Sweet Dreams Good Knight

By Crystal Benson

Jakob and Maggie Holden's first child, Crystal married Lord Ian Greyson and became Lady Greyson.  Their second child, Caleb desired to be a great warrior, so he trained under the leadership of his brother-in-law.  The Greyson children are loved by all… except one.  Are they all in danger when darkness falls and at every turn?  Sweet dreams and good night.  ***Caleb Holden has a goal in life, and it is to be the best of warriors.  He became fond of Cassandra, who is Lady Elizabeth's servant.  Should he move to Timbersbrook to help protect his sister's family?  Lady Greyson fears there is danger that lurks around every corner.  Caleb must find the one who would hurt her family before it's too late and darkness falls.  For their future, will the children have sweet dreams and a good night?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Benson
• Release date: Oct 7, 2018
• ISBN: 9781726842594

Crystal Benson

Crystal Benson is the middle child of seven children. She was born in Lancaster, California but raised mostly in Illinois and Iowa. She has lived in Iowa, Arizona, California, and New Jersey. She attended school in Moville, Iowa at Woodbury-Central School and in Kingsley, Iowa at Kingsley-Pierson High School. She has worked as an Administrative Assistant and as a Front Desk Supervisor at two different Hotel Establishments. She was never an avid reader until while traveling she picked up a book from a campground library due to boredom. She has been reading books ever since. She now lives in Arizona and misses her traveling days.

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Crystal Benson

All rights reserved.  No part of this book is to be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without the author’s written permission, except for use in any review.

This book contains adult content and is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are fictitious.  Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or establishments is entirely coincidental.

Copyright Case # 1-7015459761

Copyright © 2018 by Crystal Benson

Originally Published by Create Space & KDP

Re-edited.  Republished by KDP

Photos by Pixabay

ISBN-13: 978-1726842594

ISBN-10: 1726842592

Acknowledgments:

ROBIN RANCE – AUTHOR of over 33 books.  She is a friend and has been a mentor for helping me getting started to write.  Her encouragement and continued support have been valuable to me.

Louise Rifenbery – My friend and #1 fan who has been an inspiration for me to write this sequel to my first book which is Do Dreams Come True.

To all of my many friends and family. – For each of them who have been supportive, thoughtful, and patient while I struggled with the writing of this second book.

This book is a reminder to the many friends and family members who wake up in the morning and write their remembered dreams on paper.  Whether it is a slept-dream to happen or something they have always wanted out of life; some dreams do come true.  Sweet dreams and good night.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this book.  Please tell a friend or leave a review.

Jakob and Maggie Holden’s

first child, Crystal

married Lord Ian Greyson

and became Lady Greyson.

Their second child, Caleb

desired to be a great warrior,

so he trained under the leadership of his brother-in-law.

The Greyson children are loved by all... except one.  Are they all in danger when darkness falls

and at every turn?

Sweet dreams and good night.

CHAPTER 1

THE YEAR 1274      CALEB

My name is Caleb Drake Holden, and I am Jakob Holden’s middle child and almost the spitting image of him.  I have the same green eyes and dark hair with a curl that hangs down over my forehead.  I will be seventeen years old come April of next year and want to go to Castle Greyson to start my practicing of being a warrior.  I know the laird is the best at training in this land and also the same man betrothed to my missing sister, Crystal Payton Holden.

Crystal will be the age of eighteen in a few weeks, but not until after the first of the year.  She’s been missing ever since my seventh birthday during our family archery contest.  I was getting a horse for my present, but everything changed when a rainbow appeared and suddenly took her away.  In memory of my sister, I named the foal ‘Rainbow’ my mother’s horse, ‘Jenny’ birthed the same afternoon.  I wanted to return the gifts I received that day only to have Crystal returned to our family.  The heartaches which my parents, my little brother, Gavin, and I went through were unbearable.  It will be a glorious day if there is ever another miracle to happen to return one of God’s precious gifts to this land, meaning my sister.  

