That got a laugh from Charlotte.  "I picked up the squire's sword and went after him," she said bluntly, shrugging a bit.  "Felt good."  She finally got the horses settled in for the night, then walked back inside.  "What can I do to help, Charlotte?  I'm past my poisonous stage of cooking."

"Go help him look over the books you brought.  He'll get lost.  You can shelve anything he's not actively reading.  If it's not on his desk or next to his chair down here, it's to go back on the shelves."

"All right.  I can keep that system."  She went up to the study she had passed on her way to the attic.  "I thought they might be useful."

"Some are.  A few are duplicates."  He handed her that stack.  "Start with reading those."

"I am."

"Good."  He smiled.  "Don't shelve on me."

"She said anything you're not reading, that's not on your desk, or next to your chairs."

He smiled, pointing at the stack on the floor.  "No more room, Ancelin."

"If you'll teach me I'll help you add onto the house," she offered, making him burst out laughing.  "I don't know that art but if you need me to I'll learn it too."

He patted her on the arm.  "I'm sure you will."  They got to work on the other books.  She had brought a number he hadn't seen yet.  Mostly on conjuring spirits.  "His collection?"

"From his private study," she agreed happily.  "Let me check the others for books.  Be right back."  She went upstairs, going to see if any of the other bags had books, coming down with a few.  "His work journal, his private journal, and the book I found in his private study next to a few pots of paint and a human hair paintbrush."

He took that last one, smirking at it.  "Very good choice.  This is his grimoire."

"I didn't realize that."  She smiled, sitting at his feet.  "Now what?"

"Unpack?"

"I can leave things where they are.  I'm used to living out of my bags."  That got a smile. "I'm sorry if they give you mean looks for me, Father."

"It's not a problem, Ancelin.  They all think Charlotte was sent to tempt me away from the church."  He patted her on the head.  "Go get the door.  I hear people."

"By the way, I took my mother's name back.  The King agreed.  That technically gives me a higher rank but a cousin got the house since he was the only male heir and she married out of the country.  I'll write them later."

"Even better."  He made a shooing motion while he settled in to read.

She bounded down the stairs, opening it when it was knocked on.  "Yes, sir?"

"Who are you?"

"Duchess Ancelin Constantsos.  Daughter of Duchess Abigail."

"Ah!"  He nodded, smiling.  "You're going to be a nun?"

"No, I'm studying under Father Chauvis."

"Scripture?"

Charlotte came out of the kitchen.  "She's like me.  Get off the gossip now.  She'll be taking over my job for one of the others."

"Ah," he sighed, nodding. "That makes more sense with the amount of things you brought and the weapons."

She smiled.  "My father was a knight.  I'm fairly decent in most of the ones I brought.  I'm sure if I need to be better the Father can instruct me there too."

He smiled.  "That's a good attitude for a young woman."

"She shivved her father in Court," Chauvis called down.  "He tried to summon something to have her."

The man shuddered.  "You poor child.  No wonder you go by your mother's name.  Very well.  We'll have the older ladies leave you be.  I'm sure Charlotte will keep everything proper?"

"She's getting the attic," she assured him.  "The Father's not like that.  He doesn't understand women in the least."

"Good.  As it should be for a priest."  He bowed.  "Do have a good day and if you wish, you could come to the tavern and have lunch with my wife sometime this week?"

"If she wishes me to, have her send word here and I'll ask him," she promised with a smile.  "Do have a good day, sir."

"You as well, Lady Ancelin."

"Just Ancelin while I study."  That got a nod and he walked off.  She closed the door, leaning on it.  "Did I come off as regal?" she asked quietly.

"The last royal from here was his sister-in-law, who's a royal concubine," she shared.

"Oh.  Interesting.  Lady Cathleen?"  She nodded. "Very interesting.  Huh.  The rest of my father's estate went to my half-sister for her dowry."  She smiled.  "Let me know what I can do to help besides shelving books."  She went upstairs to start on that, taking the ones that were laying at odd angles out so she had more room.  She looked at the system then groaned, starting over by alphabet.  By the time dinner was served she was in the 'D's and one whole shelf was done.  Chauvis gave her a confused look.  "By author's last name."

"That'll work too," he agreed, following her down the stairs.  "Charlotte, Vorchain's cub snuck across the table all weekend," he told her.  "She was rotten.  She kept getting into his stew with either her nose or paw.  Volka's cook was not amused when she nearly fell into the pot the first night either."

"I thought her very nice," Ancelin told him.

"She is, but she'll take a broom to us," Chauvis told her.  "Thank you for handling him," he told Charlotte.

"As I usually do.  Anything good?"

"She found his grimoire."

Charlotte smiled a mean smirk.  "Let's see him do it again."

"He's in disgrace, his home was taken from him, and his title as well," Ancelin told her.  "I publically accused him of summoning demons.  The king upheld it.  I also noted what he had done to my mother.  He's got very few friends in the world at this moment."

"Men like him often don't have friends.  They have blackmail."

"His mistress won't let him into the house," Ancelin told her.  "She emptied the safe after giving me two bags of it."

"Then he's truly got very little left to live for," Chauvis said.  "Was Cofostat there?"

She nodded.  "He handed me a cloak when my father tried to claim my clothes."

"I was going to mention the lack of corset," Charlotte said patiently.

"I loathe those things," she said bluntly.  "My natural figure isn't that bad.  I can still fit into my dresses and I doubt I'll have the time to gain much weight while I'm here."  She heard a neigh and went to look, smiling at the young man.  "Father, you have a helper?"

"Now and then.  He likes to come pet the horses more than anything."

She walked outside, leading him over to her stallion.  "He's a bit high strung and picky but if I like you he'll like you.  All right?"  He smiled and nodded.  "{{Horse}}, this is the Father's helper.  You do not bite him."  The horse nuzzled him, then snorted and lipped his hand.  "Good boy."  She patted him. "Be very gentle with him.  I had to give him bottles like an infant when he was younger."

"I will."

"My name is Ancelin.  The mare's pretty old and she's very gentle.  Her name is Honey."  She got a smile and he went to pet them both, making both horses shift closer looking for treats.  "He doesn't have anything for you two greedy things.  I'll buy you a treat tomorrow.  Settle in for the night, children."  She walked back inside.  "He won't bite him."

"That'd be a good thing," Charlotte agreed.  "His mother's a bit loud."

"Pot.  Kettle," Chauvis said.

She swatted him. "You do things that make me be loud to yell at you."  Ancelin giggled.  "Did he remember to eat this weekend?"

"Volka took many books from us both so we both ate," she assured her.

Charlotte moaned, looking up.  "Now I've got two bookworms."  She dished up more food, handing it over.  "Eat, both of you. You're both too skinny."  They dug in, then went back to their books.  She huffed.  Two of them.  What would she do with two of them?
 
 

Chapter Five.
 

Chauvis opened the door at the frantic knock, taking the message from the sweaty young man.  "Trough out back," he offered, getting a nod.  He opened the letter to read.  "Ancelin, put on clothes to travel.  We're being summoned to help a village up the road."

"I'm already in clothes to travel," she called, coming down the stairs.  She looked over his shoulder.  "I'll get my weapons," she offered, going back upstairs to do that.  She looked at herself and changed her top then came back down to saddle both their horses.  She found Charlotte doing that.  "Let me."  She got her own done, making him stamp a foot.  "Yes, we're going somewhere."  She tied her weapons down, taking one of the bags of reference books he carried out to put behind her.  "Camping supplies?"

"There's an inn."  She nodded.  "Did you pack other clothes?"

"They can take me in this."

"Fine.  It's decent enough I suppose."

"The pants almost look like a skirt when I'm standing," she pointed out, climbing up.  "We'll be back soon, Charlotte."  She turned her stallion around, walking him after her teacher's horse.  She grimaced.  "Um, Father, is your horse perhaps in heat?"

He looked back at the stallion, moaning.  "Perhaps."

"Get my mare.  She's older but she's kept up a number of years."  He nodded, getting down to change out things, letting his horse wander for now.  They took off again.  She smiled at him.  "So, what do you think it is?"

"I think they got a good look at it but I'm not sure if it's rabid, possessed, or demonic in origin.  Villages like that often have one main hunter and if it took that one out then you'd have problems.  Let's speed up a bit."  He kicked the mare gently and she took off, making him smile.  "She's a good horse."

"She is."  She nudged her stallion and he kept up to his canter easily.  "I trained on her.  Father always thought her delicate.  I did some research.  Her kind are used for long journeys in their native lands."  She handed over something Charlotte had given her.  "Travel rations?"

"Thank you.  I forgot it was nearly lunch.  It'll be nearly dinner by the time we get there."  The horses slowed.  "Huh."  He looked around, her looking in the other direction. "I don't know what's wrong."

"I do."  She pointed.  "War band.  I taught him to slow down at the sight of armor.  She learned because she didn't like Father."  They rode up to the rear guard.

He looked at the badges, then nodded. "I got asked to help a local village.  May we pass?"

"There's been an insurgence up this road, Father.  Where are you going?"  He let him have the letter, getting a nod.  "They're in the way of the fighting.  Perhaps the lady..."  Ancelin glared at him.  "Do I know you?"

"Only if you were there when I beat my father in front of the King," she said blandly.  "Over woods?"

"Take the left fork and then detour back in a few hours," he ordered, handing the letter back.  "I wish you much luck, Father."

"Thank you."  He nudged the horses forward, around the military unit.  "Think he was there?"

"Possibly."  She nodded at one she knew, following the Father.  Someone snickered so she glared and he ducked, getting a thump from his commander.  They headed off faster once they were past the men, looking at him.  "Do you know where to detour?"

"I think I do.  If not I know the next village up the road and we can go from there.  It'll only add a few hours."  She nodded and they went back to their easy canter.  By dark that night they got to the village and he dismounted first, nodding at the men who came out of the tavern.  "You sent for me?"

"Father Chauvis?"

"I am.  This is my student, Ancelin."  They nodded politely at her.  "What's going on?  Has the military problems helped or hurt?" he asked as they walked in.  One of the women tried to pull Ancelin off to the kitchen.  "Leave her.  Her father's a knight.  She'll be hunting it with me.  She should hear."  They all gave him some odd looks.  "Let me reintroduce her.  This is Duchess Ancelin Constantsos."  She nodded politely and they nodded back.  "My student."  That got another nod and they left her alone.  Though she did get him some tea to sip while they made plans.

She looked at one very uneasy guard. "The military unit we ran into said there had been some fighting this way from an invader.  Do we know who?  They didn't tell us."

He grimaced.  "The French."

"A true invasion or a feint?"

"I think a feint.  The band we saw only had twenty."  She nodded at that.  "They rode through here two days ago."

"The unit was headed this way down the main road.  That's why we came over from the other village."

"I'll let the others know."  He went to have a quiet word with someone, getting a nod.

"Father, the military may have missed them already."

"They're usually sent out to guard a border," he said, looking at her.  "They stopped the band by now most likely."  She nodded.  "They won't bother us."

"We hope."

"With all luck."  He tapped something.  "Do we have someone who knows the area well?  Someone who lives outside the village?"

"There's a few up that way, one's a witch," one of them offered.

"A true witch or an herbal woman?" Ancelin asked.  They gaped.  She stared back.  "An herbal woman would know different paths up the mountains to gather her cures."

"Probably closer to an herbal woman but she's protected the town for years."

"Then she's no enemy of ours," Chauvis told him.  That got a nod.  "Let us rest and we'll head out near first light to track it down."  That got some smiles.  "May we rent rooms here tonight?"

"We only have one," the innkeeper said sheepishly.

"You have no need to fear I'll pounce him.  He'll stay pure," Ancelin said, making everyone else chuckle at that.  They got them upstairs, letting them check their weapons and books.  She looked over his shoulder.  "Possessed?"

"Or a changeling," he agreed quietly, letting her have the book.  "You read, I've been over this before."  He laid down on his pallet, facing away from her.  She moved the candle closer to her and settled in to read for a while.  Finally she was tired and closed the book, blowing out the candle so she could sleep as well.
 

***
 

Chauvis looked around the woods, frowning. "Something's not right."

"Smoke," she said, pointing.  "Single, like a house, not multiple like a camp."   They headed that way, finding it was a small house on fire and there were people holding a woman hostage.  "Take them?"

"There's no way," he told her.  She handed over her spare bow.  "Well, I suppose that is a way."  He looked.  "They're not our colors."

"No, they're the French army."  She knocked back an arrow.  Charlotte had made her practice.  She shot the one threatening the woman, letting him get the outer ring.  Eventually they ran fleeing, leaving their three fallen ones there.  They walked out, letting her look at the older woman.  "You'll be all right.  This is Father Chauvis."

"They sent you after the changeling?"  He nodded.  "Blessed be, Father."  She gave him a hug.  She looked at her house then at them.  "I'll be lucky to have anything left."  She looked up and muttered, watching as a small cloud darkened and rain fell on the house.  She looked at him again.  "Another invasion?"

"Indeed.  Before I send you to town for your own safety, where is the changeling?"

"Up the mountain, into the woods."

"Do we know who changed him?" he asked.

She looked down.  "My daughter is one like me."  She looked at him.  "It was her husband.  He went wenching while she was pregnant."

"No woman is sane or responsible during her pregnancy," Ancelin told her.  "Except to God."

She smiled and nodded.  "I'll tell them who it is."

"Can he be changed back?"

"I can't get close enough to him," she admitted.

"If we can wound him, could you?" he pressed.

"With the right things.  Let me warn the village and I'll gather."

"Warn the village.  We can keep him chained up for a few days while you gather and work on it."  She nodded, heading off.  He turned and found Ancelin gathering the arrows.  "You did good."

"No woman deserves the fate they were going to give her," she said bluntly.  She handed over his.  "Up?"  He nodded.  "Then we'll go up."  They walked up there together, finding the cave fairly easily.  He hadn't been trying to hide himself.  Inside they found a shivering man curled in a ball.  She handed him her dagger.  He gave her an odd look. "For his head."

"Oh."  He used it to knock him out, letting her pull out the chains she had in her pack.  They bound him and carried him down to the village, finding the rest of them down there.  "I hate them."

She pulled her bow, knocking back another arrow.  "Leave my horse alone!" she yelled.  She let it go, getting him in the shoulder.  "I didn't give you permission to touch my horse.  Go, Father."  He walked him into a nearby store, then ducking back around the back to take him to safety.  They advanced on her.  "I am Duchess Constantsos of Greece."  They said something in French and she snorted, shooting back. "Yes, I know who and what you are.  You still can't have my horse.  Or the priest's horse since I'm escorting him home."  She stared the leader down, not moving when he sneered and tried to loom over her.  In fact, she stepped on his foot on purpose.  He yelped and backed off.  A few of his men tried to grab her but they weren't expecting anything more than a girl.  Pity.  The father came back and took out the outer edges.  She finally got to see him with a sword.  What she saw scared her.  He was getting lost in it.  She got the last one, just wounding him, then looked at the father.  "Chauvis?"  He panted, looking at her.  "Are you all right?"

"No woman deserves that fate," he agreed.  "I should ask you that."

"I'm fine.  I only wounded."  She looked at the least wounded one.  "Why are you here?"  He babbled something.  "Fat chance.  Where's the military today?"

"Back up the road," he said with a nod.  "They stopped back there by the messenger when he got back this morning."

"I'll ride.  My horse is faster and I can't help change him back."  He nodded so she handed over her bow.  "You'll need that more."  She walked over and undid her horse, mounting up.  "We'll get the local military down," she told a watching man, getting a nod.  She turned her horse around and headed off at a gallop.  They were only a few hours up the road and the guard got in her way.  "The French are wounded at a village up the road," she said.  She let her horse stand and rest for a few minutes.  "They're wounded.  There's an assassin heading for the King."

"You're but a girl," he sneered.

