The Rose Of Lorraine Part 20

As Bella wandered through the ward she discovered Robin's erstwhile buddy, the Prince of Wales, was having the time of his life. Edward held his own against all comers in a contest of strength and skill, armed with only a long English pike. The gist of the game, Bella deducted, was pretty simply. The winner had to retain his balance on a narrow log set high above a makeshift pit of sawdust and sand, while warding off the blows of a challenger with the pike staff.

Squire after squire had taken up Edward's challenge to unseat him. All failed, including Robin. Then growing bold from his success, Prince Edward boldly called down a challenge to his father's knights, daring any to defeat him.

They laughed as a group, scoffing and complaining boldly about the cub's lack of good sense and braggadocio-- all in good fun. Old Sir Neville was the first to accept the youth's challenge.

The man must be all of forty-five, Bella thought as he nimbly leaped onto the log and was handed up a pike. He gave the prince quite a challenge to the pleasure of the crowd, driving the youth back to the edge of the log, but then the prince ducked Neville's next thrust and parry and swept the end of his pike beneath Neville's feet.

The elder wobbled precariously, then with both arms windmilling to regain his balance, he crashed onto the sandy pit, defeated.

Laughing with triumph, Edward braced his feet apart and called down another challenge, this one specifically to Sir Walter Manny.

"Blood and fury! Not I, you unwhiskered pup! Though I can say I've had cause to swipe your a.r.s.e a time or two with the flat of my sword, games with sticks are not my forte," Sir Walter answered clearly.

"Then bring your longsword if it pleases you," the prince commanded.

"Nay," King Edward ordered. "We'll spill no blood for sport. Take up a pike if you like, Sir Walter, but if not, ignore the bold whelp."

"I decline," Sir Walter laughed, saluting the king with a raised tankard of foamy ale. "Yon princeling's size has gone to his head. G.o.d's truth, the boy has grown by leaps and bounds this year past. I vow I do not know how you keep food on your board when he is around. Were the mischief upon me, I'd have him bouncing on his a.r.s.e in two good strokes. What fun in that? Graham, teach yon royal sprout a lesson. Climb up there and wipe his nose."

Huge Sir Graham, who looked more and more like a Norse Viking to Bella's eyes all the time, rumbled with laughter at Sir Manny's words. It was the first time Bella had ever seen him smile. That impressed her. He was a well-liked, handsome man. If she were to judge by the commadarie he displayed to other people, he could be quite charming and polite. However the minute he noticed her interest, his smile faded and he deliberately turned his back to her before answering.

"I would, Sir Walter, but I'm the poor b.a.s.t.a.r.d that's trained the whelp and taught him every trick he knows. What sport in that?"

"None," Sir Walter roared.

"Who else then?" Edward demanded looking straight at his G.o.dfather, Sir Chandos. "You sir, my most n.o.ble warrior and generous host, Chandos. Care you to test my mettle?"

"Aye, why not," answered Sir John. "As humility is another trait a squire must learn before he becomes a knight, I'll give you a taste or two."

His answer pleased the crowd very much. Bella drew in her breath as Sir John took a pike in hand and bounded onto the shaved top of the log.

"Or taste humility in your own mouth," Edward promised as he launched a vigorous attack.

Both, Bella saw were naturally gifted with athletic grace, quick hands and well honed reflexes. The young prince had more weight on his side and Sir John more height and a longer reach. She winced as the pikes smacked to a loud, clattering rhythm.

"Maman, will Papa win?" Geoffrey tugged on Bella's skirt to gain her attention.

"I don't know," Bella answered honestly, because she did not know if Sir John would give his best against a boy of Prince Edward's station. Thus far the battle looked extremely even with each giving ground then advancing to drive the other to the edge.

"I can't see!" Geoffrey complained and jumped up and down impatiently. Bella looked about the ground to see if there was something he could stand upon for the prince had now drawn quite a crowd.

"Here, Geoffrey," Bella caught his arm and tugged him back a little ways, to a wagon that had been used to bring in the sand and sawdust. Geoffrey scrambled onto the rickety wagon and Bella joined him. They had the perfect place to view the sport from there.

The slap of the pikes impacting against each other and grunt of the prince as he dodged a high blow brought Bella's focus back to the contest. Sir John had taken the advantage and sought to teach the young prince a serious lesson. He had the boy leaping airborne over the end of his pike then ducking to escape the smack of the other end.

While Prince Edward tottered on nimble feet to regain his balance, John de Chandos delivered the final blow, sweeping the prince's knees out from underneath him.

The big boy went down into the sawdust and sand accompanied by a groan from his supporters. Bella winced for that was the second hard landing she'd seen Edward take today.

Geoffrey jumped up and down, excitedly cheering his father. The cart tipped precariously. Bella hadn't given a thought to safety until it tilted. The upended tongue went down so quickly, thanks to Geoffrey's energetic jumping, that Bella didn't even have a chance to cry out a warning. She landed in a pile of straw as an arrow whizzed past her nose and thudded into the wooden cart, pinning her skirt to the wood.

