by Kevin Ashman
‘Tell him his services will be required to the fore at first light. We will spend the rest of this day finding a position that is easy to defend and go to ground with the wagons. Tomorrow, we will take as many men as we can spare and follow those who murdered our comrades.’
‘I thought our focus was on the quest.’
‘It is but we will spare two days. If by then we have not found them, then we will return and leave their fate in the hands of God.’
‘So be it,’ said Geraint leaving to make the arrangements. Within a few hours they had found a rocky ridge where their backs were protected and a clear approach meant anyone coming close would be seen long before any were in arrow range.
‘We will go firm here,’ said Tarian. ‘Get the men to cut small trees from the forest and erect a wall. We may not have time to make a strong stockade but it will give some protection from arrows. Put out markers in case of assault and place guards in the forest edge. If anyone approaches they are to retire immediately and take their place at the stockade.’
By the time night fell, the wagons were secured amongst the rocks and a wall of saplings stretched between boulders at the base of the cliff. Bundles of arrows lay along the palisade and the men spread out along the defences, each able to leap into position within seconds.
‘It will have to do,’ said Tarian, ‘at first light I will seek out these killers and exact my revenge upon them.
----
Dawn saw the whole camp wide awake and a column of fourty riders stood alongside their horses. Each man had dried food for two days and wore their chain mail armour as protection. The horses were draped with their caparisons, blanketed drapes of heavy cloth that were efficient against most arrow shots and much lighter than the heavier metal barding preferred when going into battle against other Knights.
‘Your orders are clear,’ said Tarian to the remaining defenders. ‘You will wait here for two full days, not a minute more. If we do not return by then, continue as planned and follow the river south to meet the ships. They are surely making their way upstream by now. If we still survive, we will follow you as soon as we can. Geraint ap Thomas, you will command the palisade and I hold you responsible. The rest of you, his word is my command and you will do as he says.’
The column mounted up as Spider rode his horse from behind the wagons. He wore no armour or even a gambeson.
‘You ride light, soldier,’ said Tarian.
‘I am no soldier, Sire, and do not intend to fight these savages. I will lead you to them and then withdraw to see you do what it is you do.’
‘We are all soldiers, Spider,’ said Tarian, ‘and your sword arm may yet wield a blade before this day is out. Lead us out and do not spare your horse, our time is limited.’
----
Chapter Thirteen
Brycheniog
1276
Garyn stared down at the floor. His back hurt and his wrists were red raw from the chafing of the wood. He had been detained for three days, kneeling on the small patch of mud that counted as a village green, his hands and head sticking through the wooden stocks. By order of the constable, anyone offering any comfort apart from basic food or water was turned away.
The nights were long and despite Elspeth demanding she be allowed to stay at his side, Garyn was adamant she returned to her father’s house and the safety therein. It was deep into the third night when he heard a noise behind him and his eyes opened in fear.
‘Who’s there?’ he asked, ‘Elspeth, is that you?’ No reply came but he was aware someone had walked up behind him. ‘Who is it?’ he asked again, ‘what do you want?’
‘Nothing from you,’ said a quiet voice, ‘except the blood of your throat on my blade.’ Before Garyn could cry out, a hand covered his mouth and a knife was placed between his chin and the lower half of the stocks.
‘Nothing personal,’ said the voice, ‘it’s just business.’
Garyn tried to call out but it was no use, he was completely in the control of the unseen assassin. His eyes closed as he anticipated the killing stroke but it never came. The sound of an arrow flying through the air was followed by a thud and the man fell away with an arrow in his back. Garyn gasped in relief and strained his neck to see who had come to his aid.
‘Who’s there?’ he gasped, ‘what’s happening?’ Within moments a man knelt at his side and placed an iron bar through the shackles securing the stocks.
‘Fletcher,’ gasped Garyn, recognising the man, ‘what are you doing here?’
‘I’m getting you out,’ said Elspeth’s father, ‘there were rumours that you were to be killed within the stocks so we have been watching over you these past few nights. Obviously the rumours are true.’ He paused to strain against the bar until the shackle snapped. A few moments later the second shackle followed suit and Fletcher lifted the upper half of the stocks from around the young man’s neck. Garyn stood up and moaned as his back straightened for the first time in days. He looked down at the would-be assassin.
‘He’s dead,’ said Garyn.
‘He is,’ said Fletcher retrieving the arrow.
‘If anyone finds out you will hang for murder.’
‘I know but that is a risk we have to take.’
‘We?’
Fletcher stared at the young man.
‘Garyn, I didn’t enjoy what I have just done but my daughter loves you and I only have her happiness at heart. For some reason you have raised the ire of both the manor and the abbey and that makes you a marked man.’
‘I have done nothing wrong.’
‘Since when has that made any difference to those who seek to further their own position? No, you have to leave here right now.’
‘Leave, but what about Elspeth?’
‘You have to forget about Elspeth,’ said Fletcher, ‘I know you love her but if you stay, you will be dead within weeks. How is that going to make her happy?’
‘But…’
‘There is no other option, Garyn. Yes, she will be upset but rather that than she has to visit your grave.’
