The Bladesmith

by Melinda Hammond

  A figure loomed before them.

  'Arrete! Halt.'

  'Be easy, my friend.' said John. 'I have a passenger for you.'

  'We expect the ladies,' replied the sailor.

  'There has been a problem. They will not be coming. In fact, you would do well to cast off now. English soldiers are taking the Keep.'

  The sailor drew himself up and said with dignity, 'M'sieur, I do not know you. I have my orders from mon capitaine to wait 'ere until 'e signals me to withdraw and that is what I shall do.'

  Henry clapped John on the shoulder.

  'Best leave him to follow his orders, Steel. We can still get away if things turn ugly.'

  'Very well. Good luck, Ellingham. God speed.'

  'Master Steel.' John turned back and Henry said, 'Why are you doing this?'

  'For your sister, and your father. Get thee to France and stay there until it is safe to return.'

  'Very well.' Henry held out his hand. 'And thank you.'

  Back in the outer ward, the horses released from the burning stables were roaming free, snorting apprehensively as they breathed in the smoky air. John struck out across the grass, heading for the house, but he had gone only a few yards when a figure appeared between the horses. Lord Warenford was hurrying towards the postern gate, but he pulled up when he saw John before him.

  'Flying the country, Warenford?' said John, drawing his sword. 'I think not.'

  The earl gave a sneering laugh. 'Are you so eager to die, Steel?'

  'I have no intention of dying, and no intention of letting you escape.'

  Warenford reached for his own weapon. 'Then the Reaper will claim another soul.'

  He leapt at John, who swiftly raised his own sword to intercept the blow. The blades scraped together as the men fought in the semi-darkness. The grass was uneven and slippery with horse dung and it took all John's agility to keep his balance against his heavier opponent. Warenford's blade sliced through the air, only to be knocked aside. John saw an opening and lunged, but Warenford was quick to block and riposte, and John twisted aside as the earl's blade pierced his sleeve.

  'You were lucky, Steel,' panted the earl. 'The next blow will make its mark.'

  John was silent, saving his energy for the fight. Warenford was good, but John knew that he was better. As long as his steel could withstand the forceful collisions with the Reaper's proven blade. Half a dozen figures approaching, but he dare not look to see if they were friend or foe. No one came too close to the deadly blades that clashed and circled and clashed again. Warenford was labouring, but he was an experienced fighter, attempting to draw John in while searching for a deadly opening. John's breath was coming in hard, rasping gasps, the icy night air tearing at his throat and lungs.

  The muscles in his sword arm screamed with the effort of keeping the earl's deadly blade away from his body. A fumbled parry from the earl gave him his chance and he lunged, the point of his sword biting deep into his opponent's left arm. With a snarl the earl retaliated. John met the slicing blade with his own in a collision that jarred his whole body. Steel rang on steel but it was accompanied by another, sharper sound, a loud crack, and his eyes followed the blade that whirled into the air, reflecting the red glow of the fire as it fell back to the earth.

  It took John a moment to realise that his own sword was still intact. Warenford stood before him, gazing in disbelief at the broken sword in his hand. Soldiers moved forward to take his arms.

  'You are under arrest, my lord. Master Steel, are you all right, sir?'

  John stood, head bowed, breathing deeply. At last he looked up.

  'Yes, Captain. Your men have control?'

  'More or less,' replied Captain Thropton. 'We were freeing everyone from the barn here when I had reports of the earl coming this way. I remembered your man saying something about a French boat …'

  'Aye,' said John. 'That's where he was heading. But it's too late, it will be gone by now.'

  'Well, we'd better make sure o'that, sir.' Captain Thropton gestured to two of his men, who ran off towards the postern gate.

  John wiped his sword, praying that he had delayed long enough. He held his breath as he heard the men returning.

  'Nothing, Captain. No sign of anyone out there.'

  'Hmm. Pity. I'd have liked to add a couple of Frenchies to my tally tonight. Well, let's get Lord Warenford back to the house. Bind up his hands.'

