Northern Knight Read Online Free Page B

had seen him.  Events had taken their toll of him. He guarded the western edge of the Empire and he now had enemies at his back too.  However his castle was built of stone and it would take an army and siege engines to bring it to surrender.  Here our men and arms and archers had plenty of room for he had a large warrior hall. He took Sir Guy, Edward and myself to a west facing tower.  He called it a solar.  There we sat with his two sons to discuss events in the Empire.
    "Your visit, Baron, is a double edged sword.  On the one hand I am more than pleased that the Empress' life will be safe in your hands but, at the same time I know that my family will incur the wrath of Lothair."
    "Then we will leave, Count.  I would not, for the entire world, put you and your family in jeopardy.  If it were not for you we might not be alive."
    "No, Baron, honour demands that we help you. There are responsibilities to power as well as rewards." He turned to his nephew.  "You swore an oath to protect the Empress.  You have to go with the Baron."
    "What of La Cheppe?"
    "We will protect that for you." He leaned forward. "I must warn you, however of the dangers you face.  Lothair will do all in his power to stop you leaving.  If you do manage to escape with the Empress and reach here then you will have to run the gauntlet of Louis of France and Charles of Flanders.  I can only protect you within Lorraine.  Beyond that…"
    I smiled, "Count, you have given me hope! I feared that our journey would end somewhere in the Empire.  With your nephew and his men at my side then I believe we can overcome whatever comes our way."
    Edward looked unhappy about something, "Baron, we have a long way to go and then to return.  We will need more horses or these will be dead on their feet before too long." He looked at the Count.  "We could not take the Count's horses so where shall we get them?"
    "Your man is right, Baron, but you may well be able to get horses in Worms.  Unless the Emperor is dead the Empress will still have influence.  I would get as many horses as you can when you reach there. You should also buy as many supplies before the Emperor is dead.  Use her influence while she has it.  Once the Emperor is dead then you will need to sleep with one eye open!"
    I nodded, "They are both good suggestions.  Thank you, Count, and we will leave first thing in the morning.  I would not wish to bring any more attention to you than we have.  Besides which I feel that we ought to get to Worms as quickly as possible."
    "Then my sons, Geoffrey and Raymond, will escort you as far as my borders. It will deter any would be attackers."
    It was a powerful force which left the Count's castle. Dick and Aiden were accompanied by some of the Count's scouts.  They did not understand each others' language but they were all woodsmen and they communicated somehow. We were approaching the borders of the Count's land when they all galloped in. My men reported to me while the Count's scouts reported to Geoffrey and Raymond.
    "My lord, just beyond the borders there is a force of knights awaiting us.  They are the men of Flanders.  I recognised the livery."
    I had wondered about this. While we were protected in Lorraine by the Count of Bar's men we would be safe but once beyond the borders then we were fair game. They would wait until we were a smaller conroi and then attack. "How many are there?"
    "It is hard to say.  When we spied them the Count's men rode back here."
    "Just a guess then, Dick."
    "I saw twenty banners."
    "That means at least twenty knights.  Add another hundred men at arms and we are outnumbered." I stroked my beard. "Archers?"
    "We saw a company of crossbowmen.  I would say no more than twenty of them."
    "They outnumber our archers then?"
    Dick laughed, "My lord, we are archers! They will fill their breeks when our arrows rain upon them."
    I nudged Scout to join the Count's sons.  "It seems they know you will be returning home.