King Raven 1 - Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

King Raven 1 - Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

Author:Stephen R. Lawhead
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-02-22T06:00:00+00:00


CHAPTER 24

Although spies had long ago confirmed his suspicions—three castles were being erected on the borders of Elfael—Baron Neufmarché wished to see the de Braose bastion-building venture for himself.

Page 130

Now that warmer weather had come to the valleys, he thought it time to pay another visit to the count.

Along the way, he could visit his British minions and see how the spring planting progressed. As overlord of a subject people, it never hurt to make an unannounced appearance now and then to better judge the mood and temper of those beneath his rule. Lord Cadwgan had given him little trouble during his reign, and for that the baron was shrewd enough to be grateful. But with the long-awaited expansion into Welsh territory begun, Neufmarché thought it would be best to see how things stood on the ground, reward loyalty and industry, and snuff out any sparks of discontent before they could catch fire.

With this in mind, the baron struck out one bright morning with a small entourage for Caer Rhodl, the stronghold of King Cadwgan. Upon his arrival two days later, the Welsh king received him with polite, if subdued, courtesy. “My Lord Neufmarché,” said Cadwgan, emerging from his hall. “I wonder that you did not send your steward ahead so I would know to expect you. Then you would have received a proper welcome.”

“My thanks all the same, but I did not know I was coming here myself,” lied the baron with a genial smile. “I was already on the road when I decided to make this stop. I expect no ceremony. Here, ride with me—I have it in mind to inspect the fields.”

The king called for horses to be saddled so that he and his steward and a few warriors of his retinue could accompany the baron. Together, they rode out from the stronghold into the countryside. “Winter was hard hereabouts?” asked the baron amiably.

“Hard enough,” replied the king. “Harder for those in the next cantref.” He indicated Elfael to the north with a slight lift of his chin. “Aye,” he continued, as if just considering it for the first time. “They lost the harvest, and that was bad enough, but now they have been prevented from planting.”

“Truly?” wondered Baron Neufmarché with genuine curiosity. Any word of others’ difficulties interested him. “Why is that, do you know?”

“It’s that new count—that kinsman of de Braose! First, he runs them all off, and now that he has them back, he’s herded them together and he’s making them work on his accursed fortresses.”

“He is building fortresses?” wondered the baron. He gazed at the king with an innocent expression.

“Aye, three of them,” replied the king grimly. “That’s what I hear,” he concluded, “and I have no reason to believe otherwise.”

“Very ambitious,” granted Baron Neufmarché. “I would not think he needed such fortification to govern little Elfael.”

“Nay, it’s his uncle, the baron, who has eyes on the can-trefs to the north and west. He means to take as much as he can grab.”

“So it would seem.



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