‘But where will I go?’
‘There is a rider at the bridge waiting for you with Silverlight. Ride north and seek out those loyal to Llewellyn. There is no love lost between him and those nobles loyal to the English crown, you can seek out a new life amongst the ranks of his army.’
‘For how long?’
‘It has to be permanent, Garyn. When the stocks are found empty you will be outlawed and a bounty placed on your head. If you return, there are those who will turn you in and I will not be able to help.’
‘But why would Llewellyn accept an outlaw into his ranks?’
‘Llewellyn offers an amnesty to petty criminals who agree to serve his cause. Your crime is nothing but standing up against Gerald of Essex, a staunch supporter of the dead King.’
‘What about him?’ asked Garyn, pointing at the dead man at his feet.
‘He is nothing but an assassin in the pay of the crown,’ said Fletcher. ‘Leave him to me, his body will not be found.’
‘Can I not even say goodbye to Elspeth?’
‘No, it is too risky. If you are seen, she will be implicated and labelled as an accomplice. As it is, she knows nothing and will be seen as nothing more than an innocent victim of your cowardice.’
‘What cowardice?’
‘Don’t forget, there will be no assassin’s corpse so nobody will know what has gone on here this night. Everyone will think you arranged an accomplice to free you and have run to escape your punishment.’
‘But that’s not true.’
‘I know but it must be so. That is the only way Elspeth will be allowed to live as a free woman. I know it is hard Garyn but there is no other option. At least this way you will both have lives to live.’
Garyn shook his head slowly.
‘My wife, the only woman I have ever loved will think me as a coward who ran to save his own skin.’
‘Garyn,’ snapped Fletcher, ‘what other w
ay is there? If you stay here, she will be a widow within weeks. If we tell her the truth and someone finds out, she will be labelled an accomplice to an outlaw and at the very least be sent into a lifetime of servitude in a convent. This way she will be completely innocent of any complicity and allowed to get on with her life. If you love her Garyn, you will let her go.’
Garyn nodded silently as the reality of the situation sunk in.
‘It is true,’ he said eventually, ‘and I will not have her suffer over me.’
‘Then make haste and get to the bridge before we are seen,’ said Fletcher.
‘Tell her…’ started Garyn but realised that there could be no words passed without compromising her safety.
‘I’m sorry, Garyn,’ said Fletcher, ‘I will look after her I promise but now you should go, before it’s too late.’
Garyn stared at the man but realising there was no other option, walked backwards a few steps before turning and running into the darkness. Fletcher watched him go before reaching down to grab the dead man by the shoulders. Another man stepped from the shadows to help.
‘How was he?’ asked the newcomer.
‘It took some time but he is convinced,’ said Fletcher.
‘And he didn’t know my involvement in this?’
‘He knew someone else was involved but never suspected you.’
‘Good,’ said the man, ‘and for the moment, that is the way it must be. I suspect we will meet again but for now, our paths will remain separate.’
‘He owes you his life,’ said Fletcher.
‘Then a debt has been paid,’ said the man and bent to help Fletcher drag the body to a nearby cart.
----
Garyn ran through the darkness until he neared the bridge. A horse snorted in the shadows and a rider came out to greet him.
‘Master Garyn,’ said the man, ‘thank the Lord above. I feared we might have been too late.’
‘Tom Thatcher,’ said Garyn in surprise. ‘What are you doing here? I thought you were long gone.’
‘A family in Senni heard of my plight,’ said Tom, ‘and lucky for me they did. My hand was infected and would have festered if they had not taken me in. The old lady of the house applied poultices from the plants of the forest and though I came close to death, the infection passed and I live to tell the tale. My hand is useless but luckily God graced me with two.’
‘But if you are caught, both you and they will hang.’
‘You are right and I was about to flee north but when I heard of your plight there was no way I would leave you to your fate.’
‘But how did you know?’
‘There are many who hate the way this manor kneels to the English Kings, Garyn and though they hold their counsel, they silently oppose them in whatever way they can. That may be very little but times like these find hidden allies amongst the masses. There are those who dwell within the confines of the Cadwallader’s estate who hate their masters as much as any and when the whispers came of a plot to kill you, word spread quickly.’
‘So you came to help?’
‘Not just I, Garyn. There are many who hold this grudge and oft meet to condemn the way of the manor.’
‘How come I wasn’t aware of this?’
‘Garyn, you forget you rode alongside Longshanks to the Holy-land and in times of war, men form strong allegiances. We did not know which way your loyalties lay.’
‘Who else is in this allegiance?’
‘I cannot tell you,’ said Tom.
‘So I am still not trusted?
‘No one is trusted,’ said Tom, ‘each man knows only two or three others who share his views, that way, the risk of discovery is small. We carry out no great movement against the authorities for most are village men and have families to support. Yet should Llewellyn ever ride south, then we will take up arms alongside him.’
‘I fear that day is a long way off,’ said Garyn.
‘Perhaps so,’ said Tom, ‘but whether it is our hands that wield the weapons or those of our sons, the day will come. Now mount up and prepare for a long ride, we will not rest until it next gets dark.’
