Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,127

Jervis entered. There appeared to be an argument going on, and de Warenne s face was flushed, although the other man seemed indifferent to his agitation. With a shock of BOSON BOOKS

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recognition, Jervis suddenly realised he was gazing at Prince Edward, the King s eldest son, and dropped to one knee.

"No, no, young man!" said Edward, with a smile. "There is no need for such courtesy here. Stand and come here."

Jervis did as he was told. Edward turned to John de Warenne and continued to talk.

"My father the King sees no reason to be over concerned with whatever preparations de Montfort and his men are making. They cannot be a large number, since we have taken so many of them prisoner. Remember Northampton, John!"

"True, Your Highness, we have indeed taken many prisoners," agreed de Warenne. "Yet we have heard, from messengers sent from London, that the Ear of Leicester has gathered many new men to his banners. Their numbers may be greater than we believe."

"Their numbers may," agreed Edward. "But not their skills. What can an ill-disciplined rabble, more used to keeping shop or weaving cloth, do against our skilled archers and knights on horseback? We have nothing to fear."

"Though it grieves me to disagree with you, your Highness, we should at least make some preparations, surely?" said de Warenne.

The Prince waved the very idea away, with a gesture of his hand.

"I think we may rely on the reports we have received," he said. "Besides, we have men posted as lookouts. Our soldiers would take but a moment to be ready for a fight, and the lookouts have plenty of time to let us know, if they see movement. Now, let us have a day of leisure to recover from the festivities of yesterday. A saint s day should be celebrated as we celebrated the feast of St Pancras yesterday but my head is sorely in

need of some rest today!"

John de Warenne glanced at Jervis and sighed. Prince Edward, on the other hand, turned to the young man with a smile.

"I hear you have a taste for falconry, Master FitzHugh!" he said jovially. "And a fine bird of your own!"

Jervis bowed.

"Indeed, your Highness," he said, awkwardly, feeling like a green lad in front of such a man.

"Then come with me, and let us compare points between our birds," said the prince, standing. "Come with us, de Warenne," he said.

The three of them left the chamber and walked down to the castle green again. As they passed, people bowed low, and looked to see who was favoured by the Prince. John de Warenne was no surprise, since he was Edward s host, but Jervis FitzHugh? How did he come to be in such illustrious company? Many of those who saw them pass decided to be pleasanter to Master FitzHugh in future, since he was the chosen companion of Prince BOSON BOOKS

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Edward, as they could see with their own eyes. Jervis felt their eyes upon him as he passed, and made his back ramrod straight, looking to neither right nor left. He could see who they passed from the corners of his own eyes. He saw Robert and Philip standing there, gawking like girls, he thought to himself with satisfaction. It was the best moment of his life so far, he decided.

Standing with the Prince in the falcon house, the feeling that this was a high point in his life continued. There he stood, Jervis FitzHugh, discussing earnestly the finer points of falconry. The Prince knew all about falcons, he discovered, as he strove to give suitably intelligent and grave answers to the questions he was asked. They discussed the best places locally for hunting, and Jervis told about his own favourite spot, up the ancient track way to the very top of the hill just outside the town.

"It is the highest point around, your Highness," he said. "You can see for miles if the sun be high and the air clear of mist and fog."

"Indeed, Jervis," said Prince Edward. He turned to de Warenne. "Is this one of the places where we have set a lookout?"

"Yes, sir, we have men there," said de Warenne. "They have been keeping watch since we arrived in Lewes."

"Then we need not fear a surprise attack from the Earl of Leicester today," said Edward.

"Since, as your own squire tells us, it is the highest point and anyone up there can see for miles!"

Chuckling, and shaking his head, he led them back out of the