"My father was one of you.  Get me someone in charge," she snapped.  He snorted.  She kicked him and rode past him, finding a few elder knights.  "Lords."  They looked at her so she dismounted.  "The French are a  diversion.  We injured them at the village I was escorting Father Chauvis to.  There's an assassin heading for the King."

"How injured?" one asked.

"Ten injured.  We left a few dead who were having sport with an herbal healer in the woods.  Father Chauvis was sent to help hunt down a rogue animal that had taken on people."

That got a nod.  "Where?"  She looked at the map and pointed.  "They're injured there?"

"Yes and one told him there was an assassin headed for the king."

"I'll send men out to gather them, Ancelin."  He looked at her.  "I'm sorry about your father."

"I'm the one who called insult on him after he summoned something to have me," she said bluntly.  "I'm now my mother's daughter and only hers."  That got some smiles.  "By the way, I kicked the guard's head when he sneered because I'm a girl."  That got a few laughs.  "Should I ride back without you or wait?"

"I'll send a few with you."  She nodded, walking her horse off to get a quick drink.  "Bartholomew!"  He came running in.  "Gather a few guards, go back with Lady Ancelin, gather the injured French to bring back here."  He nodded, going to do that.  They came back and she remounted, riding back with them.  They could catch up.  "She's very strong."

"I'm wondering why she was with Father Chauvis," the other one said, looking at him.  "I've heard of him."

"If a demon came for her he's probably protecting her."

"Interesting.  Think he knows she can use a bow?"

"Probably now," he admitted.  That got a smirk.  "We need a runner to the king!"  Someone came over with his horse.  "A fast runner, boy."

"She's faster than yours."  A message was written out and he nodded, tucking it into his pouch without reading it.  He mounted and walked her horse out then let her have her head, slowly working her up to a faster speed.  It was usually a two day ride back to the capitol.
 

***
 

Chauvis walked out to meet the soldiers.  "We put them in the barn," he said, leading them back there.  "We did take daggers and all their possessions when one tried to stab another to keep him from being captured.  That one we've bandaged and I've talked to him."  He handed over his notes.  "What he knew."

"Thank you, Father."  He looked at the soldiers.  "The girl told us true."

"Her father used to be one of you until he started to play with Satan," he said bluntly.  That got a nod and a grimace.  "She's protected since one came for her."

"Good to know."  He looked at them then around.  "Do they have a cart we can borrow?  Lourdis!  Get us something to carry them back in or head back and get one!"  That got a nod.  "The ones that were left?"

"The herb witches' house," Ancelin told him.  She pointed at her.  "Her house."

He looked at her.  "You were there?"

"She was to be our guide to the animal," the Father told him.  "Ma'am."  She looked over.  "We should gather the ones up there."

"Go ahead.  I want them not in my herb garden.  It'll taint things."  She went back to working on the poor young man.  "He'll change again tonight if we can't get it stopped."

"We'll do what we can to keep him from hurting others until we can fix him," Ancelin said, walking over to help her.  "How can I help?"

"Go clean up, child."  She gave her a smile. "You're a might dusty and sweaty."

"As I expected to be today," she admitted, going to rinse her face off in the trough.  Her horse walked over.  "Cooling down all right?"  He lipped her cheek and she smiled, looking at one of the nearby men.  "How much to buy him a treat?"

"We've got some carrots in the kitchen that're going to go bad tomorrow. You're welcome to them."  She nodded, coming to get a few for him, leaving a silver coin for the cook, earning a smile and a nod of thanks.  He watched her let her horse nibble and calm down.  Then he got another drink and wandered back to the mare the priest had been riding, standing with her, tails swishing the occasional fly.  Someone tied him back up and the horse left him alone, which was nice of him.  "Your horse does bite."

"I hand raised him," she said with a smile.  "His mother died when he was a few days old."

"Ah.  So he's very protective of his human mother."

"Very," she agreed. "He's bit more than one groom at the house who didn't like that too."  He laughed.  "He's being good today.  He deserved the treat."  She filled the dipper, and pitcher out there from the pump, bringing it inside.  "Father?"

"Thank you, Ancelin."  He let the captured ones have a drink, getting some odd looks from their military.  "I do not torture others.  I am a Holy Father.  They can have water."

"Agreed," the one in charge said.  "It's only right.  I'd expect our people to be treated the same by their folk."  Someone came back with a cart.  "We are borrowing that?"

"The owner said he'll need it back by next week, sir."  That got a nod and his men gathered the fighters into it.  He looked at Ancelin.  "The others?"

"I'll go," Chauvis said.  "Help her where you can, Ancelin."  She nodded, going over to help the witch.  He went to get his mare, patting her stallion.  "Good job today."  He lipped his hair, earning a smile.  "You and Vorchain's cub both.  Do I need it cut again?" he joked, climbing up in the saddle.  "We'll get the ones we had to remove from life earlier," he told one of them.  "The herb witch and Ancelin are working on the other."  That got a nod and he rode off with two of the guards following him.  He only took one wrong turn and it was necessary really.  They made it to the shell of the house.  "There's one fewer."

"We'll track him, Father," one promised, going to do that when his marks were pointed at.  He found him inside and carted him out. "He's alive.  The others?"

"I've got one groaning," Chauvis said, getting him some water.  They got them onto the back of the horses, including the dead, and carried them off to the town.  The dead and living were all put into the cart and they were off.  He went to clean off in the trough, then made sure all the blood was out of the water for the beasts.  He went back into the barn when he was done to check on their progress.  "Anything?"

"My daughter was sent for since she's his wife," she said grimly.  "It might take something drastic."

"Would blessing him help?" Ancelin asked.

"Not in this case," he admitted.  "In many but not in this case."  Someone jingling came in and he nodded.  "Good day."

"Good day, Father, Duchess."  She nodded as well, looking at his injuries.  "What are we doing with him?"

"One stronger than I am changed him," the herb witch told him.  "We'll do what we have to do to make him better.  I've sent for his wife."

He gave her a look.  "Why did your daughter do this?"

"He went out wenching and her first child is due in a moon," she said honestly.  He shuddered.  "As your wife tried to curse you when you did it."

"I remember.  I'm glad she wasn't powerful."  He looked at him.  "It might be kinder to put him down."

"If we can change him back he'll be fine," the father said.

"He still killed three men and took bites out of them," the man told Chauvis.

"He can be rebaptized as well."  He stared him down.  "We can only advise in this case, but that would not be an option I would put first."

"Do you think you can change him back?" he asked her.

"Not tonight, probably with her help by tomorrow."  That got a nod.  "The chains should hold him tonight."

He considered it.  "We'll talk to the men about it later this afternoon then."

"Is there a way to safely put him to sleep tonight?" Ancelin asked.

She considered it then nodded.  "There's a potion I can make that would knock him out for the whole night. Them and the chains would keep the others safe and give us time to work."  She looked at him.  "I need to see what's left of my house.  They set my roof on fire."

"One of them made it inside looking for bandages," Chauvis told her.  "Most things are all right though a few are wet from the rain that put it out."

"Then I may have a bottle of it left.  If not, it'll take me a few hours to make it."  That got a nod and he left.  "May I borrow your horse?"

"Please," he agreed, smiling at her.  "She's gentle."

"Thank you."  She went to do that.

Ancelin finished tying off the wound, looking at him.  "Either he hurt himself or someone nearly did kill him already."

"Probably one of the soldiers," he admitted, helping her up.  "Thank you."

"For?"

"Doing more than I have today.  Saving her."

She shrugged.  "No woman deserves what we're told invaders do to women they run into."  She walked off with him, finding a few people admiring her stallion.  "He's not fixed," she told them.  "He tried to jump the Father's other mare this morning."  That got some laughs.

"Would you let him lay with my mare?" one asked.  She shrugged.  "I'll get her.  He's a strong horse."

"Very.  He used to knock me down all the time as a foal to play with me.  His mother died shortly after birth from an infection so I bottle raised him."  They all smiled at that.  "He's a good horse.  Even if he does like to suck up to people for treats.  Quit licking the child clean," she ordered, pulling his head away.  That got some more laughs and the one went to get his mare.  When he came back she handed over his reins.  "Behave for him.  He wants to let you sire children.  Walk her in front of him, that's the only way he's ever known."  He nodded, doing that, and the stallion followed.  She heard the loud neigh and shook her head.  "Poor mare."

"Some day you'll have children," one of the men teased.

"Not anytime soon and I hope I don't make noises like the horses do."  He laughed as he walked off.  She went back inside.  "Want some tea, Father?"  He waved his cup.  "You're almost out."  He looked up from his reading, letting her take it for a refill.  "Can the Father have more tea?"

"Of course, dear.  Do you need anything?"

"I stole a nibble of his carrots.  I'm fine."  She smiled and brought the tea back, handing it over.  "Reading in general?"

"Hmm."  He nodded.  "It's an allegorical story."  He felt a child tug on his arm. "Yes, child?"

"Can you read to us, Father?"

"I can or Ancelin can.  Whichever you prefer."  The child gave him an odd look.  "She is a very good reader.  Or I can."  He closed the book.  "Where's the others?"

"In the school."  He smiled at Ancelin.  She had picked up his book.  He carried his mug of tea out, going with the child to read to him.  "He said she could have but I brought him back instead," he said proudly.

"Thank you," the older woman said, smiling at him.  "They could use a different voice pounding the right ways into their heads," she said quietly.  "Quite a few bullies, Father."

"Of course."  He smiled and found the local bible, opening it to the part he wanted, clearing his throat as he started reading to them.  A few snorted and he looked at one of them.  "Want to be a monk?" he asked.  The boy's eyes went wide and he shook his head.  "You're sure?"  He nodded.  "I'll give you a recommendation."

"No, Father.  I'll be a farmer like my own father."  He ducked his head, letting him go back to reading.
 

***
 

Later that night, Chauvis rolled over.  "We should tell Volka about this.  He lives on the other border."

"Cofostat wouldn't have?"

"Probably but not the details.  If I knew where the others were I'd send them word too."

"Shaun said he was going to Paris after taking the new one home.  Cofostat's son is probably at the house learning under Severtina," she offered.  "Vorchain is, or was, headed for Russia.  The others said they were going south."  He nodded at that.  "Did you want to swing over that way on the way home?"

"Not really.  It's a long ride.  There's a mystical glade where we live so I guard that and keep things from coming out of it."

"Is what the villagers said true?  Did Charlotte come from there?"

"No," he said patiently.  "Her sister decided to become a succubus when it was offered to her.  She's fully human."

"I knew that but they say she's like the herb witch," she said quietly.

"She does know some of it," he admitted. "It helps after a battle."

"I'll remember that.  Maybe she can help me make something for the annoying spot on my back that won't go away."

He chuckled.  "Perhaps.  She's gotten rid of more than one of mine."  He looked at her.  "Would you mind?"

"Of course not.  Maybe he'll let me borrow more books."

He snickered, nodding.  "Perhaps."  He rolled back over.  "Sleep, Ancelin.  We have one more day here then we'll leave."

"You don't think they'll hurt him, do you?"

"I don't know," he said honestly.  "If we can cure him it'd be best if he moved far away.  That way no one would remember.  A village's memories are long.  Even his children's children would be tainted by the rumors."  She nodded, leaving it there.   He considered it.  He didn't like the idea of putting him down but he wasn't sure they could cure him. A pregnant woman was nearly as strong as a demon when she was mad.
 
 

Chapter Six.
 
 

Ancelin pulled up in the courtyard, dismounting and walking inside.  "Volka?"  He came out of the kitchen looking confused.  "Chauvis wanted you know that we ran into a French invasion party."

"Charming.  He all right?"

"We're both fine.   The one we were saving no one could change back."  He grimaced.  "He wenched on his pregnant wife."

"Hmmm."  He nodded.  "Which is why I'm not looking forward to having my own children," he said dryly, smirking at her.

"Think about Vorchain's future one.  All she'll need is a rumor with his past exploits."

"Once he settles down he's faithful."

She gave him a look.  "What woman wouldn't listen if the gossip told her of his past?"

"True.  Maybe we'll set him up with Severtina.  She's pale as well but not as pale as him.  Any other good news?"

"He wanted you warned since they slipped an assassin in for the king as well.  The small force was a diversion."

"Which means Cofostat is probably swearing.  I'll write to him tonight.  Want lunch?"

She shrugged.  "I'm not hungry."

"You eat less than any woman I know.  Are you sure you weren't turned?"

"Women take these spells.  It's usually around the time of dread," she shared.

"Ah.  I need to know no more," he said, holding up a hand.  "Really."  She shrugged.  "As long as I get the books back," he said with a sigh at her hopeful look.  "Chauvis has a bad habit of keeping them when he borrows them.  Anymore they go to him to look for some of the more difficult books against summoners."

"Thank you."  She got a few more history books and one other book, holding it up.  "May I?"  He looked then nodded.  "He said I should start reading it but he had sent it back."

"After four years of nagging," he assured her.  "Make sure I don't have to nag you."

"You won't.  I'm good about handing books back.  Ask him."  He laughed.  "He wanted you told and warned since you're on a border and the Church may be starting another Inquisition."

"We're protected by Rome," he said patiently.

"You didn't get word?  The last Pope died a month ago."  He went pale.  She handed over the message she carried.  "The new one in charge sent him a message.  He got on the way back.  He's heading there and I'm heading to his home."

He sighed.  "We'll weather this one as we have the last few," he decided.  "We can hide if we must."

"See that you do.  You'd look very bad in a fire."

"I have no intention of going there, young lady.  Now shoo."  He walked her out, watching as she carefully packed the books and remounted, waving as she rode off.  He grumbled all the way inside to write to the others. He didn't know which was worse, a possible war or a new Pope to mess their lives up.
 

***
 

Ancelin pulled up in front of the house, nodding at Charlotte when she came out. "He got summoned to Rome."

"Why?"

"New Pope."

"Oh, no," she sighed.  "Who?"  She handed over the message she had been carrying.  "Oh, wonderful.  He hates us.  Did someone tell Volka?"

"That's where I was."  She dismounted and carried the new books inside.

"More books?  Do we need more books?"

"I have to learn them," she said, giving her a look.  "Chavuis said so."

"Fine.  Keep them in your space.  Go straighten up his.  It'll be a full month before he's back from Rome."

She nodded, going up to the study to straighten up and finish shelving the books.  She still ended up without enough room but not as many were left stacked.  Ancelin came back down the stairs at dinner.  "Should we gift him with a bookshelf for his birth day?"

"He might like that," she admitted dryly.  "If he survives Rome it's in two weeks."

"Would the locals be able to build one?"

"They did most of his.  Where would we put it?"

"Down here?"

"That might help," she agreed.  "You can if you want."  She nodded.  "You should save your money."  She winked and got something, showing it to her.  "Oooh, his wife would like that.  We might get him a new desk too."

"I was thinking two since one's got cracked shelves."

"He built that one.  He'll never get rid of it."  She nodded, digging in listlessly.  "The stuff for female problems are under the wash tub in here," she said bluntly.

"Thank you."  She looked at her. "Volka wondered why I didn't need lunch too."

"Women's bodies are strange things."  Someone knocked and she went to answer it.  "Yes?" she asked the town leader.

"Where's the Father?"

"Rome," she said.  "A new Pope was named and he was summoned for a meeting with him."

"Ah.  One was at the tavern and said that the old Pope had died."  She nodded, letting him inside.  "Ancelin."

"Sir."  She smiled at him, nibbling on something.  "The new priest, is he on his way through?"

"He's to be taking over this parish supposedly."

"Interesting.  The message to him didn't say that."

"You saw it?"

"He had me carry it to another on the way back to let them know.  We were helping a village up the road."

"I heard there was an invasion," Charlotte said, sitting down again.  "Want some food?"

"No, thank you, ladies."  He looked at her.  "Invasion?"  She nodded.  "A mass one?"

"A diversion force.  They also sent an assassin to the capitol.  I'm not sure what's going on up there.  I was sent to a friend on the border with the message about the passing."  He nodded.  "We ran into a small party, about fifteen when we ran into them.  They were trying to menace the village we went to help.  There was a military unit on the way to deal with them and the village handed them over."

