Book Two:
Around midday on Saturday, September twentieth, Luke, Drake, and Adam were posted outside of the main gates.
"I'm getting rather tired of performing the same task every day." Adam lamented. "I would surely love a change of scenery."
"It's not so bad. Why must you whine like a mule?" Drake said rolling his eyes. "You want something to complain about? Why don't we trade helms?" Drake hinted with his eyebrow raised.
"I'm merely pointing out that a change of assignment would be welcome for a change." Adam said.
"Then I can offer it to you." Luke spoke up.
Both Drake and Adam regarded him curiously.
"Some time between now and the next day or two, the couple wanted in the kidnapping case mentioned in the Sheriff's proclamation will be returning. The child will be with the Sheriff's men. The Sheriff asked me to take the child to Sir Gisborne's manor in Nettlestone." Luke explained.
Both men looked at him incredulously.
"The child is not to go past the gates. The Sheriff asked me to select one of you to come with me." A beat. "He mentioned you both by name, I might add." Luke winked.
Both of them widened their eyes, astonished.
"So if it's alright with you, Drake, I will take Adam." Luke said to Drake.
"It is fine with me. He is the one who can't keep still." Drake said.
"Are you serious, mate?" Adam asked Luke. He couldn't believe his luck. Though he was curious as to why the Sheriff would appoint the most junior member of the Black Knights to oversee the mission?
"Dead serious." Luke said. He pulled a scroll from his pocket and held it in his hand in front of Adam. "This is a message the Sheriff asked me to hand to Duke Farnsworth to explain it all to him. I don't know what this is all about." Luke lied, though it was true he didn't know the details. "But let me tell you, it's a funny situation indeed." Luke said.
"Why is the Sheriff so interested in this child? The Sheriff. Him – concerned for the welfare of a strange child? You must be mistaken?" Drake said. There was no logic to this.
"No. It is true. The Sheriff was implicit in his instructions to me, and I'm not being funny about it." Luke said.
"Who cares? And since the Sheriff trusts you so much, Luke – you can take the infant. This is the most exciting mission I've been on since ninety four. I do not wish to be burdened with a whiny, crying child in my care!" Adam rolled his eyes.
"Fine." Luke said.
"Oh, will you two shut your cake holes? I already have a headache from this cursed helm!" Drake spat as he pulled off the helm to shake his hair out. He looked up ahead as he angrily massaged his temples. He poked Adam and pointed ahead.
"My. Speak of the devil!" Adam said quietly.
Luke turned his attention to where his comrades were looking. Several of the Black Knights were arriving. There were seven on horseback. He recognized Duke Farnsworth. It looked as if Duke Farnsworth was carrying a small child in a sling in front of him. One of the Knights, a tall muscled man with unruly, long blond hair, was pulling a wagon behind his horse. The Duke and a fair haired Knight, who was shorter than the Duke but broad and sturdy looking, led the motley crew.
"God, I thought we would never get here." Mordrid said. "You have no idea how glad I was to see you on the trails outside of York county. We might have been stalled if not for that!" Mordrid exclaimed.
"Indeed. When we get through the portcullis, I want you to come with me, Richard, and Nigel. I could use reinforcement if this man tries anything funny." The Duke directed him.
"Indeed." Mordrid huffed. For it was the blacksmith's fault for keeping him from his beloved Demetria for the last three months! Or…maybe it was the outlaw? Who could keep track anymore?
"If he asks anything of you and you need an assistant, could you give me a few days, mate?" Mordrid added speaking to the Duke. "I plan to ravish the hell out of my Lady Demetria." He winked.
"Duly noted. But you can't promise you that if he indeed has a task for me that requires someone skilled." The Duke reminded his friend.
Mordrid sighed.
The group advanced closer then stopped at the gates. The Duke looked down, he recognized the faces of two of the men in the Sheriff's militia. Then he looked to the one in the center. He was tall and lean with short chestnut brown hair. He had a sparse mustache, and his green blue eyes twinkled in the light of day, even though it looked like rain would come soon. The Duke squinted his blue eyes as he studied him. Where did he know him from? He pondered a moment. Was that…the messenger he appointed to deliver the first scroll to the Sheriff? The one where he indicated he had a lead? No! His eyes must be deceiving him!
"Wait a minute, now. Isn't that the messenger you hired in July?" Mordrid whispered. As if he could read the Duke's mind?
"Sure looks like him. Well, isn't this curious? The Duke remarked.
"Good day Drake. Adam." The Duke nodded to the men. He looked to the one who stood flanked by the others.
"Don't I know you, lad?" The Duke asked.
