Burg Eltz Castle by
Aron Visuals on Unsplash
HOME COMING
It had been a steady climb for the past several miles to
reach the high plateau on the cusp of dawn.
Baron Black couldn’t bear to have waited out another night on the road
when after so many thousands of miles he was within reach of home.
The Baron shivered lightly in his light leather Birkin as he
held the reins of Sir Stead at the end of the stone path to the castle entrance. His armor had been scattered between here and
the Italian coast as he shed it to lighten the load on his horse and
himself. All he had left of his
accouterments of war was a short sword strapped to the back of Sir Stead’s
saddle.
Sir Stead whinnied, dropped his knees and curled over to lay
with his back pressed to the carved stone wall leading to the castle
entrance.
Black snatched the canteen from the saddle as Sir Stead went
down. When his faithful companion had
settled, Black wrenched the top of the container off with his teeth and cradled
the horses head in his lap and poured the
water into his mouth. Sir
Stead snorted, blowing water out his nose and relaxed breathing calmly.
A horn blew from the castle.
Black could hear the chains lifting the gate and the soft cries of the
watch. Shortly the clank of armored men
came bounding down the path. The lead
man called, “Who goes there?”
As the Watchmen approach, the man foremost dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “Baron, forgive us we did not recognize
thee.”
Baron slid the horses
head from his lap and stood. “Tend to
Sir Stead. Let him rest and when he
rises get him fed and curried.
Two of the men pulled the helmets from their heads and tended
to the horse. The other two cradled
their helmets under their arms.
“Ralph, it is good to see you,” Black said.
“And you, my Lord. We
presumed you lost a couple years ago.”
The silver-hair knight flicked back his thinning mane as it spilled out
from under his helmet.
Baron Black walked unsteady, flanked by Ralph and the other
knight. His knees ached, and sole of one of his boots had come loose
days ago. Yet, he felt invigorated at
the moisture in the early morning mist.
As they approached the gate, Black asked, “What of Lady
Black? Tell me she is well.”
“My Lord, Me thinks she lost hope and reckoned you dead.”
Baron Black nodded. He
understood that would very well be the case.
It had been six years since he departed with his attachment of twenty
knights. All of them lost to the cause, but for himself.
Black clasped Ralph on the shoulder as they paused in the
arch of the gate. “Well, I’m back
now. And to stay.”
Turning, Baron Black straightened his back and strode into
the courtyard. He heard three
thunks. Black dropped back on the stones
with three arrows protruding from his chest.
Ralph caught the Baron as he rocked back and laid him gently
on the ground. “I’m sorry, My Lord. Lady Black, Nelson now, gave orders were you
ever to return.”
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