The Knight Behind the Pillar (37 page)

             
“No not yet.”

             
“Then get out and do something about it, do something useful.” Alain retorted. 

             
A more humble Aries left without needing to be asked twice.  I felt a mix of guilt and pleasure from witnessing him fall.  Alain might not have had Aries against a wall to threaten him, but Alain did not need to.

             
“Do you want to stay in this room?” Ector asked Arthur. 

             
He was a straight to the point type of man I had learnt and said only essential things. 

             
“Its fine for now Father, I doubt it will happen again.  We will now have guards on the stair case I suspect.” Arthur replied despondently and I understood another piece of freedom was also gone for him and the need for guards was in its own way a cage.  Something I had helped put up around him.

             
Arthur continued to be quiet and say only what was needed.  Sad at the loss of something he obviously became very attached to in a very short period of time.  Selfishly I thought, as long as the scabbard remained hidden in its current hiding place in the hayloft I did not care.  It was not the best place, but the only one I could think of for now.  I did think to bury it in the ground at some point, but where and when and how without being seen!

             
Merlin picked up another piece of fine cloth and then discarded it to one side. “You know Arthur all these things are immaterial.” He said absently.  “Unimportant trophies of wealth.”

             
“You think so?  I suppose.” Arthur replied again without real commitment.

             
“True wealth is not found in things, but deeds.” advised Merlin.

             
“I had proposals for marriage as well as gifts being offered!” Arthur also added a little more light heartedly, not that it made a difference to Merlin who even looked a little repulsed at the idea. 

             
Alain however took the comment very seriously.  “Ah now any such alliances should be very carefully considered, something we will need to speak of in time of course.”

             
Merlin coughed purposefully before adding with a sarcastic edge.  “For strategic value no doubt!  Marriage should be lead by love and not tactual advantage.  You may plan all you like, but in my experience in the end nothing stands in the way of love and man will do anything for it.  Man will break treaties, end friendships, ride the length of this land and even cross the dragon’s breath for it.  Love is not strategy.  It’s a far more complicated thing.  Make plans, but trust me that is the one thing you can’t control.”  Merlin’s words dropped away as something on the floor gained his attention, “Ah, now this is something.” 

             
Merlin had grasped the shield from next to the table and examined it closely.  I could see it was the same one I saw last night. 

             
“The shield?” I asked and realised it was out loud. 

             
No one looked at me and I was thankful.  It seemed I just spoke everyone’s thoughts and this was acceptable.  Merlin turned it over.  The dragon painted on it was red. 

             
“This is the crest of Pendragon, the older version I see, yet someone has remembered.” Merlin explained and asked Arthur, “Who gave this to you?”

             
“Oh, I don’t know.” Arthur stammered, “Most gifts were sent to my room and didn’t always see who gave them.”

             
“It was me.” stated Ector after there was a short pause, his voice low and he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

             
“Father, I didn’t realised you’d given me something.” exclaimed Arthur. 

             
Ector nodded, but looked a little embarrassed about it and did not meet anyone’s eyes.  “I wanted you to know, well I wanted,” struggled Ector attempting to explain, “That is, you can be Arthur Pendragon and still be my son.”

             
“There you are.” Merlin announced loudly at once before anyone had a moment to consider Ector’s words, “True wealth being a deed of love of a father to his son.”

             
Both Ector and Arthur looked suddenly very awkward and Merlin having just made victory of his own argument failed to notice.  Alain seemed bewildered not appearing to have understood a single word. 

             
Thankfully this was the moment Bedivere entered the room, allowing Arthur and his family to regain their privacy and recover their relationships and bonds in peace.  “My lords, a messenger has arrived and he’s from southern Caledonia.” He said very urgently.

             
The look on Bedivere’s face said it was important without needed to speak.  Of course where the messenger had come from instantly caught my attention.  It was just north of my homeland, and was King Lot’s land.  Caledonia was the Roman name for it, a land they never conquered and realising there was little point built a wall across the border.  Locals knew it as Lothian.  To name the land after yourself perhaps said more than enough about the man who ruled it.

