Knight of the Empress Read Online Free PDF Page A

sharp edge on this.  It looks like I may need it."
    The Empress joined me and I saw a frown upon her face.  Amongst the mail, shields and weapons she seemed so fragile. I cursed her father for putting her in so much danger. Politics!
    "They are not happy, Baron."
    "With me?"
    "They did not understand your actions although they all admired your courage. I have now explained what you have done and they understand but they are unhappy with Lothar and Konrad. They were angry that their knights did not help."
    I was relieved. I had worried that I had turned them against me too.  "Edward wants me to kill the two knights."
    She was her father's daughter. She nodded.  "It would make sense.  My husband and my father would have slain them already." She gave a sad smile.  She had wished them kept alive but her husband was like Edward.  He would have eliminated the threat.
    "And you think I am weak for not doing so?"
    "No, I was the one who told you not kill them."
    I led her over to the crude bench my men had made from some unburned timbers. We sat down.  Grant brought us some of the food they had cooked. It was not the sort of food an Empress was used to but she smiled graciously anyway. When we were alone I began and told her what I had told Harold. "I am keen to speak with your Swabian knights in Nancy. There must have been a reason they were poisoned.  If the two Teutons are still with us by then we may get answers."
    "You think they will flee?"
    "Possibly or they may try to harm you and then we would kill them." I ate for a while without tasting the food. "They do not want you dead! They just want you.  Someone wishes you to be taken.  Perhaps for ransom?  A hostage?  Leverage?"
    "Both my father and my husband have many enemies. That would make sense." She smiled, "You see I knew there would be a good reason for your actions.  You are right, Alfraed.  We need to find out who is paying them."
    "And they will not just give us that information."
    We kept a good watch that night both for enemies without and enemies within. I used the German Men at Arms as well as my own.  I had to show the Germans that I trusted them. We would need them before too long.

Chapter 3
    The next morning we continued our journey east. This was all new territory and we crossed an uncertain land. The Lords of Lorraine owed fealty to the Emperor but they were not as committed as the Emperor might like.  The Emperor's disagreements with the Pope had not helped.  These malcontents who wished to rule themselves had a good excuse now.  They could be seen to be siding with the church. There was much political manoeuvring as they each sought a throne.
    We had left as soon as dawn had broken.  I had the two Teutons just in front of me and Edward with the Empress between us. With the German men at arms behind us I was able to use my archers to range far ahead as scouts.  I knew that Harold was itching to be with them but he was taking his new role seriously. He was a squire now but he would be a knight one day.
    We saw occasional castles on the hillsides as we passed but they looked as small as the one at La Cheppe and no-one investigated us. Their gates remained closed as they watched our banners moving ever east. We were a large conroi and the sun shone from our armour and our mail.  We looked intimidating.  I wished now that we had questioned one of those who had attacked us.  The presence of a knight did not suggest bandits but why would they risk attacking such a force as ours? Perhaps I was seeking plots where there were none.  They could have been opportunists or they could have been after the Empress.
    Dick galloped up to us. "My lord there is a castle ahead. It is next to the road."
    I looked at Matilda, "Empress, do you know who is the castellan?"
    She looked at Dick. "What banner flies from the walls?"
    "Two fish and three flowers."
    She looked relieved and she smiled.  "Then it is the County and Castle of Bar and the Count of Bar is