The Reckless Oath We Made(125)

’Twas my sword. The first true sword I owned that long hung above my bed in my father’s keep. When I returned from Malvern, the sword was gone, and Trang knew naught but that my mother it took. Just or unjust, I asked her not, for my mother had endured much by cause of my folly.

Yet there was my sword, some rusted but whole. Lady Zhorzha grasped the hilt in both hands and lifted it clear of the steps, tho ’twas too heavy for her to hold it aloft. When she reached the top step, she brought the point to rest in the grass.

I knelt to her, as I had knelt many years before when I was knighted. She laughed, I knew not why, but ’twas a glad sound. Her right hand remained upon the hilt, and with her left, she grasped the blade to lift it before her.

“Your sword, Sir Gentry,” she said. When I raised my hands, she put it into them.





Acknowledgments



My sincere gratitude to the following people:

Liberty Greenwood, my favorite traveling companion and my favorite stay-at-home companion.

Robert Ozier—friends who keep showing up are the best friends.

My agent, Jess Regel, who continues to take a chance on my weird ideas.

My reckless but brave editor, Tara Singh Carlson, and the wonderful people at Putnam: Helen Richard, Sally Kim, Ivan Held, Alexis Welby, Ashley McClay, Meredith Dros, Maija Baldauf, Joel Breuklander, Anthony Ramondo, Monica Cordova, Nayon Cho, Katy Riegel, Brennin Cummings, Jordan Aaronson, Elena Hershey, Bonnie Rice.

The early readers and supporters of this book: Kell Andrews, Liz Michalski, Barry Wynn, Lisa Brackmann, Colby Marshall, Jenna, Tracey Martin, Erin Mansur, Kelly Haas, David and Nick.

Renee and Bogi Perelmutter, who have been readers, consultants, emotional support, and the source of my dinner on many occasions.

Kris Herndon, my mermaid sister and the cofounder of my secret undersea volcano lair.

Matt Hyde and the staff of 715, for the celebratory dinners and all the happy hours.

V.K., Jo Nixon, and Tom, for their assistance in creating a version of Middle English that is accessible to modern readers. Any errors or anachronisms aren mine own.

Robert T. Corum, Jr., professor emeritus of French at Kansas State University, who first introduced me to Yvain.

The Consortium for the Teaching of the Middle Ages and the Early English Text Society for making Middle English texts more readily accessible.

Ruth Harwood Cline for her beautiful English translation of Chrétien de Troyes’ Yvain.

My Purgatorians and YNots, two of the most supportive writing groups a person could ask for.

Clovia Shaw, a fellow daughter of a dragon, who always shows me the world from a slightly different angle.