Sackett's Land (1974) Read Online Free

sparing of words with others around. When he spoke of wars it was of what had been done, what might have been done, and what he believed should have been done.
    "The art of war can be learned," he told me. "But after the principles are learned the rest is ingenuity, the gift that goes beyond learning, or the instinct born of understanding.
    "There are good ways and bad ways of attacking fortified positions, of crossing streams under attack, or withdrawing when the situation is no longer favorable.
    "Learn the accepted modes of attack and defense, then use the variations that are your own. Masters of battle know what has already been done, then go beyond it with skill and discretion. Alexander, Hannibal, Belisarius ... study them. They were masters."
    Of these things I spoke to Jublain, and he stared at me. "Your father was only a soldier? He should have been a captain himself."
    "Captains' commands go to men of birth. My father was a strong man with a sword ... perhaps in another time, another place ..."
    "Aye," Jublain muttered. He took a swallow of ale. "I think sometimes of the lands oversea. If rough soldiers such as Pizarro could do it, why not I? He had no particular birth, no position. He had only courage, will, and a sword."
    "In a new land," I agreed, "all things are possible. I have given much thought to this. Perhaps in a new land only achievement would give rank, and not birth. To be born of an eminent family is nothing if you are nothing yourself."
    "In a new land a man might become a king. He might take hold of land as did the Normans when they came to England, and the Saxons before them."
    "I do not want to be a king," I said, "I want only freedom to grow and do and be as much as time will allow."
    For two days we ate well and lived quietly. Jublain was content to rest, for there were cold, hungry days behind him, and as for me, there was much to do about the place. For months past I had worked in the quarries, with but few nights at home.
    Suddenly my mind seemed to stop still.
    There had been a man at Reach when I worked there ... I had glimpsed his face in the crowd at Stamford.
    Now I was uneasy. The man might not remember me, might not tell, might not even know where I came from. Still ...
    When Jublain was out of the cottage I took the other coins from their hiding place and hid them in a secret pocket in the seams of my clothing. Mayhap we might abandon this place, and I wished to be ready.
    Then, on the fourth day, a drum of hoofs awakened me before the light. Stepping from my bed I took down the Earl's sword, then placed it upon the table and stepped outside.
    The air was cool and damp. Fog lay upon the fens, beading my grass with dew and making the grass itself greener where it could be seen at all.
    The drum of hoofs slowed and a rider came down to the fence and stopped at the gate. When he opened the gate and led his horse through, he turned. It was Coveney Hasling.
    He wasted no time. "You are in trouble, lad, serious trouble. You were known to someone and by tomorrow he and other men will have made inquiries at Reach. Then they will come here."
    "It was good of you to come."
    "You will need money." He took a handful of coins from his pocket. "Take this and pay me when you sell what you have, but be gone from here. Into the fens with you."
    "I shall do that, but you have ridden far. Come ... we will eat first. I have found it is better to eat when one can, for one never knows when he will eat again."
    He tied his horse and entered the cottage with me. Jublain was up, holding a naked sword.
    "Jublain is a soldier," I explained. "Jublain, my friend from Stamford. He carries a warning."
    Hasling's eyes swept the cottage, rested upon the sword. "That will be it, then? The blade given your father by the Earl?"
    "It is," I said.
    "I know the story," Hasling said, to my surprise. "I was reminded of it when your name was mentioned. I know a friend of yours."
    "Of mine?"
    "The man who buys antiquities. He