"Sir Guy's Dilemma" (Book 2), by Gratiana Lovelace, 2012-2013

"Sir Guy's Dilemma", Ch. 6: Archer's difficulties; Seth takes ill, 11/23/12

Lord Archer:  “The nobles are restless and not helping with Nottingham’s rebuilding as I had hoped--nor are they paying Prince John his tribute monies.”

Sir Guy:  “But I thought you bargained with Prince John to have the tribute monies waived while you rebuilt?

Lord Archer:  “Welllll, not quite.”  He winces.

Sir Guy:  “Out with it man!   What are you not telling me?”

Lord Archer:  “Alright, alright.  Prince John agreed to Nottingham’s peasantry tribute monies not being collected during the rebuild--but he still wants the nobles’ funds.

Sir Guy:   “I don’t see the problem.  Collect their monies or they face Prince John’s wrath.”

Lord Archer:  “Here is where the difficulty comes in.  It seems that one or more of them was hoping to be made sheriff--but with no intention of rebuilding the Nottingham Castle fortifications.”

Sir Guy:   “The nobles were always a mercurial lot.  I had to threaten them on several occasions with stripping them of their lands and titles by throwing them in the dungeon so they would comply.”

Lord Archer:  Looking at his brother half warily and half appreciatively, he asks incredulously.  “You could do that?”

Sir Guy:  “Well, not really.  But the show of force of the castle garrison was a sufficient deterrent to keep them in line.”

Lord Archer:  “But that is my problem.  Prince John conscripted Nottingham’s remaining garrison that wasn’t killed in the explosion.  I have next to no way to enforce the laws--nor impel the nobles’ tribute payments to the crown.

Sir Guy:  “Hmmm.  That is quite a predicament.”  He nods his head solemnly.  “And did Prince John have any thoughts on the matter?”

Lord Archer:  “Not one I was willing to entertain.”

Sir Guy:  “Why?  Would it have cost you the remaining monies that I left with you to rebuild Nottingham?”  Guy bristles at Archer not seeming to be grateful for his patronage of him.

Lord Archer:  “Wellll.  Not exactly--regarding your money.”  Archer squirms.

Sir Guy:  “What other money could there be?”  He asks questioningly.  Then Sir Guy hits the side of his head with the palm of his hand.  “I’ll be damned!  You’ve found it!”  He exclaims incredulously.

Lord  Archer:  “Ah Brother.  Nothing gets past you.”  He rolls his eyes bemusedly.

Sir Guy:  “How much of Nottingham’s missing crown tribute monies did you find?”  He asks interestedly.

Lord Archer:  “All 50,000 pounds--and Sheriff Vasey’s wealth of 100,000 pounds.”  He says astounding himself.

Sir Guy:  “Good god!  And where was it?  Robin and I couldn’t find it--presuming that Isabella had moved it from the treasury to steal it for herself.”

Lord Archer:  “That’s the thing.  Our dear demented--and late lamented--sister Isabella had some clarity of thought after all.”  Lord Archer raises his eyebrow and tilts his head in salute to her ingenuity.  “She sunk it!”

Sir Guy:  “Sunk it?”  He asks quizzically.

Lord Archer:  “Yes, in the moat. The village workers and I found it when we drained the moat to inspect the castle’s foundations.  There were six chests with coins worth 25,000 pounds each in them.”

Sir Guy:  “And you haven’t told Prince John yet?”  Sir Guy’s eyes widen.

Lord Archer:  “Noooooo!  Of course not!   I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.  But the problem is, we can’t start spending these monies too quickly to rebuild Nottingham or Prince John will know that we have the money.”