King's Gold

‘He’ll be far away by now,’ Simon said. He shot a look at Sir Richard and caught a shrewd flickering in his eyes. It was enough to reassure Simon that Sir Richard did not like this stranger knight either. There was something about him that Simon instinctively mistrusted.

‘No. He was heading up here,’ Sir Jevan said. ‘I think that there is another plot being schemed to release Sir Edward. We needs must be vigilant. Very vigilant.’

Kenilworth

Baldwin and the rest of his party arrived at the castle in the middle of the afternoon, and it was a great relief to meet with Sir Ralph of Evesham once more.

‘My friend,’ Baldwin said, offering his hand, but then the two embraced and Sir Ralph beat Sir Baldwin’s back for a moment.

They had endured privations in the last year while both served the King in his last days of freedom. Those had been difficult times, with many of their companions being killed, while they were hunted all the way from Bristol to Caerphilly and beyond. Baldwin had a feeling that they were closer as a result than many men would understand. The bonds between these two warriors after their period of mutual danger were deep; their joint suffering had forged shackles neither could remove.

Sir Ralph had enjoyed the last months, from the look of him. ‘You are heavier than when I last saw you,’ Baldwin said.

‘I don’t think your waist is as fine as once it was, either,’ Sir Ralph rejoined.

He was a man of a little more than middling height, with strong shoulders and arms, and a square, pugnacious jaw. Yet his grey eyes were calm, and because he blinked more rarely than other men, he gave the appearance of great concentration.

‘How is the King?’ Baldwin asked.

‘Sir Edward is well enough, for a man who suffers so gravely the loss of all,’ Sir Ralph said, his face growing sombre, adding, ‘Please, be careful how you address him in this castle of enemies. Come, he will be pleased to see you.’

As they walked to the King’s chamber, Baldwin and he spoke of the other men they had known. Sir Ralph’s squire was recovered from a sword-blow that had scarred his arm, and two others with whom they had marched and fought, were joined with Sir Ralph, replacing two men whom he had lost.

Baldwin listened with half an ear, but as they reached the door to the chamber, and he saw the two guards outside, he gritted his teeth. These men should have been inside the chamber, guarding Sir Edward from attack, and instead they were here to guard him as gaolers.

‘Your swords,’ one of them said.

‘What is your name?’ Baldwin asked.

‘I am Sergeant Gilbert.’

‘Then, Sergeant, you will know better than most that a knight will not relinquish his sword for no reason. What reason do you give?’

‘I would not have Sir Edward of Caernarfon in danger, sir,’ Gilbert said stoutly.

‘Nor would I, which is why I will carry this sword with me in his defence,’ Baldwin said.

‘I have orders.’

‘And I have a fixed determination. Sir Edward has asked to see me. Open the door.’

Gilbert looked at him as though about to argue, but then he shot a glance at the other man at the door. That fellow shrugged, and Gilbert reluctantly stood aside.

Baldwin knocked. ‘My lord?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Kenilworth

Edward of Caernarfon stood when the knock came. He had already heard voices outside, and although they had not been raised in anger, he was aware of tension.

‘You may enter,’ he said now. He felt that tingling in his breast again, as though he was readying himself for a sudden attack once more. The flesh of his scalp was moving, and he could feel his heart pounding in his breast.

And then his fear left him and he almost fell to the floor, so great was his relief. At first he could not speak, his throat closed with the emotion that seemed almost to suffocate him. And then, as the two men knelt, their eyes on him, he held out his hands. ‘My friends.’

‘My liege,’ Baldwin replied. ‘I am here as you ordered.’

‘And I am heartily glad of it,’ the King said. ‘I had feared that I would die before you arrived, but now, to see you both with me once more, I begin to feel sure that I will survive.’

‘We have heard of the attack on the castle.’

‘I am glad of it, Sir Baldwin. But you do not, perhaps, comprehend the full enormity of the attack.’

‘You believe that they may have been intending to kill you,’ Baldwin said. ‘It was my fear also. That is why I am here.’

‘I am sincerely glad of it, too,’ the King said. Then he glanced at the door, and beckoned the other two over to the window at the farther wall. He looked from Baldwin to Sir Ralph, and then placed a finger at his lips in token of silence. ‘There is more,’ he whispered. ‘A man came to see me before the attack on the castle, and he managed to pass me a note. He said that the Bardi were prepared to advance me money to help rescue me, and that they would give me all the aid I require.’

Baldwin exchanged a startled look with Sir Ralph. ‘Are you sure of this?’

‘You doubt me?’