laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

The soft cooing of pigeons awoke Alexander to the morning as his blue eyes noticed the sunlight pouring through the distant window. Comfortably resting within the blankets that had been found in a trunk, he didn't want to get up. A residue of the previous night's fire still clung to the room as he rolled over onto his back and wondered where the enemy had gone the night before. Some speculated that they had gated from the battlefield after the raid on the city's archives had been accomplished. Why expend all this year's energy on that one goal? He lay, arms crossed behind his head as the sound of activity across the street gained his attention. Turning, he recognized the sound of hoofbeats and voices drifting down the quiet street whose bordering, two-story homes lined the main thoroughfare from the eastern gate to the central marketplace.
Rising, he padded over to the window and noticed Darvin and his companions waiting outside the home that they had been given to rest in. Packed, they appeared to be awaiting their lords for departure. A bit sudden as they had only arrived the day before. He walked to the door, pulled the bar back and opened it to be greeted by the crisp air and Alandria's gaze as the brunette turned to him from beside her mount.

"Good morning," he greeted. "Where are you headed?"

"We've been told to pack up and get ready to leave," she shrugged. "I don't know where we're headed yet. Sometimes we don't know until we get there."

He nodded as the other boys eyed him also and he caught the attention of Darvin who nodded and grinned. "Take care, Alexander. We'll see you again, no doubt."

"Safe travels, Arhus guide you all."

"Thanks," they returned in unison as the knights and elder members of the group, including the raven haired witch that traveled with them and her husband, emerged and approached their horses in haste. Without looking to him, they climbed into their respective saddles and spurred their mounts to canter down the street towards the gate and soon disappear. A part of him went with them.

As Sir Stephen and Sir Kenneth joined him in the large, main room for breakfast, he turned and bowed. "Good morning, sirs."

"Morning, Alex," Stephen greeted as he gingerly limped down the stairs and headed to a nearby chair, then sat down.

"Sir Alister and their friends left this morning."

"Yes, I know. I saw them last night and they mentioned they would be leaving. I take it that Sir Sceva was healed enough to ride," he explained as Kenneth poured himself a cup of tea and sat down at the table. "Our trails may pass again," he smiled.

"Yes, sir." Alex said, then began scooping out eggs and bacon onto plates, then served the knights and then joined them. Quietly, he ate as his mind touched various points of the previous few years from growing up in the compound, learning at the feet of many priests and templar. His mind then rested on Lady Nyrellia and he realized how quickly his emotions welled at the thought that she was almost gone and he couldn't get to her in time. Too close, he grinned and tried to swallow back his tears.

"Alex, did you hear me?" Stephen stated quietly.

Glistening blue eyes rose to eye the paladin. "Sir? I'm sorry, I was wandering."

"I said, after you're done this morning, I need to talk to you."

"Of course." After he finished eating, he gathered and cleaned their dishes and took care of his chores as Sir Brendan and other knights reported into Stephen at various points of the morning. Once done, he headed back downstairs and walked up towards the knights as they sat and talked.

"...So, I think we should also look to our own deportment within a week or so," Stephen finished, then turned to his squire. "All done upstairs?"

"Yes, sir." He had found himself still distracted from everything that had happened, especially the battle that he wasn't allowed to join in.

"Good, take a seat."

Alexander walked over and claimed a stool which rested to the right of the hearth and carried it out onto a large bear-skin rug, then sat down.

Stephen quietly eyed him for a moment as strong, tanned hands rested in his lap. "We've been through and seen much since you became my squire and I've been honored to have you with us. You've been guided by Arhus's hand himself on many occasion, I have no doubt of that."

Alex was beginning to worry about this line of discussion as it developed. "It's been my pleasure and honor to serve you, sir."

"Some information has come to my attention that I feel needs to be relayed. I should have passed it on before today and I hope you'll forgive me for that." He grabbed his tankard of water and took a long drink, then sat it back onto the long wooden table as Kenneth looked on and mused. "Sir Lericanin came to me when we prayed in Ashton at the church and revealed some things to me that I've had to think about for some time. Without the benefit of our champions to help guide us on any issue, I've had to use my own judgement and intuition. He told me that the chamberlain of Kecel isn't your father."

The information hit Alex like a ton of stones as his brow furrowed.

"Sir Lericanin didn't want me to relay this until after he had fallen in battle but, since he's gone now, I think it's only proper that I tell you. He is your father." Stephen allowed the revelation to sink in as Alexander thought of the tall knight's eyes and stature. Numb, he realized that the news had to be true. And now, that man was gone and he had no way to ask him one-on-one to gain the truth in the knight's eyes firsthand.

"Why now?" he asked. "Why didn't he tell me this?"

"I guess he needed to be sure himself. He mentioned that once he had seen you, it all became clear."

"How long had he known?"

"Some time before we met near Carbost. Once he heard your name and our affiliations, he realized that his son was becoming a templar. You grew up in Kecel and everything else that he found out fell into place."

"Then, he knows my mother? He met her at the tavern at some point? Why would she say that my father was the chamberlain?" His frustration and confusion grew with each passing moment.

"Perhaps she wasn't sure," Stephen evaded. "Once we get home, you should go ask her."

Alex nodded as he straightened. There were more questions that needed answering and he was too far away from those who had the information. "Did he say where they were going?"

"No. He stated that they had to leave and that he would hopefully see us soon," the paladin shrugged. "I wish things in life were a little easier to understand, Alexander. We still have a job to do, I know you're aware of that so, don't allow this to consume you, alright?"

"Of course," Alex agreed, though it was still filling his mind.