The Eighth Court by Mike Shevdon Page B

with boots, and men with short spears held the knights at bay, gleaming points held ready to run them through. Every exit filled with men. I was forced into the room or else be trodden under by them. I stood unnoticed at the side, while the knights stood with their backs to the table.
    A tall man in an expensive embroidered cloak entered behind his men. He stood opposite me, surveying the scene. “ What treachery is this? ” he asked.
    “ There is no treachery here, Aimery ” said Le Brun. “ We serve the King’s peace. ”
    “ And what manner of the King’s peace requires you to meet in secret and count horseshoes? Six shoes and six men; it is a pretty number. ”
    “ Stand by! ” came a new voice. “ Stand in the name of the King. Make way for King John. ” A new man entered the room, pushing aside the soldiers and forcing them into the room. His face was narrow with a deep scar that ran down his cheek into his beard on the left side. He moved with natural authority. He was followed by two other uniformed knights that pushed the soldiers out of the way with little regard, sowing confusion among the men who looked to Aimery for support. The two uniformed knights cleared a space, forcing the men back down the passages. A large, thickset man with a short beard who wore a cloak, black as sable, followed behind them. On his breast were embroidered three gold lions, one above the other. The knights knelt as one, causing a ripple of unrest in the remaining pikemen.
    “ Order your men to stand down, ” said the King in a deep voice.
    “ But, my Liege, ” said Aimery, “ they are… ”
    “ At once, ” said the King, quietly.
    Aimery looked crestfallen. “ Stand down, ” he ordered. The tips of the spears fell. “ My Liege, if I have done wrong I beg your pardon. It was done with the best of… ”
    “ Enough, ” said the King. “ Clear the room. Get these men out of here and let in some air, for the love of God. ”
    The two uniformed knights pushed the men back and they reversed with some difficulty back down the passage. It was some time before the noise died away. The King remained silent throughout. No one else dared speak.
    When the men had finally gone, the King turned to Aimery. “ How did you come here, this night? ”
    “ My Liege, I heard through my own means that these men conspired. I sought only to protect… ”
    “ No, you fool! ” said the King. “ Did you come by river or road? ”
    Aimery was taken aback. “ I came by river, My Liege. ”
    “ Good, ” said the King, “ then you’ve done something right. Wait outside with my men. I will speak with you later. ” The uniformed knights escorted Aimery down the passage after his men. The King waited until Aimery was well out of earshot before speaking again. He turned to the scarred man that had come into the room before him.
    “ When does the tide turn? ” asked the King.
    “ Within the hour, Majesty. ”
    “ The river is in flood, ” said the King. “ A man could go overboard on a night like this and no one would ever see him again. ”
    “ I will see to it, Majesty, ” said the man. He bowed and turned to leave.
    “ And make sure his men understand their fate if word of this should spread, ” said the King.
    The man nodded and followed the path Aimery had taken down the passage, leaving the King with the knights. “ Rise, ” he said.
    The men got to their feet stiffly having knelt on the cold stone. It was Le Brun who spoke. “ We are in your debt, Majesty, ” he said.
    “ You’ve been careless, ” said the King. “ If Aimery knows of this, then it is possible that others do too. ”
    “ We will be more careful, ” said Le Brun.
    The King walked slowly around the room, circling the men. None of them moved. He appeared lost in thought. The only sound in the room was the occasional spit and hiss of the flares and the tap of the King’s boots on the stone.
    “ It’s not enough, ” said the King, ”
    “ I beg