             
“Very well,” Alain decided, “There’s little more to be done here.” 

             
Almost glad I suspected of a reason to leave, Alain seized the opportunity and followed Bedivere out who had not stood still once.  He wasn’t a man to ever appear at ease when inside a building.  With a few glances of concern between us we followed. 

             
I stayed back to wait until last and this time Kay was not looking for me to be close to him.  I could have perhaps had left them all, but penitently I found myself walking alongside Arthur, our first opportunity for a private conversation of the day and while such opportunity was not wanted by me I was forced to find some words.  Guilt tugged hard again, but I had still got enough resolve to follow the path I had chosen and it did not abandon me. 

             
“Sorry bout the sword.” I offered, quite sincerely for obvious reasons. 

             
“It’s my fault,” He replied, “Never thought of someone wanting to steal it.”

             
If guilt was a knife, someone just impaled my chest with a lance. 

             
“Just worth some coin.”

             
“I guess.” Agreed Arthur.

             
Arthur was not initiating any conversation of his own at first and we got down a staircase before I tried to talk again.  “You are Arthur Pendragon now?” I baited, hoping for a bite and a change in subject.

             
Arthur was too preoccupied to consider my words, but he finally decided on his own.  “It wasn’t the fact it was Excalibur or anything.  Just, just it was my first sword, my own and not some old thing Kay didn’t want or something borrowed from the stores.” He explained, not looking at me but determined to punish himself and me as well without knowing it.  “Something of mine, special, powerful or not it didn’t matter.”

             
Along with the lance, someone decided that a few knifes were needed as well and was enjoying twisting them. 

              “But,” I begun in slight desperation to find a way to console Arthur, “but surely everything you see is now yours, you’re the high king!  If that’s the right title.”

             
We passed a gathering of guards and made it to outside steps that lead down into the courtyard. 

             
“You would think.” Arthur state bluntly and at least looked at me for a moment.  “From outside I’m king of kings, but I don’t have a kingdom.  At least not yet.  Once Saxons and others are pushed back that land will be ours, mine, well some of it will be.”  He paused as I frown and he went on reluctantly to explain a little more.  “It’s promised that, well, that Uther’s land would be returned to me.  That’s a long time off yet as it was taken apart and given away when he died, some was fought over and some has been taken over by the invaders.  So I have a fragile alliance and I want them to give up land to me, and a lot of lords not happy with the idea of me in the first place.  I dare not call anything mine!”

             
I followed him to the bottom of the stairs and we were following the others towards a crowd gathering in the centre of the yard ahead. 

             
“I see.” I said, not sure what to say other than that. 

             
At this he stopped sharply for a moment and I had his full attention.  I recognised the look and last time he had it he hit me. 

             
“No you don’t!  Alright you want the truth!” His voice was raised, but not enough for others to hear or stop their progress towards the messenger I assumed to be waiting in the middle of the gathered mass of people ahead.  “I have nothing, I thought I had a family and that turned out to be untrue.  I have no home, kingdom and for a fleeting moment I had been given a magic sword.  Not only was it mine, but it was the best there was, something worth something to make up for the rest I guess and in one night that’s been taken too.  I’m a King of nothing!”

             
With that he raced briskly away.  Amazingly he regained a now well practiced composure as he marched away to catch up the others.  His mask was beginning to be as well practiced as Alain’s. 

             
I should not have thought it.  I was not entitled to think it given what I had done.  Except I could not stop myself thinking that despite his words he still had more than me, the prince of not a lot.  Regretful thoughts of mine were vindicated as Arthur’s brother, be it adopted, returned to his role as bodyguard to clear a path through the crowd for the king of nothing.  It might not be an object, but he still had family and that was still worth something.  Now in a more public place I could not just walk up to Arthur, point this out and have it out with him.  My role now returned and I followed the king, be it reluctantly. 

