From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [57]
Achan laughed. “I never even thought of such a thing as my face on a coin.”
“Yes, well, now that King Axel has arrived,” Sir Caleb said with a glance at the coin, “we can get on with it.”
Each man took a turn sharing personal stories about their own journeys to manhood. Sir Gavin’s proudest moment had been when King Paxton knighted him and appointed him Prince Axel’s Shield. His biggest failure had been King Axel and Queen Dara’s deaths and losing Achan.
Sir Eagan’s intense blue eyes focused on Achan. “I have had many failures, Your Highness. Too many to confess in one night. Some I have already shared with you. The differences with my father. Losing King Axel on my watch.” Pain flashed across his face. “But none has plagued me as much as dallying with a young woman days before her wedding.”
Stunned, Achan averted his eyes to the floor. Sir Eagan didn’t seem capable of something so low.
“I don’t doubt the young woman was partially to blame,” Sir Gavin said.
Sir Eagan growled like an irritated cat. “Whether or not she was willing, it is a man’s duty to protect a lady’s honor. In that I failed. And though I regret my actions, I would not change them if I were able to live through it again.”
This admission caused Achan to look up. “Why?”
Sir Eagan’s expression lightened. “My failures, no matter how painful, brought wisdom. And Arman, by his infinite grace and mercy, bestowed blessings through my failures that, over time, made the pain bearable.”
Sir Eagan shifted on his chair, looking as if there were more to confess, but he switched topics altogether. “Now, my best moment, I’m afraid, has yet to be lived. Should I survive the coming war, I shall waste no time making amends with those I have wronged. Forgiveness and reconciliation will be, I have no doubt, the greatest moments of my life.”
“Why wait?” Achan asked. “Can’t you do it now?”
“Why, indeed? It is always best to wait on Arman’s timing. The battle for Er’Rets must come first. I pray Arman will give me opportunity to reconcile after the war.”
Then it was Shung’s turn.
Of all the men, Shung’s voice was the lowest. “Each year Shung’s village sent one young man to Berland for tournament. Winner would become squire. During tournament, Shung fought too hard. Wanted to impress Father. Shung’s friend Arluk fell.”
Even the knights were staring at Shung, surprise evident on each face. Achan recalled how horrified he’d been to kill his first deer, and later, the Poroo soldiers. He could not imagine having killed a friend. “How old were you?”
“One and ten.”
So young to deal with such guilt. “Were you arrested?”
Shung snorted. “Not in Therion Duchy. Not for that. Shung tried to withdraw from tournament, but Arluk’s father made Shung swear to become great warrior. To bring honor to Arluk’s death. When Shung became Sir Koyukuk’s squire…” He banged a fist on his chest. “Proudest moment. Until Shung became Shield to future king and was knighted.” He nodded to Achan and banged his chest again.
“You are a great warrior, Shung,” Achan said. “You have brought honor to your friend’s life.”
Shung glanced to Sir Caleb. “The lion’s turn.”
“Very well.” Sir Caleb released a shaky sigh. “My brother’s wife, Ambrosia, liked to walk in the forest and often went alone, despite Baruch’s pleas that she take care. As the head of her guard, he often sent me to fetch her when she was gone too long. Until the day I found her half dead. Poroo had attacked, beaten her to within an inch of death. To this day she cannot speak properly, and she limps…” Sir Caleb’s eyes were glassy and wet, staring into the past. “I was responsible for Ambrosia’s safety. I was to blame. It is still the most horrible experience of my life.”
A deep breath seemed to bring him back to the present. “When I saw Esper’s husband strike her that day in the marketplace in Armonguard, I lost all sense. I saw a chance to save a woman from Ambrosia’s fate and took it. Some believe I stole a married woman from her husband, but I never believed Esper was that man’s wife. Not of her own will. She was his