The Knight's Tale (Struggle For a Crown Book 10), page 2
We had been seen walking from the gatehouse and at the door to the tower, we were greeted by a liveried servant. Hob said, “Sir Michael of Weedon.”
The servant had a wax tablet and he glanced down at it. He nodded, “Come with me, my lord.” He said not a word to Hob. Servants in such places thought themselves above soldiers.
I said, “Thank you, Hob.”
The man at arms looked surprised but smiled and said, “I was happy, my lord, to leave the gatehouse. I wish you well.”
I had learned that it did no harm to be polite. Sir William had always done so. Like me, his beginnings were humble. It had been the Black Prince himself who had spotted the potential in the man at arms.
We were taken up a narrow stairway. Our room was clearly not one of the better ones. We would be close to the top of the tower and the room would be unheated. I was proved right. There was a bed and a paillasse. A single chair and a table with a jug and bowl of water completed the furniture and a simple rail fixed between two arrow slits was the only thing that passed for a wardrobe.
“Is there light?”
The man looked around and said, “I will fetch one, my lord.”
“Fetch two, eh? I think that the king can afford it.”
He nodded and left. There were shutters by the arrow slits and, unless we wished to freeze, then they would need to be closed. I knew that one candle would not suffice.
“And now, Jack, we change. Comb your hair and use the water to clean your hands. We will be under inspection the moment we leave this room.”
I went to do as I had advised. I would stink of horses until I changed my clothes but I was also aware that, despite wearing gloves, my hands and face were grimier than was acceptable. That done I stripped and changed into the clothes my wife had packed. She had used lavender and rosemary. The clothes were pleasant to the nose and the lavender and rosemary would mask my stink somewhat. I would not have thought of that. I was lucky to have a lady for my wife.
I was changed by the time another servant, a boy this time, fetched the two candles. They were not of the best quality, but I deemed that the light would last all night. The room faced the west and that meant we would have light longer than if we were on the other side of the tower. We would only light one candle when we left, after closing the shutters.
Jack had washed, changed and combed his hair. He asked, “When do we descend, my lord?”
I smiled, “Now.”
He looked at my sword, “Will you not need your sword, my lord?”
“No, and the only knives we shall need will be for eating. Do not forget to bring the cloth for my hands and a spare.”
“Cloths, my lord?”
“Lady Isabelle packed them. Search in my bag.”
He found them and we descended. There would, I knew, be a Great Hall. During the day it would be where the king held court. The tables and the chairs used for dining would have been pushed to the side. Now, I knew, servants would be moving the tables and preparing for the evening meal. When we reached the hall, I was proved correct. A pursuivant approached, “Sir Michael of Weedon?” I nodded. “I am Walter of Tamworth and the king said that he will speak with you on the morrow.” He pointed to the table being laid with goblets and jugs. There were platters with food on them. “You will dine tonight with the king and his closest knights. Until then he asks that you entertain yourself.”
It was clear to me that there would not be many at the feast for they laid out just one table. A servant brought over a goblet of wine for me. I saw Jack’s face as he was ignored. In my hall, he would have been offered some. I pointed to the tapestries hanging from the walls. They were of the battle of Agincourt, the king’s father’s great victory. I said to Jack, “That is inspiring as well as being practical.”
“Practical, my lord?”
“Aye, it keeps the walls warm.” He walked around looking at the detail on the wall covering. It was clear to me that the representation bore no resemblance to the actual battle. For one thing, the English knights were mounted. In the real battle they had all fought on foot and, for another, there were no English dead. We lost some good men and boys that day. Having said that, I recognised some of the faces. The ladies who had sewn it must have known some of them.
“I envy you, Sir Michael, you were there.”
I turned around and saw the Earl of Suffolk, Sir William de la Pole. I bowed and said, “Aye, my lord. This is a spirited representation.”
He smiled. I knew him from the battle of Verneuil where he had fought bravely. “But it is not the battle you remember?”
I shook my head, “The horses were all at the rear, my lord, and we lost men that day.”
He said, sadly, “I know. I have seen the tapestry that was made of Hastings and I wonder how much of that is true. I wish I had been there but I was fighting for my life after Harfleur. That was a bloody siege.”
“It was, my lord, and a pestilential one too.”
He waved over a servant for more wine, “It is good to see you, Sir Michael, and, without giving too much away, you are here at not only the king’s but my behest. You and I share, I think, the same opinion of his uncle.”
I was wary. Was I being tempted to an indiscretion that might result in a sojourn in the tower? “I am too lowly a warrior to have an opinion of my betters, of which there are many.”
“And you are discreet, I like that. You are here because you, like Sir William Strongstaff, are both loyal as well as quick-witted. Both those skills will be tested.” He saw, from my face, that I wished for enlightenment and he smiled, “I have said enough. The king will tell you all.” He looked at Jack who had moved a few paces away to allow us a modicum of privacy, “This fellow looks young to be a squire.”
“He is not a squire, my lord, but I needed a servant and did not think that this visit would necessitate a fight.”