"Good."  He smiled at her.  "Any other good news?"

"Not at the moment.   He left for Rome two days ago on my mare.  Should take him about six days to travel?" she asked Charlotte.

"Probably a full seven days," she admitted.  "He'll rest and bathe before he gets there.  Then a day for waiting time and then the interview, and then the travel back."  That got a nod from the headman.  "Who's this new priest?"

"One I've never met but he railed at the tavern for having a serving wench.  Called her a whore."

"Last I knew she was the owner's daughter and she was as pure as I am," Ancelin told him dryly.

"As she pointed out when she hit him with his ale cup," he agreed dryly.  She giggled.  "She's picking up bad habits."  She simply smiled at that compliment.  "Fine.  The Father was fine?"

"When he left," she agreed.  "A bit sore.  He slept funny that last night.  His neck had a stiffness I'm sure he'll work out on the way down there."

"Good.  Who was invading?"

"The French again."

He groaned. "I'll let the town's guards know just in case."  She nodded.  "Any word on the assassin?"  She shook her head.  "Can you write someone?"

"I can but it may take a few days for them to answer."

"Please do."  He patted her and got up, heading out to tell the other gathered men of the village.  "People," he called as he walked in.  They quieted down.  "Father Chauvis is going to Rome for a meeting.  He'll be back within the month."  The priest snorted.  "He'll have to pack no matter what you think.  Especially his caretaker and student."  He looked at the others.  "The invasion force we heard rumors of was in the same town the Father went to help suddenly.  It was a mere fifteen and Lady Ancelin said it was a diversion.  They were sending an assassin to the capitol.  She did say the villagers took care of it and handed them to the military when they got there."  That got some smiles.  "So we'll only have to up our vigilance a bit.  She'll write someone tomorrow at the Capitol to see if we can get new news from there.  She had been taking a message to a friend on the border to warn him of the feint, as she called it."

"She's the daughter of a knight, she'd know," one of them decided.  They all nodded.  "Even if her father was evil."

"Which is a good reason for the Father to guard her," another pointed out.  Ancelin walked in with a sealed letter.  "The missive?"

"I know someone's going up there for selling."  One of them raised a hand. "Here you go.  To one of the squires."  She smiled.  "They hear all the best gossip and news first."  She smiled when he tucked it into his pocket.  "They were taken care of.  Most were severely injured when they were handed over.  The military was camped by that one bridge about two villages past there."  That got some nods.  "It was Lord Comfort's group if it matters.  I also saw his former trainee with him."  That got a few more smiles.  "So they had it well in hand."  She looked at one of them.  "I wanted to ask you for a favor."  He beamed.  She pulled him off to the side, holding up the ring.  "Father's out of bookcases and his desk is cracked, cluttered, and beaten up."

"I can see making a bookcase and new desk for him," he said, looking at the ring.  He bit it.  Then he smiled at her.  "My wife would adore that."

"As I thought she might.  I can't wear it, it's too small for anything but my little toe. Your wife is tiny and it should fit her or be easily fixed so it can be worn."  He beamed and nodded.  "His birthing day is in two weeks.  Do you think you could?"

"I think I can at least get the bookcase, perhaps the desk."  She beamed and hugged him then left.  The others gave him an interested look.  "The Father is out of bookcases.  She paid me to make him one and a desk for his birthing day."  He sat down, the ring in his pocket.

"The Father has more books than a courtesan has clothes," one of the guys joked.  They all laughed and nodded.

"A priest only need one book," he sneered.

The headman looked at him.  "Then go into the woods and talk to the special circle the heathens left.  He's here because he guards this town, Father.  Do sleep it off now.  Any priest here has to be accepted by the town."  He stormed off to his room.  He looked at the others. "Let's watch his house and the road from the woods just in case while he's gone," he ordered quietly.  "If we have to, the ladies can fill in until he gets back."  They nodded, going to tell the others in the town the new news while the carpenter went to tell his wife of his new jobs.  She was very happy and he got to try for a new child with her.
 

***
 

Chauvis finally stumbled into the house, flopping down in his chair.  "I hate Rome," he said when someone came near him.

Ancelin took off his boots, grimacing at the smell.  "Have a rest, Father."

"Anything happen?"  He looked at her.  "You look like you're hiding something."

"A birthing day present and something that can wait until you wake."

"What?"

"Someone got possessed.  The priest they sent to replace you can't undo him and tried to have him burned."

"Charming," he said blandly.  "Charlotte say anything?"

"She said she can't talk to it.  I only know to bless him and the priest is still trying to convince people to burn him."  He sat up with a groan, grabbing his boots to put back on.  "He's lasted a week.  He can last two hours while you rest."

"It's better to send that priest away now," he complained, pulling them back on with a wince.  "Your mare turned a shoe."

"She all right?"

"Fine.  I got her fixed.  She's a bit lame but we walked the last day of the trip."  She nodded, going to check her over while he went to the tavern and then the church when no one was there.  He coughed and took the bible off the pulpit, walking into the back room with the afflicted person, who smelled like he had been doused in alcohol.  He came out twenty minutes later, then turned and hit the other priest.  "You blessed him and he got possessed.  You are not a priest.  Get out of this town!" he ordered.  The man backed away from him, holding his seeping nose.  "Escort him out.  He was possessed after communion with this one."  They nodded, walking him off.  "I'll tell the Cardinal personally tomorrow," he noted.  "Anything else happen while I was gone?"

"The assassin was found in the capitol," one said.

"Good.  He gone?"  That got a nod.  "Even better.  Charlotte have any problems?"

"Only the normal," one offered.  "Can you do a service before you go?"  He nodded, yawning a bit.  "Go rest, Father.  I saw her mare walk in."

"She threw a shoe yesterday.  I'm lucky she's not truly lame, only walking slowly."  He walked out, heading back to the house.  Charlotte had a mug of tea and his bed ready for him.  He stripped down so she could have his clothes, then drank the tea and fell asleep.  He felt someone cover him and mumbled but they smoothed down his hair and he grunted, curling up on his side.

Ancelin came down the stairs.  "I'm supposing the other one is gone?"

"Hopefully.  He's fairly mean when he's tired.  Your mare?"

"A bit sore.  I'll mix a poultice if we have the things."  The herb cabinet was pointed at so she found what she needed and some bandages, going out to mix it and apply it to her ankle.  Someone came around the house. "She's fine.  It's a bit swollen but not badly."  She looked up at the priest.  "What did you want?"

"Witch," he hissed.

"No I'm not.  I'm the daughter of former knight.  Of course I learned how to wrap a hoof."  She got back to it, tying the bandage off.  He tried to grab her but she fought back.  "Charlotte!"  She came and so did a few of the men.  She finally got him off her, shoving him away.  "He accused me of being a witch."

"I saw the mark."

"That's because her father was disgraced for trying to sic something on her, not because she does it," Charlotte said.

"This priest is surrounded by witches!" the priest announced. "How can you trust him!  No *girl* can battle.  I doubt she's not a changeling."

She moved closer.  "I'll have you know I'm nobility," she said with a sneer.  "Of course I'm not a typical village lass, idiot."  He backed off, looking alarmed.  "Charlotte, we'll be back.  Can I have the chains?"  She tossed them over.  "Sir?" she asked the headman.

"Have him."

"Thank you."  She saddled her stallion and grabbed the chains with a lead line, walking him off no matter how much he struggled.  "I don't care.  You're going to see someone higher.  You can talk to them."  He kept trying to get out of them but he wasn't going to.  At one point she pulled him but slowed down her horse so he could get back up when he wanted to.  She got there in the morning, yawning as she pulled into the church's yard.  "Is the Cardinal present?" she asked the guard.  He gave her an odd look. "I'm Duchess Constantsos."

"You're studying under Father Chauvis."

"I am.  This one accused me of being a witch.  Of Charlotte of being a witch.  He got a villager possessed after communion.  He's also insulted the villagers, spent the entire time drunk and ranting, and his services left much to be desired speaking as one who can actually read the same book he misquoted.  He wanted to burn the villager when he couldn't unpossess him."

"I'll get the Cardinal's second," he promised, going inside to do that.  "Sire," he said, bowing to them.  "Duchess Constantsos is here with the priest that got assigned to Father Chauvis' parish?"

"One was?" the cardinal asked.

"She was not pleased with him," he admitted.  "Claims he tried to have her announced as a witch.  Among other things.  She also claims he misquoted the Good Book and was drunk the entire time.  That he tried to get Charlotte claimed as a witch too.  That someone was possessed after taking communion with him."

"Oh, dear," the Cardinal sighed.  "Let them in."

"He's in irons.  She clearly led him behind her horse," he admitted.

"As it is," he agreed.  He went to let them in, smiling at her.  "Duchess."

"Ancelin, please, Sire.  I have no need for titles after an introduction."  She gave the other priest a shove.  "He accused me of being a witch and of being a changeling because I could defend myself against him when he attacked me for poulticing my horse's hoof.  He accused Charlotte of being a witch and warping Father Chavuis.  He misquoted, horribly, the Good Book; I was reading along and nowhere in my book is there any instruction to go kill the French so the Vatican can have the old Holy City again.  Nowhere was there an instruction to flog women who work with their husbands in their businesses.  Nowhere was there an instruction to put girl children to death for being born girl children and therefore unholy."  He winced.  "After one communion a week ago one of the villagers was possessed.  Father Chauvis undid it while tired from his trip to Rome.  He couldn't unpossess him in a week of working on him and was going to burn him when the Father got back because he had the men keep Charlotte and I from the church by force so we couldn't help the poor man."  He groaned, nodding.  "Also, was the Father reassigned?  He showed up saying he was and he hadn't heard anything as of that time.  Perhaps when he got to Rome but as of that time as far as I knew he hadn't been."

"No, he hasn't been reassigned.  We like Father Chauvis where he is, Ancelin," the Cardinal assured her.  "There's much that happens in that area that he handles so we don't have to deal with it."  He looked at her.  "You still have the mark your father put on you?"

"Unless I cut the skin off I will," she admitted. "It sank in."

"Have you considered that?"

"Yes but the infection is one I fear," she said honestly.  "All the lines have been cut."  She let him see.  "Charlotte and I did that when I got there.  Father said there wasn't a problem with it staying and that I hadn't needed to but I had her do it anyway."

"It's good work."  He smiled at her.  "Go in peace, Ancelin."

"I need the irons back actually," she admitted with a small smile.  He waved a hand and the man was released.  "Thank you, Father."

"You're welcome, my child.  Tell him I want news when he wakes."

"I think he was planning on that soon anyway," she admitted, smiling at him.  She bowed then walked out, heading back to her horse.

He looked at the priest.  "You are in trouble," he said grimly. "We will find out why you did that."   The man opened his mouth.  "He still smells of drink.  Let him clean up," he ordered.  "I won't be fumed to death by his breath."  That got a nod and he was led off to be cleaned up by force if he balked.  He finished his breakfast, mentally drafting an apology letter to Father Chauvis.  Including a bit of praise for his student's strong will.
 

***
 

Aneclin trotted up to the crossroads, smiling at the man waiting there.  "Happenstance is odd sometimes," she said in greeting.

Joseph looked at her.  "What brings you up this way?"  He gave her a gentle smile. "You look tired.  Running errands?"

"Handing over a priest who said to kill girl children for being born evil because they can't pee externally."

"Oh."  He winced.  "The Father?"

"Just back from Rome and the new Pope."

"I got Volka's message.  I'll ride with you so I can get it myself."  She nodded, heading off with him.  "How is the village?"

"Good.  They quit treating me like I'm an oddity because I'm a girl who can read.  I've taught a few others how to as well."  He smiled at that.  "So we're going to be fine.  The Father was gone on his birthing day but Charlotte and I got him a good gift."

"Books?"

"Bookcase and a new desk.  His was overcrowded."  He laughed and nodded.  "He came in tired last night.  My mare threw a shoe on the way back."

"She all right?"

"A bit lame."  They came to another fork in the road and she let him lead.  She had to follow the signs.  "I managed to finish shelving all his books for him.  Finally.  Charlotte let out a sigh of pleasure since she could finally clean everything.  She even got around to washing his sheets on him.  He came back from knocking a priest down and fell into bed."

"Knocking him down?"

"A man took communion and got possessed.  After a week he decided to burn him.  Chauvis got him undone within a few minutes and then came out to punch him.  Even without him hearing his 'girl children should be killed' speech."  He moaned, holding his head.  "Then he came to accuse Charlotte and me of being a witch."

"Oh, charming.  The villagers?"

"Laughed."

"Good.  That's always good."  They rode through a small village, going on.  "What did he ride?"

"His feet.  In irons.  He was truly a drunken sot the whole time he was there.  That was one of my many complaints about him."

"You complained?"

"Yes, and I did tell the Cardinal the Father had been gone to Rome at the time."  She smiled sweetly.  "He was supposedly sent there to take over the parish."

"Chauvis would never be moved from there.  He guards the old glen."

"I've heard."  She smiled at him.  "Where have you been?"

"France, talking to the new member.  He had a few problems because someone had heard he had been this way."

"Does that mean some day I'll see you during a rescue?" she teased.

He looked at her. "With your mouth?  Probably within the next three years," he agreed dryly, making her laugh.  "How are things otherwise?"

"No new sign of Vorchain or Spots."

"Huh.  Usually we see him every four months.  We'll have to see where he is."

"He was heading to Russia."

"Maybe that's why."   He sped his mount up and she did the same, making him smile.  "He moves very well."

"He does and the village we were helping before the Father got called to Rome wanted him to stud some foals.  He was more than happy to."

"As are most male beasts," he agreed dryly.  She blushed at that.  "Some day you'll have some and they'll be much like you."

"I'd hope so.  It's a fine tradition to uphold.  I still can't believe the nerve of him.  Calling me a changeling because I could defend myself against him when he attacked."

"Men like him give the rest of us a bad name."

"True.  My father was like him.  I know that lesson well."  They rode through another small village and she waved at him to come back.  They looked at the horse outside the inn, heading inside to find her master.  They heard a roar and was pounced by a tiny set of paws.  "Spots," she said fondly, making Vorchain jump and glare at her.  "Heading to the house?"

"I am."  He smiled.  "Joseph.  Found her off doing something wrong?"

"Handing over a bad priest to the Cardinal.  Chauvis is just back from Rome.  There's a new Pope."

"I heard.  He all right?"

"Tired," she admitted.  She sat down across from him.  "Hurry up so you can ride with us.  I haven't been amused in weeks by stories that are impossible."

He gave her a look.  "It's not impossible.  I only do the improbable."

"Which I usually rescue you after," Joseph agreed, sitting down next to her.  The cub batted at him and he smiled, petting her gently.  "Hello, Spots.  Are you having fun traveling?"  The cub yawned and snuggled down in her arms.

"Some year it'll be children doing that," Vorchain teased.  "She's good practice."

"You get more than I do."  He looked stunned but Joseph burst out laughing, nodding at that.  "Hurry up.  Chauvis should be waking soon.  He only got back last night and had to deal with another priest."  That got a groan but Vorchain did eat faster.  They walked out together, Vorchain letting Spots ride with her for now.  She liked her.  They rode off together, letting him brag about his newest travels.  By the time they got home it was nearly dinner.

"Charlotte?" Joseph called.

She came to the back door.  "You go out and find others?" she demanded of Ancelin, who handed over Spots.  "Well, at least she brought you back, cub."  She walked in, slamming the door.   "Get up!" she yelled.  "The others are here."  She let the cub go up the stairs to pounce him.

Chauvis woke up, looking at the cub.  "Your mother's mouth didn't wake me, I'm surprised."  He smiled and petted her gently.  "Welcome back, Spots."  She growled and nibbled on his finger.  "We'll see what we can do to feed your belly."  He got up, finding some clean clothes waiting on him.  He pulled them on, heading downstairs.  "Usually Vorchain's mouth would wake me," he complained.

