Northern Knight Read Online Free PDF Page B

took the blow when I was knocked to the ground."
    Edward opened his eyes.  He smiled weakly, "I am happy that you have survived." He winced as he tried to move.
    "Lie still! I am no healer and not as gentle as Wulfric." I took out my dagger.  I knew that Wulfric would put the blade in a fire but my men were still gathering dried wood and kindling.  I had to risk it.  Blood was still coming from the wound.  Harold and Gill, hold his arms so that he does not move."
    I took off my mailed gloves and wiped away some of the blood with the edge of the surcoat. I saw the edge of the wooden lance.  I put the tip of the dagger between the flesh and the wood.  I heard a grunt from Edward but that was all. I had to work quickly.  I began to pull the wood out with the dagger. At first it would not move.  I put my finger and thumb around one of the jagged edges and tried to pull.  The first time it was too slippery. I tried again and gripped even harder.  Suddenly the end popped out with a spurt of blood.  Harold was quick thinking and he jammed the surcoat over the wound.
    Dick had got the fire going and his short sword was already in the flames as he began to heat it.  I had no cat gut to sew the wound together.  We would have to use fire.  "Gille, remove some of the links so that we can see the whole wound.  Harold, keep up the pressure." I stood for my hands were shaking.
    Sir Guy put his arm around my shoulder.  "That was well done, Baron.  Wulfric could not have done better."
    I shook my head, "Wait until I have staunched the bleeding before you heap praise upon my head."
    Sir Raymond and Sir Geoffrey had taken their men at arms off when I had begun work and they now returned. "They have fled.  They left four dead knights and eight men at arms. Your archers slew all of the men with crossbows."
    "If you wish those weapons for your father then I would get them before my archers.  They use them for firewood."
    Sir Geoffrey shook his head. "I do not understand you English and your hatred of the crossbow."
    "It is not hatred.  It is scorn.  Look what my handful of archers did.  I would take five bowmen over a company of crossbows any day."
    Dick came over with his sword.  "It is red hot sir."
    "Hold Sir Edward and keep his body still."
    As my men pressed down on him I put the flat of the red hot sword against the flesh.  This time Edward did call out just before he passed out. There was a smell of burning flesh and hair. I held it for a few moments and lifted it.  I handed it to Dick to return to the fire. Sir Guy handed me some water which my men had brought from the stream.  As I poured it the flesh hissed and steamed.  We looked and I was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped. I had done all that I could.  Edward would have an ugly wound but he would live.
    "We will camp here tonight and leave for Worms on the morrow." I stood and clasped the arm of Sir Geoffrey.  "I thank you and your brother. We could not have beaten them else."
    He laughed, "I thought we were going to charge to our deaths!"
    "No, my friend; they were bought men with no conviction.  Men who fight for a price have no heart.  We fight for something different; we fight for each other and the Empress. God favours such men."
    We had been lucky.  We had wounds but the archers had won the day. The enemy had relied on their crossbows.  They had not scouted well enough and, despite superior numbers, had been soundly beaten.
    Dick approached me with a green substance. "Wulfric uses this, my lord.  It is a moss.  I have gathered it for him before."
    "What does he do with it?"
    Edgar had joined him, "He puts it on the wound.  It must be magic or something for it stops a wound going bad." He shrugged.  "It worked with you, my lord."
    "Then we shall try it." We put the green moss on the cauterised wound and wrapped a bandage around it. Gille and Harold had removed the armour.  When we reached Worms we would need a smith to repair