– The princess!! That—the princess?!
–You didn't know, – Nick murmured.
– We almost—kidnapped the princess!?
– What we gonna do?!
– Hey! Hey! Calm down – Nick said, raising his voice. – It's alright.
– Alright?! The king's gonna have our heads! – Mary snapped, pacing in tight circles.
Lily held her neck, Beth covered her face with her hands, and Meg clutched her hair.
– Oi! What's goin' on? Why you panickin'? – Jack called from a few metres away.
Meg turned towards her brother, but couldn't utter a word.
– Meg, calm down... Breathe – Nick said, steadying her by the shoulders.
Meg drew in a deep breath and looked at Nick, her wide eyes searching his for an answer.
– Meg, we'll figure something out later. But right now, your friends need our help. Let's see to them for now, alright?
– We?!
– Uhmm... we? – Nick repeated.
– Ya're with us, Sir? – Lily asked, a hint of hope in her voice.
– Uhm... I'm not following – Nick said.
– Ya said we! But you ain't one of us, Sir! – Mary snapped.
– But... I... why does that matter?!
– Cuz you said we! You gonna take our side? Fight for us? Against the king?
– I... I can't... I —
– Of course not! Cuz there ain't no we. Never was, never is. Nobility don't care – Meg said, pushing his hands away.
– All you people want is yar honour. We ain't nothin' to you – Mary accused.
– Don't say we if you ain't meanin' it, Sir! – Lily said softly.
Beth simply glared at him, too shaken to say anything. Meg scoffed at Nick, then turned away.
– Go back to yar knights. We no want yar help.
Nick stayed frozen for a moment, just breathing deeply. He rubbed the base of his little finger and closed his eyes.
-----
I was hugging my knees while I cried inside the closet. My governess had almost found me, but I'd buried myself under the clothes.
Later, I heard my dad's voice. "Nick, where are you, my son?" My heart leapt. He was back! I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run into his arms, but I was still angry. I didn't answer. He'd promised to return in time for the tournament—and he hadn't. Again.
The closet door creaked open. I held my breath, waiting for him to close it. Nothing... I had to breathe! Why wasn't he leaving?... Still no footsteps.
I took a deep breath. "There you are," I heard him say. How is he so smart? He moved the piles of clothes aside, and suddenly I was face to face with him. His expression was soft, gentle, inviting. But no — I was angry at him! "You didn't come today," I accused.
"I am so sorry, Nick. I wanted to, but something came up" he said, cupping my cheek. I felt his thumb brushing softly across it. I noticed the small furrows in his brow, the way his eyes softened. He meant it. Maybe… maybe it was better this way. He hadn't seen me lose. Would he be disappointed if he found out?
"Mum told me about the tournament. Do you want to come out so we can talk about it?" Ach, he already knew.
I hesitated, so he reached down and easily lifted me out of the closet into his arms. He is so strong! He sat on my bed, and I cuddled into his lap. Pressing against him, the knot in my chest began to loosen. After a moment, I finally dared to say: "I lost, dad. I couldn't even win against commoners. I am not fit to be a —"
"Nick, what makes you think sword fighting has anything to do with titles?" Dad asked.
"They said I am not like you. You are so good with the sword, and I couldn't even win one match."
Saying it brought tears back to my eyes. I blinked hard and tried to hold them back, but my chest tightened. I buried my face against his chest, my hands clenching at his shirt. Dad's arms tightened around me and I started sobbing. "There... there... I'm right here, my son." After a while of breathing into his chest and hearing his voice, my body began to relax and my tears finally stopped coming. Then he said: "Who dared say that to you, Nick?" I caught a hint of anger in his voice. Why was he angry?
"Nobody, I overheard them talking."
"Do you remember who it was?"
Was he angry at them? Would he punish them?
"I don't know them."
"Hmm." Dad grunted.
So he really did want to punish them! Somehow… that made me feel a lot better.
"Nick, my boy," he said, pulling me out of his embrace a little and meeting my eyes. "Your sword skills have nothing to do with who you are. You are my son! Do you hear me? You are mine! And nothing can change that— nothing. Do you understand?"
"But you are such a good fighter… and so is Richard. People always say 'like father, like son', but I—" My voice broke, my eyes filled with tears. Again. I fought them back, but the thought lingered: Why couldn't I be like him too?
Dad held my gaze. He wiped my cheeks, his touch steady and warm. I leaned into his hand and drew in a slow breath. My chest loosened a little.
"Nick, I did not inherit my father's fighting skills."
"You didn't?"
"My father was not skilled with the sword."
"Really?" Was he like me? I didn't know much about him, but now I wished I had met him.
"Yes, he was good with the longbow. But I devoted myself to the sword. That did not change the fact that I was his son."
