Sessions. Surrender Thomas peacefully.”
That Owain recognized Haven’s insignia was no surprise. Any good sergeant-at-arms should know the symbol of every man—friend or foe—that his master knew. “I cannot. The king charged me to bring him Dreyford’s family. I shall do so or die in the attempt.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to kill you, but have care for Thomas. He seems fond of you, and it might distress him to see you gutted.”
Behind him, Haven heard Thomas gasp.
Haven felt like groaning in despair. He grinned instead. “Fear not Thomas, Owain is not going to gut me. In fact, he will not hurt me at all.”
“Whoa ho.” Owain laughed. “Is Edward’s true and perfect knight also a fool?”
“Hardly,” Haven snorted. “What’s more, I think you know how little a fool I am.”
“Since you seem to think that I am blessed with foreknowledge of your plans, why not explain to my friends here how you’ll manage to escape in one piece with Thomas when fifteen armed men surround you.”
“I will not escape. You and your friends will escort me back to my camp and there swear fealty to me and my overlord, King Edward of England.”
“Do you also believe that boars have teats?”
The men in the circle laughed, adding crude jests of their own about Haven’s lack of reasoning skills.
“Nay I do believe you know that the moment news of my death at your hands reaches Edward he will hunt you to the ends of the earth. I do not think an outlaw life is what you or your men want. In fact, I am certain of it, because Roger wrote that you shared with him your dreams to gain a holding. I would wager others of your band have similar dreams.”
The laughing men fell silent. So he had hit home. Roger had written no such thing. Haven had gambled on what he knew to be true of most men in service to another man.
“Bah,” Owain snorted. “As the loyal retainers of a traitor we are already condemned and outlawed. What difference does it make if we kill you or not?”
“If that’s what you believe, very little. But have you seen the order outlawing any or all of you? I doubt that Edward wrote such a thing. He’s more interested in finding the source of Roger’s treason than in the men who followed him because they vowed to do him service.”
“Just because I have not seen it does not mean such an order does not exist.”
“True, but what if you could prove that you were not vassals to a dead traitor but to a living, trusted servant of the king?”
“Are you offering us places in your retinue?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Many reasons. Most chief among them is that I do not believe Roger would accept fealty from men who would betray their overlord, no matter who he was. That means you are trustworthy. Second, Edward needs experienced men to fight against the Welsh.” Haven decided not to mention as a reason the guilt he felt for his own part in their former lord’s death.
“A moment, Sir Haven, I would confer with the others.” Owain turned his mount to face the circle of men. “Each man must make his own decision to accept or reject this knight’s offer. Each man must agree to abide by the majority decision. Consider carefully; tell your yeas or nays to Blacksund. He will state the tally after each man has had his say.”
Owain then turned his mount about again. “I will watch you while the men make their decision.”
They waited, Owain with unparalleled patience, Haven with barely leashed worry.
Shortly Blacksund came forward and whispered in Owain’s ear. The knight gave a shout of laughter and slapped his thigh. “You just might get what you want, sir.”
Haven smiled and started to rise. “I knew you and your men could recognize the wiser course.”
“But first I get what I want.”
Haven straightened. Keeping Thomas well behind him, he focused on Owain. “What do you mean?”
“The men are split evenly, seven for and seven against. They want the matter decided by combat.
That Owain recognized Haven’s insignia was no surprise. Any good sergeant-at-arms should know the symbol of every man—friend or foe—that his master knew. “I cannot. The king charged me to bring him Dreyford’s family. I shall do so or die in the attempt.”
“Then I suppose we’ll have to kill you, but have care for Thomas. He seems fond of you, and it might distress him to see you gutted.”
Behind him, Haven heard Thomas gasp.
Haven felt like groaning in despair. He grinned instead. “Fear not Thomas, Owain is not going to gut me. In fact, he will not hurt me at all.”
“Whoa ho.” Owain laughed. “Is Edward’s true and perfect knight also a fool?”
“Hardly,” Haven snorted. “What’s more, I think you know how little a fool I am.”
“Since you seem to think that I am blessed with foreknowledge of your plans, why not explain to my friends here how you’ll manage to escape in one piece with Thomas when fifteen armed men surround you.”
“I will not escape. You and your friends will escort me back to my camp and there swear fealty to me and my overlord, King Edward of England.”
“Do you also believe that boars have teats?”
The men in the circle laughed, adding crude jests of their own about Haven’s lack of reasoning skills.
“Nay I do believe you know that the moment news of my death at your hands reaches Edward he will hunt you to the ends of the earth. I do not think an outlaw life is what you or your men want. In fact, I am certain of it, because Roger wrote that you shared with him your dreams to gain a holding. I would wager others of your band have similar dreams.”
The laughing men fell silent. So he had hit home. Roger had written no such thing. Haven had gambled on what he knew to be true of most men in service to another man.
“Bah,” Owain snorted. “As the loyal retainers of a traitor we are already condemned and outlawed. What difference does it make if we kill you or not?”
“If that’s what you believe, very little. But have you seen the order outlawing any or all of you? I doubt that Edward wrote such a thing. He’s more interested in finding the source of Roger’s treason than in the men who followed him because they vowed to do him service.”
“Just because I have not seen it does not mean such an order does not exist.”
“True, but what if you could prove that you were not vassals to a dead traitor but to a living, trusted servant of the king?”
“Are you offering us places in your retinue?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Many reasons. Most chief among them is that I do not believe Roger would accept fealty from men who would betray their overlord, no matter who he was. That means you are trustworthy. Second, Edward needs experienced men to fight against the Welsh.” Haven decided not to mention as a reason the guilt he felt for his own part in their former lord’s death.
“A moment, Sir Haven, I would confer with the others.” Owain turned his mount to face the circle of men. “Each man must make his own decision to accept or reject this knight’s offer. Each man must agree to abide by the majority decision. Consider carefully; tell your yeas or nays to Blacksund. He will state the tally after each man has had his say.”
Owain then turned his mount about again. “I will watch you while the men make their decision.”
They waited, Owain with unparalleled patience, Haven with barely leashed worry.
Shortly Blacksund came forward and whispered in Owain’s ear. The knight gave a shout of laughter and slapped his thigh. “You just might get what you want, sir.”
Haven smiled and started to rise. “I knew you and your men could recognize the wiser course.”
“But first I get what I want.”
Haven straightened. Keeping Thomas well behind him, he focused on Owain. “What do you mean?”
“The men are split evenly, seven for and seven against. They want the matter decided by combat.
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