The situation was clear to them all. As Calum and Kenan went to collect their group of men, Val turned to Mayne.
“Pick your men to take to the second floor,” he told the man. “But remember that sleeping men, when caught off-guard, can often act before thinking. Watch your head.”
Mayne nodded. “I have every intention of doing that,” he said. “Some men consider scars a mark of honor. I, for one, do not.”
Val fought off a grin at the vain knight. “Then let this operation not mar your tender skin,” he said, a dig at Mayne’s pride. “Get on with it. I will position men around the inn and wait at the entry for you to drive the mob towards me.”
“Aye, my lord.”
As Mayne went to pick his men, Val took the remaining fourteen with him towards the tavern. Off to his left, he could see Calum and Kenan heading towards the other tavern, moving through the mud and debris that had collected overnight along the road. They made a concerning sight, armed for battle as they were. Villeins going about their business were intimidated by the sight of so many armed men.
Val knew that word of their appearance would quickly get around, so he emitted a soft whistle between his teeth, motioning to Mayne and his men to quickly enter The Golden Pheasant. As Mayne and his soldiers ran past him, entering the front of the tavern in a well-organized group, Val hurriedly positioned his men around the perimeter and instructed six of them to enter from the rear along with Mayne. That way, both floors would be covered. That left eight on the perimeter, watching doors and windows. Val was just about to give them the signal to move, another one of those piercing whistles, when the entry door of the inn lurched open.
A man and a woman spilled forth into the early morning, bearing satchels and heavily robbed against the cold. But it wasn’t just any man and woman; Val immediately recognized an old ally with an unfamiliar young woman at his side. In fact, thesight was rather surprising and all Val could think of was getting the pair out of the way before a mob of terrified people trampled them as his men chased the patrons from the tavern.
“D’Avignon?” Val said as he moved quickly towards the man. “McCloud d’Avignon?”
Sir McCloud d’Avignon, hearing his name, turned in Val’s direction. He had been moderately concerned when he came out of the tavern and saw all of the armed soldiers. But when Val called to him, his concern turned to both surprise and relief.
“De Nerra?” he boomed, grabbing the young woman by the arm as he headed in Val’s direction. “Is it really you?”
“It ’tis.”
“I’ve not seen you in years!”
“It has been a long time.”
“What are you doing here? And who are all of these men?”
Val reached out to take the man by the arm. “Come away from the door,” he said, not really answering his question. “I do not want you to become caught up in what is surely to come.”
He pulled McCloud and the young woman away from the tavern just as screams began to erupt inside. Hearing that his orders were already being carried out, Val signaled to one of his men to commence and the man emitted a shrill whistle in response. With that, there were the sounds of a massive crash and more screams coming from the rear of the tavern.
It all sounded quite harrowing. Val increased his pace, pulling McCloud and the woman across the road and towards the livery as the entire tavern began to erupt.
“God’s Bones, Val,” McCloud said, realizing there was some danger going on behind them. “What is happening?”
Val’s attention was on the tavern, distracted as he spoke to McCloud. “A fugitive,” he said. “A knight who killed Lord Horsham’s son. I have been asked to bring the man to justice.”
McCloud was eyeing the tavern with great concern. From the sound of it, whatever was happening inside wasn’t good. “The poor man,” he muttered. “My daughter and I were just inside the tavern and it was very crowded. What does the man you seek look like?”
Val took his attention off the tavern for a brief moment. “A tall knight with red hair and a red beard,” he said. “Did you see anyone that fits that description?”
McCloud shook his head. “Alas, I did not,” he said. “But that means nothing. The sleeping rooms were all full. He could have been in one of those.”
Val simply nodded, his focus returning to the tavern. “I will find him,” he said. “Meanwhile, it was good to see you. Pleasant journey to you.”
McCloud sensed his distraction. “And I wish you well in your endeavor to bring about law and order,” he said. “A pity we do not have time to speak and become acquainted again. I have missed you, my old friend.”
Val was torn now, because he did want to speak with McCloud. But he was focused on the task at hand. Therefore, he did the only thing he could.
“Then come and sup with me this evening,” he said. “Please allow me to extend the hospitality of Selborne Castle.”
McCloud looked at the young woman with him, who was nearly completely obscured by the hooded cloak she wore. There was some indecision on his face as the young woman shook her head. “We… well, we were traveling home but I would very much like to feast with you this evening,” he said. “Where is Selborne?”
Val’s attention was back on the tavern because the front door had burst open and screaming men and women were being purged from the innards of the tavern.
“Four miles to the west,” he said. “You cannot miss it. It sits like a great lioness crouched on a hillside overlooking the land.”
