heart.”
“Nay, my lady,” Fouke replied. “Most would have the sense to stay put. We are strong now and the castle will not fall.”
“And while we sit here, what happens to the lands? We have already lost too much to the plague. By the time he tires and gives up there will be little left.”
“If you expect to yield, do so now,” Haarold said. “You can get better terms.”
“I do not intend to yield.” Her decision was a rash one, and a tremendous gamble. She'd never expected it to be as difficult to make as it suddenly was. “I have sent Carlos to the town by way of the coast, while the tide is low.” She threw open the scroll to reveal a map of the estate. “I have sent word to the English archers that we will attack Gurwant's camp tomorrow at dawn.”
There were objections, but no real resistance. These men were warriors, and the idea of a pitched battle carried its own allure. They gathered around the map.
“My father once described how Jeanne de Montfort raised a city's siege. She led the knights out a postern gate, circled behind the enemy camp, and made a surprise attack from behind. We will do the same. We will push Gurwant's force toward the wall, where our archers will aid us. Our main force will charge the camp from here.” She indicated a spot directly across from the castle. “Carlos and I and one other will ride with our bows thus at the north end of the field, helping to put down any flanking movement. The English archers will do the same at the south.”
Dead silence greeted the end of her explanation. She looked up to find five pairs of male eyes looking at her with shock.
Paul found his voice. “You cannot mean to ride with us, my lady.”
“Of course I do. I have before and I will tomorrow.”
“We are not so outnumbered as that,” Haarold said. “Another will take your place.”
“And who will that be? Who else can use a bow as well as I can from a galloping horse? Have you such a man with you, Haarold? Fouke?” She looked at one especially hot pair of eyes. “Morvan? Do any of you disagree with the importance of having archers there?”
“You might be taken,” Haarold said.
“Most of the time I will be within range of the wall. And I will be on a fast horse, without armor to weigh it down.”
The news that she would be unarmored did nothing for her case. Amidst the objections thrown at her, Ascanio finally spoke. “They too will have archers.”
“We will attack before their archers have time to group and deploy. I will wear a hood and not be identified,so my presence will not affect the unfolding of things. But unless you can replace me with an equally skilled man, I will be there.”
She left them to plan the details. She spent an hour with Ruth and Marguerite, then went down to the yard for some fresh air. As she crossed to the gatehouse Ascanio fell in step beside her.
“If you've been sent by the others to talk me out of joining you tomorrow, do not waste your breath,” she warned.
“Nay, although it was discussed after you left. Haarold is of the opinion that a good beating would make you see sense. Morvan is inclined to agree and feels a certain prerogative in administering the lesson. I wouldn't let him catch you alone tonight. He has more in mind for your rump than last night's caress.”
She pictured that and burst out laughing. “I will be on the alert. You came to warn me?”
“Nay, we must speak of something else. Let us go up on the wall where we can be alone.”
He led the way to the battlements and found a spot away from the guards. He turned to her with a serious expression. She recognized his priest face. “I will hold mass this evening, so we all can pray before our ordeal. Afterwards, there will be another sacrament. Josce and Catherine will be getting married.”
“Married? By whose authority and permission?”
“By their own. They will either do it publicly or privately, but I am the priest and I will witness their
“Nay, my lady,” Fouke replied. “Most would have the sense to stay put. We are strong now and the castle will not fall.”
“And while we sit here, what happens to the lands? We have already lost too much to the plague. By the time he tires and gives up there will be little left.”
“If you expect to yield, do so now,” Haarold said. “You can get better terms.”
“I do not intend to yield.” Her decision was a rash one, and a tremendous gamble. She'd never expected it to be as difficult to make as it suddenly was. “I have sent Carlos to the town by way of the coast, while the tide is low.” She threw open the scroll to reveal a map of the estate. “I have sent word to the English archers that we will attack Gurwant's camp tomorrow at dawn.”
There were objections, but no real resistance. These men were warriors, and the idea of a pitched battle carried its own allure. They gathered around the map.
“My father once described how Jeanne de Montfort raised a city's siege. She led the knights out a postern gate, circled behind the enemy camp, and made a surprise attack from behind. We will do the same. We will push Gurwant's force toward the wall, where our archers will aid us. Our main force will charge the camp from here.” She indicated a spot directly across from the castle. “Carlos and I and one other will ride with our bows thus at the north end of the field, helping to put down any flanking movement. The English archers will do the same at the south.”
Dead silence greeted the end of her explanation. She looked up to find five pairs of male eyes looking at her with shock.
Paul found his voice. “You cannot mean to ride with us, my lady.”
“Of course I do. I have before and I will tomorrow.”
“We are not so outnumbered as that,” Haarold said. “Another will take your place.”
“And who will that be? Who else can use a bow as well as I can from a galloping horse? Have you such a man with you, Haarold? Fouke?” She looked at one especially hot pair of eyes. “Morvan? Do any of you disagree with the importance of having archers there?”
“You might be taken,” Haarold said.
“Most of the time I will be within range of the wall. And I will be on a fast horse, without armor to weigh it down.”
The news that she would be unarmored did nothing for her case. Amidst the objections thrown at her, Ascanio finally spoke. “They too will have archers.”
“We will attack before their archers have time to group and deploy. I will wear a hood and not be identified,so my presence will not affect the unfolding of things. But unless you can replace me with an equally skilled man, I will be there.”
She left them to plan the details. She spent an hour with Ruth and Marguerite, then went down to the yard for some fresh air. As she crossed to the gatehouse Ascanio fell in step beside her.
“If you've been sent by the others to talk me out of joining you tomorrow, do not waste your breath,” she warned.
“Nay, although it was discussed after you left. Haarold is of the opinion that a good beating would make you see sense. Morvan is inclined to agree and feels a certain prerogative in administering the lesson. I wouldn't let him catch you alone tonight. He has more in mind for your rump than last night's caress.”
She pictured that and burst out laughing. “I will be on the alert. You came to warn me?”
“Nay, we must speak of something else. Let us go up on the wall where we can be alone.”
He led the way to the battlements and found a spot away from the guards. He turned to her with a serious expression. She recognized his priest face. “I will hold mass this evening, so we all can pray before our ordeal. Afterwards, there will be another sacrament. Josce and Catherine will be getting married.”
“Married? By whose authority and permission?”
“By their own. They will either do it publicly or privately, but I am the priest and I will witness their
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