Therefore, Tatius remained tucked up against the wall, watching his army move out and head to the opposite side of town. Overhead, clouds were gathering and Tatius didn’t want to be caught in the rain. It was as good an excuse as any to gather himself and head inside, looking for the escort of WilliamMarshal and wondering if Atilius’ irritation was because he hadn’t found the escort.
Based on what he’d heard his brothers speaking of, Tatius knew they were supposed to be in Longton and they had assumed it was The Crown and Anchor Inn. But perhaps they’d been wrong, because the entire army had moved to the other side of town. In any case, Tatius headed inside the structure that had a big sign nailed to the wall above the door–The Crown and Anchor Inn.
The common room of the tavern was spacious and surprisingly warm, smelling of fresh bread and a hard-packed dirt floor. It was also strangely empty except for three knights, who were standing over near the staircase that led to the upper floor. As soon as Tatius entered, the knights swiftly turned in his direction in an edgy manner. As they faced each other in the dimness of the chamber, he immediately saw the tunics they wore– the split green and yellow three-point shield with the red lion– the standard of William Marshal.
He’d found what he was looking for.
Quickly, he put up his hands.
“Please,” he said as he made his way over to them, timidly. “I seek William Marshal’s escort, the one bringing Lady Cadelyn to The Paladin. I will presume that is you?”
A very big knight with blond hair and piercing blue eyes seemed to put himself out in front of the others. “Who are you?” he demanded. “Identify yourself before I throw you out on your ear.”
Tatius knew that he probably would, too, so he hastened to prevent the knight from doing such a thing. He held up his hands to beg patience.
“I have something to show you,” he said, slowly pulling back his cloak to expose his clothing, which was worn and somewhatdirty from the mud he’d rubbed on himself. “I will show you who I am.”
With that, he pulled forth a dagger, very slowly, and set it on the nearest table. He also removed one of his gloves, which were his fine riding gloves, and pulled off a ring, setting that on the table next to the dagger. Then, he stood back and invited the knights to inspect what he’d placed on the table.
The knights eyed the stuff for a moment before the knight that had spoken to him took a step towards the table, paused and scratched his neck, and then took another few steps to the table to look down at what had been laid upon it. He only observed for a moment, and didn’t touch, before finally picking up the ring and inspecting it. That was when he turned to Tatius with a different expression.
Incredulity, perhaps.
“This is the seal of the House of de Shera,” he said. “What do you have to do with de Shera?”
Tatius maintained his position a few feet away. “I am Tatius de Shera,” he said. “I am the Earl of Ellesmere and I followed my brothers here because I was not invited. They came without my permission.”
That brought a very strong reaction from the other two knights, both of whom rushed the table to inspect the elegant and very expensive dagger with the de Shera crest as well as the ring. A second knight with dark hair spoke.
“Youare Ellesmere?” he said, shock in his voice.
Tatius nodded. “I am,” he said. “I would swear upon my oath as a knight if I could, only I have not been a knight in over twenty years. I have not been on a battlefield in that long. William Marshal could identify me, but since he is not here, I suppose my brothers could– but I pray you do not ask them to. They want me dead and if you ask them, it will be my death warrant.”
The three knights gazed at him in various degrees of shock, concern, and doubt. It was clear that puzzlement was more prevalent than anything, which was understandable considering Tatius had always kept himself away from armies and battle. Then, one of the men broke off from the group, a knight with blond hair so pale that it was white, and bolted through the front door. The aged panel slammed in his wake, leaving the other two knights standing by the table inspecting what Tatius had left there for them to scrutinize.
Tatius was very concerned about the knight who had swiftly departed.
“If he goes to find my brothers, I shall be dead by morning, I assure you,” he said again, more insistent. “I will leave this instant and you will never know why I have come if he has gone off to find my brothers.”
The knight with the dark hair shook his head. “I do not believe he has done that,” he said. “He would not have done it without consulting with me.”
“Then where has he gone?”
“I do not know.”
Tatius was feeling nervous. He rushed to the table and collected his ring and his dagger, backing away towards the kitchens and the rear door.
“My brothers have a scheme and I have come to tell you of it,” he said. “But you shall never know what it is if you bring my brothers here and the lady you have escorted will be in grave danger. Do you understand me?”
The blond knight with the golden beard stepped forward. “What scheme?” he asked. “What is going on? And if you are Tatius de Shera, why are your brothers here without you?”
Tatius opened his mouth to reply but the entry door opened again and the white-haired knight returned with someone in his grasp. When Tatius recognized a de Shera soldier, he started tobolt, but the blond knight grabbed him and refused to let him go. Tatius struggled as the white-haired knight dragged the soldier across the common room until they were near Tatius and the blond knight. The white-haired knight grabbed the soldier by the skull and forced his head in Tatius’ direction.
“Tell me who this is,” the white-haired knight said in a heavy Irish brogue.
The soldier, who had a big bruise on his cheek that was swelling right before their eyes, looked fearfully at Tatius. Timidly, he pointed.
“Him, my lord?”
