Sir Bentley and Holbrook Court by Chuck Black Page A

discovery was nothing like he had imagined… and yet so much more.
    “No, Anya,” he whispered back. “I am not the Prince. But I want to be like Him.”
    Anya thought for a moment and then leaned over to give Bentley a kiss on his cheek. “I can tell I'm going to like Him too.”
    Bentley said good-bye as Anya's mother took her hand and guided her home. He stood slowly and gazed at the castle.
    “That's quite a tale ye spin, Ben,” a familiar voice said from behind him.
    Bentley turned around. “I do my best.”
    “An’ what's this I hear 'bout your escapades with the Mercy Maiden?” Walsch said with a broad grin.
    Bentley grinned back. “I helped her deliver some food, that's all.”
    “Ya must be hard up, Ben—or is it that she reminds ye of the damsels back home?”
    Bentley laughed out loud as a pretty red-headed young woman came to stand next to Walsch. She cleared her throat to get his attention. He turned, and delight filled his eyes.
    “Ben.” He took her hand. “I'd like ye t’ meet my Luanne.”
    Bentley bowed. “I am pleased to meet you.”
    “I've just asked Luanne's father for her hand in marriage,” Walsch said.
    Luanne's joy was obvious, and the two exchanged a glance so intimate that it made Bentley momentarily uncomfortable.
    “Then a congratulations is in order,” Bentley said quickly and bowed to the couple.
    They talked for a time and ended with a promise to meet more frequently than before. Bentley rejoined Creighton and his family and they returned to the farm. As he lay on his straw bed that night, he smiled as he thought of the children and the story he had told them. Their wonder and excitement encouraged him.
    If only the rest of the kingdom would have ears as eager as theirs
, he thought as he fell peacefully asleep.

A SENTENCE
OF DEATH
    Bentley stayed with Creighton and Anwen until Creighton's leg was fully healed. He continued to work with them as they needed, but he also looked for opportunities to help many of the families that he and Eirwyn had visited on her last Mercy Maiden trip. He avoided contact with Kingsley's guards and knights as much as possible, for they would not take kindly to his efforts among the people—or to the stories he told the children.
    Late one afternoon, Bentley was helping a family patch a roof when he saw the familiar forms of the Mercy Maiden, Parson, and their wagon pass by. He promptly followed after and had no small effort in catching up with them, for the horse seemed to be traveling extra fast today.
    “Eirwyn!” he called, out of breath as he ran beside the wagon.
    She looked at him sternly. “Don't call me that!”
    “Please forgive me. It's been so long. May I help you today?”
    “No.” She tried not to look at him. “I don't think so.”
    “Anya's mother is much worse,” he said, still trying to keep up with the pace she had set for the horse.
    At that, Eirwyn stopped the horse and looked solemnly at Bentley.She motioned to the back of the wagon for Bentley to jump on, but he jumped up beside her instead.
    Eirwyn smirked. “How can ya stand it? I stink like my hogs!” She gave him a crooked smile that wasn't really a smile at all, but it revealed her blackened teeth again.
    “I don't mind,” Bentley replied. “Too much,” he added and grimaced a smile.
    She huffed and set the horses in motion again.
    Wouldn't Mother be proud?
Bentley thought as he imagined introducing Eirwyn to his parents. A big smile crossed his lips, and he had to turn away so Eirwyn wouldn't see it.
    “Best git to Anya's cottage first,” she said.
    They arrived at the cottage, and Bentley began to fear the worst, for as they came to the rickety door, they heard soft crying within.
    “Hatty!” Eirwyn called as she knocked on the door. “Anya?”
    “Come in,” the voice of the doctor called out.
    They opened the door to the smell of death in the room. Anya sat on the bed next to her mother, leaning close to hear her words. With one hand she