The Last Knights of Cambria Book 4: Secrets of the Mountain

Chapter 11: I get arrested and locked up in Windsor Palace (again)

Gideon
Owen and his group of knights convey us back to Windsor castle. This is like a four hour ride or so, and Owen who is a dad, consents to feed me. He doesn't want to at first. But I look sad and then he agrees to feed us so long as we eat while we ride which we can we're both tied up and being led on horses. Oisin objects to this. He's got the horn hidden in his bag. I'm hoping we won't be searched. That would be awkward. Not the most awkward thing that's happened to me here at Windsor but it's getting up there.
It's late afternoon by the time we get back. Owen and the others march us to one of the larger halls, where Henry will hold court. Naturally, Windsor is all locked down due to the ghosts, thing, that happened day before yesterday. It really has been a long week.
Not for King Henry though. No, he looks as well as ever, smirking nearly at the sight of us. He's in a dark jacket and wears no coronet, his cheeks are flushed as though he's been outside in the wind all day. Probably has. Courtenay is breaking the habit of lifetime and is three steps behind Henry, instead of his usual two. He's dressed identically to the monarch, and he must not know about the incident at the tower because he's not immediately trying to kill me.
"Greetings, your majesty, thank you for sending the ride for us, so you got my note?" I ask, very, very, very pleasantly, bowing obsequiously like I don't usually do given the bonding number of times King Henry has personally punched me in the face and woken me up by kicking the middle of my back.
The note, for the record, read as follows:

Good Morrow Your Grace,
I found Oisin MacFionn, and am currently turning him to the light (you're welcome). This will take time. We are going to attempt to locate the threat to Ireland (you're welcome). He will not be plaguing you with ghosts anymore because despite everything that has happened in the last twenty years I convinced him you're probably not at fault (you're welcome).
I'll be home soon
you're welcome
Gideon Saint III

To be clear, I wasn't in a great frame of mind when I wrote it. As in, I could still feel King Henry's boot in my back, waking me up, and that was present in my mind as I wrote it. Anyway.
"Archbishop, did the Welsh boy bring back an Irish child?" King Henry asks Courtenay, after taking one look at Oisin.
"Yes, your majesty, it seems that way," Courtenay, dying a little bit inside.
"Your Majesty," Oisin bows.
"Why are there so many children—?" King Henry says, but not to us, then he says, to me, "Do you care to explain where you've been, Saint?"
"Yes, my lord, love to. Been looking for the threat to Ireland which he had reason to believe was around here, but haven't found anything yet," I say.
"In the middle of London?" King Henry asks.
"I was sent here," Oisin says, "I accept your word that you mean my people no harm, but somebody does."
"And I wish you luck on your search. And as always as Lord of Ireland I will lend aid to the Irish people," King Henry says.
Why is he saying he's Lord of Ireland? Well because at some point in 1200 when England overthrew the last High King of Ireland, they figured they were in charge, except they literally didn't tell half of Ireland that, so in essence they had like, a little itty bitty portion of an already tiny island, and they said that was theirs, and occupied it. Sometimes if they were bored (Richard II) they'd go fight and try to get a little bit more. Like, as a hobby. Henry V's previous plans were to go and do that with Henry VI when he was old enough. But point being it's in the title, Henry calls himself Lord of Ireland.
I don't think we ever told Oisin England has lightly colonized Ireland, but thankfully he just frowns and hates Henry in silence.
"For now it would be best if you both left at first light. Saint, I do believe you belong in Wales, not my castle. And you—," he looks disdainfully at Oisin, "Would do more to protect Ireland. In Ireland."
"My lord," Oisin bows.
"My lords," I bow to them both which is something I can do 'cause I just messed up Courtenay's stuff at the Tower and he doesn't know it so it's easier to be nicer to him.
"My guards will escort you to your rooms, where you will remain, all night," King Henry says, icily, looking directly at me.
"My lord," I say, like I don't constantly spy on him and Courtenay getting wine drunk and taking about their evil little plans for world domination. I'm probably going to do that again tonight if I'm being perfectly honest.
Oisin and I both bow again, very quickly, before the guards take us out. Owen has evaporated probably off on another damn side quest. I am fine with that.
We are back in the visitor quarters, which is a nice way of saying we're basically under house arrest. we're put in the same room, which is weird but it's not like we weren't going to immediately find a way to sneak off to be together and chat anyway. It's not the same room Rhiannon and I stayed in last Christmas while we were prisoner, it's a bit smaller, but similar. Big bed, bars on the window, some clothes and things for washing up. A cage, if a gilded one.
"Was that odd to you?" Oisin asks.
"Oh, they're always like that; don't be homophobic," I whisper.
"No idea what that meant—I meant him letting me go. After what I did—," Oisin says, shrugging.
"He's pretty quick to want to send you back to Ireland—and when we discussed it the other night, he said he wanted to find out the threat to Ireland as it's a threat to England as well," I say, shaking my head, "It's a pretty abrupt turn. This is Henry we're talking about, he never doesn't have a secret agenda that betters Henry."
"Are you well enough to disincorporate?" Oisin asks, softly.
"Not just yet. Leave it. He'll be at dinner, the interesting bits happen when he and Courtenay chat instead of, you know, sleeping," I say, going to sit down on the end of the bed, "Plus, I'm exhausted."
Oisin nods, coming to sit at the opposite end of the bed. He puts his hands through his white hair.
"We can't go along with it," I say, lying back, "The only way to—even halfway one up Henry is to throw him a curve. The problem with that is, he will definitely enjoy a challenge. However. We get what we want."
"What we want is to protect Ireland," Oisin says, "And right now I have no way of doing that when I don't know what the threat is."
"No, but by Henry's changed behavior, I'm going to bet he does," I say, "Something's changed since the other night. He's adjusted his plan. Whatever his plan is."
"We know nothing. It's so frustrating," Oisin says, tipping his head back.
"No. But nor does he," I say, sitting up, "Let's give him something he doesn't expect. Tonight."
"What? And get thrown in that Tower?" Oisin asks.
"I don't know—we need to spy on Henry first. See what he and Courtenay are talking about," I sigh, "Then we can make a plan. I'll be able to disincorporate tonight."
"All right," Oisin nods.
"Wait—that's a plot hole. If your father knows—everything. Then why doesn't he know what's threatening Ireland?" I ask.
"I mean—he and I both thought it was King Henry from what we'd seen, but, if whatever it is hasn't—done anything in the last week while we've been watching—it's complicated. It's like he can see anything, but he has to know to look," Oisin says.
"Oh right so it's fallible, okay, just asking," I say, rubbing my face.
"Rest. You need to sleep," Oisin says.
"I am really tired. I'll be hungry soon though."
"Close your eyes. I'll sing to you," Oisin says, "We have many hours before night.
"'Sé mo laoch mo ghille mear
'Sé mo Shaesar, ghille mear,
Ní fhuaras féin aon tsuan ná séan,