Targets of Treachery : A gripping, action-packed historical epic (Lord Edward's Archer series Book 4)

by Griff Hosker

  There was genuine joy on his face. “You came!” He put his arm around me and spoke loudly so that the whole court could hear his words. “This is the man who helped me slay the assassin sent by my enemies! He is a friend!”

  I nodded. “You are too kind, King Edward; it was little enough that I did. How is the arm?”

  “The flesh regrew.” He shook his head. “God works miracles, does he not? When that doctor cut away the poisoned flesh, I thought I would have lost the use of my arm. When I was in Rome, I thanked God for all that he did for me, and now it is completely healed. Come, I would speak with you.” He strode to his throne and gestured for me to stand at his side. He waved an imperious arm. “You all have duties to perform – give my archer and me space to speak!”

  It was as though a wind had come to disperse them, and the two of us were alone with just two bodyguards, who were ten paces from us.

  “How stands the border?” That was King Edward, straight to business. His wife had asked after my family but that was not his way.

  “The man we rescued on your behalf, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, is causing much mischief on the borders. He raids Wales and they retaliate!”

  “Watch yourself, Warbow. You have a special place here, but I am the king. If he does annoy Llywelyn, then perhaps that will stir the miscreant to pay homage to the crown of England! The nobles in the Marches enjoy special privileges. This is the price they pay.”

  “But it is not the nobles who pay, King Edward! They have castles and walls. It is the ordinary people who bleed.”

  He was silent for a moment. I do not think he cared overmuch about the ordinary men and women of England, but I could see he worried about unrest. “You know that Llywelyn is still speaking of fulfilling the contract to marry Eleanor de Montfort?” That confirmed my suspicions, for there were still many in England who admired the philosophy of the de Montfort family. The Battle of Evesham had crushed their military might but not the spirit. “I need you and your special skills.”

  My heart sank, for that normally meant I would be placed in danger. Hitherto that had not been a problem but now I had a wife and child. I nodded. “I am ever your servant!”

  He beamed. “That is more like it, Warbow. I thought for a moment you had been softened by a year or more away from war.” He lowered his voice. “Soon, we ride to Chester. There I will receive the homage of Prince Llywelyn and tell him that I forbid the marriage to the de Montfort girl.”

  “And will he agree, do you think?”

  “If he does not agree then I will take his land by force. I no longer need Llywelyn; I have his brother as an ally and he will agree to anything I demand.”

  “He is not a trustworthy man, King Edward.”

  “That is for me to judge, and besides, it will only be temporary. My father had his new castles at Dyserth and Deganwy destroyed. Chester and the rich lands of Cheshire are at risk. I must build castles, but that will take time.”

  I nodded. “And what is it you wish me to do, my lord?”

  “I have sent messengers to Prince Llywelyn but received no reply. Perhaps the messengers were less than truthful, or they wish me to be deceived. You, I can trust. If you say that you have spoken to him then I know that it will be true. Once I know that for certain, I can act accordingly.”

  “You wish me, an archer, to speak to the Prince of Wales?”

  “I wish you, Gerald Warbow, gentleman of Yarpole and known confidante of the king, to deliver a message. That is simple enough.”

  I decided to be blunt. “And if he has me killed?”

  “Then I will have my answer!” He smiled. “But you are a cunning and wily fellow. You will not let him kill you. This way my honour remains intact. Only you and I will know of this quest. Your return or non-return gives me the answer I seek. You will return to Chester when you have the answer.”

  “Then I had better leave early in the morning, my lord, for you have given me little time to find this elusive prince.”

  He nodded. “I have a courser for you to make the journey swifter and I will have one of my clerks draft a document to give you authority for shelter and sustenance.” That was the least he could do. It meant I could use the monasteries and religious orders who offered accommodation for travellers, at a fee, of course. “I hold a small feast here this night and you are invited. I am sure that the queen would like to see you. She is very fond of you and that girl you saved.” He stood, a sure sign that I was dismissed.

