The Archer's Apprentice - Cover

The Archer's Apprentice

Copyright© 2021 by TonySpencer

Chapter 29: Fly Arrow, Fly!

(Lord William Archer narrates)

“You talk of rightful Kings,” I say to the Count, as he holds his bodkin to the windpipe of my Lady Alwen, “but the tradesmen and farmers know little of who is on the throne or not, only that transition from one to the other should be as smooth and unsettling as the tide on a beach. A King should bring stability and fairness to his court, and protection from both within and without, and in these regards I am happy that he has the present responsibility to rule. If King Henry or his daughter cannot in time bring about an heir to his reign, then let him serve the full term of his life and then let your good Duke accept the crown from him as heir, if that is the wish of them both. Let such changeover of sovereign not cause ripples that upset the King’s subjects, and we will all be happy and loyal to each King in turn.”

“Ha!” comes a voice of derision from behind me, “so, Reeve Archer, you support your Monarch, though he has ravaged your own Welch country not five or six years ago? Do you not ache to avenge your countrymen by replacing him?”

I recognise the voice, Lord Gerald of Wellock. From the tone of his voice it did not sound like he was here to support a Welshman to support his King even though the King was a Norman.

“I had wondered when you would put in an appearance, Wellock, with another rag tag army at your back. Are you here to back up your treasonous brother or cousin here, or to serve your King, who you have foresworn before witnesses and God so to do?”

“Bah! Your King is nothing to me, he would have me ruined sooner than consider the wellbeing of one of his former supporters. How can we have Welchmen like you and your Saxon wife as Knights and Ladies? And yes, I know all about your whore, how she had her child conceived out of wedlock, that mercifully died of shame as she was abandoned by you her father by marriage so shortly after the conception. Even now we have Welch scum ravaging the Marches, no better are they than you, who only returned to your marital responsibilities when you had something to gain, in this case the favour of a King who is old and in desperate need of replacement.”

“So where do we go from here, Wellock?” I ask, “as I have a bead on your accomplice, and I know you have no love of archers.”

“True, Welchmen, I have no need of archers, but are you so certain that I have any need of landless Flemish Counts, either?”

Just then, the six black Knights near the bridge begin to move forward.

“Wellock, tell your men to stop their movement, or I will let fly at your Count!”

“They are not my Knights, Archer, I thought they were yours, so you tell them to halt!”

Though I cannot see behind me, I hear more horses gallop up, though they must have been silent coming up the hill to the church, as they were unheard by any of us until now. I can hear the sound of many broadswords being drawn and other weapons being cast to the ground. I cannot see what is going on, as I darenst take my eye off the Count and my dear Lady ahead of me.

Suddenly, Alwen moves her head, her back is so restrained by the cord about her, that she cannot move it much. The Count, as if he has just been stung, drops the knife and moves away momentarily before trying to rock back behind my wife. It was such a tiny window of opportunity, and I did not for moment miss it, I released my arrow unerring towards its target.

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