3.
Alan leveled the sword he
held at the chest of the other huntsman, while the other two also reacted by
standing up. It was Helene who calmed the situation.
"Sit down, you oafs. Let
the two men argued their point." Helene told them. "It’s not every
day that you get to hear of the castle gossip on the Queen."
The two men stared at Helene,
but she did look intimidating with the large meat chopper in her right hand.
They sat down while Alan lowered his sword.
"I was with the King at
Cecil. Tell me what I do not know." Alan looked at the old friend of his.
"Aye, you were. I was
asked to take care of the castle like a freaking obedient dog then. It was the
day I was promoted to Castellan; me the frigging warrior kept with leash to
guard the home. And of his young wife." Lin replied. "I was
distraught while seeing the lot of you all rode off for glory. It was then, the
Queen approached me. She had been his Queen, for over three years, and yet no
sire had been produced. She was sad at the efforts, and with him always to
battle, she felt that soon she would not be able to bear any."
"King Egan had vast land
to rule, and the errant Lords to quell of any mutiny. You ought to know of
this; how many battles we fought for him over those mutinies. Once he almost
died, and it was you who saved his life." Alan reminded Lin of the Battle
at the River Dane. "You were his trusted friend since then."
"Aye, I was. So much, he
told me the truth of himself. He was wounded in the groin at River Dane. He
told me to silence the healer for fear the news would spread. He made me his
trusted friend not to silence my voice too, but to father his children."
Lin related the tale to the
shocked group who sat by the fireplace. It was the summer then, and Lord Moor
of Dane had revolted against King Egan. The King then had just returned from
one other battle in the lands, and was told of that. He stood up and looked to
his weary guards.
"Advise me, my dear and
trusted guards." King Egan looked to his guards. They are his best ones,
and had ridden at his side in all his battles. They numbered fifty of them, and
had ridden ahead of the fighting column of his personal two thousand guards.
The other Lords had returned to their own castles with their army after the
battle.
King Egan had hurried back to
prepare for his wedding to the younger and beautiful Princess Evie, who he had
won her hand by the truce signed with the father, Lord Falstof.
"Its summer now and the
river are flooded while the paths are mud filled. I would suggest we delay to
spring when the paths are easier to take." A bearded warrior with the deep
etchings on his face, dressed still in his armor and his left thigh was wrapped
with a cloth. His name was Toland, and had been a warrior for the previous King
and then with the succeeding one.
"Toland, I may
differ." Another warrior stepped up to voiced his opinion. "I said we
fight now. The main column is still at the plains, and can be directed to River
Dane. It would be a two day's march, if they do not face any flooded
rivers."
King Egan looked to his
guards. That last warrior was right; the main column could be diverted there by
crossing the hill. A hill which need some climbing and much effort to move the
caravans.
"My King, your mind must
not be clouded by the wedding. We have to protect your land." The warrior
who last spoke reminded the King.
"Yes, Minoan is right.
We would fight Lord Moor." King Egan paraded off with his guards, and soon
joined his main column. The battle at River Dane was not fought over a siege
but on the open field. Lord Moor had some allies with him; Lord Killen and
Baron Delton. They had assembled an army of three thousand on the field; with
three hundred knights and the rest archers and pike men. On King Egan side was
with a thousand guards; two hundred knights, and the rest archers with lesser
pike men. Lord Moor rode up to meet King Egan.
"King Egan, I would
expressed my disappointment, that your allies had ditched you. I however had
mine with me. We outnumbered you and would suggest a truce. One that...."
Lord Moor was interrupted by the King.
"Lord Moor, you talked
too much." King Egan then turned to ride back to his own army. Lord Moor
did the same, and the battle began.
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