We never had a man like you,’ Henry told him, ‘we never did. I wish, Earl Marshal, I truly wish you had been king. Yes, I wish you had been dominant, hereabouts.’
He grizzled at the bedside, and was gently led away, leaving the chamber empty for Isabel de Clare.
It’s an odd feeling,’ Marshal told his wife. ‘I’m in no pain, though the strength exudes from my body.’
I heard what the king said to you,’ Isabel murmured. ‘He spoke nothing but the truth.’ She turned away sharply, blinded by tears, and Marshal growled, ‘Kiss me, belle amie,’ and then more urgently, shouting in extremis, ‘It’s the last time! Embrace me now!’
She leaned forward, sensing some movement in his lips. Or so she would ever believe.
About the Author
Graham Shelby was lauded as one of the great historical writers of his time. The Crusader Knights Cycle, originally published between 1969 and 1986, is a tour de force of high drama, gruesome battles, chivalry, and glory.
Next in The Crusader Knights Cycle:
The Edge of the Blade
The Edge of the Blade, the sixth epic historical adventure in The Crusader Knights Cycle, is perfect for fans of David Gilman and Bernard Cornwell.
Find out more
First published in the United Kingdom in 1975 by William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd
This edition published in the United Kingdom in 2018 by
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
57 Shepherds Lane
Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © Graham Shelby, 1975
The moral right of Graham Shelby to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788632904
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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