TW01 The Ivanhoe Gambit NEW by Simon Hawke Read Free Book Online

attention or at something John had said, interposed himself between the sovereign and his ward. John said something to De Bracy and Lucas saw the knight stretch forth his lance, as if to give Cedric a sharp poke in the ribs. The burly Saxon's response was to whip out his sword and, with a quick chopping stroke, knock the point off De Bracy's lance.
    "Well," said Hooker, "things are getting interesting."
    For a moment, De Bracy stared stupidly at his amputated lance, having been caught unprepared by the quickness of Cedric's blow. Then someone called out, "Well struck!" in a loud voice and the crowd burst into cheers and laughter. De Bracy turned beet red and grabbed for his sword, but found a gloved hand covering his own. He looked up and saw the smiling face of the red knight, who had ridden up beside him.
    "You find this amusing, de la Croix?" De Bracy snapped.
    "No, somewhat predictable, given Cedric's character," said Andre de la Croix, suppressing a chuckle. The two knights conversed in French, as did all Normans when they weren't addressing Saxons in the mixed tongue of
lingua franca.
    "Remove your hand," said De Bracy, very evenly.
    "I will," said de la Croix, "only remember that this passage at arms has been arranged to curry favor with the motley masses, the better to enable them to forget, for a time at least, their empty purses. It would prove somewhat contrary to the purpose were you to skewer Cedric, who has their affection."
    Sullenly, De Bracy loosened his grip on the pommel of his sword and de la Croix removed the restraining hand. John, meanwhile, had missed this interplay, having been preoccupied with his indignation at the man who had set off the outcry and the laughter by calling out, "Well struck!"
    "
You!"
He pointed his truncheon at the offender. "What is your name?"
    "I'm called Grant the Tinker," said the man.
    "I don't like your face," said John. "Step forward!"
    Bobby Johnson ducked beneath the railing and stepped up to the monarch's horse. He inclined his head in a small and totally inadequate bow.
    "You are insolent, Tinker."
    "I was merely carried away in my enthusiasm at seeing a blow that had been struck so well," said Bobby, casually omitting any use of honorifics in his address of the prince.
    "What would a tinker know of such things?" said John, contemptuously.
    "It's true that I'm no knight," said Bobby, "but I'm a fair hand with a bow and I can appreciate the skill one man displays in that which he does best."
    "You fancy yourself an archer, then? Why would a common tinker concern himself with such a martial art?"
    "These are hard times in which we live," said Bobby. "Bandits are abroad and a man must learn to protect himself."
    "The man is insolent beyond belief, Sire," said Front-de-Boeuf. "Let me run him through and we'll have done with him."
    "No," said John. "I am of a mind to have some sport with this rude peasant. We shall put him to the test. We'll see how well you shoot, Tinker, if your arrows fly as true as your mouth runs ready. Marshal, prepare the butts. We will begin with archery today. And if you do not prove to be as expert as you are rash, my loutish friend, I'll see you lashed for your impertinence."
    As the heralds proclaimed the beginning of the tournament, John and his retinue took their places in the stands in a section separated from the others by being somewhat elevated above them and enclosed on all sides save the front, giving those sitting within the most commanding view of the field. The archery butts were brought out and Bobby stepped forward to take his place among the ranks of the competitors. There were not too many of them, since challengers would have to shoot against John's Norman archers, who were famous for their marksmanship.
    "Now look what you've done," growled Finn Delaney, who had gone along with Bobby to hold his quiver and his cloak.
    "Now look what you've done,
sir,"
said Bobby, grinning. Finn was old enough to be his father.
    "Shit, give me a