The Squire's Quest (3 page)

"Virtuous?" repeated Terence.

"Sort of, said Eileen.

"Mostly, added Sarah.

Terence stood beside Kai and watched the last courtier from the Holy Roman Empire ride out the castle gates. It was shortly after noon the day after the state dinner, and Kai had worked tirelessly all morning to see that nothing prevented their leaving. Kai was always competent, but when he was speeding the departure of a large party of visiting dignitaries, he was brilliantly efficient. "Close the gates!" he called to the guards.

"Close the gates?" repeated the guard captain. "But it's midday. The standing orders—

"I don't care what the standing orders are!" snapped Kai. "We just got rid of that lot. If we leave the gates open, someone else'll come in." The captain grinned and did nothing. He had known Kai a long time and was familiar with his moods. After a moment, Kai shrugged and said, "Oh, all right. Suit yourself, Alan. Stick to your orders if you have to, but don't blame me if the next batch is even worse."

For his part, Terence was as glad to see the Germans leave as Kai was, though for different reasons. Morgan's warning the night before had put him on his guard. Nothing Morgan could say would make him distrust his friends, but he didn't mind seeing some of the strangers at Camelot leave.

A trumpet blared from the tallest watchtower, and a shout drifted down. "Party coming from the east! It's a big one!

Kai's jaw dropped, and for a second he was speechless. Then, for several more seconds, he uttered a series of short, very blunt words. Terence sympathized with him. He didn't use those particular words himself, but he had to admit that sometimes they felt right. "Want me to go tell Arthur? he asked.

"See who it is first," grumbled Kai. "Maybe somebody just passing through.

Another shout came from the tower. "Advance party approaching!

Terence walked with Kai to the main gate and waited. A minute later they perceived two horsemen approaching at a gallop, and as they drew near Terence saw that they were dressed in sumptuous silks and mounted on magnificent horses. These were no mere passersby. Kai sighed. The two riders dismounted at the gate. One was a lean, middle-aged man with a neat beard, and the other was a smiling youth. Both bowed to Kai, and the older man said in perfect but accented English, "I bid you good day, sir. Am I correct that this is Camelot, the seat of King Arthur Pendragon?

"It is, Kai replied.

"And is the king residing here at present?

The man's manners were a perfect blend of deference and dignity. Kai appeared to thaw slightly. "Forgive me, but may I know who is asking?

The older man inclined his head graciously. "Of course. I am Acoriondes of Athens, and this boy is my squire, Bernard. We come in company with my master, the Emperor of Rome.

Terence blinked, and even Kai looked startled. "Who? Do you mean the Holy Roman Emperor?"

Acoriondes smiled. "Do you speak of the new empire that claims the heritage of Rome? No, we come from the original empire, from Constantinople. My master is Emperor Alexander. Having heard of King Arthur's glory and wisdom, we have traveled from our distant home to meet him and learn from him.

Terence cleared his throat. "
Now
should I go get the king?

Kai nodded gravely. "Ay, Terence. Now you can do that.

Twenty minutes later, King Arthur and most of the knights and ladies of the court were gathered in the main yard to welcome their distinguished guests. Over the past years, some of the greatest rulers of Europe had visited Camelot, but none of such power and influence as the Emperor of Rome. It was true, as Kai had said the day before, that the current empire had lost much of its former power in the past few centuries. The empire of the Caesars had included most of Europe and the entire northern coast of Africa, but since that day the nations of western Europe had broken away and Africa had been conquered by the people of Mohammed. Still, though, from its capital at Constantinople, the empire covered lands many times the size of Britain. For the Emperor of Rome to visit Arthur was a great honor.

Since the messenger, Acoriondes, had announced the emperor, the imperial party had had plenty of time to arrive, but they seemed to be in no hurry, doubtless to give the English time to prepare a suitable welcome. At last, though, the party arrived, led by a blackbearded knight in flashing silver armor. The silver knight came to a halt and gazed around the castle courtyard with undisguised excitement. Then his eyes rested on King Arthur, who was sitting on a velvetcovered throne in the center of the courtyard, and the knight nearly threw himself from his horse.

"You are King Arthur!" the knight called in English. It wasn't a question. "No! Do not say! I see for my own eyes! You are wisdom and greatness!" He rushed forward and threw him self at King Arthur's feet. "I am Alexander, emperor at Constantinopolis, but I am your servant!"

