The Black Knight by Connie Mason

Author:Connie Mason
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Medieval
Publisher: 0
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

A brave knight defies death.

Drake and Sir John found the Black Knight's men with little difficulty. Over one hundred strong, his army was hidden in the forest near Chirk. Sir Richard hurried over to greet them as they dismounted.

"What news have you, Richard?" Drake asked.

"Lord Waldo and Lord Duff rode forth from Chirk two days ago. I was in the bailey when they left. They have combined their armies and lead nearly two hundred men."

"God's blood!" Drake cursed. "I had not expected them to have so great a force. What of war machines?"

"Aye, they have war machines and crossbows. What are your orders, my lord?"

"We may not have the numbers but we have surprise on our side," Drake said. "Waldo does not expect a rear attack. The war machines will slow them down, allowing us to overtake them. John, mobilize the men; we ride immediately."

An hour later Drake's army rode in hot pursuit of Waldo and Duff. They rested briefly during the darkest hours of night and continued on at daybreak. Dusk was rolling over the land the following day when Drake rode to the top of a hill and spied Waldo's forces camped in a valley beside a stream. He rode back to inform his men and to devise a battle plan with his knights.

Drake decided they should attack shortly before dawn, when the enemy was most vulnerable. The attack would come from several directions at once. The warriors were immediately informed of the plan and split up into three separate groups. Drake was to lead one group, Sir John a second, and Sir Richard the third. The moment the other two men spied Drake leading his men down the hillside, they were to swoop down upon the sleeping camp from their positions. They parted then, each taking a third of the men and leaving Drake behind with the remaining third.

Drake inspected his weapons and armor, gave Evan last-minute instructions, and lay down on the ground to rest, rolling up in his cloak for warmth. Thoughts of Raven intruded upon his sleep. Leaving her had been difficult. No woman had ever captured his fancy like Raven of Chirk. Dimly he wondered if the day they had made love in the heather would be the last he would see of Raven. He could die in battle tomorrow. Would she miss him? Lord, he hoped so. If he died, would Waldo find her t and punish her? The answer offered him no comfort.

He could not die, he told himself. He had to live for Raven's sake. And for his own sake. He could not die before proving that there had been a legal marriage between his mother and father. If Granny could be believed, and she had no reason to lie, the vast estates and wealth Waldo claimed should belong to Drake; Waldo was the bastard. That thought was so comforting Drake managed to sleep a few hours before Evan awakened him.

It was time.

Drake donned his armor over a quilted

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