A deep, throaty laugh reverberated around the crowded great hall in the manor house at Chanoine. Merriment swelled as all joined in the laughter.

The Absolute Monarch of the Kingdom of Frencolia sat in the center seat of honor. His only son, young Crown Prince Charles sat on one side, and his first cousin, Louis Chatelain, the Baron of Chanoine, occupied a place of honor on his left.

"Perhaps Cousin Chatelain will give us the facts, Son," King Leopold said, and commanded, "Chatelain, tell us the truth. Did that green-eyed scrap of a maid, whom I have to claim as my cousin, once removed, really rescue you?"

Chatelain nodded, smiling, "Yes, Cousin Leopold." His large hand gripped his wife's small fingers. His warm brown eyes contacted those of his three sons then met the disbelievingly envious stare of Ellie, the elder daughter.

"Tell us about it, Cousin." The king mirrored the impatience of his son, and he spoke with his hands as well as his tongue. "The truth, not the exaggerated account we've been hearing from those who have no idea..."

An all-engulfing silence encompassed those in the great hall. Louis Junior clenched his fists, waiting. Marcus and Ellie, twins, held their breaths. Luke leaned forward on the bench he sat upon, his eyes wide with anticipation. The Frencolian knights waited for the baron to speak, as did the captains, the Reeve of Chanoine, the guards and servants flanking the walls. Other than the criminals who had abducted the baron, no one but the father and his daughter, Jobyna, knew exactly what had transpired, almost two weeks ago on that dreadful spring afternoon.

Drawing a deep breath, the baron spoke, his warm brown eyes upon the captivated gaze of his beautiful wife. "As you know, I was taken from here by Tristan, gagged and trussed up like a chicken, tied to that high-pommelled saddle. Another rider held my horse's reins, leading it..." The baron turned to look at his cousin, the king, and, reading the question in the royal eyes, he said, "I'd never seen the man before, he wore the Frencolian uniform, a soldier's." Everyone in the hall knew of the king's fervent anger regarding traitors.

Chatelain continued. "The bonds were braided strips of leather, and I knew I had no hope of forcing myself free.

"You can imagine my surprise when a company from which I'd been swiftly concealed returned to confront my captors. Jobyna had ridden her new horse all the way from Chanoine here, for nearly two hours, hoping to find me. Having seen my bonds, she had brought a sharp carving knife from the carpenter's workshop, and she hid it in her sleeve, hoping somehow to get close enough to cut me free." Chatelain paused, and listeners unconsciously drew closer.

"When the battle began, Jobyna left the path, and rode behind rocks and bush off the roadside. She joined the track once more, right behind Tristan and the man who had me in tow. She deliberately allowed Tristan to see her and capture her..." Frowning as he remembered his dismay at the sight of his daughter in such danger, he smiled wryly. "Tristan didn't imagine Jobyna would carry a knife, and he made her climb up behind me, where she sat astride, gripping the back pommel.

"The horses were spurred along, much faster now, and Tristan dropped back to keep a watch for pursuit. The rider controlling the reins of our horse was, of course, watching the path ahead." The baron paused for a breath, which caught in his throat as he recalled his feeling of deep despair due to his daughter's capture.

"I was amazed to feel Jobyna cutting the bonds from my hands. She freed me from the pommel, and cut the leather around my arms and chest. My mind swam with the reality of escape and I wanted to break away quickly with Jobyna. But as I removed my gag, Tristan bellowed a warning. The brigand leading my horse halted and turned. I managed to push him sideways off his mount.

"On my left, was a steep bank, plunging down into trees at the bottom of a gully. Once I gained control of my horse, I yelled for Jobyna to hold tightly to the saddle, and I spurred the creature down off the road. It was a foolhardy chance that would have succeeded if Tristan had not started releasing arrows from his long bow. To give him the benefit of the doubt, I'd have to say he was trying to bring down our horse."

Chatelain had been so involved in recounting the escape that he had not been watching the reactions on the faces of his audience. He sensed Elissa's tenseness, and placed his arm around her, gently drawing her head to his chest. The guests crept nearer still, and those who flanked the walls stepped closer, concentrating upon the baron's face, eagerly waiting to hear his voice again.

"One arrow flew past, too close to my thigh for comfort. I steered the horse around a rock... I thought Jobyna's gasp was because of the peril of the plunge, but it must have been then that she was struck by Tristan's arrow." He stroked his wife's coppery hair tenderly, not wanting to continue for her sake, but unable not to complete the tale.

"It was some time before I realized Jobyna had been struck... I'm sure the treacherous path and the speed I rode caused the bruising. The worst of it, was to know that I had escaped, but she might die from the arrow wound. It went right through her shoulder, and pierced the thick leather of the pommel. Jobyna had her arms around the pommel. I leaned back on her to help keep her secure. The arrowhead dug into her forearm, and with the bouncing around, it did... it did... quite a bit of damage."

The father heard his daughter, Ellie, gasp, and he turned to behold the whiteness of her oval face. "Enough of that for now. My daughter rescued me. Without her, I'd be in some other kingdom, a slave, at the beck and call of my captors. We must thank our Heavenly Father that Jobyna has recovered so rapidly from her appalling injuries."

