The Welshman rose to a particular tavern in the Valley of Kings, called Denny's. Once there, he scanned the dimly lit interior for two certain people - a tall blond woman and a large man dressed in black. His cohorts.
"Ah, Elaine, Pierre, so good to see you." He said, joining them at their booth.
"Well met, Llewelyn," drawled the man. The woman sneered and said nothing.
"With both of you here, I think it's time for a status report," said Pierre, stabbing a piece of meat with his fork.
Elaine spoke. "Sir Theobald's hiding out. Ever since I saw him running away from Sir Hector's, he's been staying by himself in a family estate."
Pierre folded his hands in front of him "Hmmm. The Nikeans will want to know that." He turned to Llewelyn, "I trust things are going well?"
He smiled. "Excellent. The Nikeans will part for Adria in a week, and the Adrians will have no idea what's in store. Sir Kirigi and Lord Nigel looked concerned, but the others - hook, line and sinker."
Pierre chuckled. "Excellent." He thought for a moment. "Hmmm. Sir Kirigi...that sounds familiar." He looked at Elaine. "Wasn't he part of your plan to destroy Terre Neuve and take Sir Stefan as a lover?"
"He's a slipperier fish than most. He's barely involved here, if at all."
"Yes. Well, he did ruin your plans," added Llewelyn.
"Stefan is having a baby with that cow. I don't want him." She stared at Llewelyn. "Mention it again and you'll be dead, just like Peter the hermit, and that maid, Alice."
Llewelyn grimaced. "Sorry."
Elaine continued. "Anyway, power is much better than love. I'd rather control lives than screw some Polish twit. And I don't care how many lives are lost to get it."
Pierre smiled. "Which is why, my dear, I understand you so well." He took a pull from his tankard. "Anyway, the Nikeans will draw Adria into England's war with France, destroying all three monarchies eventually. We'll just step in, and half the known world will be ours!"
"Where did you find them?" asked Llewelyn.
"The Nikeans have hated monarchies forever. Their little philosophy came to my attention after the king took my lands. Now, we'll all get what we want: revenge, the destruction of monarchies, and power!"
"And why the killing?"
Elaine smiled for the first time. "Simple. A common enemy will unite the Nikeans and Adrians well. Framing an old, respected knight like Sir Theobald seemed like a good way to cement them. That, and the relief efforts in Esperance."
"So he was convenient?"
"Precisely."
"This is all well and good, but we still have things to do. The Nikeans must destroy Sir Theobald publicly, so their facade is complete." He finished his drink and got up. "I'll see both of you in a week, when the Nikeans become part of the Adrian Empire." He dropped a few coins on the table and left. Soon after, Elaine and Llewelyn followed suit.
None of the three had noticed the gowned and veiled woman at the next table, who had been furiously taking notes of the conversation. Dame Lyonene was very afraid. She didn't have much time.
Sir Theobald woke to shouts and the clash of stone on stone. He grabbed his clothing and looked out the window.
Some twenty men, more of the same people who had attacked him at the McDonald's, were outside, laying siege to the manor. "Oh, hell," he said aloud, "I've got to get out of here. Maybe the Hedgehogs can hide me."
He hurriedly dressed, grabbing sword and cloak, and raced down the back stairs. He was both glad and concerned that he was here alone, without even servants. He got to the back door, opened it, and raced for the stables.
Once there, he quickly saddled his horse, mounted him, and raced off.
He did not count on a secondary team of men coming around the back, right at him.
Sir Theobald could not turn around. With a sigh of resignation, he drew his sword and charged them.
Steel rang on steel as he hacked at the men. Sir Theobald had the advantage at first, being mounted. Nevertheless, as the fight wore on, and more of the Nikeans joined in, their numbers prevailed.
One struck the legs of his horse, causing it to fall and pitching Sir Theobald forward. He landed hard, the wind knocked out of him.
Grinning, one of his attackers walked over and turned Sir Theobald over. "At last, Sir Theobald," he said, and punched him in the face. Sir Theobald had a moment of pain, and then lost consciousness.