The Squire's Quest, Page 2

  As the third course was concluding, a diversion broke the predictable monotony of the state dinner. A guard hurried into the hall, spoke privately with King Arthur for several seconds, then trotted away. After a moment, Arthur and Queen Guinevere rose to their feet. "My friends, I apologize for the interruption, but we have just received word that a dear friend has arrived at the court, and we must leave you for a moment." He smiled to the party from the Holy Roman Empire and said, "We shall not be gone long. Indeed, I hope to persuade our guest to join our dinner."

  A buzz of whispers began as soon as King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were gone. Terence exchanged a glance with Gawain, but neither joined in the speculation. They would be told who this guest was when the king was ready. Sure enough, a minute later, the king and queen returned, with their guest between them. She was a young lady with reddishblond hair and a firm step. Terence smiled with genuine pleasure.

  "My lords and ladies," King Arthur announced. "I present to you the Lady Sarah of Milrick."

  The king needed to say no more. Everyone at Camelot—and, from their awed expressions, even those from the Holy Roman Empire—had heard of Lady Sarah. Only a few years had passed since she, aided by Sir Lancelot, had rescued Queen Guinevere from a knight who had kidnapped her, a certain Sir Meliagant. Since then, Lady Sarah had lived quietly in the small castle that King Arthur had given her and had not been to Camelot, but Terence and Gawain had ridden with her for a time on that adventure and knew her very well. From the king's table, Sir Lancelot rose to his feet and crossed the hall to Lady Sarah. "My lady," he said reverently, kneeling at her feet.

  Lady Sarah suppressed a smile. "Oh, get up, Lancelot. It's good to see you again, too." She stood in the center of the hall, clad in her dusty traveling clothes, and gazed around the brilliantly decorated room filled with richly clothed courtiers and foreign dignitaries. "Forgive me for interrupting your dinner," she said, "but I am hungry." Queen Guinevere took her arm and began leading her to the head table, but as they passed by Sir Gawain's seat, Lady Sarah looked intently into Terence's eyes and mouthed the words, "Can we talk?"

  Until the contingent from the Holy Roman Empire left, there were no available guest rooms at Camelot, which Terence used to his advantage. By strolling among the tables during the dinner, dropping a word in Kai's ear and whispering for a moment with Eileen, he saw to it that Sarah was assigned to stay with Eileen during her time at Camelot. Having arranged that, it was easy for him simply to drop in on Eileen after dinner, once he was sure that Sarah was there. Sarah and Eileen were sitting by the fire when he swung through the open window, and Sarah gave a start. "Lud!" she exclaimed. "Does he often do that?"

  "No manners at all," Eileen said without looking up from her embroidery.

  Sarah glanced curiously at Eileen, then at Terence. Terence said, "It's good to see you again, my lady. You're looking well. Older, but well."

  "And you look exactly the same," Sarah said frankly.

  "He never ages," Eileen commented, setting a tiny stitch. "It's infuriating."

  "And how about our mutual friends? Lady Charis?" Terence went on. "I trust she's well? And Ariel?"

  Sarah frowned. "Charis is fine," she said. "I haven't seen Ariel in months."

  Terence allowed nothing to show, but his heart sank. Ariel was from the World of Faeries.

  "That's what brought me here," Sarah continued. "Ariel used to drop in every week or two, and then about six months ago, her visits stopped." Eileen looked up from her stitching, met Terence's eyes, then looked down again. Sarah went on, "I was concerned, but I didn't want to overreact and get all worried over nothing."

  "I know just what you mean," Terence said.

  "Then someone came to me and gave me a message for you."

  "Someone?"

  Sarah hesitated, glancing quickly at Eileen. "I was told to tell no one but you," she said.

  "Who told you that?"

  Sarah considered this. "Well, she didn't say I wasn't to identify her. It was Lady Morgan."

  Terence nodded. Morgan Le Fay was another of Gawain's aunts, an enchantress like her malevolent sister Morgause, but not as dependably wicked. "I see," Terence said. "Well, you can take my word for it that you may trust Eileen."

  "Still..." Sarah said.

