Blood on the Crown is set in the latter half of the fourteenth century. Will son of Harry is about to join one of the freebooting mercenaries who serve the Black Prince in Gascony and Spain. Soldiers of fortune they fight for pay and for loot. Circumstances mean that he comes to the attention of the heir to the English throne, Prince Edward and is chosen as the body guard for his sons, Edward and Richard. When the Black Prince dies before his father and his elder brother Edward also dies, a young Richard of Bordeaux becomes heir to the throne and Will has a greater responsibility than he expected. He becomes King at the age of just ten. Intrigue, attempted murder and a revolt by the peasants of Kent, Essex and London put both the young King and his bodyguard in mortal danger. Based on the actual events of the years 1367- 1382 the novel shows the struggle for the crown through the eyes of a young warrior.
This series will chart the hundred and odd years of British history from 1367 until the battle of Bosworth field. In the first book we follow the exploits of a young warrior who is, as yet, untried and untested. During the book he grows and becomes a warrior. For those who like the Anarchy and Border Knight series, this is a novel in the same genre and style.
Blood on the Crown is set in the latter half of the fourteenth century. Will son of Harry is about to join one of the freebooting mercenaries who serve the Black Prince in Gascony and Spain. Soldiers of fortune they fight for pay and for loot. Circumstances mean that he comes to the attention of the heir to the English throne, Prince Edward and is chosen as the body guard for his sons, Edward and Richard. When the Black Prince dies before his father and his elder brother Edward also dies, a young Richard of Bordeaux becomes heir to the throne and Will has a greater responsibility than he expected. He becomes King at the age of just ten. Intrigue, attempted murder and a revolt by the peasants of Kent, Essex and London put both the young King and his bodyguard in mortal danger. Based on the actual events of the years 1367- 1382 the novel shows the struggle for the crown through the eyes of a young warrior.
Excerpt
He nodded and pointed to the gate. He passed me as I straightened my helmet, drew my sword and grabbed my shield. Our footsteps on the fighting platform alerted the two sentries there. Behind me I head Dick Long Sword shout to the others, “We are discovered, get to the gate! We will let you in!”
I heard the shouts of alarm from the gate, we had been seen. Now that it came to it I was uncertain if I could sink my sword into a man’s flesh. Red Ralph had warned me that it would be hard. I saw Peter hold his shield before him. I did the same and I watched Peter hold his sword behind him. I emulated him but I could not see why. Behind me I could hear Dick Long Sword racing down the fighting platform to reach us.
The other two Spanish sentries stood together with their shields held before them. I had been too slow and now Peter would have to face them alone. Then I saw him lower his head, raise his shield and barge through them both. One reeled before him while the other was knocked to the side. As Peter swung his sword to strike at the dazed Spaniard I saw the other raise his sword to sweep into Peter’s back. I had no time to think and I brought my sword up and into the side of the sentry. Even as I did it I could hear Red Ralph berating me for using the tip. I was lucky. The man had neither mail nor leather. My sword scraped off his ribs and then sank into something soft. The Spaniard’s sword dropped to the ground and he began to die.
Dick Long Sword had left the fighting platform and leapt down to the ground. He was racing to the gate. Another two sentries were running towards him. Just then the sentry on the north wall shouted and pointed. It had to be Captain Tom that he had seen. Peter shouted, “Down the ladder, help Dick!”
I scrambled down the ladder. Dick was swashing his long sword before him and keeping the two men at bay. My sudden appearance made one turn. He swung his sword and hit my shield. I reeled backwards and was lucky to keep my feet. As Dick’s sword smashed into the other sentry’s shield, breaking his arm, Peter appeared and shouted to the other, “Yield or die!” He said it in English but the three of us made our meaning clear. He dropped his sword. Dick turned, lifted the bar and opened the gate. The rest of our men entered.
Long John said, “Captain Tom is here.”
We formed a semi-circle of swords. Five guards appeared before us. They thought better of tackling the ten of us and ran back to the hall. Peter turned and said, “Thank you Will. I owe you a life and now you are blooded.”