King Arthur blinked with surprise. Alexander bent his head as if to kiss the king's feet, but Arthur caught his shoulder. "Nay, Your Highness!" Arthur said quickly. "You owe me no such obeisance! Stand, I beg you."

Terence had watched this scene with only half his attention. With one eye he had been watching the courtier, Acoriondes, who had arrived immediately behind Emperor Alexander. When his master had prostrated himself before Arthur, Acoriondes had frowned, very slightly, but at Arthur's swift response, he relaxed. He nodded and gave the king a look of approval.

King Arthur continued, "You are the Emperor of Rome?"

Alexander smiled brightly. "It is what I am told to say. But it is silly, no? My capital is Constantinopolis. In the city called Rome, I have no power at all. There it is your pope who rules. But my counselors all tell me I must pretend to be Caesar Augustus, and so I say, 'Yes, I am the Emperor of Rome.'"

Acoriondes looked pained again, but Arthur chuckled at his noble guest's frankness. "And I, for my part," he said, "am supposed to call myself Arthur Pendragon, King of All England, Duke of Brittany, and several other things that I don't recall at the moment. It is, as you say, rather silly. If we have to speak of each other this way, we shall never be able to hold a conversation. Shall we break all the rules of diplomacy, you and I? I wish you would simply call me Arthur."

Alexander's eyes shone. "And you must call me Alexander!"

"Then I welcome you, Alexander, to my court. You do me great honor with your visit. Allow me to present to you my friend and seneschal, Sir Kai. If you or any of your court needs anything at all, you must speak to Kai."

"I have heard of you, Sir Kai! In the songs, they call you Kai, the Slayer of Kings!"

Nothing irritated Kai more than enthusiasm, but with an effort he managed to say only, "Honored, Your Highness."

Alexander turned and gestured to his retinue. "You put my mind on my manners, Arthur. I must introduce you Acoriondes, the empire's first counselor. He should have stayed with my uncle, but he comes with me to keep me from ... what is the English saying, Acoriondes?"

"Embarrassing yourself, Your Highness?" Acorion-des said drily.

"Yes, of course! It is a heavy task, no? Also, Acoriondes speaks your language well! So I could not spare him for my uncle."

"Your uncle?" inquired Arthur.

"My father's brother. I left him as regent over the empire while I am away. He did not wish it, but he agreed. Dear Uncle Alis!"

Kai coughed slightly. "Your uncle is named Alice?"

"Yes. Is it not a name found in England?"

"Well, it is," Kai admitted. "I myself know several Alices, but—"

Acoriondes cleared his throat. "It is a Greek name," he explained. "In your letters it would be spelled A-L-I-S."

Alexander laughed. "But you are like a schoolteacher, Acoriondes! No one cares how it is spelled!"

"I thought it might explain things, Your Highness," Acoriondes said with a slight bow.

"And there, on the white horse, is my young brother, Cliges."

The young man that Alexander had indicated smiled eagerly and leaped from his horse to bow before King Arthur. "I am ... happy to m-meeting you," he stammered. "And please, is Sir Lancelot here?"

The counselor, Acoriondes, gave Cliges a stern look, which the youth ignored, but King Arthur only smiled. He was accustomed to young knights who had little interest in a mere king when they could be admiring his most famous champion.

"Of course," the king said, indicating Lancelot at his left. "Sir Lancelot, allow me to introduce you to Prince Cligés."

Cligés blinked at Lancelot with obvious surprise. Among the brightly clad courtiers who filled the court, Lancelot's simple clothes seemed almost shabby. Lancelot bowed gracefully. "It is an honor, O prince," he said. "But your name, Cligés—is it not French?"

The prince nodded vehemently. "Yes! My Greek name is like it, but,
moi, j'aime mieux
the French. You are from childhood my hero, Sir Lancelot!" Then he knelt at Lancelot's feet.

Acoriondes looked pained again: Cligés had shown greater reverence for the knight than for the king. But Alexander only grinned. "Cligés loves all things French. Indeed, we passed two weeks with the Count of Champagne on our way here, and we would still be there if Cligés could choose." He waved his arm at the rest of his retinue. "As for the rest, you will never remember all their names. Some are knights, and the rest are servants, which I bring to make our visit easy for you."