"Mother Macree!" Bella yelled. She looked around frantically to see where the arrow had come from, half expecting to see Sir Graham knocking another arrow into the catgut and leering evilly at her.

But Graham squatted in the sawdust beside Prince Edward, grinning at the lad's defeat, probably giving him pointers now that he'd lost.

"Vanquished, lad, and duly humbled," Sir John said from his towering brace above the youth on his b.u.t.t in sand and sawdust. "And well done, my boy, but remember, always protect your rear."

Bella grabbed hold of the arrow and yanked it out of the cart, freeing her skirt. Then on her hands and knees she crawled around the cart looking for Geoffrey. She found him sitting in the straw with a goofy grin on his freckled face. But the minute he saw her, his smile faded.

The crowd applauded Sir John's triumph. He bounded into the pit to offer his hand to the prince. Young Edward would never admit it, but he did need the a.s.sistance to get up. They both clapped each other on the back, calling it a good contest and suitable challenge.

Henri ducked under the wobbling tongue of the upended cart announcing soto voiced, "Papa, Goeffrey's cracked his head wide open!"

"I did no such thing!" Geoffrey scrambled onto his feet, looking sheepishly at Bella. "Are you all right,

Maman?"

"He could have done," Henri said sagaciously. "Did ya see Geoffrey go flying over the cart? I did."

Other than a rather rude and sudden impact on the cobblestones, Bella was fine. Shuddering, she dusted

off her hands. She didn't want to alarm the children, but someone needed to be notified that the archery

contest was being attempted by amateurs.

Robin, Sir Graham, Sir John and Prince Edward surrounded Bella and the younger boys all at once.

"What happened here, hm?" Sir John inquired as he reached down to a.s.sist Bella onto her feet.

"We took a bit of a spill," Bella answered as she hid the arrow in the generous folds of her skirts. "No worse than the two I've taken today, Lady Chandos," Prince Edward said with a wry laugh, and one large hand ma.s.saging his backside. "I could have done without being impaled on my own cantle back in Winchelsea. But as you were determined to foil the cutthroats after your hide, what can I say?"

"They weren't after the lady's hide, Your Majesty. It was your pretty hide the pirates wanted," Hugh Cavely ribbed.

"What pirates?" Sir John inquired. "And how is it they were after Lady Chandos?"

Oh, no, Bella thought as Geoffrey's interruption came to her rescue. "Did ya see me go tumbling head

over heels, Papa?" Goeffrey offered his sc.r.a.ped forehead.

Sir John inspected the boy's hard head and found it not much worse for the incident. He was more

concerned about Bella who kept scooting away from him, brushing dirt from her skirt until he latched his hand onto her elbow. Bella was in no mood to withstand an inquisition and kept her eyes downcast on purpose. Yes, it was true, she had deliberately misled Chandos about her sojourn to Winchelsea. She felt it in her bones there would be a reckoning over that, but saw no reason to make it a public display at this very moment. "You made no mention of trouble in Winchelsea," Sir John addressed his question to both the prince and Robin, but his hand remained firm at Bella's elbow, drawing her back into the fracas.

Edward looked at Robin then shrugged carelessly. "It was hardly worth mentioning, my lord. 'Twas the usual riffraff out to cut a purse and make a quick profit. Lady Chandos outfoxed them by bringing our horses round beneath the tavern's window. Robin and Caveley guarded my back well as we got out of town."

Thank you Mr. Big Mouth, Bella grimaced sourly. She found herself unable to evade Chandos' grip. She fixed a false smile on her face and looked up at him. "Boys have such a vivid imagination. I must see to our guests."

She deliberately dipped a curtsey to the whole motley crew and escaped. Chandos released her sleeve, but Bella knew it wasn't over. There'd be a reckoning. He turned on his heel and strode into the crowd looking like the Pied Piper with Henri skipping at his heels, nattering away about his pony and his puppy. Trailing behind Henri was Goeffrey, then Robin and Prince Edward.

James Graham was the only one of the group that paid any notice that Bella headed in the direction of Gunni Douglas and the archery targets.

The dour Scot took one look at the broken shaft Bella offered him and shook his grizzly head. "'Tis no one of mine, milady. Thas a quarrel from a crossbow. Wouldn't waste me time on one of them."

"How can you tell the difference?" Bella asked.

"Ach, thas because the feathers are knocked, shorter, smaller and the bolt's square tipped, you see." Gunni turned the shaft so she could see the difference for herself. "Where did it come from, milady?"

"That's what I'd like to know." Bella said as she glanced at the tubs of long bows and arrows waiting to be used by some contestant. There wasn't a crossbow anywhere in sight. So it hadn't been a stray arrow fired from the games area. That arrow had been intended to strike Isabel de Chandos--her. She had the sinking feeling that she knew who wanted Chandos' wife silenced for good. That pirate she'd had the unfortunate luck to meet in Winchelsea.

Spooked, Bella decided she'd had enough of the great outdoors for this night. It was definitely time to retire.

