The Angel Knight by King Susan

Author:King, Susan [King, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Spencerhill Associates, Ltd.
Published: 2012-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“You will need to fix that portcullis immediately,” Hastings said, dismounting from his horse to face Gavin, who waited inside the open gate. Twenty men followed Hastings into the courtyard, riding beneath the crooked portcullis. Icy needles of rain fell through the fog, turning the earth beneath the horses’ hooves to thick mud.

“I am well aware the gate is broken,” Gavin replied. Hastings had dispensed with a greeting, and there was no reason for him to express false politeness. “A smith is working on it. Until the repair is completed, a new set of wooden gates has been installed.”

“Of what use is a new gate that is wide open? And the drawbridge is down,” Hastings snapped. His gaze skimmed over the workmen in the courtyard, past scaffolds, pulleys, and various canvas tents set up as workshops and barracks. He scrutinized the charred stone of the gatehouse. “You are expected to hold it against the Scots, Faulkener, not open it to them.”

“Should I have barred the castle against you?” Gavin asked smoothly. “Of course the gate was open—we saw your approach.” “Look at the damage here. Any fool could take this place,” Hastings muttered.

Gavin cocked an eyebrow. “Any fool, Oliver?”

Hastings glared openly at Gavin. “I do not mean my own escort. What allegiance are these men? Are they Scots all?”

“Aye. Most of them have openly declared their support for King Edward. They take guard duty in shifts, since we have no garrison. They are eager to protect their own handiwork.” Glancing around, Gavin noticed the sudden quiet, as if the workmen had melted away into the misted corners and doorways around the courtyard. The busy tumult of an hour earlier had been replaced by a new, quiet tension.

“At least you have begun the repairs, although the king has promised to send funds for the expenses. When will the work be completed?”

“I hired the workmen but a month ago,” Gavin said. He knew the policies of Edward Longshanks well enough to know that he would not receive any funds for the work without repeated requests; and Gavin did not intend to ask. “They are making the most essential repairs first. The castle will not be completely repaired for several months, perhaps into next year.”

“King Edward is anxious to send a garrison here. You must prepare space for three hundred men within a fortnight.”

Gavin tilted a brow. “Only if they care to sleep in the courtyard with the masons and carpenters. The soldiers’ barracks were in those two towers on either side of the gatehouse. The towers were structurally damaged in the fire, and must be torn down and rebuilt. That will take a year at least, even if we hire twice as many men. For now, we have space enough for ten or fifteen people on one floor of the great tower. But as I said, there is some space left in the courtyard.”

“Christ’s tree, man, you know the king’s orders! Kilglassie is still vulnerable. Tell your laborers to speed up the work.

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