The Reckless Oath We Made(61)

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Charlene said. “Going to visit him?”

“You don’t think he’s connected to what happened with your sister?” Bill said.

I picked up my backpack before I answered, because I was stumped for what to say. There wasn’t anything neutral enough to describe what I was hoping to get out of my uncle, and like hell I was going to tell Gentry’s parents anything. If Uncle Alva knew something—if—it was worth finding out. Because I didn’t trust the police or the marshals to get LaReigne back safely. I could imagine the headline: HOSTAGE KILLED IN POLICE RAID GONE WRONG. Shit like that happened. Branch Davidian shit.

“Well, he’s family,” I said. “So, yeah, I’m going to visit him.”

“At what hour wilt thou depart?” Gentry said.

“I don’t have a schedule. I’m gonna try to talk to my mother again before I go.”

“I shall be ready ere the hour turns.” Gentry put his phone in his pocket and came around the kitchen island. By my math, the hour was going to turn to nine in fifteen minutes.

“You don’t need to go,” I said.

“Thou mayest need me yet.”

“It doesn’t sound like she invited you, honey.” Charlene laughed.

“I am her champion.”

I thought he was speaking to his mother, but he frowned and lifted his head. Not to look at her, but listening. That was the Witch above his head.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, son.” Bill looked more comfortable being embarrassed than he did disapproving.

“Nay, I cannot leave my lady go alone.”

“I—” I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but Charlene cut me off.

“Gentry, I’m not going to forbid you to go,” she said.

“I am glad, my mother, for it would distress me to defy thee.”

“Son,” Bill said, “I appreciate that you want to help Zee, but you may have done as much as you can.”

“And what about work? You’ve got no business gallivanting around and missing work.” Charlene could say she wasn’t going to forbid him to go, but to me that sounded like he was being forbidden.

“I shall call to my lord’s quartermaster to tell him I will not come for some while.”

“Gentry, son, this is like—do you remember how we discussed Battle of the Nations? And why we didn’t let you go?” Bill said. He leaned down until his elbows were resting on the countertop, so he could give this very stern, fatherly look to Gentry, who was looking at my knees.

“Yea. Because ye believen I am not ready to be tested in battle.”

Bill laughed. “Battle is the one thing I do think you’re ready for. The rest of it—being out in the world, dealing with people out there who won’t accept you—that’s what we’re worried about.”

“Let’s sit down and discuss this,” Charlene said.

Rhys had joked about it, but I don’t think the Franks liked the idea of their little boy growing up.





CHAPTER 31





Gentry



If I say yea and ye sayen nay, ’tis no discussion,” I said. ’Twas as the Witch said: I needed heat in my blood if I would stand as champion to my lady. Tho we discorded, I would not show uncourtesy to my mother and father, so I bowed to them ere I went to my room. I called the quartermaster and, tho ’twas with little warning, he offered no harsh words, for I was always dutiful in my service to him.

I took from my cupboard a satchel and filled it with what I might need. ’Twas my habit to bathe, but I would not delay Lady Zhorzha. Little time remained, so I returned to the great room, my satchel in hand. My lady had placed her own bag upon her back and stood in the front hall with my mother and father.

“How dare you judge the choices I have made for my son,” my mother said to her.

“Mrs. Frank, I am not judging you. I’m saying I feel like I’m in the middle of an argument that has nothing to do with me. It’s not my job to tell Gentry what to do.” I knew many things more harsh had been said, that Lady Zhorzha called my mother Mrs. Frank and not Charlene.

“I think you need to leave,” my mother said.

“I understand. Thank you for everything. You all were really kind to Marcus and me.”

Lady Zhorzha turned to the door and saw me there. I would look upon her eye to eye, to show her my resolve, but ’twas she that dropped her gaze.

“Be this the hospitality ye taught me?” I said to my mother and father, for it angered me to hear them say such things.

“It’s okay,” Lady Zhorzha said. “You’ve been really great and I appreciate it, but I don’t want to cause problems. I’m gonna go. I’ll talk to you when I get back, Gentry. Okay?”

Ere I could speak, she crossed the threshold. I followed her to the porch.

“Gentry!” my mother called. She was not wroth, but she was uneaseful.

“My lady,” I said. “Wilt thou give my regards to thy mother when thou seest her?”

“Yeah. I’ll tell her you said hi. Thank you.” Lady Zhorzha crossed the street and forthwith drove away.

When I returned to the front hall, my father laughed. I knew not why, but it me angered. For in all ways I shewed him the respect he was owed, but was I to be shewn no respect? Had I not done all that he hoped for me and yet more?