"Indeed. I am the messenger you appointed two months ago to bring a message to my lord Sheriff." A beat. "Master Luke – at your service." Luke said.
"Well, obviously you did something right to have been appointed by the Sheriff to serve as one of his Black Knights." Mordrid quipped.
"Indeed. For I have been asked to carry out an important mission." Luke replied. Then he turned his attention back to the Duke. "You cannot be permitted to enter until you know. I have been given implicit instructions by the Sheriff." Luke said confidently, unfazed by their seniority in their positions.
The Duke eyed him curiously.
Mordrid shook his head, astonished.
Luke reached into his pocket and extracted the Sheriff's scroll. He handed it to the Duke. "This letter was penned by our master. It is addressed to you. He implored me to give it only to you." Luke said. "You must read it before we shall raise the portcullis to permit your access."
"This is rubbish! Look at him! The consummate messenger!" Nigel shouted.
"Control yourself, Nigel. Let me see what this is about." Duke Farnsworth admonished.
The Duke took the scroll from the newly appointed Black Knight, regarding him strangely while he did so. He quickly pried the seal from it, and unrolled the parchment, eager to see what the Sheriff had to say to him, to explain this mystery.
"Friday, 19th September, 1197 Anno Domini
Greetings Duke;
You may be surprised to see the messenger you sent to me is now employed in my militia. You must listen to him now. He has proven trustworthy and invaluable to me. His name is Luke.
I have asked him to take my child from your custody." …
The Duke's jaw fell agape.
Mordrid looked at him strangely. "What is it, Duke?" He asked his friend.
The Duke held up a hand to silence him. Now the infant began to stir. He shook his head and glanced back upon the letter.
… "The child will be taken to my Lieutenant's manor in Nettlestone. I cannot explain the reason in this letter, but you must trust my decision.
If you should see my lady with me when you bring the prisoners to me, heed my words: do not mention the child, especially the fact that it is my child. I will explain all of this to you in person.
As soon as the opportunity presents itself, you are instructed to burn this letter. Do not fail me on this.
I trust you will carry out my wishes. For this has all been carefully thought out.
Nottingham
SHERIFF & CHIEF CONSTABLE."
"Is your horse nearby, waiting then?" The Duke asked Luke.
"Indeed. Adam will be coming with me. It has already been discussed with the Sheriff." Luke said. "In fact he advised I choose between Drake or Adam. Indeed, he has thought of several considerations to keep this matter private." Luke lowered his voice. He would never divulge what the Sheriff told him, but he suspected the Duke knew enough.
The Duke reached around and untied the knot of the ends of the blanket from around his back. He threw the edges down in front of him, cradled the infant in his arms, then passed the child down carefully to Luke.
"Duke! What the hell are you doing?" Mordrid asked with his jaw agape.
"Are you going to trust the Sheriff's child to him? Mr. Duplicitous down there? After all we were put through? That letter might be fake!" Nigel warned.
"The Sheriff would never ask you to do this. You know that, Duke. Indeed – it defies all logic!" Richard exclaimed.
"Well, he has! And he implicitly directed we are not to question him. It is not fake. I'd know his handwriting anywhere!" The Duke insisted.
He looked to Nigel and Richard.
"Richard, Nigel. You two are going to bring the prisoners with Mordrid and I. We will personally deliver them to the Sheriff. He has asked it." The Duke said. "The babe goes with Master Luke and Adam. And the rest of you, see if you can find Gisborne. Perhaps he has a task for you?" The Duke directed each of them.
"He is on a mission with two members of his patrols." Drake announced. "He just left yesterday."
"I see." The Duke said. He looked back at the men. To the three of you I did not specify, consider yourselves lucky. Go and make merry, or obtain a lot of sleep. Whichever suits your fancy."
"Whatever it is, have one for us." Nigel sighed.
The three men gave a cheer and went on their way.
Inside the wagon, Robert Wordsworth and his wife were huddled together.
"There's one thing we can do to save ourselves." Robert said.
Isabelle's eyes widened. "Do not tease me, husband. Or I shall be tempted to kill you myself." Isabelle said.
"I do not jest." Robert said. He lowered his voice. "You do know what your name is….don't you, dearest?" He asked with his eyebrow raised knowingly.
She grinned. "Oh. Indeed I do – Mr. Whitfield." Isabelle nodded with a wink.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Sheriff was in the Council Quarters with Lady Margaret.
"Can you take leave today, Lady Margaret? I want you to be at the manor." The Sheriff said.
"I can, my lord." Lady Margaret said.
