Lord Liar Part 50

In any case it was no use to wonder. The die was cast. The mmay was about to become on again. Likely he and Tarold mld be too busy besieging Rochester Castle with the rest Of the combined army to carry on private quarrels.

He could still wonder, however, what Prince Henry was There had been no communication from his liege lord. Was Henry even now moving to take advantage of England's unrest? Why had he sent his loyal va.s.sal no word, and left him to fret in uncertainty?

The king and his prisoner, the bishop, were now before them. Ranulf and FitzHaimo dismounted and knelt.

"My lords, you have done well," the king told them.

"We are well pleased with your efforts in keeping the rebels contained while we obtained the surrender of the Pevensey garrison." Rufus smiled before he went on.

"And now we would have you do one other service. His excellency my uncle has agreed to help negotiate the surrender of Rochester Castle. You and four others are to escort him, under cover of a white flag of parley, into the castle."

At his side, Bishop Odo smirked, the expression making his eyes disappear into slits in his fleshy face. Ranulf felt the same repulsion one would experience upon encountering a deadly adder in his bed.

FitzHaimo seemed to be having trouble clearing his throat. Ranulf knew it would be up to him.

"Your grace, forgive my blunt speech, but was your uncle the bishop not recently one of these rebels?" Ranulf asked, feeling the eggsh.e.l.ls under his feet. Rufus's normally ruddy face reddened even more.

"I agree, your grace," FitzHaimo chimed in, to Ranulf's relief.

"If I may speak plainly, too, what is to stop him from rejoining his comrades within the walls?"

Odo pouted, but his eyes mocked them.

"They do not believe in my repentance, nephew."

Rufus's face was obdurate, his eyes as stormy as the lowering sky.

"Our uncle has made his submission, and we are well satisfied. He has been entrusted with this mission of peace."

His eyes dared either man to dispute his will.

There was, of course, no further argument to be made.

"Let me he one of the four, I beg your grace," said a voice from among the mounted men immediately behind the king.

Ranulf recognized Perrin of Petersfield, the beardless young squire who had been at the king's side s'nice last fall.

He was wearing gold spurs, Ranulf noted. So Rufus had not been able to resist bringing his youthful prot6g6 on campaign and had knighted him to give him an ostensible role. Ranulf steeled his features to remain impa.s.sive.

"Oh ho! So you would win glory, would you, Perfin? Well, why not?

Certainly you may be one of my uncle's honor guard. You shall bear the white standard. That means we need call but one more. Hugh of Avranches, will you join them? "

The Earl of Chester inclined his head, but not before Ranulf saw the hastily smothered sneer at Sir Perrin's inclusion.

If there is trouble, the look said, there will he but three of us.

"Leave your swords and s.h.i.+eld here. You are to go in unarmed, as a demonstration of our goodwill," the king announced.

Ranulf felt the blood drain from his face. Had Rufus gone mad? Why not put the noose around their necks, as well?

"Surely your grace jests," Hugh of Avranches said flatly as the ranking n.o.ble.

"My lord, don't be an old woman! You have the might of England behind you--the rebels aren't fools!" Rufus said with a regal gesture.

"Eh bien, no time like the present." Someone handed Pen-in the white banner of parley.

"Go forth, messengers of the king's peace. They are expecting you ." ' .

Ranulf gritted his teeth as he and the others handed over their weapons. He remounted his destrier, hoping Aldyth was not watching. He could see Odo trying to hide his smugness--why couldn't the king?

The king's army was perhaps three hundred yards from the walls of Rochester Castle. The five "messengers of the king's peace" had ridden two-thirds of that distance when the drawbridge was lowered and a party of a dozen knights, all armed to the teeth, trotted out.

FitzHaimo muttered something, his tone uneasy. "They're but a welcoming party," Odo a.s.sured them, but just then the rebels drew their swords and spurred their horses forward.

FitzHaimo cursed and tried to grab the bishop's reins. He was thwarted by the mace Odo pulled out from his capacious sleeve.

Furious, Ranulf was just about to shout the Kingsclere war cry and seLze Odo or die in the attempt when Hugh of Avranches cried,

"No! There are too many of them, and we are unarmed!

Do not fight, and we may yet be ransomed!

Let them take us! "

He was right. They were surrounded. Only Perrin of Petersfield, who had been riding behind Ranulf, was too stupid to listen.

Dropping the white banner and pulling a dagger from his belt, he set spurs to his horse and charged, screaming, straight at the oncoming force.

"You idiot!" shouted Ranulf, spurring his own mount. He was able to draw alongside the king's favorite and, with desperate strength, yank the youth right out of the saddle and onto his own galloping war-horse. He threw the youth across the pommel like a sack of meal, holding on to the panicked, struggling Perrin with both hands.

"Shut up and be still!" snapped Ranulf as the king's favorite yelled a protest.

"Or better yet, pray we may yet get out of this without broken heads."

He kneed his destrier, and months of careful training paid off as the huge beast swerved to the left, wheeling away from the leveled swords of the "welcoming party." Ranulf used his own spurs, and the great stallion redoubled his speed, carrying his increased burden away from the enemy. But one of the rebel knights had guessed his intention and was moving to intercept them, his sword raised. Without his s.h.i.+eld, Ranulf was powerless to fend off the blow; he could only use his knees. His destrier swerved again, and the sword that had been meant to slash across his right arm was deflected to his thigh.

Ranulf felt the sword's edge like the bite of a dragon and swore even as the rebel raised his sword and edged closer to strike again. Then the wound went mercifully numb, though he could feel the warm rush of blood beneath his hauberk-and he shouted his family baffle cry,

"For G.o.d and Kingselere!"

The destrier responded, baring his teeth and screaming defiance. The other horse was beside him, not in front of so he could only lunge at the attacker's stallion shoal- der to shoulder, but it was enough. The other horse was off his stride, allowing Ranul 's mount to escape d carry them back to safety.

The king and his entourage crowded around Ranuif's Ming destrier as Ranul re'

reed him to a halt. The king the trembling Perrin down from his h.e.l.l position across Ranulf's saddle, while one of his no steadied Ranuff as he dismounted.

"Thank G.o.d you were able to rescue him? Ranulf heard say, as if from a great distance.

"Perrin, you're young knight answered in the affir" Th-that was the b-bravest act of heroism I have ever seen, Ranulf! "