The Knight Behind the Pillar (38 page)

             
He looked around seeking support on his view, but no one wanted to join in and choose a side yet.  Like me they watched with interest at this exchange.  Merlin I saw had settled on the edge of the table and looked bemused, nothing unusual about that I smiled to myself.  It was a clear sign that he also had no intention to help Arthur or take part for the moment. 

             
Arthur still had his back to Alain and continued to address the floor.  “Lot would know we are coming, there would be little surprise.”  Said Arthur and he paused, but not for long enough to allow Alain to talk this time.  Now was Arthur’s moment.  “We also know what he wants, me!   And so if we stay here, he will be forced to come here.  He would have to travel while we wait, except we will not wait.  We have a chance to train or rest or both.  While this fort is not as good as it perhaps once was, it’s a place we know and has some defence.  Why go and fight on strange soil, I think it’s better to have some walls rather have none at all.”

             
Arthur outlined his thoughts to the room, but by the time he had finished his glazed had at least reached the top of the table. 

             
Arthur might have said more, but Alain had held back for long enough and wanted a turn to speak to the room. “We just wait for them, we sit and wait!” He exclaimed loudly obviously not satisfied.

             
At this Arthur bit his bottom lip, he seemed slightly less certain of himself again and I feared for a moment his attempt to state his authority was at an end.  He turned and after visually taking a deep breath stepped forward one step. 

             
Importantly he looked up at Alain, right at him.  “No, we prepare.  We prepare both men and defences.  I know I have little experience, but everyone knows a rested man is worth far more than a tired one.  Someone who needs to drag themselves through the forests, hills and rivers of the land to get here will have no advantage and this is my decision.”

             
Before Alain could answer and recover from the verbal punch Arthur just gave him, Merlin decided to now get involved. “I agree, your highness.  If there is a siege we can be ready for that as well, but we have forgotten this old fort was built next to a river for a reason.  It provides as good a defence as any wall.”

             
A chorus of approval muttered around the room as the time to decide who to support seemed more obvious.  The words of others burred in echo and with no distinctive voice standing out in the agreement, which may have been each man’s intent. 

             
“In fairness,” Alain began again with a curious and surprising positive in his tone with his hands placed together at his chin in thought, “There are advantages and disadvantages to both strategies, but perhaps staying would yield victory.  Only I was also thinking of protecting the innocent, the townsfolk.  Away from here a battle need not include the chance of their unnecessary deaths.”

             
Suggesting Arthur’s choice would lead to the lost of innocent lives was a distasteful tactic.  He must be getting desperate to retain control of the room and the alliance I decided. 

             
Arthur maintained his stare back to Alain at first.  “You’re right.” Answered Arthur, a second of regret passed his eyes causing his to look away, but only briefly as he added.  “Except I am sure this way more people will survive as a whole as they will not be worn out from marching, or they can cower within these walls or ran away as they like.  Only I have seen their hope, seen them dance and dream of a better time and if they are offered it, they will fight for it and will want to fight with us.”

             
It was a concept that mystified Alain’s very core.  I doubted he had never trusted the people, asked for their support.  He demanded it and I guess many others in the room must have ruled the same way.  However, Arthur had the gift of words, the only magic I had ever witnessed. 

             
Alain risked a look around the room and finally he succumbed.  “Very well we stay and fight, but there’s a lot to do.” Alain concluded with a completely different tone as if was never a problem for him.  He removed himself from Arthur’s now determined intense glaze now with a hint of a triumphant smile behind the eyes.  He walked towards the other lords, but switched back remembering something.  “Which reminds me, do we know if Pellinore is to join us or not?”

             
I swallowed to find my mouth had gone dry. 

             
Arthur answered without hesitation to my thanks.  “He is with us, but until Lot and his brothers leave his borders he writes regretfully he will be of little help.  If Lot leaves, he will join us providing he can leave enough men to defend from off shore attacks.  He reports attempts to invade his land have increased of late.”

             
After this the tense atmosphere in the room had seemingly diminished and more felt inclined to join the debate.  What armies might arrive and when, their strengths and what positions they should take.

             
Numbers of weapons, food stores and repairs were of little interest to me as vital as it was.  I quickly became bored.  In truth it was not boredom, but concern and now dread.  An army of over two thousand men was coming and all I could worry about was what was behind them.  My father might also be on his way.  It was enough to cause my mind to forget the scabbard or even the woman I fell over in the halls for just a minute. 

             
I decided it was time to go and no one noticed me leave, except one.  Merlin gave me a polite nod, but remained quiet.  I knew I would need to talk to him again, but not today.  Today I had enough of it all.  Despite remaining curious about the mention of a rediscovered scabbard that I knew was hidden in the hayloft, I was keen to get away. 

Chapter 6:  And there were 7 members of the brotherhood of lies

              My plan was to keep quiet, train, serve and find some sense of normality.  It was an ambitious plan as the world had never been so different.  It was going to be perhaps a couple of weeks before Lot and his brothers would reach anywhere near the town and that was if he was on his way very soon.  It was likely to be longer I was certain.  As for the scabbard I decided it would remain hidden in the hayloft for now, having checked last night it was still there given Alain’s words yesterday.  There was no training for me to chance a word with Arthur about it yesterday to find out how obviously another had come about and no training likely for today either.

