Enemy at the Gate Read Online Free PDF Page A

across a low path which passed beneath the strange rock the locals called the Topping. It was little more than an animal track but the frost had made it passable. When the land thawed we would have struggled to stay upright.  The path meant that we approached the castle and settlement from the direction of the woods. It had been a good decision to use him.  We arrived unseen.
    We halted and Alan turned to me. "They have built a watch tower a mile in that direction, lord." He pointed to the north.  Had we stayed on the road then we would have been seen.
    I turned, "Ralph of Wales, take four men and capture the tower."
    "Should we burn it, Lord?"
    "Not until you see flames from Guisborough." They rode off. I had been to Guisborough before but not for some years. I waved Alan of Grange over.  "Have they improved the defences of the castle?"
    "Improved, lord?"
    "Have they added stone?"
    "No, lord.  It is still wood." We were now close enough for me to use my archers and men at arms rather than my scouts. "Alan, go with Aiden.  Aiden, stop any message leaving Guisborough to head south."
    "Aye lord."
    The four of them trotted off. I was confident in their skills.  My three men could stand next to a warrior in the woods and be invisible.  I had no doubt that a gamekeeper who had survived the slaughter of Normanby would also have such skills.
    Sir Edward nudged his horse next to mine.  "What is your plan, lord?"
    "The gate faces north. The priory is to the west.  We use the priory to hide our approach." I pointed to the sky, "It is past noon already.  Both the monks and the garrison will be at ease. There will have been no signal from the tower. They will not expect an attack.  It is winter.  We ride through the gate as hard and fast as we can."
    "Aye lord."
    "Dick, I want your archers to clear the gate into the bailey."
    "Aye lord."
    Guisborough had a wooden wall and a ditch.  There was a gatehouse which led to the outer bailey and a second below the hall and mound. All that we had to do was to take the gate to the outer bailey.  I gambled on a garrison at the gate of four men only. We tightened girths and loosened weapons and then I led my men forward. In the absence of a squire Stephen the Grim carried my banner and rode behind Wulfric and myself.
    We emerged from the woods and headed across the narrow, shallow stream. Some monks who were gathering from the hedgerows saw us but they would not have time to sound the alarm.  They were too busy fleeing.  My banner was known. As we wheeled around the front to the stone priory I saw the castle. It was less than a hundred and fifty paces from us.  Even as I turned and readied my spear Dick and his archers dismounted and were knocking arrows. The guards and sentries were chatting and looking to the north.  It was the cries of alarm from villagers which drew their attention to us.  Had I been more ruthless I might have had my archers slay them. I was no De Brus; I would kill only warriors.
    The five sentries saw us and they wasted time laying down their weapons as they tried to draw up the bridge. Fifteen arrows plummeted into their bodies.  One lived long enough to try to raise the bridge but it was too heavy and Dick himself ended his heroic efforts with a well aimed shaft. We thundered over the wooden bridge and under the gate.  The main gate was up the slope and already men were pulling up the bridge there too.  We would not reach it in time. Dick and his archers were too far away, however we had attained our first aim.
    "Sir Edward."
    "Yes lord."
    "Have six of your men secure the leading burghers and hold them as hostage."
    "Aye Earl." He laughed, "That was easy enough."
    As he rode off I shouted, "Dismount." I handed Rolf's reins to Stephen the Grim.  He would stay by the gate with my banner and the horses.  The rest of the men at arms tied their mounts to the wooden ramparts.  Dick and his archers did the same. "Come Wulfric, let us see if they are in the