Edward Marston - The Hawks of Delamere

‘Did your husband have to draw a weapon in the city?’

‘Only to ward off some lions.’

‘Lions?’

‘Two of them, my lady. Ralph was trapped in a cage with them.

He fought to save his own life.’

‘He may well have to do that again.’

‘Again?’

‘Can you not hear that din down below?’ said the older woman.

‘They are preparing for battle. Chester is very close to the Welsh border and there are thousands of roaring lions on the other side of it. What will happen if they launch an assault on this castle?’

‘There is no chance of that, surely?’

‘Hugh seems to think so.’

‘Ralph believes it highly unlikely.’

‘But he, with respect, has only been in Cheshire a short while.

My husband has been here for several years. He knows the Welsh of old.’ She scrutinised Golde’s face again. ‘In the event of a battle, what will Ralph do? Stay in his apartment with you? Or take up arms and join in the fray?’

Golde blushed as she accepted what the answer must be.

‘I did not mean to upset you,’ said Ermintrude with a soft hand on her wrist, ‘but it is as well to face the truth about one’s husband. It makes for a certain amount of discomfort but it spares you the shock of unpleasant discoveries.’

It was as close as Ermintrude was prepared to go towards the subject of her husband’s rampant infidelities and she immediately backed away again.

‘Ralph Delchard is a fine man,’ she said enviously. ‘You chose well, Golde.’

‘He likes to think that he did the choosing.’

‘And did he?’

‘It was a mutual decision.’

‘The only kind with any true validity.’ Her manner brightened.

‘I wish that I had been a brewer.’

Golde was amazed. ‘You, my lady?’

‘Yes. I would love these delicate hands of mine to have learned something other than merely how to sew a fine seam. I do admire your enterprise.’

‘I was forced into the trade.’

‘Nevertheless, you succeeded. Against all the odds. You did something useful, Golde. At the end of the working day, you must have had great satisfaction.’

‘I did,’ agreed the other, ‘but I also had the abiding smell of beer in my nostrils, my apparel and my hair. Brewing follows you home at night, my lady. I would much rather have been able to pass the time sewing a fine seam.’

The noise outside took on a fresh urgency. Golde tensed.

‘Have no fear,’ said Ermintrude soothingly. ‘My husband has the situation in hand. He is at his best in these situations.’

Golde nodded. ‘So is Ralph,’ she admitted to herself.

Rules which applied to the citizens of Chester were waived for two royal commissioners and the six knights who escorted them.

The gate was duly opened and the party rode out at a brisk trot towards the Forest of Delamere. Aware of the risk they were taking in being abroad in such troubled times, they remained watchful. Ralph Delchard still had doubts that a Welsh attack was imminent and evinced no fear, but Gervase Bret was much more cautious. They had been in the saddle for half an hour before he stopped inspecting every bush and tree in case it was a potential hiding place.

‘Do not fret, Gervase,’ said Ralph as they cantered along a forest path. ‘We are safe enough, I warrant you.’

‘And how safe is that?’

‘You have seven strong swords to protect you.’

‘Earl Hugh had fifty but it did not stop someone from firing an arrow at him. Or at Raoul Lambert.’

‘Is that what you are afraid of?’ teased Ralph. ‘A female with a bow? Well, I do not blame you. It has happened before and the wound was fatal.’

‘What wound?’

‘Yours, man. When Alys strung her bow and shot a dart of love at you, Gervase Bret was felled on the spot. You were a shrewd and conscientious young lawyer until you were struck down by her missile. No wonder you fear the sound of a bowstring!’

Gervase grinned. ‘You make a jest of everything.’

‘It soothes the nerves.’

‘Yours or mine?’

‘Both.’ Ralph nudged him. ‘Do you miss Alys?’

‘Very much.’

‘Does this Gytha remind you of her?’

‘Yes,’ said Gervase, involuntarily, then tried to cover his confusion by gabbling. ‘Not that there are any real points of comparison. Gytha comes from humble stock and has led a life of drudgery while Alys has been more fortunate. There is a slight physical resemblance between them but it is negligible. No, Ralph, she does not really remind me of Alys. No other woman could do that. Alys is unique.’

‘So are you.’ Ralph gave him an affectionate punch. ‘That is why the pair of you are so well matched.’

‘I could say the same of you and Golde.’

‘Hardly! That is a case of the attraction of opposites.’

‘Not from where I stand.’

‘Then you have been misled, Gervase. We came together in spite of ourselves. My brains and Golde’s beer made an irresistible combination.’

His laughter disturbed some nearby rooks which took to the air with a fanfare of protest, leaving the bough on which they had been perched vibrating for a full minute. Gervase abandoned the badinage with his friend in order to concentrate on his pathfinding.

Having only been to Gytha’s cottage once, he was not entirely certain that he could find it again, but his memory was sound and he soon began to identify tiny landmarks.

After a long ride without incident, they eventually came out into the clearing where the hovel stood. There was no sign of Beollan but Gytha immediately poked her head out of the dwelling.

Alarmed at the sight of the armed soldiers, she relaxed when she recognised Gervase, and his warm smile of greeting reassured her. Gytha came out of the door and Ralph was able to make a full appraisal of her before emitting a low murmur of approval.

His soldiers were also struck by the unexpected sight of a lovely young woman emerging from such a mean hovel.

Gervase introduced Ralph Delchard to her and she eyed him warily. His candid smile of admiration was rather disturbing.

‘What do you want?’ she asked.

‘Your help,’ answered Ralph, astonishing her with his knowledge of her language. ‘And we have ridden a long way to ask for it, Gytha.’

‘You do not need to tell her that,’ said Gervase. ‘Gytha has walked to Chester and back twice already this week. She knows exactly how long a distance it is.’

‘How can I help you?’ she wondered.

Gervase explained that they were looking for a woman in a certain part of the forest but had no idea who she was. He gave the few facts about her that he possessed but did not divulge their reason for wishing to see her. Gytha guessed that they wanted to question the woman about something and she became defensive, instinctively opposing the wishes of Norman soldiers.

It took time for Gervase to persuade her of the importance of their mission.

‘I do not know this person,’ she said bluntly.

‘Can you at least take us to that part of the forest?’ coaxed Gervase. ‘We would be very grateful.’

‘Beollan would be a surer guide.’

‘Where is he?’

‘Putting flowers on the grave. I have just come back from the churchyard myself. Beollan will soon follow.’

‘Let us meet him on the way.’

Gervase dismounted and offered his horse to her but Gytha was too embarrassed to accept his invitation in front of the others.

Instead, she set off purposefully and they trailed along behind her, Gervase still on foot, Ralph watching the bob of her head and the beguiling swing of her hips. When they met Beollan near the church, he was frightened by the sight of the soldiers and all but bolted. His sister had to grab him to keep him there and the two of them had a conversation that was far too breathless and hasty for Ralph to understand. He turned to Gervase for elucidation.