Winter Siege by Ariana Franklin

Author:Ariana Franklin [Franklin, Ariana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448127733
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2014-10-08T16:00:00+00:00

‘What’s happening now, Gwil?’ Penda asked as they watched the three distant figures turn solemnly away from the King and his party and begin their procession back to the castle. ‘They’re coming back now! What does that mean?’

‘Means the parley’s over, Pen, and less’n they’ve managed to agree a truce, which I doubt, we’ll be fighting soon.’

‘And then what?’

‘And then it’s anybody’s guess. First off they’ll try and batter us into surrender and then if that don’t work they’ll get the under-wallers in and if that don’t work either they’ll try and starve us out. That’s the bad bit. On crusade I heard of sieges went on so long all the supplies ran out and the garrison took to eating the flesh of their own dead.’

‘Yuck.’ Penda shuddered. She was quiet for a while and then a slow smile spread across her face: ‘Tell you what though, Gwil. I promise you this: If you die and I’m starving, I won’t eat you.’

Gwil grinned. ‘Nor I you, Pen … Or, leastways not unless I’m really hungry.’

Once Maud, Sir Rollo and Father Nimbus were safely back inside the castle a trumpet sounded, the drawbridge rose and the metal teeth of the portcullis locked into place. An unaccustomed silence fell as everybody stopped what they were doing and turned to the small figure of the priest who was now standing in the middle of the bailey.

‘May the Lord keep you and protect you.’ His thin, clear voice floated up to the battlements. Gwil stopped what he was doing and bent his head in prayer; Penda followed, squinting sideways at him through half-closed eyes to take her lead as to what to do next.

Father Nimbus raised his hands: ‘And may His blessing be upon you now and for ever more …’ He stood silently for a moment, looking around at all the bowed heads surrounding him. He wanted to embrace them, to keep them all safe. The idea of war was anathema to him. All this bloodshed and conflict was simply too much for his poor old heart, not to mention the tricky question of whom to bless and whom not. Oh dear! He hadn’t a clue what the papal edict on crossbowmen was nowadays. It was getting so hard to keep up. But whatever it was, as far as he was concerned they were all God’s lambs, yes, even the arbalists with their beastly weapons, and therefore just as deserving of divine protection as anybody else. And with that, he raised his eyes to the ramparts and made the sign of the cross. ‘Amen.’

There was silence for a moment or two and then the castle erupted with a resounding ‘Amen’ and business resumed.

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