"It must have been just awful! How did... how did... how did you get the arrow out?" Young Prince Charles' voice cracked a little as he asked this question. In the ensuing silence, suggestions broke out all over the great hall, and Chatelain felt his wife's slim frame trembling.

The baron stood, saying, "I knew then, we had God on our side." He took his wife's slim hands, and drew her to her feet. "Come, we'll go up and check on the child. Doctor Boone said she should sleep until morning."

King Leopold stood, and everyone in the room followed suit. "Your daughter should be given a medal for bravery, Chatelain! We've awarded valuable brassards to men for less." The king glanced about for his knights whose positioning had rearranged during the telling of the baron's story.

Chatelain bowed and said, "I'm wondering what to do about Jobyna's horse, Sire. It was her eleventh birthday present. But Tristan took her horse with him when he quitted Frencolia."

"Then we'll give her another!" The king decreed, turning to one of his knights. "See to it, Keith. Make it as close a match as possible." Addressing another knight, he said, "And Samuel, we'll present our youngest cousin with a medal for her bravery. Yes. It shall be done!"

King Leopold remained with his cousin for two more days. The baron and baroness noticed a change in the king's attitude towards their Christian beliefs.

"Leopold's heart is softening," Elissa said.

"Yes," Chatelain agreed, "we must continue to pray for him, every day."

The morning of the king's departure arrived. The Chatelain family lined up along the front of the manor house, facing large numbers of king's knights, captains and soldiers, waiting to escort the king and crown prince back to the capital. Cheers rose when the Chatelain family appeared.

Jobyna said, "Listen to that! What a sound! They're cheering because our famed father came safely home. I'll be thankful for the rest of my life that my beloved father was not been carried away forever."

King Leopold and his son moved out between the guard of honor, and down the steps. The courtyard reverberated with words of acclaim and loyalty.

However, eyes were not upon the king, or the young prince, but upon the younger Chatelain daughter. Other than a bandage on her right forearm, there was no other sign of the terrible injury, which could have ended the life of the most robust soldier. The sun created a bright halo of red-gold, gleaming from soft curls escaping the braids encircling her fair face.

Jobyna's sparkling green eyes and attention were for her father alone, and it was some time before she realized that she, herself, was under the scrutiny and examination of the king's company.

Jobyna watched as a knight presented a green velvet-covered box to the king who turned towards the Chatelain family, and commanded, "Cousin Jobyna Chatelain, we would be pleased to have you step over here."

Jobyna expelled a frightened half-sob to hear her name spoken from royal lips in front of this large assembly. Undisguised analytical stares from the men had unnerved her, and now all she wanted to do was to run away and hide.

The brother leaned to whisper in her ear, "Take a deep breath, little sister, and walk over to Cousin Leopold. Curtsy to him."

No one had warned Jobyna of this presentation, and rather than being pleasantly surprised, she was terrified. The king's voice seemed a hundred miles away, and she jumped when everyone applauded and cheered.

"Jobyna Chatelain, I present to you the Frencolian medal of Valor. Frencolia is proud to have you as a citizen." Thus said, the king pinned the brassard on her dress at her shoulder. He kissed her soundly on each cheek.

Horse's hooves clopped on the cobblestones, causing the men to move aside, allowing passage for Sir Keith who strode towards the king with a brown horse in tow.

Prince Charles took the reins from the knight. He drew the horse near to Jobyna, and bowed, saying, "We're sorry you lost your horse, Cousin Jobyna, and would like you to accept our replacement." He tendered the reins to her.

Wide-eyed, Jobyna stared into the velvet brown eyes of the horse, then examined the white triangle on his forehead. She lifted her left hand to stroke his nose before taking the reins, exclaiming, "He's beautiful! Thank you, Cousin Charles." Turning, she spoke to the king, "Thank you, Cousin Leopold. You're very kind."

"Well! Aren't you going to ride him?" The king's deep voice boomed in Jobyna's ear. He took her arm, and led her towards the sidesaddle.

With a gasp, Jobyna stepped back.

"What's wrong? Don't you like him?" King Leopold's deep voice boomed the question out for all to hear.

"It's not that. I like him very much, but, I can't..." Jobyna turned and beckoned the king towards her. As he stooped towards her face, she whispered, "My shoulder, it's very stiff. I can't even lift my arm. Doctor Boone said it will take some weeks before I get the strength back in it."

The king turned to his knights, and commanded, "Take the saddle off, and give us a hand up." When the king was seated on the horse, he ordered that Jobyna be lifted to sit in front. Chatelain lifted his daughter in his arms, and positioned her to sit in front of the king. To the cheers of the crowds, King Leopold guided the horse around the courtyard and out over the moat bridge. Followed by his son and his knights, he walked the horse slowly through the village and around the square before returning to the manor house.

"Wave to them, Cousin Jobyna. You're a celebrity!" The king commanded.

Jobyna, held securely by the king's strong arm, waved her left hand to the villagers. She recognized many faces, and forgot her shyness, smiling and speaking their names. Cheering, applause, and the sound of great admiration surrounded them as they rode.