The next morning went about as well as any other. We bid the other knights farewell and I went about my daily tasks. The only odd thing was when the villagers came to visit, they seemed almost uncomfortable. Many of them wouldn’t look at the statues of our Lady or respond appropriately when wished a prosperous day in her name.

Then I got my orders. My lord Gregor came to me in the courtyard and asked me to scout the village to see if anything was off.

“I’m not entirely sure what is going on, but I suspect the townsfolk may have received the same warning we did. Please, go investigate for me. Return when you have found something. Lady be with you.” He said in that low caring tone he used so frequently.

I bowed, collected my things, and left. I was confident I would be able to figure something out and I did.

It was about a half hour walk to the village. There was a small patch of forest between the fort and the village but the fort was on a hill so you could still see some of it.

I didn’t wear my order’s colors this time, as I wanted to try and blend in. It was foolish on my part sense many of the villagers knew me by name but at the time I thought I was being clever. The village was a good size with a couple hundred people living there.

I wandered for the rest of the day just visiting shops and making small talk. I noticed almost everyone avoided any kind of conversation regarding religion and a few got angry that I would bring it up. Not just the Lady, but any religion period. Then I saw it. At the far end of the village sat a modest but beautiful church. Only, it was now being torn down stone by stone. The people doing it looked like the villagers but looking back now, it was probably contractors who cared less for the hallowed building. And there, overseeing the whole thing, was him. Harold Xard. The man who brought all our troubles to our door.

He wore expensive looking padded leather armor that was black with a long black cloak that stretched down to his shoes. There were a few others there with him in the same black cloak and leather gear. He glanced at me and smiled right before I left. It sent shivers down my spine.

I was still looking behind me when I rounded a corner into an alley and walked right into a large covered wagon, almost like a merchant’s wagon, just sitting there. I could’ve sworn it wasn’t there when I passed by earlier. Nonetheless there I was, on my rump, looking very confused when the door to the wagon creaked open. A fair looking woman with dark skin and dark brown hair leaned out and looked down at me through a pair of odd glasses with a slight teal color to them. Her clothes also had some teal coloring in it and looked far finer than anything the shops in Faunburg sold.

She gazed down at me curiously, “Well hello there, young man. What brings you to my door?”

I stood up and bowed, “My deepest apologies, my lady. I wasn't watching where I was going. I will gladly pay for or repair any damage I may have caused.”

She smiled warmly at that, “Oh, dear me no. I can see to the repairs myself.” She stared at him for a moment as if trying to decide something, “You know, why don’t you come inside and I’ll fix you a drink. What ever you’d like. No doubt you thought this alleyway was empty and my sudden presence caused you to harm yourself. So please, allow me.”

She stepped out and gestured to the inside of her wagon. I wasn’t sure and hesitated slightly.

She noticed and continued, “Don't fear, young Alfenshpiel, I have no intention of harming the great Sir Gregor’s squire. He would probably be pretty upset with me, not that he hasn't been before.” She chuckled.

“You know my lord?” I asked.

She smiled wide, “Dear, everyone around here knows Sir Gregor. But yes, I've known him ever since he himself was a squire. He was a rambunctious child.” She ended with another chuckle.

That stopped me and I stared at her for a few moments. My lord was nearly fifty years old. This woman looked younger than thirty.

“Wait. Umm… how old are you?” I asked reluctantly.

She fixed me with a stern look and said, “Now, young man. It is not polite to ask a woman her age.”

I flustered, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend.”

Her smile returned as fast as it disappeared, “It’s ok, dear. Just don’t let it happen again.” She said with a wink and a playful wiggle of a finger.

She gestured again to the inside of her wagon and this time I nodded and accepted.

Stepping through the threshold I was expecting a quaint but cramped interior one might find in one of these boxes on wheels. But what I saw took my breath away.

It was a large room with a kitchen area, a den of sorts, and a corner with a bed and various outfits scattered around.

I gasped, “Magic! This is amazing!”

