they left the port and approached Westminster, they heard the boom of a large bell being
tolled.
“That sounds like it’s coming from the Abbey,” said John. Then they heard the cries coming from people who were hurrying towards the Palace.
“The King is dead!”
John spurred Anvil and followed by Sam they cantered off towards Sir Cedric’s house. When they arrived they found the Earl had left for the Palace. Merek
informed John that Henri Hauseman was waiting in a side room. While Sam looked after the horses John joined Henri and asked Merek to bring wine.
“I am sorry your King is dead,” said Henri. “It will cause some difficulties with trade, I think.”
“I am not sure what you mean,” said John. “Prince Edward will soon be home when he gets the news.”
Henri did not answer but carried on the conversation talking about the weather, the price of wool and the forthcoming visit of Tania. “How is the young
lady, it is some time since I saw her?” queried Henri.
“She was well enough when we left and we, also, are looking forward to seeing her here soon,” replied John. “A very attractive lady don’t you think, I
expect she has many suiters.”
John was starting to get irritated by Henri’s manner and was pleased of the interruption when Merek came with the wine.
“I see you wear a broadsword,” continued Henri.
“I apologise for not disarming but I came here before going to my room so as not to delay you, if you were wanting just to leave a message for the Earl,”
explained John.
“That is not a problem,” replied Henri. “It looks a fine weapon, may I see the blade?”
John hesitated and then drew the sword from its sheath.
“It is a fine weapon, crafted by an expert, is it from Toledo?” asked Henri.
John was not sure where Toledo was but answered the question by telling Henri that his father had made the sword for him.
“The weapon is beautiful, will you sell to me? I will offer you a very good price.”
“No,” asserted John “it would never be for sale.”
When Henri said he would be leaving to visit contacts in the city John was relieved.
A few hours later Sir Cedric came back from the Palace, he called John to his room and told him that the King had died and was going to be buried in
Westminster Abbey. After the funeral he and Sam were to return to Wymondham and wait for him. John sat in the Garden thinking of Tania, would she still
come to London, he knew the Earl had sent messengers off to Wymondham but had said nothing to John. Sir Cedric went to Westminster early every day and
Henri had disappeared so John and Sam amused themselves by boating further up river.
II
Roger journeyed most of the way back to Stamford in the company of Robert Hud and his friends, they proved to be excellent company and were in good spirits
when the time came to leave them. Arriving back in the town Roger and Laila opened the door to their little house and Laila soon had a meal prepared and on
the table. In the morning Roger reported to the Mayor and was informed there had been no major incidents whilst he had been away, and he had informed the
guards that Roger was now their Captain. Roger met up with his men and life returned to normal. During the next months Roger began to think of Dunston and
his home, he thought of Avice and the dream he used to have of he and Joan, John and Avice settled in the village, but it was just a dream as Ralf would be
ruling the roost and John was leading a completely different life now. He felt a pang of jealousy when he thought of how their circumstances had changed.
Laila tried to rouse him out of his black moods with not much success.
“Why don’t you go back to Dunston and see your father, he must be wondering what has happened to you?” suggested Laila. Roger pondered the suggestion and
then forgot it as there was an increase of outlaw activity in the area and he and his men were on full alert to spot any undesirables operating
tolled.
“That sounds like it’s coming from the Abbey,” said John. Then they heard the cries coming from people who were hurrying towards the Palace.
“The King is dead!”
John spurred Anvil and followed by Sam they cantered off towards Sir Cedric’s house. When they arrived they found the Earl had left for the Palace. Merek
informed John that Henri Hauseman was waiting in a side room. While Sam looked after the horses John joined Henri and asked Merek to bring wine.
“I am sorry your King is dead,” said Henri. “It will cause some difficulties with trade, I think.”
“I am not sure what you mean,” said John. “Prince Edward will soon be home when he gets the news.”
Henri did not answer but carried on the conversation talking about the weather, the price of wool and the forthcoming visit of Tania. “How is the young
lady, it is some time since I saw her?” queried Henri.
“She was well enough when we left and we, also, are looking forward to seeing her here soon,” replied John. “A very attractive lady don’t you think, I
expect she has many suiters.”
John was starting to get irritated by Henri’s manner and was pleased of the interruption when Merek came with the wine.
“I see you wear a broadsword,” continued Henri.
“I apologise for not disarming but I came here before going to my room so as not to delay you, if you were wanting just to leave a message for the Earl,”
explained John.
“That is not a problem,” replied Henri. “It looks a fine weapon, may I see the blade?”
John hesitated and then drew the sword from its sheath.
“It is a fine weapon, crafted by an expert, is it from Toledo?” asked Henri.
John was not sure where Toledo was but answered the question by telling Henri that his father had made the sword for him.
“The weapon is beautiful, will you sell to me? I will offer you a very good price.”
“No,” asserted John “it would never be for sale.”
When Henri said he would be leaving to visit contacts in the city John was relieved.
A few hours later Sir Cedric came back from the Palace, he called John to his room and told him that the King had died and was going to be buried in
Westminster Abbey. After the funeral he and Sam were to return to Wymondham and wait for him. John sat in the Garden thinking of Tania, would she still
come to London, he knew the Earl had sent messengers off to Wymondham but had said nothing to John. Sir Cedric went to Westminster early every day and
Henri had disappeared so John and Sam amused themselves by boating further up river.
II
Roger journeyed most of the way back to Stamford in the company of Robert Hud and his friends, they proved to be excellent company and were in good spirits
when the time came to leave them. Arriving back in the town Roger and Laila opened the door to their little house and Laila soon had a meal prepared and on
the table. In the morning Roger reported to the Mayor and was informed there had been no major incidents whilst he had been away, and he had informed the
guards that Roger was now their Captain. Roger met up with his men and life returned to normal. During the next months Roger began to think of Dunston and
his home, he thought of Avice and the dream he used to have of he and Joan, John and Avice settled in the village, but it was just a dream as Ralf would be
ruling the roost and John was leading a completely different life now. He felt a pang of jealousy when he thought of how their circumstances had changed.
Laila tried to rouse him out of his black moods with not much success.
“Why don’t you go back to Dunston and see your father, he must be wondering what has happened to you?” suggested Laila. Roger pondered the suggestion and
then forgot it as there was an increase of outlaw activity in the area and he and his men were on full alert to spot any undesirables operating
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