"Tell me, uh…about this wet nurse. How will she be able to uh…provide for her own child as well mine?" The Sheriff asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"The lady's own child died during childbirth. But it doesn't stop the milk from appearing. A bereaved mother finds the greatest comfort, I find, in serving as wet nurse. It is gratifying to all involved…I think." Lady Margaret said.
The Sheriff sighed. He should have listened to his intuition. His intuition told him not to ask the question.
"Will the child, uh…reject my lady's milk when she takes over for this bereaved, unfortunate maiden?" The Sheriff asked. He had no idea how cold this comment made him sound to Lady Margaret. He in fact meant the description of the wet nurse to be taken in a different context than what it implied. Even though he still had reservations about it.
Lady Margaret shook her head and rolled her eyes. "The child shall not reject her." She assured him. What difference would it be to the child? As long as she produced it, the child's survival instinct would dictate his or her action.
"Alright. Well, answer me this then: when Lady Rhiannon takes over, will this woman you've appointed as wet nurse be on the verge of nervous collapse because she had to surrender her duties and now she has no child of her own to go home to for comfort?" The Sheriff asked.
Lady Margaret was surprised at how perceptive he was about a mother's bond.
"There is always a possibility a bereaved mother could risk taking complete leave of her senses, yes. For no loss is greater than hers." Lady Margaret pointed out.
He shook his head and sighed audibly.
"Give the child something else, then!" The Sheriff snapped.
"Her milk will be best until your lady can do it." Lady Margaret pointed out.
"Then heed the following instructions: you will be visited by my trusted Officers Luke and Adam. They shall bring the child. If you are absent, Luke has Gisborne's key. Otherwise you are instructed to grant them access." The Sheriff said.
"Very well." Lady Margaret said.
"You will be assigned two sentry for protection. Not just for you but everyone involved in the child's care, and of course most especially, to protect my child. Thus, you will inform me at once if you ever feel it's necessary I should step up the number of them." The Sheriff said adamantly.
"Indeed. You will be kept informed." Lady Margaret agreed.
"Do not let my child out of your sight. The child is not permitted to be left alone with the wet nurse, unless accompanied by you, at the very least. I must have your word you shall obey me on this point." The Sheriff said with his eyebrow raised.
"Indeed, my lord. I give you my word. It shall be done." Lady Margaret pledged.
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter." The Sheriff called.
The Scribe appeared. "My lord."
"Yes, Scribe. What is it?" The Sheriff asked impatiently.
"It is time." The Scribe said simply.
The Sheriff drew in a breath. "Send in my lead investigator." He ordered. The Scribe obeyed. He dismissed Lady Margaret.
Moments later, Duke Farnsworth stepped inside.
"Welcome home, friend. I am grateful to see your safe return. You did not fail me." The Sheriff said.
"My lord. It's good to see you. You want to tell me what's going on?" The Duke asked.
"My lady suffered a great deal of unfortunate events while held captive. I fear it caused her to take leave of her senses. Well, one of them anyway. She remembers a lot of things, but she doesn't remember anything of the child." The Sheriff said.
"Oh." The Duke said, surprised. Rather odd considering the child was four months old.
"As you can see, a delicate matter. She will be told, only by me, but I need the child settled first. I must deal with my new prisoners first. And as another point, my Lieutenant is carrying out another important mission for me." A beat. "Prepare for a heresy trial." The Sheriff grinned knowingly.
"No!" The Duke remarked in disbelief.
"Indeed." The Sheriff smirked.
"So…what you're saying is, you have too much to do to deal with it?" The Duke proposed.
The Sheriff looked at him strangely.
"You cannot control every thing. Alas, you cannot hurry love." The Duke said.
"Pardon?" The Sheriff asked.
"It will not work." The Duke said.
"Right." The Sheriff remarked casually. He shot the Duke a curious glance, then proceeded. "I need you select two of my best men to take post at Gisborne's manor." The Sheriff directed.
"Indeed. My choice is Richard and Nigel. They are familiar with the situation best. For they were subjected to the entire sob story delivered by the man and his wife." The Duke explained. He shook his head.
"Tsk, tsk. Indeed a shame." The Sheriff agreed. "Give me the names of my two new prisoners!" he demanded.
"They are Robert and Isabelle Whitfield." The Duke said.
"Send the treacherous twosome in here at once!" The Sheriff ordered.
Moments later, the Duke returned with Officers Mordrid, Richard, and Nigel, and the paltry couple who kept his child from him!
