Prologue:
Knaresborough Castle - 13th Century A.D.
The two knights were sat in one of the smaller rooms of Knaresborough castle, it was evening and without the large fire crackling away in the fireplace, the room would be bitterly cold. They were sat, facing each other with a chessboard on the table between them. The older knight was clearly winning, he was chatting casually as the other knight stared blankly at the flagstone floor.
"...Gouen, are you listening to me? I understand that thieves on the road to Helmsley aren't exactly the most fascinating of subjects, but they must be dealt with. I was thinking that you and I could ride out tomorrow... Gouen!"
"Oh. My apologies, I was elsewhere." The other knight was slightly younger than the first, but not my much. He was a rather intimidating fellow, with a serious expression and scruffy, dark hair. "It's a good idea to deal with the thieves as soon as possible. I was going to visit Rievaulx tomorrow, if you can accompany me we can see what the complaints have been about." Gouen moved his bishop several squares, he could already see that he'd sacrificed it to his opponent's queen.
John frowned slightly, pacified by Gouen's response. "There's something troubling you, I see."
He nodded. "Yes, it's why I rode up here yesterday. Although, there's no substance behind it."
"What do you mean?"
"There's something wrong. I've felt the most oppressive gloom hanging over us all for days, it seems foolish, but I thought to perhaps warn you."
John laughed, it was a strong, booming guffaw of a laugh. "Warn me? You sound like you're loosing your mind."
Gouen sighed, he looked tired and a little lost. Whatever this was, it was troubling him deeply. "Perhaps I am, but surely you still trust my judgement?"
John inclined his head. "Yes, of course." There was a slight click, as John maneuvered one of his chess pieces across the board. The younger knight was playing atrociously today, John should win in a few moves. "I take it this is why you're so set on heading to Rievaulx tomorrow, for a bit of spiritual guidance?"
"Indeed it is."
Knaresborough Castle - 13th Century A.D.
The two knights were sat in one of the smaller rooms of Knaresborough castle, it was evening and without the large fire crackling away in the fireplace, the room would be bitterly cold. They were sat, facing each other with a chessboard on the table between them. The older knight was clearly winning, he was chatting casually as the other knight stared blankly at the flagstone floor.
"...Gouen, are you listening to me? I understand that thieves on the road to Helmsley aren't exactly the most fascinating of subjects, but they must be dealt with. I was thinking that you and I could ride out tomorrow... Gouen!"
"Oh. My apologies, I was elsewhere." The other knight was slightly younger than the first, but not my much. He was a rather intimidating fellow, with a serious expression and scruffy, dark hair. "It's a good idea to deal with the thieves as soon as possible. I was going to visit Rievaulx tomorrow, if you can accompany me we can see what the complaints have been about." Gouen moved his bishop several squares, he could already see that he'd sacrificed it to his opponent's queen.
John frowned slightly, pacified by Gouen's response. "There's something troubling you, I see."
He nodded. "Yes, it's why I rode up here yesterday. Although, there's no substance behind it."
"What do you mean?"
"There's something wrong. I've felt the most oppressive gloom hanging over us all for days, it seems foolish, but I thought to perhaps warn you."
John laughed, it was a strong, booming guffaw of a laugh. "Warn me? You sound like you're loosing your mind."
Gouen sighed, he looked tired and a little lost. Whatever this was, it was troubling him deeply. "Perhaps I am, but surely you still trust my judgement?"
John inclined his head. "Yes, of course." There was a slight click, as John maneuvered one of his chess pieces across the board. The younger knight was playing atrociously today, John should win in a few moves. "I take it this is why you're so set on heading to Rievaulx tomorrow, for a bit of spiritual guidance?"
"Indeed it is."