Page 126 of Raven's Rise
“Damn,” Rafe said first. “I wanted to be here for the moment of revelation.”
Angelet wiped tears off her cheeks. “You said nothing!”
“I thought it would be a good surprise.” Rafe turned to Henry. “Welcome to Martenkeep. I’m Raphael Corviser.”
“I am Henry Yarborough,” the boy replied with stiff dignity, obviously trying to seem as though he hadn’t just been shedding tears of joy. “Though I may change it to Henry d’Hiver, since the Yarborough name isn’t dear to me.”
“A matter to discuss with your mother,” Rafe said.
“Your mother?” Torin asked incredulously. “I thought you were just married.”
“Second marriage, you dolt,” Guy said.
Angelet smiled. “Henry is my son, and he will begin training with you three tomorrow.”
“He’ll be spoiled,” Peregrine whispered, though his whisper could be overheard by everyone present.
“None of you will be spoiled,” Rafe said sharply. “No matter your birth or your relations, you are all equal during your training. No one will be punished or indulged differently than the others. You must trust and rely on your companions. Let that be the first and most important lesson. On a battlefield, at court, on the road…you must always watch their backs and be confident they have yours. It’s the only way to succeed. Distrust, envy, malice…these things will be your downfall. You can be the best swordsman in the world, but if you’re friendless, your skills won’t save you.”
“How do you know?” Peregrine demanded.
“I’ve seen it firsthand, boy,” Rafe answered. “And eventually, you’ll all hear the tale. Now, take Henry and show him the dormitory. Supper is in one hour.”
“By your leave, Mother,” Henry said, beaming at her before running off with the others.
“I’ll see you soon,” she whispered to his retreating back.
Rafe stepped up to her and slid an arm around her waist. “Pleased?”
Pleased? She was ecstatic, overjoyed, giddy, blessed. “When did you know?” she demanded.
“I suggested the possibility when I told the king how many boys I could offer to train at a time. If it was no great matter to change the location, why shouldn’t Henry be with his mother instead of a foster family? But the decision was the king’s.”
“This is the best gift I could receive,” she whispered. “Thank you. I only dared ask the king to look after his welfare. You fought to get him back to me.”
Rafe kissed her. “For you, I’ll do anything, love.”
“Why? What have I done to deserve a champion like you?” she asked.
“A few days before I met you, I could see my whole future in front of me. Fight after fight, all of them meaningless.”
“Meaningless?”
“I had no one to fight for. I wasn’t even fighting for myself. I was just…following a ritual, doing what I had done all my life. But when I saw you, I again had something to fight for.”
“And so you did. You defended me so many times.”
“But I didn’t just want to protect you—Iwanted to be worthy of you. That’s why discovering my name meant so much.”
“I would have stayed with you no matter what your name was, Rafe.”
“Perhaps, but I never would have asked before I knew.”
“So it wasn’t my poverty? Or my illness?”
He put both arms around her, pulling her close. “Fortunes can be stolen. Health can fail. But nothing can take away your soul. And your soul is the most beautiful one I’ve ever known. You believed in me when no one else did. You gave me another chance when I’d lost all my chances. You even agreed to live your life with me. Angelet, you are worth fighting for.”
“Rafe, you don’t have to fight for me. You have already won my heart, all of it. And I trust you to keep it safe. Forever.”
“Forever.”
* * * *