  "If it makes any difference, let me assure you that whatever you tell me in private, I will certainly tell Eileen. So why not save time and tell us both?"

  Sarah looked between the two one more time, a faint smile on her lips, then shrugged. "All right. She said to tell you that it has started again, and that this time there would be no help from your world."

  She paused, and Terence asked, "Is that it?"

  "No, but what does that much mean?"

  "It means," Terence said, "that Morgause the Enchantress has begun yet another plot to destroy Arthur."

  "That's what I thought. She was the one behind the queen's abduction, wasn't she? And when she says there will be no help from your world, that means the faery world, doesn't it?" Terence nodded. "Why not?"

  "I haven't any idea."

  Sarah frowned. "How disappointing," she said. "I had come to think that you knew everything."

  "A lot of people think that," Eileen said. "Odd, isn't it?"

  "What else did Morgan tell you?"

  "She said that this time the threat would come through pretense and falsehood. And that's it. Oh, except that she said that you're to trust no one."

  Terence nodded. "Yes," he said. "Morgan isn't very trustworthy herself, so she has trouble understanding the concept of trust. But I don't choose to live like that." He pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "Well, that doesn't help much, but at least it confirms what I've been feeling. Thank you, Sarah."

  He fell again into a reverie, so that he was only vaguely aware of Eileen asking calmly, "Do you make a long stay at Camelot, Sarah?"

  "I should like to stay for a while, anyway," Sarah replied, "but I don't want to put you out."

  "Oh, it's no trouble. My rooms are quite large enough for two people."

  Sarah looked puzzled. "Two people? You mean you usually live here alone?"

  "Yes," Eileen replied. "Had you heard otherwise?"

  "No, but..."

  "But what?"

  Sarah took a breath. "I'm probably breaking some important rule of courtly etiquette that I never learned correctly, but I never understood why it's sometimes ill manners to say out loud what's obvious." She looked at Eileen, then at Terence, then back at Eileen. "I assumed that you two were married."

  Terence and Eileen both stared at her, but neither spoke.

  "It's as plain as day. I've never seen two people who fit together as perfectly and who were as comfortable with each other as you two are. You love each other. If you aren't married, then it's a crying shame. Are you?"

  "Yes," Terence said.

  "In a manner of speaking," added Eileen. "Mostly."

  "What does that mean?" demanded Sarah. "I didn't think you could be mostly married."

  Terence hesitated, not really wanting to tell Sarah what was known only to the two of them and Gawain, but he had every reason to trust Sarah. Besides, he had just declared in front of her that he refused to be as untrusting as Morgan, so he said, "About fifteen years ago—"

  "Sixteen," corrected Eileen, who had gone back to her embroidery.

  "Sixteen, then. Eileen and I had a private sort of wedding ceremony. It was just a few months after Gawain and I brought her to court. We slipped out on our own and went to a religious man that I knew, named Trevisant, and with him as a witness we promised to love each other faithfully.

  "Then you're married, Sarah said.

  "Sort of, Eileen said.

  "It's not exactly official," Terence admitted.

  "Why not?"

  "Well, Trevisant was a holy man, as I said, but he wasn't a priest.

  "Oh. Sarah seemed to digest this for a moment. "So why not go to a real priest? Why the secrecy?

 
; "We went to Trevisant because he was the man who raised me, Terence said. Then he grinned ruefully. "Also because I knew that he would forget it within a few days. Trevisant was peculiar that way. You see, I'm a squire—and as far as the court is aware, a squire of unknown parentage. Lady Eileen is a noblewoman from one of the oldest families in England. For her to marry so far beneath herself would ruin her socially.

  Sarah glanced at Eileen. "Does that matter to you?

  Eileen smiled briefly. "At the time it did, a little. At any rate, I agreed to the plan readily enough. It doesn't seem so important anymore, but it still matters to Terence.

  "And so," Sarah said, "for fifteen years—"

  "Sixteen, said Eileen.

  "Sixteen, I mean. For sixteen years, you've been married, sort of, mostly, but have told no one.

  "Gawain knows, Terence said. "But, yes, that's essentially it.

  "Haven't you ever thought about going ahead and making it official?"

