Aurelio's Treasure

Gaul thrived on the Romans; commoners lived comfortable lives, merchants grew fat and the knights of the Empire ruled vast estates. After centuries of peace the Empire began to crumble and Gaul suffered the depredations of many raids . . .

So it was that young Aurelio found himself defending his father's manse against a band of German Raiders. The stormed the outer walls, slew his slaves and set fire to the barn. Aurelio gathered his fathers treasures up, that that he could carry, and fled through the back, into the garden and the "poet's courtyard." The Germans spread throughout the house. Some few ran around the outer wall to find what treasure they could. So it was that Siggo No Name saw young Aurelio fleeing across a pasture. He threw his axe and hit the young Roman in the back, killing him instantly. Aurelio fell, dropping the small box of golden statues into the mud of the field. Siggo dragged his body back to the house and left it against the wall.

The box of gold lay forgotten for many long centuries. Though it is said that Aurelio, though dead, refused to leave the field, but rose again a spirit, searching for the box of his father's treasure.

Until a thousand and more years later a farmer, Gile, driving a ox team through the ground un-earthed the small box. He took it up, opened and saw wealth he had never dreamed of, golden statues. He brought them to his Lord, the master of Chalus-Chbrol and offered the box as payment for land. The Lord obliged, granting him allodial rights to 10 acres of land. He showed the treasure to all and sundry who would hear of it and so the rumor of it spread north across the land.

It land was the realm of King Richard I, the Lion, brother of John, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Conquerer of the holy land, master of horse, knight of renown, the man who defeated Saladin over seas. Richard thought to lay claim to this treasure, not for need, but by right. If this vassal might keep this treasure then what else, found or lost, might his vassals lay claim to. So he set out with a small force and claimed the treasure. The vassal denied him and refused the golden statues.

So Richard lay siege to the small castle of Chalus-Chabrol. The castle stood little chance, but held out defiantly anyway for many days. But history turned and Siggo's axe played out upon the field of battle. For Richard, while inspecting the siege works was mocked by a crossbowmen with a frying pan. The King laughed up and him and called him out. While he did so another crossbowmen took the King in the shoulder.

The wound became infected, proved mortal and with a the span of a few days King Richard lay dead. Thus the ghost of Aurelio refused the King his father's treasure.