  I went to the tiny chamber I had been accorded. It was in a remote tower with neither heating nor a proper bed. It just contained a jug and bowl of water, a pot in which to piss and a straw-filled mattress. The straw smelled fresh and I had slept on worse.

  Of course, when I was summoned by a lowly servant, I knew that I would be the worst dressed at the feast. It could not be helped. I had my napkin, wooden spoon and eating knife. I assumed that there would be goblets provided. As I had expected, I was at the low end of the table with the poorer knights, most of whom looked down their noses at me.

  The exception was Sir Payn de Chaworth, who had been at the Crusades with us, and he gave me a fulsome welcome. “Gentleman, we are honoured, for here we have a real hero. Do you not recognise Lord Edward’s archer? He was the who one saved King Edward from an assassin’s dagger and rode through the Turkish army to fetch Mongol warriors to our aid!” That made the younger knights view me differently. “I expected you to have been knighted for your deeds, Captain Gerald.”

  I smiled. “I am content. How goes your life then, Sir Payn?”

  He lowered his voice. “The king has entrusted me with a force of men, and I am to lead them from my castle at Kidwelly. I am charged with the prevention of encroachments from Prince Llywelyn. And you?”

  “I am now a farmer, although I may be needed if war does come to the borders.”

  One of the other knights laughed. “There is no if, Master Archer! It is here now, and we just await the king’s command to take back those parts of Wales which his father gave away!”

  Just then horns sounded and we all stood as the king and queen entered. We waited until they were seated and then we sat. I saw the queen look around and her eye fixed on me. She turned and spoke to the old priest who was seated next to her. He stood and came down to our end of the table.

  He gave me a sad smile. “The queen wishes you to sit next to her. I am afraid these young knights will not enjoy your tales of the Crusades and will have to listen to the crusty old confessor of Queen Eleanor.”

  “You should stay at the other table, Father.”

  “No, Captain Gerald, the queen wishes it, and I am sure that your conversation will be more entertaining than mine.”

  “Thank you.” I headed towards the king’s table. All eyes were upon me. I had not asked for this honour and I was not sure that the king would even have thought of it.

  Queen Eleanor patted the cushioned chair next to her. “I know not what the king’s steward was thinking. You are an honoured guest!”

  The king smiled and nodded. “Welcome, Warbow.” He then turned to speak to another crusader, John de Vesci, whom I knew from Acre.

  To be seated at the king’s table and next to the queen meant that I had almost the first choice of the food that was offered. Thanks to Mary and her time as one of Lady Eleanor’s ladies, I knew the etiquette. I only picked the food from the platter that was proffered with my left hand, and I did not return any to the platter once I had selected. It all looked delicious, but I saw some lords whose fingers hovered like fruit flies, seeking the most succulent cuts. I was less fussy.

  I was then interrogated by the queen. It meant I did not get to enjoy the food as I might have wished as I was thinking of the correct phrases and words to use in such company. She wanted to know of the birth and how my son had looked when he had been born. She herself was the mother of five children. The youngest was Henry, who was almost twelve. Then she began to delve into the lives of the men who served me, for she had m
et then in Acre. It meant I blurted out about Robin’s abduction. She was a clever woman, and she wheedled the other information from me.

  “You know, the Welsh border seems much like my home in Castile. We have disputes with Aragon and Navarre as well as with Portugal. Living here in the south, where there are no wars, makes it seem as though we live in a peaceful realm. The reality is that nothing could be further from the truth.” She leaned into me and whispered in my ear, “I asked the king to knight you, for I believed you deserved it, but he said that the time was not yet right. You know the king; he has plans and ideas which must be adhered to.”

  I then asked about their journey through Italy and France. I had not yet travelled in Italy, but it sounded much like Spain and with the same intrigues.

