The Black Shield of Falworth Page #6

Why do you think your training

has been so ruthless?

Why I had Sir James teach you

every skill he knows?

Why we tricked the King into

conferring knighthood upon you?

For when you had to challenge

England's most powerful knight.

With the gallows facing us?

With guards at every door?

I foresaw this when

we revealed your identity.

When they take you before the court

it is your right to clear

your family name.

As the son of Falworth, you are

the one man with cause to challenge

Alban to trial by combat.

But what will happen to you

and the Lady Anne, my Lord?

When Myles vindicates the name

of Falworth, he vindicates me

And leaves Anne free to give

her heart where she will.

But you make no mention that

it may be Myles who is slain.

In all your planning

did you think of this?

Now when there is no turning back

you tell him of your intrigue.

Why was he not told while

the choice was still his?

Why was I not told?

I would have

gone away with you Myles.

We could have

found happiness somewhere.

And let the name of Falworth

stay forgotten.

I have no right to happiness

until my father's death is avenged.

Oh I wish you'd never come

to Nlackworth Castle.

That you'd remained as you were.

And never learned of your birth.

Then I would not have met you.

I am grateful to you my Lord.

You have given purpose to my life.

A great purpose Sir Myles.

Alban's death will end

the ring of evil around King Henry.

The fate of the realm

rides on your lance.

You will come with me.

I fancy you'll find the dungeon

more to your peasant taste.

Dungeon?

LVly brother pointed out

to King Henry

that Sir Myles is already

under sentence of death.

There is no reason to try him.

As a knight of the realm

he has the right to be heard.

His rights are being observed.

We're already building the gallows.

Those are the facts.

Therefore my lords

I accuse the Earl of Nlackworth

of obstructing the King's justice

by helping the family

of an adjudged traitor.

Again I deny the Earl of Falworth

was guilty of any treason.

But you do not deny harboring

his two children

knowing they were

under sentence of death.

No, that I do not deny.

From his own lips.

Nlackworth stands convicted.

Let him pass.

He is here at the Prince's command.

Your Majesty,

my gracious lords.

Who released this man?

I did, in your name sire.

So that justice might be done.

I do here and now deny

that my father was a traitor.

And I proclaim that his accuser

Gilbert of Alban

is a foul

and an attainted liar.

And I offer to prove the truth

of what I say in combat.

I hereby cast down my gage,

Gilbert of Alban.

Stop.

Once take up the gage Lord Alban

and the matter

passes from this court.

Let it lie.

Unless your content to let

heaven judge the issue

in trial by combat.

Fail to take it up my Lord and

you'll stand branded not only a liar

but a coward.

Your Majesty

the ways of heaven

are a mystery to me

but of my own prowess

I have no doubt.

So be it.

The issue between you

shall be decided in combat

and may God defend the right.

With my Men At Arms

in Nlackworth Castle sire

we need have no further fears

for your safety.

LVly son is not the first heir to

a throne to plot against his father.

I pray my suspicions

are unfounded sire.

He revealed that the fool

and the drunkard were a masquerade.

As you said all that has happened

here is part of a conspiracy.

Who knows where it will end?

I leave my safety in your hands.

With my life sire.

LVly Lord,

by your Highness' leave

I have just completed a tour

of the sentry posts.

Our guards have been disarmed

by order of the King.

Alban's men have

taken over every gate.

Tell me again what speech

you had with Walter Blunt.

Speak girl!

Walter came to me with an offer.

He said if I married him,

your life would be spared.

He said after tomorrow only

his brother could grant you a pardon.

Alban is brash

as well as confident.

It is the King's prerogative

to grant pardons.

But he spoke as if there

were no king, only Alban.

You must leave the castle at once,

your Highness.

Alban is ambitious enough

to aspire to the throne itself.

Tomorrow, you, the King,

the High Court, everyone

who stands in his way

will be assembled in one group

at the mercy of his Men At Arms.

We underrated him.

This we did not foresee.

Sir James,

have they also disarmed the squires?

Of what avail are untried boys

against seasoned Men At Arms?

But they have been trained

by Sir James.

They also will be outnumbered

by three to one.

We must get word

to Sir Hubert and the others.

Your Highness is the only man

who can get through that gate.

Even Alban will not

dare to stop you.

More important with the heir

to the throne away from here

it might forestall his treachery.

The saints willing my Lord

tomorrow I shall

put an end to it forever.

To assist the saints

I shall return with loyal

Men At Arms before you face him.

Whatever happens here

I would like to know my Anne

is safe, and Meg.

- Take them with you.

- I'll not go.

- Nor I.

- Francis.

Tell Dame Ellen

to bring their traveling cloaks.

And make haste!

I envy his Highness

the pleasure of your company.

Open the gate.

LVly orders are that your Highness

is not to leave.

Does the Earl of Alban dare issue

orders against a prince of the realm?

The order is from his Majesty.

You'd best return to your apartments.

Your Highness,

what of Sir Hubert?

Alban's trap is tightly closed.

I shall be with your father.

Dame Ellen, find Sir Walter Blunt.

Tell him to come to me in the garden.

If you have the love for me

you claim, prove it.

Why this sudden

change of heart my Lady?

When last I saw you, I offered

to intercede for your father

and you sent me away.

I was sick with worry,

beyond thinking.

Or is it that you expect me

to ask mercy for Myles Falworth?

I ask only for my father's freedom.

Your ardor for the farm boy

seems suddenly diminished.

I didn't know he was a traitor

and would bring harm to my father.

If it rested with me, the gallows

would face him tomorrow.

Instead of

an honorable end in combat.

Either way,

you'll forget him in time.

It would be easier if I did not

have to witness his death.

Help me leave here Walter.

Await me at Alban Castle.

Meanwhile I'll do all I can

for your father.

You will find me grateful.

I want more than

your gratitude Anne.

- Nlay I take Dame Ellen to attend me?

- As you wish.

- How soon can you be ready?

- I am ready now.

- Dame Ellen,

- Yes, my Lady.

Fetch my cape please.

- Thank you.

- I'll pass you through the gates

and arrange for two guards

to accompany you for your protection.

We should be nearing Alban Castle.

What place is this?

It is called Crispy-Dale.

The ride has made me thirsty.

I see a farmhouse ahead.

We shall stop there for water.

I'll fetch you some water.

Help me down.

Guard, you may as well

water the horses.

LVly Lady.

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