As the years past, less talk is about her until now when her eighteenth birthday is so near, and it’s time to present her to her betrothed Lord Ian Greyson.  I heard the laird is the kindest of all Barons, Nobles, and Lords in this country, so I hope he will treat my sister well.  If she is to reappear and show herself to him, I want to be one of his many men living on his property.  I will request the laird to teach me how to fight in all aspects of his challenges.  I want to be the best man he needs to have by his side, and I want to learn all he can teach me.  If I feel the need to defend my sister and her honor in any way, I need to prepare.  I miss her dearly as does the rest of my family.

My father is the best archer who I know and taught my sister, brother, and me to be the best also.  Crystal was better than me, but I am better than Gavin.  My sister won an archery contest when she was five years old and beat out a bully who was ten years old at the time and who will soon be her husband.  Over the past ten years, I won many archery contests in the neighboring villages. 

At the beginning of the year, I begged my parents to let me go to Castle Greyson to learn swordplay.  In battle, the men use swords and shields, and I will need to practice with the equipment which they supply.  I want to obtain the strength from more than the chores I do along with bow and arrow shooting which I learned throughout my years at home.

Close to the end of the year, I begged my parents again to allow me to leave their home to travel to Castle Greyson.  They reluctantly agreed this time due to their remembering the loss of one child already and not wanting to lose another.  Gavin turned twelve a few weeks ago and will stay behind to help our father with chores for a few more years before his adulthood too.  I tried to reassure my mother the trip to the castle is twelve and a half miles away with little over an hour's ride.  I know I won’t be able to return soon since they don’t like a lack of training due to absence.

AS I’M APPROACHING the village of Cheddleton, I see Castle Brentwood beyond up in the distance.  The land nearby is beautiful, and the castle looks tall from where I sit on my horse at the roadside.  I continue riding on up the way and through the next village which is Thorncliffe. 

On the outskirts of this village is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.  The forest trees are massive on one side, with the fields rich and plentiful of several different vegetable crops, and fruit trees nearby.  The land is green and bountiful of sheep, goats, and pigs for as far as the eye can see.  I see the glistening morning sunlight bouncing off the smooth waters of the lake on this property.  As I ride closer to Castle Greyson, I imagine a huge castle, and to my amazement, this is more than twice the size of the one I passed a few miles behind me.  I’m going to enjoy my time if I’m welcomed to live and train here. 

A few yards away from the gates I hear a hawk calling, and I know there are soldiers in the tree lines announcing to the gate guards of an approaching rider.  Twenty feet from the tall wooden gates I’m requested to halt to state my name, and reasoning to enter.

Good day fellows, my name is Caleb Drake, and I wish to enter for training under the best swordsman in this land, your laird.  With quick thinking, I gave my middle name as my last.  If I can enter and stay on to train, dismissal from my duties will not be an option for me.  I need to belong here, for my sister and me both.

You may enter and report to a man named ‘Garrick,’ who is over by the archery stands.  The man opens the left side of the gates and is pointing to the left as the other guard is waving in the same direction.  I assume he is telling the trainer to come forward to greet me as I will soon find out.

I ride into the inner courtyard and leap down from Rainbow as a page from the stable is now at my right side to care for my horse.  I shaved a spot under the hairline of my horse’s mane in the shape of a rainbow because he looks like several other stallions.  With all the horses this castle stable holds, there should be no mistaken mine from the others.

A tall man also approaches, but on my left side to introduce himself as Garrick and welcomes me with a handshake.  He tells me to bring along my bag and bedroll to the archery area to first see what I can show him of my talents.  I am anxious to impress him with my archery skills as I rarely miss my target at the same distance as my father’s targets. 

When we reach the smaller area off to the side of the keep, I see six straw bales with marked tarps draped across them set a distance apart.  I follow the man’s instructions and sit my belongings down to grab an arrow from my quiver.  I shoot at each target as I walk to the next on down the line for all six bales.  I miss the fifth shot by two inches but know I’m accepted by the hearty slap on my back which almost takes my breath away only by surprise.