  One problem with a royal feast is that no guest may leave until the king has retired. I had had an early start and the queen tried to encourage the king to leave by leaving the feast early herself, but he was too engrossed in speaking with his senior knights. It was far later than I might have wished before he retired, and I was able to scurry up the stairs to my chamber.

  In the chamber, I found a present on the bed. There was a note from the queen. It was a gift for my son. I was asleep almost as soon as I had made water.

  I had trained myself to wake at a particular time and I heard the bell tolling for the priests in the castle to attend Matins. It was still dark. I made my way out of the castle to the stables.

  As I was about to leave the main gate, a clerk rushed up to me. “Captain Warbow, here is your pass from the king!” He handed me the parchment bearing the king’s seal. I knew without looking that the careful king would have assigned it to me alone so that no other could use it. “I will take you to the stable, for he also has a horse for you there.”

  Eleanor, my horse, was at the end of the stable that was closest to the stable door. The clerk woke the horse master, who was about to complain until he saw that it was the king’s clerk who woke him.

  “We have come for Captain Warbow’s horse, the gift from the king.”

  I heard Tom and Martin wake at the noise. The horse master’s eyes widened. “I thought it was meant for a knight at the very least! This is a kingly gift, Captain, and is worth thirty marks! It comes from the king’s stud just down the road. Lion is a warhorse. I hope that you know how to ride!”

  The clerk shook his head and said, “Do you not know who this is? He rode with the Mongols and they are master horsemen!”

  That stopped the man in his tracks. “You are that man! I would dearly love to have a conversation with you, Captain, for—”

  “We have little time for gossip, horse master. The captain is on the king’s business!”

  I was intrigued at the gift. I recognised the quality of the horse immediately.

  I expected to have to lead him on a tether, but the horse master shook his head. “Lion does not like to be led. When you have ridden him and he knows you are his master, then he will accept a tether, but you must master him first. We have a saddle for you. He will lead your mare.”

  He was a magnificent horse and he stamped and nodded his head to show me what a fine beast he was. I had learned much when riding amongst the Mongols and I kept him on a short rein for the first five miles or so. Each time he threatened to question me, I stopped him and waited until he was compliant. Tom and Martin were in awe of the horse, for they had seen him in the stable and knew him to be a king of horses. I told them how he had come into my possession, but I did not tell them of my mission. That would wait until we reached home.

  I rode him all day and did not make as many miles as I might have hoped. My pass gained the three of us entry to an Augustan monastery, as well as a room and food. Tom and Martin were happy, for they were used to a barn.

  The next day I rode Lion hard and stopped briefly at a tavern in Oxford. I let the other two alternate their horses with Eleanor so that we made good time. By the afternoon, he seemed happy to be led, and we made it to Cheltenham by dark, where we were welcomed by Sir Roger of Bourton. The pass gained us entry once again, and my horse and name guaranteed the three of us a warm welcome, although Tom and Martin ate with the servants and not the lord and lady of the manor. Everyone who discovered my name wished to hear the story of the assassin’s attack!

  We reached Yarpole before dark the next day. Both of my horses were tired, and I was weary of the saddle, but I had made the journey half a day faster than with just one horse.

  Tom and Martin saw to the horses and I went into my hall and gave the queen’s package to my wife, who opened it. It was a gown of fine English lace. I guessed it was for a christening, but as he had already been christened, it would do for my next child. If there was to be one.

  While I ate, I told Mary all that had been said and my orders. I had no secrets from my wife. Like me, she was not happy, but she, above all others, knew the power of a khan or a king.

  “You will be careful, my love?” I nodded. “Sarah and Mags think I am with child once more.”

  I squeezed her. “And you?” She nodded. “Then I am content.”

  That night, tired though I was, it took me longer to sleep, for I had a storm in my head. All that I wished to do was to be a father and a landowner. I wanted to care for those who were close to me, but it seemed I had a king to serve and that would always come first.

  The next day, the joy of the prospect of a new child meant that I had almost forgotten Lion, but my men had discovered him in the stable and were gathered within. I saw Tom and Martin telling them the tale of the gift.

