Fires of Winter by Roberta Gellis Read Free Book Online Page B

lived in Alnwick nearly ten more years before I had an answer to the question I had asked myself when I had gone with Sir Eustace to watch Stephen of Blois and Robert of Gloucester swear fealty to Matilda. I do not recall whether I remembered my curiosity about which man would first betray her when news of King Henry’s death and Stephen’s crowning as king came to Alnwick. However, I did not feel surprised when Sir Eustace, seemingly without giving a thought to the oath he himself had sworn to Matilda, greeted the news with pleasure and swore fealty to the new king. I was surprised when I heard that King David of Scotland had determined to abide by his oath to Matilda and had brought an army into Northumbria, demanding that each keep yield to him in Matilda’s name, but that was because at that time I was not aware that King David had a strong claim to the lordship of Northumbria through his wife.
    Since winter was well advanced, all the crops were in and the early slaughtering had been done so the keep was fully stocked. By that time I was master-at-arms in Alnwick, and I began with all speed to prepare to repel an assault or withstand a siege. All the war machines on the walls were tested, and stones for flinging by the trebuchet, huge arrows for the ballistas, were set ready. The fletchers were set to making arrows and quarrels; the smiths to repairing armor and making extra weapons; and the serfs to preparing long hooked poles for casting down ladders, carrying sand and oil for heating and pouring down on our enemies, and piling hides where they might be needed to protect against fire.
    We were ready when the Scots came, but it had been a wasted effort. Sir Eustace had his terms of surrender all ready to present to them. He would do homage to King David as overlord of Northumbria and swear to support Matilda if he was confirmed in his possession of Alnwick. I could hardly believe my ears when he ordered me to carry these terms to the leader of the Scots.
    â€œWhy should you propose terms to them?” I protested. “There are no more than five or six hundred men out there. Probably we can drive them away, but even if we cannot, the Scots have no staying power. We can sit them out.”
    â€œFool!” he shouted. “Do you think this is all the army? Norham was taken—”
    â€œIt is all the army that is here,” I snapped back. “And certainly not enough of an army to make me change my mind about who would better rule England.”
    â€œMake you change your mind!” Sir Eustace bellowed. “Who are you to throw your opinions in my teeth, whore’s son? You are my hired sword, and you are no longer even that, since you refuse to obey my orders. Get to your quarters and put of my sight. Get out!”
    What he saw in my face turned his purple. After that, I barely escaped with my horse and arms. I think I succeeded in riding out on Barbe because Sir Eustace was either afraid or ashamed to order the men-at-arms I had led to stop me. The Scots, having had so easy a conquest, were too surprised to interfere when I galloped out and, I guess, felt one man and one horse not worth pursuing. It was not until I was well away and sure of freedom that I began to wonder what to do with it.
    Sir Oliver would surely blame me for throwing away my livelihood. Doubtless he would think it was not my business what Sir Eustace did with Alnwick; my honor was in no way involved. I began to wonder whether the real reason that I had insulted Sir Eustace was because I was bored and his refusal to fight had meant my boredom must continue. The more I thought, the more dissatisfied I became with my behavior and the less willing I became to reach Jernaeve and face Sir Oliver despite an icy rain that began to fall. I turned Barbe due west toward Wark, telling myself that Sir Oliver must know of the coming of the Scots already and that it would not matter if I slept the night in Wark. It was only