Kai looked sourly at Alexander's huge retinue, more than a hundred and fifty persons in all, including at least twenty mounted knights and a dozen wagons. "Oh, ay, easy," he muttered. "The thing is, Your Majesty, we may not have enough guest rooms for all—"

Alexander snapped his fingers. "I see there is a town outside the castle walls. Has it a ... a..."He glanced at Acoriondes. "A
pandocheion?"

"An inn, Your Highness."

Arthur blinked. "Yes, of course. There are several inns there, but I could not permit—"

"Good! I will buy two of them!" Alexander declared. "I bring my own furnishes so to do this! Acoriondes, see to it!"

The grave courtier bowed, but before starting away he addressed King Arthur again. "Your Highness," he said, "I do not think you will change my master's mind in this. We are your guests, of course, and we will accept with gratitude what hospitality you offer. But it is not our intention to make ourselves unwelcome. We have brought all that we require to set up our own household outside your walls."

Arthur pursed his lips, but evidently decided that it was best to submit with good grace. "Then you must allow me to host you and your knights at a dinner this very evening. Kai?"

Kai nodded resignedly. "A state dinner. Naturally."

Arthur's eyes wrinkled with amusement, and he added, "And perhaps in two days, a tournament in honor of our noble guests?"

"A tournament, too," Kai repeated bleakly. "It needed but that."

"Yes, that's what I thought," Arthur said, smiling impishly at his friend.

"A tournament! I have heard of your tournaments!" exclaimed Alexander. Cligés looked so excited that Terence thought he might pass out.

"Your Highness?" Terence said.

"Yes, Terence?"

"Perhaps I could accompany Sir Acoriondes and help him find suitable quarters in the town." Arthur nodded, and Terence turned to the tall dignitary. "I am Squire Terence, and I will be honored to serve you. Will you follow me, please?"

It took no time at all to make the necessary arrangements. Terence led the imperial party to the main thoroughfare in the town, where two large stone inns stood beside each other, and Acoriondes nodded his approval. Terence hadn't been sure the innkeepers would be willing to sell their inns outright, but when Acoriondes dropped a huge bag of gold at each man's feet, as carelessly as if he were tossing seed to chickens, both agreed at once. Then the army of servants that Alexander had brought with him set about turning the inns into a suitable residence for their emperor. All the rough, sturdy English furniture was tossed into the streets and replaced with the finest of upholstered chairs and grand gilded beds and sumptuous carpets and embroidered drapes. The whole town gathered to gawk as the imperial wagons were unloaded, but Terence only watched until Acoriondes finished giving instructions and started back toward the castle gates on foot.

Terence fell into step beside him but said nothing. Acoriondes had been aloof toward him, and Terence guessed that it was because he was a lowly squire. Neither spoke until they were back in the now empty main courtyard. Then Acoriondes turned to Terence. "Please, Squire Terence," he said austerely. "I would be grateful if you could tell me where I could find my master now?"

Terence didn't have to answer. At that moment Acoriondes's own squire, the youth Bernard, came dashing from the central keep of the castle, calling out something to Acoriondes in agitated tones. Acorion-des closed his eyes wearily, asked several sharp questions, then followed Bernard back inside with a firm step. Bemused, Terence watched them go. After a moment he noticed Eileen approaching.

"Did you see that?" Terence asked. Eileen nodded. "I wonder what's gotten that young fellow in such a stew."

"Well," Eileen said, "I can't say for sure, since I don't speak Greek."

"Is that what they speak? I wondered."

"But if I had to guess," Eileen continued calmly, "I would say he was telling his master that Alexander, Emperor of Constantinople, has just asked Sarah to marry him."

"What am I supposed to do?" Sarah demanded in exasperation. It was just before the state dinner for the visitors from Constantinople. Terence and Gawain had stopped by Eileen's chambers to escort her and Sarah.

"By what Guinevere told me," Eileen said, "you handled it very well."

"I put him offfor a while," Sarah said. "That's all."

"What actually happened?" asked Gawain. "I've heard three different stories already, and none of them make sense."

"It
doesn't
make sense!" Sarah said. "It was right after the little welcome ceremony in the courtyard. I'd gone off with Guinevere to her rooms, just to catch up, and a moment later King Arthur showed up with this Alexander. He wanted to introduce him to the queen, I suppose, but naturally he introduced us both. So then Alexander fawned over us both for a minute, telling us how beautiful we both are and rot like that, and then, out of the blue, he dropped on one knee and asked if I would be his empress."