             
The parting in the crowd Kay had directed was enough to let me through as well before realisation dawned on them that no one of further importance was going to be coming and the masses closed back in.  As a member of those now forming the human circle I could see an exhausted messenger in the man-made clearing.    He was sitting on the ground with Bedivere crouched by him with a cup of weak ale to hand.  Bedivere had obviously been briefing him to whom everyone was.

             
“My lords, your highness.” The man half coughed.  His dry throat robbed all depth of the words, but waved the offer of further drink away.

             
He addressed Alain, but looked across to Arthur unsure if the truth of a boy king was before him. 

             
“What news do you bring us?” Alain asked.  His tone was gentle; perhaps unusually he was actually aware that this was a person in a fragile state before him.

             
“I have ridden from Cheviot Hills my lord.  I regret to report King Lot has joined his brothers.  Together they are gathering on the shore of the River Tweed.”

             
“But that’s Pellinore’s land.” Ector interrupted to my surprise.  I did not know he was aware of any kingdoms beyond his own especially how rapidly they changed.

             
“Yes, but he’s not challenged it, at least not when I had left.” The messenger continued, stopping briefly for more coughing.  The crowd waited respectfully for him to continue.  “However, his highness King Pellinore has written my lord.”

             
From his belt he pulled a stained and dirt covered piece of folded parchment.  The fold lines were a map in themselves and the ends torn.  He offered it gingerly and Alain took it from him who winkled his nose at the state of it.  It was sealed still and I recognised the lion shape.  It was true it was from my father.  Kay glanced my way with an assuring look, but what could I do but stand there and wait.  Father could not write himself of course, unless he had learnt since I had left home.  He had monks available who could and willingly did so to ensure they were of use to him. 

             
Alain passed it to Arthur after a moment of hesitation.  Taking the letter Arthur shown no indication he was going to open it right away and Alain had to turned back to the man. 

             
“Anything else.” Alain directed.

             
“I didn’t managed to get close myself, but told there must be at least two thousand men already and lots of equipment.  They say no one has ever seen such an army of that size before.”

             
Alain waved the idea away at once.  “An exaggeration I’m sure.” He suggested resolutely with a clear dismissal of the man’s testimony.

             
I also saw his eyes dart around the crowd as muttering in the background started to grow.  Alain to my mind was aware of the potential damage effect of unchecked fear and was suddenly alert to it now. 

             
Only the messenger did not understand Alain’s tone of warning and pressed on regardless.  “Men are flocking to his banner my lord, promises of new land, wealth.  And word was ahead of me as I travelled.  King Lot himself has five hundred men, his brothers a few hundred each and their vessel’s more.  They might not all be knights, but I doubt the number told to me is far from the truth, maybe likely be a lesser estimate.”

             
Before Alain could ask more, or deny the man’s story again, a shout reached us from across the courtyard.  “My liege, my liege!”

             
It was Morvid and he was running.  The crowd were instinctually aware such a man with the expressed sense of urgently across his face could only bring more news of interest and parted to let him through at once.

              Alain pulled himself away from the messenger abruptly “What is it?” He snapped in answer to Morvid’s timely arrival. 

             
I was amused by the fact he had been looking for his man, his vessel knight, just moments ago and now gave an air of immediate repulsion to the same man as he presented himself.

             
“I have it,” Morvid got out, before he ran out of breath and had to take a deep one before adding, “Found it.” 

             
He was delighted and the new confidence of his success glowed from his armour.  With it he dared to look away from Alain, who raised his eye brows in surprise at being avoided, and sought someone else.

              Alain half stepped after him.  “What is it now, Morvid….?” He barked to attempt to regain Morvid’s attention, but said no more as he saw what it was Morvid was holding.