"Could I learn the longbow?" If I couldn't be like my father, maybe I could be like my grandfather. That would shut them up, woudn't it?"
"If you want, we can find you a good tutor. But, Nick, you do not need to become a great fighter. You are my son, and nothing will change that." Dad insisted.
I wasn't convinced. I wanted to be brave and strong like him.
"But you are always so brave, Dad. You fight with the knights, even though mum hates it. You say you cannot ask them to risk their lives if you won't risk yours. How can I lead them if I'm not strong?"
"You can lead them in other ways, Nick. Courage is not just about fighting."
"It isn't?"
Dad didn't answer. He just smiled at me for a moment, then asked: "How would you feel about spending the day with me tomorrow?"
Did he really just say that?! Dad often took Richard. He said I was too young and would get bored at the meetings. Would this really be my first time!?
"Do you have meetings tomorrow?"
"I do, but I will be outside for most of the day. Would you like to come with me to Broot village?"
Broot village wasn't close by. Had he been there today? Didn't mum say something happened? Is that why he missed the tournament? Would he ride there? So many questions! I picked the most exciting one.
"Will you ride there? Can I ride my own horse?" I tried to sound composed, but I think Dad could hear how excited I was.
"I think it would be best if you ride with me this time. We will gallop all the way there."
Galloping with dad!? My eyes went wide.
"What do you say? Could you endure a long meeting if it means galloping with me and helping me out during the day? I will do my best to make up for missing your tournament today."
It almost sounded like Dad was begging me to go with him. He didn't have to. Of course I would go! I barely slept that night because of my excitement.
We left really early the next morning. At first I was clinging stiffly to the saddle. We were going so fast! But dad held me tight and said into my ear:
"Use your legs, Nick. Hold tight around the horse."
I tried my best, and it ended up being so much fun! I was exhilarated when we finally reached Broot village.
The villagers approached us right away. As they greeted Dad, I noticed most brought gifts, their eyes wide and glistening, and they kept saying thank you.
Everyone always treats dad with respect, but not like this, so I asked him: "Why are they so happy to see you, Dad?"
"Because they are grateful that we are here. They no longer feel alone. They know we care, and that gives them courage to face this hardship." Not alone. Courage has something to do with not being alone. Somehow. I made sure to remember it.
As the meeting started, Dad gave me something to write with and whispered: "Try to pay attention. Write down the things that stand out to you so we can discuss them later." Was that how he did it with Richard? I'd show him I wasn't too young to join him!
They talked about the landslide that had buried some fields and houses. Many people had died. Many were still missing. Dad got them talking about prevention. In the end they agreed to form a committee to regulate logging on the hills.
I tried my best to keep up, but I couldn't write fast enough to capture everything. I'd have to practice more.
During the discussion I kept my eyes on Dad. Occasionally he looked over and smiled when he saw me writing. I kept grinning through the whole meeting.
After the meeting Dad took me to a storehouse. It was full of bodies wrapped in cloth. I held my breath when I noticed some were my size. I pressed my back into him. He placed his hands on my shoulders and held me there. "This is why I missed your tournament yesterday. I was helping them dig them out."
"You were digging? Couldn't the knights do that?"
"They were digging as well, but these people lost so much, and there is so little I can do for them. I wanted them to know that I am with them."
"Why?"
"So that they do not feel alone," Dad said.
"So they can find courage to face this hardship?" I asked looking up at him.
"Exactly," Dad said, stroking my hair, a proud look on his face.
I leaned into his hand on my shoulder.
"Dad, I'm really glad I came with you."
"I am glad you came as well, Nick... Come now, let us help them dig."-----
Nick opened his eyes. He walked with steady purpose towards the women. They had gone back to Jack and were quietly discussing the situation.
– I mean it. – Nick interrupted them.
– What? – Jack asked.
– I meant what I said. There is little I can do against the king's wrath, but I will not leave you to face it alone. I give you my word: we will think of something, together.
– Together? – Lily asked, eyes glistening again.
– Yes, together – Nick said firmly. – I won't just tend to your wounds. I will try to help you find a way out of your situation.
– Why d'ya care? We're criminals. Attacked the Crown, – Jack tested.
– I don't believe that. I think you didn't know who was in the carriage. You just saw something elegant and wanted ransom money. You've been going hungry for quite a while, haven't you?
They were all silent, except for Lily:
– Sir – was all she could say, her eyes looking deeply into Nick's. He had seen eyes like that before, directed at his father. After a moment, Nick said:
– Come now, we have work to do. Let's establish our priorities: first, stop the bleeding; second, prevent wound festering; third, come up with a plan. How does that sound? Are you in?
– Yes! – all four women said.
They got up and guided Nick to the man with the most serious wound.