"Ancelin hit him when he started to yell."

"Hmm.  Useful of her."  He walked out the back door.  "Joseph too.  Problems?"

"I was passing back this way to see the Brothers Chapalet," he admitted.  "We ran into Ancelin coming back from the Cardinal's house."

Chauvis looked at her.  "Why?"

"For his calling me a witch and a changeling because I could defend myself.  Plus he insulted you."  She took the cub back, taking her inside to feed her.  "Her hoof's fine now."

"Thank you," he called, looking confused.  The other two laughed. "She did what?"

"The priest you dealt with last night?" Joseph asked.  He groaned.  "She drug him in irons behind her horse to the Cardinal this morning."

"Teach him to attack women," Charlotte said dryly from the doorway.  "I'm making soup, I added more water.  Joseph, you might have to sleep with the snoring one."

"Spots will make him stop," he said with a smile.  He kissed her on the cheek.  "Thank you, Charlotte.  How have things been?"

"Good."  She smiled at Chauvis.  "Now that you're up....."

"She did what?"

"She told him what happened while you were gone," Ancelin called from inside. The cub came out to pounce her mother again, making Vorchain laugh.  She came to the doorway.  "I thought he should know that we're supposed to wipe out the French so the Vatican can have the other holy city back from their taint and that all girl children are born evil and should be put to death upon their births."  He groaned at that.  "Plus that he was drunk the entire time he was here.  That he called me a witch and a changeling because I managed to defend myself against him when he attacked me, and that he had tried to burn someone because he was inadequate.  I told him you had been recalled to Rome.  He said he wanted to hear news."  She walked back to the oven to stir the soup pot and check on the bread.  "Charlotte, should we put in the roots too?"

"Please," she agreed.  "He did come here to attack her personally once you were in bed," she admitted.  "I've heard one townsman joke she was an amazon, and the headman joke she was Greek by her mother's side."  She let the giggling duo in and her master, who was groaning and shaking his head.

Chauvis went up to his study, looking around.  "Charlotte, what's different?"

"Your birthing day present," she said bluntly. "When you got up earlier you didn't notice them."

He looked then came down.  "You got me a new desk?"  She pointed at the bookshelf the cub was climbing up.  "And a new set of shelves."  He smiled.  "Should I rant about what favors are owed?"  She pointed at Ancelin.  "She did?"

"She did.  The night she got back."  She slapped him on the cheek.  "You needed them."  She walked off, getting some milk out of the root cellar for them.  She sniffed, it was still good.  The cub came in when she put down a bowl of it, letting her pet her.  "She's growing quite a lot."

"She is," Vorchain said proudly.  "She's a good hunter too.  Brought down her first bird by herself the other day."  Ancelin gave him a pat on the arm while she moved around him.  "How goes your training?"

"She did good," Charlotte promised.  "She and I got the man's problem half solved before the priest butted in."   Joseph gave her an odd look.  "The headman asked."

"It's good he feels comfortable with you two."  He smiled at them, shaking his head.  "She's a bit wild," he said quietly.

"No more so than you are," Charlotte shot back.  "I'm going to send her to Severtina next moon so she can learn herbs from her for a few weeks."  Chauvis came down the stairs, giving her an odd look, shaking his head.  "Why not?"

"She and the younger Cofostat don't get along that well."

"I get along just fine with him as long as he quits sneering at me," she said dryly, giving him a look.  "You're welcome."

He gave her a hug.  "Thank you for the birthing day presents, Ancelin."  She beamed and got back to cooking.   "Also thank  you for shelving things."

"That's why you got a new set of shelves," she teased.  He blushed at that.

"If he gave Volka back what belonged at his house he'd only have a quarter of the books," Joseph told her.

"I heard that when I went to see him a few weeks back."  She found bowls.  "The meat's done, Charlotte."

"Then we can eat."  They settled around the table, letting Vorchain handle his familiar when she came to dig into his bowl.
 
 

Chapter Seven.
 

Joseph rode into the courtyard of the city house of Cofostat, leaning down to knock on the door.  He dismounted while someone ran to answer it, smiling as Ancelin did the same.  A pale woman with dark hair and wearing a black dress opened the door, paused, then flung herself at him to hug him.  "Severtina," he said happily, smiling at her.  "I bring you a friend."

She beamed at him.  "Did you also bring me news?"

"I did and Chauvis will be back later today with more news and Vorchain."

"And Spots," Ancelin reminded him.  The woman looked over Joseph's arm at her, making her smile.  "I'm Ancelin."

"I heard.  My boy sneered about you so I spanked him for you."  She gave her a hug too.  "Come in.  Cofostat's in bed.  He got injured and won't let me take care of it.  I can't even manage to get the plate off him to let me bandage it.  He claims it's fine."

Ancelin snorted.  "Show me.  I can out-stubborn any knight."

Joseph nodded.  "She can.  She can out-stubborn Chauvis out of reading and Vorchain out of bragging.  By doing the same thing."  Severtina gaped at him.  "Really.  She was teaching one of the village girls how to use a sword.  Got them both to come stop her."

"Wow.  You're braver than I am to take a book from Chauvis.  Only Volka's that brave."

"He takes books from me too.  Is Cofostat okay?"

"He won't tell me."  She walked her upstairs.  "Great Stubborn One, you have guests!" she bellowed.  She let Ancelin in first.  "Joseph's downstairs."

Ancelin looked at the plates, then at the bindings.  Then she pulled her bodice dagger and made a careful cut, using the newly cut ends to yank out the laces on that side while he struggled.  "Shut up."  He glared.  She swatted him.  "If you die your son has to take your place.  He may act like some squires but not like you from what I've heard.  Therefore you have to finish teaching him."  She got the other side undone and helped Severtina lift off the front plate.  She winced.  "Ow.  How are you not on pain medicine for that?"  She cut the bandages, letting Severtina get her more.  "Lance to the gut."  She pressed gently.  "Get me some of the healing potion as well?"  She handed it over.  "Thank you."  She soaked a bandage and put it in place, wrapping him snugly without making him hiss too many times.  "Any others I should take care of since you're too stubborn to let her?"

"My ankle's broken," he said grimly.

She looked at the wooden frame around his foot, touching it.  Then she took off her cloak, handing it over.  "Hold him down.  One's shifted."  She braced a foot on the bed before moving the frame back into place, tightening the bolt down.  "Joseph, I need the muscles you bragged about!" she yelled.  He came jogging up the stairs.  "Tighten that for me please?"  He looked then tightened all the bolts, getting a smile.  "Thank you."  She looked at Severtina.  "Now you can fuss."  She beamed and went to get him some soup and something for the pain.  She got a damp cloth for his forehead, coming out to wash his face down.  "Don't make me call Charlotte as well," she teased lightly.

"You do and I'm spanking."

"Chauvis took that step last night when he caught her teaching a girl child how to fence," Joseph said, sitting beside his feet.  "You all right?"

"Lance to the gut," she told him.

"Ow.  Sorry."  She stared him down.  "It does hurt."

"I saw the burn on your back."

"Stupidity."

"Need it salved?"

"No, I'm fine.  Though you do fuss very badly."  She swatted him, making him laugh.  "Chauvis will be here with Vorchain once he's back from the Cardinal's residence."

"Why?"

"The new Pope called him down for a meeting," Ancelin told him.  She finished sponging off his face, letting Severtina have the rest.  "Spots has grown."

"As she should.  She's how big?"

"Enough to be laying across his bedroll now," Joseph told him.  "I ran into her coming back from dragging an errant priest to see the Cardinal and we ran into Vorchain on the way."  Cofostat the Elder groaned.

The younger one leaned in.  "How is he?"  He glared at Ancelin.  "I'm sure Severtina can do without you."

Severtina pulled him into the room by his ear. "You will not sneer around me, or else I will make you sorry.  Am I clear!"  He nodded, looking down.  "Thank you!"  She let his ear go, going back to her sponging duties.  "I swear if you get hurt one more time I'm going to drug you into a stupor and make your son take over your duties."  Both Cofostats groaned at that.  She cleaned his hands then moved up his right arm, holding it still by pushing on a painful spot when he tried to pull it away from her.  "Quit or else."

"Woman, quit fussing," he complained.  She smacked him on the head, cloth and all.  "Mean wench."

"Her or me?" Ancelin asked with a sweet smile.  He shuddered and Severtina beamed at her, going back to her bed bath.  "So, which battle was this?  Or was this stupid squire learning new tricks?"

"Young squire learning new tricks," he admitted.  "My armor would've held against that before."

"It's been banged back into shape a few times," Joseph reminded him.  "It probably has a weak spot."  Ancelin tossed it to him, letting him see.  "Here.  It's weaker than the top edge."  He let him see.  "You should quit getting hit in the gut, Cofostat."

"Better there than the head," Severtina reminded him.

"True," he agreed, putting it back down carefully.  Someone pounded on the door.  "Get that," Joseph told the son, who stomped off.  He heard the squeal in fear and shook his head.  "Vorchain!" he complained.

"It's not him.  There's no bragging," Cofostat said grimly.  He started to move but both women pushed him down.

Joseph went down the stairs, looking at the man.  "Sire," he said. "You scared his son?"

"Apparently.  How is my knight?"

"Being babied like the war hero he is," he admitted.  That King shook his head at that, closing his eyes even while he laughed.  "He's up in bed if you wanted to check on him.  I brought Ancelin to talk to Severtina about some herb healing skills she was wanting to learn."

"Always a help," he admitted.  He followed him up there.  "Sorry for scaring your son."

"He's probably getting pretty for the official visit, Sire."  He swatted Severtina, getting one back.  "It's the King, do you think you can quit scrubbing me like you did my son?"

"No!" she snorted.  "Shut up."  She smiled at the King.  "He wouldn't let me take off his chest plate."

"Ah."  He nodded.  "Sometimes men can be stubborn that way."  He looked at him.  "Serious?"

"The lance made it past my armor and my foot's broken," he admitted, pointing at it.

The king grimaced.  "We could use you.  That feint wasn't more than a preliminary plan."

"I'll be back as soon as I can get into a saddle," he promised.

"I'd rather have you well, Cofostat.  Your son?"

"Sire, my son is not meant to follow me," he said grimly.  "I wish it were so but he's not."

"Good point."  The son brought in a tea tray, now wearing something better than he had been.  "Thank you, Younger."

"Welcome, Sire.  Severtina, should I serve?"

"Please.  He's all sweaty and gross.  That can help with the infection."  That got a nod and he served.  She gave him a look so he served Ancelin too.  She smiled at Ancelin.  "So, herb healing?"

"It comes in handy now and then."

"It does," she agreed. "I'll be finding the proper herbs to heal his stomach later."  She gave her master a look, getting a grim look back.  "And he will let me use them or else I will make him eat tasteless porridge for dinner."

"I've had worse in the field."  His son made a gross face.  "Any other news, Sire?"

"I was hoping one of your visitors was Father Chauvis so I could get news from Rome."

"He'll be here after he visits the Cardinal," Joseph said quietly.  "Should be anytime now.  Him and Vorchain both."

"Plus that dratted cub," Cofostat the Younger said grimly.  "We can keep her away from Father, right?  Surely her fur would hurt him?"

His father looked at him.  "She's still at the playful age, son.  She'll be fine and so will they."  He looked at his boss again.  "I'll heal, Sire."

"I hope so.  Until then I want you on palace duty when you come back.  With that one assassin, there's probably more."

"I told you my suggestions, Sire.  Your lady wife needs the same sort of guarding you do.  I can train her handmaidens in it if you want.  It would do good for Ancelin's training as well probably, and my son.  He's about their size at his current growth spurt."

"I'll think on that," he agreed.  He looked at Ancelin.  "How goes your training?"

"Very well, Sire.  Charlotte said I have learned a lot.  I've read many books and learned from them.  I've done a lot of archery practice on Charlotte's instigation because I'm traveling with him when he goes out to handle matters."

"I heard."  He stared at her.  "I also heard some other things, child."  She blushed, looking down.  "Do not make me knight you publically.  Unless you want to guard my wife?"

"Your lady wife hates me, Sire," she reminded him. "She might like my half-sister.  They're both very delicate ladies who like to sew lace."  That got a smirk.  "She would not approve of me and I would end up fighting with her, Sire, which would take your valuable attention and time to chastize me."

"True.  Cofostat, pick someone my wife won't mind to train?"

"Of course.  I'll also talk her into it."

"Thank you.  Let her baby you."  He got a horrified look.  "She does do it very well and she has been waiting impatiently for grandchildren from our children."  He looked at the son then at him.  "As I'm sure you'll be doing in a few years."

"I haven't picked a wife for him yet," Cofostat admitted.  "Some year soon, though I am not looking forward to having grandchildren."  Severtina swatted him again.  "She is however."  He swatted her back.  "Stop it."

"No!"  She kept going.  "Sire, tell him it's better for him if I fuss as opposed to letting him lay up here in his misery and die so his son has to take over on the battlefield for him?"

"Women fuss, Cofostat.  I'd have thought you would've realized this fact after three wives."

"Four wives," his son and Severtina said together.  She stuck her tongue out with a smile.

"One annulment," Cofostat said, glaring at them both.  "Behave."

"They're trying very hard," Joseph pointed out dryly.  He grinned at his king.  "How has the kingdom been beyond the battles coming up?"

"Fairly prosperous this year.  Good crops.  A good birthing year for women and farm animals.  Speaking of, Ancelin, have you heard from your father?"

"No.  Nor would I speak to him if he tried.  Is he out wandering somewhere?"  He nodded.  "Should he I'm sure we can present him to you again, Sire.  That way you can jail him instead of banishing him."

"Thank you, Ancelin.  How are you liking being a duchess?"

"I wrote my cousins.  They agreed it was only fair after hearing what had happened.  They don't have any daughters or sons in this generation.  They ended up in barren marriages.  So if I ever have children they'll go back to the family home.  Or if one of them ends up with a second wife it'll stay there and the title will stay with my branch."  He nodded at that.  "I have heard from my half-sister.  She's found a good man to marry she thinks.  One of your other knights.  Philip?"

"I know of him," he agreed.  "He's very gentle, very kind, very soft spoken.  She'll run him over in a heartbeat."

She smiled.  "As I was told, many women do that anyway, Sire, especially when their husbands are gone for months on end."  He laughed and nodded.  "I believe they'll be publishing the bans sometime this month."

"So soon?" he asked.

"With a war brewing she knows he might be going off to get killed on the field of honor.  She's hoping that she'll bear him an heir before he's called."

"Ah."

"Not yet, Sire," she admitted.  "Her mother caught them."

"Probably for the best anyway.  Tell her I wish them well.  I'll be looking for the bans later this month."  He sipped his tea.  "Severtina, please don't undress him further in front of us?  I have no need of that intimate of knowledge of his body.  Nor does Ancelin."  She nodded, covering him back up.  "Thank you, dear.  Very good tea, Younger.  Have you thought about the priesthood maybe?  You do seem a bit scholarly."

"I have and rejected it, Sire.  I do like the female form more than I would be allowed there," he said respectfully.  The king grinned at him.  "Not Lady Ancelin's female form before you ask."

"They wanted to test her swordmanship against someone and used him," Joseph said.  "They both need to finish their training."

"Well, my wife's guards could use the workout so working with them would benefit them both.  Cofostat is one of my favorite trainers for my personal guards as well."  Cofostat nodded his head at that.  "If he won't limp forever for that ankle."

"Ancelin adjusted the brace earlier on him," Joseph admitted.

"One of the blocks had been skewed," she said.  "Joseph tightened them for me."

"Good.  It's good someone's taking care of my stubborn one."  He smiled at his knight.  Someone knocked, letting him not have to find something else to say.  The younger Cofostat went to answer it and a few minutes later a small leopard bounced in and pounced him, making him laugh.  "Hello, dear.  What's your name?"  He scratched behind her ears, hearing her huff in pleasure.