  John accompanied them as they threaded their way through the crooked lines of carriages. The horses, he noticed, had moved away to the most easterly part of the pasture, well away from the noise and acrid smoke of the inner ward.

  'What of Mistress Ellingham?' asked John

  'Ah, you mean Lady Warenford,' the Captain corrected him, congratulating himself on his social skills.

  'No, it was a mock marriage,' said John. 'She is still Mistress Ellingham.'

  .

  'No!' The Captain stopped and stared at the earl. 'Why ever did you do that?'

  'It was none of my doing, dolt!' snarled Warenford.

  'Come now, my lord. You ain't tellin' me that a lady like Mistress Kate would deliberately go through with a sham! But I've heard of plenty of men that's done the same, just to take advantage of some poor young lady.'

  'Shall we move on?' John gave the captain a gentle push. 'The lady had no wish to marry a traitor, but he had put her under an obligation. His sole purpose was to have a reason for the ball, and to obtain those travel permits for his guests. Permits that he intended to use to take arms to the Pretender.'

  'So your man explained, and I must say it seemed an unbelievable business, until we found the guests held prisoner.' The captain shook his head again. 'Who would have thought of such a villainous scheme?'

  'A quite brilliant plan,' muttered Warenford. 'If it had worked.'

  They had emerged into the courtyard where some order had been restored. The tower was merely smouldering now, although flames were licking at the walkway beside it and some of the stables were burning fiercely. Attempts to control the fire were centred on preventing it from spreading to the rest of the buildings, with Warenford's men working under the watchful eyes of the militia.

  'Mistress Kate,' said John again. 'Where will I find her, Captain?'

  'Well, I left her at the house. She was helping to comfort the women. And no wonder, after the events of the evening. Now what's the matter?'

  The uneasy calm was shattered by sudden shouts and alarms.

  'There's a woman on the parapet.' One of the soldiers pointed to the section of wall between the north tower and the gatehouse.

  'A serving wench,' muttered the captain, staring up at the cloaked figure. Her hair had come loose and was streaming over her shoulders as she ran backwards and forwards along the battlements. The flames from the north tower had set alight the wooden walkway, and as they advanced along the old wood, the woman turned away to run back towards the gatehouse but her way was blocked by two soldiers on the walkway.

  John stared at the figure. The parapet was in semi-darkness, the stone bulk of the north tower shielding it from the blazing light coming from the stables, although bursts of flame sent the shadows leaping around the walls. A sudden gust of wind fanned the fires again and in their momentary blaze John saw clearly the woman's red cloak, which had parted to expose her glistening golden skirts. Warenford threw a sly glance towards John.

  'I know of no servants who could afford a gold petticoat.'

  John's mouth was too dry to speak, but Captain Thropton put his worst fears into words.

  'By God, is it Mistress Ellingham? She was wearing a red cloak when I saw her.'

  'Captain, recall your men,' said John, forcing the words from his dry throat. 'They are alarming her.'

  He began to run. Captain Thropton was beside him, calling to his men to stand down, but he was too far away for his orders to be heeded.

  'Katherine, wait!' John shouted as she turned again towards the flames that were creeping along the parapet,
ever closer. There was a splintering crash as beams fixed to the tower burned through and part of the walkway crashed down.

  'What in damnation is going on here!' cried Thropton.

  One of the soldiers came running up to him.

  'Begging your pardon, Captain. She just upped and ran away. I've sent a couple of men after her.'

  'Then call them back!' snapped the Captain.

  'Let me go to her.' John ran for the ladder, keeping his eyes on the woman., but even as he crossed the yard she stepped up onto the wall and launched herself into the darkness.

  John stopped, staring up at the now empty walkway. Captain Thropton was beside him, breathing heavily. They watched as the two soldiers on the parapet ran forward and leaned out between the battlements.

  The captain shook his head. 'Hysterical, they said. I've seen it happen before, when the strain gets too much for 'em. Poor lady.' He put a hand on John's shoulders. 'Come sir. There's nothing you can do here.'