  This time Eileen replied. "Yes, of course we have. But the longer the current arrangement goes on, the harder that becomes. To get married now, suddenly, after years of pretending to be only casual friends, would give rise to all sorts of speculation as to what had really been going on all that time. And if we explained that we hadn't been having an affair, that we had really been married—

  "Mostly," Terence qualified.

  "Sort of, added Sarah.

  Eileen ignored them. "As I say, if we told people we'd been married all along, then we would have to explain why we'd deceived them. Awkward.

  "And besides, Terence said, "we are, as you say, comfortable together. There hasn't really seemed to be a need to change.

  Sarah looked dubious, but Terence reminded himself that she was still young. Young people sometimes place excessive value on external forms and ceremonies, he remembered, so he let it go.

  "And now, Terence, Eileen said, breaking into his thoughts, "you go report to Gawain and Arthur and whoever you feel should know Sarah's news. We ladies will go to bed. It really isn't seemly for a man to be in our quarters so late, you know. We're virtuous ladies, we are.

  "Virtuous?" repeated Terence.

  "Sort of, said Eileen.

  "Mostly, added Sarah.

  Alexander of Constantinople

  Terence stood beside Kai and watched the last courtier from the Holy Roman Empire ride out the castle gates. It was shortly after noon the day after the state dinner, and Kai had worked tirelessly all morning to see that nothing prevented their leaving. Kai was always competent, but when he was speeding the departure of a large party of visiting dignitaries, he was brilliantly efficient. "Close the gates!" he called to the guards.

  "Close the gates?" repeated the guard captain. "But it's midday. The standing orders—

  "I don't care what the standing orders are!" snapped Kai. "We just got rid of that lot. If we leave the gates open, someone else'll come in." The captain grinned and did nothing. He had known Kai a long time and was familiar with his moods. After a moment, Kai shrugged and said, "Oh, all right. Suit yourself, Alan. Stick to your orders if you have to, but don't blame me if the next batch is even worse."

  For his part, Terence was as glad to see the Germans leave as Kai was, though for different reasons. Morgan's warning the night before had put him on his guard. Nothing Morgan could say would make him distrust his friends, but he didn't mind seeing some of the strangers at Camelot leave.

  A trumpet blared from the tallest watchtower, and a shout drifted down. "Party coming from the east! It's a big one!

  Kai's jaw dropped, and for a second he was speechless. Then, for several more seconds, he uttered a series of short, very blunt words. Terence sympathized with him. He didn't use those particular words himself, but he had to admit that sometimes they felt right. "Want me to go tell Arthur? he asked.

  "See who it is first," grumbled Kai. "Maybe somebody just passing through.

  Another shout came from the tower. "Advance party approaching!

  Terence walked with Kai to the main gate and waited. A minute later they perceived two horsemen approaching at a gallop, and as they drew near Terence saw that they were dressed in sumptuous silks and mounted on magnificent horses. These were no mere passersby. Kai sighed. The two riders dismounted at the gate. One was a lean, middle-aged man with a neat beard, and the other was a smiling youth. Both bowed to Kai, and the older man said in perfect but accented English, "I bid you good day, sir. Am I correct that this is Camelot, the seat of King Arthur Pendragon?

  "It is, Kai replied.

  "And is the king residing here at present?

  The man's manners were a perfect blend of deference and dignity. Kai appeared to thaw slightly. "Forgive me, but may I know who is asking?

  The older man inclined his head graciously. "Of course. I am Acoriondes of Athens, and this boy is my squire, Bernard. We come in company with my master, the Emperor of Rome.

  Terence blinked, and even Kai looked startled. "Who? Do you mean the Holy Roman Emperor?"

  Acoriondes smiled. "Do you speak of the new empire that claims the heritage of Rome? No, we come from the original empire, from Constantinople. My master is Emperor Alexander. Having heard of King Arthur's glory and wisdom, we have traveled from our distant home to meet him and learn from him.

  Terence cleared his throat. "Now should I go get the king?

  Kai nodded gravely. "Ay, Terence. Now you can do that.

