by Eagle Lady
“It was not your fault, but it might have been partly mine for not firmly establishing your status here sooner. Not that that excuses their actions. Anyway, you should have no more trouble now. Word will spread quickly throughout the Holding.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Roydon ruffled his son’s hair. “No need to thank me. I should have done it sooner. No child should be treated in such a manner,” the earl’s good humour seemed to have been restored.
“What should you have done sooner?” Sir Stefan had come up to the table and now took a seat to the earl’s right.
“Establish my son’s status here.”
“Ah, I see.” Stefan winked at the boy. “Is that why your squire is sitting at your table with you?” he asked innocently.
“He is here as my son.” Roydon said forcefully, wondering where his friend was going with all this.
“Then I think we have a problem as to who is going to serve us. Last I heard down on the training field, you had laid waste to the kitchens and slaughtered every last person there for insulting your son.”
Aguilus looked at Sir Stefan, mouth open in shocked dismay. Shaking his head vigorously he sought to defend his father. “Father hasn’t killed anyone or destroyed anything!” Aguilus rose to his feet in agitation, his small fists curled at his sides. Then he noticed the knight’s barely contained smile and he relaxed back in his seat. Sir Stefan had a very strange sense of humour, but Aguilus liked him. He made the earl laugh and he liked to see his father laugh.
“He is not serious, Father,” the boy clarified for his father. “Sir Stefan is only trying to make you laugh.”
“He does have that irritating fault,” the earl glanced at his friend a sceptical eyebrow raised in query. “I killed all the kitchen staff?”
Stefan nodded. “By the time the rumours get to the village, you’ll have slaughtered half the castle folk.”
At that moment food started arriving. Whoever had taken over the kitchen definitely wanted to make a good impression.
“Shall I serve you, Father?” Aguilus made to rise. “I do not mind, truly.”
“No, sit and eat. This time we serve ourselves.”
“Let me get this right. At the moment Aguilus is not your squire but your son?” Stefan smiled outright as he questioned Roydon.
“That is correct,” Roydon replied straight faced. “There will be times when he will be excused from his duties.” The earl winked at his son in imitation of his friend.
“Is that why he is calling you ‘Father’, rather than ‘my lord’?”
“Yes, I see that you are grasping the concept,” the earl patted Stefan on his back condescendingly.
“It is a bit confusing, I must admit, but you know I like confusion, so just to make all this more complicated, the boy can also call me Uncle Stefan, just like Stefanie and Alexandra.” The knight grinned openly at Aguilus. “Just when we are being informal of course, or when you sit at table with us or…”
“Shut up, Stefan,” Roydon chuckled. “My son understands perfectly what is expected of him.”
Aguilus returned Stefan’s grin, “Would you like some more ale, Uncle Stefan?” he asked tongue in cheek.
Both the earl and the knight burst into laughter.
Chapter Six
“Much as I love the boy, Roydon, his existence does not solve your problem.” Stefan sat down beside the earl on a bench at the edge of the training field. After the intense training session he had just shared with his friend, his breathing was not quite regular yet.
Roydon did not answer. A month had elapsed since the incident in the kitchens and he had become more attached, if that were possible, to his son. He was a happy child now that he felt secure and loved. Always willing to learn, he never complained, even when his tasks seemed unending. He cleaned armour, served them at table and had responsibility for the servants who served him, as well as a hundred other chores. Apart from all that he was also learning to ride and his reading and writing were progressing splendidly according to Byran.
Roydon could not have asked for a better son or squire. Aguilus was perfect and yet Stefan was right. Much as he wished with all his heart that it could be so, Aguilus could not succeed him as the Lord of Eagle Rock. Aguilus was illegitimate and the law did not permit bastards to take their father’s titles or lands.
Roydon raked a hand through his sweat soaked hair in impotent exasperation. “I know,” he answered at last. “Now it is even worse, no other son will do. I want Aguilus to have Eagle Rock. I want my first born to have my title.”
