Sons of York by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub

16 Homecoming

‘Hurry, Matt. We must be off the streets before the townsfolk are abroad. Word will have got around about the army’s approach, and they will be wary of strangers.’

Giles’s hiss in the darkness was accompanied by a shove and, exhausted as I was, I stumbled through the gateway. The pitted wooden door was held open by a figure hidden in the shadows. A soft chortle came from it now, but also a helping hand, which caught me before I fell headlong. In its other hand was a shuttered lantern, revealed only by the escape of tiny threads of light.

‘Come, lad,’ said the quiet voice belonging to the chuckle. ‘He’s right that you must make haste. It’ll do me no good if it’s discovered I’ve let you in.’

We had tethered the horses in an area of coppiced woodland outside the city and crossed the last half-mile or so to the walls on foot. This postern gate, set in a half-ruined tower, was one of several down by the river and little used now by the townspeople. Its hinges sighed with a rusty creak as it was pushed closed behind Giles.

‘They’re expecting you at the sign of the Fleece.’ The voice from the shadows again. ‘Take my lantern and be quickly on your way. I’ll send my boy to tend to your horses once it gets light. They’ll be ready for a swift getaway if need be.’

Iron scraped on leather as the lantern was passed from one gloved hand to the other, and another push propelled me up the narrow path away from the postern. After a few paces, with a quiet snap Giles opened one shutter of the lamp. In the slender stream of light, I could at last see where to place my feet, though my lack of sleep meant I hardly had strength to place one in front of the other. The alley widened before long, joining a cobbled way, and the light from the half-moon and sprinkling of stars trickled down to us. Giles fully shuttered the lamp again as we turned on to a grand paved street, of the sort of which my city was so proud.

Here and there a lantern burned above a shop or a light showed in a window, but all was still quiet. Few people other than bakers and brewers would be astir at this early hour. How I longed to be abed too! But we prowled through the silent streets like wakeful tom cats on the hunt. From time to time, real cats’ eyes caught the moonlight or a tail twitched in the shadows as an animal ran off. But mostly it was just Giles and I to be seen, if anyone had peeped sleepily from their homes.

Soon we entered a street I knew well, and my heart leapt inside me. I tugged on Giles’s sleeve to halt him.

‘Giles, we’re on Stonegate. Here is my home.’

I pointed to the tall, familiar house. Its jutting upper storeys of black timbers and white moonlit plaster threw the street-level storefront into deepest shadow.

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