             
I failed at once to keep to the plan.  The first thing I did was seek out Merlin.  He was crossing the courtyard with little interest in anyone except his purpose.  Given what he had said and did yesterday I gave chase at once.

             
Determined to ignore everyone he was quick and I was forced to shout to stop him escaping. “Why?” I called.

             
It was enough to grasp his attention and he slowed to a stop.  Looking around no one else appeared to give us any thought and so I quickly skipped over to join him. 

             
With a deep breath and slight turn of the head he greeted me.  “And good morning to you as well.” He said with a light air of sarcasm.

             
I found the fact he was not in a bad mood for being sought to stop a little irritating as I was looking for any excuse for a fight.  I wanted explanations, but then realised soon after that perhaps Merlin being in a good mood was best.  After all I wanted answers and an argument was not going to get them, not that I expected any answers of real value from this old fraud. 

             
I spend no time on being pleasant and got to the point at once. “You said I saw you the night before yesterday, that I wanted to learn your tricks!”

             
“I said something similar to that young prince.” Merlin considered. 

             
“It’s Tor.” I snapped with annoyance immediately.

             
Merlin pursed his lips with interest at the discovery that I was little sensitive as regard to my title and I regretted my unintended disclosure at once. 

             
“Well Tor, your point being?”

             
“It wasn’t entirely true was it!” I excused, echoing his words from the day before.

             
He did not answer at once, but after looking around he waved his hand to instruct me to walk closer with him. 

             
“It wasn’t a lie,” He pointed out.  I rolled my eyes and he smiled politely ignoring my obvious rudeness, “But would you have preferred I detailed your belief that Arthur has a normal sword, that you think I have lied and the king is or has been made to look a fool?”

             
“You’re afraid I’ll say so and that I’ll expose you as the fraud you are!” I quipped 

             
“I will take that as a no.”  Merlin simply said and I felt silent.  He looked away from me and continued.  “Perhaps I was merely suspicious it might have been you who had taken the sword, after all that would solve your problem.”

             
I jumped to defend myself.  “You are….” I began to say, but his open hand was quickly to his face to signal me to stop before I said anymore or gain more attention from someone watching and for some reason I decided to obey the sign.

             
We stopped walking and I found myself face to face with him.

             
“It matters little who has taken the scabbard, it’s not for me to judge or influence what happens next.  I have merely provided the opportunity.  It’s up to man to decide what to do with it.” Continued Merlin in a lower voice speaking more riddles and then he wished to continue our walk.  “Besides my meddling has had disastrous consequences in the past, I have no intention to repeat myself again.”

             
“What consequences, what did you do?” I asked the obvious question.  Again I somehow never finding the more intelligent words to beat him.

             
“None of your concern.” Merlin dismissed at once and then a little more upbeat added, “Tell me boy from behind the pillar, do you honestly think I would want to harm Arthur having spent so long trying to ensure he got to the throne safe and sound?  Or perhaps you might accept that you have failed to consider we might both be on the same side?”

             
These were valid questions I had to admit, but I was not prepared to think on them.  Lots of people wanted Arthur safe, but to control him not protect him.  “You tricked him, how do I trust that.”

             
“Ha, my methods might not be appreciated, but I’ve not lied to him.”

             
“You keep saying.” I answered disbelievingly.

             
Merlin continued regardless.  “And you saw him yesterday, more confident, more sure of his ability to lead.  If you consider the sword and scabbard to be as I say or not, it does not matter as it has given him the fortitude he needed“. 

             
I shook my head.  “You can’t claim Arthur’s confidence is based on a sword!” I exclaimed astounded.  “Besides the scabbard remains missing.”

             
“No, it was found shortly after the sword in the reeds.” Merlin informed as if correcting a minor misunderstanding. 

             
“But that’s not possible it’s a lie!” I let out and at once realised what I had said and how strongly I did protest the point. 

             
Merlin suddenly stopped once more.  “And how would you know that.” He teased.

             
I realised then I had no choice, no matter what I wanted I had to go along with Merlin’s games, I had to trust him despite his lies.  I had to, because somehow he knew my lies.

             
Against his piercing stare I became quickly became very uncomfortable.  A pressure to explain surged within me.  “I…”

             
Again the hand was up to hush me and at the moment he had me surrendering.  With a smile his face came closer to mine than I would have liked and he spoke with a whisper.  “I suspect you must have worked out we have created a new scabbard as you were with us all yesterday for most of the time from when the sword was found.” Merlin outlined, clearly providing a story for me to agree with as he paused to allow me to nod.  I felt controlled and hated it.  “I suspect you are also one of the very few who had a chance to see the real one and will no doubt see that the replacement is not as refined as the last, simply a host to the sword and nothing more.”

             
I did wonder later that perhaps I might not had noticed the difference, but since that time I had done nothing except glared at the real scabbard for the last couple of nights in the hayloft wishing it was somewhere else.  Therefore I knew and I hated every detail and loathed each precious stone.

             
As for Merlin’s words, I now understood the plan.  “Oh, I see.  You want people to still believe it’s the one from the lake.” I corroborated.