“Yet, you brought an archer.”
“Robbie is a guarantee that, whilst on the road, we will have protection.”
“He was there on Crispin’s Day?”
“That he was and many other of Sir William’s men.”
“Then I will send a flagon of ale for him to the warrior hall. Those men deserve more praise than they received at the time.”
Other knights arrived and sought the attention of the earl. In the short time I had spoken to him, my hopes that King Henry had a good advisor were raised. He was a soldier, and whereas the Duke of Gloucester had fought at Agincourt, he had no empathy with the men alongside whom he had fought. The earl did. He did, however, have an unfortunate nickname. He was known as jackanapes, or Jack of Naples. It was the name given to a monkey. It had begun to be used by his enemies to insult him. It was unfortunate as the nape had arisen because of the monkey’s tail on his coat of arms. A man like the earl always had enemies. His were the dukes of Norfolk and Gloucester.
When the king arrived he was applauded by the young knights. The earl and I followed but, in my case, it was just to avoid standing out. I had dined with his father and his mother and such acclamation was not needed then. Another difference was that the king allowed a fight for places at the table. The earl and the bishop flanked the king but the rest raced to get the seats closest to the king. He did nothing to interfere. I found myself at the end of the table opposite a young knight who was clearly disappointed not to have the ear of the king.
It had been some years since I had trained the king and I saw the differences that time and ill health had wrought. They were not the simple physical differences of a boy who had become a man, but there were other differences. King Henry prominently wore a cross and he constantly deferred to the Bishop of Salisbury who was at his side. The king seemed nervous and looked to the bishop for comfort often. Grace was a long affair.
My position at the end of the table meant I was assiduously avoided, even by the knight who sat opposite. I was unimportant and I was much older than were they. No one asked my name or the reason for my attendance. These knights sought positions in the king’s household. His decision to relinquish the regency and rule himself was a recent one. I studied everyone as I ate. The clothes that the knights wore were expensive. They were trying to impress the king. Mine were well made and suited the occasion but they had none of the fashionable elements shown by the young knights. Even their eating knives and spoons were flamboyantly decorated. Mine were simple ones. Indeed, the spoon was a wooden one and my eating knife had been given to me by Sir William when he had first taken me under his wing. The ones I saw were inlaid with ivory, ebony and filigreed with silver. The other thing I noticed, for my nose was assaulted, was that they were all perfumed. My clothes had a faint aroma of rosemary and lavender but their bodies reeked of perfume.
Jack had to have his wits about him for all was new and the squires of the knights, whilst also young, were also keen to impress. There would be no kindly soul to offer advice. He was fast on his feet and the food I was brought was all hot. As he held the leg of hogget for me to carve some slices, I said, “How goes it, Jack?”
He grinned, “The cook likes me. I say please and thank you while the others just grab and run. I have already had a taste of the sweetmeats that you will eat later and they are delicious. I am happy, my lord.”
I remembered when I had been a squire. I had met other squires who thought that cooks and servants were to be looked down upon and despised. My humble beginnings, like Jack’s, ensured that I was kind to such people. The food was delicious, as was the wine, but I did not do as many of the other knights did and overindulge. Some became drunk and with that drunkenness came loud and boisterous behaviour. The king did not like it. Although the behaviour which would lead to such trouble later in his life was not there that night, I saw in the king two men. I saw the pious one who looked at peace talking to the bishop and I also saw the angry raging beast that he could become.
We had just eaten the sweetmeats, which were delicious as Jack had said, when one of the knights facing the king fell backwards from his chair at which the other knights laughed uproariously. The king stood and screamed, “This is unseemly behaviour. Leave my hall and go to your bedchambers.” We all stood except for the earl and the bishop. The king said, “Not you, Sir Michael. You know how to behave and I would speak with you.”
For the first time the other knights, as they dragged their feet from the hall, paid a little more attention to me.
When the last one had gone and the guard had closed the double doors, King Henry said, “Come and sit closer to me, Sir Michael, and tell your man that he may now eat in the kitchen. He will not be needed.”
I nodded and Jack left. I took my spoon, knife, cloth and goblet to move opposite to the king. I cleared the detritus left by the previous occupant and sat. I saw that the three men were studying me. I wanted a drink now but I had to wait until they had finished scrutinising me.
It was the bishop who spoke first, “You have a good reputation, Sir Michael. Perhaps that is no surprise considering that you were trained by Sir William Strongstaff, and the king’s late mother could not speak highly enough of you and your service to her. Your cleansing of the forests of bandits was also well noted. The king has a task for you.”
I was always wary when I received such fulsome praise because, inevitably, there would be a demand associated with it.
“You have four manors, do you not, Sir Michael?” I nodded and before I could answer in more detail he continued, “The one my mother gave you at Houghton Regis, Iden, Weedon and one in Normandy, Les Pérets.”
“Yes, King Henry, I have been generously rewarded for my service to England.”
“Yes, you have been one of our more loyal servants and I would have you perform another such service for me.”