I looked at the blood on my sword. He was right. I had killed a man. It had happened so quickly that I had not had time to think of it.
Captain Tom appeared, “Well done, lads. I am sorry it took us so long. Right let us get to the hall. Red Ralph go with Will and find the stables. There may be horses there.”
As we hurried towards the pungent smelling stable Ralph said, “We found three men working in the fields. They made the mistake of fighting us. Did you have trouble?”
“I killed a man.” He nodded understandingly. “And I have boots and a horse!”
“You have a horse?”
“Well I tied it to a tree.”
“Let us see what else we can find.”
As we went we heard the sound of axes on wood. The stable was unguarded and there were five horses. Four were palfreys and one was a sumpter. The one I had captured was a rouncy. I pointed, “There are four saddles!”
“Good then at least five of us get to ride home. You saddle them and then join me at the hall.”
After I had saddled them I went to the hall. The door lay splintered and shattered. Silent Michael stood on guard. He grinned at me. “You have much luck, Will son of Harry. I will fight close to you. A man cannot have to much luck when he goes to war!”
I stepped inside the hall. It was dark and it was cool. I heard screams, squeals and shouts. By the time I reached the main chamber I saw that our company had captured the household.
A dark haired Spanish lady stood with her arms folded across her body. She was jabbering away in Spanish. Captain Tom looked exasperated, “Will. Talk to her!”
I tried my Spanish, “We do not speak Spanish good.”
She changed to French, “You barbarians will pay for this. My husband is with King Peter. You will all lose your hands for this!”
Captain Tom nodded. He could speak French, “If your King had paid Prince Edward then we would not need to do this. We take from you because your King has no honour and did not pay his debts! If you do not try to stop us then you will come to no harm. I promise you that.”
“You are not a man! You are an English bastard!”
He laughed, “Then you know my father! Will watch them. The rest of you, you know what to do!”
The woman and her ladies slumped into the chairs around the table. Their hatred and disdain for these English bandits was clear. They began to talk. I had an idea what they were saying for they pointed at me and then to the other rooms. I began to make sense of what they were saying. Some of the words I did not understand; I guessed they were curses but, as I waited for the others to return I picked up more Spanish. I learned that her husband was a cousin of the King but the two of them were many hundreds of miles away. I saw now why they had resigned themselves to the ransacking of their home. I did not feel so bad about the robbery for it was the King’s fault. He had only regained his throne because we had won it for him. Had we still fought for his brother then Peter the Cruel would have had nothing.
The hall filled with goods they had taken from the other rooms. Men were sent to load the sumpter and two of the palfreys. Finally, Captain Tom came into the room and nodded to me, “Off you go Will. I will speak with the lady.”
When I reached the outside Peter and Red Ralph were waiting for me. They had a cloak, an arming cap, a sword and a bag. Peter spoke, “The cloak, arming cap and the sword came from the man you killed. We found these clothes in the hall. They look to be your size. Welcome to the Blue Company!”
They clapped me on the back. “Put these on the horse you left on the road. If you get to it first the Captain may let you keep it.”
I almost ran down the track to the road. The horse was still there and the flies were buzzing noisily around the corpse. I untied her reins and led her to the road. I made my bags secure and hung my shield and helmet from the saddle. I examined the saddlebags and discovered ten silver coins. I put them in my purse. Until then it was an empty purse! Then I mounted her. She was a little on the small side but she would do. Riding was better than walking.
When the others arrived Captain Tom and Dick Long Sword were riding. Captain Tom grinned when he saw me on the horse, “You learn quickly, Will, son of Harry, but they tell me you have earned it. You may ride the horse for it is too small for the rest of the Company. Are you happy with your share?”
I almost felt guilty about the coins but I said, “Aye Captain, there will be more chance for us to take coins I think!” I knew that any food or drink would be shared out. If the lady was related to the King then she would have had jewels.
As we walked Dick Long Sword said, loudly, “We shall have to watch this young warrior, Will. He uses his head when he is fighting but I have never seen a man use it as a weapon!”
They all laughed and I was content. Aa soon as you were mocked it meant you were accepted. I had joined a band of brothers. I had a family once more.
