The Hawks of Delamere by Edward Marston

Author:Edward Marston [Marston, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Tags: Mystery, Bright Dart, Historical
ISBN: 9781906288471
Google: MpnNXwAACAAJ
Goodreads: 2686281
Publisher: Ostara Publishing
Published: 2010-10-27T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Morning found the castle in complete turmoil. Sentries were being increased in number and weapons sharpened, extra supplies of food were being brought in, men were herding sheep into a pen and drawing water from the well to fill barrels all around the bailey, and soldiers rushed to and fro in a frenzy of activity. It was almost as if they were preparing for a long siege. Earl Hugh was in the midst of it all, barking orders, pointing an imperious finger and cursing anyone he felt was slow to respond to his curt commands.

The castle gate was shut and barred. Nobody was allowed in without good reason and nobody was allowed to leave without express permission. Ralph Delchard was the first to protest.

With Gervase Bret at his side, he accosted their host in the middle of the courtyard.

‘We have just been turned back at the gate, my lord!’

‘On my instruction, Ralph.’

‘But why? We have business in the shire hall.’

‘Not today.’

‘Claimants have been summoned, witnesses called.’

‘Your deliberations have been cancelled until further notice,’

said Hugh peremptorily. ‘The town reeve has been given notice of this and will turn away anyone who comes to the shire hall in search of you.’

‘We had no warning of this.’

‘You are receiving it now.’

‘Why were we not consulted?’ demanded Ralph angrily. ‘We are the King’s agents. Our business has royal authority. It cannot be arbitrarily suspended on a whim of yours.’

‘What Ralph means,’ said Gervase, seeing the rancour in Hugh’s eye and adopting a more reasonable tone, ‘is that this interruption is highly inconvenient.’

‘It was forced upon me, Gervase.’

‘By whom?’

‘The Welsh archer who tried to kill me in the forest. The warriors who came out yesterday to assess the defences of Rhuddlan Castle. The murderer who stabbed my messenger in the back on the road to Rhuddlan. The villains who tried to intercept the couriers whom my nephew, Robert, sent to me. The army that is gathering on the other side of the border.’ He glared at Ralph.

‘Do I need more justification than that?’

‘No, my lord,’ said the other, assimilating the news. ‘I had no knowledge of these other worrying incidents.’

Hugh was bitter. ‘Well, now you do. So perhaps you will stop telling me that Raoul Lambert was struck down on purpose and that my fears of a Welsh rebellion are groundless. Talk to the men who came last night from Rhuddlan. They will soon convince you that the danger is real.’

‘We both accept that, my lord,’ said Gervase.

‘Yes,’ added Ralph, cowed into a murmur.

‘My first task,’ said Hugh with a sweep of his arm, ‘is to protect this city from attack. Precautions have to be taken and restrictions imposed. We all suffer inconvenience but there is no other way. Until we see what the Welsh intend to do, Chester must lock itself indoors.’

‘Can we be of any assistance, my lord?’ offered Ralph.

‘Only by keeping out of my way.’

Hugh let out a bellow of rage at two soldiers who accidentally dropped the basket of stones they were carrying up the steps to the battlements.

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