The Sword and the Swan by Gellis Roberta

Author:Gellis, Roberta [Gellis, Roberta]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780261664425
Publisher: Jove Pubns
Published: 1981-09-15T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

The day upon which the earl of Soke rode away from Hereford Castle was as perfect as that upon which he had arrived. This time, however, Rannulf saw neither the blue skies nor the green fields. There was now no time for consideration of such trifles nor for vain regrets. He had desired peace so fervently that it had been like a physical ache within him.

Yet, if it was not to be, it was not; and the quickest road now to that goal was a hard enough and successful enough war. Accordingly, that part of Rannulf's mind that was not wondering where the king had gone and the quickest way to find him was taken up with the problem of where to notify his vassals to meet him.

At home, his heart cried, go home. The men will come quickest to Sleaford which they know best. Aye, replied the hard voice of duty, and then you will be farthest from the king. Go to Oxford.

The heart cried out again, but hopelessly, for Oxford was of all places the most logical. It was the favorite stronghold of Stephen and Eustace outside of London, the place where the king was likeliest to be if he was not already in action. It was on the direct road to London from Hereford and on the direct road from Sleaford toward the Angevin strongholds of Devizes and Wallingford in the south. Leicester had given no hint of where Stephen would go—it was possible that Stephen himself had not yet decided—but whether the king planned to attack Gloucester or Hereford or the southern fortresses, he would certainly pass through or stop at Oxford.

They moved fast and openly as long as they were on Hereford's domain, riding due east so that they could avoid passing too close to Gloucester. It was possible that Leicester's messenger had outstripped those whom the rebel spies had sent from court, or it was possible that the spies would wait to discover where Stephen meant to launch his attack, but it would be foolish to count too heavily on that possibility and chance being taken prisoner. Better to ride hard to Winchcomb, rest a while there, and continue on to Oxford through the night.

It was easy to decide once the longings of the heart had been subdued, but there were discomforts to be endured in the accomplishment. They were no longer riding at a foot-pace with every reason for delay, so that the faint breeze could cool the armor upon which the sun blazed. There was now no time to idle through the streams they forded, dismounting to drink themselves and allowing the horses to fill their bellies. A full belly makes a slow mount, and the cursing men dragged up their horses' heads and drove spurs into the lathered beasts, hating the sparkling, chuckling waters that were beyond their reach.

Rannulf alone was impervious to heat and thirst, not because his body was any different or any harder than those of his men, but because he alone had things other than his body to concern himself with.

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