Detective Liam Niles: The Last Crusade by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

The Jousting Novice

Squire Tremen Niles stood next to his fianc’ee Saren Nollen at the alter ready to be married by Pastor Connor Drake. In the first row of seats of the sanctuary of Chivalry Chapel, Detective Liam Niles sat. Next to him, his wife Lady Tauna Drake Niles. Next to her, their son Devon with his wife Breyen holding their six year old son William. Sitting next to Liam, his younger brother Detective Trey Niles, with his wife Lauren.

Next to them, the parents of Saren, The Barron Dayron an Barroness Sagen Nollen as they all witnessed the wedding in progress as Pastor Connor Drake about to pronounced the vows. Inspector Crouse as one of the welcomed guests.

Suddenly, the foyer doors burst open with a small mob of men.

Trey, Liam, Crouse, along with everyone quickly turned to see them.

Pastor Connor Drake stood adamant. “State your claim!”

A stoutly man cloak with noble ranking came forth, then stood. ”I am Regan Macron. The Marquess of my kingdom Zephron. I have come to claim of the accusation of Squire Tremen Niles. The one who corrupt my son, Reban’s fiancee with illegitimate child!” Seeing Saren, then Tremen. “Seize him!”

The mob of men ferociously going toward Tremen, grabbing him with a scuffle, yanking, pulling him toward the foyer’s door as everyone gasping in disbelief. Liam, Trey, Inspector Crouse jumped to their feet leading the way out with everyone following on the way out from the foyers door, as witnessing Tremen being dragged out of Chivalry Chapel, into the courtyard, then plotted him down hard unto the ground.

Inspector Crouse insisting. “What are the charges do you have against this man?”

The Marquess pointing his angry finger at Tremen. “He brings reproach upon my family surname of Macron by trying to marry the very woman to be the marchioness that was already spoken for in prearranged marriage with my son!”

Inspector Crouse looks at Tremen. “Is this true?”

Trey came forward. “Son. Speak the truth. Is his words against you true!?”

Tremen,pulling himself up unto his feet, stood his ground, faced the Marquess. “No Father! His words are of false venom! Saren relinquished the very thought of having that title! There is no other man to take Saren for wife for she carries my child within her! And I challenge anyone who says different!”

The Marquess looks at Saren’s father. “Barron Nollen! You promised me a woman of pure chasity! Go on! Ask your plain maiden daughter with child!”

Dayron Nollen, crossed his view from the Marquess to his daughter. “Saren. Did you tell me and your mother that you cut ties with Reban?”

Saren, vouched. “Yes Father.”

Dayron Nollen veers back at Marquess Regan. “There you have it! I see no further discusion.”

Marquess Regan, in his disgust, goes forward to him again, as Liam, Trey, Crouse clutch the him away from Tremen,preventing any further scuffle.

Trey, challenging the Marquess to his face. “I don’t know what truly brings you here, but false accusations will not be tolerated! This is a private ceremony. Only for the invited. And I did not see your names on the list. So I’d think best for you to kindly remove yourselves, before you place yourself to seek pardon of gross neglect of tresspass of misunderstandings!”

The Marquess stood vigilant. “The arranged marriage of my son to be married to a virgin ripened with dowry! She is no plain maiden no more! The dowry is worth nothing now! But to a useless Squire! Damn you!” Glaring at Saren,taking his step going toward her, Liam intervened. “I think you should leave now!”

With Inspector Crouse emphasis, Pastor Connor with Bren and Lauren, go to saren in care.

The Marquess, giving her a distasteful look of embitterness. “The reward of the fruited womb has been tarnished by you. Now my son is in despair of an clean heir,by a hussy!” He turns to leave. His Attendant mob following him.

His son, Regan giving Saren a forgiving tilt of his head, but moving on look as she looks back at him in sympathy, but with exemption, sees him leave.

Inspector Crouse, raised his brows in distinguishing observation. “The father of the son seemed more involved than the son himself.”

Pastor Connor, “Yes. Its seems that . But how did they get in here? I had placed an specially assigned guard to stand checking the invited. ”

Liam, composed with observation. “He had his concealed sword on his right thigh, which is unusual as swords are typically worn on the left side. Because of this concealment, he entered into the chapel undetected as disguise allowed him to approach. Cleverly done. Trey. I would advise you and Lauren to work with me and Inspector Crouse to investigate deeper into this matter. Until further notice to put this in the hands of Pastor Connor to postpone the wedding for a time to make sure the wedding is legally bound. Until then,I suggest we keep calm and carry on.”