She turned to me with an amused look, “Yes, I dabble in the arts. What can I say,” she said gesturing to the hanging decorations and tapestries on the walls, “I like nice things. Now, what would you like to drink?”

She opened a cupboard full of bottles of different colors and shapes. She gave me a guilty look as if she didn’t mean to open that one and closed it. A second later she opened it again and this time there were various bottles of wines. I jokingly asked if she had any of Tombo’s second edition Syrah wine. Without a word, she reached in and pulled out an old looking bottle. She handed it and a glass to me.

I was shocked, “This must be at least over a hundred years old! I didn’t think there was any of this stuff left in the world.”

“Then you had better not waste any of it, right?” she said with a smile and a wink.

Stolen novel; please report.

I popped the cork off and the sweet aroma filled my nose. I took a deep breath and poured it into the glass. She also held out a glass and I filled it.

We took a few seconds to savor the flavor when I broke the ensuing silence, “So you know me, but I have never heard of you. May I ask your name?”

She smiled, obviously enjoying the polite manner with which I carried myself.

“My name is Evanlyn. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She nodded.

I nodded back, “The pleasure is all mine, my lady. So what brings you to our small town?”

“Business.” She replied curtly, “Also, to keep an eye on a couple people. Not to mention sight seeing. These hills are beautiful this time of year.”

I nodded my agreement, “Yes, I do love it here. Well,” I finished my drink, “I’m afraid I should be going. My lord will probably be wondering where I am.”

She smiled, “Of course. Please, allow me.”

She got up and strode to the door, opening it for me. I nodded and bid my farewell before stepping back out into the alleyway. She waved to me, "Tell your lord I said hello." then closed the door behind me and I left.

I got back to Fort Prosper with no other issues. I walked through the gates and saw old Tombo on his wagon bringing us our weekly supply of wine.

“Hey there, Bo!” I waved as I passed.

He gave me a weary look, but smiled nonetheless, “Hello, young Alfenshpiel. How are you?”

“I’m well. Why the long face?” I replied.

He sighed, “They’ve took my winery. Ain’t got no say, no more. It's them soldiers what got black cloaks that did it.” He leaned down to get closer to me and whispered, “The strangest folk they is. They took my vineyard, but I ain’t heard a single word from none of them. All silent as the dead and no mistake.”

“That’s awful, Bo.” I consoled, “So then what are you bringing us?”

He sat up and eyed two of the barrels in the back of his cart, “Well, one of the three what are yours is my old stuff. One of the last, I might add. The others is some imported stuff from who knows where thanks to our new king.” He ended with a less than respectful expression.

I smiled to try and brighten the mood, “Well I thank you for bringing us some of your last. We’ll miss your wine for sure, Bo.”

He smiled back and tipped his hat, “Well of course you will! I made some of the best and no mistake!”

We shared a short laugh while some of the hands unloaded the three barrels. As he was leaving out through the gates I stopped him to ask him one last question.

“One more thing, Bo, if you don’t mind.” I said holding my hand up.

He stopped the wagon and smiled back at me, “What’s that, young Alfenshpiel?”

“I was in town earlier today and I noticed the old church being torn down. What’s going on?”

He got a look of confusion on his face, “A church? Is that what that was? Huh, I must’ve forgotten. I’ve been busy with all that’s going on with my vineyard I guess I just ain’t noticed. Maybe it’s just old and their rebuilding it.”

That surprised me. I knew I had seen him there at least once. I told him not to worry about it and sent him on his way. I needed to report this to my lord. I found him wandering the battlements, which wasn’t anything new, and told him everything I had discovered.

“Old Tombo didn't remember the church? Odd, I could've sworn I've seen him and his wife there before.” He placed for a few minutes.

“This is troubling, squire. We need to keep a close eye on the villagers who come to work for us. This behavior is… unsettling to say the least. Don’t worry about Evanlyn. She’s an old friend.” He was still staring at the village when I left.

Later that night my lord and I were eating in the great hall when one of our hired hands approached us.

He bowed, “My lord. You have an unexpected guest.”

