The Sword of the Spirits Read Online Free PDF Page B

winter’s drilling had toughened and instilled discipline in them. The Captains rallied them and they fought savagely.
    It was a battle fought on foot. They had left their horses on the other side of the river and our own, of course, were still tethered. It did not last very long. James had used cunning in the preparation and no doubt would have done well chasing a beaten rabble, but he had little stomach for an enemy that took his charge and fought back. He ran, and his men, left leaderless, ran also. The mist was rising all this time. They ran north along the river bank and were in full view. We untethered our horses and mounted and rode them down. We had them at our mercy and they surrendered. They could do little else.
    We took all except the few who had run first and escaped across the river. James had been one of these. When their Captains surrendered a gray-haired man spoke for them. He said:
    â€œThis ransom will not be easy to pay. Will you give us time, sire?”
    I said: “There will be no ransom.”
    My own army and my Captains stood behind me. The Romsey Captain said:
    â€œNo ransom?”
    I said: “My father took Petersfield, and I take Romsey. You belong to our realm of Winchester.Serve it faithfully and you will come to no harm.”
    There was silence before the Romsey Captain spoke.
    â€œMaybe the men of Petersfield did not set a high value on their ancient liberties. We do. Prince, you cannot ask this. We have lost the battle and will pay you ransom. But we will not serve you, nor your realm.”
    The silence came back. So short a time before there had been the clang of metal, cursings, men shouting and dying. The last shreds of mist steamed off the river. My men listened as closely as theirs. I said:
    â€œYou speak like an honest man. You could have given me soft words and defied me later. And I would have been forced to come again to your city, this time in anger. But since you defy us now you will return to your city weaponless. And we will keep a garrison there as long as it is needed.”
    He stared at me. “You are not in the city yet.”
    â€œNo.” I nodded. “But will the gates be kept shut against us, with so fine a crop of hostages?”
    He bowed his head, in acceptance. It was all silence, and their defeat spoke louder than our victory. I said to Greene: “See to it,” and rode away.
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    We left our garrison in Romsey and rode back along the Itchen valley. Citizens crowded out from the South Gate, cheering and welcoming us back. They shouted my name: “Luke!” I heard them cry: “Prince of Three Cities!”
    I rode at the head of my army into Winchester. The crowd was even thicker inside, and noisier. Then it seemed to melt and grow quiet. I saw horsemen with foreign but familiar trappings. And someone else.
    She sat white-robed on a white horse. Her beauty seemed to make the air grow still. She bowed her fair head, her blue eyes smiling.
    She said: “I grew tired of waiting, Luke. So I came to see this city which you promised me.”

THREE
BLODWEN’S SUMMER
    I T IS STRANGE WHAT POWER beauty can wield over men’s minds. Blodwen had been only three days in the city, but she had conquered them absolutely.
    They cheered us as we rode up through the streets together to the palace. Then they gathered outside. This was usual after a victory. The Prince must show himself on the main balcony, to be cheered again and to promise his citizens free ale at the victory feast that followed.
    They acclaimed me well enough when I went out, and shouted my name with vigor. But when I drewBlodwen out to stand beside me, I thought they would go mad. I had never heard such cheering anywhere. And when she blew them a kiss I thought they were mad already: the din battered one’s eardrums.
    And her power, I saw, lay not in her beauty alone but in the warmth and ease that went with it, that were a