Pastor Connor concurred. “Tremen and Saren. By my word of Pastor of Chivarly Chapel, we wait a fort night into the investigation for answers before proceeding this marriage. It is imperative for a rightful wedding.”

Lauren taking Saren with her back to the quest room, as Tremen looks at his father, as Trey, looking at his son with more questions than answers, moves onward with Liam and the inspector.

Dayron and wife, taking a last look at him, disband back the room.”For what its worth, we shall return.”

Tremen stood ready in continued defended position, not backing down.

The next day…

A visit from Regan Macon, of his father The Marquess, entering into the chapel’s foyer. Hearing Breyen talking and laughing with her sister, Brandy, as he turns to see them but with his eyes placed upon Brandy, as Brandy reciprocated back to him. Then Saren treading near him, as she suddenly stopped to see the interaction between him and Brandy, then looked at him in caution.

Reban, turned to her in cordial, bowed to her in honor. “Saren. May we talk in private?”

Saren, giving another bit of caution, then, goes to him in peaceful intent. “Alright. We can talk here. Please. Sit.” She sat on the bench.

He sat next to her attentive. “Saren. I understand of your condition, that this child within you is not mine.” He looked down, then up at her again. “Maybe it was just a mere brief interlude of a night’s cloudy moon’s light of blinding your unsightful vision, a moment of non clear headed slip up, an accidental touch gone wrong…..as unjustly as the touch must have been, I want you to know, that I still want you.”

Saran, appalled. “Am I here just to listen to your insults of my judgement upon me? For that night with Tremen, wasn’t just a brief interlude, but one of many moons of pure intimacy interchanged between us as we loved each other with our hearts, souls, minds and our bodies….”

Reban,offended, inserted. “While you, were promised by our parents to be married to me, as a virgin. Pure and virtuous!”

Saren, interjected. “That I forfeit.”

Both silent.

Reban, taking a sigh. “Look. What is done is done. This child, Tremen’s child. I thought it through quite well. My father, reluctant at first, but is willing to forego your mistake for the sake of his and our future kingdom. We could still marry. I will pay Tremen handsomely to legally adopt his blood son to me, with hush money. I will claim Tremen’s child as my own raising him in my surname. But I add to this. After this child is born, we will immediately beget my blood son, then both sons as heirs. I assure you. Nobody has to know the truth about your illegitimate son. All will be ok. We can move on as if nothing happened. You will soon be my wife as I become Marquess.”

Saren, sat in insolence. “What!? I couldn’t just push Tremen aside like nothing happened between us! That would be a very bad idea. For everytime I would see my lovechild I will be seeing Tremen in him. And in my request to have Tremen help me maintain the grounds, I would just end up sharing his bed in the nights of passion once again. And I may add, with a third child on the way with two illegitimate children. Such grapevine of ugly rumors that would spread throughout our kingdom like the spoil of unferment taste of embittered fruit among the family would result in treacherous results for generations.”

Reban, stood up in protest. “This is preposterous nonsense! I have come here to rectify the problem with solution. I have built the bridge between you and my father’s stand point to implement a safe haven to safe guard for his and our future heraldry, our future kingdom is at stake and with full dowry to us and all you can do is rebel against me by your rhetoric dismantle. I didn’t realize how stubborn of a marchioness you would be. But nonetheless, a strong marchioness you will be. Maybe in time it will iron out between us as we marry, and as time moves on, you will truly see me and love me as your Tremen.”

Saran, stood up in protest to him, cradled her small protruding belly with her gentle hand. “This isn’t about you but your father’s wants of his molton-forged- golden kingdom! I saw your eyes upon Brandy Mckenzie upon her entrance into this chapel, has shown me otherwise of your trueness to me. I wonder. Is this nuptial ageement between you and I or me and your father!? Then even with your roaming eyes of love at first sight with a sweet, kind-hearted maiden of Brandy Mckenzie with the temptation of the taste of wine upon her lips with yours, which I gladly take the same vine root of The Drake’s Signet ring of agreement of two souls on paper to be placed in covenant of Detective Trey Niles’ son.