As if on cue, said first born now came rushing across the training field towards the two seated men. The boy had filled out during the last few weeks. With the constant exercise and the good food he had grown sturdier and stronger. He had been doing exercises every day to strengthen his arms but this was his first day on the training field. For the last hour or so Sir Ivan had been teaching him a few simple sword moves.
His face bright red with exertion and his golden eyes flashing with excitement, Aguilus managed to stop before crushing into the earl. “Did you see me, Father?” The boy brought up his small, wooden practise sword to demonstrate the moves he had learnt and hit Stefan on his knee in the process. “Oh, sorry, Uncle Stefan,” he didn’t even pause in his excited chatter. “Ivan said I have done very well and…”
“Would you care to repeat that, boy?” The earl’s stern voice sounded totally at odds with the gentle smile that graced his hard features, with the pride that shone from his eyes, as he looked at his son.
Aguilus grinned back at his father, a glance of conspiracy shared between them. “I forgot.” Then a mischievous gleam appeared in his eyes and he turned around and dashed off again.
“What?” Both men looked in consternation at the place where the boy had disappeared among the training men. Then they saw him again, rushing towards them, flourishing his practice sword in his hand.
“You don’t think he is actually going to…?” Stefan choked off his question when Aguilus stopped in front of them.
“Did you see me, my lord?” Then the boy brought up his sword and deliberately hit Stefan on his knee again. “Sorry, Sir Stefan. Sir Ivan said I have done very well and that tomorrow I…”
This time the squire did not get to finish his sentence either. With a mock growl of anger, which sounded more like laughter than anything else, Stefan grabbed the boy and crushed him in a bear hug. Then he proceeded to tickle him by poking at him with his finger. “Poke me with your toy sword, would you, boy?”
“I am sorry, Uncle Stefan. Truly I am.” Aguilus could hardly speak, he laughed so hard. “And Father did order me to repeat…” Another bout of hilarity cut short his words.
“So he did.” Stefan released the boy and turned to a quietly smiling Roydon. “You wanted him to hit me again?” The feigned look of disbelief and offended affront on Stefan’s face caused Aguilus to fall into fresh peals of laughter. The sound carried to the hardened men on the training field, making them smile at the innocent joy in which, for a few moments, they could share.
Stefan grinned at his friend and then turned to look at the boy with indulgent affection in his eyes. “What are we going to do with him, Roy?”
The earl lost his smile, a grim determination invaded him, his black eyes shone with a fierce purpose. “I will make him my heir, Stefan.” The words were an irrevocable vow. “I will do everything in my power to achieve this,” he stood up abruptly, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes on the laughing boy.
Stefan stood with him. “It is near impossible what you seek, my friend.” His face just as determined as the earl’s, he turned to look at Aguilus. “But you have my unconditional support. For whatever its worth, as always, my sword and my life are at your disposal.”
The earl clapped his friend on the back in silent acknowledgement of the offer. “We will do it, Stefan.”
A series of high croaking screeches interrupted them as the two reside
nt eagles of the mountain swooped down low over the courtyard. The late afternoon sun shone on the golden feathers and glinted from their fierce eyes, as they circled the yard and then glided away over the valley.
“They are beautiful, are they not, Father?” Aguilus still looked after the birds as they disappeared into the distance. “Sometimes I feel like I want to fly with them, like I need to soar into the air and glide in the wind.” the boy smiled self-consciously. “A silly notion I know…”
Roydon’s blood froze in his veins. In an instant he found himself crouching down in front of his son, his large hands curled round the boy’s arms. “Do not say that,” even he could hear the panic in his own voice. “Do not even think it.” The very notion that Aguilus wanted to fly away, to leave him as his mother had done, struck terror in his heart. He didn’t even know if the boy could transform, he didn’t want to know. The boy was his son, like him, the idea of flying just a silly, boyish fancy. Nevertheless he couldn’t stop himself from shaking his son in his panic. “Promise me, Aguilus.”
