Broken timeline - Part One

Chapter Twenty One - Inheritance

I was standing in front of the wardrobe, completely stunned by the person standing in front of me. Out of everyone in the castle, he was probably the last man I would think of, when it came to my safety.

"Sir Thomas... I... why... how ?" I babbled, barely able to form a decent sentence. I was still dealing with my near death experience and definitely couldn't think straight.

"Calm down Lady Emma, everything will be alright. I do apologize for not explaining anything earlier, and I will do so, in the near future. But for now, I believe that you need to be removed from these apartments, for you are not safe here any longer."

"But... where will I go ? Sir Thomas I have no place of my own."

"Do not fear anything, as soon as the sun arises, I shall ask of His Majesty to give you the protection of new chambers. For now if you please, I believe that you should remain with me. I have a spare room in my lodgings, perfectly suitable for you."

I couldn't quite grasp the reason why he would want to help me, but for now it didn't seem like I had a choice. He had, in fact, saved me and right now, he was the only living soul I could trust in this castle. I was about to walk away with him when I remembered that my stuff, was still hidden underneath the wardrobe.

"Wait ! I almost forgot my... Erm..." I said, before stopping. I couldn't get it without raising any suspicions. And right now Sir Thomas was helping me, but as soon as he sees what's inside my bag, he might change his mind.

"You can collect your pouch if you need to, I will not trespass on your privacy... If that's what you fear." he confessed in a low voice, interrupting my train of thoughts.

I gasped.
'How did he know ?!'

"Oh... Thank you !" I said hastily, as I crouched to grab my bag and grabbed my clothes that were still on the chair. I shoved my jeans and shirt inside of it and wore my trench coat. I didn't think that walking inside the castle at the dusk of night, wearing only a linen dress, with Sir Thomas, was really the epitome of discretion.

We were calmly walking through the left aisle, when I decided to break the silence.
"Sir Thomas... how did you know that I hid my purse underneath the dresser ?"

I know, I know. I was shooting myself in the foot with this question, but I needed to know what he really thought, and I had so many questions !

"Well if you must know, I saw you pushing it underneath it. I have to say, you are as subtle as a canon."

"Oh..." was all I managed to answer.

"For now, if you do not mind, I beg you to differ your questions until we can speak more privately." He said that in such a firm tone, that I didn't dare to speak again.

After a few minutes that felt like hours, we had finally arrived at his front door. His room was small and only lit by a few candles on the table, placed at the centre of the room. Pieces of parchment and books were spread all over it, along with ink and quill pens.

"Are you writing something Sir ?" squealed the lit major in me.

He looked at me, puzzled by what I had just asked. He didn't answer immediately and went to tidy up the table. He retrieved a light blanket from a chest, that looked made of the finest oak with impressive carving on it.
"Come, the room is right this way" he said leading the way towards a small passageway. Suddenly the worst thought came into my mind.

'Em... What if he kills you right here and now ? What if all that was just a fake attempt at making you trust him ?'
I stopped in the middle of the corridor, and froze, my mind slowly piecing together, and slowly reverting back from it's state of shock. Sir Thomas sensed that I wasn't following him anymore and turned around.

"Lady Emma, please... this way"

"Why ? Why are you helping me ? You do not know me, and as far as I know, I have no knowledge of your intentions or of your character."

He hesitated for a moment before answering me. "I am helping you because you remind me of one of my daughters. I try to think that if she ever found herself lost, that she might come upon someone like me. I am behaving like the Lord would have, given the same situation."

Right. Sir Thomas was a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician. But also a very devout catholic, that spent his entire life serving God.

"But why would you believe what I say ? You could be mistaken about my disposition and be punished for trusting me. I don't understand, why a man of your status and benefiting from the King's friendship and trust, would help a nobody ?" I asked, nearly out of breath.

He stared at me for a few seconds and kept walking towards the room. He put the linen and blanket on top of the bed and sat on it.

"You remind me of my late friend Georges Hastings, a student at Oxford University. He had a very unusual attribute and was well educated, having seen more of the world than I could ever hope. I have always admired him..."

"Hastings ?" I wondered out loud.

"Yes... I too, was astonished at the coincidence. Hastings is a very common name in this country, but you have also his features." he continued, while carefuly observing me.

"Pray... Sir, what did happen to this man ?"

"He... departed one day, without any word. Not even his family knew of his whereabouts. He completely vanished into thin air and was never seen again. Not at court, or anywhere else for that matter. I did try and searched for him... but it was all in vain. He was never heard of ever again. "

'Oh my God ! Em' ! This can't be a simple coincidence ! A man with your name has also disappeared !'

My mind was right. This can't be a happy accident, something must've happened. I was not here just for the sake of it, and I needed to find out why.

"I am very sorry for your loss Master More..."

"Yes... Well it is in the past now... You should rest for now. Do not forget that we are expected at the jousting tomorrow." He said before leaving me and closed the door.

God, I had completely forgotten about this ! I didn't know why, but something important will happen on this event, but I couldn't remember what it was.

'Em... I'm sleepy' said my inner mind.

Yeah I know, I should sleep. I covered myself with the linen and blanket and immediately dozed off. After a few seconds, I woke up abruptly.

I remembered.

"Shit ! The injury ! Henry ! It's gonna happen tomorrow !", I screamed, panting.