  Twenty minutes later, King Arthur and most of the knights and ladies of the court were gathered in the main yard to welcome their distinguished guests. Over the past years, some of the greatest rulers of Europe had visited Camelot, but none of such power and influence as the Emperor of Rome. It was true, as Kai had said the day before, that the current empire had lost much of its former power in the past few centuries. The empire of the Caesars had included most of Europe and the entire northern coast of Africa, but since that day the nations of western Europe had broken away and Africa had been conquered by the people of Mohammed. Still, though, from its capital at Constantinople, the empire covered lands many times the size of Britain. For the Emperor of Rome to visit Arthur was a great honor.

  Since the messenger, Acoriondes, had announced the emperor, the imperial party had had plenty of time to arrive, but they seemed to be in no hurry, doubtless to give the English time to prepare a suitable welcome. At last, though, the party arrived, led by a blackbearded knight in flashing silver armor. The silver knight came to a halt and gazed around the castle courtyard with undisguised excitement. Then his eyes rested on King Arthur, who was sitting on a velvetcovered throne in the center of the courtyard, and the knight nearly threw himself from his horse.

  "You are King Arthur!" the knight called in English. It wasn't a question. "No! Do not say! I see for my own eyes! You are wisdom and greatness!" He rushed forward and threw him self at King Arthur's feet. "I am Alexander, emperor at Constantinopolis, but I am your servant!"

  King Arthur blinked with surprise. Alexander bent his head as if to kiss the king's feet, but Arthur caught his shoulder. "Nay, Your Highness!" Arthur said quickly. "You owe me no such obeisance! Stand, I beg you."

  Terence had watched this scene with only half his attention. With one eye he had been watching the courtier, Acoriondes, who had arrived immediately behind Emperor Alexander. When his master had prostrated himself before Arthur, Acoriondes had frowned, very slightly, but at Arthur's swift response, he relaxed. He nodded and gave the king a look of approval.

  King Arthur continued, "You are the Emperor of Rome?"

  Alexander smiled brightly. "It is what I am told to say. But it is silly, no? My capital is Constantinopolis. In the city called Rome, I have no power at all. There it is your pope who rules. But my counselors all tell me I must pretend to be Caesar Augustus, and so I say, 'Yes, I am the Emperor of Rome.'"

  Acoriondes looked pained again, but Arthur chuckled at his noble guest's frankness. "And I, for my part," he said, "am supposed to call myself Arthur
Pendragon, King of All England, Duke of Brittany, and several other things that I don't recall at the moment. It is, as you say, rather silly. If we have to speak of each other this way, we shall never be able to hold a conversation. Shall we break all the rules of diplomacy, you and I? I wish you would simply call me Arthur."

  Alexander's eyes shone. "And you must call me Alexander!"

  "Then I welcome you, Alexander, to my court. You do me great honor with your visit. Allow me to present to you my friend and seneschal, Sir Kai. If you or any of your court needs anything at all, you must speak to Kai."

  "I have heard of you, Sir Kai! In the songs, they call you Kai, the Slayer of Kings!"

  Nothing irritated Kai more than enthusiasm, but with an effort he managed to say only, "Honored, Your Highness."

  Alexander turned and gestured to his retinue. "You put my mind on my manners, Arthur. I must introduce you Acoriondes, the empire's first counselor. He should have stayed with my uncle, but he comes with me to keep me from ... what is the English saying, Acoriondes?"

  "Embarrassing yourself, Your Highness?" Acorion-des said drily.

  "Yes, of course! It is a heavy task, no? Also, Acoriondes speaks your language well! So I could not spare him for my uncle."

  "Your uncle?" inquired Arthur.

  "My father's brother. I left him as regent over the empire while I am away. He did not wish it, but he agreed. Dear Uncle Alis!"

  Kai coughed slightly. "Your uncle is named Alice?"

  "Yes. Is it not a name found in England?"

  "Well, it is," Kai admitted. "I myself know several Alices, but—"

  Acoriondes cleared his throat. "It is a Greek name," he explained. "In your letters it would be spelled A-L-I-S."

  Alexander laughed. "But you are like a schoolteacher, Acoriondes! No one cares how it is spelled!"

  "I thought it might explain things, Your Highness," Acoriondes said with a slight bow.