The tall man had dark hair and eyes an odd shade. He couldn't tell…were they blue, or were they green? They looked familiar to him somehow. He shook his head. He must be thinking of the proclamation. God knows he had to look at it enough. The man wore a black shirt, black breeches, black boots, a coat. His lady was petite and fair of face. Her hair was golden and she had eyes of blue. Her gown matched the colour of her eyes.
"Well…Master and Lady Whitfield – how unfortunate to make your acquaintance." The Sheriff remarked facetiously.
Isabelle began to squirm.
"Hush, my love." Robert whispered.
'What's that?" The Sheriff said pointedly as his eyebrow shot north and inched in closer to them. He looked to both of them. "I didn't quite catch that? What – you think you're going to get out of this one?" He said as he circled them like a vulture hovering before feeding on carion. "Hardly! You are both charged with kidnapping." The Sheriff announced as he stopped in front them and bore into their eyes.
"We did not take your child, you twisted monster!" Robert barked.
"Silence!" The Sheriff bellowed. "If I hear one more insult directed to me or to anyone in this castle, your tongue shall be extracted forcibly by me with a dull instrument! I promise you. I will not tarry on carrying out the task either." The Sheriff threatened. "For indeed…it would be my pleasure." He smiled.
"I…no, we – did nothing but provide your child a safe and loving home. If you inspect the child for yourself you shall see it has been well cared for. Though, God knows where the babe was taken to?" Robert continued.
"You knew three months ago when my lead investigator and Officer Mordrid came knocking on your door, you had a child that didn't rightfully belong in your care. Your charge was not an orphan. And then, you were told the child was mine!" The Sheriff shouted. "It is indeed as if you aided the man responsible. You are still charged with kidnapping. You kept that child from its lawful parentage. For that – you shall be punished." He warned both of them. He lowered his voice as he scanned both of their faces. "You shall die….I just haven't decided if I want to be bothered with the formality of a trial or not." The Sheriff mused. "Just give me a minute." He said.
Robert and Isabelle watched incredulously as the Sheriff turned and slowly walked to the window. He paused there for what seemed only two seconds, then he flew back to them quick as lightening.
"Can't decide! Tsk, tsk... what will it be?" He grabbed the man by his collar and roughly pulled him toward him. "Guess you'll just have to sit tight and find out!" The Sheriff laughed maniacally. Then he pushed him aside.
Isabelle began to tremble. Tears fell down her cheeks.
Robert felt his cheeks flush in anger. The Sheriff hasn't changed. The rumours were false. He looked exactly the same as he did three years ago, and he looked more fearsome and indominitable now than he did then.
"Open your narrow minded eyes and look upon your child! You shall know the intent was pure." Robert said unmoving.
The Sheriff looked to Mordrid, Richard, and Nigel. "Get this treacherous twosome out of my sight! And make sure they are separated. Instruct my jailer, Joseph, to deliver twenty five lashes to this cursed excuse for a man!" the Sheriff ordered, pointing to Robert. "Oh, and tell Joseph to make sure this rogue's dear, darling wife has a good seat to observe the procedure, as a lesson to her of how not to behave!" The Sheriff insisted.
"No!" Isabelle shrieked.
"Shut up, wench!" The Sheriff barked. "One more word out of your and you shall receive your punishment first!" He nodded to his men to take them away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
He looked to the Duke after they had left.
"Duke, one last thing. What – " he was cut off.
"Is your child, you mean? Yes, you were not told." The Duke said. He took in a breath. "You have a son, my lord." The Duke smiled.
The Sheriff swallowed. A son. He smiled and closed his eyes. Could it really be true?
"He is you, my lord. He is the very image of you." The Duke said. Then he studied the Sheriff. "Okay…all except for your eyes."
"Does he cry and scream a great deal?" The Sheriff asked.
"Well, uh…sometimes." The Duke said.
"Well, maybe that's not a bad thing." The Sheriff mused. "Perhaps he is practicing now to deal with the same variety of morons I've been dealing with in your absence. Save for two or three around here. Gisborne, and Luke namely." The Sheriff rolled his eyes.
"It is almost over, my lord." The Duke said.
"We'll see." The Sheriff said.
He dreaded telling her about this. At the same time, he was eager to see the child. Fear mixed with anticipation. Almost exactly how he felt when he first realized he had fallen for Rhiannon?
And in moments, another gnawing suspicion would present itself to him.
Lady Rhiannon was walking along the main corridor on the first level of the castle. She would be passing by the Council Quarters on her way to the stairwell she planned to take to go see Lady Meridwyn. She walked with her book under her arm. She was just coming from the gardens. She went outside for a breath of fresh air to enjoy her book, but alas, it would rain soon, she didn't wish to have the book destroyed in the rain. She looked up, she had heard several voices. What was going on outside of the Council Quarters? She drew closer and saw her betrothed coming out of the doors with a tall man with red hair and a beard.