My heart sank. Was I to be sent to France to fight alongside Sir John Talbot? I knew that my capture of the Maid had made my name and when I had returned to England Sir John had been disappointed.
The king gestured to the Bishop of Salisbury. William Ayscough had been the king’s confessor and, as I subsequently discovered, was only recently elevated
He smiled, “The king is a devout man. You should know that his mother, the late Queen, was also devout.” He spread his hands, “Of course you know that for you were the defender of the Queen. She was given, many years ago, a cross. Originally, it had belonged to the great queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and came to her from her father which, it is claimed, came to him from Charlemagne. The king would have that cross.”
I was confused and I said so, “My lord, I can see why the cross is so important but what have I to do with this?”
“The cross lies in a church in Pontoise. It was placed there while Pontoise was still Norman. It was buried in secret beneath the altar in a box. Few men know where it lies. I learned of it from Father Bertrand who, as you know, was the late queen’s confessor. We would have you retrieve the cross.”
I was stumped and to give myself thinking time I drank some wine. I asked the obvious question, “How will I retrieve the cross if it lies in French lands and in a church? If I managed to get there and take it I could be hanged as a thief. Surely, my lord, taking the cross from a church is not only a crime but a mortal sin?”
The bishop had an oily tongue, “You are absolved of any crime by both the church and the king. The cross belongs to the king and, as such, its retrieval would be neither a sin nor a crime.”
I looked at the king, “You are asking a great deal of me, Your Majesty.”
He nodded, “As I recall, Sir Michael, you swore an oath to protect me and another to protect my mother. I know I am asking a great deal of you but this matters to me. The cross represents more than being a mere memento. The links to Charlemagne and Eleanor of Aquitaine can be used by me in the furtherance of our claims to France.”
I did not think I would survive such a quest but he was right, I had sworn an oath. I nodded. “I will need to speak to Father Bertrand.”
William de la Pole nodded, “Of course. He and Owen Tudor are in Newgate. I will take you thence on the morrow.”
I took a deep breath, “There is another oath you should know about and if I am to go to my death for you, King Henry, then I need to unburden myself first.”
The young king smiled, “You will not die, Sir Michael. God will watch over you.”
I shook my head, “The earl and I have both seen too many good men slain while doing good works to believe that, King Henry. I swore an oath to your mother that I would be a protector for her sons, your half brothers, Edmund and Jasper. I beg you to consider giving them your protection. They are of your blood.”
His eyes narrowed, “They could be used by my enemies to rally support against me.”
It had been his uncle who had tried to capture the boys and I saw now that William de la Pole felt differently, “Perhaps Sir Michael is right. If the boys were housed close to you, my lord, then we could ensure that they become loyal to you. They could be allies. Owen Tudor is very popular in Wales. Glendower might be dead but there are others who seek to cause unrest in Wales. With the Tudor family on our side, think of the political benefits. I think that Sir Michael has made a sound suggestion.”
The king played with his cross and looked at his two advisors. The bishop was noncommittal. Eventually, the king said, “It would be a Christian thing to do but what about the father? Would they not resent his imprisonment?”
Silence descended. Apart from the guard on the door we four were alone. The earl said, “Guard, stand without. Prevent any from entering.” The guard obeyed and William de la Pole continued, “Release him, King Henry. It would be seen as a most Christian act. As far as I am aware he never tried to ferment rebellion and was only imprisoned because the Duke of Gloucester deemed him to be a threat. If you keep him close, too…he escaped from prison once. If he were to do so again…”
“I could have him executed.”
The bishop said, “And Father Bertrand? If he were alive and Owen Tudor killed, then that might spoil your plans for the cross.”
The king chewed his lip as he played with his cross, “I need to sleep on this.” He looked at me, “No matter what happens to Tudor and his family, I would have that cross.”
I nodded, “And I will hold my oath even though it might bring me my death.”
He smiled, “Then all is well. Tomorrow, you and the earl will ride to Newgate and speak to Father Bertrand.”
As Jack and I went to our chamber at the top of the tower, I reflected that I had behaved with honour and kept my word to the queen. For the rest, it was in the hands of the king and I could do nothing about that.
Chapter 2
I did not speak to Jack about the quest. For one thing, I needed to talk to my wife first and, for the second, he was too full of his experience. His polite behaviour and manner had made him popular in the kitchens and he had dined as well as I had. The king’s kitchen was far larger than mine and he regaled me, as we undressed, with tales of the equipment and foods that they had. It was as though he had found a treasure trove. It helped me for it distracted me from the thoughts I harboured. They were thoughts of my own mortality.
We were awoken by a knock on the door from the earl’s squire, “My master would leave early, my lord.”
“We will be down promptly.”
We dressed quickly and headed down to the hall which was, unsurprisingly empty save for the earl. He smiled, “Tell your man to eat while he can. I have sent word to your archer that we ride early.”
Jack needed no further urging. I went to the table which the servants were filling with the food that would be consumed by the others in the castle. As we were the first, the fried ham was still hot and the bread had barely begun to cool. The butter melted as I spread it. We drank ale. It was too early for wine.
