Two days after the meeting with his father, both Guy and Pierre were called to meet with the Captain of the Count’s guard.

“The two of you are to accompany the Duke’s son to Picquigny. You will represent the Count with extreme dignity. Be prepared to ride tomorrow morning. You will wear the uniform of the guard for this occasion only. Don’t think for one moment that this is my idea or that I approve. You are much too young to wear that uniform. Remember, one mistake will result in the rest of your miserable lives being a living hell, courtesy of me. Dismissed.”

The two youths could hardly contain their excitement. The original plan had been for them to remain at the Count’s estate to work with the younger boys who were training to become knights. To be in the company of Lords, Counts, and Dukes seemed to be too good to be true. And to be wearing the official uniform of the Count’s guards, was beyond either of their expectations.

They rushed off to the guard supply room to get their new uniforms which would be worn over their plain armour. To their surprise, the Captain had ordered the quartermaster to provide new armour as well, The quartermaster threatened them that any damage to the uniforms or armour would have to be paid for with interest which would include physical pain.

No sooner had they reached their quarters, when a messenger arrived. Their presence was requested by the Duke’s Captain. They were to present themselves to the captain as soon as they were presentable, in the courtyard to meet the Duke’s son.

* * *

Richard got along well with his stepbrother even though he could never reveal their relationship. Three other young men had joined Guy and Pierre as a sort of honour guard for the Duke’s heir. Wisely, when riding, Guy and Pierre brought up the rear of the three pairs on the road. Richard rode at the head of the group along with the Count’s son, Armand. Their group was positioned behind the nobility which was led by the Duke and the Count. The main body of knights rode behind the youths.

It was late afternoon when they reached the main camp on the south side of the river at Picquigny. Only the nobility would cross to the island where the peace conference was to be signed between the Count of Flanders, the Duke of Normandy, and the Count of Amiens.

Richard, as a noble, was expected to be present, along with the young King of the Franks. Richard was allowed to bring his honour guard with him, allowing Pierre and Guy to be stationed on the grounds outside of the castle on the island. Richard was to stay within the castle with his father. However, he somehow persuaded the Duke to let him share a tent with his five new friends.

The arrival of the Count of Flanders and his entourage of nobles and military guard later that afternoon, was received with a significant level of tension. The young King Louis, along with his advisors, received the antagonistic Count. There was no question that the presence of the King was necessary to have the peace talks not break down resulting in the resumption of armed conflict.

The act of signing the peace treaty, which had already been negotiated, was to occur the following afternoon outside of the castle gates. A raised platform had been erected so that the signatories would be seen by all assembled on the island. Because they would not be placed very close to the platform, the six young men decided to inspect the area before the evening meal, when Richard would be required to join his father within the castle’s great hall. They each took a role to act out what they thought would be the scene to be witnessed the next day, with Richard naturally standing in the role for his father, Pierre as the Count of Amiens, and Guy as the king’s advisor. Though they knew it was to be a serious event filled with rigid protocol, they laughed at each other’s attempts to be statesmen. Little did they know how the events to happen the next day would forever change the world as they knew it.

*  *  *

Guy stood beside Pierre, well back from the mass of hundreds of knights. Behind him, the tents filled up what remained of the open areas of the island in front of the castle. This was the only unoccupied spot they could find which gave them a decent view at a distance. There were other trees scattered between the tents and the main body of knights, but they had already been claimed by others.

The procession of dignitaries who would be on the stage had already begun. As a measure of trust, none of the dignitaries had worn military armour. Rather, they were cloaked in their robes of office. Guy saw Richard emerge from the gates at the same time as his father. He was to sit at the table with the others while his father signed the peace treaty. Richard was to go up the steps before his father and take his place, with his father following him. The Count of Flanders, along with the Count of Amiens, had already taken their places at the table. Only the King and his advisor were yet to ascend to take their assigned spots for the ceremony.

Richard was nervous as he climbed the stairs. He could feel the weight of his father’s steps sway the temporary staircase. Not wanting to slip and fall, he focused hard on keeping his eyes focused on each step. The last thing he wanted to do was embarrass his father. As he reached the final step, he gave a sigh of relief. At the same time, he heard a roar and felt the staircase sway below. He turned to see his father who had just fallen off, laying in the dirt, an arrow protruding from his back. Without thinking, Richard rushed back down the stairs to his father.

Guy and Pierre left their spot beside the tree and rushed, as best they could, to try and reach Richard. Guy saw a furtive movement by one of the trees closer to the back of the assembled soldiers. The man attempted to slip away unnoticed. His dress didn’t indicate any affiliation with one of the gathered troops. Guy was certain that the man was the shooter as he still held a bow as he retreated.

It was hopeless, there was no way they could reach young Richard as quickly as they wanted. Before they could reach the front, the Duke’s knights formed a protective barrier around Richard and the Duke who was being attended to by one of the physicians. A wail from Richard told both Pierre and Guy that the Duke, Guillaume de Longa, who had lived with the name de Longue-Épée, had just died. Richard was now the third Duke of Normandy.

*  *  *

Guy remained with the Count of Amiens for another five years before he was granted the status of nobility as a full-fledged knight of the realm. He returned to the village of Longpré to see his mother and to take on his new role as headman of the village.

Pierre had returned to his home in Fontaine two years earlier at the behest of his ailing father, who soon died. It wasn’t long before Guy travelled a bit further downriver to ask for the hand of Pierre de Fontaine’s sister, Marie-Anne.

For the majority of the years that remained to these two best friends who had become family, they found themselves frequently fighting in wars for King Louis and the Duke of Normandy. Neither of them ever spoke of Guy being Duke Richard‘s half-brother. Guy did tell his eldest son when the boy became a man ready to take over the role as the Lord of Longpré.