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Perceval peered into the looking glass and regarded his beard. He had stopped shaving years ago, as it had become too much of a chore, and it turned out Joan loved his facial hair. “Love, is there more gray in my beard?” he asked Joan, scowling. “I am certain there is.” “More than yesterday?” she teased, standing by the hob, packing a deep basket with drinks and snacks. “I doubt it. But if there is, you’ve earned every gray whisker. That’s what happens when you’re forty, the father of six, and grandfather of one. Plus another grandchild soon enough.” “You have no gray in your hair.” “Oh, take a look at it in the harsh winter sunlight on the way to the tournament, and you’ll see plenty of silver strands.” Perceval turned away from the …show more content…

His aches and pains meant a life well lived, and really, he would not change a thing. There was another bang in the sleeping loft, followed by hooting and giggles, but Perceval and Joan laughed. Whenever his children gathered—even though the oldest two no longer lived at home—they reverted to their childhood antics. It pleased Perceval, because that meant they were comfortable in the cottage they had called home, and that was what he wanted. His six would always be welcome before his hearth. Percy was the oldest at age eight and ten, and married to Anna, Ulrich and Carina’s oldest. Their son, Perceval III, was less than a year old. Percy was a knight, which had been his lifelong ambition, and Anna was a well-respected herbalist. They lived in the castle, but Perceval and Joan saw them more days than not. Grace, age seven and ten, was married to Wallace, Gawain’s oldest. Grace was expecting her first baby soon, and was a successful writer. Wallace, like his father, was also a knight. Perceval’s next oldest, Yale, was five and ten. Like his older brother, he, too, wanted to be a knight, and while Yale had a penchant for joking around and pranking, he was serious when it came to his weapons training. But not as serious about Latin. Growing up, Perceval and Joan referred to the older the children as “The Big Ones,” while the younger three were “The Big ones.” Well, now that Eve was three and ten, she no

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