"That is Spots, she travels with Vorchain," Joseph said.  The other two guests came in behind the younger Cofostat.  "She came to pounce."

"She does it very well," Chauvis said.  "Sire."

"Father.  I was hoping you had news?"

"I have much news.  Including that the current Pope is already ill," he admitted.  "Come, I'll tell you out of their hearing so you're not a leopard toy."  That got a smile and Vorchain took his familiar back so they could go down to the study and talk in private.

"Oooh, aren't you a cute thing?" Severtina cooed, petting her ears.  She got nibbled on.  "Awww, you're so gentle."  She played with the cat across Cofostat's body.

"I don't want to be a leopard toy either," Cofostat complained.  She made the cat pounce him, getting a grudging pet from him.  "Hello, Spots."  She came up to nuzzle his chin, laying down on his chest.  "Thank you, dear."  He petted her.  "Why the visit?"

"We heard you got injured," Joseph admitted.  "We came to check on you."

He nodded.  "The stupid bandages won't stay up right."  He shifted.

Ancelin looked at Severtina, nodding her over to whisper.  That got a giggle and she went to get something.  She came back with it and they got under the sheets to get him into the waist cincher, no matter how much he batted at them.  "Be thankful it's not a full one."  She got it tied tightly enough, testing it and the bandages.  "That should help."

"I know how to get those off him," Severtina said happily.  She covered him back up.  "There, does that help?"

"Keeps my back arched too," he complained.

"Which will keep the pain at bay," Ancelin told him.  "Though that does remind me.  I need to shop for my sister's wedding.  There's no way I'm wearing a corset so I have to have one of my dresses altered."  She shook herself, smiling at Severtina.  "I should do that while I'm here studying with you."

"We can go together."  She smiled at Chauvis came back.  "The King gone?"

"To talk his wife into accepting a better guard."  He looked at Cofostat.  Then at Ancelin.  "I was told you were quite strong of will.  Again."

"I'll be taken to hell before I let someone tell me I'm evil."  She stared him down.  "Especially if the reason is I was born female.  He's just jealous because he doesn't have the same abilities women have."

"Perhaps."  He grimaced.  "Dragging him back that way...."

"I let him walk and when he tried to be drug I slowed down until he got up again," she defended.

He sighed.  "You could have put him on a horse."

"Yours was tired."  She smiled sweetly.  "Besides, he deserved it for hating women for having internal peeing structures."

"You sound like a child," Joseph told her.

She looked at him. "Fine, then he's jealous because his body doesn't clean and refresh itself like ours do."  He blushed at that, shaking his head.  "Perhaps I should have put him in a dress and cut him to make him a girl?  That would've solved that.  Especially after he came to attack me."

"I'd have helped and so would Charlotte," Severtina reminded him.

"Unfortunately true," Chauvis admitted.  "Do not do it again.  I would've handled it today."

"You needed your rest from the trip."  She smiled at Cofostat.  "Still feel okay?"

"It does.  Thank you but I'll have nightmares later.  She was teaching a girl child to fence?"

"One of the bean farmer's daughters.  He thought it great fun."  He sat on the foot of the bed.  "How are you feeling?"

"I'll be fine as long as my ankle heals straight and my guts seal themselves again."

"Good.  You were in the armor for how long?"

"Three days," Severtina complained.

"It kept the bandages in place," he defended, scowling at her.

"Well, that works better and it can be cleaned," she told him.  "Quit before I put you in a full one."  She looked at Chauvis, giving him a hug.  "How was Rome?"

"Busy, as always.   The new one is already ill.  They think he'll last the month and not much longer at this rate.  By the way he hates us.  Tried to have me denounce the group."  That got a mass grimace.  Even from Vorchain.  "I told him I wouldn't and next time I wouldn't let the one of us down there keep out the spirits after the ascension.  He blustered and threw a fit.  I did see the French ambassador.  He was asking for God's permission to attack us.  I had one of the acolytes get me a copy of his petition, which I sent back with a paid messenger.  It won't work this time I don't think but Volka might have to be careful and any of us that travel that way anytime soon."  That got a nod from everyone.  "What did Volka say when you visited him?"

"He walked off muttering about bad things."

"That's fine.  I saw you did borrow books."  She nodded, giving him a sheepish look.  "Give them back by the fifth time he nags.  He doesn't expect them any sooner."

"I make notes and go back over them like I would have had I been allowed in school," she told him.  "The next time we head that way I can give mine back and get more."

Joseph laughed.  "We definitely set you with the right teacher, Ancelin.  Mouthy and smart, just like Chauvis is."  Someone pounded.  "Who now?"

"Volka?  He always seems to know when you talk about him," Chauvis guessed, shrugging a bit.  He went to answer the door.  The man on the other side wasn't known to him.  "Yes?"

"Is Cofostat awake?"

"We're visiting now and talking about my recent trip to Rome.  He's in bed."  He let him inside as was proper.  He closed the door, following him up the stairs.  Until he heard Ancelin scream and saw Joseph move out of her way.  Then he pushed the man against the wall.  "Who are you?" he demanded.

"Her father," Cofostat said over the screaming.   "He's had someone lighten his hair and he's lost the fat he used to have.  I thought I had seen him."

"If I had known that I wouldn't have let you in," Chauvis said.  "Ancelin!"  She calmed herself.  "Thank you.  Joseph, hold her there."

"She's mine.  I challenge her."

Vorchain pulled him away from Chauvis.  "You try her, you go through all us first," he assured him smugly.  "I am Vorchain."  He went pale.  "That was Father Chauvis.  You have made a fatal mistake coming here."

"I will kill my enemies."  He struggled but Vorchain was bigger and stronger.  "Let me go!  How dare a freak like you touch me!"

Ancelin walked around them, heading down to the front door.  She walked outside and to the gate, whistling at one of the nearby guards.  "My father, the former knight, just walked in to kill Knight Cofostat.  Do you want him or can I kill him?  They're being men and won't let me even strike him."

They went rushing past her and inside.  She smiled and waved while they drug him off.  "Do have fun being tortured.  Maybe the king will let you serve in the lines in the upcoming battles so your death has meaning."

"My daughter is a witch!" he yelled.

"Just because you taught me to heal and bind wounds doesn't make me a witch and I do believe it was you who was found to be consorting with demons, Father, not me."  The guards gave him a horrified look before knocking him out and dragging him off that way.  She walked back inside, closing the door gently.  "That way no one has to have nightmares about his taint spreading to them with his spilled blood."

"You wanted to do it yourself," Joseph told her.

"Well, yes, but maybe this way he'll be in the conscripted units in the battle.  Save some other son being killed."  That got a smile from Cofostat.  Someone pounded on the door.  "Who now!" she complained.  "You need to rest to heal."  She walked off to them laughing about how Chauvis better not being injured ever again if he didn't want the same treatment from both his helpers.  She opened the door.  "Volka."  She smiled and gave him a gentle hug.  "He's in bed.  He'll heal as long as his ankle stays straight."

"Good.  I came to see Chauvis though.  Find what news there was from Rome."

"He's upstairs bothering Cofostat."

"Even better."  He saw the cub and smiled.  "Hello, Spots.  Lead me back to the mother and Chauvis?"  He petted her and she ran back up the stairs, letting him follow.  "Hello, all.  Aren't we due this meeting in six months?"

"We came to check on him," Joseph said with a smile.  "Heard us talking about you?"

"Yes, the breathy whimpers of fear reached me all the way on the border," he agreed dryly, smirking at Cofostat the Younger.  "You look very nice."

"The King was just here," he defended.

"Maybe he'll let you date one of the Queen's handmaidens."  He looked at Ancelin then at Cofostat.  "You had a visitor drug out?  Former wife's family?"

"No, my father can't cook for himself so he got slender again," Ancelin said dryly, sitting down next to Severtina again.  "Someone also lightened his hair.  They wouldn't let me hurt him further so I sent him off to be a conscript in the next war."

He smirked at her.  "I thought your womanly problems were when you came to visit me."

"Just before.  I'm not liking being nagged for handling things."

Volka laughed.  "I heard.  From what I heard he deserved it as well.  I stopped at your house, Chauvis."  He smiled at Servertina.  "I don't rate a hug?"

"If I go too far he'll do more stupid things and get more hurt," she said, getting up to give him a long hug.  "I should come fuss over you soon.  That way you want a wife."

"I might want a wife but not one who fusses, dear."  He patted her on the hair.  "Take Ancelin and go do female things."

"She's here to learn herb healing."  She looked at Ancelin.  "Let's go work on things for his ankle and gut."

"Of course."  She smiled and walked out with her, talking about various poultices.

Volka closed the door, leaning against it.  "Deep breath," he instructed.

Joseph relaxed finally.  "She's a bit strong."  He rubbed his shoulder.

"She could've let me beat him first," Vorchain complained, pouting a bit.  "I haven't had to get into a fight in a few weeks."

Chauvis looked at them.  "The scary thing is that she and Charlotte are like sisters now.  She got me a new desk and another bookcase for my birthing day present."  They all clapped at that.  "She even shelved everything in the house on me while I was in Rome.  They all have homes now."  That got another, longer clap.  Severtina opened the door, shoving Volka out of the way bluntly, coming in to test something against Cofostat's wrist.  "What are you doing?"

"She wanted to know if he got the itches from the juice of one plant or the plant itself."  He scratched at it so she used the cloth from earlier to wipe it off.  "The juice.  So the cut plant made him itch when it leaked."  She went back to making the poultice.  "He's itched at the juice," she called as she walked.

"Has anyone noticed Ancelin is scarily like the younger Brother Chapalet?" Joseph asked.  They all groaned but nodded.  "I thought it was just me."

"Now and then," Chauvis sighed, "she's a lot like Vorchain too.  She tells the village children stories when she's not busy and they come ask.  Complete with grand gestures, wild tales, and heroic feats.  Mostly mythology so far."  They all, but Vorchain, snickered at that.

"Hey!  There's nothing wrong with being a good story teller," Vorchain complained.

"When you finally settle down to raise your many daughters, I'm sure she'll teach them how to read and help us," Volka told him.

Vorchain gave him a dirty look.  "No she won't.  I'll have delicate little daughters who do dutiful things and like to sew up wounds, not get wounded," he said, sounding serious.

"We'll probably all get that service from her," Joseph said.

"I'm still a priest," Chauvis reminded him smugly.  "I'll have many godchildren from you lot."  They all gave him dirty looks.  "I'll even do the blessing over your wives' stomachs myself when I do the weddings."  The ladies came back in with two bowls.  Ancelin got to work on Cofostat's ankle while Severtina undid the waist cincher and added that to his bandages, then tied him back in.  "Tighter," he ordered.  "He's got a gap."  She checked, then braced a foot on the bed and pulled on the strings until they were tight enough, tying them off.  "You look good with a waist, Cofostat," he joked.

"I will gut you," he growled.  "Ancelin, that smells."

She gave him a look.  "How did the younger Chapalet put it?  Tough, suck on it like lemons and move on with your life once the taste is gone."  She finished wrapping it around the blocks, tying that off.  "That should help the knitting bones heal faster."  She wiped her hands off on her skirt.  "Should we start dinner?"

"Go shopping for the wedding," Joseph suggested.  "I know you haven't since you left home."  She smiled and walked Severtina off, letting all the men shake their heads.  "Chauvis, her half-sister is marrying a local knight."

"Philip's a sweet boy," Cofostat the Elder offered.  "Quiet, a bit bookish.  A quiet version of that wench really.  Can someone undo me a bit?  She was overly zealous tightening me into this contraption."  Vorchain came over to ease the tension a bit, making him sigh.  "Thank you.  It figures you'd know how to get out of one of these."

"I've gotten many women out of theirs," he joked.  He looked at Chauvis.  "Has any of the village offered for her hand?"

"No.  A few are scared of her.  The ones who aren't are respectful of her mind.  I have the feeling she'll either never marry or marry someone who reacts like we do."

"Both Chapalets are single," Joseph offered.  "Though I have the feeling if you take one you get both."

Vorchain looked up.  "That sounds like a fun marriage bed."  Joseph hit him on the arm, scowling at him.  "It does."

"Pervert," Cofostat the Younger sneered.  "Father, can we adopt a squire to take your title?"

He looked at him.  "I'm counting on passing it to a grandson.  Or else it goes to Ancelin."

"Please don't make me marry her?" he begged.  "I'll marry any cow you want but that one."  Joseph swatted him again.  "You haven't seen the local Court's women," he complained.  He looked at his father.  "I will do your bidding, Father.  Just not her."

"I had no intention of being her father-in-law," he promised.  His son smiled and got up to leave them alone.  "I'll have to find him a good woman soon however.  Before she brains him one too many times in practice."

"He's got other skills," Joseph reminded him.  "He's very smart, he's very sneaky.  He's good at climbing and hunting in the dark."

"He is.  He'd make a good assassin but I want a more honest profession for my last son."

"As he'll have," Chauvis promised.
 
 

***
 

Ancelin unpacked her new dress the day of the wedding.  Severtina had picked out the fabric while she had talked to the dressmaker about putting the wires to hold up her bosom into the dress itself so she wouldn't have to wear a dratted corset.  She slid it over her body, smoothing it down over her hips and waist, turning to tighten up the back laces with the help of the nails on the wall.  She reached back to tie it off, then turned around, nearly gasping in shock and horror.  "Demon shite!" she yelled.

Severtina looked up.  "That's an unusual swear.  We've got to teach her to swear for real."

Ancelin came jogging down the stairs, nearly bouncing out of her dress.  "Severtina, help.  Please?"

She stared at her breasts then at her red face.  "I'd say it needs it, unless you're aiming to be a wife soon?"

"No!"  She stomped a foot.  "Lace?  Anything I can put in there to cover the gap?"

"Let's see how the boning was done."  She came over to prod at the boning holding her upright, finding how it tightened.  She reached in to undo it, watching as they fell to a natural level.  "Well, now you look like you're already a mother."  She tightened them back up a bit.

"Why are you reaching into her top in the common room?" Cofostat the Younger asked as he walked in.  He stopped, stared, then blinked a few times.  "Father?" he called. "Did you know Ancelin was a succubus?"

"I'm going to maim you our next sparring match," she said through gritted teeth.

Cofostat came limping in on his crutches, staring at her.  "Do I want to know why you're playing with her...endowments?" he asked his caretaker.

"Because the dressmaker wasn't very generous."  She finished tying them off.  She stepped back.

"They're lopsided," the younger offered.  Ancelin swatted him, making him run for his life.

Severtina sighed and nodded.  "They are."  She reached in to fix it, stepping back to make sure before she tied the final knot.  "Well, it helped some."

"Do we have any spare lace I can use to cover them?" she asked, still blushing.  "I don't wish to look like a courtesan."  Someone tapped on the door and she started to go for it but Severtina stopped her.

"I'll do it so you don't be pounced."  She went to answer the door, looking at the woman standing there.  "Do we know you?"

"Is my half-sister here? I thought I'd come help her get dressed in case she forgot how it went."  She walked inside, looking at her half-sister.  "Was that intentional?"

"No!" she said, looking frantic.  "I don't want your husband looking at me.  Why are you here?"

"You've been living like a man, sister.  I thought you might've forgotten how to do your hair."

"No, I'm good on my hair.  Thank you for taking time out of your schedule today to come help me.  Have any spare lace?"

"I do."  She pulled some out, handing it over.  "It's supposed to go under my veil to protect my hair.  Mother won't mind when she sees that mistake."

"It was supposed to be modest.  I asked for modest.  Help me pin this in place?"  They came over to help her pin it.  It covered up the bottom third of her breasts but still left little to the imagination.  "Drat!  I wanted to wear this one today."

"Go put on the other new one," Severtina ordered, pointing at her room.  She drug her sister up there, letting her sit down with a sigh.  "That poor girl.  She'll be propositioned all night."