The boy looked at his father in alarmed consternation, his eyes wide and frightened. Then he sought guidance from Sir Stefan, who nodded at him to accede to the earl’s wishes; even as he himself laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
“I promise, Father. I will not think of it again.”
The quiet promise and Stefan’s calming gesture brought Roydon back to himself. Slowly he rose to his feet. His panic receding, he set his hand on his son’s shoulder to ease the boy’s apprehension. “I just don’t want you jumping off a high tower to see if you can fly,” he joked. Even to himself the words sounded strained and there was more truth to them than he cared to admit.
Roydon gave a mental shake of his head. First he would settle the boy’s future then he would go to where the old woman, Nona, lived and he would start his search again for his eagle lady. Apart from anything else he needed to understand if his son was…different. Decision made, he turned to his friend. “Stefan, start making preparations. We leave for London, to see the king, within the week.” The earl strode off towards the inner bailey without waiting for a reply.
“We are going to see the king?” Aguilus stared in open-mouthed wonder at Stefan, all thought of his father’s strange behaviour forgotten.
“Well your father is going and I will certainly be going, you on the other hand?” Stefan shrugged his shoulders, leaving the question in the air.
“But… I have to go. I have never been to the capital, to court and I have never seen the king. I would be…devastated, Uncle Stefan, if you left me behind.”
Stefan shook his head at the imploring, golden eyes staring up at him. “Not my decision to make, Aguilus. But one thing I do know is that you are going to be more than devastated when the earl gets to his solar and finds that his bath is not ready and his squire is not there to help with his armour.”
Sir Stefan found himself alone by the time he finished speaking. The earl’s squire had rushed off the moment he had mentioned his lord’s bath, or lack thereof. Slowly, Stefan followed Roydon and Aguilus up to the castle. A frown marred his usually easy going and placid countenance. He had not forgotten the earl’s strange behaviour of a few moments before.
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Six days later found the Earl of Eagle Rock, Sir Stefan and Aguilus, accompanied by Sir Ivan and twenty mounted men-at-arms, en route to the king’s court. Three days of travel had brought them to this seemingly unending forest, through which they now rode.
“How much longer before we leave the forest, Sir Stefan?” Aguilus spoke in a near whisper, as he rode beside the knight, in the middle of the column of riders. He did not like the forest. The narrow path they travelled seemed unending, as it meandered through the close growing trees that threatened to encroach on the ribbon of open road.
He had felt jumpy and uncomfortable from the moment the earl had led them into the shadows of the forest that morning. Yesterday they had camped early, unwilling to venture into the woods at a time when nightfall would have found the small troop of riders still traversing the forest.
It could be because of the conversation he had overheard yesterday or the strict instructions that his father had given him, but there was no doubt that he felt uneasy. His thoughts drifted back to the previous evening when they had camped on the outskirts of the forest beside a tiny stream and he relived the moment again…
“There are known to be bandits and outlaws in this forest, Roydon. Think you we should have taken the longer road?” Sir Stefan glanced meaningly at Aguilus who looked to his father for reassurance.
“There is no danger, Stefan. We are a big enough force that any outlaws would think twice before attacking us.” The earl spoke as much to his friend as to his son, who he knew listened avidly.
“I suppose that you are right, but I have heard that they are getting more and more daring since they have banded together.”
“Three knights and twenty men-at-arms should be enough to dissuade even the most daring outlaw and if not we will have no trouble teaching them their place.” Roydon spoke confidently. Nevertheless he beckoned Aguilus forward. “You heard?”
This was the ‘earl’ tone of voice, the one that brooked no questions, that demanded instant obedience. The boy answered accordingly. “Yes, my lord.”
“While we ride through the forest tomorrow either Sir Stefan or I will be riding beside you. In the very remote possibility that we are attacked, whoever is with you will pluck you from your horse and hand you up into a tree. You will then climb to a safe height and wait there until I give you leave to descend.” The earl paused to allow his words to sink in. “Knowing you are safe will allow us to dispose of the rabble quickly. Do you understand me?”
