Trail of Fate by Michael P. Spradlin

Author:Michael P. Spradlin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-11-16T23:00:00+00:00

18

Now what do we do?” she asked.

I needed a minute to think. Talking to Sir Hugh and the High Counsel might actually be a good idea. After all, they each had a different a good idea. After all, they each had a different agenda. I wondered if I could play them against each other.

“Celia, do Jean-Luc and his men have crossbows?”

“Yes, of course,” she said.

I would have preferred longbows, but I knew the French generally did not use them in battle. A pity. I could station Robard on the wall, but I wanted him to come with me to the parley.

“Please find Jean-Luc and have his men span their crossbows and stand ready on the battlement here above the gate. I’ll summon Robard and Maryam, and we will see what they have to say. Agreed?”

Celia nodded and left while I scanned the courtyard below for Robard. He and Maryam were seated near the cooking fire, deep in conversation. Angel lay curled at Maryam’s feet, working feverishly on a bone. I scampered down a ladder and ran across the courtyard to them.

“Sir Hugh and the High Counsel are outside under a flag of truce. I’d like you and Maryam to come with me and Celia to find out what they want,” I said.

“Will I get to shoot someone?” Robard asked hopefully.

“Maybe later,” I said. “We’ll talk first.”

“How can we trust him?” Maryam asked.

“Celia is having Jean-Luc assemble men with crossbows on the wall. We’ll be well within range.”

“Hmph. Crossbows. Tell those Franks when the shooting starts not to hit us!” Robard exclaimed.

“I’m sure it will be fine, Robard. Let’s go,” I said. Angel jumped up to join us, but I bade her stay, and she returned to her bone.

We waited at the gate until Celia returned with Jean-Luc and his men. He ordered them to the battlement above us and gave me a small salute when they were ready.

Before we left, I felt the need to say something. “Celia, I don’t feel right making all of these decisions, but we should come to some agreement about who will direct our defense and speak to Sir Hugh and the High Counsel.”

“I think it falls to you, Templar,” she said.

“What? Why? I’m just a squire, I have no . . .”

She interrupted me. “Jean-Luc is barely older than you. He is a good man, but inexperienced. The rest of the men-at-arms serve only because my father pays them well. They will do what he says, and he will follow my orders. When I tell him you are in charge, you will have no trouble with Jean-Luc,” she said plainly.

“This is not a good idea,” I said. Maryam and Robard watched our exchange with bemused expressions on their faces.

“Why not? You have been to war. You just told me how you rescued a king on the battlefield. You were obviously clever enough to devise a way into our fortress. I would say that makes you more than qualified. Remember, these are farmers. My father has them train for battle once or twice a year.

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