It didn’t take long for her to fall asleep, aided by the sleeping tincture that Olran had added to the entire carafe of wine, and she remained in peaceful slumber until mornings light. By that time, Olran had gone, leaving the Black Knight to observe. Ceridwen’s man remained long enough to see Morgause rise very late in the morning, cursing her bully-boys, who were still sleeping due to the amount of drink they had stolen from the inn’s cellars. To the consternation of the real innkeeper, she did not even remain for breakfast, wanting to reach Londinium by afternoon even though there was light snow falling, with the promise of more by the end of the day. Still, Ceridwen’s man laughed heartily to see them slipping and sliding, leading the carriage horses through the frozen mud on their way from the small inn, leaving the residents unscathed by her magickal devices. He mounted his horse and rode home, taking his time, camping overnight to spare his mount the struggle through the snow and returning to Camelot the next night, just at dusk. He found Olran in the stables, dressing the Jughead as if he were on his way out to search for his friend and ally.
“Going somewhere?” his friend asked.
“I was going out to look for ye!” Olran responded. “I was concerned when ye did not return quickly.”
“Perhaps ‘tis better that way,” Aaronn returned, taking Eclipse to his stall and beginning the process of undressing and grooming the horse. “Two sets of parallel hoof prints would be suspicious. How long have ye been pursuing the theatre?”
“A long time, my friend,” Olran answered heavily. “One must practice the art of disguise and deception to survive in a place like Westerland Keep. I found I could spy on them easily if they believed I wasn’t about. Dressing up like other people to deceive their eyes and ears became a challenge I readily accepted, and I have even used makeup before to alter my appearance, as I did with the innkeeper.”
“What did ye do with the poor man?”
“I dosed him with the same sleeping tincture I put in Morgause’s wine, although hers was a larger dosage,” Olran chuckled. “I would wager her head is ready to explode with pain by now,” he added, laughing harder. Aaronn watched him celebrate a small victory over the dark Queen of Orkney and wondered if Olran’s sense of humor might get him into trouble someday. Now finished with grooming Eclipse’s hide, mane and tail, Aaronn put him into his stall, where fresh hay, a measure of oats and a full water trough awaited. Once the horse was dealt with, the two walked out of the stable and into the hidden entrance to the secret passages concealed within the thick walls of Camelot Castle as their conversation continued.
“It might, if I let it get out of hand,” Olran spoke out as if he had heard Aaronn’s thoughts. “I have occasionally gone over the edge with a prank, to my deep regret. I have learned temperance. I only did what I did to protect the man and his family from her spiteful temper, which is easily roused. Now, she will simply wonder about the entire occurrence, if it really even happened at all,” he chuckled.
“I had no idea ye were so well-versed in the theatrical arts, my friend. Such skills, combined with yer constant success at hunting and tracking in the wild, make ye a valuable ally. I have sought to protect ye from these missions, but now I see ye should be coming along, or taking some of them yerself. Will ye join me?”
“What are ye talking about?” Olran asked in exasperation. “I have been with ye since Celedon Wood, and the day we saved Bors and Lionel from capture and shame! I have simply been waiting for the right time and the right opportunity to participate and to show ye my value.”
“Brother, yer value to me is much more than ye can reckon,” Aaronn smiled. “We are truly swordbrothers, joined through blood and battle. I am honored to call ye friend and ally. ‘Twill be good to have someone to plan these missions with from now on.”
“Well, ‘tis about time!” Olran remarked as they found the door that led to their room and accessed it, watching it close behind them silently. “I am hungry! We have not eaten since breakfast!”
“Come on then; I am certain that Cai is about to lay supper on the boards,” Aaronn urged. The two quickly washed up, donned fresh clothing and left their room, headed for the kitchen and a meal. Just as they walked into the warm room where delicious food awaited, a sharp and strident voice cut across the peaceful common room of the Castle.
“Ye expect me to eat this?” Gwenhyfar shrieked as a server put a beautifully arranged plate of food in front of her, prepared by Cai’s own hand. “I shall not eat such poor food! Where is Sir Caius Ectorius? Surely, he did NOT cook this!”
Olran’s face twisted, he glanced at Aaronn with real distaste and turned completely about, headed back for the front door of Camelot. Aaronn went after him, finally catching him just outside of the stables. It had just started snowing again as the young archer/knight practically ran to fetch his horse and dress him for travel.
“Where are ye going?” Aaronn managed to call out as Olran mounted quickly and made to leave.
“I told ye, I am not spending the holiday with Gwenhyfar here! I shall see ye in a few days!” he called back as he spurred the horse out of the stable, galloping down the short rise, crossing the frozen river Cam and disappearing into the forest. Olran had not even taken a coat with him, but Aaronn was not concerned about it. He knew that the young man had several caves staked out in the local area, where he had stashed supplies and clothing for just such occasions. Turning, he put his shoulders back, rearranged his clothing, and returned to the common room, and the hot meal that awaited him there. Once he held a plate in hand, he made to sit at the kitchen table, where Cai leaned over to question him.
“Did I not see Olran with ye earlier this morning?”
“Aye, but the sound of that banshee’s screaming about her food put him off, and he has departed the Castle to avoid causing strife,” Aaronn answered calmly. “How is it she’s here?”
“Do ye not remember? Arthur invited her, of course,” Cai answered. “He’s just being polite, after all, without Leodegrance’s knights and his extra horses, we would not have won against the Saxons, or against the other petty kings.”
“Win, against the petty kings?” Aaronn questioned. “They’re not done with their machinations, ye know.”
“They have all bent the knee and sworn their oath to support Arthur.”
“Aye, they have,” Aaronn answered, digging into his plate of roast pork and vegetables. “And openly, they seem to support him, but who knows what they are planning in the night, and in secret?”
“Ye think they’re plotting against him?”
“Of course,” Aaronn replied, reaching for his tea. “Someone should be watching and warding, just in case, would that not be prudent?”
Cai leaned in closer. “Ye know, Arthur has been getting reports of a mysterious knight, all dressed in black, on a coal-black steed, riding about the kingdom taking care of unknown criminals and exposing secret plots.”
“Is that so?” Aaronn smiled, finishing his meal by wiping the plate clean with the last of the small loaf of bread served with his meal. “Well, perhaps the Goddess has finally decided to take a hand in things. ‘Tis about time, I think. The realm would be better off without such intrigue. Have a good day, my friend. I think I’ll retire to my room and do a bit of reading.”
“We will be decorating the common room later, and ye offered yer assistance.”
“So I did!” Aaronn smiled. “I hope we’ll have help from some of the ladies in the Castle?”
“As if ye could stop them from helping!” Cai laughed. “Ye are such a rogue, Aaronn.”
“Am I?” the young man asked in return. “I do not leave broken hearts behind me, as such a man would. When I end a relationship, I generally remain friends with the lady involved.”
“Which would be an unusual occurrence, aye?”
“Not in my experience,” Aaronn smiled. “I hope Lady Clarice will join in. I think her hair is a lovely shade of red, don’t ye?”
Cai just laughed harder as Aaronn left the room, headed for his chamber, and a short nap. He wanted to be fresh for the decorating party, which Gwenhyfar would certainly wish to dominate. Aaronn was just as determined that the Goddess’ holiday be just as well represented as that of the Christian gods’, no matter what that overly-pious and snobby woman had to say about it, he thought with resolve.