The Bloody Border by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2019-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

It was the middle of June when we spied the column of men riding from the south. We had had so few visitors that their arrival stopped work in the castle and drew all eyes to the gate. It was the husband of my sister, Sir Robert, and he led twenty men into my castle. He dismounted and I embraced him. “This is a joyous meeting, Sir Robert.” I looked up, “Where is Richard?”

He smiled, “You mean, Sir Richard. Your father knighted him.” He handed his reins to a young warrior, “This is Edward, Sir Ralph’s son.” He looked up towards the keep. “You have been busy! This looks stronger now than when I was castellan here.”

“What brings you here? Do not get me wrong, I am more than happy for you to visit but I know that you would not just abandon Isabelle. She is well?”

“She is and it was at her behest and your father’s that I came here. I will become a father again in less than six months and Thomas has shown me that is a busy time.”

I led him up the path to the bridge into my castle. “And my father?”

His face fell a little. “He would have come, in fact, we planned for him to be with us but he is hurt.” My heart sank. My father was a rock. He could not die. Robert saw my face, “He fell from his horse while out hunting. He broke his leg. It was well set by your father’s doctor, Erasmus of Ghent. He will recover but he is no longer a young man. He will limp. He is like an angry bear. Your mother is at her wit's end. Sir Thomas has ever been active and now this forced idleness does not sit well. Henry Samuel and he play chess. That is the only diversion which calms him. Your nephew has grown.”

We passed through my gate, “I took stone from the Roman fort north of here. The men my father sent were put to good use. We rescued the captives and did not lose a man.”

Sir Robert waved a hand towards the lower bailey where the men he had brought were unsaddling their mounts. “Your father has secured six archers and four men at arms for you.”

“That is good but I am not sure that I can afford them.”

“They are paid for a year. At the end of that time, if you cannot afford them, then they are happy to return to Stockton. Your father plans for the future.” He lowered his voice, “The King has a marriage which is close to being arranged. Eleanor of Provence will be his bride. It strengthens the King’s position in Gascony. Your father is certain that the King will try to retake his lost lands and that the King will call upon the knights and men of Cleveland to fight. The wedding will not be for a year or two. The maid is but eleven years old. The King plans for the future.

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