"Chauvis will be there," he said grimly, sitting down.  "She did look pretty."  Severtina glared at him.  "I can admire her beauty like I would a statue."  She came down in a dress that was more fitted to her body and still left little to the imagination.  "Is that the current fashion?"

"From Britain," Marjorie told him.  "It's very fashionable but she's a bit well endowed."

"Usually I strap the silly things down but I can't do that in this dress."

"What's the bandage?" Marjorie asked.

"Where the mark Father had put on me was removed.  It's nearly healed."

"Finally."  She smiled.  "Come on, escort me back.  I'll have her home at a maiden's hour."  She walked out, hauling her behind her.  "You can help me with my hair since I can't wear that."

"Of course.  I picked up a few coins, want to stop by the stalls?"  They detoured the block and found her a better piece of lace to put in, letting her put it on once they got back to the church.  Marjorie's mother gaped.  "I know.  I asked for a modest bustline.  I don't want to hear the jokes about succuba today.  I do not want the groom to look at me either."

"You're not upset that I didn't ask you to be my maid?" Marjorie asked.

"Heavens, no."  She shuddered.  "No thank you.  It's a lot less stress picking out a dress from this side."  That got a giggle and they settled in to help her with her hair and making sure her lace would hold in place.  She walked out when it was nearly time, the music was starting.  Her invitation was handed over. "On the bride's family."  She was led down to her seat and helped into it, earning a smile and a nod.  The usher went to seat someone else.  She had to shift once for the mother of the bride to sit down, patting her on the hand.  "Grandchildren soon," she said at the first sniffle.  "Then you can teach her too."  She smiled and patted her back.  "I promise I'll only teach her to read and write."

"Thank you, Ancelin.  That really does suit your figure."  That got a blush and a nod.  "Next time have him fit it in the shop."

"We ran out of time."

"I can understand that."  They all stood as the bride came down the aisle, smiling at her beaming, happy smile.  She was clearly thrilled to be with him.  They sat again and the Mass started, letting them follow along.  When the priest asked who would support the couple in times of strife she stood up.  "I shall," she announced.  That got a smile from her sister so she sat down, smoothing out her skirt again.  Finally the ceremony was done and she was free to adjust the lace again.  It felt like it was slipping.  She came out into the reception, smiling at those she knew.  A few snubbed her, but oh well.  She curtseyed to the King and Queen.  "Sires."

"Duchess Ancelin," the Queen said, smiling at her.  "I've heard much of you recently."

"Is this the start of another lecture for being bold?"

She laughed and shook her head.  "No.  I wish sometimes I had the will to be so bold.  I do like that dress."

"The shopkeeper was a bit stingy with the bodice," she shared.

"I can see that.  Good covering job."

"Thank you, Highness."  She smiled at the man next to her.  "I'll let you greet the others."  She curtseyed again and headed to her assigned seat, sitting down to sip her wine.  It was the only thing keeping her from imagining everyone in the room was staring at her instead of the bride.  Then again, the bride and groom came in behind her seat so maybe they had been.  She clapped with the rest, smiling when she paused to kiss her cheek.  They headed up to their table and started the feast.  It wasn't often a knight got married in the kingdom.  It was a good reason to celebrate.  At the end of the feast there was the usual dancing.  She danced with a duke she knew, smiling and making small talk about her sister.  It was her event after all.  She turned and ran into Joseph.  "What are you doing here?" she asked, giving him a delicate hug but pulling back quickly.  "I didn't think you'd be here."

"Chauvis and I are both here.  The bride stopped him to ask him for some wedding night advice.  May I?"  She nodded, letting him lead her out to dance.

She saw him staring and blushed.  "Please don't stare.  It was a mistake."

"I'm not staring because you're shown better than some artwork, Ancelin. It's how you've learned a woman's trick very well."  She gave him a confused look.  "Sometimes a woman will forget to highlight herself and even that she is a woman.  She goes so far that in ignoring it, it highlights her femininity and makes her very pretty at the time."

"I do?"

"You do.  Also in your usual traveling outfit.  You picked out a flattering color."

"Thank you."  She glanced around then at him.  "She did a good job."

"She did."  He smiled and bowed as the dance ended.  "Another?"

"I don't seem to be in high demand," she teased.

"I have no idea why."  He led her into the next one, concentrating on his feet until she gave his hand a squeeze, getting a smile.  "I know, not my best art."

"You're a very good dancer.  You probably prefer the more wild dancing instead of the stiffly formal things."

"True.  What you see during village festivals is always better than this stuff."

She winked.  "We'll get it loosened up."  At the end of the dance she walked off, hauling her sister up.  "You've still got to dance your last maiden's dance," she said when she protested.  The musicians smiled and started into one of those, getting the other young ladies out there to dance and be happy.  They were all smiling and laughing, even if Ancelin did have to grab one of the pins when it slipped.  She fixed it quickly and rejoined the dance, smiling at her sister, who was giggling.  When it was done she got her hug and her sister was escorted back to her husband's side.  "There, no longer a maiden."

"Thank you, Ancelin."

"You're welcome."   She gave him a look.  "You do know what will happen if you mistreat her?" she asked quietly.

"I've been warned I'd be facing you across a field of honor."

"What makes you think I'd let you get to the field?" Ancelin countered, staring him down.

"I will not harm her."

"Good."  She smiled.  "She'll be writing me often to make sure of that too."  He nodded at that.  She kissed her sister on the cheek.  "Did you want stuffy dances?"

"Go liven it up again," she said, smiling as she walked off and asked the king to dance, which shocked some but made his wife giggle and take Chauvis out, not that Ancelin saw that. The king could kick up a good dance.  The others were smiling and laughing, clapping along.

At the end of the dance she handed him back to the queen.  "I return him unscathed and unblemished, my queen."

"Thank you, Duchess Ancelin."  She walked him back to their seats, smiling at him.

Ancelin turned around and found Chauvis there.  "I'd heard my sister asked you for advice," she teased.

"She did.  May I?"  She let him take her out, blushing some.  "Relax."

"I feel like everyone's staring at my chest again."  She checked the lace.  Still there.

"I don't stare at that portion of a woman.  I don't need the temptation," he pointed out.  She giggled but nodded at that.  "You do look quiet pretty in that."

"Thank you.   Severtina helped me pick it out."

"I can tell. She favors the darker colors."  He bowed at the end of the dance, handing her to someone else.  He went to get a glass of wine and watch the others, letting another young lady take him out to dance instead.  She pouted very well.  During it she stuttered out a question and he answered it as gently as he could, making her beam and nod, then go pounce her mother as he had suggested.  The next dance was a wilder, swinging, changing partners dance and he ended up with Ancelin a few times, Joseph a few others.  At the end he really did need something to drink so he grabbed a glass and a pitcher, smiling when Joseph kept her out there.  He saw someone come up to her and whisper in her ear, making Ancelin nod and look around.

She casually picked up a pitcher of wine and a glass, pouring it on the way over, handing him the glass.  "Bless this for me please?"

"Why?"  He did it anyway, she always had her reasons.

She smiled, sipping the wine while she walked out.  Someone out there was still trying to get in so she threw the blessed wine on him, watching him scream and melt.  She checked herself, heading back inside to put the empty pitcher on a table and sip her wine as she went back to the dancing, letting Joseph take it from her.

He gave her an odd look.  "What did you do?"

"Something was trying to get in.  I threw the blessed wine on it.  It melted and screamed," she said simply.

He looked at her then shook his head.  "It figures."  He led her back out to dance again.  It kept them all out of trouble.  At the end of the dance he handed her back to Chauvis.  "Your student I do believe."

"Yes she is."  He took her back out there, smiling at the more fun dance. "You did what?"

"Something was trying to get in.  I threw the wine on it," she said quietly, next to his ear, getting a nod.  She described him and he nodded.

"That's what I usually do to them, though I use water."

"Didn't have any.  Besides, even they need wine now and then to salve the agony of defeat."  She gave him a smug look.

"True."  He spun her out, watching as another man caught her, bowing to him when he kept her, going to investigate.  Sure enough there was residue in the middle of the puddle of wine.  He saw a growling caretaker.  "She banished a demon trying to get the bride," he said.  "Rinse it off before a stray beast comes to sniff the wine."  That got a nod and he did that, letting the father walk back inside.  He looked at Joseph, who could only laugh at the look on his face.  "She learned her lessons well."

"That was a move Volka would've pulled," Joseph said.  "You would've been more subtle, most of the others more loud, and I would've taken it on first."  He finished his mug of wine.  "It is a good wedding so far."

"It is," he agreed.  She came wobbling over, sitting down to fan herself.  "Overheated?" Chauvis teased.

"Pinched," she said, blushing and looking around.

"She gave me that same look when I complimented her earlier," Joseph said, getting swatted by her.  "You did.  You blush like a maiden."

"I am a maiden."

"True."  He let her rest and calm down then took her back out onto the floor.  Someone gave her a knowing look.  "I'm a friend of her teacher's."  He bowed properly, letting them start off.   The Father took the next one, then a few of the other knights took her out.  He made it back to his place on the wall.  Cofostat walked in leaning on his cane with his son helping him.  "Ah, you made it."

"I got bullied into it," he said grimly.

"He's worried another will marry him," Chauvis told Joseph, getting a swat from Cofostat the Younger.

"He'll never marry again or else Severtina will gut her and take her place at the ceremony.  She's vowed to."

"She is a strong woman," Joseph agreed.  He pointed.  "Go dance with Ancelin.  It'll look good on you."

He looked then blinked.  "She's still a bit pretty in that one.  Even with the lace."  His father cuffed him on the head so he went to dance the next courtly dance with her.  It turned out to be one of the more wild, spinning ones so he endured, even if he did look good to his own mind.  He didn't trip at least.  She was giggling and smiling.  She was also taken from him by another knight so he went to find a better and more suitable partner.  He did not even want the hint of being linked to her to sully his chances at getting a good wife.  His father nodded his approval from his seat with his foot propped up.

The bride came over.  "Knight Cofostat.  Thank you for getting out of your sick bed but no one expected you to attend."

"My caretaker shooed me out with threats of more healing herbs," he admitted, smiling at her.  "You do suit him.  I remember when he was a skinny squire who was too thin to hold up a lance."  She blushed and giggled.  "You have my wishes for a happier marriage than any I've had."  She nodded, heading off again.  He looked at Chauvis.  "She's got the same strength of will.  She'll do."

"I'm sure she will."  He smiled at him.  "How's the foot?"

"Better.  Still hurts some.  Before you ask, the ladies have been hell together the whole time.  She's learned a lot but they've been giggling and making plans. Take her home for a week so I can spank Severtina back into proper behavior?"

"If you want.  Her things?"

"I told Severtina you were taking her home for a week and she'd be back then.  They'll be easily picked up."

"That's fine.  On the way out."  He watched her giggling and laughing.  "Do you think she'll go higher than this?"

"I don't know," Cofostat admitted.  "She's got the strength of will."

Joseph shifted in his seat.  "If not, I think she'd make Volka a good caretaker and helper," he offered.  "They do seem to get along.  That way she wouldn't have to borrow the books.  He's the only other settled one of us."  The others nodded.

"Charlotte would miss her," Chauvis offered.  "So would my village's children."

"So would you," Cofostat told him.

"True," he admitted, sipping some of his wine.  "Go save her from him, Joseph?  Before she has to hit him for pinching her."  Too late, she slapped him and walked off, going to find a different partner, making the other knights laugh when she remembered him from when she was a toddler.

"I remember her as a child now and then too," Cofostat admitted. "Always bright eyes, inquisitive, liked to climb things if I remember right.  Drove her nanny insane."  The guys laughed.  "She did.  She climbed the old king once.  He only laughed and gave her a hug, letting her pelt him with questions for nearly twenty minutes before her nanny found her and carried her off ranting about how girls did not do things like that and especially not talk to the king like they were a priest.  The king chastised the nanny and suggested that she get one who liked to answer questions to her father."

"That poor child," Joseph sighed.  He got up to save her from the newest threat to her backside and maidenhood, taking her out again.   "See, I told you I'd save you sometime soon," he teased.

"Your help is most welcome at this time," she promised, smiling at him.  At the end of that dance they went back to the table, letting her sit down and wiggle her toes to get the feeling back in them.

***
 

Ancelin woke up moving, looking at the man behind her.  "Why am I riding with you?" she asked, still sounding sleepy.

"You fell asleep at the reception."

"Hmm.  So why am I riding with you?"

"It would've looked bad if I had tied you on the saddle behind me," he teased.  She blushed at that.  "Relax.  We're going home for a week and then you can go back.  The house is in total disarray and Charlotte demanded you come shelve things for her again.  Plus this way you can leave the finery in your room."  She nodded, looking around.  "Your horse is with us."

"I should mount."

"You can't ride in your normal way in that dress."

"My saddle has a side saddle knob."  He gave her a look.  "It does."

"I didn't see one."  He kept going.  "Besides, you apparently need the rest."  She yawned, shaking her head. "I've seen children do that same thing," he quipped.

"Meany."

"Keep it up, we'll send you to Volka to help him.  He's got diplomats heading his way soon and he's a common rest stop."

"They'd think I was his wife."

"It would keep you from being pinched," he teased.

"It would ruin his reputation," she teased back.  "But nothing keeps me from being pinched apparently.  Someone had the audacity to pinch me in the shopping area while we were getting groceries together."  He shook his head at that.  She yawned again.  He pushed her head back against his shoulder. "I should get onto my own horse before you get rumors started and the Cardinal yells at you."

"He won't yell at me.  We've had a long talk about you being my student."  She gave him an odd look.  He smiled.  "He wanted to make sure having you and Charlotte there wasn't too much temptation.  Fortunately I pointed out how strong willed you were and how meek and gentle I am."

"Should I snort in disgust of that idea?"

"For all he knows I am.  Not many have seen me in battle, Ancelin."  He smoothed over her hair.  "It's coming down again.  I've already saved your hairpins from falling out."  She groaned and let it loose.  "Better."  He smiled, pushing her head back against his shoulder.  "Rest.  It was your sister's wedding, you can come home tired."  She yawned but shook her head so he hummed and she finally fell back asleep between that and the motion of the horse under them.  He wouldn't tell her he was riding her horse at the moment.  Her stallion did seem to like him.  Now.  It had bitten him a few times at home but since he had his mistress it was apparently all right.  He got back to his village about dawn, nodding at the amused looking guards.  "Her sister was married yesterday."

"Too much wine?"

"Too much dancing.  Too many knights who pinched."  That got a laugh and he came to help her down and hold her while he got down and unsaddled the horse.  Then Chauvis carried her inside, laying her out in the living room.  He went to his own bed smiling. It had been a good wedding party.  Even Joseph had fun.  Plus Cofostat finally figured out who to marry his son off to.  He climbed into his bed once he had stripped down, wincing when Charlotte came out complaining. "Leave her be," he called.

"Is she passed out?"

"She's snoring, Charlotte.  She spent most of the night dancing with Joseph and I plus almost every knight there."  She came up to his room, giving him a look.  "We had to keep saving her from the pinching fingers."

"I can see why with that bodice."

"She said it wasn't supposed to be that low."

"No corset either."

"It's built in."  She snorted, walking off to cover the poor girl and start her own breakfast, then going out to check the horses over.  His had been on a lead line so she was happily munching her breakfast straight from the container. He snuggled in and let himself fall asleep finally.  It was hard guarding her virtue now and then.
 

Chapter Eight.
 

Volka opened his door, looking at the young woman riding up.  "You could've waited for the meeting to bring my books back," he said, smiling when she slid off her mare's back.  "No stallion?"

"He jumped Vorchain's mare and they're presently talking foals and how not to have them."  She handed over the books.  "Some of the ones Chauvis borrowed too."

"Miracles do come in small packages," he teased, letting her inside.  "New messages?"

"You're getting diplomats."  He groaned.  "So I got sent to help.  They're claiming Severtina, Charlotte, and I have been plotting to overthrow the men again."

