Portrait of a Knight

Chapter 11: The Baron of Bristol

I stood on the balcony of my new estate in Southampton. I had arrived in England nearly three months ago. It was now November. The trees had lost much of their leaves and stood as twisted brown sculptures across my estate.
I should explain my standing. After I had liberated Awansoka, I made it big in the gold and ivory trade. I had purchased forty thousand slaves from across the African continent. Men, women, and children, I bought as many as I could. When they finally arrived, I emancipated all of them. And with forty thousand free persons, I began mine own kingdom in Ghana. The landmass I accumulated rivaled the Ghanaian kings, but they did not trouble mine property. We had a mutual respect for one another. Besides, I now was the leader of a vast array of newly freed people. Being enslaved again would not be on their agenda.
My pockets overfilled with gold and wealth. But the life of a king is not what I envisioned for myself. After seeing the foundation for my city, Protelepolis (it is meant to be, the "first free city"), I shipped back to England aboard my new warship, the Sea Prince. I needed a break from leading. It was exhausting and not at all what I thought it would be. Arthur made it look easy. I decided to leave Diego in charge. My new people had great respect for him and answered him without hesitation. His wit was sharp. I held in good thought he would do well.
I took a sip of mine tea. It was lemon and honey, warm and sweet.
"Maestro! Maestro Chrysós!" I looked down. It was mine servant, Esmeralda Ricos. She was near twenty-nine, with a good conscience and an incredible fashion sense. She was also really good with arithmetic, for a woman. She handled much of mine finances and catered to mine needs. I picked her up in Valencia, Spain, when I had stopped there briefly on orders from Diego.
"Yes, Esmeralda?" I asked.
"Las noticias que han pedido-"
"En inglés, por favor," I said.
"Lo siento, Maestro. Hmm. I apologize Master Chrysós. The news you have asked me to keep my eye in the paper for... it is here."
My eyes widened. "Bring it up here, quickly."
Esmeralda did as she was told and hurried into the manor. I wanted her to speak English not because I couldn't understand Spanish. Quite the contrary, the language was most impressively burned into mine brain. Diego was a very good teacher. I wanted Esmeralda to speak English to keep up appearances. I wanted to fit in. There was no need for me to stand out amongst the crowd. I had a plan after all.
Esmeralda appeared through the glass door and came to me. I always wondered if she was okay serving someone nearly eleven years younger than she.
"Master Chrysós, here it is." She handed me the paper. "The Duchess Desiree Faire will be marrying the young Baron John Ashenhurst II."
I read through the paper. "Esmeralda, thou hast taken in the knowledge I have ordered thee to learn?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Inform me."
"Sir, Henry, the boy you were a squire with, died last year. Alcohol poisoning it would seem."
"Poor Henry," I mourned. "Never could stay away from the liquor. Just like his master. And the Baron Ashenhurst?"
"Two and one half years prior, John Ashenhurst Senior past of typhoid. Baron John succeeds him. He has spent much of the Bristol estate and runs low on funds. The Duchess Desiree Faire has taken a rare role as a woman in Parliament and as Duchess. Her political mind is sharper than most of the men's. She is a very young and noteworthy woman.
"One would be lucky to attain her hand in marriage. Sir, if you don't mind me saying, your form of knowledge would be a great match for her. Do you fancy her?"
"She is quite the specimen," I sighed. I had finished reading the paper. I tucked it under mine arm. "We haven three weeks until the wedding. Esmeralda, how much is known about me to the English at this time?"
"I have been keeping up on that too, Master Chrysós. Your armor made the paper three weeks prior. It chronicled your valiant triumph over the rebels of the Wash. Actually, sir, if you'd please," she reached her hand out. I handed her the newspaper. "I believe I read something in here about an honoring of the Golden Knight by His Majesty."
"You don't say?"
I looked off toward the pasture. I had many thoroughbred steeds galloping about. Something caught mine eye.
"Esmeralda, go down to the door and welcome our incoming guest. I'll be down in a minute."
I disappeared into the house.
Esmeralda's voice trailed after me. "What guest? I don't see anyone... Oh! How does he do it? That carriage was so far..."
***
I entered the drawing room. Esmeralda was waiting upon our guest along with mine other servant, Hemru. Hemru was dark of skin, and nearly twice the age of Esmeralda and full of gray and wisdom. I did not have any servants or valets from England. My crew was comprised of only Africans or continental Europeans. My circle of trust was small on this island.
