Civil Conflict

by Oliver, Marina

  Sir James had not moved except to keep his sword pointed at his adversary, who was cautiously circling round him, looking for an opening.

  Suddenly the Roundhead lunged, but Sir James parried the blow with insolent ease, and the Roundhead was forced to scramble somewhat hurried to regain his defence. For some minutes, they cautiously tried each other's skills, with the Roundhead making most of the attacks, and Sir James brushing them off with apparent ease and scorn.

  The Roundhead suddenly tired of being thus played with, and began attacking in greater earnest. Sir James was forced to exert himself more to parry these attacks, then occasionally he lunged in his turn. Still he scarcely moved from his position, allowing the Roundhead to circle him as he would. The latter became more and more angry, as he tried all the ways he knew of forcing this impenetrable defence, and, being angry, he began to make mistakes. His lunges became wilder, his recoveries less certain, and his parrying of Sir James's ripostes more a matter of luck than any skill.

  At last the Roundhead overreached himself. He saw what he thought was an opening, and thrust his sword high, reaching for Sir James's shoulder, but it had been a feint. Sir James parried, striking the Roundhead's blade out of the way, and then his own slim blade snaked in and under the Roundhead's guard, to sink into the man's body. The Roundhead gave but one gasp, his knees buckled, and he slipped slowly and grotesquely to the ground.

  Sir James had pulled his sword away and stood looking down at his adversary.

  Lysbeth, by now recovered, stood up. 'Is he dead?' she asked hesitantly.

  Sir James looked across at her. 'Aye, he will trouble you no more.'

  'I must thank you, Sir,' Lysbeth said. 'I know not what would have become of me had you not appeared so promptly. I am most grateful, believe me. Did you chance upon us, or had you heard my cries for help?'

  'I was looking for you,' he replied, surprisingly.

  Lysbeth stared. 'Looking for me? But why? How did you know I was here at this place? And why were you looking for me?'

  'I did not know you were here precisely,' Sir James replied, smiling down at her. 'I scarce expected to find you almost on the battlefield, and when I heard a woman's cries for help I did not connect them with you.'

  'Please, Sir James, will you not explain? Why did you wish to find me?'

  'Your brother asked me to promise, before the battle, that if anything – ' He stopped abruptly, and for the first time in Lysbeth's presence, seemed out of countenance.

  She realised what he was about to say, and looked at him gravely. 'I was with Arthur, Sir, at the end. I know.'

  He inclined his head gratefully. 'Then I do not have to break that news to you, Mistress. As I was saying, Arthur asked me to take care of you should I survive and he not.'

  'He asked you?' Lysbeth began in surprise. 'But why you? And what do you mean, by taking care of me?'

  'Your brother had to ask someone,' Sir James informed her somewhat brusquely. 'I certainly had no desire for the task, but Arthur was my friend and I would do anything I could for him.'

  Lysbeth blushed at his tone. 'I do not desire that you take care of me, Sir! I cannot imagine why Arthur should desire it of you. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you.'

  Sir James did not answer, but walked across the clearing and picked up the habit which her attacker had torn from Lysbeth. He turned, and still without a word, handed it to her, holding it so that she could slip it on. Made suddenly aware of her semi-clothed state and torn shift, which she had entirely forgotten, she blushed rosily and thankfully turned so that she could slip her arms into the sleeves, at the same time hiding her face from Sir James. But she was unable to fasten the habit, as it had been so ruthlessly torn, and Sir James was fully aware of her difficulty.

  'Turn round,' he ordered in a gentle voice. 'I have some cord here in my pocket. We could contrive a belt.'

  As she did not immediately respond, he took her by the shoulders and twisted her to face him. Swiftly and skilfully he put the cord round her waist, and tied it so that the habit looked respectable again. Lysbeth, who had kept her head bent during this operation, risked a glance up at him, but the look in his eyes, an amused sympathy and something she could not name, caused her to blush even more.

  'I thank you for your rescue of me, but your obligation to my brother need not concern you any longer. I cannot imagine what Arthur had in mind.'

