1066 Turned Upside Down by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781785897283
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd

‘Why in Pluto’s balls’ name are we crouching in this blasted hedge?’ Claudia whispered.

‘Language, child,’ I murmured, but I was concentrating on the harbour below us and trying to count the hundreds of ships bobbing below. The shipyard singing with the noise of hammering and sawing was guarded, torches flared everywhere, peasants were loading supplies, men-at-arms and horses crowding and champing on the makeshift quayside. A pity so many people and animals were present.

The day before, we’d made formal farewells and sailed from Rotomagus with false smiles and regret on both sides, but I’d ordered the sailing master of our trading ship to stop briefly downriver near the harbour serving Iuliobona to pick up Eadmær and his men. Their dozen and our ten Praetorians along with Claudia and myself should manage the task if we applied ourselves.

Claudia and I had crawled back about twenty feet from the cliff edge when I heard something move. The creak of a boot. I made a sharp cutting gesture and she froze. Young though she was, like all Romans over sixteen Claudia was trained in basic warrior skills. There, again, metal rubbing on cloth. The clink of metal on metal. Eadmær and his men were in the valley. If he’d come to join us, he would have whistled the signal. There was no whistle.

I gestured Claudia to crawl directly to the side and edged away on my belly in the opposite direction. Perhaps it was only peasants marauding for food or loot. I eased my gladius out, then in the shelter of a low shrub came to a crouch. Then I saw them. A group of three horsemen; one dismounted, knelt and examined the ground.

‘Well?’ A bad-tempered voice.

De Boscville.

‘Somebody was here, lord, recently.’

‘That damned Roman woman, I’d wager.’

‘But they’ve sailed, haven’t they?’

‘Supposedly. The duke thinks their threats to hinder our trade were bluster and they can do nothing, but she’s a devious bitch.’

‘Look, there!’ The other horseman pointed in Claudia’s direction. The clouds had parted and the damned moon shone through. Pluto swive him. I stood.

‘My Lord de Boscville,’ I said. ‘What brings you out here at this time of night?’

‘Seize her!’

I ran, but even the fastest human couldn’t beat a warhorse. De Boscville charged and swung at me with his longsword. As I rolled away, he leapt off his horse and, face working in fury, ran at me. He raised his sword aloft, but I ducked under his arm and, crouching low, thrust into his groin, then leapt aside and struck into his side. His sword caught my left arm as it fell, numbing it for an instant. De Boscville was on the ground grunting and struggling to stand. My breath was heaving, as hard as my heart hammered. I whirled round to find the tracker on me. I shoved him away, jabbing him in the stomach, then the throat. He clasped his hands to his face with a cry and fell. The thunder of the third rider’s horse was ringing in my head as I turned to face him.

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