The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick Read Free Book Online Page A

who was Salisbury’s sister, had written a fiercely proud letter to recommend her son, filled with details of his achievements thus far. Salisbury thought that the truth lay somewhere in between. The young man must have talent. No knight of his tender years and means would have been able to afford the warhorse and palfrey that he was shipping to Normandy unless he had won them in battle or tourney. Even William’s squire had a Lombardy stallion. Being a good fighter was an excellent start, but Salisbury wanted to mentor William further and see if he had the intelligence to partner his brawn.
    “There’s a hard task ahead,” Salisbury said to him as they sailed out of the harbour on a high tide and a strengthening wind. The silver light of a full moon capped the jet glitter of the waves and the pale linen sail resembled a slice of the moon itself, raked down and lashed to the mast.
    “Yes, my lord.”
    Watching his nephew clench and unclench his fists inside a pair of sheepskin mittens, Salisbury was struck anew by how much the young man resembled his father in looks: the eyes and nose, the stubborn set of the jaw. Pray God that if he had inherited John Marshal’s nature too, the traits were tempered by FitzWalter caution and common sense, otherwise he was a lost cause from the start. “How much do you know about Poitou and Aquitaine?” he asked.
    The young man shook his head. “Not a great deal, my lord. I have been no further than the Chamberlain’s castles and a few tourney grounds on the French border. I know that the lands belong to the Queen and they are the source of much discord.”
    Salisbury laughed sourly. “You have a way with understatement, William.” He folded his arms beneath his thick, fur-lined cloak. “I sometimes think that not even the Devil would want to dwell in Poitou. Queen Eleanor’s vassals see every petty complaint as reason to rebel, especially the lords of La Marche and Lusignan. They have to be brought to heel, which is what I am being sent to do. The Queen is to accompany me, as is the lord Richard, since he is her heir.”
    William looked interested.
    “Ten years old,” said Salisbury “and a handful, but he shows promise. Already he excels at arms practice and he’s a good scholar too. He’s going to be a capable ruler for Aquitaine and Poitou, but first he has to grow into the role and we have to buy him that time.” He flashed William a vulpine smile. “Your sword won’t sleep in your scabbard once we arrive there.” He watched William touch his hilt for reassurance and chuckled. “Don’t worry, you’ll have the pleasures of the Norman court and the Christmas feast at Argentan to break you in before we reach Poitou. After that, a pitched battle will seem easy by comparison, I promise you.” He was silent for a moment then asked, “Have you ever met the Queen?”
    “No, my lord, although I have heard tell of her beauty.”
    “And the tales are not wrong. I would tell you to guard your heart, but it would be a useless warning. She will take it anyway and all other women will lack savour after that.”
    His nephew’s gaze flickered to him and then away to study the moon-white sail.
    Salisbury smiled. “What is it?”
    “I was going to ask if you were smitten, my lord, but then I thought you might consider me impertinent.”
    Salisbury threw back his head and laughed. “I do, and ignorant too, but I will tell you anyway. Any man who is not smitten would have to be made of stone, and even then, the resisting would crack him down the middle.”
    William hesitated then said, “King Henry must be made of stone then, for the rumour is that he has forsaken the Queen for a mistress.”
    “Where did you hear that?”
    “My mother told me when I first came home. She said that it was a scandal that the King should be so openly consorting with the daughter of Sir Walter de Clifford and f êting her with all manner of gifts.”
    Salisbury sighed. “I fear it is more