"Hemru, Esmeralda, I will tend to our visitor. You two may exit."
"Right away, Master Chrysós," nodded Hemru. He and Esmeralda vacated the room.
I observed mine guest from across the drawing room. Behind black couch from whence he sat rose my shelves adorned with books. Their apex scraped the high arching ceiling, which of course was painted with mine favorite Greek tragedy: Troy.
I approached the man on my couch. He wore ornate robes and was youthful to the bone. His long hair was light and bright and his eyes a forest like green, as if spring was in full effect behind them.
"So, thou art mine gracious host?" The guest addressed. He was nearly a man if not already.
"I am." I masked mine accent. "Tell me, what is your name?"
The man rose to meet me. His head barely reached mine nose. I noticed on his hip a long sword. Its make was of mine hands. He extended a hand in friendship. "I am a baron. Baron John Ashenhurst II." I took his hand gruffly. I dared not flinch. "I believe I heard thy servants address thee in an odd name. Cricket was it?"
"Chrysós," I said clearly. I gripped his hand tighter. His arm strained. "You would be wise to remember it."
"Oh!" He pulled his hand back and clutched it momentarily before thrusting it behind his back. "Won't forget it. Foreigner art thou?" I didn't reply. "Not much is known about ye round here. Thy profits art a mystery..." When he realized I would not divulge a thing about myself, he straightened up. "Say, why don't we skip these slow introductions. I've always been a man to get to the point. My soon-to-be uncle is hosting my wedding next week up in York.
"Thou seemest a gentleman in good standing." He gestured to mine abode. "Thy wealth and deeds hath caught his eye."
"Ey?"
"Thou wilt see soon nuff. The Golden Knight..." He inched closer. "Mine soon-to-be uncle, thou wilt be wise to know, is King Edward IV. He has agents all over the land and after thy charitable deeds of crushing the Wash rebels-single-handedly mind thee-he requests thy presence at mine wedding. To refuse," he paused and twisted his face, "would be unwise."
"That so?" I grunted. He nodded. "Well," I continued, "it just so happens that I have business up in York in the next week or so."
"Wonderful! You'll be able to attend the wedding then. How grand!" Something caught his eye and his hand flew to mine chest. "What a strange necklace thou wearest?"
I swatted his hand away and clutched the half drachma strewn around mine neck by cord. I tucked it into my shirt. "A personal item. A trinket and nothing more."
"Quirky. My girlfriend has one just like it. Must be a common knick-knack, aye?"
"Sure," I said gruffly.
"I see... thou dost not prefer many words. Very well it is. Here." John reached into his robes and produced a scroll, sealed by a green ribbon. He set it on a nearby table. "The date and invitation. It would probably be best to leave thy special armor at home, or better yet... bring it. Mine uncle would love to see it.
"Oh, and a last tidbit of information I have to bestow upon ye. You declare yourself a knight, but we do not recognize knights unless sired by the Crown. However, the Crucible, the finest knight's guild in the land, will all be in attendance. As will their brilliant and renowned leader, Sir Nicholas Maycot. Maybe you can learn a thing or two. Gracious tidings to you."
Without another word, Baron John Ashenhurst II ducked out of mine home and eloped in his carriage.
Splack! Esmeralda and Hemru rushed into the room. The table the scroll rested on was splintered and broken across the floor. I pulled my fist to chest.
"Master Chrysós," cried Esmeralda. "Is everything all right? We heard a commotion."
"Everything is fine, our plan of action is working perfectly. The Golden Knight has attracted the right attention. I will be in front of the Crucible soon enough."
"Sir?" Esmeralda inquired. She was smart, and figured I did not work this entire plot just to have an audience.
"There be a slight hiccup, Esmeralda. The wedding will not be in three weeks." I held up the unrolled scroll. "We need to speed up our time table. We leave for York tomorrow."
"Master Chrysós," Hemru stepped forward. His graying eyes followed mine movements. "Don Aragones said-"
"I know, Hemru. I am not here for revenge. Even after what Maycot has done, not to me alone, but also the Don. Even then he persists I do not kill him. It frustrates me, but I abide by the Don's command. As for John, I am not concerned." I glanced from one to the other. "I am here for one thing alone... I am here for Desiree Faire."