hawk.
“You are after small prey, John.” Birds of prey were carefully trained to catch smaller birds, hares or rabbits. “As for me, I am after larger quarry!”
Did she dare? It would be five against one. Dangerous. Were she to be caught, the pen alty would be severe. Even mere poachers who were apprehended were punished severely, either by hanging or by having their right hand cut off. What would happen to her for harassing the self-proclaimed ruler of the realm?
Hurrying back towards her father’s manor in search of her bow, Rowena refused to even contemplate such a dastardly fate. She was far too clever to be caught.
The oak and pine trees were thick and bri lliant green. Sparkling with moisture from a recent rain, they glistened in the sunlight as if bedecked with jewels. It was tranquil, deceptively peaceful. As Kendrick de Bron rode alongside the hunting party he felt mildly optimistic. And why not? John had promised to restore Kendrick's lands and titles and, BiGod, he had kept his word. Last night the usurpers had been sent packing, leaving the way clear for him to take possession of his rightful lands.
"Well, what think you, de Bron?" Prince John made a wide sweep with his arm , pointing to his generous gift, acre upon acre of gently rolling hills and meadowland and a huge lake. Beside the lake was the manor that once belonged to Kendrick's aunt and uncle.
"I think that I am a most grateful man, your Grace." And he was, but also wary. Even so, it felt good to know that for once justice had been meted out, at least to him. "I had nearly forgotten just how beautiful it was here."
"Aye. Beautiful. And an excellent place for hunting and hawking." Because it was nestled at the edge of the forest, Kendrick's land was unfortunately also convenient to the Prince.
"An excellent place indeed," Kendrick replied. John was hinting none to subtly for an offer of hospitality that Kend rick could not refuse. Alas, he would have to lodge all ten of the Prince's royal party when the day's hunting and hawking was done. "And my home is your home."
The generosity was not twofold. John's laws forbade anyone to enter a royal forest with bow, arrows, dogs or greyhounds, save with special warrant. No one but the king and those authorized by him, not even the barons who held the land, could hunt the red deer, fallow deer, the roe or wild board without John's permission. Indeed , no one dared, save one--Robin Hood.
There was something chilling in the Prince's grin. "A kindly offer, though not unwarranted seeing as how it is by my hand that your property has been given back to you."
“ I hope returning it to me did not create too much ill will." Pulling back on the reins of his mount, Kendrick straightened his back and sat tall in the saddle, affording his eyes full benefit of the magnificent view. Even if it had created hard feelings, what did it matter? This was his land again. His!
Shaking his head, Prince John insisted it had been no trouble at all. "The inhabitants were naught but Saxons," he exclaimed, forgetting for the moment that Kendrick was half-Saxon. "An old man and an old woman who were of little consequence to anyone. Indeed, they had no claim to the property at all. Trespassers is all that they were."
"I see." Kendrick felt a surge of sympathy he dare not show. He had assumed that some haughty Norman lordling or other would have been given the land and that had filled him with indignant anger. Now , realizing that an old Saxon couple had been forced from the land his angry feelings were wiped away. He could only hope that the pair had not been dealt with too harshly. He would not have wanted that.
"But come, let us have no more talk. ” The bells on the falcon jingled as John raised his padded glove. Special equipment was used to train and look after prized birds of prey. A leash stopped the bird from flying away, bells helped to
“You are after small prey, John.” Birds of prey were carefully trained to catch smaller birds, hares or rabbits. “As for me, I am after larger quarry!”
Did she dare? It would be five against one. Dangerous. Were she to be caught, the pen alty would be severe. Even mere poachers who were apprehended were punished severely, either by hanging or by having their right hand cut off. What would happen to her for harassing the self-proclaimed ruler of the realm?
Hurrying back towards her father’s manor in search of her bow, Rowena refused to even contemplate such a dastardly fate. She was far too clever to be caught.
The oak and pine trees were thick and bri lliant green. Sparkling with moisture from a recent rain, they glistened in the sunlight as if bedecked with jewels. It was tranquil, deceptively peaceful. As Kendrick de Bron rode alongside the hunting party he felt mildly optimistic. And why not? John had promised to restore Kendrick's lands and titles and, BiGod, he had kept his word. Last night the usurpers had been sent packing, leaving the way clear for him to take possession of his rightful lands.
"Well, what think you, de Bron?" Prince John made a wide sweep with his arm , pointing to his generous gift, acre upon acre of gently rolling hills and meadowland and a huge lake. Beside the lake was the manor that once belonged to Kendrick's aunt and uncle.
"I think that I am a most grateful man, your Grace." And he was, but also wary. Even so, it felt good to know that for once justice had been meted out, at least to him. "I had nearly forgotten just how beautiful it was here."
"Aye. Beautiful. And an excellent place for hunting and hawking." Because it was nestled at the edge of the forest, Kendrick's land was unfortunately also convenient to the Prince.
"An excellent place indeed," Kendrick replied. John was hinting none to subtly for an offer of hospitality that Kend rick could not refuse. Alas, he would have to lodge all ten of the Prince's royal party when the day's hunting and hawking was done. "And my home is your home."
The generosity was not twofold. John's laws forbade anyone to enter a royal forest with bow, arrows, dogs or greyhounds, save with special warrant. No one but the king and those authorized by him, not even the barons who held the land, could hunt the red deer, fallow deer, the roe or wild board without John's permission. Indeed , no one dared, save one--Robin Hood.
There was something chilling in the Prince's grin. "A kindly offer, though not unwarranted seeing as how it is by my hand that your property has been given back to you."
“ I hope returning it to me did not create too much ill will." Pulling back on the reins of his mount, Kendrick straightened his back and sat tall in the saddle, affording his eyes full benefit of the magnificent view. Even if it had created hard feelings, what did it matter? This was his land again. His!
Shaking his head, Prince John insisted it had been no trouble at all. "The inhabitants were naught but Saxons," he exclaimed, forgetting for the moment that Kendrick was half-Saxon. "An old man and an old woman who were of little consequence to anyone. Indeed, they had no claim to the property at all. Trespassers is all that they were."
"I see." Kendrick felt a surge of sympathy he dare not show. He had assumed that some haughty Norman lordling or other would have been given the land and that had filled him with indignant anger. Now , realizing that an old Saxon couple had been forced from the land his angry feelings were wiped away. He could only hope that the pair had not been dealt with too harshly. He would not have wanted that.
"But come, let us have no more talk. ” The bells on the falcon jingled as John raised his padded glove. Special equipment was used to train and look after prized birds of prey. A leash stopped the bird from flying away, bells helped to
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