The Knight Behind the Pillar (27 page)

             
I was not sure if it was a question to answer as Kay had stopped speaking again and not seeing eye contact I was uncertain to how to react.  I missed the old days when no one bothered to talk to me at all; you knew where you were at least.

             
“I think so….” I ventured with the utmost caution, but I was talked over at once. 

             
“Yes he does, for some reason.” Said Kay, not entirely convincing me of his agreement of Arthur’s opinion.  Then at last he dropped his shoulders and looked at me rather than past me.  “You should know that of many faults my brother has, he is a good judge of character and he holds you in high regard.”

             
I hesitated before answering.  I was pleased by the comments, but I really did not know Arthur that well, nor Kay come to that, and was curious to what this was leading to.  I noticed that Kay was not prepared to compliment his brother without also mentioning potential faults first.  Freely praising your brother was not something brothers did, it was one of those rules again.  A rule much harder to follow now the said brother was king and kings were supposed to always be right. 

             
“I’m honoured.” I replied almost guessing at the right response to please him.  I meant it, just I was feeling a little in the dark. 

             
“Walk with me.” Kay invited and I stepped to his side at once and we headed towards the river. “When our mother died it was just the three of us, there was a handful of men we could just about call an army, a few kitchen staff.  Home is a simple outpost of little value deep in the forest where we are, or were, of no concern to anyone.  The villagers are like family we know by name rather than just subjects as there are so few of them.  Perhaps our unimportance was why Merlin came to us with Art, not that I remember.  The point is we are not the type of people who let just anyone in, do you understand?”

             
“Yes.” I answered quickly looking up to him and was reminded of his height.  Truly he was the protector of the family and I was beginning to see that this was about being friends with Arthur.  In other words if I was thinking of betraying them, I would be in trouble.  I was intrigued by the need for such a deep explanation still. 

             
“It’s been a difficult few days and the time ahead is going to be worst I think.”  He continued.  “My brother needs people he can trust and so he has asked me if I would consider taking you on as my squire.”

             
“Oh,” I said, surprised at first at the twist in the tale as it was not just a warning.  Yet now I realised what Arthur had been hinting at.  Inside my head I said oh a few more times as a thousand doubts surrounded me, back up with an army of misgiving and fears.  

             
“He has not said anything to you?”  Kay enquired noting my expression and raising an eye brow. 

             
“Err no, nothing.”

             
Kay walked on ignoring my worried face saying, “It would not be appropriate for him to take you as his squire being king you understand and that would be a little strange I think.”

             
“Yes my lord.” I answered in mindless agreement while still thinking of on what Kay had asked.

             
He was right it would be very strange, not least to be the same age as your liege lord.  On the other hand to be a friend of the king who was himself of my age was also very strange.  Not forgetting Kay himself was only a few years older than me.

             
Kay appeared to relax a little more.  “To be honest,” He said casually, “Since the country has claimed my first squire and father is threatening me with Dagonet to replace him, if you were to accept it would agree with me well.” 

             
Suddenly I found myself at a point of making some fundamental decision which Kay awaited by stopping at the river bank.  My path to knighthood was presented before me split in two and for once it was my choice, not forced by circumstance or decided by others.

             
“What about Sir Aries?” I delayed.

             
“What about him.  With so many so called squires around this place I am surprised he has time for your training or that he would even miss you.  Besides, Art thought you weren’t that attached to the place or Aries unless he’s wrong?”

             
Something was holding me back from saying yes, was it the warnings and words of Aries and Bedivere reaching out from the bleak recesses of my head?  I was concerned with what people might think of me.  That I gave up trying to become a knight here and instead on a favour of a friend I cheated and got there the easy way.  On the other hand who cares what others think!  More people discovered my name today than had ever known me in my lifetime.  Likewise who was to say it was going to be easy, I would be Kay’s only squire and would not share the work with anyone else.  Not that work here was always fairly done between the squires and others.  I had to admit it was true, with so many squires any noble rank was forgotten and both work and importance was thinned out among them.

             
Not forgetting that soon Arthur would be in a civil war and I suspected Kay would be right next to him and where would I be!

             
The edges of my mouth lifted a little at the new thought, time ran out as Kay tilted his head to expect an answer now.  I knew exactly where I would be and I at this insight of the future I had the answer.  I would be fighting for something, something I had started to believe in.

             
“The king is not wrong, I accept my liege.” I agreed confidently and dropped my head in respect to my new lord.

             
With my agreement I felt like I finally released myself from the trap and entered the unknown.  I was going to be part of the new world, I was going to leave Caerleon and the solid doubt I might not be a knight one day vanished.  Something from the past and familiar hit me, it was hope returned.

Chapter 4:  0.59 Square Miles of Water

              It was a creeping disease and infected most metals.  Very common and yet no one had found a cure.  Generally it was known that water seemed to encourage it or perhaps was the cause, but no matter how it got there fighting rust was a daily battle.  Only a few days had past in this battle, but the task of regaining ground was going to be a long drawn out struggle.  It was not so much as polishing, but scraping and every ringlet needed attention.  I had managed to find enough sand to fill a barrel and rolled the chain mail around so many times my arms were numb.  While this had taken some time, not all the rust was gone and still less accessible parts needed attention, then oiling and then I still had more to do.   I looked towards the sword, shields and range of boots waiting.  The equipment and clothes were all piled up beside me and the short three legged stool I sat on.  They were all that Kay owned, except what he was wearing and wherever he was wearing them right now.

