The Field Of Crows by Garrod Robert

Author:Garrod, Robert [Garrod, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

Further west through the city, the alleys broadened into wide lanes lined by workshops and houses. These low thatched buildings were like those of any English village. Some had little gardens, green with herbs. Beneath the blue autumn sky a great orchard hung heavy with plums and apples. There were churches here as well, marked by wooden crosses above the doorways, and close to the river stood the monastery of the monks of St. Paul, built on Rome’s old foundation stones.

And out beyond the city's edges, we reached a broad field of stubble that lay between the royal hall, King Edward’s great church of St. Peter and the monastery's low stone wall. There were hundreds of sailcloth tents pitched around the field, and warriors in helmets and mail rehearsed the battles to come. The still air carried the clashing of blades and shields and the cries of sparring men. Close to the hall were carts laden with ale barrels and behind them were pits of wood and charcoal for cooking. One or two girls from the city loitered, looking for business and there were cries of approval from the men. A smile stole across my father’s face like that of a man coming back to his warm home after a long winter journey.

“England has not seen such an army gather, not since the days of Aethelred,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. Then he grinned savagely and his fist clenched around his sword-hilt. “At last, my sons, we’ll fight shoulder to shoulder against the northmen, like the warriors of Aelfred, in battles that will be spoken of forever.”

“Wessex!” he cried, drawing his sword and raising it high in salute to the men we rode past. The cry went up, and all along the mounted column, and the name of Godwinsson was raised aloud in honour of the king. Axes were beaten on shields and horns were blown to welcome sword-men and spearmen to King Harold’s side. To welcome men to the mustering of arms that might bring death to every one of them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.