the harrying of the northern shires by William the Bastard, so few remained alive on the land that most of it was left waste. The present inhabitants were largely immigrants over the past fifty years, men seeking land of their own. And overlords like Sir Oliver’s father, who needed tenants to till the soil and herd their sheep and cattle, did not ask too many questions. If those who came were runaway serfs, they did not want to know and gladly accepted their oaths that they were free.
So Sir Oliver, who had no more than fifty men-at-arms, still had defenders enough to hold his walls against twice the force Summerville brought. But the fact that Summerville had made camp after having discovered that there were enough defenders to hold him off easily meant that he expected a substantial addition to his forces. It was a matter of time, Sir Oliver thought, considering his alternatives. If Prudhoe held out, King David would not have men to spare to add to Summerville’s force; and if King Stephen were not engaged in putting down some other rebellion against his assumption of the crown and came north, Summerville would be called away.
In either case, the “siege” was also a test of Sir Oliver’s temperament and judgment, or rather a temptation to him. Summerville was trying to reduce their numbers by drawing Oliver out into a battle to drive away the troop at the ford, who blocked their escape route and the route by which succor could be expected to come. To the proud or the hotheaded, that small group might have proved an irresistible target, since it would seem that it could be overwhelmed before help could come from the men in the main camp. Sir Oliver had pride, but not that kind; he was a wily old fox and doubted Summerville was such a fool as to leave the small troop unprotected. Besides, he had not the smallest desire to escape. If necessity demanded, he would die defending Jernaeve; he would never leave it.
Assault might not even be attempted. Even if David took Prudhoe soon, the Scottish king knew Jernaeve and might be reluctant to assault old Iron Fist. David would prefer to starve them out—and Audris’s picture showed only a siege; that thought crept unbidden into Oliver’s mind. But if news came that Stephen was on his way or gathering men to come north, then David might assault Jernaeve, for it guarded the road to the central northern shires. Newcastle and Carlisle were far more important. Doubtless Stephen would make for one or the other first, but if David held Jernaeve, he would have an easy road east or west to attack Stephen’s army and a mighty fort from which it would be difficult to evict him. He might then think the price Jernaeve would cost in blood worthwhile… and Audris’s work was not finished, Oliver’s unruly mind reminded him.
It must be finished now, he thought. Audris had been on the wall this afternoon and had joined them for the evening meal. But she had said nothing about her work and had not brought it down to show him so he could send out word to the buyers that a work was done. Well, that was not surprising. Audris was not an idiot and must know that sale of the tapestry must wait until they were free of the Scots. Or could there be a darker reason? Could the work show Death embracing the whole keep? Oliver felt cold, and then, remembering how full of laughter and teasing Audris had been, he put the fear aside. Still, a remnant of doubt clung to him, and though he told himself a dozen times that he was a fool, he still sent Eadyth up to look when Audris was in the mews with the falcons the next day.
Thus, Oliver felt no great surprise when, ten days later, the fruitless siege was lifted and Summerville’s army marched away. He was not entirely pleased; he had learned to accept Audris’s infrequent predictions of impending natural disasters and her occasional verbal warnings that certain men were not to be trusted—she had always been right about the men, too—but he felt
So Sir Oliver, who had no more than fifty men-at-arms, still had defenders enough to hold his walls against twice the force Summerville brought. But the fact that Summerville had made camp after having discovered that there were enough defenders to hold him off easily meant that he expected a substantial addition to his forces. It was a matter of time, Sir Oliver thought, considering his alternatives. If Prudhoe held out, King David would not have men to spare to add to Summerville’s force; and if King Stephen were not engaged in putting down some other rebellion against his assumption of the crown and came north, Summerville would be called away.
In either case, the “siege” was also a test of Sir Oliver’s temperament and judgment, or rather a temptation to him. Summerville was trying to reduce their numbers by drawing Oliver out into a battle to drive away the troop at the ford, who blocked their escape route and the route by which succor could be expected to come. To the proud or the hotheaded, that small group might have proved an irresistible target, since it would seem that it could be overwhelmed before help could come from the men in the main camp. Sir Oliver had pride, but not that kind; he was a wily old fox and doubted Summerville was such a fool as to leave the small troop unprotected. Besides, he had not the smallest desire to escape. If necessity demanded, he would die defending Jernaeve; he would never leave it.
Assault might not even be attempted. Even if David took Prudhoe soon, the Scottish king knew Jernaeve and might be reluctant to assault old Iron Fist. David would prefer to starve them out—and Audris’s picture showed only a siege; that thought crept unbidden into Oliver’s mind. But if news came that Stephen was on his way or gathering men to come north, then David might assault Jernaeve, for it guarded the road to the central northern shires. Newcastle and Carlisle were far more important. Doubtless Stephen would make for one or the other first, but if David held Jernaeve, he would have an easy road east or west to attack Stephen’s army and a mighty fort from which it would be difficult to evict him. He might then think the price Jernaeve would cost in blood worthwhile… and Audris’s work was not finished, Oliver’s unruly mind reminded him.
It must be finished now, he thought. Audris had been on the wall this afternoon and had joined them for the evening meal. But she had said nothing about her work and had not brought it down to show him so he could send out word to the buyers that a work was done. Well, that was not surprising. Audris was not an idiot and must know that sale of the tapestry must wait until they were free of the Scots. Or could there be a darker reason? Could the work show Death embracing the whole keep? Oliver felt cold, and then, remembering how full of laughter and teasing Audris had been, he put the fear aside. Still, a remnant of doubt clung to him, and though he told himself a dozen times that he was a fool, he still sent Eadyth up to look when Audris was in the mews with the falcons the next day.
Thus, Oliver felt no great surprise when, ten days later, the fruitless siege was lifted and Summerville’s army marched away. He was not entirely pleased; he had learned to accept Audris’s infrequent predictions of impending natural disasters and her occasional verbal warnings that certain men were not to be trusted—she had always been right about the men, too—but he felt
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