The Dragonswarm Read Free Page B

king struck me as capricious and some of his most faithful enforcers little better than rabid dogs. But he was king. I blinked once and answered honestly again, "I do not. I have remained loyal to the king."
    "Daven of Terrailles, son of Carrick, do you come before us the master of any lands or peoples within His Majesty's realms?"
    The question caught me off guard. I forgot myself, and looked up into the baron's eyes. "What?"
    A frown touched the corner of his mouth, and I dropped my eyes again. He asked, "Have you any titles? Any properties? Any people of your own?"
    I couldn't guess at the significance of the question, but I shook my head. "No, my lord. I have nothing."
    "Very well," the baron said, pronouncing his judgment. "By the law of this land and of its people, and by the law of God set forth by the king, I pronounce you here and now a Knight of the People." My eyes followed the blade of the sword as he raised it to touch me lightly on each shoulder. "You knelt Daven of Terrailles, son of Carrick, but I command you to rise, Sir Daven of Teelevon, Knight of the People."
    I almost disobeyed his order. I knelt still, eyes wide in disbelief as I stared up into his. Then the three men behind him stepped forward with smiles. Thomas gestured me to my feet and I rose in time for him to shake my hand heartily.
    And then Isabelle was at my side. I saw tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, and turned back to the baron to find him smiling now, too. It was restrained, but I saw again the kindness he had shown me before. I bowed my head to him. "Thank you, my lord."
    He shook his head. "For the service you have done my people, you deserve no less." Thomas and the Kind Father both chimed agreement to that, but the baron ignored them.
    His gaze was still solemn. "This ceremony would have better been done before a crowd at the first day of a public festival, but we do not have such luxuries. Great trouble comes with the winter, and we all have dire work to do if we are to survive at all. You have given us a chance."
    I nodded. He had given me a chance, too. It wasn't an answer—the title of Knight would not shield me from the king's justice—but if I could weather that storm, the title would make an engagement to Isabelle far less complicated. I held his gaze for a moment, then bowed my head once more. "I thank you again. I am honored and humbled by the appointment."
    The baron glanced over his shoulder toward the witnesses, then said to me, "There are rights and responsibilities to go with the title. Among them, you are due a plot of land within my personal holdings. You have not had time enough to see much of them yet—"
    Isabelle spoke up right on cue. "I will take him, Father. You have pressing matters. I can be his guide."
    Thomas frowned and the Kind Father's eyes opened wide in shock, but both looked to the baron for a response. He sighed and shrugged and nodded with a show of frustrated reluctance. "Very well. I trust him to your hands." He turned to me. "And her to yours. These are dangerous times."
    "Then it is well that I have a knight to protect me," Isabelle said. A footfall drew her attention to the corridor behind us, and I turned to spot a stableboy waiting with hat in hand. Our horses were ready.
    Isabelle met my eyes, then turned back to the men. "Please excuse us." She dipped her head, turned away, and left. I cast an apologetic glance behind and followed her from the room.
    At the stables I found a tall chestnut waiting for me. Isabelle climbed ably into the saddle of her roan and took the leads for both the laden packhorses. Then she caught my eye as I tried to find a comfortable position in my own saddle. When I finally turned her way she gave a little laugh.
    "Is everything well with you, Sir Knight?"
    I couldn't manage more than an injured grunt. Her laughter died and concern showed in her eyes. "You can ride?"
    "I can ride," I said. "Not well, but I can ride."
    She nodded slowly, then turned and