             
I was within Kay’s chamber that was still being shared with Sir Ector as well.  Rooms remained very limited.  Of course Arthur still had his own room, the same he had arrived to.  I had not seen Arthur or Ector this morning and only saw Kay for the time it took for him to be dressed and instruct me to clean everything.  This was the start of my new life, cleaning!  It had been agreed I would start being his squire straight away after I accepted yesterday, but I was still not sure if Lord Aries was aware of the change.

             
There were only a few differences between being a squire and servant.  A servant had a master and was trapped.  They could not leave unless they had permission.  A squire had a lord that was the same as saying master, but could choose another or to go home if they dared and could travel free with some limitations without permission sometimes.  Such freedom was really a false belief as you were trapped by the fact you were worth capture beyond the kingdom you served, could be ransomed for a limited amount of coin and so never likely to venture out that far.  You also need time for such adventure and that was normally in short supply.   I was not sure what the real difference between a servant and slave was.

             
At this moment in time I could not see any difference between being a prince and any other status I might continue to confuse myself with.  I carried on oiling the mail.  I had missed Arthur in the remains of yesterday, but had trained instead with Kay for the rest of the afternoon.  It had, I had to admit despite myself, been fun and I actually came away think I had learnt a few new things.  Afterwards I returned to the hay loft having managed to avoid Clegis.  I knew I would need to tell him soon that I was now Kay’s squire.  Time would likely be short to the point I would be leaving and my coin would be going with me. 

             
It was a few hours later I decided to take a break outside, something perhaps servants would never consider without being instructed.  I needed to find some food, but a taste of air was welcome.  I only had a few boots left to clean and these could wait a bit.

             
Oil from cleaning between my fingers irritated me and I was not concentrating on a direction particularly as I was attempting to drain my own hands.  I stopped abruptly when I heard a familiar voice call across the courtyard, except it was too far to make out the words or be it was in competition with the sounds of the marketplace and people gathered in the courtyard before me.  A second voice replied and realised I knew them both; it was Merlin with Arthur answering.  Through other people I searched for them some more until I spotted them not too far from my position, but more good folk moved in the way contrary to my wishes and kept interrupting my view.

             
The best I could understand from a collection of fleeting glimpses was Merlin was looking very ecstatic about something and was attempting to lead Arthur away.  At one point he waved towards the archway, the exit out of the courtyard.  Arthur looked unsure, but then that particular look of his was not uncommon I mused.  Surprisingly he was walking around on his own, no lords trailing him or Kay or even a guard.  However, there was Merlin, and perhaps the lack of an escort was explained in that fact alone.  Merlin was an easy man to pull away from rather than want to get close to as his reputation was an impressive shield.  Although, Arthur appeared to be immune from it I noted.

             
The mass of people shuffled to allow another brief view and now I saw them walking side by side locked in deep conversation, the voices fading as they moved away.  Should I follow?  Nothing inside my head returned an answer.  Instead my legs made the decision and I pushed through the crowd.  At the arched gateway of one courtyard to enter another I paused to allow them time to get through without fear of them looking back to see me following.

             
In the next courtyard they continued their debate.  I could catch no words to provide me a clue as to the subject, but I could have walked one step in front of them and not be noticed given how vital a discussion they appeared to be having.  Bravely failed me on this thought, but this would only be possible if I could get close.  More people mainly tradesmen and guards seemed to wander aimlessly and insisted in getting the way.  Then there were stacks of goods and supplies to get around and avoid tripping over.  I worked my way around it all with little style or grace, buffering from one thing to the next.  Merlin and Arthur seemed to glide through without effort, their path ahead always empty and it was now clear they headed to the stables.  Now my levels of curiosity rose, I was intrigued and yet worried and also extremely aware I was now truly spying if I continued to follow further.  I should just go and say hello, but bravely failed me again on this idea.

             
I lingered for a moment, shifting my weight from foot to foot.  On one foot, was it concern for Arthur or just my excuse of concern to follow for my own foolish curiosity?  Was this a simple matter, no doubt nothing except a new king talking to his advisor?  Obviously he was the king and I had learnt that Merlin had advised the last king and why not this one!  This was just one of those times?  Only on the other foot I had to remember that was this same man who had taken Arthur from his real parents, put him with Sir Ector with little information, organised a sword in some rock and is reputed to have achieved great deeds even some say by sorcery.  He was no ordinary advisor I had to admit that at least, besides he had too many books to be trusted.

             
I had a choice.  Follow and find nothing, not be needed and find my concern is not met.  Or stay and risk my suspicions being true.  I knew the answer or again at least my feet did and I stepped forward to continue my pursuit.

             
The stables were never my favourite place.  Given that on one of the last times I was here I lost a whole horse shortly afterwards, my enjoyment of being in the home of the four legged beasts had not improved!  No one was pointing any accusing fingers at me and everyone continued the daily tasks and drudgery.  Ahead Merlin was ordering some stable hands around.  It dawned on me, this was not a case of offering Arthur sound advice on some matter, but they meant to leave and their intentions appeared to need a horse.