  'She betrayed her family,' sneered Warenford. 'The bitch is better dead.'

  With a snarl John flew at him, his hands reaching for the throat. Captain Thropton and two of his men grappled with him, pulling him away from the earl, who laughed savagely.

  'Did you love her, Steel? I doubt she is so beautiful now. It's a long drop from the wall with nothing but rocks below to smash her pretty face.'

  'Take him away!' barked Thropton, still holding John's arm. He waited until the earl had been marched a fair distance ahead, then said, 'Now, sir, you come with me. I'll wager there's brandy in the house, and I think we both need a drop o' something.'

  As the captain led him away, John kept his eyes upon the parapet, as if by looking he could bring back the figure in the red cloak. She had been distraught, running back and forth. If only he could have reached, her. He should have tried harder, moved quicker. The Captain guided him gently across the cobbles, talking all the time.

  'The servants of those guests loyal to the crown are even now at work, rounding up the horses and putting 'em to the carriages so that they can take their masters away. Of course, Warenford's men will have to be rounded up. They can be put in that shuttered barn tonight, but that won't do for the earl and his cronies, so we have a secure room in the gate-house where they can be kept safe until we can find a couple of coaches to carry them and their lady-folk to Alnwick. A good night's work, if I may say so, and largely thanks to you, Master Steel. If you hadn't set that tower ablaze we should not have got wind o' the villains until it was too late.'

  John barely heard him. He walked mechanically beside the captain, a numbness within him blanketing all feeling, save the dull, aching despair that lay deep in his soul. Matthew was standing outside the walled garden and came running up when he saw them, exhaustion etched on his dirty face.

  John waved a hand towards the now burning walkway. 'How… why?'

  He stopped, unable to say more.

  'You saw her?' Matty turned to walk beside them. 'I'm sorry, John. We tried to stop her. Poor thing, I think it was all too much: we were moving the ladies from the library when she suddenly fell into hysterics, crying about betraying her family and not being able to take the shame. Then Bedleston and Radleigh tried to break away and while we were dealing with that she ran off.'

  'Kate,' muttered John, choking over the word.

  'Ah, Mistress Kate was an angel, tonight sir,' Matty told him. 'So kind and compassionate -'

  'Don't, Matty!' John put up his hand. 'Don't go on.'

  They had stopped at the garden entrance. John dashed a hand across his eyes as he pushed open the garden gate. His boots scrunched on the gravelled path.

  'I cannot bear it.' He stopped. There, in the lighted doorway was a vision in a golden robe. 'K-Katherine?'

  She ran out to him, laughing and crying at once.

  'John, John, thank God you are safe! There was so much violence, I was afraid for you.'

  He held her close, crushing her to him. She hugged him fiercely in return. At last he released her but only to take her face between her hands. He was obliged to blink several times before he could see her clearly.

  'Kate? I thought. The red cloak – '

  A troubled look settled over her features.

  'Oh, John, I gave it to Widow Skelton. When the soldiers went to the library and brought the women out she began crying so much that she fell into hysterics, here in the hall. I wrapped her in the cloak because I could not move her until she was quieter and it was so cold, I feared for her. Then there was fighting as they moved the men to the gate-house, and I went to see, I thought she was sleeping…'

  John held her again, burying his face in her hair.

  'I thought it was you. On the wall, hysterical.'

  'Me?' her arms tightened around him. She gave a shaky laugh. 'I am not such a poor creature.' She hugged him again.

  Behind them, Captain Thropton coughed.

  'Perhaps, Mistress, you would know where to find some brandy in this house? It's been an eventful night, and I for one am mortal cold.'

  'Of course.' She reached up to kiss John once more, whispering, 'Henry?'

  'Safe away.' He breathed.

  With a slight nod, Katherine led the way inside, keeping tight hold of John's hand as she took them through the passage to the library. The room was much as she had left it, although the fire had burned low, and only a few candles were still alight. Matthew picked up a branched candlestick from the passage and brought it into the room while Katherine went over to one wall and pressed a carving on the edge of the bookshelf. A section sprang open.