  'I do not think he expected me to take charge of you permanently,' Sir James reassured her, a gleam of amusement in his eyes, 'and I fear that might be a task beyond me.'

  Lysbeth pursed her lips, but did not deign to reply.

  'Arthur was worried about your being close to the battlefield, and I promised to escort you back to Yorkshire. That is all.'

  Lysbeth was about to protest again that she needed no such escort, when she saw Sir James wince and put his hand to his leg. She moved a step towards him.

  'Are you hurt?'

  ' 'Tis but a slight cut.'

  Lysbeth gazed at him with horror. 'But he did not touch you! He could not come near you all the time you were fighting.'

  Sir James shook his head. 'No, no, 'twas not this fellow, but some other of his pernicious army.'

  'You were wounded in the battle?'

  'Aye, but 'tis a slight one. It was bound up. 'Twill be all right, it but pains me a little after my exertions.'

  'Was it a deep wound? Has it opened again? Have the bandages slipped? Sir, I must look. Sit you down here.'

  Sir James tried to protest, but Lysbeth moved across to him and took his arm.

  'Come, sit here and rest. If you have aggravated the wound, 'tis because of what you did for me. I must see it. Sit here while I see if the bandage is still in place.'

  Sir James began to move across the clearing towards the shade, and he had taken but a couple of steps when to Lysbeth's horror, he was forced to lean heavily on her.

  'I will sit here,' he said, and sank down to the ground before she could proffer him any assistance.

  She looked at him worriedly. He had suddenly gone very pale under his tan.

  'Lie down,' she commanded. 'Lie down.'

  He did so, and Lysbeth was able to see his leg for the first time. It was covered in blood. She could see a rough bandage had been tied round his upper leg, and his breeches, which she now saw had been torn, were arranged roughly over the bandage. As she had thought, his exertions had caused it to loosen, and blood was still oozing from beneath it. Fortunately, Lysbeth had seen such wounds before, and she was able to deal competently with it. She quickly tore some more strips of linen from her shift, made a pad to go over the gash, which she saw was rather deep, and then bound it up tightly. The bleeding seemed to have been staunched, and Lysbeth ordered Sir James to stay where he was for a time.

  'I did not realise you were wounded when you fought that wretched man,' she said quietly. 'I am yet more grateful, and hope you have not come to any harm from it.'

  'I shall do,' Sir James smiled at her, the colour returning to his face. 'I left my horse at the edge of this belt of trees,' he told her, 'where I found your mare. Let us hope they are still there.'

  'Shall I go and see?' Lysbeth suggested quickly. 'You must not move more than necessary.'

  'I hesitate to ask you to do this,' Sir James answered, 'but methinks 'twould be best.'

  'I will go and it should be possible to bring them back here, and we can mount you with the least possible exertion.'

  He nodded and smiled at her, and she was suddenly very aware of her torn habit. He had a most attractive smile. She clasped the torn edges to her, and trying to ignore the amused look in his eyes, she stood up and turned to leave.

  'I will not be long,' she threw back over her shoulder as she marched across the clearing.

  ' 'Twas not that direction, Mistress.' His voice halted her, and she turned round. 'Over there, by the holly tree. That is the way out.'

  Lysbeth changed her direction without answering
, and quickly made her way to the edge of the trees, where, to her relief, she found the horses contentedly cropping the grass.

  *

  Polly came immediately she called, and nuzzled her hand, and the other horse, a huge black animal, merely regarded her with interest as she approached him and grasped the bridle. Leading both horses along the narrow track through the trees was a somewhat difficult proceeding, but Lysbeth eventually managed it and brought them into the clearing. Sir James was lying where she had left him, and he was so still that for a moment she almost panicked. She ran over and knelt beside him, feeling anxiously for his heart, but when he opened his eyes and smiled at her, putting his own hand over hers, she turned away in some confusion.

  'I thought, Sir, you were so still – '

  'I was resting to recover my strength,' he replied. 'It is a necessary accomplishment for a soldier. There is food in my saddlebag, and a flask of wine. Could you bring them here?'

