The King's Dogge Read Online Free Page B

knew him, I could sense his thoughts. If the situation on the army’s left wing was unexpectedly disappointing, what was happening on the right wing was a total mystery. Oxford’s division appeared to have disappeared into thin air and none of the messengers, who Montague had sent, had returned.
    There was a lull in the fighting and we stopped moving. I realised later that men in armour cannot fight indefinitely, and there are times when the battle almost stops while men regain their strength. It was now that my lord commanded me to take the last two mounted messengers to find Oxford.
    â€˜Tell him to break through Hastings immediately!’ he ordered.
    We rode behind the army to the hedge where Oxford’s men had been stationed and found it completely flattened. There was no sign of Oxford or his men, only a number of bodies on the ground.
    I rode forward anxiously, hardening my heart to the sound of the feeble moans of wounded men. There were large numbers of weapons strewn randomly; I guessed that they had been thrown away in flight.
    â€˜No further, master,’ the older messenger called out. ‘There may be enemy troops hiding.’
    The mist had cleared completely now, but no matter how hard I looked I could not see Oxford’s men.
    â€˜We’ll go on!’ I ordered.
    The older man glanced at me scornfully.
    â€˜You’ll never find them. They will be long gone.’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    He gave me a pitying look.
    â€˜Oxford’s attacked and the Yorkists have fled. Oxford has chased after them.’ He dismounted abruptly and started running his fingers through one of the dead soldier’s clothing.
    â€˜Stop that!’ I ordered.
    He looked at me defiantly and moved on to another body. His colleague was doing the same. I drew my sword, but he picked up a mace and his comrade a fallen sword. For a few seconds, we all just stood there stiffly eyeing each other.
    â€˜It’s the right of soldiers to loot,’ the younger messenger said truculently. ‘Always has been and always will be.’
    â€˜Course it is,’ agreed his friend. ‘You can’t stop us, master; Oxford’s men will be doing exactly the same thing.’
    He hefted his mace.
    â€˜But if you do want to stop us master, you just try.’ His companion came to stand next to him. He waved his hand back in the direction from which we had come. ‘Or you can just ride back and forget about us.’
    The two of them watched me closely. I cursed them and rode away. The important thing was to return to my lord and tell him that, while Oxford had completely routed the Yorkist left wing, he and his men had totally disobeyed instructions. There would be no flank attack on the Yorkist centre.
    It had all gone horribly wrong, I reflected, as I made my way back. Evidently the prospect of plunder and revenge had proved too much for the Lancastrian Oxford and his men. There was little chance of him reforming his troops – most would just sneak away with what they had stolen and, even if they did return, given that most of them were foot soldiers, it would probably take too long. Worse still, by giving Oxford the extra men, Marquis Montague had obviated our side’s numerical advantage and already our reserves were engaged in propping up Exeter’s flank.
    I skirted the rear of our army anxiously until I found my lord and told him the news. He cursed Oxford as an impetuous fool, but then a messenger arrived from Exeter; his men were suffering badly, and he needed reinforcements urgently. My lord gestured to a number of his immediate companions and his halberdier bodyguard to return with the messenger, and looked longingly to his right, doubtless hoping that Oxford’s troops would return to save the day.
    The noise from the front was louder now and I could actually make out the sun banners of the enemy. There was a sudden roar from ahead of us and we were jolted