  'Well I'll be danged!' exclaimed the captain, marvelling. 'A hidden cupboard.'

  'Not really hidden,' Katherine managed a faint smile. 'Merely a device to maintain the symmetry of the room. We have brandy, ratafia and even a decanter of wine. The earl had clearly prepared for the ladies to use this room tonight.' Her voice shook a little, and Matthew moved forward.

  'If you please, madam, sit down. I will serve you.'

  John led her to a small sofa while Matthew and the captain poured the brandy.

  'What will happen to the earl?' she asked.

  Captain Thropton handed her a glass.

  'You drink that, Mistress. All of it, for you've had a busy day. You too, Master Steel, sit you down, sir. Don't you be worrying about what's goin' on outside, for my men have it well in hand now.'

  'But the earl?' Katherine insisted.

  'Well, Mistress, he and the other gentlemen will be taken to Alnwick, and from there most likely they'll be transported to London for trial. Then 'tis up to the King, but it's my belief they will be executed. Won't do to keep traitors alive with the Pretender on the march.'

  She shuddered. 'So much violence.'

  'Now then, Mistress, you just thank the stars that Master Steel here acted when he did, for there would have been a deal more violence if Warenford and his like had taken them muskets out of the Keep, and a lot of poor souls would have been branded traitors for following him, too, as they surely would have done.'

  'Any news of the rebels?' asked John.

  'Carlisle has fallen, but Newcastle has declared for the King, and we've over ten thousand armed men available to us here. We are as well defended here as anywhere in the country,' he said, his chest puffing out a little.

  'So if the Pretender moves south it will be well to the west of us.' John squeezed Katherine's hand, which still held on to his own.

  'Aye, but we have troops even now returning from the continent, so he won't get far.'

  Katherine sighed and the captain nodded at her.

  'And you've no call to worry about your father, ma'am. After Master Steel here mentioned his worries I made sure he remained safely under house arrest. There can be no question of his involvement in any of this. Now,' he stood up. 'If you will excuse me, I had best get back to work and see how my men are getting on, finding carriages for our prisoners. If you want to come with me, Master Deane, I think you might be able to find a
spare coach so's you and Master Steel can escort Mistress Ellingham back to her father while the moon's still high. I'll write you a note, to make all right and tight with my men, don't you worry.'

  Left alone in the library, Katherine leaned her head against John's shoulder but quickly moved away as he winced.

  'It's nothing,' he hastened to reassure her. 'A scratch, nothing more. In fact, I had forgotten all about it.'

  Katherine could not be satisfied until she had seen for herself the slight cut where Warenford's blade had glanced off John's collarbone.

  'He came that close to killing you?'

  'Devil a bit, my love. Only think, he could have cut my cheek and ruined my good looks for ever!'

  She frowned as she re-tied his neckcloth.

  'You were not so cheerful when I met you in the garden tonight.'

  'That is because I thought I had lost you. When I realised you were safe I knew there was still reason to live.' He pulled her to him and kissed her. 'You are my life, dearest Kate, and I shall never let you out of my sight again.'

  She chuckled at that.

  'I am delighted to hear it, sir.'

  He settled her back against his good shoulder.

  'I know you would not want to leave your father, but do you think he could bear to quit Sleaton? When I was living in Durham, I was corresponding with a gentleman in Handsworth, some way south of here, and he uses new ways of making steel. A few years ago I visited him, and invested a little money in his foundry business. Now he has invited me to join him, to put some of my ideas into practice.' He paused. 'Would you come? I have some money of my own and can provide a comfortable home for you and your father, and there are my investments, which in time will grow, and in time we will be able to repair the Manor – '

  She raised her head, smiling.

  'Are you asking me to marry you, sir?'

  'Yes. Of course, I have no title, and you are the daughter of an earl, so you could look far higher than a common swordmaker – '