"My lord?" She called to him.
He turned and saw her, but before he could reply, he observed her. She noticed another and completely forgot about him.
And then…she saw him. Their eyes locked. Her eyes widened. She stopped dead in her tracks. As if she was under the power of a spell?
The Sheriff shook his head slightly as he continued to watch. Once she spoke to him, she never acknowledged him. She was standing there staring at the prisoner with a look of horror on her face! She knew him. Her face registered absolute recognition. Any fool could see it! He studied their exchange as he began to feel sick.
She was opening her mouth to speak to the man.
The man shook his head slowly and shot Lady Rhiannon a warning look. The Sheriff didn't see his face, because the man's back was turned, but he could see her clearly.
Robert's gaze told her in a glance: "Do not acknowledge me."
She squinted her eyes regarding him curiously. She shook her head. The Sheriff observed the colour leave her face. Her eyes began to glisten with angry tears.
"No." Robert mouthed the word to her.
She swallowed.
The Sheriff felt a fury rise within him like he never thought possible. If those two were not lovers, than the Sheriff would willing jump off a cliff! It was very apparent that Rhiannon and this Whitfield character indeed knew each other…intimately.
This explains everything! He thought. He was so enraged he began to tremble. His jaw was tightly clenched. He shook his head in disgust. He didn't know which of them he was most angry at? He was feeling hate surface. Some of it was directed to Lady Rhiannon.
"Mordrid!" The Sheriff bellowed to his Officer. He could care less that Rhiannon was there to witness it. This will teach her to betray him!
"Yes, my lord?" Mordrid answered dutifully.
"Strike what I said before about the prescribed number of lashes to this paltry, skinny little ferret!" The Sheriff shouted as he pointed to Robert. "Have my jailer, Joseph, deliver fifty lashes to this doomed brigand!" The Sheriff barked.
"Very well, my lord." Mordrid nodded.
"No." Rhiannon whispered. She began to sway. This couldn't be happening! A tear spilled from the corner of her eye. She turned away and angrily wiped it from her face.
The Sheriff walked slowly toward her after his men had all departed, taking the treacherous twosome with them. She was still glued to the same spot.
"It's not very pleasant to have been betrayed. Is it, my… angel?" The Sheriff hissed, enunciating his former term of endearment for her so it sounded more like an insult.
"I told you I know him. We lived in the same village." Rhiannon said.
"Tell me another story!" The Sheriff sighed. The look of hatred on his face was frightening her.
"If I had anything to hide, why would I come to you in the first place?" Rhiannon challenged.
"Don't try to talk your way out of it. Just admit to me he was your lover, or perhaps, he still is?" The Sheriff said accusingly.
"No. Never!" Rhiannon exclaimed. For some reason she became even more white than she was a moment ago? How curious?
"You had better start talking." The Sheriff warned. "By tonight, I expect to hear the whole sordid tale from you. You have but one chance to get it right." The Sheriff warned her.
She shook her head, as he quickly turned on his heel and left her there standing. His coat tails flew out behind him lashing at the air as he swiftly walked away from her. He never once looked back.
Oh God. What was this nonsense? Her world had just been turned upside down! What was Robert up to? He was supposed to be dead? Why did he abandon her? What kind of a loving brother would do that? She drew in a breath. She was shaking. And what was she to do, when Robert was pleading with her not to acknowledge she knew him, when they saw each other a few minutes ago? What should she do when her own brother wished to denounce her? Of course she was shocked! She just saw her supposedly dead brother, and he wouldn't let her go to him! And now her betrothed was under the illusion she was entangled in some lovers triangle! Having an affair! It was laughable if the situation were not so grave.
What was this about? She needed answers. She would demand the Sheriff give her some answers too.
But right now, she needed answers from her brother first. How to sneak into the dungeon undetected? She pondered it a moment. Of course! Why didn't she think of that before?
She would give the Sheriff the answers he was seeking. After she would talk to Robert. She had to know what this was about, what his crime was - if any, what his intent was before she decided what she should do. So she would arrange to see the Sheriff and hour after a dusk.
Kidnapping? Robert? How old was this child anyway? Is this the reason Robert sent word of his fake death? Because he was surely acting as if he did indeed was the one who masterminded it. Why else would he strongly dissuade her from showing recognition?
Oh, how could they let her down like this? All in one moment. Her brother, and the man she thought was going to be her husband? How could they!