My lord Gregor knew who it would be and nodded. The hired hand left and a few seconds later the man in black came in with two of those cloaked men with him. He was draped in his long black cloak and wearing the ornate black leather clothes. His dark hair was slicked back and he had the arrogant smile of a man who knew he had won before he even began.

He threw his hands out wide, causing his cloak to flow out behind him, and bowed low in an exaggerated way, “My lord Gregor! Chapter master of Fort Prosper and Protector of Faunburg! Hero of the people! I do apologize for this unexpected visit. I’m on a tight schedule and it quite slipped my mind to send word ahead of myself.” His voice sounded like a normal man’s voice, despite me thinking he would sound like a snake.

The look on my lord Gregor’s face told me this was not who he expected.

He tipped his head and waved dismissively to the chair at the end of the table, “You know my name well, stranger, but I do not know yours. To whom do I owe this honor?”

The man dipped his head then rose to his full height and slowly approached the table, “I am Herald Xard, messenger of his exuberance, the most high King Draxis!” He finished and sat down.

My lord Gregor raised an eyebrow, “Xard? How is that spelled?”

Xard smiled mischievously and spelled it out for him, “Yes, I know. It’s ‘Drax’ spelled backwards! What can I say, I’m a bit of a fan.” He winked.

My lord Gregor grumbled slightly which only made Xard smile more.

He gestured to me, “This is my squire, Fredrick Alfenshpiel.”

Xard nodded, “A pleasure, I’m sure.”

Xard gestured to the two men he brought, “These are my bodyguards, or Black Cloaks, if you will. Zoran and Blox.”

They nodded in turn.

My lord Gregor called and one of the hired hands brought wine for the guests. The Black Cloaks didn’t respond and Xard politely accepted.

“I know I’m on duty, but how can I refuse a glass of my luscious king's delicious wine?” He said never losing that wide smile.

My lord Gregor called me over and whispered to me, “Go upstairs and fetch my sword.”

I nodded and got up to leave. While I was walking away, I heard Xard say, “Well, let’s get to business, shall we?”

I didn’t like leaving my lord in the great hall with those men, but I knew he would be more than capable of taking them all if they started something, even without his sword.

It took me more time then I would’ve liked to get to my lords room and find his sword. By the time I got back, I could hear raised voices.

I entered the room to find both my lord and Xard standing with their knuckles on the table. The two Black Cloaks had stepped in closer as well. Their elbows protruded from their cloaks as they held the hilts of their swords.

“I already told you, it’s not negotiable! You either take the deal or you suffer the consequences, by order of his most highness, the King!” Xard said with a threatening tone. His voice had risen a couple of octaves, sounding more like the snake I knew he was.

“And I told you,” my lord stabbed a finger at Xard, “I’m not negotiating! We are under the Order of Independent Knighthoods which has been around longer than you or your king have been alive! If he wants to force a law like this on us, he will have every Independent Knight and their retinue this side of Pelexia at his doorstep. There are far more of us than you think, Herald.”

Xard glared at him for what felt like forever before he finally noticed me standing there holding a sword. He straightened himself, and pulled his clothes straight.

He brushed his hair back and said, “So, you refuse to recognize the authority of his extravagance, King Draxis. This will cost you greatly, Sir Gregor. Your order may have been around longer than I’ve been alive, but not longer than he has.”

My lord Gregor’s voice boomed so loud it startled everyone in the room as he slammed his fist down and yelled, “Do not threaten me in my keep!”

Xard raised his hands defensively and spoke in a condescending calm voice, “Very well, lord Gregor. Have it your way, in your keep. For as long as it’s yours.” He turned and walked out, followed by his black cloaks.

My lord Gregor slumped down into his seat. He angrily snatched his tankard and went to take a swig when he stopped. He glanced into the drinking vessel then snarled and threw it across the room. He looked to me and the fire in his eyes subsided.

“I apologize, young Alfenshpiel. I should have better control.” He stood, “Let us retire for the night and we will discuss what took place here, tomorrow.”

I nodded but said nothing and followed him to his room to return his sword. I bid him good night and returned to my room.