The Fallen Crown Read Online Free PDF Page B

little straighter.  "Then if you have faith in me, my lord I will try to live up to your expectations."
    He left and I went to the maps I kept in my chest.  Wulfstan had been the one who had started my obsession with them.  He could read and he taught me how to understand maps. Now I found them invaluable.  I added to them whenever I found a new place or a new feature.  I traced the route we would take. If we headed to Piercebridge and then Gainford I could turn north and east. If Aiden was right then this Osbert would gradually pick off the outlying settlements. He would hope that I would be blind to it or perhaps he thought I would be heading south again soon. He was wrong on both counts.
    With two knights, twenty five archers, the men at arms from three conroi and my two squires I was confident that I could deal with this Osbert if I could pin him down. His method was not new.  Some of the nomadic tribes who lived on the borders of the Byzantine Empire did the same.  They would hit and then run. They were past masters at it and the only defence the Empire had was a string of forts and fast moving horsemen of their own. I would do the same. All of my men were mounted and were excellent riders. Philip of Selby had his own eighteen archers and seven from my garrison.  They were excellent riders although they never used their bows from the backs of horses.
    Philip protested that his men did not need the rest and was keen to ride earlier. I waved away his protestations, "I am happy at the delay for it gives my scouts the time to find them and besides it is your horses which concern me.  They had a hard ride yesterday.  Let us not jeopardise their health for a couple of hours."
    We cut directly across the long loop in the Tees. We went due west. With two archers as scouts I did not fear us being surprised. We were wrapped against the cold.  The spring was the coldest I had ever known. Already April was almost half gone and the buds were still shy of appearing on the trees. As we neared Piercebridge I remembered the lord who had lived there. William of Piercebridge had been a quiet knight.  The Scots had not only killed him but his whole family.  There was no lord there. The Roman fort on the north bank had been robbed of most of its stones and the stark, blackened shell of the wooden castle William had built lay on the southern bank overlooking the bridge and this vital crossing.  It was where King David had crossed with his army two years since.  I wondered if the raid on Piercebridge had been a plan to gain them access to the soft underbelly of the north.
    As we crossed the bridge I surveyed the houses.  People still lived and eked out a living. With no lord of the manor I did not tax them.  What was the point?  There was nothing to tax. As Richard took Rolf down to the river to water him an old one armed man approached.  He knuckled his head, "Good to see you, my lord."
    I vaguely recognised him then I saw his axe held in his mighty right hand.  "Why it is Tom of Ulnaby! Are you well?" He had been one of William of Piercebridge's men at arms.  He had been left for dead after the raid.  He had lost his left arm and all of his comrades.
    He looked pleased to be recognised. "Aye lord.  I felt one of his lordship's men should farm around here but it is hard.  If it is not Scots who plague us it is raiders and bandits."
    "How many men are there in the fyrd?"
    "Oh we can muster twenty but that includes four old cripples like me and five boys. The priest has gone but there is a bell in the church." He pointed to the Roman walls.  "Most of the stones might be gone but they serve us yet. If a lord came..."
    "I know Tom and you are right to reproach me.  I have been remiss."
    "Oh no lord! I meant no such thing. If it were not for you then... besides who rules the country now? If you and the Archbishop had not stopped the Scots at Northallerton I would not be here.  I am grateful." He smiled, "But I can wish