Again the boy nodded, his face set and serious. “Yes, my lord.”
“When you are older and battle-trained, then you will be permitted to stand with us.” Sir Stefan’s quiet addition assuaged the boy’s pride. He looked quickly to his father, whose firm nod confirmed the knight’s statement.
“Now go finish your tasks and ask Sir Ivan to join me.”
“Yes, my lord.” Aguilus run off. He felt slightly resentful at the instructions given him. He knew his father’s orders were sensible, his presence would only hinder a possible fight, but at the same time he wanted to help, to be of same use, not just a child hiding up a tree.
The squire found Sir Ivan sitting companionably with the captain of the men-at-arms at one of the campfires. As usual when the knight relaxed he invariably whittled away at a piece of wood, his quarters were full of little carved figurines. Now was no exception, but on receiving the earl’s summons he set aside his current carving and quickly rose to his feet to attend his liege.
Having given Sir Ivan his father’s message, Aguilus returned to the entrance of the earl’s tent and continued cleaning his lord’s armour. There had to be a way he could help without disobeying orders, even if he was stuck up a tree. An idea came to him and he mulled over it for a few moments while he finished his duties. Deciding that nobody could possibly object to it, he picked up a leather bag and left the tent to start preparations.
“Aguilus, where are you going?” The earl’s voice stopped him in mid-stride. He felt reluctant to disclose his idea. He would feel silly if they were not attacked and they knew of his plan.
“I have finished my tasks, sir. I just planned to take a walk by the stream,” he answered truthfully.
“There are guards by the water, my lord,” supplied Sir Ivan quickly, understanding the boy wishing to stretch his legs and explore.
“Very well, but stay in sight of the guards and do not stay away too long.” Roydon glanced across at the open fire where a couple of soldiers were cooking the evening meal. “We will be eating soon.”
“I will not be long, my lord.” Aguilus turned away before his father changed his mind.
“That boy is up to something,” Stefan commented to the earl, as they watched the squire disappear down the
embankment by the stream.
It was the last Aguilus heard as he scrambled down the rocky bank.
Aguilus started when Sir Stefan shook his arm. Coming out of his thoughts, the squire looked enquiringly at the man that rode beside him.
The knight replied to the boy’s question for the second time. “I said we should be out of the forest in a couple of hours, no more. Aguilus, are you alright?” Stefan looked worriedly at the boy and then suddenly he tensed in the saddle, his eyes sweeping across the nearby trees.
“Yes, sir, I was just thinking. I don’t like this place and…”
“Quiet!” Sir Stefan’s command silenced the squire immediately.
Aguilus had never heard the knight use that deadly tone of voice before. He looked up to see his father trotting his enormous, black warhorse back towards them. The earl sat relaxed in his saddle, his face expressionless but his eyes were alert and watchful. He nodded at Sir Stefan and a silent communication seemed to pass between them. Then Roydon made a covert gesture to the rest of the men that had them straightening into alertness in their saddles and loosening their swords at their sides.
Aguilus just had time to pull the strap of the leather bag that hung on the pommel of his saddle over his head, before Sir Stefan plucked him from the saddle. The next instant he found himself hurtling up into a tree. Instinctively he grabbed onto the nearest branch and anchored himself.
“Climb!” Sir Stefan stared up at him for a moment then swung his horse away. Aguilus climbed and then he inched out along a sturdy branch until he could see down onto the path. The bandits, if indeed they were being attacked, had chosen the spot well for just here the trees fell away from the path, leaving a small clearing to one side of the trail.
Near total silence reigned below, only the jingle of horse bridles broke the silence and the thump of impatient horses’ hooves on the hard earth. Aguilus still did not know what had alerted Sir Stefan and his father. If danger existed he still could not detect it, not that he had much experience in these matters!