A Brother's Love - Book 3 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Chatelain's prayers became more fervent a week later, after a fray caused by a company of knights and soldiers who rode in through the manor house gates and demanded that Baron Chatelain return with them to the capital, at the orders of the king of Frencolia!

The knight in charge growled, "We have strict instructions that Chatelain is not to leave the district of Chanoine, under any orders! So what king would give you orders that contradict those of His Majesty, King Elliad, king of Frencolia?"

"King Elliad wishes to take counsel with the baron," the reply came as the knight handed over the papers. But Sir Rowen knew the story about Sir Tristan and he also knew that Elliad would be the last person to request counsel from a religious person. Rowen had been posted in Ahren before Elliad had relocated him to Chanoine. As Sir Rowen perused the papers given to him by Sir Brian, he became more and more suspicious about the origin of this contradictory directive. "The king will have my head if I allow a small company to make off with my baron," he muttered under his breath.

"I haven't met you, before, Brian! You have a strange accent. Are you from Frencolia?" Rowen asked. "How is it you have such a small company with you to escort my baron?"

Brian was not going to divulge such information to this impertinent knight who challenged the seal and signature of the king he served. Before Sir Rowen had time to realize the red-haired man's intentions, the knight drew his sword, and commanded that Chatelain be brought, on orders of the king. The action of one knight drawing his sword, confronting another knight in the king's name, spoke of treason against the throne. Rowen, much older than Brian, drew his sword and blocked the careless swipe as it slashed towards him. The younger man had hoped for such an answer to his challenge. Within minutes, Sir Rowen lay dead at the gate and the intruders were locked in a battle with guards and soldiers who joined the combat to prevent the capture of the baron.

Greatly outnumbered by the large company commissioned by Elliad to 'guard the king's interests in Chanoine', Sir Brian retreated to ride back to Frencberg. However, Sir Lorie and a large company followed, some distance behind, to check out the facts. If the king had, indeed sent Sir Brian, then the king was going to be furious.

~~~~~

Chatelain had prepared the children's schoolroom for serious copying of the Gospel Book volumes. Six desks were positioned to receive maximum daytime light and large candle lamps were built to radiate bright light at night and for the coming winter months.

Idleness had never been part of Chatelain's life and he looked forward to the hours he would spend in this room, hand-copying the important volumes for distribution in Frencolia.

The king, through Mortimer, had sanctioned the baron to make such copies.

Chatelain did not feel bothered that Elliad thought he was going to build a printing press to do the work; he himself had promised no such invention. He had only asked that he be allowed to reproduce Gospel Books.

The baron removed the lock from the door and with a little tinkering, he altered both the lock and one key to match. The door would only be able to be unlocked by the key that he would carry on a chain around his neck. Chatelain was very pleased with his handwork and moved to the small hall where Luke's tutor was teaching advanced Latin.

Jobyna had been urged to sit in on the lessons and the tutor was pleased with her quick learning. Precisely at this moment, the battle out front took place. Within minutes, the bell tolled in Chanoine. After the fifth toll, it was silent.

Everyone knew that this was the 'new' number to broadcast that Chanoine was under attack—every villager could count the fingers on one hand. All soldiers and village men were expected to report to respective emergency assembly areas. The baron commanded Luke and Jobyna to remain in the small hall and he sent Sabin to fetch Elissa to the same place of safety. He himself, hurried outside, hoping to glean information about the supposed 'attack'. Running to the front gates, Chatelain viewed the casualties from Brian's brief but bloody battle.