The Great Cause by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2022-04-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Conwy, May 1295

King Edward had taken Anglesey without suffering any losses. It was not a place that could be easily defended, and his campaign had been short and swift. His ships had ensured that his army was well supplied, and the Welsh were defeated each time they attempted to fight. He had vented his anger on Llanfaes, which had killed his Sherriff earlier in the year – it was completely levelled. Combined with the defeat of the Welsh as Maes Moydog, we now had all our castles restored to us. Harlech’s garrison of thirty-seven men had fought off the Welsh and it was now being reinforced. The king was pleased with the Earl of Warwick, who was quick to point out that my archers had played a pivotal role. The king sent for me.

“Once again, Warbow, you have proved your worth. As a reward, I release you and your men from my service.”

“Thank you, King Edward.”

He wagged a finger at me. “But keep your men honed, Warbow, for I shall need you again when I go to France. However, your men have been away from home long enough and I have been absent from London more than half a year. Once I have begun work on my new castle in Anglesey and taken the funds from the Welsh to repair Caernarfon, I shall return to London.”

“Could I beg a favour, my lord? One of your men at arms, Richard Launceston, was due to marry my daughter. He has been with the army for almost eight months. If he is not needed, then I would take him back so that we can make plans for the nuptials.”

He gave a strange smile and said, “I have not seen this side of you before. Earl, make it so.”

With that, I was dismissed. We did not need a long goodbye and we packed our horses and headed back towards Y Trallwng and thence Yarpole. Until we had found the supply train there had been little opportunity for treasure, but the horses I claimed and the coins I sequestered added to that taken in battle and all my men were a little richer.

I was not unhappy with the time away from Yarpole, for I knew it had made better warriors of my archers. They had all experienced leadership and Hamo, in particular, had shown himself to be calm and dependable. Leadership cannot be taught; men are either leaders or they are not. I was a leader and I knew that when the time came for me to hang up my bow forever, my son could carry on.

We were still travelling through a land ravaged by war and so we were vigilant, but we had fought across this land and the scouts who rode ahead knew where the dangers lay. Jack too had enjoyed the responsibility of watching over Ralph and Roger. He was better for it.

I was able to talk to my son and Richard, my future son in law, as we rode across land which now seemed warmer and burgeoning with new life.

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