"I do, my lord." Erec kept his voice steady, "You are surprisingly well informed, as I have been here but four days and have not yet spoken of my attachment to anyone... not even the lady."

"This is an old castle." The baron looked directly into Erec's eyes and told a bald-faced lie. "There is magic within the walls. If I am quiet and listen closely, the walls tell me things."

"I am not the wee lad that I once was, that I should be so easily taken in by your tales."

"It is simple really, and I shall tell you. Consider it a bit of advice from an old man who once imagined himself your father. I am good to my people. I listen to them, and treat them fairly. They respect me for it and are good and loyal in return. There is naught that happens within the castle and villages around that the servants do not know about...and what know, know."

"I shall take it to heart and if ever I should be released from my service to the king. If ever I am free to retire to Greenwood, I shall make it my ambition to be as good and wise a Lord. Consider that a bit of gratitude from a man who once imagined himself your son."

The unspoken bond between them, formed so many years ago, was reaffirmed as the Baron gave Erec a meaningful nod and went to sit at the chair behind the table. He began searching through the letters once more and Erec thought maybe he was dismissed? He waited a moment or two longer in silence and then cleared his throat to get the baron's attention.

"I came here to speak with you, to beg a boon..."

The baron looked up suddenly and fixed an impatient gaze upon Erec. "Out with it lad."

"What might you take to release her from your service?"

"You mean, what would I take in payment from you? To release her to you?"

"Aye. Hugh I granted me Greenwood, to the east of Brecken. You know, as well as I, that it is in dire need of a lord to build it up again before Garett's men march through the east pass and find their way inland again. But his majesty has kept me away, so I have not had time..."

"NO." The baron spoke sharply, cutting Erec off.

Erec's heart stopped. He had not expected such an answer, but he must accept it. His stomach twisted. He failed in this, but he would speak with Drew and they would figure out a way to...

"I shall gladly release the lady from my service, but I shall accept no payment or boon from you."

"My lord—"

The Baron let his hands fall idle upon the table as he gave his full attention to Erec.

"She is a good woman with a gentle nature." The Baron interrupted, "She is educated a little, and writes a passable hand. She also has passable manners. She will not embarrass you if you take her to wife."

Memories charged Erec's senses like a battering ram, demanding his full attention. He knew of wives lost tragically to illness and childbirth. He knew of wives who were heartless and cold. He knew of wives with hot blood who were faithless and fickle as the weather. And he knew of wives like the late Queen and dear Molly-who were pure of heart, loyal and well loved.

"Please, my lord. I beg you would hear me. Gwyndolyn is of humble birth, my lord, but she is more a gentlewoman than many a noble woman I have met."

"Aye. She is quite a gentle soul and a most excellent healer. And she is indeed of humble birth." The baron scoffed. "She is a penniless widow come to beg sanctuary with naught but the clothes up on her back."

"Nay, my lord. The lady Gwyndolyn is not penniless. She is, or was until recently, the daughter of a prosperous farmer. The one to the south. Her brothers are taken to Kings army in the spring. And she worked that farm with her father until robber knights rode through and murdered her father. She and her son escaped, but the farm...the land... is still hers."

"You said the king has kept you away, that you did not have time to set up Greenwood. Yet you found time to socialize with farmers and their very lovely daughters. You were taking hospitality, I suppose." The baron gave Erec a knowing look.

"In truth, yes. Her father offered his roof and shared what little he had. We were not the first soldiers to visit, and his food stores were depleted. But there was no behavior such as you are suggesting. When we arrived, the tree prisoners tried to force themselves. When I intervened, she was handling a pitchfork rather efficiently in her defense."

"A pitchfork, you say?" The baron smiled. "My little healer using naught but her courage and a pitchfork to fend off the three large men in my dungeon that I know to be trained knights. You have chosen your bride well. You may add courage and fortitude to her list of attributes. Both are fitting for the wife of a Lord Knight."

Erec felt pride swell in his heart. The Baron did not give praise easily.

"But there is more, my lord. The robber knights who murdered her father were among the men that marched north with me. They deserted on our first night away from the farm and..."

Erec let his voice drop as the Baron held up a hand.

"Do not continue. I cannot undo the wrongs, but I can try to right them. I swear to you that the Lady Gwyndolyn shall live as a gentlewoman under my own protection from this moment forward. She shall want for nothing so long as she is here..." The baron paused and looked Erec in the eye, "until you take her to wife and home with you to Greenwood."

"That is the very boon I was to ask of you..."

Erec first thought to set up residence at Greenwood to make a safe place for Gwyndolyn and Robin. But at the feast last eve, the baron asked after Erec's plans to take a wife and sire a son. That was when Erec first thought that maybe Greenwood could be home for himself as well.

"You have something else to say?"

"I have always harbored the desire to take a wife and sire sons to take up my place when I am too old to hold a sword..."

"But you do not wish it now? I understood that..."

"I would wish to wed the Lady Gwyndolyn more than any other but..." Erec sighed. "I cannot take a wife."

"Not now?" the baron prodded. "Or not ever? To what other have you sworn an oath?"

"None, my lord, save to serve the king. I would be desirous of retiring to hearth and home in Greenwood with the Lady Gwyndolyn as wife. But I am sworn, as Captain of the King's Army, and of the Royal guard. I cannot take up my place in Greenwood. Not while the King's own life is in peril."

"There is danger to the King? You must away then. Delay here no longer."

