The Tale of Sir Brennen of Kelgrey • III

His son ran to him, dodging hooves and wagon-wheels, skirting the fires here and there, face shining. People moved out of his way good naturedly and smiled as they made plenty of room for the little boy who was too big to be called a toddler, yet not old enough to hold a sword. Brennen was on the ground by the time the running feet reached him and he scooped his son up and spun him through in the air. All nearby laughed to hear his squeals.

"Higher, father, higher!"

"Any higher and the sun would steal you from me!" He set him down and knelt to look him in the eyes, giving him a very serious face. "And how is my Brayden? Did you take care of your mother while I was away?"

The little boy stood up straighter, but a little smile kept ruining his attempt at a serious soldier's facade. "Of course! Fifteen dragons came only yesterday, but I slew them all."

Brennen raised his eyebrows. "All by yourself?"

"Oh yes. Well, Cole helped some."

"That's my boy. Cole's here, then?"

"He got here last night." Brayden leaned closer and whispered, "I think he let the dragons in."

Brennen laughed out loud at this and swung him back up into his arms, setting him in Drusus' saddle as he glanced away quickly, then handed the reigns to the stableboy who had been waiting quietly off to the side. "Well I'll have to talk to him about that. Make sure they treat the horses right?" His son nodded vigorously and began kicking his heels against the saddle.

"Hiiya! On Drusus, on!" The horse snorted and tossed it's head, following the stableboy at a sedate pace, not that Brayden noticed. In his mind he was already racing fearlessly into the battlefield, slaying dragons left and right. Brennen smiled once more, then turned to face the woman who had approached quietly behind them.

"You took your time getting here."

He shrugged. "The scenery. What could I do?"

She grinned and shook her head. "You look awful. Has that been cleaned properly yet?"

He glanced down at the bandage around his arm where a bandit's knife had caught him briefly. "Oh, that's just for looks. A dragon slayer must appear the part."

She moved closer with a mischievous gleam in her eyes and squeezed his arm gently, nodding in satisfaction when he winced. "And a knight must be honest at all times. Otherwise he receives no reward."

He drew her close with his good arm and kissed her. "I seem to have done fairly well." She pulled away and glared up at him.

"You're no knight, you're a mercenary." She wrinkled her nose. "And you stink. I'm not kissing you again until you shave."

He grinned and swept his wife up into his arms. "Then I suppose you must draw me a bath, hmm?" She crossed her arms stubbornly, but there was a smile in her eyes. "I suppose I must. What did I do to deserve such a life?"

"I have no idea, but you are very lucky."

"Shameless."

"That you are."

She smacked his arm lightly as he carried her up the steps to the door, only to stop short when his way was blocked by a tall man in a rough leather tunic. He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"Well, Brennen, I was going to ask for your attention on a rather important matter, but it seems you are already engaged."

"Why yes, Cole, as you can see, I'm rather busy at the moment," he replied with a wink. "Could it wait for a bit later?"

"Better yet, it can wait for tomorrow. Enjoy your spoils." He bowed. "With your leave, Lady Kyla."

From the look on her face, Lady Kyla would have sooner strangled him than dismissed him, but he left quickly before she had the chance to even think of struggling free from Brennen's arms. He kissed her on the forehead and she looked up at him, finally smiling.

"My knight is home, I am content."

"He is at your service, my lady. Where shall I bear you?"

"To the baths. I seem to have somehow been infected with your stench."

"Your wish is my command," he said with a laugh, and carried her up the stairs.

***

"I have good news and I have bad news."

"Yes?"

"King Padraig's daughter was taken four days ago. I was nearby, so he hired me first for the job."

"That's the good news, then. King Padraig always pays well. What's the bad news?"

"There are two of them."

"Two?"

"Yes. Big, nasty ones, if the descriptions are at all accurate. It sounded as if they went deep, too."

Brennen stood silent for a moment while Cole watched him carefully.

"You want me to come with you."

"I can't take two alone, and I know you'll watch my back." He trailed off the end of the sentence, hesitating to speak more.

"What else."

"The king also requested that I seek you out first. Apparently as a knight of his court you are obligated by honor--"

"I am a knight of eight other courts as well! I cannot be everywhere at once!"

Cole waited as he turned around to compose himself, then spoke quietly and with care. "I don't want to ask you to do this, Brennen. I know you just got back from three jobs. I know you haven't seen your family in months. That's why I didn't tell you until this morning."

Brennen put a hand on the stone wall and leaned his head on his arm.

"Brayden is twice as big as when I last saw him, Cole. I was going to be here for a few months at the least. I have obligations to my son, to my wife, to the people of Kelgrey. They look to me for their leadership and defense. How can I govern them if I am always gone?"

"Your wife is leader enough for them in your absence. They understand, Brennen."

"But does she?" He shook his head. "You know I'm going. I cannot afford to anger Padraig. We depend too much on trade from Kandorya. I just have to find a way to tell her..."

"Walls have ears."

Both men turned at the new voice as Lady Kyla entered the room, hands folded in front of her and jaw tight. Cole quickly excused himself from the room, and Brennen called after him to find Brayden, then turned his full attention to his wife.

"Were you eavesdropping again? I know I spoke to you about that."

"And a fine lecture it was, but now is not the time."

He held out his hands in a helpless gesture. "You know I have to go."

She moved closer and put her hands in his, pulling them close together. "I know. If only you could stay a week longer, your new armor would be finished. But you have to leave now."

"Tomorrow, at the latest, probably."

She bit her lip, and he started to say something reassuring, but she put a hand to his mouth and shook her head, then turned and left the room.

***

Brayden took the news surprisingly well, he thought. Perhaps it was the idea of receiving yet another carved talon to add to his chest of toys. Every time Brennen home he would bring a small knight, or a horse, or a dragon to add to the collection, and the boy took great pleasure in reenacting his father's battles. The smile of anticipation on his face was enough to a least somewhat lift Brennen's mood. The final push came when his wife arrived with the last of his packs and took his face in her hands with a twinkle in her eye.

"I do not like to see you sad, my knight."

"I am always sad to leave you, m'lady."

"Look forward to this: winter is coming swiftly and no dragon ever ventures from its sleep then. You will have many long blissful months with us soon."

He smiled. "I'll be back in a fortnight."

"Cole said they went deep. I figure about a month."

"Are you willing to stake a kiss on that?"

She pulled his head down and kissed him once, firmly. "There. I expect to have that back on your return."

He kissed her again quickly and drew into a hug. "You'll have it back with interest."

"Brennen!"

"I'm on my way."

"Oh, there's no hurry. I was enjoying the show."

Lady Kyla's eyes shot daggers at Cole. "The only cure for him is marriage, I think. You must find him a bride on this trip, Brennen, or I shall never allow him near this castle again."

"I'll do my best to have him fall in love with this princess, then."

"I'd never marry a princess. I hear they're even more work than you are, my lady."

Lady Kyla refused to answer him this time. Brennen grinned and knelt down to his son's level, his hand swallowing the top of the boy's head. "You be good and take care of your mother, Brayden. Mind what she says."

The little boy nodded solemnly. "Yes father."

He kissed him on the head, stood and kissed his wife one more time, and mounted his horse with a whispered "love you," ignoring Cole's wrinkled nose.

"You'll wear your mouth out and have nothing left to talk with if you keep on that way."

"You'll understand someday, Cole."

The other man simply grunted at this and gave his mount a kick, and with that they embarked on their journey.