"Have you?" he asked, looking at her.

"No.  I'm not like that.  You know that of me."

"I do," he said, giving her a long look.  "Cofostat sent me a letter about you hitting a knight in the market."

"He pinched me.  He deserved it and walked off with his friends laughing for daring to pinch me.  He did it again at my sister's wedding and Joseph did his first few saves of me."

He walked off shaking his head, shelving his precious books.  "Usually he has to break one of us out of jail for handling something."

"No, I had Chauvis bless some wine and threw it on the demon trying to get in.  It screamed very prettily for me."  She looked around then went to find the cook.  "Dear?"  She got a smile.  "Chauvis sent me with a warning there were diplomats traveling nearby."

"Again!  Why?"

"They're trying to stop the war.  The new new Pope doesn't like it.  Chauvis went to talk to this one since he knew them."

"Who was it this time?" Volka called.

"I put the message in the red book as a place marker."

He found it, sitting down to read, chuckling.  "Fine, I'll watch over your student so she and Charlotte can't warp your village."  She came out giving him an odd look.  "Sword fighting for the children?"

"They should learn if they want to learn.  It helped my balance and posture quite a lot.  Besides, girl children should be able to protect themselves if raiders come.  They kill you men then use us horribly.  Even worse than what the stories say pirates do."

"I didn't take you as one who read those," he admitted, smirking at her.

"Every young woman gets curious.  It's not like we can go out wenching like you boys do."

"Point.  I was going to do that tonight."

"I'll be reading that book," she said with a sweet smile.  He handed it back and she settled in.  "Chauvis said he'd stop in on his way back from Rome.  Vorchain is watching his woods since this one might be a longer visit.  The younger brother Chapalet sent him a warning someone might try to burn his books to keep him out of working."

He looked at her.  "Why are you here to play hostess?"

"Me or Charlotte, Volka."

"You're good.  Read away.  Did you bring something suitable?  Because most diplomats would hate you wearing that.  They'd think we didn't treat our women right."  She gave him a look over the edge of the book.  "You don't look very much like a duchess."

"I have clothes in my bag.  Let me stow my horse."  She went to do that, grabbing her mare to walk her around to the stables.  She came back in through the kitchen when she was done.  "No stableboy?"

"He got eaten by the last thing that came up here to try me," Volka sighed.  "That's the third one in five years."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "Perhaps we should bless them and have them carry a sword too?"

"Perhaps.  Go change.  You can lounge around in something better while we wait on the possible visit."  She nodded, going to do that.  He sighed, picking back up his book to read.  She came down and he blinked.  "That's not your usual attire."

"No.  It's been fixed from the wedding however."

"You married?  Which one of us went to the altar in irons?"

"My sister," she said, giving him another look, making him laugh. "If I had married you'd have heard about the kidnaping and me being in chains and a gag."  She sat down, picking back up her book to go back to reading.  They settled in to do that until the diplomats got there near dark.  They went out to greet them.  "Well met, Sire," she said, smiling at him.  "Let  me hold her head while you dismount."  She held the reins steady while he climbed off his horse with a small moan.  "There's no stable boy at the moment but the stable's around back if you'd like to help me put your mount up?"

"Please."  He shook Volka's hand.  "I hope you don't mind.  I remember your food was better than any inn's and there wasn't one of those until tomorrow afternoon."

"No, I don't mind.  I wouldn't have such a big house if I minded guests.  I'll tell my housekeeper you're here so she can add onto dinner."  He walked inside to talk to her.  "Three diplomats.  One was here before, I don't recognize the other two but Ancelin is talking to one in Greek."

"It'll be simple but hearty fare tonight," she said, making shooing motions.  "I've got it.  You can charm them and so can she."  He nodded, walking out so she could cook.  She looked up.  "Really, Father God, must you do this to me?" she muttered, going back to fixing dinner.

One of the diplomats who Volka didn't know looked at Ancelin.  "Are you his wife?"

"No, I'm here studying in his library," she admitted with a smile.  "He only lets me borrow a few books at a time so I come over now and then to read them here."  They laughed.  "Did you need me to check on anything, Volka?"

"No, Ancelin, that's fine."  They all stared at her.  "Yes, this is Duchess Ancelin Constantsos.  She's studying under a priest I know.  He borrows my books too but he never gives them back."

"Philosophy or the arts?" the one she had been speaking to earlier asked.

"Neither at the moment.  I went for frivolous today and went to Roman literature."  That got an appreciative look.  "Philosophy has never been a subject I enjoyed.  Too many men fighting over how they see the world, which is blocking their sight of the world in my opinion.  I prefer the practical over the metaphysical.  I am learning physics at the moment however.  Father Chauvis prompted that one when I took the book he was reading by accident."

"Was he having a bad day?" Volka teased.

"Charlotte was having a bad day.  The bread wouldn't rise and it was one of those days when the heat was intolerable."

"Charlotte having a bad day often leads to him being cranky," Volka assured her. "Sometimes her bad days have been enough to start a bad day for the whole village.  Vorchain's walked into one of those.  One of the towns' women threw a pot at his head."

"Are we sure it wasn't one of his ladies?" she asked dryly.

He gave her a look.  "Make sure you and Spots don't suddenly share a tail."

"Not trying to.  At my sister's wedding Joseph got told by three different women to hit him when he next saw him because they hadn't seen him recently."

"He gets those for a few of us," he assured her dryly, making her smirk back.

"Well, most of you are cute in a boyish way but Joseph is very heroic for saving me from the pinching knights the other day," she quipped. "I can see why women would want to keep him."

He stared at her for a moment then burst out laughing.  "I'll add it to his legends and how I introduce him to other ladies."

"If he'll let you."

He walked off laughing.  "Cook, do you need Ancelin to help carry?"

"You're stronger, get in here."  He walked in there, making her smile.  "She was picking."

"I know she was.  I still have ways of picking on Joseph now."

"Excuse me?" she asked loudly.

"Oh, crap," he muttered, heading back out there with the pot.  "There, now Cook can serve."  He looked at her.  "Help her set the table?"

"Gladly."  She walked off, heading into the kitchen to rant.  He looked at them. "Lady Ancelin is a bit tired at the moment."  He went to get the dishes, finding her kicking a wall.  "Problems?"

"They were just talking about me like I wasn't there yet I was to be handed out for their pleasure tonight."  She looked at him.

"I know you're not."

"It would cause problems if I have to defend myself."

He patted her on the shoulder, the same as he had Chauvis during this conversation once.  "It'll be fine.  I will point out you're not a host's gift."  She nodded.  "Now, please help Cook?  It'll help you stay out of their way.  Then you can retire later with a few books."

"Thank you, Volka."

"I don't want some foreign king here because you had to smite someone to protect yourself either."  He walked out.  "Gentlemen, let me make something perfectly clear.  The duchess is unmarried but she is still a very proper woman.  She's also a fairly skilled fencer.  Am I making myself clear?"  They all looked stunned.  "I would appreciate you leaving her alone.  She does study with a priest."  That got a nod from them.  "Thank you."  He went to finish the table with her help.  "Cook, anything else coming out?"  She brought out a fruit and cheese tray, making him smile.  "I was missing cheese.  Thank you."

"Welcome, Volka."  She went back into her kitchen, coming out with a cold silver pitcher.  "I had it down in the well so it's cold and fresh."  She smiled at Ancelin.  "I noticed you didn't ride your stallion up."

"He managed to pin down Vorchain's mare a few days back."  She giggled, heading inside.  "So he'll have another beast to mother and take care of.  They'll be strong horses," she told Volka, who was snickering.

"They will be.  Your stallion is also bright."

"Very.  He let Father ride him when I ended up falling asleep at my sister's wedding.  Won't let him usually but since he was carrying me he let him this time."  She sat down.  "Food."  The others came over and she looked at Volka, who waved a hand.  "Each Grace to themselves," she told them, saying her own before taking food to eat.  She did get to dish out the soup, handing over bowls of it.  She came back with hers last.  "Rabbit I do believe.  Remind me to help her do some hunting while I'm here?  It's ungrateful of me to not provide for the table I eat at."

"If you want," Volka agreed.  "I know there's been a wolf recently who's been bothering some of the animals I usually bring in.  When the military unit moved in up the pass it scared it this way.  I've heard your archery improved."  She gave him a look.  "Chauvis told me."

"I do what I can.  Charlotte prompted me to practice in case something happened while the father was traveling."

"It's a good idea," he admitted.  He patted her wrist, getting a small smile back.  "We'll talk later of that if you want."

"Please."  She ate a bite, eating heartily.  It had been a long day for her.  By the end she was legitimately tired so she made her excuses and went up to bed with her book.  She also locked the door and settled in to write Severtina a letter.  Charlotte she'd get to tell in person.  Severtina she'd have to mail this time.  She heard someone try her doorknob and froze, staring at it.  "Volka?" she called.  The person in the hall moved on.  She checked, closing the door again, taking the paper he had been trying to wedge in the frame to open it.  She made sure it was locked then went back to her note.  At least until it happened again.  "This room is occupied already," she called.  "I do not wish visitors."

"We know what young women like you want," the man promised.

"A restful night's sleep," she assured him, finishing her note.  She went to open the door.  "Unlike the woman you usually surround yourself with, I am an honorable and chaste woman.  I have no need nor any desire for anything that would upset that balance."

"No Courtly woman is a maiden with a body like yours."

She slapped him.  "My father was a knight, sir.  He may not have learned the proper rules for honor but I have.  I follow them always.  Now, do please leave me alone.  No one touches me until I'm to be wed to them."  She slammed the door in his face, locking it again and climbing into bed.  She pulled down her hair to brush, staring at the door.  At the next one she was going to pull a knife.  "Heathens," she complained quietly.  Someone knocked on her door.  "I'm trying to rest."

"Duchess, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, thank you for asking.  Simply tired.  I was traveling earlier today as well. Do sleep peacefully."  She finished off one side and moved to the other, frowning when her knob was tried again.  "I locked it for a reason," she snapped.  "I do not wish visitors."   That one huffed off.  She kept brushing, using it to keep herself calm.

"Ancelin," Volka called.  She got up and came over to open her door.  "I have a couch in my suite," he said quietly.

"Thank you, Volka.  Let me put on something less revealing to sleep in."  She did that and came back with a ribbon for her hair, shutting her door on the way down to his room.   She curled up on his couch, pulling her hair around to braid it, making him smile.  "I don't feel like working out knots most of tomorrow.  Where was this wolf?  I'll go hunting for fresh meat in the morning so they can complain in peace."

"To the west," he said gently, handing her a pillow and spare blanket.  "Here, there's usually a breeze."

"I trust you like I do Chauvis when we had to share an inn room," she said gently, earning a smile.  "Have good sleeps."

"You too."  He went to his bedroom, shutting the door.  He heard her shift around a few times then lay down on his old couch.  It was a comfortable place to nap.  He had a few times over the years he had lived here.  He heard someone knock and groaned, coming out in his dressing gown to open it.  Cook walked in and settled in front of it.  "You don't have to."

"I will or they'll say something.  Sleep, Volka."

"Thank you," Ancelin said quietly.

"You're welcome as well.  Both of you sleep."  He nodded, going back to his bed.  She settled down on the other soft spot in front of the fireplace.  It was a good place to rest.  She often did in the winters because the kitchen had a worse draft.  She heard someone come up to the door and winced when it opened.  She hadn't locked it.  She saw a man look in and then walk in, but she also saw Ancelin nearly stab him with a hairpin.  Volka came back out, staring at him.  "He walked in."

"Then it's proper she stab him since you wouldn't leave her alone," Volka said.  "Is your hairpin bent?"

"No."  She stuck it back in her hair.  "Can I throw him out a window?"

"I don't see why not."  He stomped off.  Volka waved at his retreating back.  "I told you she'd defend herself.  Next time, listen to the maiden."  He closed and locked his door, then went back to bed.  "Night, ladies."

"Night, Volka," they said in unison.

Volka smiled as he closed his bedroom door.  Something about Ancelin was very attractive in the old flannel nightgown with her hair pulled back like a child's using a blue ribbon.  She looked cute, like a younger maiden.
 

***
 

Volka walked into the kitchen the next morning, finding Ancelin bending over something smelly.  "What happened?"

"That wolf you mentioned came to the stables.  It's dead now.  Your horse beat its head in.  Mine and one of the diplomat's horses got gored."  She finished mixing the poultice.  "Get me the bandages?"  He handed them over.  "I'll offer them some if they want to do their own."  She went to take care of her horse, finding her not doing very well.  "Hell."  She came over to lead her out, letting her drink her fill while she came back to get a towel to clean her side off with.  The horse shied.  "I know it hurts but if I don't it'll get infected."  She gently soothed it again, wiping off all the sweat.  He came out to help her, giving the wound a wince.  "I know.  I'll be lucky if I don't lose her."

"You will.  It might be kinder."  She looked at him.  "You can stay until the meeting.  I'll send word to Chauvis to bring your stallion, Ancelin."  She nodded, going back to treating the wound.  "You've had her for a while?"

"I learned to ride on her," she said quietly.  "She was my eighth birthing day present.  Right before my mother died."  He stroked her back.  "If I can I'm going to save her."

"If not, I'll put her down for you," he promised.  Cook came out.  "Tell the one that his horse was injured by that wolf.  He can have some of the herbs she's using to poultice her mare."  She nodded, going to do that while he looked over the wolf's carcass.  His horse had indeed caved its head in.  It was an older male wolf.  "No froth."

"That's a heaven's send," she agreed.  "Come hold her head?"  He came to do that while she packed the wound with herbs and bound it with the bandages.  "I know it hurts but it'll help you heal."  She finished tying it off.  "Let me change her stall."  He nodded, walking her slowly back to the trough so she could drink. It was important for her to do that.   Ancelin cleaned out all the hay in the stall, coming out to cut off more to put in there.  A good, thick bed for her horse to rest in.  She got her some extra water for her rest and led her back inside.  She helped him pull out his own mare to look over.  Her hooves had to be cleaned and the hay as well.  The diplomats came out and he pointed.

"My mare got him when he showed up.  One horse has a slight set of claw marks if you wished to borrow the poultice herbs and some bandages."  He finished wiping his horse's legs down, looking at her.  "Good job."  His horse nibbled on his cheek, earning a smile. "Yes, you deserve a treat.  Cook, do we have any treats?"

"I'll bring you some in a few moments," she called.  Ancelin finished cleaning that stall and put in clean hay and water, letting him lead her back. "Good.  Now, you take good care of her mare.  We'll be around all day."  He came over to see the damage.  "Not too terrible.  Her mare's side was gored heavily.  It should pack with the herbs easily enough."

"I'm wondering how it got in.  I bolted the door myself when we came in for dinner," Ancelin reminded him.

"I checked them," Volka agreed.  "They were holding.  Cook?"  She came to the door.  "Did you check the horses?"

"No, Volka.  I knew you had left food and water.  I didn't want that wolf anywhere near them."

"Hmm."  He glanced at the diplomats but no one said anything.  He kept his lips pressed tightly together.

"We should drag off the carcass," Ancelin said, putting a hand on his arm.  "Want me to?"

"No, I'll go bury it."  She gave him a look.  "I don't want the carrion eaters it'd draw to come."  She nodded, looking down at that.  He smiled at her.  "Besides, even if it is the natural way, I'd rather not have to watch it happen."  She nodded, helping him gather it up and carry it into the woods.  "Are you sure?"

"You can put the anger into hole digging," she promised. "I'm going to fuss over my mare."

"Of course.  I'll send for Severtina if it gets much worse."

That got a nod and she went back to the barn to check her horse's side, finding it bleeding slightly.  She put pressure on the wound, making her horse moan.   "It's just me.  I'm taking care of it, dear."   She checked, the bleeding had stopped so she smoothed back out the bandages, letting her rest for now, using the towel from earlier to rinse out and wipe down her face and neck.  She was starting to froth.  She brought her out to walk her around in the sun, hoping the warmth would help.

