Chapter 45 The Lionhearts Move Again

  Lord Richard Lionheart received a sizable amount of money from the monastery.  Years ago in this position he would have purchased his familial home or a finer home, reestablishing himself as the nobleman he is.  A wife in the fool's tower and his sons little more than servants has humbled him greatly.

  It was just enough $ to pay off his debts and pay for both his sons to go to college.  But this left nothing leftover for taxes; to pay for them Lord Richard moved into the fisher village, the same village Reeve Geoffrey Frell moved into.

  I never would have guessed these cottages would be in such a poor condition.

  Please let my cottage be better on the inside.

  "Ouch!"

  That hardly endures me to this place.  I may as well wrestle that bookcase into here.  At least I still have some books.

***

  There!  That bookcase was about as fun as needing to make water when in full armor.  But just look at these books!  They look as fine as the day I bought them.  It was worth spending the extra time to care for each one as I put them on the shelf.

  <Knock, knock!>

  "Come in Neighbor!" Richard called.

  "Made friends with the neighbors already?"

  "Henry!"

  "Thank you.  It is such a sacrifice, you living here."

  "Henry, it is worth the sacrifice so that you both might go to college.  Wait - what are you doing here?  You are still free to go?  I paid off the family debts and both of your tuition."

  "Yes.  Alexander and I are leaving as soon as we give you our goodbyes."

  "Alexander?  He is here as well?"

  "He is waiting by the horses."

  "Then let us join him!  And Henry?"

  "Yes father?"

  "I am so glad you stopped by for your old man."

  "Well come on 'old man'.  I am not the only son eager to see you."

  Henry led the way.  Richard noted how he walked a little straighter then last he saw him.

  "Did you find a pretty princess to marry Henry?"

  "Marry?  I would never want to marry a princess.  As if one would have me.  We are not royal blood."

  "But we are noble blood my son.  Why would you not want to marry a princess?  As a nobleman you are not far beneath her."

  "That is just it, 'beneath her'.  And surely she would let me know every mortal day I have left."

  "My son, marry a princess or a peasant and she will be your wife.  Even a princess who would keep her title would not be 'above' her husband once you wed."

  "Be that as it may, I have had my fill of princesses."

  "Henry!  You didn't!"

  "Of course not!  You know as well as I they are still little girls."

  "Not for much longer.  They will be of marrying age sooner than you might expect."

  "I will leave them for a braver man than I.  I could barely stand tutoring the younger one."

  "Tutoring?  I spent more time entertaining the royals and their guests."

  "Alexander!"

  "What?  It is true."

  "I am only happy to see you my son."

  "Oh."

  "Is that all you have to say to me?"

  "Why did you not tell us you were so far in debt."

  To his credit, Richard did not hang his head before his sons.

  "I did not wish to add to your burdens."

  "Only to add to Henry's?"

  "Alexander, I went willingly.  I would have been content to work off the family debt and your collegiate fees as well.  But if I had known you would follow me to the castle instead -"

  "Would you rather I had left you there to shoulder the burden alone?"

  "It is my duty!  I am the second of only 2 sons.  If I cannot be heir the least you could have done was allow me that honor."

  "Sons, what is done is done.  I have learned lessons in these lean years.  May you both learn lessons as well, lest we suffered for naught."

  Henry and Alexander were respectfully silent.

  "I know you 2 need to leave.  I do not have riches to send with you, but there is something important that I gave to Henry that I now must give to you Alexander."

  "Father," Alexander began, "it is too much."

  "Alexander, this is one thing that will never be too much for me to give my sons."