As I was shooting, we both noticed a small gathering of boys who wanted to challenge me in my archery skills as well as swordplay.  They’ll have to wait until later after I settle into my room and come back to this area.

Garrick is impressed with my aiming and says, Good job lad, I will recommend you to the laird as a trainer for archery, but not until he returns from his journey.  In the meantime, please follow me to where you can put your things in your assigned room in the front tower with the other men.

I am in awe of the surroundings which I see around me.  The courtyard is clean, and everyone who I met along the way to my room was more than pleased to meet me.  I’m genuinely going to enjoy my stay and training with the men here who honor their laird to protect him with their own lives.  Of course, I have yet to meet the man who may become my brother-in-law.

A WEEK PASSED, AND I beat everyone willing to take on an archery challenge with me.  I requested to go on the morning hunts with the older men to catch the evening meals for the night.  I am sure to kill rabbits or foxes the first time out since I have a keen eye for the smaller animals low in the bushes.  After an hour's ride throughout the woods, the five of us who left through the gates killed three deer and bagged fifteen rabbits.  Several of the kills were mine, and the men knew it, but I kept quiet and held back my pride about bragging.  We found a small watering hole in which to gut and clean the animals as not to rot the meat inside the corpse before returning.  We wrapped the meat thoroughly to preserve the freshness before leaving the water area and going back to the butcher.

As not to travel back to the castle so soon after leaving, the men wanted to show me a special place in the village of Thorncliffe.  Little did I know it was not only a pub, but there were rooms upstairs where a woman would entertain a man’s pleasure.  I have never been with a woman, but I was with a group, so four of us went upstairs while one waited as a lookout in the pub.  Ever since my seventh birthday when my father explained about the horses, I knew what my love-making part as a man was to be with a woman. 

I was nervous about getting with a woman who did this ritual before.  The woman who walked into my room was very charming with dark hair reaching to the middle of her back.  I was told to call her ‘Kateryne’ and I complimented her on the name.  She knew I was a virgin and gave me the extra time to go another round of sex since I was too quick my first experience.  She had lots of practice with her hands, and I screamed out her name when she used her tongue in ways I would never have thought she could.  After finishing, I felt a little exhausted as I stumbled into my breeches with my weak legs and having to put on my boots too.  I then pulled on my shirt and tunic and hung my quiver bag with bow and arrows over my shoulder once again.  When I paid her the fair amount of asking, she gave me an open-mouthed kiss.  I stuck my tongue in her mouth, and she had such a sweet taste, I wanted more.  As we stepped away from each other, I heard a rap on the door with a recognized voice stating it was time for me to leave the room. 

When I reach the bottom step, the men hold up a mug waiting for me and holler with laughter, Welcome to manhood, Caleb!  Here, take a swig of this here mead!

It seemed like hours since we left this morning on our hunt.  The men said because I killed many of the animals so soon, there was plenty of time to return without any suspicion on our part.  I wondered if every morning the men went to town to do the same thing each time.  I enjoyed my first experience with sex and will admit even I can’t wait to go again on the morning hunt for both of the actions I came upon today.

Back inside the castle walls, most of the boys already saw me hit my targets on point.  When the five of us from the hunt returned, they assumed I killed many of the animals which we brought back.  I shout to them, Boys, it was a team effort, and it will always be!

The boys still knew I was an excellent shot, so all of them and most of the men asked who taught me how to shoot so well.  I always give the same answer which is, My father, but my sister is even better than me. 

I never let on who my family is since I didn’t use my last name in case someone heard of the missing girl who would be a grown woman as of now.  I didn’t want anyone to associate me with her until I know and hope she is the one to be.  I don’t want any special privileges as I am my own man with skills to show and a goal of knighthood in my future.

