C B Hanley [Mediaeval Mystery The Sins of the Fathers (epub)

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.The earl was doing remarkably well at keeping his voice level, despite the whining and wailing, but both fists were now balled.Martin set himself to staring straight ahead to avoid looking either of them in the eye, and tried to sink into his own thoughts.His feet hurt: the boots which he’d only been wearing since Christmas were becoming too small, but as they were still in good condition he dared not ask for any more.He would have to make them last, but maybe he could do something with them to make them stretch a bit further? He would have a try later on whenever he got the chance to sit down.The earl had just taken in a deep breath when there was a sudden knock at the door, and the bellow which had been meant for his sister ended up being directed at whoever was outside.Martin winced when he saw Robert step over the threshold, aware of his spectacularly bad timing, but all was saved by the entrance of a tired-looking, mud-splattered man.He had his back to Martin, but the earl took one look at the badge on the front of the man’s tunic and stopped mid-word.He ushered his sister out of the room, virtually shoving her out into the passageway, and slammed the door behind her.The man turned, and Martin could see the emblem of the regent on his chest.The earl said nothing as he let the envoy speak his message; then, expressionless, he sent Robert off with the man to the kitchen for some refreshment, and Simon to find Sir Geoffrey.As he waited for the arrival of the old castellan he paced up and down the council chamber in silence.After a few moments a knock sounded at the door, and on the earl’s signal Martin opened it to admit Sir Geoffrey, the commander of the Conisbrough garrison, with Simon trailing behind him.Martin might have known that the earl would ask for the knight’s advice before coming to a final decision: Sir Geoffrey had been in the service of the Warennes for the whole of his life, as had his father before him, and was the veteran of many a campaign.He nodded wordlessly at the earl and waited for him to speak.‘The regent has decided to act.’‘Lincoln?’ Sir Geoffrey didn’t believe in wasting words, but despite having listened to the envoy, Martin was still a little hazy on the details.Simon looked at him enquiringly, but he shrugged, hoping that Robert might be able to fill them in later on.He always understood these things better.The earl continued.‘Yes.He calls “all loyal men” to muster at Newark in four days’ time in order to march on Lincoln and relieve the castle.The question is, shall I obey?’ Sir Geoffrey said nothing, watching his lord intently.Martin’s eyes, too, followed the earl up and down the room as he paced, wrestling with himself.Martin might not have understood all of the message, but what was clear was that the earl’s decision might eventually mean life or death for him and many others.After what seemed like an age, the earl stopped.He turned to Sir Geoffrey.‘Making a truce with him is a far cry from risking the lives of my men fighting for his cause.’ He paused, then continued, his voice for a moment sounding a little less sure.‘And yet … the king isn’t responsible for the sins of his father, and an English boy king is to be preferred to a French prince.’ He folded his arms and spoke with more force.‘We will fight.’As Edwin walked through the ward a little later, people were running in all directions in a great hurry and there was a buzz of activity and excitement about the place.The news that the earl would shortly be marching off to war had spread around the castle like a moorland fire.He moved quickly aside as a mounted man sped out of the gate, and hailed Martin as the tall squire hurried out of the stables.Martin waved an arm but didn’t stop.‘Busy, important news … Robert says … in the hall after the evening meal.’ Edwin nodded and Martin loped off.When Edwin reached the great hall and the service room behind it he found all in an uproar.William Steward was standing amid a throng of serving-men barking orders.He saw Edwin approaching.‘Where have you been? The earl and his men need to leave in three days, and they’ll need campaign supplies with them.There’s a lot to do and I could use your skill with numbers.Have you time?’ Edwin opened his mouth to speak.‘Good, come with me.’ Edwin shut his mouth again and followed his uncle.William led the way into the relative calm of his office and gestured for Edwin to sit.‘I have a list of the supplies which the host will need,’ he waved a piece of parchment, ‘but I haven’t yet worked out the quantities.I want you to find out exactly how many men and horses will be going – I’ve sent a boy for the muster rolls – work out what each needs per day, and then calculate how much will be needed for forty days.When you’ve done that for each type of supply, send the boy to me with the details, so I can arrange for the stores to be fetched and packed.Pens and ink are there.’ He gestured to the end of the table.‘All right?’ Edwin nodded, and William gave him a brief but hearty thump on the shoulder by way of thanks then left, shouting for his wife as he went.Grimacing and rubbing his shoulder, Edwin pulled the quills towards him and took out his knife to sharpen them.If ever a man had been born to be a steward, William was not he, and as he always did, Edwin wondered how in the Lord’s name he had come to be given the exalted position.William had once been a soldier, but had been wounded in the service of the old earl and couldn’t continue.He never spoke of the circumstances, but Edwin’s guess was that he’d rendered some service to the earl as, instead of being pensioned off or left to find his own way in the world, he’d been made steward, in charge of all the stores and supplies at the Conisbrough estate.He was – in Edwin’s opinion anyway – unsuited to the job, having a blunt soldier’s outlook on life and no head for figures whatsoever.However, over the years he’d learned his new trade fairly well and was now competent, except when it came to making large calculations [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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