Edward Marston - The Hawks of Delamere

‘That bulwark did not prevent an assassin’s attack.’

‘One man was sent where an army would not have succeeded.’

‘Listen to Hamo,’ urged Malbank. ‘We must not take out our anger on Gruffydd ap Cynan. He is their figurehead and is far more use to us under lock and key. While he is in Chester, his men are reminded daily of our superior power and advantage.’

There were murmurs of consent. Earl Hugh was irritated.

‘I demand action now!’ he said, slapping the table with the flat of his hand. ‘God’s tits! This is a council of war, not a peace negotiation. We must hit back now. We must send a raiding party to mete out punishment.’

‘How and where?’ asked Malbank.

‘Stop trying to hinder me, William.’

‘I am merely trying to help. Every knight I can muster will be at your disposal and I will be proud to ride at your side. But I would prefer to know against whom we launch our might.’ He looked around the table again and saw that his argument was prevailing.

‘Battles are won by a combination of power and strategy. At the moment, we have one without the other. I appeal to you, all. Shall we dissipate our power because we have no strategy? Shall we shoot our own arrows without taking careful aim?’

‘Revenge is our strategy,’ affirmed Hugh.

‘Then let us prepare the way for that revenge.’

There was murmured discussion around the table as the barons compared notes with their immediate neighbours. Hamo of Mascy was the first to speak.

‘I support William on this,’ he said.

‘So do I,’ said Reginald Balliol.

‘And I,’ added Bigot of Loges, won over by persuasion.

‘Send intelligencers into Wales,’ said Malbank. ‘Let them search for the truth behind this foul murder. And dispatch an urgent messenger to Rhuddlan Castle. If there is indeed trouble stirring, your nephew Robert of Rhuddlan will be the first to detect it.’

The notion met with general approval and even Earl Hugh recognised the wisdom of it. For once, he elected not to force his own decision upon the others.

‘A messenger will ride for Rhuddlan at dawn,’ he said.

‘Thank you, my lord. That contents me.’

The council of war broke up and the barons dispersed. William Malbank was left alone with the earl. He felt intimidated and gave an apologetic shrug.

‘I had to speak out, my lord,’ he said deferentially. ‘You must accept that. Careful preparation now may save a lot of unnecessary bloodshed later.’

‘I agree.’

‘Then you are not angry with me?’

‘No, William. I am deeply grateful to you.’

‘For delaying a possible attack on the Welsh?’

‘No,’ said Hugh with a lewd grin. ‘For providing me with such delicious compensation. Raoul was not the only loss I sustained in the forest. My hawk was also killed. But not before he had won my wager.’ His grin broadened.’ Send your mistress to me tonight, William. I have need of her.’

Rhuddlan Castle was a symbol of Norman domination in North Wales, a timbered fortress built on a rock outcrop to command a view across the whole valley. Protecting the road between Chester and the Welsh coast, it was a daunting reminder to the indigenous population that they were occupied by invaders. Its castellan, Robert of Rhuddlan, was an experienced soldier who was constantly working to improve his defences. Nothing was left to chance. The area might be quiescent at the moment but Robert knew how quickly the Welsh could ignite. Whatever else happened, he resolved that he and his garrison would not be caught off guard.

The banging on his door awakened him at first light.

‘Yes?’ he called.

‘The captain of the guard has sent for you, my lord.’

‘What is amiss?’

‘He asks that you come at once.’

‘Why?’

‘He said that it was urgent.’

Robert did not need to be told twice. Leaping out of bed, he grabbed his gown and wrapped himself in it before slipping back the bolt and opening the door. Only an emergency would justify disturbing his sleep. He wondered what it might be. Within a matter of seconds, he was stepping out bare-footed on to the western battlements. The captain of the guard was waiting for him with a cluster of his men.

‘What is the problem?’ asked Robert.

‘See for yourself, my lord.’

‘Where?’

‘Down there,’ said the other, pointing.

Robert of Rhuddlan looked out across the valley. Half a mile away, stretched out in a single line, were a hundred or more mounted warriors in full armour. It was a menacing sight. They seemed to be studying the castle with great interest, as if searching for any weak points. They were too far away to be identified but their general purpose was clear. They were an advance party of a Welsh army. After a few minutes, they swung their horses round and rode swiftly away.

One thing was obvious. They were massing for attack. When they came again, there would be far more of them.

Robert of Rhuddlan’s orders were curt and peremptory.

‘Double the guard!’ he snapped. ‘And rouse the rest of the garrison!’

The arrival of his wife invigorated Ralph Delchard in every way.

Not only was he up early on the following morning with love in his heart and energy in his limbs, he felt that his mind had been stimulated as well. Gone was the mood of creeping sadness which always gripped him whenever he and Golde were apart and hampered his relationship with his colleagues. Ralph was now liberated. He could think clearly for the first time since he had come to Chester.

When he encountered Earl Hugh in the courtyard, Ralph beamed happily. His greeting was excessively cordial.

‘You seem to be in good spirits,’ observed Hugh.

‘I am, my lord. My wife arrived last evening.’

‘So I understand, and she is most welcome. I am sorry that she joins us at a time when we are distracted by events in the Forest of Delamere. No matter,’ he said with a confiding grin, ‘I can see that she warmed your bed for you. I, too, had a lively night. There is nothing quite like a woman to provide solace in times of trouble.’

‘Nothing quite like a loving wife,’ corrected Ralph.

‘I will settle for a woman. Any woman.’

‘We must agree to differ.’

‘You would change your mind if you enjoyed the bounty that fell to me last night,’ said Hugh. ‘A fine, fiery wench in every way.

Malbank’s loss was my gain.’

His meaning was clear. Not wishing to hear any more about his amorous adventures away from the marital couch, Ralph changed the topic of conversation at once.

‘I have been thinking about the death of Raoul Lambert.’

Hugh scowled. ‘It was a cowardly murder!’

‘Yet obviously planned, my lord.’

‘In what way?’

‘If you were the chosen target — and for the time being let us assume that you were — then you had to be attacked at a vulnerable moment. The forest was the ideal place. You would be among friends and completely off guard. An assassin would never have such a good opportunity here in the city.’

‘What do you conclude?’

‘We must look for someone familiar with your movements.’

‘I could have been watched.’

‘But there is no pattern to your hunting,’ said Ralph. ‘You ride out when the mood seizes you and choose what game appeals to you on any particular day. The forest is vast. You traverse different parts of it every time you venture out.’

‘So?’

Ralph was blunt. ‘You have a traitor in your ranks.’

‘Out of the question.’

‘Not the assassin himself, perhaps, but his confederate.’

‘The night with your wife has befuddled your brain.’

‘Think it through, my lord,’ recommended the other. ‘A hunting party leaves the castle early in the morning. Will an assassin be lurking in the city in order to follow you? It seems unlikely. He would surely be seen on your trail. It would be much easier for him to conceal himself in that part of the forest which you had decided to hunt in.’