The father said: “She has no—”
He was too late, however, for the girl said: “Edmund.”
“So youaremarried. But who’s your father?”
“I am,” said the man with the black beard. “Theobald.”
William turned to Arthur. “Is Theobald a freeman?”
“He’s a serf, lord.”
“And when a serfs daughter marries, is it not the lord’s right, as her owner, to enjoy her on the wedding night?”
Arthur was shocked. “Lord! That primitive custom has not been enforced in this part of the world in living memory!”
“True,” said William. “The father pays a fine, instead. How much did Theobald pay?”
“He hasn’t paid yet, lord, but—”
“Not paid! And she with a fat red-cheeked child!”
Theobald said: “We never had the money, lord, and she was with child by Edmund, and wanted to be wed, but we can pay now, for we’ve got the crop in.”
William smiled at the girl. “Let me see the baby.”
She stared at him fearfully.
“Come. Give it to me.
She was afraid but she could not bring herself to hand over her baby. William stepped closer and gently took the child from her. Her eyes filled with terror but she did not resist him.
The baby began to squall. William held it for a moment, then grasped both its ankles in one hand and with a swift motion threw it into the air as high as he could.
The girl screamed like a banshee and gazed into the air as the baby flew upward.
The father ran forward with his arms outstretched to catch it as it fell.
While the girl was looking up and screaming, William took a handful of her dress and ripped it. She had a pink, rounded young body.
The father caught the baby safely.
The girl turned to run, but William caught her and threw her to the ground.
The father handed the baby to a woman and turned to look at William.
William said: “As I wasn’t given my due on the wedding night, and the fine hasn’t been paid, I’ll take what’s owed me now.”
The father rushed at him.
William drew his sword.
The father stopped.
William looked at the girl, lying on the ground, trying to cover her nakedness with her hands. Her fear aroused him. “And when I’ve done, my knights will have her too,” he said with a contented smile.
II
In three years Kingsbridge had changed beyond recognition.
