The Black Shield of Falworth Page #5

Do you intend

to marry Walter Blunt?

Don't torture me Myles.

I will go to your father.

No please...

Don't spoil what happiness

there is for us.

Am I always to come to you

then like a thief

over walls,

up the back stairs?

Is that your idea of love?

My darling,

it is all that is mine to give.

Anne, when I loved you less

it was enough

but no longer.

Anne!

I have appointed Giles to replace

Blunt as senior esquire.

Good.

He is certainly better liked

and the men...

You there! Come here!

How long has this been going on?

Your Lordship, I...

Out with it. I want the truth.

Nearly every week for the past year.

This time you've gone too far.

I shall give you

good reason to regret it.

Sir Alexander,

what brings you here?

I thought you

accompanied his Majesty.

King Henry rides

a few leagues behind me.

He comes to visit

Nlackworth Castle for a few days.

- How many ride with him?

- A small party.

The Prince of Wales, Count Vermois,

the ambassador from Burgundy

I know De Vermois. In joust he has

unseated many a good English knight.

The Earl of Alban and his brother

are also with the king.

Alban coming here?

It was he who suggested this visit.

Inform his Majesty all shall be

done to make his stay a pleasant one.

Myles.

Go to your quarters. Remain there

until I decide on a punishment.

I may turn this visit into something

Alban did not intend.

She's her father's daughter,

as unpredictable as the wind.

- One minute...

- Give a thought to the punishment.

- At least worry a little.

- I care not.

Then I'll do the worrying.

There's the thumb screw,

the rack.

They may hack off your ears,

or even string you up by your...

Myles!

I have just left his Lordship.

He commands that you are to joust

tomorrow with Count De Vermois.

Against the champion of Burgundy?

Do I detect a note of

reluctance in your voice?

Are you afraid?

It's not a question of fear.

If his Lordship wants to punish me

that is his privilege

but I'll not

let him make a fool of me.

Then stop talking like one.

This is not a matter of punishment.

King Henry wishes to see some sport

and his Lordship has selected

- you to represent Nlackworth Castle.

- Why me?

It is not for you to question

his Lordship's reasons.

Hear me boy.

I've worked harder with you

than with any I've ever trained.

Do you think I'd let it go for not

in one joust merely to please

a whim of his Lordship?

You think I stand a chance

against Vermois?

I have assured Lord Nlackworth

that you can defeat him.

- I will do my best Sir James.

- Good.

I have one request.

Francis Gascoyne

shall serve as my squire.

Yes, yes.

Prepare yourselves quickly. The King

will receive you in the great hall.

- So this is your man?

- Yes, your Majesty.

He seems hardly more than a lad.

I assure you,

Count de Vermois

he will give good account

of himself on the morrow.

I hope so my Lord Nlackwonh.

I've had my fill of watching

English knights go down

before the Count de Vermois.

My brother tells me you're from

one of my own villages, Crispy-Dale.

Yes my Lord.

- By what name are you known?

- Myles.

Myles what?

Surely you've another name.

I use but one name, Myles.

You hear that Count de Vermois?

You face a mysterious knight

with but one name

Sir Myles and nothing more.

I like that.

It intrigues my romantic nature.

With your Majesty's indulgence,

it is not Sir Myles.

This person has not been knighted.

Nlackwonh,

you can't expect a nobleman

to cross lances with one

who has not yet

earned his spurs.

Nly apologies your Majesty.

My delight in finding

so able an opponent

caused me to forget it.

You'll have to provide

another challenger.

Sire.

I know more about the wines

of Burgundy than its knights

but it would be excellent sport

to see their champion tumbled.

Should it please his Majesty

I'll test my lance against the count.

Come now Alban,

the laws of chivalry

require our host to name

his champion.

Choose another Nlackwonh.

I have no other who can hope

to take the measure of the Count.

Sire!

Is it not worthwhile

conferring a knighthood

to see the Count defeated?

So be it.

Have the candidate prepared.

I will confer knighthood on him

before the joust tomorrow.

Myles.

I must speak with you.

I can speak to no one until morning.

I must spend the night in the chapel

standing vigil over my armor.

I ask for only a moment.

Meg and I will go ahead.

I will set your armor

before the altar.

Yesterday we did leave

each other with cruel words.

I would they

had never been spoken.

What does it avail us

to regret the words?

The castle buzzes with

the great honor paid

the house of Nlackwonh.

The King himself is here

to announce your betrothal to

Walter Blunt.

Once I gave you my favor lightly

now wear it in earnest tomorrow

when you are knighted.

From this it will

be recognized as mine.

I want Walter, the King, my father

all to know it is you I love.

He shows your favor on his arm.

He honors me by wearing it.

You that desire to receive

the order of knighthood

swear now always to be loyal to

your King who bestows it upon you.

Swear also to maintain

and defend the weak

and to shun no adventure

of your person in battle.

I swear.

In nomine Patris et Fillii

et Spiritu Sancti.

Amen.

Sir Myles,

Sir Myles,

since yourjoust

is to be a friendly combat

it is not amiss that you meet

your opponent before crossing lances.

My congratulations Sir Myles.

It is a pity that

your moment of glory

will be followed so soon

by your moment of disaster.

Thank you Sir knight.

Your victory is assured,

if your arm is as mighty

as your tongue.

LVly Lord Nlackworth

Sir Myles carries no shield.

Is he to fight under

your coat of arms?

No sire. Under his own.

Your Majesty!

That is the black shield and

scarlet gryphon of Falworth.

Falworth?

The name is not entirely strange.

Your Majesty himself

had him declared outlaw.

A traitor to the crown.

No man in England was more loyal

to you than the Earl of Falworth.

This knight is his son.

Then is he under sentence of death.

- As all who bear the name Falworth.

- Seize him.

And what of Nlackwonh,

your Majesty?

Harboring traitors

is an act of treason.

There was

no treason in my heart

only a desire for justice.

We will let the high court

of chivalry decide.

I shall order it convened at once.

Meanwhile my Lord,

you and Sir Myles,

will remain under guard

in the castle.

I was in France when the charge

of treason was brought against him.

Before he could defend himself

he was slain by his accuser.

The Earl of Alban.

Alban?

His reward was

your father's property,

the castles and estates that

rightfully belong to you two.

Why was I not told this before?

Because like your father,

you have the devil's own temper.

One unguarded word

would have been our undoing.

So Alban lives

and it is you who have denied

me the chance to kill him.

I have given you the chance.

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