  Lysbeth nodded and stood up, glad of something to do. She found the food, chunks of bread and slices of meat, and brought it over to him. Fetching the wine flask, she offered that to him first, and he raised himself on one elbow in order to drink from it. They shared the food, and Lysbeth, who had had nothing since very early morning, suddenly realised how hungry she was. After this repast, Sir James seemed much better.

  'We must move soon,' he told her. 'We have been fortunate not to have been disturbed ere this, but the Roundheads will be combing the countryside soon, and we must hide from them.'

  'Where can we go? Would it not be better to remain here for a time? We are hidden. If they have not come yet, they will probably not come at all.'

  'I think not. We are too near the battlefield, and there are too many of them for us to hope to remain hidden for long. 'Twere best if we put a few miles between ourselves and Naseby Field, then we can search for a place to hide during the night.'

  'Are you fit to move yet?' Lysbeth asked anxiously. 'You appear to have lost much blood.'

  'I can contrive, if you can assist me to mount.'

  They had finished eating, so Lysbeth repacked the saddlebags, made sure the girths were tight, and then turned to offer Sir James her assistance. He had risen and was hobbling towards her, a grim expression on his face. To her anxious query he shook his head. 'It is nought.'

  She held his horse steady while he pulled himself up into the saddle, and then went to her own mare and mounted. Without a word, Lysbeth took the lead, and they made their way out of the wood. The summer twilight was now around them, but apart from the occasional shouts and glimpses of soldiers in the distance, they encountered no one. The local people were obviously keeping well out of the way of the soldiery, and fugitives from the battle had largely been rounded up, or had managed to leave the area before now.

  Despite the need to go slowly, they covered three or four miles before it became too dark to see clearly.

  'We must look for somewhere to spend the night,' Sir James said quietly. 'I think yonder barn would be as good a place as any if we can come up to it unseen.

  Lysbeth hesitated. 'Could we not ask for shelter at a cottage? We could obtain help for your wound.'

  'It were better not to reveal our presence if we can avoid it,' Sir James said firmly. 'The army will be looking for fugitives for several days yet.'

  Lysbeth could not argue with this, and they made their way to the large barn standing beside a wood. They approached cautiously, looking carefully around, but no one appeared to be about, and they reached the door of the barn unobserved. Lysbeth slipped from the saddle and went to open the door. In the gloom she could see little of the interior, but the sweet smell of hay told her that at least they would have a comfortable bed.

  She pulled the door open further, and led Polly inside, Sir James following on his horse. Once inside, he eased himself gingerly out of the saddle and dropped to the ground.

  'Are you all right?' Lysbeth queried anxiously.

  'Somewhat stiff and sore,' he replied, 'but I shall do, thanks to your help.'

  'Lie here, in this corner,' Lysbeth suggested. 'I will take the horses to the stream we passed to water them, then tie them up at this end of the barn. Do you want some more wine?'

  'I think not,' Sir James replied. 'It is an imposition for you, having to deal with the horses.'

  'Do not fear, 'tis not the first time I have done such tasks,' Lysbeth assured him, and swiftly and competently unsaddled the horses. Without another word she led them outside, and stood with them at the edge of the stream while they drank their fill. She gazed round at the peaceful, sleeping countryside, scarcely able to recall the furious battle she had witnessed earlier that day, and the loss of her beloved brother.

  She led the horses back into the barn, tethered them to convenient rings in the wall, and made sure they had plenty of hay within reach. By now it was completely dark within the barn, and she had some difficulty in finishing these tasks, but finally she was able to make her way to the other end of the barn, guided by whispers from Sir James. Wearily she flung herself down on the hay.

  'Do you need aught more?' she asked. 'Will you be warm enough?'

  'I've pulled hay over myself. You do the same. It is one of the best ways of keeping warm.'

  Lysbeth did as he suggested, and had scarcely covered herself with the sweet-smelling hay before she was fast asleep.

  *

  Chapter 10

  The next morning, when she woke, the sun was high in the sky. She looked round, puzzled for a moment, then realised where she was.

