Page 45 of Fortress of Snow

“We are very blessed to have wonderful sisters, you and I. Very fortunate indeed that they are safe and healthy.”

Sir John stared at the ground and said nothing.

“When we are brought up as you and I were, training to become fighters, we find brothers everywhere we go.”

“I suppose that’s true.” But still he did not look Berenger in the eye.

“We forge a family through our common skills and experiences and loyalties.”

Sir John seemed to be listening, standing as still as a stone with his head cocked to one side.

“As knights, we also have a duty to look out for our brothers, to treat women well, and to make sure our families are taken care of. You know that, as you brought your sister here with you when she was cast off. And I know about how you defended your brother in arms, Sir Lucius, when he was attacked in town a few weeks ago.”

Sir John glanced up and nodded.

One of the knights, Sir Lucius, had refused to pay for his drinks, and the alehouse owner and his son tried to throw him out. Or struck him. The reports Berenger had heard conflicted with each other. But Sir John had defended his friend with his sword—although the alehouse owner and his son had no weapons. At least Sir John had not harmed them, only threatened them.

“I couldn’t let Sir Lucius be beaten just because he was drunk.”

“You are a loyal friend. And I’m glad your sister has you to care for her. It is a noble thing to care for one’s family.”

Sir John raised his head and gazed up at the clouds.

“It’s also a knight’s duty to treat women as he would want men to treat his sister. I have been told that some of the guards here are wont to carouse with women on nights when they’re not on duty. Of course, I am not their priest, but I think if we who are knights could put in a word here and there, letting them know that such behavior is not becoming of the king’s personal guards, they might change their ways.”

Sir John cleared his throat, made a sound like “Hmm,” then said, “They might.”

If Sir John realized what Berenger was doing—hinting about his own behavior under the guise of asking for his help to change the other men’s behavior—he did not let on.

He spoke a few minutes more with Sir John about inconsequential matters, then went to take his rest after being up since before dawn.

If he were honest with himself, he wanted nothing more than to go to the small market where he knew Mazy would be and see her, talk to her, maybe even take her to supper again. But that would not be wise. He did not want to behave in an unseemly way with any woman, but especially with Mazy, whom he knew to be a good-hearted maiden of pure motives and behavior. There was no woman alive he respected and admired more than Mazy and Delia.

So no, he would not visit her again so soon, but he would also not ignore her the way John did.

The leaves had started falling from the trees, and the feel of winter was in the air. Then, three days after Sir Berenger visited Mazy, the weather turned considerably colder.

Mazy and Ro wrapped themselves in blankets while selling rolls and loaves of bread to the people who came to their booth. They even sold some leather flasks and wrought leather saddlebags that morning to a man who said he was going on a long journey.“Before winter sets in,” he’d said.

The woman and her husband who made the leather goods,who were both lame and couldn’t walk, would benefit greatly from the sales.

It had been a good morning.

“Do you think Sir Berenger will come to visit you today?” Ro gave Mazy a sly smile.

“No, I do not. And it is not right for you to insinuate things about him. He truly is just a good man, Ro, who feels a very disinterested kind of care for me, as he would for an old family friend. If I were ninety years old, he’d feel the same and show the same kindness.”

“Ninety years old, eh?” Ro raised her eyebrows. “He is a man, isn’t he? He has eyes, doesn’t he?”

“Ro...” Mazy put a warning in both her tone and the narrowed gaze she gave her friend.

“He sees how beautiful you are. And he is a young man. He is not impervious to your beauty, trust me.” She shook her finger at Mazy. “That is why you must flirt with him next time. Smile. Lay your hand on his arm. Tell him how handsome he has grown. Or perhaps you did that when he took you to supper at the Sword and Shield.”

“No, I did not. I am not depraved. I have no wish to tempt any man, especially a man as good as Sir Berenger.”

Ro blew out a breath between her pursed lips, a scoffing sound.

“It is true. And if I thought there was any way Sir Berenger might be able to marry me, maybe I would flirt with him. But it isn’t possible. Besides, I don’t want him to think less of me. He is my friend, and I like it that way.”