             
It was the sword Arthur had called Excalibur, there it suddenly was in Morvid’s hands.  Morvid rested it on his arms as he found who he was seeking he quickly and ungracefully jerked to lowered himself and bow before his king to presented the prize.  While it was the worst smile I had ever seen, Morvid’s face was doing its best to cope with the strange emotion of joy and success of getting something right.  I concluded that by serving Alain such a feeling must be extremely rare. 

             
“I found it your highness,” He said, addressing Arthur with eagerness a dog would show when it had fetched a stick, “In the marshes outside the tower, this and a gold clasp.”

             
Arthur took the sword with care from Morvid’s open hands, not appearing overly sure of Morvid.  Once he got it away from the man he was clearly thrilled at the return of his treasured gift, but then frowned as he became conscious of something and I knew what it was and had to look away.  The sword was alone, without the scabbard and only half the gift Merlin had arranged. 

             
“Nothing more?” He asked with disappointment already upon him.

             
Morvid saw it to and realised his moment of success was already over in seconds. 

             
His shoulders dropped as low as Arthur’s.  “Sadly not your highness,” Answered Morvid in a quiet gentle voice, “I searched for some time and there was nothing more I’m sorry.”

             
It turned out, I discovered later, that men with Morvid had done all the searching and found the sword while he watched from higher and dry land avoiding the mud.  

             
“Well how did it get there?” Alain demanded to know from behind Morvid, his limited patience for being ignored finally cracked.

             
Morvid jumped to attention at once and turned to answer.  “From the servant’s staircase my liege, Lord Aries and I were checking it.  It leads to a dead end at the top, but there was a hole in the wall.  We thought the thief might have pushed the things through to land outside the fort and perhaps someone else was waiting outside to catch them.  I went to see if we were right.” He explained his moment of glory and success. 

             
For me I shared inside the success of the moment as well as Morvid had just told the story I imagined while standing last night in the dark stairwell.  It was as I had planned and I was pleased to have been present to hear it explained as I intended.  The only strange thing was for Morvid not to find more than just one clasp and the sword.  All the treasures should not have been that far apart, but perhaps this was a good thing some were gone as it represented the thief’s success aside from the scabbard. 

             
“Is it damaged?” Arthur asked, absently he was looking over the sword. 

              Morvid clutched on the moment of glory for as long as he could, “No your highness, perhaps a better clean than I have managed is needed, but otherwise it seems fine.” He answered and pulled the clasp out from his belt. 

             
Arthur clearly did not care for nothing else and turned away from Morvid as he lifted his hand to offer the missing clasp as well.  His hand found itself hanging there without purpose.

             
“This is good news indeed.” Merlin announced from behind everyone else and attention ran from Morvid and Alain looked instantly dismayed at Merlin now having a say.  “But perhaps we should return indoors there are grave matters to discuss.”

             
At the time Merlin seemed to be making a reasonable request and we all made to go back inside.  I realised soon after that Merlin wanted to avoid any further mention of the missing Scabbard.  I also came to later understand why on route back to the fort Merlin and Alain had a lengthy intense discussion, but nothing loud enough for me to hear at the time. 

             
Instead as I walked back I was concerned with the letter.  Arthur was ahead and he opened it on the way back, but said nothing having read it.  If not found out to be a thief, Alain still had a chance to declare me the enemy of the king if my father was against Arthur.  My own apprehension grew by each step. 

             
We returned to the tower, but not back to Arthur’s chambers.  Instead we all proceeded to the large chamber, the very same Arthur and I had hid behind the pillars not long ago.  Only this time Arthur stood with Merlin and Alain along with the others within the centre.  Leodegrance and Dubric had also now joined us.  I stood between the two end pillars closest to the entrance, not entirely sure I should be there at all.  At least it was a good position to see everyone and keep out of the way.  As no one questioned my presence I waited.  Strangely I even got a few friendly nods of acknowledgment from some of the other lords as they entered arriving late. 

             
This was the war council and its timing with the news from the messenger was well met.  The messenger was present and had been sited at the table with food and drink being served to him. 