  Sitting up anxiously, she looked across at Sir James. He was lying flat on his back, staring up at the roof of the barn, but he was awake, for hearing some slight noise Lysbeth made, he turned towards her.

  'How are you after your sleep, Mistress Lysbeth?' he asked.

  'I am well, Sir. We have slept long. How is your leg?'

  He grimaced. 'Plaguey uncomfortable, but if I can rest it for a day or so, 'twill no doubt heal sufficiently for me to move.'

  'We will stay here, then. It is fairly isolated, yet comfortable, and there is water near by. I have some food from yesterday. I was too excited to eat it. We will contrive well for a day or so.'

  She got up and began to shake the hay out of her clothes and hair.

  'I will fetch water,' she said. 'Remain here.'

  She slipped out of the barn, and after looking cautiously around to make sure that there was no one in sight, she ran across to the stream where she quickly washed herself in the fresh, sparkling water. She filled the water bottles, then stood up. Looking round again, she was worried to see some soldiers in the distance, riding towards her. She bent down and, making use of what cover there was, made her way back to the barn. Before slipping inside, she glanced back. Yes, the soldiers were coming towards her.

  'There are soldiers approaching. Can we hide here?'

  Sir James wasted no time. 'How far away are they?' He rose, with some difficulty, and began to pack their saddlebags.

  'About half a mile, and they do but walk their mounts.'

  'Can you get the horses away? We cannot conceal them.'

  'I think so. The barn itself would hide us if I go across to the wood. Shall I tie them up there?'

  'No. Drive them off. They would betray us if found tethered.'

  Lysbeth had been untying the horses during this hurried exchange, and she led them over to the door. They could just edge through, and by keeping close to the barn, and using the partly open door as cover, she was able to lead them round to the side of the barn furthest away from the troopers. She hurried them across the gap to the wood, and along the path, then, after tying the reins so that they would not trip on them, she slapped them on the flank to startle them, and after their night's rest they needed no further urging to canter away, enjoying their freedom. Lysbeth ran back to the edge of the wood, and saw the soldiers were still some hundreds of yards away. Using the bushes for cover, she cautiously made her way to the barn and slipped inside
.

  Sir James was waiting for her just inside the door. He caught her hand and led her to the far corner.

  'There is a hole behind these bales of hay where we can lie hidden. Crawl through this gap. I will come after you and pull hay over to cover it,' he told her quietly.

  Lysbeth did as she was bid, and crawled through the short tunnel, to find a space about a yard square and two yards long at the end of it, against the wall of the barn, so that light came in through a few chinks. She lay down and Sir James followed her, having pulled a bale of hay he had left ready for this and some loose stuff across the opening. It would not be visible on a cursory examination.

  Sir James lay beside Lysbeth, and smiled comfortingly at her.

  'They will most likely pass by without searching,' he said, 'but we must not utter a sound until we are sure they are gone.'

  Lysbeth nodded, and they lay there straining their ears for sounds of the soldiers' arrival. They did not have long to wait. Only a minute or so after they had spoken, voices could be heard outside, and then the door was pulled back.

  'What about here, lads?'

  'Let's get on with it. I've a terrible thirst, and there's an alehouse in the village yonder.'

  'Aye, the sooner we can reach there the better I'll like it.'

  'Why the devil has the Captain sent us out? We caught all the stragglers yesterday.'

  'We may have missed some, he says. Anyhow, 'tis orders. But there don't seem to be any Royalists here.'

  Lysbeth and Sir James, holding their breath, heard the men moving about, while the horses stamped about outside. Then there came several soft thuds, which puzzled Lysbeth, until suddenly, about a foot from her head, the point of a sword appeared through the barrier of hay. Sir James, who had realised what the soldiers were doing, put his hand over her mouth to stifle the slight gasp she gave, at the same time easing his body over hers to protect her from any more such thrusts.

  Luckily, no more came, and they heard the soldiers moving away and riding off. Sir James took away his hand and slid back to the side of Lysbeth. She looked at him gratefully, but was trembling, and he put his arm round her and held her tightly until the trembling ceased. Then he spoke gently.