The Knight Behind the Pillar (21 page)

             
A collection of grey, otherwise known as poorly bleached or not as clean as you would expect, clothes dominated the stall.  I knew this was what I should be looking at, but I found I could not bring myself to rummage around and hunt out the best of a bad lot.  I wanted something more, just for once, and I had already spotted a dark red coloured short sleeved tunic hanging to the back of the stall. 

             
I knew I had to lose some time in the hayloft by just being here to replace old clothes and it was going to happen occasionally, but to have more than I needed was the temptation.  I always underestimated the time things would last, certainly I had not accounted for recent events that helped the deterioration of my tunic to an early grave.  Then again, if I was going to be a squire forever then I might as well take what I really wanted. 

             
The dark red tunic would not leave my eyes, but it was short sleeved and I would need something else as well.  A long sleeve linen shirt for underneath was extra cost, extra time.  I had played out this scene before, the last time I needed new, well newer, clothes and the time before that.  Each time my resolve saved me. 

             
“Well you can’t stand there forever, sun setting soon and time to pack up.” The stall owner nudged helpfully, but not in the tone of his voice.  His impatience was clear and his suspicions always close to hand. 

             
I decided.  All I needed was a single long sleeve tunic, hot in the summer heat, but cheap and practical. 

             
“That red one and that shirt too.”  I stated, my own words leapt out and surprised me completely contrary to my own intent. 

             
What had happened to resolve!  This time it had failed to stop me.  I did not need real clothes, new cloths, status and yet the man was reaching out for them. 

             
Status!  Perhaps Aries was right and I had been around nobility too much, but it was too late now.  Any fight going on in my head was not affecting my hand which passed over the money and took the little change back and then the clothes.  As I walked away I knew I was supposed to feel guilty.  I had just betrayed resolve, but at least I had not lied to it only out manoeuvred it.  Instead I felt pleased and for a while at least I no longer felt so fed up.

             
I returned to my now decreased tenancy home to hide again my remaining inheritance.  Having managed to miss him earlier Clegis found me this time and he approached as I just made it back to the hayloft.  For him it was perhaps a break from the ale house to seek some substance before returning I assumed.

             
“Ah there he is!” He exclaimed to no one other than himself, but loud enough for all to heard.

             
I stopped and rolled my eyes knowingly, before turning to greet him.  “Hello Clegis.” I answered him dryly. 

             
What was it going to be this time, some other scheme to make extra coin that could not fail?  If I was honest Clegis was a daily test of my resolve as he was always trying to persuade me to invest in or do something. 

             
Quickly he reached me.  “Now my boy we need words, I’m disappointed in you.” He said with his voice lowered enough so that only this valley could hear him instead of the entire country.

             
For Clegis this was a new approach, an attempt to make me feel guilty before I had even heard of the details of the deal.  I was suddenly interested at once.

             
“Oh?  And how might that have happened?” I asked casually. 

             
Clegis put his giant arm around my shoulders and I was lead away with my new tunic still wrapped around my crossed arms.  This was now the time for the story and my escape was blocked by his arm and rough hand.  Around us daily life continued and the people took no notice of us and focus on their tasks.  They all had plenty of experience of blocking out the booming voice of Clegis over the years.  Buildings ranged from timber or mud huts to grander stone or even old Roman brick that had been recycled from somewhere.  Our slow walk took us through a collective mix of the former empire’s golden age and people’s attempts to make do in recent times. 

             
“Now I’ve been good to you I think,” Clegis began intently with a point to be made, “I don’t expect much my boy, but last night.  I think, at least from what I could remember, I think I would have remembered if I had met a king.”

             
Clegis this time had caught me off guard.  He knew, well I guess everyone knew now, Arthur was going to be a new king and last night I had not told Clegis.   

             
“Oh, err.” I started, but not sure how to explain I bit my tongue.

             
Sensing my awkwardness Clegis cut in again and this time was softer spoken.  “But that’s alright, you no doubt had reasons my boy, I understands that.  And now you have a fine story to tell I guess, I would love to hear it.”  He invited, his thick eye brows raised in eagerness. 

             
It was the best innocent face or was it attempt at charming that Clegis had available to him and I might had though there was something wrong with him had I not known him better.  I hesitated first with suspicion to Clegis’s invitation, but it was appealing to speak openly to someone not above me or otherwise noble. 

             
“Well, I met him yesterday morning….”

             
Clegis interrupted at once to my annoyance. “Not long then.” He said thoughtfully.

             
“No not long,” I agreed jadedly, rolling my eyes, “I was ordered to stay with him….”

             
Clegis cut me off again.  “You’re his servant then,” He proclaimed on the assumption, then abstractedly added with a though out loud looking away, “Well that might work.”

             
I stopped walking instantly and it forced him to remove his arm or pull me along unwillingly.  He let go, but took a few steps before realising or noticing that this was the end of the journey to Clegis’ new deal for me.  I had been this far before, this was no friendly chat, this was Clegis seeking yet another opportunity and it was foolish for me to think otherwise. 

I decided immediately that I was not going to have any involvement as I had done many times before. 

              “No, not servant, just a practice tar……I mean, well, I was just helping him practice which will help my own training.” I was serious and firm in my voice hoping to reflect the force that was Clegis when seeking a new venture.  I decided it was best to skip the details for now, including ending up in a punching match with the future king only an hour ago.  “That’s all it was, nothing more than that and nothing long term.”