             
“Firstly the good news,” Alain began the meeting and the private conversations in the corners of the room faded.  “Many more of the stolen items have been found, including the sword, scabbard, a clasp recently given to his highness and one of the valuable rings I gave him.  Good news you will agree and more guards will be posted to ensure this never happens again.  We will continue to hunt for the other items.”

             
I was sure I thought he said scabbard, but I was still alive and this could not be true!

             
Leodegrance commented roughly.  “You might think around placing some men around the stables as well.”

             
“This has already been done my dear Leodegrance,” Replied Alain, sounding if this was an old conversation and he was tired of it, “but if you are still concerned then feel free to have some of your own men join then.”

             
Alain’s lack of any real concern was not missed by Leodegrance and he stepped forward.  “If it had been one of yours I’m sure you would be just as annoyed and had every man standing searching for it like you have this special sword we’ve been told about.  As it is you can be assure I will have my horses guarded better when the rest of my men arrive later today.”

             
“Well yes.” Alain stalled, the flow of his intended conversation had run aground. 

             
The gap in words allowed Merlin to step in.  “I think there are more important matters to discuss for right now.” He said. 

             
I was not sure if he was doing it to help or score a point.  The result was the same; Merlin’s simple appreciation of the truth changed the atmosphere.  It was already dark in the room before as light just seem to run out of effort before it reached the floor, but now it felt darker still. 

             
Alain for once appeared to have no problem with Merlin intervening.  “Yes, Merlin’s correct.” He agreed.  “We have, not unexpectedly, learnt that Lot has decided to go against us.  His forces are gathering and I have been given no cause to doubt he will soon be on his way.  Now the purpose our meeting today is to work out in detail our counter attack.  We must act quickly and soon and organise where to make our stand.  I favour Bedgrainne, its forest nearby would be of particular advantage.  Men already on route can be diverted and…”

             
“No.” Arthur spoke up suddenly, interrupting Alain’s call to arms and the others who had been murmuring agreement.

             
The unanticipated and yet calm outburst from Arthur caught Alain unawares and at first he did not realise who had dared to speak against his plan. “What the, who….” He just managed to say as he spun around and faced Arthur.  He hastily stopped himself saying more which I suspected he would have regretted.  Looking at Arthur I realised this was the different Arthur, this was Arthur the King.  He stood firm, taller somehow and was making a stand of his own.  I leaned forward with renewed interest while Alain found himself on unfamiliar ground.  “Your highness?” He asked. 

             
“No.” Arthur repeated, his voice not changed and yet seemingly with more authority.  Arthur avoided Alain tactfully by stepping around him and he addressed the others with confidence instead.  Well, perhaps not entirety confident, he looked like he was talking down to the table legs.  “It would be best to stay here, have our forces gather here.” He explained.

             
Not to be left alone Alain chased after Arthur.  “Forgive me your highness,” He said recovering quickly, “But experience would suggest it would be better to take the initiative, take him by surprise rather than stay and be under siege.”

             
By experience Alain actually meant his suggestion, but managed to keep his calm and resolve not to tell Arthur to shut up and stay out of matters he knew nothing about as I imagined he wanted to say.  His self control might have stopped him saying it, but the stain of being so polite was showing on his face that for once was not its normal flawless void of emotion.

             
In a way it was true, what did Arthur know about planning a battle?  Except Arthur was their king now, he was there to lead, to be right and maybe this was the fact Alain had to face truly for the first time. 

             
“I disagree.” Arthur simply stated.

             
Alain made a short sound of frustration before he tried again.  “Besides, I also have my doubts this old ruin could take much damage,” He began with an attempt at light heartiness and false laugh, but his voice went cold and defiance kicked in as he continued.  “Half the walls are missing!  Many appeared to have mysteriously found their way to form new homes in the town and until a few days ago the gates of this old fort could not even close.  There is little time to make even the most basic repair that would make a difference.”