"You should put her down," one of the diplomats said from the doorway.

"My mother gave her to me.   She's been a good horse.  If God needs a new mount that bad, he'll make it a peaceful passing."  She went back to babying the wound.  She had learned very well.  Volka came back a while later.  "Should we try to sew some of them?"

He shook his head.  "Infection would set in then."  He gave her mare a gentle pat on the neck.  "Let her fuss over you.  You'll get better and have many stories to tell your future foals."  He went inside to get some water and clean up.  "It's buried."

"Thank you, Volka."  Cook handed over some vegetable pieces.  "Here."

"Thank you."  He took them out, feeding his horse a few, getting a gentle nuzzle from her.  He fed her horse too, making her whinny her thanks.  "She's been a good mare, Ancelin."

"I knew I'd lose her some day but then my father was cast out and I figured she'd be sold off.  I'd never know.  I do not like seeing it up close."

He came over to make her look at him.  "This is something we have all faced in battle," he reminded her gently.  "It's one reason why not many of us do it and why women truly don't like it."

"I had to help save the herb witch."

"Chauvis said your aim had gotten better."  She shook her head.  He smiled at her.  "I know, Ancelin.  You do what you have to in the heat of battle, the same as any of us do, but loss is always painful."  He stroked down some hair.  "Go put on something to lay around in.  I care not if they're offended anymore.  I'll send for Severtina to come help."

She nodded.  "I'm sending a letter to one of the other knight's wives I trust to tell her of last night's adventures."

"Good idea.  Have it ready to go in an hour."  She nodded, going to do that while he let her horse wander around.  "Here, there's some good grazing in the paddock," he offered, leaving the gate open if she wanted to graze.  She went back into the barn.  That wasn't a good sign.  She was still drinking though so it was a better one.  He went to write his own letter to her, finding her having done that too. "Let me write the little demon myself," he teased.

"She's a very nice woman.  She tried to help me a lot when my chosen dress for the wedding ended up being a bit risque."

"Really?"

She looked around then held her hand up to her chest.  "The bodice only came up this far."  He shivered.  "Exactly.  Which is why I think Joseph is very heroic for saving me from some knights even when I did try to cover up the indecency."  He walked off laughing.  "He was very kind and danced quite well with me."

"I'm sure you two were cute together at your sister's wedding."  He sat down at his desk to write out a letter, bringing it back once it was sealed. "Cook, did you need to head to the market?"  She nodded, coming out without her apron on. "Take my horse.  Tell the village head that the wolf is gone and why.  Get some more herbs if we can."  He handed her a small bag and Ancelin handed her a gold piece.  "Are you sure?"

"It's only fair I pay for mine and my horse's upkeep, Volka.  Not like I'm your wife for you to take care of me."

"True.  Thank you."  She smiled and went back to fussing over her mare.  "In there are also letters for Severtina, Cofostat, and whoever she sent word to back at the palace," he said quietly.  She nodded, heading out on his mare.  Ancelin had saddled her for her.   He went to entertain the diplomats.  "Ancelin has sent word ahead to one of the knights she knows saying that you may be a bit delayed until your horse's injury scabs over.  It should get there about the same day you would have normally."  That got a nod.  "Cook has went to the village for some more vegetables and to send those on so do what you feel you must to amuse yourselves, gentlemen."

"I noticed the high concentration of dark books," one said.

"I hold them for the Father she studies under.  He's known to banish those things but his library can only hold so much.  I would never use them that way.  Nor would she."

"She banished something at her sister's wedding," Ancelin said as she walked through the room.  "I'm going to change since I have blood on me.  Excuse me for a moment please."  She went to do that, coming down in her riding leathers and a tasteful shirt over them.  She went back out to the stables and went back to her fussing over the injuries.
 

***
 

Chauvis dismounted Ancelin's stallion, his being rode by Severtina, who slid off and hurried into the stables.  "Ancelin?" he called.  She came out, giving him a hug.  "Are you all right?"

"My temper is frayed," she said quietly.  "They're still here."  He nodded and she went back to showing Severtina what she had done.  "I've kept it wrapped, given her a gentle walk around the courtyard to make sure she wasn't losing leg function, gotten her to eat a few times, but mostly she drinks and hurts."

"It's a deep incision but it's healing."  She gave her a hug.  "We'll handle it together."  She looked up at the other horse.  "I would let no beast suffer, even if its mount was a bastard."

"She's scabbed over and nearly fully healed.  They'll be leaving tomorrow."  She looked around then at her.  "Do guard your loins from them."

"I stab things," she said simply.

"As have I a few times."  That got a nod and another hug then they got to work repacking the wound and bandaging it back up.  They babied the poor mare until her stablemates came in to nuzzle with her. That seemed to perk her up so they got her new feed and water, letting her have the freedom to roam with them for now.  All three went into the paddock for a while since they seemed to want to be outside and it was fine with them.  The ladies washed their hands at the pump then headed inside, both hugging Cook.  "She said it's starting to heal nicely."

"It'll be a scar like any war wound, child.  Volka's in the study with the Father.  He's heard new tales."

"I heard," Severtina admitted, leading Ancelin that way.  "Tell her."

Chauvis smiled at her.  "Cofostat the younger will be married soon.  His father agreed with his choice and she knows it's her job to bear him a knight to take on the family title very shortly."  That got a smile.  "The woman you sent the first letter to has passed it on.  The King groaned when he heard.  He did hope you didn't cause an international incident?"

"They've tried to sneak into her room a few times," Volka told him.  "If she stabbed them it'd be justified to us.  Though they do believe her to be a witch now.  They found her reading a fairly comprehensive account on wolves."

"I wanted to find what diseases they carry in their mouths and paws."

"As I told them.  It's mostly frustration."  That got a knowing look.  He looked at Chauvis.  "Please make them go," he said quietly.  Chauvis smiled and nodded.  "Any other news?"

"He said if she did cause an international problem he'd be marrying her off to whoever of us I selected by the end of the month," Chauvis told him.  "He's been told how she defended the old herb witch in that one town by hurting her attackers.  He told her he had better not have to knight her.  That it'd start a bad trend among the other ladies in Court."

"Not hardly.  Most of them like to sew too much to get sweaty practicing with a sword," Severtina said dryly, sitting down and pulling Ancelin with her.  "How are you really?"

"My temper's frayed."

"I'd offer to take you wenching but it wouldn't do you any good," Volka offered.  That got a smile and a small laugh.  "Cook said she would've brought sweets but she didn't find any."  He looked at Chauvis.  "Anything else?"

"Not yet.  I did bring orders commanding them to appear as soon as they could."  He smiled, heading out to find them.  "Gentlemen.  I bring a missive from our king."  He found it and handed it over.  "By his hand to yours."

"You are?" one asked.

"Father Chauvis."  Two looked stunned.  "Duchess Ancelin studies under me and my caretaker.  The one with me is the caretaker of a knight we know who's gifted in herbal things.  She said your horse should about be fine to ride as long as you walk her."

"She's fine to be walked," Severtina corrected.  "She'll be fine to be ridden once the wound is fully healed.  Fortunately the road to the east has a place where you can stable her and rent one for a few weeks about two taverns up it."

"It's out of our journey's path," one told her.

"Not really.  Both roads come together about three days outside the capitol."  That got a nod.  "There is a military encampment along it before there.  Has been since there had been a forward band of warriors.  So they can help you if you need an escort from there as well."  She smiled sweetly.  "I've looked at her wounds.  They're nearly healed.  Within a seven-day she'll be fully ready to ride.  Plus the tavern is a bit bigger, with many travelers, so you could probably get word back to your own people as well about the delay you've had."  That got a nod as well.  She smiled at Chauvis.  "Charlotte's still probably pouting that she can't come.  My knight is still a bit grumpy with his healing leg."

"She'll do find to take care of him while Joseph watches over my woods and parish," he reminded her.

She nodded, heading back out to the stable to check both horses again.  Ancelin's was still leaning on the stallion while the father's horse was helping keep flies off her.  She carried out a bucket of water for them.  "Poor thing."  She petted her nose and went to check on the other horses.  She came out and ran into one of the diplomats.  "Yes?"

"You've checked her bandages?"

"I have.  I taught Ancelin herb healing well."  She walked around him. He grabbed her wrist so she turned and yanked it free.  "Do be warned, sir.  I take care of one of the top knights in this kingdom.  He would gladly run you through for coming near me inappropriately.  He has taught me the same.  Am I clear?"

"You are."

"Thank you."  She went back into the kitchen.  "Cook, dear?"  She looked over, sniffling some.  "What's wrong?"

"I'm missing having grandbabies."

"Awww."  She gave her a hug.  "Do you have any children left?"

"They moved to Germany," she said, showing her the letter.

"They'll be safe up there.  No one's invaded that area in a long time."  She nodded, letting it out now.  Ancelin came in and gave her a hug as well.  "Her grandbabies are moving."

"Aww. Poor thing."  She got her some tea and a few biscuits too, earning a smile.  "There you go.  I'm sure you can at least visit."

"I could.  They say travel is good for you."

"It is," Volka said, coming in.  "Look at how it expands Vorchain."  She swatted him.  "Your grandbabies will be fine," he assured her.  "By the next time you see them you might have another generation even.  Your granddaughter's about the right age to marry."

"Don't wish that on her yet," Ancelin complained.

"Most normal women do marry fairly young," he said patiently.  "Even if you're not marriage minded most women are."

"Sorry."

"I know. It's a personal bias, dear."  He patted her on the back.  "No making Chauvis pick you a husband," he said quietly.

"Get him away from my horses," she ordered.  He nodded, going to do that.   The man shouted that they should let him borrow one since his stables had gotten his horse sick.  Volka's assertion that one of them had left the stable doors open didn't seem to do anything.  Her mare biting him did.  He yelled and brought the others running.

Ancelin looked at her mare.  "Getting him back for leaving the barn door open?"  She patted her.  "There, there.  It's all right."

"That wolf was rabid!" he shouted.

"If so your horse would be equally affected," Severtina told him.  "Plus she shows no signs of lathering or frothing around the mouth.  She's not rabid, she simply didn't like you.  You were responsible for getting her hurt.  Consider it divine retribution."  He stomped off.  She looked at the others.  "Does he often stomp off like a maiden in a snit?"  They blushed and walked off as well.  She came over to check her.  "Let's rinse your mouth out before you learn to like the taste of blood, like your stablemate does."  She carefully rinsed her mouth out then let her drink her fill.  "He bit Chauvis until he told him he was coming to rescue you and her."

"He does love me," she said, stroking both their necks, making Volka walk off snickering.
 

***
 

Cofostat looked at his king a few days later.  "Sire, I have word from Volka's house and your diplomats."

"Where are they now?"

"Severtina said she drove them off two days after she got there.  The one's horse is doing well enough."  That got a smile.  "She also reported they didn't apologize for leaving the stable door open, constantly trying to rob Ancelin of her maidenhood, or of propositioning my own Severtina constantly.  She did say the one with the injured horse did stomp off in a snit like a maiden so perhaps he was trying to prove he wasn't one to the others."  That got a small snicker from the queen.  He nodded.  "She bluntly asked him if he was a maiden at one time.  Ancelin only had to stab one once when he broke into her room.  She had to prove the point with another their first night there.  Her hairpins are still very sharp and Volka made sure of it for her."  He handed over the letters.  "She asked that she not have to marry for defending herself.  After all, they must be pirates with the way they went after the ladies and their treasures, plus the horses."   The queen burst out laughing.  "A young lady like Ancelin can apparently read trash as well."

"All women are curious, Cofostat," the Queen told him, smiling at him.  "How is your son?"

"A bundle of nerves.  I'm wondering if we named him wrong at the moment and he should've been my daughter."  That got a giggle from the king.  "He's fussing over details and she's letting him so far."  He took the letter back.   "They'll be here in a seven day if what the military unit sent is true.  They're not pushing themselves by any means."  He handed over that note as well.  "They did say he had rented a horse.  That one had a clear horse bite mark as well.  I'm hoping the wolf wasn't rabid."

"Doesn't Ancelin's stallion bite?" the king asked.

"Anyone who isn't her.  He's bitten Father Chauvis a few times on this trip until he pointed out he was going to rescue his lady.  That calmed him down."  The queen burst out in giggles again.  "She hand raised him."

"Some day her children will probably bite someone as well then," the queen said, smiling at him.  "Tell your son to let his future wife do all the details.  It'll save his temper."

"I've tried.  He's not going to let her."  He shook his head.  "I'm heading that way for a meeting, Sire.  I'm leaving Philip as your personal protection. Shall I give Ancelin the good news that she doesn't have to marry?"

"I wish she would."

"Sire, she'd marry within the group," he said bluntly.  "She's one of us.  She applied to be one of us instead of like Charlotte."  That got a gape.  "None of us would stop her.  It'd be a nice hunting pair but none of us would stop her.  Since I don't feel like marrying, Volka's scared of marriage, Joseph travels all the time, as do the others, and Chauvis is still a priest...."

"Good point.  I see no harm in any maiden protecting themselves.  Are you fit to ride?"

"No," he said bluntly.  "But I want to get away from my son before I have to put him in a dress to show him how daughterly he's being."  He turned and walked out, leaving them giggling.   He went to find Philip.  "I have to travel for a meeting with some friends and sources of information.  You will guard the king in my absence.  Am I clear?"  He nodded quickly at that.  "Good.  Watch out for my son.  He's making all the plans for his wedding himself.  I'm going to stick him in a dress soon."  He looked at his wife.  "Your half-sister is fine.  She's where I'm going to.  Her mare was gored by a wolf."

"The same wolf?" she asked.

"Yes and it was one of them that left the barn door open," he said bluntly.  "The ladies also send warning that one of them huffs off like a young maiden just entering adulthood."

"Charming," she said dryly, smiling at him. "I'll help your son if you want."

"Anything or put him into a dress for me please."  He walked off, leaving them smiling.  She looked good pregnant.  He'd have to pass on that news to her sister.  Her spouse found him at home later that night, handing over a letter.  "I can do that."

"Thank you, Cofostat.  She'll enjoy having me here for a few more weeks."

"Watch the diplomats.  No matter how effeminate they are they're usually from higher ranking families and therefore have had the opportunity to study many things.  Like strange poisons."  That got a nod and he went back to his house.  He tucked the letter into his bags.  He limped off to find some of his unit, looking at them.  "We're leaving in the morning. You two are going to guard a priest's house until he gets back.  Father Chauvis and I will be at the same place."  That got a nod.  "I will expect his house to be pristine and his caretaker the same.  Am I clear?"  They nodded.  "Good.  Get ready to move in the morning. There's an inn in the village.  No drinking on duty."

"Yes, sir," they agreed, going to gather their traveling packs while he went home.   In the morning he led them there and picked up Joseph and Vorchain, who was trying to convince Charlotte she didn't need to come.  "They've left already," he noted as he dismounted in the courtyard.  She scowled at him.  "Really.  They're already on this road here.  So they may stop here. You can beat them then."  He nodded at the guards.  "They're here to protect you."

"I got the drunken sot trying to burn the house," Joseph told him.

"Doesn't mean there's not another."  That got a nod of understanding and Charlotte led the boys off to show them where they could sleep in the hayloft.  "Shall we?  I get to tell Ancelin she doesn't have to marry for protecting herself from the simpering idiots."

Vorchain snickered.  "She'll be heartbroken I'm sure."

"Only if her horse dies," Charlotte snapped.

"Severtina's been there with Chauvis," he said patiently. "If at all possible her mare is fine, woman.  You can fuss when she comes back after the meeting."  He mounted up again, letting them grab their things and follow.  He smiled when Spots decided to run beside him. "Hello, cat."  The cat looked up at him, swishing her tail.   She detoured once to pounce a rabbit but trotted back with it in her mouth for a while.