The Captain said nothing, Harold continued, “That is right and why should you because you are lowly soldier.  Even though you may be a Captain who has authority over your boys, you are still a soldier.  Your fates lie in mine and the other Lord’s hands.  For if we want to wage war, you shall fight and we shall watch.”

The Captain grew tired of this belittlement, “Sir what do you want

“Captain, your fortress rest on my land, and therefore I have authority over you and your men, but rest assure I do not want all of your men just certain ones.”

“What certain ones.’

“Your mercenaries.”

“You can not have them, and I do not have the authority to give them to you.”

“I do not need yours or anybody’s authority. Remember, who has the power over whether you live or die.  I and the Lord Sussex have a certain dispute to settle.”

The Captain knew this had nothing to do with a land dispute, so he remained silent.

“I am willing to offer these men more than they will make fighting for you, so I shall have them anyway,” Harold continued.  “The missing knight Justice is who I need these soldiers for.  He posses a secret and I want it and these mercenaries will be my army help to get it.”

“Don’t you have men of your own?”

“Yes, but remember I have that little dispute with Lord of Essex,” Harold continues. “As for my son, he has been great disappointed. You will never know the role sons and daughters play in the lives of us in nobility.

“Cut  me loose from this tree!“

The hooded figure motioned to the trees behind him, and more hooded figures joined him.  Seven figures stood before Robert.

“Will you cut these ropes and free from this blasted tree!“

The hooded figures turned to each other.  Robert could he their murmuring.  Then one of them approach him.  “Why are you tied to this tree.  Are you heretic?” 

Another figure shouted, “He must be heretic.  He is tied to this tree.“

Robert had to think fast because the figures started to put wood around his feet.  “No, I’m not a heretic”

“Then why are tied to this tree?”

Roberts emotions started to take control.

“Because I would not bow down to my fellow soldiers’ blessed statue.”

“What soldiers and what statue?”

“The soldiers at the Fortress of Northburg.  They worship this statue that they claim to be a so called soldier saint.  They wanted me to kiss it and I refused.” He scream, “untie me from this blasted tree, and I shall lead you to them!”

The figures gathered in a group, and then one of them approached him.  “My good sir judge your predicament, and tell us how can anyone trust you.”

“You tell me how then I get tied to this tree,” replied Robert.  “Did I tie myself to this tree?”

“No, but why would someone tie you to this tree?”

“I told you my fellow soldiers did this.”

The figure drew out a knife from his robe, and Robert’s eye grew big as the figure walked closer to him.  Robert drew his breath into his lungs just as the knife came close to his side. The knife cut through the ropes thus freeing Robert.

“Can I please have something to drink?”

They gathered around a fire where they ate and drank.

“So who are these heretic soldiers?”

Knowing that he would finally have his revenge.  He told them who they were and how to find them.

After much discussion, they retired for the night.