Guillaume, Count of Normandy, had finally achieved a measure of peace in his battles against the Count of Flanders, before the onset of winter in 942. The Count of Amiens, along with the young King Louis and his advisors, had arranged to have a peace settlement gathering near Amiens, at Picquigny, a village along the Somme River. There was a fortified castle on the island near the village where the negotiations for peace were to be ratified with a hoped-for lasting peace treaty.

It had been a few years since he had found himself not engaged in some sort of military action. Not anticipating any further battles before the arrival of the spring of 943, he had made the decision to take his heir, Richard, along with him to the gathering of nobles and dignitaries that would be present at the peace conference. It would be the perfect time for ten-year-old Richard to meet most of the men of importance, the who’s who of western Europe. Of most importance in Guillaume’s mind was the opportunity for young Richard to be recognised as Guillaume’s heir.

Guillaume and his escort arrived at the Count of Amiens’ castle at the beginning of December. Guillaume had another motive for bringing Richard with him. He wanted Richard to meet his half-brother, Guy. The Count of Normandy had a gut feeling that settling any claim that his older bastard son might make on claiming the title of Count for himself in the future, was critical.

It was on the second day of his stay with the Count of Amiens that an opportunity presented itself for the meeting between father and his bastard son.

“Richard, I want you to go to those two young knights over there, standing by the well. Tell the tallest one that he is to meet you and me by the well after the evening meal.”

“Why, Papa?”

“You will find out when he meets with us.”

“Do I tell him who I am? Who you are?”

“Of course. Just don’t tell anyone else about this meeting. No one. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Papa.”

Richard crossed the yard which was busy with many boys practicing with wooden swords. Stopping by the two young men by the well, he was surprised to see that the tall one looked a lot like his father.

“Good sir,” he spoke with a sure voice despite his youth, “my father would like to meet with you here after the evening meal.”

Guillaume smiled at the youth. “And just who is your father, may I ask?”

“He is the Count of Normandy, and I am Richard. Father calls me Richard the Fearless.”

Acelynn’s son immediately cast his eyes over the yard and saw the man he knew as his father, standing in the shadows near the entrance to the training grounds. Seeing him gave the young knight a start. He hadn’t expected to ever have the opportunity to meet his father again.

“Tell your father that I will be here as he has requested.” Looking at Richard again, he saw a brother. “I hope I will see you here then as well.”

“Oh yes,” Richard replied. “I will be with him.”

As the youth walked away, Pierre gave Guillaume a quizzical look.

“What was that all about? Why would the Count of Normandy want to see you?”

“I got to meet him before, about a year before you and I came here to train as knights. He knows my mother. You know, almost everyone knows her as the owner of the Inn.”

“But why would he want to see you? What aren’t you telling me, Guy?”

“What I can’t tell you, even though you are my best friend.”

“Well, I am going to be here this evening with you, just in case you need someone to guard your back.”

Guillaume laughed. “I don’t think that if I am at risk, you could save me. Remember who he is? The Count of Normandy. He could take on at least six of us at once and not get a scratch.”

“Still, I will go with you and there is no way you can stop me, Guy.”

“I know. You’ll just have to stay hidden nearby. I have this feeling he would not be pleased to see a witness to our meeting.”

“Guy, this sounds way too ominous. Are you sure?”

“Yes, Pierre. I am certain. It is you that I worry about, not me. Someday I will tell you about it, okay?”

“Okay.”

The rest of the day passed while Guy and Pierre supervised the younger knights-in-training. Their usual instructors were hanging out with the recently arrived knights, catching up on the latest adventures. Finally, it was time to head to the main hall for the evening meal. It had only been in the past eight months that they had finally been allowed to eat with the older knights. The younger ones ate at long benches in the stables.

Guy and Pierre had taken up their usual places at the table nearest the door, the furthest away from the head table. Guy saw that his father was seated beside the Count of Amiens with Richard seated on the other side. The count had provided a few entertainments for the host of knights in attendance. A juggler displayed his skill with balls and then knives before juggling three pieces of fruit while attempting to stack wooden bowls upon his head. When the growing crown of bowls finally fell, the crowd cheered his efforts, with Guy and Pierre adding whistles and whoops to the din.

When the meal was ending, with the mugs of ale filled for the last time, a minstrel appeared with a lute. He played a soft melody that soon picked up its tempo. Having outlined the music that would play backdrop for his words, the man began a tale of love and betrayal. With the last words of the sad tale ending, Guy and Pierre knew it was time to leave. Guy had spotted the Duke slip away from the table.

“We have to get there before him,” Guy whispered, as he hastened out the door. “He can’t know that you are watching and listening, Pierre. He did say to come alone.”

Pierre wasted no time in hiding behind a banner near the fortress walls, within hearing distance. He had hardly settled in when the Duke and his son, Richard came into view. Pierre had assumed that he was well hidden and made sure he didn’t make any sounds that would draw attention. He was surprised when a hand reached from the other side of the pennant and pulled him out of his hiding space.

“Guillaume! I said you were to come alone.”

“Yes, Sire. But there was no way that Pierre was going to let me be here alone. We are sworn brothers-in-arms.”

“Pierre, is it? It is better to stand valiantly visible than skulk in the shadows. Only assassins hide in the shadows. Come here and stand proud like a man beside your sworn brother.”

“Yes, Sire,” Pierre stuttered, as he scrambled to stand beside Guy. There was no mistaking that the young man was worried about what punishment might await him. As he finally dared to look up at the Count, he was shocked by what he saw up close.

“Ah, so you see the truth, Master Pierre. You must never speak of that truth to anyone if you value the life of your sworn brother, and your life.”

“What truth, Papa?” Richard asked.

“Richard, look at Guy carefully and closely. Really look. What do you see, or should I say, who do you see?”

Richard stared at the young knight in front of him to no avail. He turned to his father then he saw the resemblance between Guy and his father. His eyes betrayed his surprise.

“Richard, this is your older brother, Guillaume, your half-brother.”

Turning to face Guy, the Duke spoke, “Guillaume, if you value honour, the honour to father, I need you to swear allegiance to your younger brother, Richard, who is to be my heir. Your allegiance to my heirs is to be passed on to your sons, and their sons until there are no more sons. Yet, no one else must ever know the nature of this allegiance. Neither you nor your heirs must ever appear at my court and cause my lawful heirs to have their positions contested. Will you take this vow?”

“Of course, my Lord,” Guy said as he knelt in front of his father. “It will be my honour to come to Richard’s aid should he ever call on my support. The same will be true for my sons, and their sons.”

Guillaume de Longue-Épée smiled in relief before turning to Pierre. “Remember, your silence is vital to make sure that no one knows this truth. I have enemies that would surely kill Guillaume in an attempt to get to me. Again, swear your oath of silence and allegiance.”

Pierre, like his best friend, took a knee before the Duke, swearing upon his own life, and the lives of his unborn children, to forever be silent about the matter.

With the matter settled, the Count turned away, calling Richard to follow him. Together, the two re-entered the castle where a suite was set aside for them.

The two young men remained outside the walls of the castle. Though there were entertainments yet to come within the great hall, they both resisted the temptation to return.

“No wonder you’re so skilled as a warrior, Guy.”

“Hush, Pierre,” Guy whispered as he quickly scanned the area to see if anyone had come within hearing distance. “Don’t even talk about it with me.”