for me to strain and heave. One of his men, bursting after him, drew it shut; together then he and Raoul could ram the beam across and notch it into place. On the other side, men thrust against it to force it loose, cursing viciously when it held firm. We heard them mutter and whisper outside the wall, then the creak of leather, the jingle of spurs, men mounting and galloping off, silence.
'Back, back,' Raoul now shouted to his men, pouring behind him into the alleyway. They are too many, our hope is the square else we be all trapped like a denned fox. Ann, can you walk, are you harmed? God's breath, I did not think them yet so close.' He tried to wipe the blood from my hands and face, a helpless gesture from a one-armed man, his own face lined with anger and concern.
I mouthed denial, too stunned to speak, my lips bruised from that merciless grip. And, to tell the truth, I was not even sure. Where I had fallen, been dragged, a soreness grew about my ribs and my breastbone ached. I was splattered with blood from head to foot. I felt I would never move again.
Aware of impending danger, still shouting orders for my comfort, Raoul thudded into the wider lane, snatched at the stallion's reins, and heaved himself up awkwardly, sleeving blood. Down he galloped toward the square. Another trooper, slower, took me up behind. I saw two more haul up Matt and Walter, both white-faced, half-conscious, scarce able to hang on. We clattered back, the bodies of those others rolling beneath our feet. Already the church bell was tolling its warning note.
In the square, confusion swirled, alarms, shouts. Our men left there had made a tight shield ring, facing out from the church steps. The merchants whose houses stood around the church had already flapped indoors; iron gates shot home. Wise citizens escaped when there was chance. A group of soberly dressed men in long cloaks began to bundle up their purchases, drifted off, melted into the small streets, and were gone. Overhead, the clapper of the bell swung to and fro as if it would break from its hold.
'Silence me that bell,' Raoul cried. He pivoted his black horse around, looking for bowmen, spearmen, on rooftop or church tower. 'Or hang me the man who pulls it.'
His seneschal, already mounted, came spurring up, still tying big leather bags to his saddle bow. Clutching him round the waist, the village spokesman tried to grin. 'At least they failed to get this,' he said, and shook the one he held so that it jangled merrily.
‘They may yet.' Raoul was grim. 'That was what they have been waiting for. Only someone sprang the trap too soon. Lady Ann, your squires were mad to walk that way, and yet, thank God, although I would not have used you as decoy, no lasting harm is done. Stay close where I can watch you myself. That trap is sprung, but they've still the means to set it again. More than we by threes and fours.’
He pivoted round. Above him, the bell clanged twice, then was silent. 'They'll wait,' he said, 'by the northern gate as we issue forth. Best place to catch us, pick us off with their cross-bows. We'll go by the southern gates. That route will be longer for us, but it will take them off their stride. Let them find us at the river ford or the woodland road, more space for us to form ranks. A group of Normans looking for easy wealth. But undisciplined. They broke their cover without command. Thank God, their slowness gave us speed. They'll not attack a group of trained knights.' I do not mean to say he said all this at once; round he pivoted to each man until all were mounted again, giving encouragement, advice, command, each to each so that everyone knew what was to be done, what expected, what feared. He had even time to smile encouragement at me. I thought, Trained men, yes, but few. There had been many men outside the wall. That flint-like voice would not brook another disobedience, and the longer we waited, the more time for
'Back, back,' Raoul now shouted to his men, pouring behind him into the alleyway. They are too many, our hope is the square else we be all trapped like a denned fox. Ann, can you walk, are you harmed? God's breath, I did not think them yet so close.' He tried to wipe the blood from my hands and face, a helpless gesture from a one-armed man, his own face lined with anger and concern.
I mouthed denial, too stunned to speak, my lips bruised from that merciless grip. And, to tell the truth, I was not even sure. Where I had fallen, been dragged, a soreness grew about my ribs and my breastbone ached. I was splattered with blood from head to foot. I felt I would never move again.
Aware of impending danger, still shouting orders for my comfort, Raoul thudded into the wider lane, snatched at the stallion's reins, and heaved himself up awkwardly, sleeving blood. Down he galloped toward the square. Another trooper, slower, took me up behind. I saw two more haul up Matt and Walter, both white-faced, half-conscious, scarce able to hang on. We clattered back, the bodies of those others rolling beneath our feet. Already the church bell was tolling its warning note.
In the square, confusion swirled, alarms, shouts. Our men left there had made a tight shield ring, facing out from the church steps. The merchants whose houses stood around the church had already flapped indoors; iron gates shot home. Wise citizens escaped when there was chance. A group of soberly dressed men in long cloaks began to bundle up their purchases, drifted off, melted into the small streets, and were gone. Overhead, the clapper of the bell swung to and fro as if it would break from its hold.
'Silence me that bell,' Raoul cried. He pivoted his black horse around, looking for bowmen, spearmen, on rooftop or church tower. 'Or hang me the man who pulls it.'
His seneschal, already mounted, came spurring up, still tying big leather bags to his saddle bow. Clutching him round the waist, the village spokesman tried to grin. 'At least they failed to get this,' he said, and shook the one he held so that it jangled merrily.
‘They may yet.' Raoul was grim. 'That was what they have been waiting for. Only someone sprang the trap too soon. Lady Ann, your squires were mad to walk that way, and yet, thank God, although I would not have used you as decoy, no lasting harm is done. Stay close where I can watch you myself. That trap is sprung, but they've still the means to set it again. More than we by threes and fours.’
He pivoted round. Above him, the bell clanged twice, then was silent. 'They'll wait,' he said, 'by the northern gate as we issue forth. Best place to catch us, pick us off with their cross-bows. We'll go by the southern gates. That route will be longer for us, but it will take them off their stride. Let them find us at the river ford or the woodland road, more space for us to form ranks. A group of Normans looking for easy wealth. But undisciplined. They broke their cover without command. Thank God, their slowness gave us speed. They'll not attack a group of trained knights.' I do not mean to say he said all this at once; round he pivoted to each man until all were mounted again, giving encouragement, advice, command, each to each so that everyone knew what was to be done, what expected, what feared. He had even time to smile encouragement at me. I thought, Trained men, yes, but few. There had been many men outside the wall. That flint-like voice would not brook another disobedience, and the longer we waited, the more time for
Similar Books