             
Clegis did not look convinced.  “But you were with him last night.” He said, pointing out the fact in pursue. 

             
“I just had to stay with him for a time, show him the fort and town.  That was all and that’s done now.” I answered, maybe in a little higher pitch than normal as admittedly I was not offering the complete truth.

             
I willed Clegis to end his line of questioning and cleared my face of any emotion as well as stray strands of my coarse black hair.  I tried to look as non-caring and bored about the whole event as possible.  Only the portrayal that meeting a future king was a common occurrence was difficult.  Made harder still when Arthur was likely on this occasion to soon be the most important living person in existence

             
“Well my boy that be a shame.  Might have been good for you, you know.” Clegis appeared to conclude with a disappointed shrug. 

             
He came back and patted my shoulder as he lumbered pass me.  Clegis sounded like he given up the scent of opportunity for a moment, but I could not be sure.  I needed a change of subject, but as I did not have one I allowed my curiosity to speak.

             
“How did you work out I was with our new king last night?” I questioned, “Did you see him again at the fort when King Alain was speaking?”

             
I quickly turned my heel and skipped to catch up with him as we headed back around to the hayloft now.  No sight of a deal, Clegis had decided there was little point taking me further for a little chat.  Not a slow walk this time I noted and I quicken my pace to walk alongside him. 

             
“No boy had better things to be doing than listen to the likes of him, Florie’s brother saw you having a fight with him though, the new king that is, you know, err, the practice thing you mentioned.”

             
“Oh, what did he say?” I asked, my interest ignited again and inquisitiveness shone on my face.

             
This was a chance to understand what the bystanders of our training match thought, what affect did the fact neither of us won have on their thoughts of Arthur, or did they see me attempt to lose!  

             
“Ah, well, he said you were very good, you have lots of potential boy.” Clegis answered back automatically and failing to notice my enthusiasm as we walked on.

             
I could have been killed in the match and Clegis would still tell my ghost I was good and had potential.  It wasn’t the opinion I wanted, but just a reaction to support your friend and avoid offence.

So I tried again to get nearer the truth.  “Art was good as well, that is, I mean his highness the king, the future king that is was good.” I baited hopefully, but also could have screamed at myself for giving away that I was on first name terms with the king. 

              My own pursue was now on and this time he could be seen to think about the answer and hopefully not why I called the king Art. 

             
“Florie’s brother said,” He paused in thought and glanced down to me for a second, “do you know his name because I can’t remember?”

             
Clegis’ muddling added to my frustration. “No.” I said too bluntly and shock my head.

             
“Oh, well not important.  Now he said, well, that is he simply agrees with you my boy that the young king has something,” said Clegis, then at once halted walking looking a little dazed.  Thinking about it, Clegis had been talking a while now without having had a drink, the hangover might be catching up and it was years coming.  And then he remembered more and continued onwards as if nothing happened, “Oh yes he said something about blocking with his arm then getting you unexpectedly, he was impressed by that move.  Sounds dangerous if you ask me!  Don’t you lot have shields or something, no wonder you moan about aches and pains when you get back my boy.”

             
I was relieved at once at what Clegis failed to say and tuned out as he continued to express his opinion on my training.  Importantly the king was not seen to lose and Arthur was not seen as poor and unskilled.  Not that he was a bad swordsman by any means, he was good, better maybe compared to other squires I had duelled.  The crowd maybe had not kept score, at least half of them probably could not count and why would they?  From their distance they might not have heard Bedivere calling the scores.  Both hands jumped to my forehead as I realised why Bedivere had moved us away from earshot and I could have kicked myself for not thinking of that before.  He had thought ahead, it was so obvious now, something he had lectured me about.  All the crowd saw was display of skills, the more visually fascinating the moves and display the more it pleased them.  Yet what of our fight afterwards I wondered?  I guessed that could have been seen as further training, but it was unlikely I would ever find out for certain.

             
I had fallen behind and ran to catch Clegis up again.  “It was all just a practice.” I commented to avoid any doubt. 

             
Clegis’ well rounded face froze for a second to think about it.  “I do prefer a proper tournament, some coin to be had in such things my boy.  Mind you can’t remember the last time we had a local one mores the pity.”  Clegis’ eyes grew brighter at the mere thought of extra opportunities for himself as he let his mind wander, but then he finally noticed the red fabric I had been clutching all this time.  “New clothes is it, well your current ones are well overdue replacement.  Any more holes and you’ll be deemed indecent and in them there stocks my boy.” He exclaimed followed by a deep roar of laughter at his own words. 

             
I smiled politely.  As pleased as I was with the purchase, the guilt and battering of my resolve for this simple luxury had already started to hurt and I was not in the mood to be as light hearted.  Besides, would he roar as loud if he realised this simple tunic was no longer potential rent in his pocket.

             
“Unavoidable.” I said, but then thinking of my reduced stay and hayloft I asked, “Your guests have gone now and I can have my bed back, yes?”

             
Instantly the roar disappeared and he looked very sheepish. “Well, no.  I thought I had told you its two nights, I am sure I did?” He replied, looking about urgently and quickly moving ahead again.