As her father, Pastor Roger Mckenzie is also a pastor! In which foregate would you be allowed to enter into while you secretly nullify your fathers rule of betrothment to me? And then what would your father say to you? Would he also dismiss you from his kingdom!? And then what dowry are you to present in betrothment to your real lover within your own kingdom!? ” Reban, with tight lip-anger, backs away from her. “That’s enough! This conversation is over. Now I shall go to him. Your Tremen! Maybe we can forge an alliance! By challenge!” He walks away in haste treading down the long corridor and into the pastor’s meeting room, the door burts open, Saren hurriedly coming behind him, as Pastor Connor, Inspector Crouse, Detective Liam, Lady Tauna, Devon, Detective Trey Niles, and Treman Niles, veering quickly at the door.

Inspector Crouse with raised brows. “Well, there’s certainly a lot of that going around.”

Pastor Connor looking straight at Reban. “What is it this time, son? Are you here for prayer in your grand entrance?”

Trey, with wry smirk. “Or have you lost your way inside the chapel?”

Liam, with non chalant sigh. “Boy. Do please state your claim. What is it this time?”

Tremen, seeing Saren’s serious face. In his seriousness. “Saren, what is it?”

Reban stood his ground. Taking his glove off, goes to Tremen, slaps his face with it, then throws his gauntlet like glove at his feet. “There! I challenge you!”

They all stand from their chairs in attention near Tremen in safety.

Reban, in rebel stance, turns to walk out of the room walking past Saren.

Everyone sat back down. Tremen goes to Saren, held her hands. “What is going on?”

Saren, keeping her calm. “He didn’t like my answer to his marriage proposal of NO.”

Tremen, calm. “Ok. Very well then. It is done. Everything is going to be ok. Just go back to your room and rest.”

Saren, slipping her hands from his, go back to her room. The meeting resumes.

In a fort night…….

Back in the meeting room, all same as usual.

Tremen as he quickly came into the room, abruptly sat.

The Nollen’s sitting among them.

Pastor making sure all is ready. Places a paper in front of himself. “Right. I was given a letter from Marquess Regan as it reads:

‘The Marquess requests the presence of knight Squire Tremen Niles, according to our custom. A combat tournament of joust must reside for competition for in the honor of marriage to Miss Saren Nollen.’

Pastor Connor, looking up and across the room. “Oh Lord, now what?”

Trey, not amused. “I knew it, something was brewing with that man.”

Tremen, cool and calm. “Father, Uncle Liam, Connor. I will take his challenge. Please teach me the fine art of jousting.”

Liam, along with Trey, Connor.”Excuse me?”

Trey, giving his son an indifferent look. “For god’s sake son. You don’t know the first thing of joust. You don’t know what you are dealing with!”

Tremen, moved forward in his chair. “But you and Uncle Liam, both of you have been taught from your father, my Grandfather Niles, the fine art. Isn’t that what you said father?”

Trey, Liam, look at each other, then back to him.

Liam, with ease of gestured hands. “Training to joust can take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on individual progression and focus to master the skill. In training it often involves dedicated practice and lessons, particularly during a training season that precedes the show season of initial stages.” Tremen, quiet for a moment. “Yes. And Saren is in her first trimester of pregnancy. It could take the time of her full pregnancy to achieve this. Ok. And what are these stages?”

Liam, slowing down to explain the process. “Well, in the beginners stage, often start with basic horsemanship, including under-saddle exercises and practice with a lance.”

Trey, with friendly smile. “Son, you have not even on a saddle.”

Tremen, with friendly smile back. “ Well, I could do that for start. “

Liam, continued. “ Ok. The advanced training as riders progress, consists of private training lessons in daily sessions to refine skills, including riding with armor.”

Tremen, in hang in there, eagerness. “And then what?”

Liam, continued. “The ongoing practice. Consistent practice is the key crucial for winning a jousting competitions, as even experienced riders may need regular training to maintain their skill.”

Tremen, with confidence. “ No Problem!”

Liam and Trey, giving each other another sigh look, then back to him.

Trey, with sigh. “Son, you’ll have to take on a great amount of strength and endurance, many hits and misses just to get through training season to the actual competition of the tournaments. And even with that, there is no guarantee of winning.”

Liam, pulled back in his chair. “It is a game of high risk. And at some point…you could get severely wounded. The fall itself is shocking.”

Tremen, giving a moment’s long look at both of them in jestering. “Ok. Tell me. Who fell first?” Trey, with seriousness. “Son. It could be fatal.”

Tremen, sat tall in his chair. “I will take that chance to win. I…Will take that risk, whatever it takes, to win Saren as wife!”

Dayron stood. “Pastor Connor. “ I for one would like to see Tremen smash the living daylights out from that man’s hand.”

Liam and Trey sighing, as Pastor Connor leans back into his chair in final resolution.