The Truth Over The Wall

Chapter 7

Two weeks later...

Sir Richard was very pleased with himself. He had done everything within his power to make sure Alistair would be as perfect an example of Knightly excellence as there was.

He had spared no effort in his training and left nothing to chance. Alistair was quick and competent and hard working on his father's side. He was wise, understanding and intuitive as a result of Ellie's love and encouragement.

Of all the young men Sir Richard had trained, there was no one that could match him.

Well, save maybe one. But that did not really count.

And Sir Richard had always judged him without the slightest fatherly bias. How could he bear it? When Sir Richard had been King Henry's most trusted advisor and friend. He owed it to Henry to train his son meticulously and - though it hurt him - brutally.

But it had to be done. Henry had been betrayed by the cunning, self serving fools that had given him up to the witches. Those men had not only cost them their King and Queen but relinquished their own lives as a sequence.

And it was only that Henry had known - or suspected as such - that his last and most precious secret had been spared. Henry and Claire had trusted no one but Sir Richard with Hanalea's protection.

Just a few years after she had been born, her parents had asked him to take her away to Marabeck. They would come see her from time to time. But Hanalea must never take a step from Marabeck.

Or take a step into Tafah under any circumstance.

And Sir Richard had done as he had been told. In fact, it had been twenty years since Hanalea had been born and he maintained his vigil.

It would not be so hard if Hanalea did not insist on defying her parent's order.

Since the time she could walk Hanalea would devise a plan to run away - to Tafah. To her parents.

And every time, Sir Richard had foiled her plans by catching her in the act. But that did nothing to stop her. No, if anything it drove her that much further to achieve her goal.

She was determined to ride away from Marabeck...and  join her parents in Tafah.

But that all changed four years ago.

The day had started as it usually did. Actually, just a little bit differently. This particular day Hanalea had actually managed to capture a head start.

"Your Highness," Sir Richard had huffed as he chased his horse after Hanalea's, "Must we do this, EVERY. DAY?"

Hanalea had thrown her head back in a laugh, the last they would hear for years to come. She had turned to look at him over her shoulder without slowing her horse.

"You seem to be in a rather disagreeable mood, Sir Richard?" She had yelled back, teasing, "Perhaps I'll tell you a joke...when I come back!"

"That is not going to happen," Sir Richard had replied, "Because you are not going anywhere!"

Hanalea's next laugh was interrupted by something she saw up ahead. Sir Richard had turned immediately to search for what she had seen.

It was another rider headed in their direction. At their speed they soon drew closer and Sir Richard recognized the messenger's uniform.

And a detail, that he hoped had escaped Hanalea's attention, caught his eye. And gave rise to a sort of panic.

And a prayer.

"Please let me be wrong," Sir Richard gasped as he struggled to race past Hanalea, "Please, let me be wrong."

The messenger sported a black band on his arm. A sign of mourning.