Three days later, I see a blonde woman walking around the inner courtyard area with a girl who I know to be a servant girl and the sister of ‘Lucy.’  Lucy is in charge of the women staff and who is married to the laird’s right-hand man, Hank MacFarlane.  I didn’t notice the new woman before now and ask Charles, Now who might the pretty blonde woman be who saunters herself with a servant girl and wanders throughout this area?

Charles tells me, Well, several days ago a local traveling peddler came across a barking dog in the woods.  The man went to check on the animal to see if it was wounded and found a woman half-frozen but covered in furs.  He brought her here since he was coming to visit his cousin who works in the stables.  He pauses to take a breath.  Some of the men who were talking about her said what they saw of her, she looked quite like the missing girl thought to be the laird's future bride.  They saw her years ago when they once lived in Middleport before coming here to train.

I excuse myself from the conversation with my friend and follow the two women at a distance into the keep.  I had to get a closer look for myself to see if after all these years she could be my sister.  After the women parted and the servant girl went to the kitchen, I took the stairs two at a time to catch up to the blonde. 

I reach her before she closes the door.  As not to have her scream, I cover her mouth with my hand and push her into the room before I shut the door behind us.  I hold her tight near my chest and can feel my racing heartbeat vibrating up against her back before I turn her around to face.

I ask, Milady, I’m not here to harm you, so if I remove my hand you will not scream?  She shakes her curls from side to side meaning ‘nay.’  As she turns, I remain to hold her but at arm's length, while tears fall from my eyes and run down my cheeks.  All the years gone by were good to her looks, and I know now she is my sister.   Crystal, I’m so glad you’ve returned to us as we prayed for years for this day to be true.  I start to hug her, but she pushes me away still slightly frightened, so I lead her to sit on the bed. 

Even with a half-smile, I see her dimples as she asks, Do I know you and have we met before?  I seem to have lost bits and pieces of my memory.  I’m trying to remember if this life is real or simply one from my dream world.

I explain to her, who I am, where we live,  who she is, and what happened to her ten years ago.  She already looks confused, so I say, Your last name is Holden, and you’re my sister who went missing on my seventh birthday on April 21, 1265.  You were born on January 9, 1257, with a birthmark on your right wrist where an angel kissed you.  She smiles with those dimples I wish I had.  At eight years old you visioned, with your pebbles, a rescue attempt for King Henry III.  He’s safe due to you and now you have a scar below your right knee as proof from falling.

Crystal recounted this information once before when the ladies examined her upon her arrival.  She again turned away to verify the scar and exclaimed, I do remember a colorful rainbow, then everything went black until I woke up here many days ago!  She continues to tell me all the words spoken between the ladies and her.  Crystal wished for her journal which she wrote in most mornings about her dreams.  She knew it would help her to remember the parts of her life which she couldn’t recall.  She told me she felt older than her looks and hoped she could use her past knowledge again.

I ask her to promise not to mention we are family which she agrees until we can both understand all of the missing facts.  I thank her for her time, stand up and walk over to the open door to leave.  She follows behind and stops me in the hallway for a moment, and as I turn around, she hugs me, then kisses me on the cheek.

After leaving Crystal’s bedchamber, I hurry down the steps and out the doors of the keep to return to my archery station.  No one seemed to notice I was missing since I’m new here and even I lost track of time which I was gone.  I return to blend in with the boys and men, so when I am to sneak away again to be with my sister no one will notice my absence.  No one seemed to miss me and I lost track of time gone. 

I finished my day with several challenges of either archery or the empty hand to hand combat with mostly younger boys.  My father showed Gavin and me how to fight over the years and outside while our mother stayed inside.  She feared one of us was going to have a black eye each time, and we each had our share.  Our father taught our sister how to fight with a knife and she always sheathed a dagger in her ankle boot.  She used the same knife to skin small animals' father brought home while Gavin and I did the morning chores.

The following morning at the castle held the same routines as every morning.  The boys who slept separately from the men’s sleeping area in our bunkhouse all rose at the same time.  We dressed, and then staggered down from our front tower and walked