"I thank you, my lord." Erec bowed. "The king has...he does not...that is to say that he..."

"The king despises you, my boy. He has since you were children and you bested him at nearly everything. It only got worse after his father began to show you favor. The king's hatred runs deep and is fueled yet further by your happiness and success. He makes no secret of his hatred for you. You do not think that he will find a way to deny you Greenwood?"

"Nay. Hugh the Great was wise. He protected my rewards and granted me a favorable status with the people. For that I am grateful. It is much easier to lead an army of men that you know to be loyal..."

"But..."

"But I no longer captain such men. The king retired the entire Royal Guard, save for me and three of my lieutenants. He replaced my men with hired men from all over the land, and the lands round about. Most of the men are of good repute, but little else is known of them. In fact, the three deserters that killed Gwyndolyn's father were among them."

"You believe them to be assassins?"

"I believe that they wish me dead. My three lieutenants and I have been wary of an attack from the moment the King sent us north. So far, we have been lucky, but I fear our luck is running out. If they mean to kill me without repercussion, they need to do so before we reach home. That gives them precious little time."

"But what of the king? Do you suppose that with you out of the way they will go for the crown? He has no queen and no heir. Without an army of loyal men to protect the king, they may take the castle. But surely you do not think that they could persuade the people..."

"Fear is a very strong motivator. I have come across many homes burned to the ground and littered with bones. I suspect they have already begun their campaign of terror."

"I see you have given this much thought. You are quite certain then?"

"I am certain only that the future of our kingdom is very certain...that future is very uncertain. For cert you can see that this is not the time for me to think about taking a bride, no matter how much I would wish it."

"I see." The baron nodded thoughtfully before a smile tugged at his face making his eyes crinkle in the corners. Erec was suddenly reminded of his father.

"Well, my boy. There are two options. You can announce your troth, and leave her here in my keeping until such time as you can claim her. Or not announce your troth. I shall still keep her under my protection. Although I fear the latter will leave her much exposed to gossip, and none of it would be good."

"I have not yet spoken to the lady, but if she is agreeable, I would thank you to watch over my betrothed until...well, until such time as..."

The baron chuckled. "Be gone with you, lad. Go and secure your lady's love."

When Erec left, he heard the baron call for a servant. He was curious what the old man was up to, but the baron was right. He needed to talk to Gwyndolyn.

He went first to the healer's rooms, where he was told by Matilde that the lady was in the kitchens. In the kitchens he was told that she was there but went out to the healer's room. Once more at the healer's room he found only little Sofi. She was cute as a pup, with her big brown eyes and sweet, shy little smile. He had to strain to hear her, but he got Great Hall.

On the way to the Great Hall, he ran in to Drew and Gil.

"We have been looking for you."

Erec frowned and eyed the archway that led off the hall they were in.

Ten feet more and he would have made it.

"There was no reply from his majesty."

"Reply to what?" Erec was drawn reluctantly into their problem and followed Drew into a small room nearby. There was scarce room enough for the three of them to stand once the door was closed behind them. Drew turned and went right to the point.

"Your letter about the Knights Circle. No reply ever arrived from that time to this."

"I hardly find that cause for worry. You know as well as I that the king—"

"The two servants that the baron sent with the letter never returned. He sent out ten of his soldiers to look for them. They did not find any bodies, but they did find one of the horses."

"Our friends, no doubt." Erec frowned. "Well, that is a little surprising. I am sure his Lordship—"

"I could not get an audience with him, but I spoke to Matilde. That woman knows every servant and thus she knows everything worth knowing. The families of those men were given bags of gold, a young sow, and a few chickens. The gifts were sent with the Baron's sympathies. They were told that the men were set upon by robbers."

"Do you believe it was robbers?"

"One of the horses was found."

"And?" Erec arched a brow in challenge. He understood the implication, but there was some detail that Drew withheld...

"And Matilde said the food stuffs and bedroll were still attached. In her most humble opinion..." Drew paused and Erec noted the smirk as Drew delivered the last detail. "She does not believe that robbers committed the deed, but she can think of no reason that anyone would want to hurt those two servants. She thinks it was to do with the letter they carried."

"I am of the opinion that she is quite correct. But there is naught we can do about it at this late date. I want you to bring Gil and Dermot into our confidence regarding the assassination attempt and use them to increase our watchfulness. The attack must come between here and home."

"This side of the pass, unless I miss my guess. There is naught on the other side of the pass, save fields of grain. There is no cover."

The word was not spoken, yet he understood Drew referred to an ambush.

"Do you think that Gil and Dermot will be enough? What say you to pulling Cameron and Bennett into our confidence as well?"

"I am undecided. I think them to be good men. Their reputations are sound and they fought well in battle. Also, they stood with you in Knights Circle. But..."

"But they are part of the unknown." Erec finished, nodding. "You get more flies with honey..."

"Milord?" Gil frowned. "I do not understand."

"If you wanted to get close to someone in order to slip a dagger between their ribs, especially someone formidable, would you not try to gain their confidence first? In that way you get past that person's defenses, and perhaps because of your confidence with the target, you might escape suspicion after the deed is done." Drew explained.

Gil nodded as understanding dawned. Their situation was not an enviable one. "Mayhap they shall expose themselves before we leave."

"If only it could be so easy." Drew frowned. "They have marched at our side since the start of winter. They fought at our side all these months. They share our roof with us even now. They are too clever to show their hand before they desire to do so."