Knowing Yourself - A Medieval Romance

Chapter 1

England, 1174

If you cannot find the truth right where you are,

where else do you expect to find it?

~Dogen

Kay's mouth fell open at the deliciously sinful display of stunning male physiques, her eyes thoroughly examining each man in turn, admiring the thick, corded muscles of their arms; the finely chiseled lines of their jaws; the finger-twiningly-dense hair dancing in the autumn wind - red, blond, brunette, black, tawny gold. A sensual thrill coursed through her, flushing her with tingling warmth. She could choose any man in that group to be her husband and he would instantly, willingly, loyally come to her side. The awesome power intoxicated her to her very core.

She turned to Em, nudging her blonde sister with playful delight as they peered through the thick tapestry curtains of the coach window. "Are you sure I can only keep one of them?" Kay joked in a low voice. "It might be useful to have a spare husband around, in case of trouble." Her eyes were drawn to the tawny mane of hair a second time, her gaze sliding down from his shoulders; her breath caught as she sized up the thickness of his biceps.

Her voice grew hoarse. "I am sure I could find all sorts of uses for a back-up knight with that kind of build."

Em put a hand over her mouth to muffle the flurry of giggles that began to erupt. She adjusted her position slightly to account for her large, round abdomen, visible evidence of the child she had been carrying for the past six months. "It took our father long enough to convince you to use this process in the first place," she chuckled in merriment. "If he realized you were now enjoying it, I am sure it would put his mind at ease."

Kay shook her head. "I still do not agree with the principle of it," she commented more quietly. Her eyes drew slowly along each man who stood on the keep steps, the group being presented with a final set of instructions by an elderly man with sparse grey hair, his elegant brown cloak concealing a frail frame. She knew her father, Lord Weston, was doing his best to present a strong front to his future sons-in-law.

Kay kept her eyes on his slowly moving figure. "I turned down the previous suitors because I found them sadly lacking. For father to force me to choose from one of these five men seems outrageous. What if none of them end up being what we need to defend Serenor Keep?"

Em's mouth grew into a wide smile. "Surely, my dear sister, you have to believe one of those men would be suitable to stand by your side?"

Kay had to admit that the group had far exceeded her expectations. Her father had sent word the length and breadth of England in his search, bringing in five worthy, eligible bachelors who were interested in control of the seaside tower. All five men had agreed up front to put themselves in the hands of this selection process – to vie against each other for Kay's hand in marriage. Now they were being told the particular rules of the game.

Suddenly all five men's heads turned sharply to stare at the coach, and both women instantly pulled back into the dark interior, their hearts pounding, looking at each other before bursting into a fresh round of laughter. Kay had to take several deep breaths before she could bring herself to speak again.

"I think they have just been told they cannot see what I look like until I have made my final decision," she chortled merrily. "By their reactions, they were none too pleased at that little tidbit!"

Em's shoulders were shaking with mirth as she leant back against the embroidered seat. "Still, you have to admit Father hit on a stroke of genius there," she countered. "By having me play at the shy target of their attentions, you can roam free as my maid servant, watching the men close up. You can observe how they talk about the keep and each other behind my back."