Garyn walked over to Silverlight and received a quiet whinny of recognition.
‘Come on, boy,’ said Garyn quietly, ‘it seems I will be relying on your strength yet again.’ He mounted his horse and after a nod to Tom, rode across the bridge and up the track into the hills.
----
The following morning a crowd gathered around the stocks, talking quietly amongst themselves. A large man barged his way through and stared at the broken shackles.
‘What has happened here ?’shouted the Constable, ‘where is the prisoner?’
‘It looks like he has escaped,’ said a voice.
The constable turned around and stared at the fletcher, who stood amongst the crowd.
‘And what do you know of this?’
‘Nothing,’ lied Fletcher, ‘but the evidence is before your very eyes. The man has gone and good riddance I say.’
The constable stared at him.
‘The man is wed to your daughter,’ he said quietly, ‘why do you now slight him so?’
‘He was no choice of mine,’ said Fletcher, ‘and was only welcomed into my home as it pleased my only daughter. I always thought he was a rogue and as everyone around here knows, most of my business is sent through the armouries of Cadwallader. The continued presence of this boy threatened my living and my daughter’s happiness is a minor wound to see the boy gone. In truth, I hope he is captured quickly and pays the price of his treason so we can all get back to normal.’
The constable grunted, happy with the explanation.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘Gerald will hear of this soon enough and will arrange his capture. Your daughter is well rid, Fletcher but make sure she knows that if he comes back, she needs to tell us as soon as possible. Harbourers of outlaws share the same fate as those they aid.’
‘But is he an outlaw?’
‘Not yet perhaps but it is a formality. He has absconded from a legal punishment and as such is outside of the law. His days are limited Fletcher and you and your family would do well to remember it.’ Without another word the Constable marched away toward the manor and the crowd dispersed.
‘I can hardly believe it,’ said a woman as Fletcher passed, ‘he was always such a nice young man.’
‘It just goes to show,’ said Fletcher, ‘you just never can tell.’
----
‘What do you mean escaped?’ shouted the Abbot, ‘the man was held within the stocks, there was no way he could have got out.’
Gerald didn’t react to the Abbot’s raised voice but continued to pour wine into the goblet. He had come to the abbey to relate the news himself and had been taken through into the Abbot’s private quarters.
‘He had aid,’ said the Knight, ‘someone broke the shackles.’
‘Then you must ride them down and put them to the blade,’ snapped Father Williams. ‘Why haven’t you got men out there already?’
‘There are men on their trail but they have a half days advantage and as you know the Welsh hills are easy to disappear into.’ Gerald took a drink from the tankard and turned to face the Abbot.
‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘what is it about this peasant that drives you so?’ We have ruined his reputation and confiscated his lands. Why do you pursue such a small man even unto death?’
‘I have already told you,’ came the answer, ‘he humiliated me before Longshanks himself and was instrumental in me returning the most precious artefact in Christendom to the pope.’
‘But as a man of the church, surely that was your obligation?’
‘Of course and I would have taken it willingly but as a gift of my own hands, not as a mere messenger of the King. Longshanks himself now bears the Pope’s blessing and history will tell the return of the cross was his doing, not mine.’
‘So you seek retribution?’
‘I seek his death,’ said Father Williams, �
�and will not stop until his rotting corpse lies beneath my feet.’
‘If that is so, why have you waited so long?’
‘I wanted him to witness the collapse of everything he holds dear before he leaves this life. Now that has been achieved there is no reason to delay. I want him dead.’
‘I will see what I can do,’ said Gerald, ‘but don’t hold much hope. He is probably deep into Llewellyn’s territory by now and will soon be beyond even my influence.’
‘Then find someone who has a longer reach,’ said Father Williams.
‘And where will I find such a man?’
‘That is your problem. I have kept all my parts of our bargain and you are a considerably richer man for it. All I ask in return is the death of one man and for someone such as you, I suggest that is an easy task.’
Gerald drank back the last of the wine and replaced the tankard on the table.
‘I will do what I can,’ he said ‘but there will be a price to pay.’
‘What price?’ asked the Monk, ‘you already have the forge and the boy’s lands.’
‘Fear not,’ said Gerald, ‘the task is easy for a learned man such as you. The Lady Elisabeth is a lingering thorn in my side.’
‘I hear she is very ill.’
‘Indeed she is but hangs on to life like none I have seen before. Her daughter dotes upon her and takes her counsel on everything, even unto defying my wishes. Of course I will continue to act the dutiful son in law until such time as she leaves for purgatory but my patience wears thin. As long as she lives my bride-to be pays me scant attention and exhibits a will that raises my ire.’
‘Is this not a situation you would normally take a great pleasure in? The woman is bed-ridden so what stays your hand?’
‘Her family surround her like a bad smell and I cannot be seen to be an accomplice to her death. If Suzette was to even suspect my involvement, she would refuse our union and bring shame on my house. No, I need the old woman to die a natural death, or at least one that seems natural.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘Make a draft,’ said Gerald, ‘a medicine to ease her pain but one that will also end her life.’