  James came from the hall with me. He knew horses and he said, “Magnificent, Captain, but how could you afford him? He must be worth at least ten or fifteen marks!”

  I smiled. “He is from the king’s stable, and the king’s horse master told me thirty marks!” Their eyes widened and I saw Tom and Martin nodding, for they knew his worth too. “He is a warhorse and should be treated accordingly. James, I would have a separate stall built for him. You have time, for I shall be away for, perhaps, a couple of weeks.”

  The attention of my men switched from the animal to me. “War, Captain?”

  “No, Robin, but the king’s business. I will need David the Welshman and I will take Tom and Martin.”

  Stephen said, “Captain, why no men at arms?”

  “Because, Stephen, I have but two. Peter has one arm and as the man I seek is Prince Llywelyn, I thought it prudent to keep him further than the length of a sword from you!”

  “He would be safe, Captain.”

  I shook my head. “This is a mission of peace and I dare not risk it. The four of us will be enough. When we have found him, we head for Chester to meet with the king.”

  David nodded. “And when do we leave, Captain?”

  “Tomorrow, but I need to know where to find him!”

  David smiled. “That is easy, Captain. There are still raids across the border and the prince will be close enough to react if one escalates. I would put good money on the Clwyd Valley or the Conwy Valley. We can try one first and then the other. You say the king will be at Chester?” I nodded. “Then we try the Conwy valley first. By the time we reach Bala, we will know if we have guessed aright.”

  “And how far is that?”

  “Sixty miles to Bala and then either sixty miles to Conwy or sixty miles to the Clwyd. Either way, we have four days of hard riding.”

  “Then I will take my new horse and we will need two sumpters. See to all, David. Stephen, I leave you and Peter to command my men.”

  I could see that none were happy about the few men I was taking, and Robin voiced their worries. “And if you are taken? Do we rescue you?”

  My voice was resigned as I answered him. “If I am taken, then Prince Llywelyn is tearing up the Treaty of Monmouth and declaring war on King Edward. I will either be dead or about to die!” The finality of my words hit them. I saw the determination on their faces. If I was murdered, then their vengeance would be terrible
!

  Chapter 9

  We were heading into a part of Wales I did not know and so I listened to the advice of David the Welshman. “Bala has a lake and it is a large town. We Welsh do not use many castles but there is a small one there. There is a risk, Captain, that we may be stopped by those who do not wish you to speak with Llywelyn.”

  “Then let us avoid people until we are close to this town.”

  “It means camping.”

  “We have supplies and it will only be for a night or two. Is there a bishop at Bala?”

  “There may be, Captain. Why do you ask?”

  “In my experience, they are more likely to listen than knights or nobles. We try the church first.”

  The hardest part was getting across the border. In this part of the borders, the River Lugg was still the line that separated England from Wales, and so we found a ford to slip across. We were still relatively close to home when we did so, and we headed through the small back roads, which were used by local farmers, both Welsh and English, until we found the uplands close to Dutlas. This was bleak and rocky sheep country and we saw no-one, not even a shepherd. We camped when the light went and had a fireless camp.

  As we sat around, Martin said, “Why on earth does King Edward want this country? The people are poor, they have little that we want, and they have more rocks than land to plough.

  David growled, “This is my land, boy! Be careful what you say!”

  “You are partly right, Martin, but further south is rich farmland. I spoke to the Lord of Kidwelly, Sir Payn de Chaworth, and he told me that his town is as prosperous as any in England. King Henry did his son great harm by signing away so much. The Welsh now seek to take the land which has been English since the time of the second King Henry. They are prosperous because of the English. Who knows, if we put English farmers here, then this land might become as prosperous.” I was aware that David had been silent and that suggested that he disagreed with me. “If I am wrong, David, then tell me so. I do not mind. I confess that the politics of all this are a little beyond me.”