Sir Thomas and his new bride, Lady Margaret, have been forced to leave the Baltic. They cannot go to England and so he heads for Anjou where he hopes to take over the old manor of Sir Leofric. Upon his arrival he finds himself thrown into a world of intrigue. Prince Arthur had been the chosen heir of King Richard but King John had taken not only the throne but also claimed the lands of Normandy, Maine and Anjou. Even before he has taken charge of his new manor he finds threats from the French as well as King John. With his handful of men he has to carve out a home for himself whilst fending off enemies on all sides.
I have used more actual facts in this book and series than any other. The story of Prince Arthur and Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany could not be made up. The more I read of King John and his activities the more I realise that he did not have a bad press. He was a bad man and an even worse king. He managed to lose all of King Henry’s European Empire! No small achievement. Although these early books are set abroad, eventually Sir Thomas, the great grandson of the Warlord, will return to England.
I am thoroughly enjoying writing the books.
Excerpt
I made certain that my helmet was on tightly. I might have to endure blows from above. I said, “Are we ready?”
They all roared, “Aye lord.”
We made a shield wall with three of us at the front and the rest behind us. The ladder was carried by the men on the right. Once again, we approached obliquely so that our shields faced the walls and protected all but our legs. When we reached the ditch, we would have to break formation. This was the most hazardous part of it. I moved to the right and took the ladder, Harry and Ridley also held it.
“Ready?”
“Aye lord.”
I stepped out with my shield held before me. Immediately a bolt thudded into it and a heartbeat later I head a scream and then a double thud. I jumped down on to the hurdle. Although it lurched it held. Harry dropped on to it as I was nearing the other side. I had just stepped on to the slippery, grassy bank when Ridley landed on the hurdle. I heard it creak and crack ominously but it held. As I ran to the wall, still holding the ladder, stones hit my shield. I saw the crossbow and the crossbowman lying before me on the grass close to the wall. He had an arrow in his head. We began to lift the ladder into place. I risked looking up. There were two men standing there and they were trying to push the ladder away. Three arrows ended their efforts and I quickly stepped on to it. I would not need my sword until I reached the top.
I held my shield over my helmet and climbed. I used my right hand for support. Stones, both large and small, crashed down on me but I had archers who were protecting me. I was tempted to see how the other ladders fared but that would have been foolish. I had to concentrate on my job. I knew I was getting close as I looked at the ground below me. It took all of my willpower to resist grabbing my sword. I had to hang on until I saw the crenulations. Only then would I be able to draw my sword.
As soon as I saw the stones standing proud I drew my sword. When I did so my shield was rocked by a defender with an axe. The shield cracked alarmingly. An arrow whizzed over my shoulder and I heard a cry. It was my chance. I quickly clambered up the last two steps and pushed my shield between the crenulations. One of my archers had cleared the way for me.
As I stepped down I sensed, rather than saw the spear man lunge at me. He was on my right and so I used my sword to flick the head away. It scraped along my surcoat making a tear. Keeping my shield behind me I did that which he did not expect. Keeping the wall to my right I ran at him. The wall walk was two paces wide but the spearman’s lunge had unbalanced him and I used the side of my sword to push him from the wall walk. He tumbled, screaming, to the outer ward. I turned and saw two men with raised axes. Harry Longsword was there. I just ran at them. Once again, their raised arms unbalanced them and I knocked them to the ground. I swung my left leg between the legs of one of them and then, as I lunged forward, I skewered the other one.
Behind me I heard, “Thank you, lord! I have your back.”
I did not reply. I brought down the edge of my shield across the throat of the second man at arms and he lay still. I left the two bodies there. They would be a barrier until my other men arrived. When Ridley the Giant stepped behind me I shouted, “You two clear that side. Sir William and I will deal with this side.”
Two more men approached me. I was now better placed to fight. I held my shield before me. The wall protected my left. They had spears which they held two handed. They had no shields. Both lunged at the same time. They were veterans. They hoped that one would break my defence. I raised my shield and flicked with my sword at the same time. I had been taught the trick by my father. At the same time, I placed my foot on one of the bodies and, bringing my head back, butted the defender to my right. He had a bascinet helmet and my full-face helmet smashed his face to a pulp. I grabbed his shoulder and threw him over the wall walk. I brought my sword around and it hacked across the upper arm of the second spearman. It cut through to the bone. He grabbed his left arm with his right and I ended his life.
Behind me I felt a shield in my back. “It is William, lord!”
“Take the wall side. We will head for the gatehouse. Harry and Ridley hold here and send the rest behind us. We take the gatehouse!”
