Cornerstone: The King by Michael Paul

Author:Michael Paul [Paul, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cornerstone: The King
Publisher: Michael Paul Author LLC
Published: 2021-06-09T00:00:00+00:00

Pursuit

The ringing circled William’s eardrums in tight spirals. From high to low, his emotions seesawed as his legs propelled him forward.

Alfred had accepted him on the team. Perhaps Richard was smarter than William thought, agreeing to William’s cover as a scribe. Perhaps he was cunning. Perhaps Rachel had married intentionally.

He stopped.

The ringing settled in his chest and unloaded like a wheelbarrow being dumped. Anger simmered, mixed with an overwhelming sense of duty. He didn’t need to tell Alfred Rachel had died, that he knew of it; he would find out soon enough. He wouldn’t blow his cover and risk not solving the cases.

Ahead, Lord Alfred and knights were ditching heavy armor. He pushed through the stables gate.

“Reporting on time,” William said and saluted as he saw Richard do, hand cupped like a C with a quick push of the wrist.

“On time is late, Father William,” Alfred said while wrapping cloth under his thumb and around his wrist. “You hold the salute at a sharp angle.” Alfred dropped his salute and pointed. “Beside the stables, there’s an extra byrnie. It may be a bit big in your chest, but you’ll manage.”

The team laughed, and William rocked slightly. Walking to the stables was like navigating through a cathedral; the men’s legs were thick like pillars, their chests wide as altars. They all have the same shape, he thought. Beside them, William looked like a flimsy pine in a forest of redwoods.

Knights were placing helmets into their shelves and removing neck chains.

“We won’t need the helmets, Oths,” Alfred said firmly. “But you can keep the hat, William.”

“It’s a good look, Bouncy,” a knight joked and slapped a towel against William’s butt. He flinched and covered his mouth.

“Forget Danny Boy,” said Alfred. “You gotta keep it somewhat light around here despite the gravity of our work.”

“Gravity?” asked Daniel. “The damsel in distress fits in my palm—a magic stone.” The square-jawed knight pulled the mail over his head. William counted a four-to-one pattern of closed, tightly woven steel mesh rings on the waist-length shirt.

“And this will protect us?” asked William. “Will I need weapons?”

“No, we’ll take care of you. And we’ll be lighter without the heavy armor. Plus,” Alfred said while walking towards a wall-mounted sword rack, “we’ll find Jeremiah and the stone soon.”

Expecting a scraping, the familiar sound when the knights sheathed their swords, William heard nothing. The swords went quietly into their tooled leather pouches with a shh. Images, tails maybe, were etched into the leather.

“What is that?” asked William.

“The scabbard?”

“Um, yes, Alfred. No, what’s on the scabbard?”

“The symbol of our pride. Look up.”

Beside the sword rack was a chart showing fifteen men’s faces, with Alfred on top. “These have recently become hereditary, a decree from King Richard, but our unit was able to design its own,” Alfred said, fingering the coat of arms. A red cross centered the white shield, and down to the right was a large blue O. Blue herald lions supported the shield.

“What does the O mean?”

“Othniels, or Oths. Lions of God.

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