The Fate of a King by K. M. Ashman

Author:K. M. Ashman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2023-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The River Dives, September, AD 1066

Alan the Red watched as the last of the horses were loaded onto the many ships tied up along the riverbank. Further upstream, the final few hundred men walked across the gangplanks to take their place in the ships, each heavily armed and ready to go to war.

After the meeting a few days earlier, men had flocked to their banner, each one now content that it was a holy cause and that God was on their side. Comforted by that knowledge, each was looking forward to a quick and decisive victory and the chance to make themselves rich on the easy pickings of England.

‘Alan,’ said a voice, and he looked up to see Duke William walking towards him.

‘My lord,’ said Alan, ‘we were not expecting you. Your flagship is moored further downstream.’

‘I know,’ said William, ‘but I wanted to talk to you. It seems as if you have been avoiding me since the proclamation.’

Alan looked away for a moment before returning his gaze to the duke, staring him straight into his eyes.

‘Your judgement is sound,’ he said eventually, ‘for I thought I should calm down lest my words betray the way I felt.’

‘Are you upset about the papal scroll?’ asked William.

‘I do not know,’ hissed Alan, looking around to see he was not overheard, ‘for I have not seen it. That document you read from was not the one I brought you from Rome, and I suspect it was written only hours earlier to placate those who harboured doubts.’

William stared at him without replying.

‘Well,’ asked Alan, ‘am I right?’

‘If any other man spoke to me thus,’ said William, trying to control his anger, ‘I would cut him down without second thought.’

‘If that is your inclination,’ said Alan, ‘then draw your sword, for I will offer no counter. The fact is that I have known you for most of our lives, even before you reclaimed your title. I have fought alongside you, I have killed for you, and I have lied for you, but forging a letter from the pope himself is a whole other situation, and I am not sure if I can carry the burden of knowledge.’

‘What do you want from me?’ asked William.

‘I want to know the truth,’ said Alan.

‘And if you did, would that clear your mind?’

‘I know not,’ said Alan, ‘but at the moment, my thoughts can settle on nothing else. So just tell me, my lord, was the message true, or was it a falsehood?’

Again William stared at the man he had called a friend for so many years. To admit to the accusation would make him a blasphemer, but he needed Alan fully at his side and knew he had to tell the truth.

‘The words were mine, and mine alone,’ he said eventually. ‘But I know that the pope would have given his blessing if I had only had a chance to talk with him.’

‘I gave him the exact message you told me to,’ said Alan.

‘I know you did, and I do not hold you responsible, I blame myself for not setting out a clearer argument.

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