The Perfect Knight (The Anarchy Series Book 20) by Hosker Griff

Author:Hosker, Griff [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd.
Published: 2021-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Aquitaine 1187

We left Rouen by late morning. It was a good sign for many companies would have taken a whole day to pack up their camp but the ones I was leading were as efficient as my men. There was no real urgency as the main part of the army would not leave for a day or two but I wanted to be on the road so that we could thoroughly scout ahead. We would be riding close to the border with France and secrecy was impossible. Just as we knew that the French were mustered on the border with Berry so they would know that King Henry was marching south to meet them. We had to find any of their scouts before they found us. Our route was almost due south but once we had passed Évreux we would have to swing a little west for Chartres lay on the main road and was held by the French. They controlled the land for ten miles to the west. We were not there to fight battles. After that, we had to pass Dreux which was an oft fought over border town and that might be our first test.

Mordaf led followed by Richard whom I had given command of the mounted archers. The fifteen Normans we had acquired would make a big difference. I noticed that Richard had my archers riding next to the Normans in a column of twos so that they could begin the training of these new men. Mine had it down to a fine art and their knowledge would make us a more effective fighting force.

I rode with the three knights. Sir Rolf and Sir Ferry had made Sir Louis welcome and we rode four abreast. Whilst letting them know what we had to do and the importance of our role I also picked their brains about the land and the enemies we might meet. The Count of Évreux, Amaury, was a supporter of King Henry but he was not, it appeared, an active one. I knew the type. My grandfather had told me of nobles who ostensibly supported Empress Matilda but were quite happy to change sides if events went against them. We would be welcomed in Évreux but there would be few knights in our army who came from the city. Part of our task was to let the nobles know that the king would be following us. There would have to be preparations made for him while we would just take what was available.

Count Amaury was pleasant to us and he gave slick and smooth answers to my questions. He had known about the French movements but had not, it appeared, done anything about following them or discovering their intentions. He had been the one who had speculated that they were heading to threaten Berry. He was a political noble. Nothing he had told us and by implication the king could be deemed as treacherous if the French were successful. It was Robin, Jack and Thomas who discovered more pertinent intelligence.

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