"...From the pride of the Grahams...

Good Lord, Deliver us."

MUNGO MAXTONE.

-20.

Henri, to Bella's delight, was born under the sign of Aquarius, same as she. The tipoff was Henri's fascination with water. He played with his scoops and buckets at the castle well, happily entertaining himself for hours. Bella wasn't surprised to discover that he was an Aquarian during one of her frequent escapes into the castle chapel.

The trouble was, Bella liked the quiet life. There was no quiet at Chandos Enceinte--except inside the castle's chapel. Every day brought more knights and their soldiers to the fortress, answering King Edward's summons to duty.

Their royal guests made no move to decamp in the week following Robin's birthday.

On the good side, the crowded conditions helped insulate Bella from further confrontations with Chandos. In fact, he was so busy, Bella rarely saw him. Since she'd gotten sunburned, he hadn't come to her seeking physical release. She was not so busy she had not noticed.

Today, all who could ride a horse, shoot an arrow, throw a spear and guide a falcon rode off on a hunt. Bella did not hunt. Frankly, she was glad to see the men, teenage boys and giddy young ladies out the d.a.m.n gate and gone--for a little while.

One thing she liked about living in a castle was the proximity of the chapel. The first time she'd gone there she hadn't paid attention to any detail except the life size crucifix. But the chapel was a beautiful example of high Norman architecture with vaulted ceiling, stained gla.s.s rose window and memorial side altars, one of which contained the tomb and marble effigy of Sir John's father.

When things got too hectic, Bella escaped there. On the main altar was the only full size book of any kind Bella had found in the entire castle. The heavy, hand-scribed and ornately decorated book was the Chandos family bible. It had been presented to the first Lord Chandos in the year 1072 as a reward from his grateful king, William the Conqueror. The bible contained a complete history of every birth, death and marriage in the Chandos family for two centuries.

Bella had found it to be a valuable resource. Through it she'd learned that Sir John was born on January 6, 1311. Robin followed Prince Edward into this world five days after the prince in 1330. Henri would be five on the 31st of January, 1347.

Most important of all to her, was Geoffrey. Bella's Iain and Geoffrey had been born on exactly the same day, August 23. That added to her growing surety that she was here for a purpose; to prevent a tragedy from happening. Geoffrey must be guarded and protected from all and any danger in the week following his ninth birthday. As the only soul present who knew the coming dangers, Bella took Geoffrey's best interest firmly in hand.

Father Kerwin seriously objected to a mere woman's presence at his altar, turning the Bible's brittle parchment pages. But as the bible was too heavy and fragile to be moved to a pew where she could sit and study it, he simply growled and grunted his complaints. The one time he had actually had the audacity to scold her for touching the Bible, Bella had suggested he take his complaint to Sir John. The book belonged to Chandos, not to the priest.

Bella had learned since that Father Kerwin had the tenacity of a pit bull. Once he caught hold of a thought, he never let it go. The Sat.u.r.day following her open rebuke when she went to confession, he remembered her sharp words as he directed her through another rigorous examination of conscience. The priest accused her of being too proud, too quick with sharp words among other sins. It didn't do her any good to cross him when he could make each confession a test of humility, straining her inadequate store of that virtue to its limit.

In spite of the dour priest, Bella still liked the chapel and planned to continue using it and the Chandos Bible as she saw fit. Clerics could think what they liked about women, but G.o.d, Bella was certain, loved women just as much as She loved men. No priest was going to make Bella feel or think any differently.

As she was exiting the chapel the afternoon of the hunt, she noticed quite a commotion at the well. Henri's play buckets, scoops and sieves were scattered and all of the younger boys were shouting at one another.

No adults were near the children to quell the disturbance. Prince Edmund sat in a big puddle beside the well, bawling for all he was worth. Henri screamed incoherently and pounded his small fists on Geoffrey.

Geoffrey appeared to be tying a thick rope around his waist. John Gault and Lionel outshouted each other like warring generals.

Bella s.n.a.t.c.hed up her hems and started running. Geoffrey pushed Henri out of his way and climbed up

onto the ledge of the well. Bella screamed, yelling at the boys to stop and wait!

Thank G.o.d Geoffrey hesitated long enough for her to reach the well.

"Stop this noise! Be quiet all of you! What is going on here?" Bella demanded.

"George is drowning!" Lionel screamed. He clambered over Prince John. They both were in danger of

falling head first into the deep well.

Geoffrey tightened the rope at his waist and started to jump. Bella swept all three of the older boys off the stones, pushing them with all her might to the safety of the ground.

"You are not going down that well!" she commanded in the strongest voice she had.

"George is gonna drown!" Prince Lionel screamed.

"Quiet!" Bella ordered. "Stop screaming. John Gault, go and get me help. We will get the puppy out."

Not one of the boys believed her. "I said, go and get me some help! Who's commanding the watch?"

"Sir Graham," Geoffrey stuttered as Bella untied the thick rope at his waist.

"Get him. Now!"