‘Where is my lord?’ he asked.
‘Sleeping. Have you come far?’Far enough, by God! We’ve had our arses kicked from the northern sea to the edge of the forest.’You took part in the battles?’Aye – for what it was worth. Is there any food here? We haven’t eaten for three days.’Of course. Wait here and I’ll bring you some broth.’I ate with them, learning their names and their background. The man who had first spoken to me was called Scrymgeour. He had served the Arkney family for twenty-two of his thirty-seven years, first as a stableboy and then as senior herdsman to their vast herds of cattle. The other two were Cearus and Ciarhan, brothers who had been part of the Arkney contingent. Two hundred men had inarched from the north – these three remained.
‘How did you escape?’ I asked Scrymgeour.
‘Blind luck. Lord Raul is not the brightest of men, but he’s a bonny fighter. They hit us from both sides, having knights hidden in a wood on our flank. Lord Raul charged at them as they charged at us. We followed, and somehow we cut through them. Some of them swung their mounts to give chase, but as we entered the woods a mist came up and they lost us. By the time it had cleared the battle was over, if battle it could be called. God’s Teeth, you should have seen the bodies. As far as the eye could see! So we headed south-west. God knows why! But he has this dream now, that the Morningstar will free the land.’You don’t think that he will?’Ain’t likely. Look at the stories. He robs a tax column, rescues a witch. What else? I don’t doubt he’s a hero, but he’s not an army, is he?’Not yet,’ I agreed.
He shook his head. This Edmund is a great warlord, no question. His troops are well-disciplined, his captains know their trade and his tactics are brilliant: hit hard and fast. He’s never lost. I’ve seen three battles now, and believe me there’s no stopping him.’Why then do you stay with the Earl?’His father asked me to look after him. A great man, he was, and good to me and mine. Fair, you know? Two years ago I was gored by our sire bull – laid up three months. My wage was paid, food was brought to my wife, and the old earl’s own surgeon came to tend my wounds. You don’t forget that.’No, I imagine you wouldn’t,’ I agreed. ‘He died, I take it?’He was hanged by Azrek. They had to carry the old man from his sick-bed to do it.’ His face darkened, his eyes narrowing. ‘Doubt he knew what was going on. Paralysed, he was. Couldn’t speak.’Why did they hang him?’ I asked softly.
‘Said he was supporting rebellion, we were told. The news only reached us a fortnight past. That Azrek is the worst kind of scum. The old Earl was his uncle, you know. Many’s the time he came north as a boy to play in the estates at Arkney. He virtually grew up with Raul. Twisted little swine he was then. I caught him once torturing a puppy. Said it bit him, lying little toad!’ He cleared his
throat and spat. ‘But he can fight too. Good swordsman, best I ever saw. Gilbaud Azrek. I hope I live long enough to ram six inches of steel into his guts!’It was coming on towards dusk when Mace and Wulf reappeared, their bows across their shoulders. The brothers, Cearus and Ciarhan, were asleep. Scrymgeour was sitting with whetstone in hand, his back to a tree, sharpening his sword with long sweeping strokes.
‘What took you so long?’ I asked Mace.
‘Once we saw you were in no danger we decided to backtrack them, to see if they were alone.’And they were?’Of course. You don’t think we’d have come back if it was a trap.’Nice to know,’ I told him.
Grinning, he walked past me and approached Scrymgeour. The man-at-arms stood and sheathed his knife.
‘You know who I am?’ Mace asked him.
‘I’d guess you to be the man called Morningstar.’And that doesn’t impress you?’Should it?’No, it shouldn’t, my friend,’ said Mace. ‘I don’t want dreamers around me, meri with their heads full of legends and fables. I want men who know how to keep their swords sharp and their wits sharper.’Good enough,’ said Scrymgeour..’They say Azrek has offered 2,000 gold pieces for your head.’‘The price has some way to go, I think,’ Mace told him.