A Year & a Day Read Online Free PDF

over to the Bruces' bitterest enemies, the Comyns. There was no love lost between the Bruces and the Scots King Baliol.
    Robert clasped Edward's arm and looked directly into the king's eyes. "We are with you in this."
    Implied in the pledge was the expectation that in return for their support of the English the Bruces would regain all they had lost. As the two powerful men stared at each other, Edward knew Bruce would eventually demand reversion of the crown of Scotland.
    Edward issued John de Warenne an order. "Our first point of attack will be Berwick!"
    Lynx de Warenne crossed himself and murmured, "God help the citizens of Berwick. Let us hope when that city falls, Baliol will obey King Edward's summons."
    Percy, Stanley, and Bohun joined John de Warenne to discuss strategy, while Robert Bruce gave his Oath of Fealty to the king. "I want the Bruces to remain governors of Carlisle Castle. It must remain impregnable as the headquarters for supplies from Wales and Ireland. Once Scotland capitulates and they hand over Baliol, all the western marches will be reinstated to you," Edward promised.
    Lynx de Warenne joined his friend, and the king watched with approval as the two men embraced. The de Warenne and Bruce landholdings in Essex ran together, and the two young men had been companions in their boyhood.
    "De Burgh was ordered to land his Ulstermen at Carlisle. Is there any sign of them yet?" Lynx asked.
    "Aye. The minute we sent the invaders fleeing back across the border, the Irish sails were spotted in Solway Firth," Robert
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    said with irony. "But better late than never. They should start arriving here tomorrow."
    "They had better," the king stated flatly. "The army moves north tomorrow."
    ******************
Marjory de Warenne felt great frustration. King Edward had been closeted the entire day with his
    generals, making plans for a march on Scotland, and she had seen neither hide nor hair of him. She reminded herself that this was Edward Plantagenet, the greatest king in Christendom. It was undoubtedly presumptuous of her to expect him to spare time for her when he was making preparations for war, but Jory knew today would be her only chance to plead Joanna's case. At dawn the king would leave and she would be sent to Wigton.
    As the afternoon shadows lengthened into evening and still the nobles had not emerged from their war conference, Marjory realized how insignificant women were in men's scheme of things. Women played no part in making decisions. Men ruled the world, fought the wars, made the laws, garnered the wealth, owned the property, and for the most part controlled the lives of their women. The only role available to the female was that of nurturer to the male.
    And yet, few women seemed to resent their lot in life. Was she the only female alive who chafed at the restrictions placed upon her? Perhaps if she had had a child, she would be too busy being a mother to be bothered by the inequities between the sexes. Jory felt a pang of regret, then wondered for the thousandth time if she was barren.
    Determined to shake off her gloomy mood she lit the candles and poured water to bathe her hands and face. She might have a chance to speak to the king in the dining hall and beg him for a private word.
    Jory decided to leave off her head veil. Her silver-gilt hair was by far her prettiest feature and had an amazing
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    VIKUIINIA ntl>LCI effect on the male of the species. Tonight she must look her most attractive if she hoped to gain King Edward's attention.
    When Jory arrived in the vast dining hall, flanked by Thomas and Taffy, her eyes first went to the dais and the high, carved chair where the king would sit. Finding the chair empty, her gaze traversed the length of the packed hall, seeking the tall, imposing figure of Edward Plantagenet. Disappointed, she sought a seat just below the dais and thanked the barons who eagerly made room on the bench for her.
    The first platters of meat were already on the tables