The King's Ransom: A Medieval Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Castle Rory Book 4) by Marsden R

Author:Marsden, R.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hurogol Press
Published: 2024-08-28T00:00:00+00:00

Just before dinner today, Saturday 7th November, there was a commotion up on the wall-walk and the alert was sounded. I wondered if the gun-wagon had been sighted again. I took my staff and hobbled as fast as I could to the gatehouse, then up the steps to the top. I have a persistent ache in my side now, which gets worse when I try to run. Climbing steps can be difficult too. At the top of the tower now, I peered down to the road. People were pointing and shouting to each other.

‘It’s Captain Kerry!’

‘It’s the King’s Squad!’

‘Well done, the captain! She’s turned out the troops and they’re coming to help us.’

‘So maybe King Philip’s back from his travels abroad…’

‘Yes, and he’s told Sir Allan to get stuffed!’

Roars of laughter and plenty of back-slapping and punching the air. And there was the King’s Squad, trotting proudly towards us with their red-and-silver shields, and the royal emblem on their surcoats. Kerry, in Hambrig Green, rode at the head of the column. Rupert had told me she was in Hicrown, and now it seems she must have been. So perhaps his other statements will turn out to be true as well. In which case, I thought moodily, as the procession began its slow climb up Baudry Hill, it would be the first time he’d said anything reliable in his whole fucked-up life.

And then they were here, stamping and blowing on their hands down in the bailey, at least a hundred of the King’s Squad. Any castle is its own defence, with its moat, its drawbridge, portcullises, mural towers and impregnable curtain wall. A few solid troopers can hold a castle for as long as their provisions last. But with this number of extra soldiers we can not only defend, we can mount an attack. I stared down at the horses, the men, the armour and the weapons massing in the bailey. I knew that now we had the resources to find and rescue King Xisco and Princess Begoña. And maybe even to retake the Senjo’s gun.

I felt the mood lift around me as everyone cheered, and Kerry grinned and waved to her friends on the wall-walk. And then I saw Kit. Taking no notice of the newcomers, he sprinted up the tower and stood before me, his face dark.

‘The toad’s gone. You know I had her in the Wilderness? Well now she’s disappeared, and she’s got to be found. I’m telling you, if we don’t find her soon, this whole thing will go up in smoke. If we don’t get the toad back, we will never find the king and the princess, and the trade routes won’t happen. The country will fall to the enemy and you will not have your castle, your title or your land. So find the toad!’

Jonny swung round. ‘Don’t be ridiculous, man. A toad can’t block the King’s dealings with the nations of the world! As for the country falling to the enemy, you need to watch what you say.

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