The six archers moved off to find some food, leaving Tuck, Mérian, and the others looking on in dismay.
“I feared this might happen,” said Mérian. “Still, we had to try.” She looked to the friar for assurance. “We did have to try.”
“We did,” confirmed the priest. “And we were right.” He glanced at the young woman beside him. How lovely she was; how noble of face and form. And how determined. A pang of regret pierced him to see her once-fine clothes now stained and growing threadbare from their hard use in the greenwood. She was made for finer things, to be sure, but had cast her lot with the outlaw band; and her fate, like all who called the forest home, was that of a fugitive.
“Ah, my soul,” he sighed, feeling the weight of their failure settle upon him. “So much hardship and sadness could have been avoided if only that blasted abbot had agreed.”
“I had my hopes, too, Friar,” offered Mérian. “My father has ruled under Baron Neufmarché these many years—to the benefit of both, I think. It can be done—I know it can. But Hugo de Rainault is a wicked man, and there is no reasoning with him. He will never leave, never surrender an inch of ground until he is dead.”
“Alas, I fear you’ve struck to the heart of it,” confessed Tuck, shaking his head sadly. “No doubt that is where the trouble lies.”
“Where, Friar?”
“In the hearts of ever-sinful men, my lady,” he told her. “In the all-too-wicked human heart.”
After the men had eaten, those who were counted among King Raven’s advisors joined their lord in his hut. As they took their places around the fire ring, Bran said, “We need more men, and I am going to—”
More men, thought Tuck, and remembered what it was that he had learned from the abbot. “Good Lord!” he cried, starting up at the memory. “Forgive me,” he said quickly as all eyes turned towards him, “but I have just remembered something that might be useful.”
Bran regarded him, waiting for him to continue.
“It is just that—” Glancing around, he said to Iwan, “How many soldiers did you say the abbot and sheriff had with them?”
“No more’n twenty,” replied the champion.
“At most,” confirmed Siarles.
“Then that is all they have,” said Tuck. “Twenty men—that is all that are left to them following the two attacks.” He went on to explain about meeting with the abbot, and how Hugo had let slip that he no longer had enough men to defend the town. “So, unless I am much mistaken, those who attacked you are all that remain of the troops Baron de Braose left here.”
“And there are fewer now,” Siarles pointed out. “Maybe by four or five. He can have no more than fifteen or sixteen under his command.” He turned wondering eyes towards Bran. “My lord, we can defeat them. We can drive them out.”
“We can take back control of the cantref,” echoed Iwan. “One more battle and it would be ours.”
They fell to arguing how this might be accomplished, then, but arrived always at the same place where the discussion had begun.
“Gysburne may have only sixteen left,” Bran pointed out. “But you can believe he won’t be drawn into open battle with us. Nor can we take the town or the fortress, for all we are only six able-bodied bowmen. So, it comes to this: we need more men, and I am going to raise them.” He paused. “First things first. Iwan, I want you and Owain and Rhoddi to watch the road—day and night. Nothing is to pass through the forest without our leave. All travellers are to be stopped. Any goods or weapons they carry will be taken from them.”
“And if they refuse?” asked the champion.
“Use whatever force you deem necessary,” Bran replied. “But only that and no more. All who comply willingly are to be sent on their way in peace.”
“Nothing will get past us, my lord. I know what to do.”
“Siarles,” said Bran, “you and Tomas are to begin making arrows. We’ll need as many as we can get—and we’ll need bows too.”
“And where will we be getting the wood for all these bows and arrows?” asked Siarles.
“Wood for bows, I know, and where to find it,” Angharad said, speaking up from her place behind Bran’s chair. “We will bring all you need, Gwion Bach and I.”
Bran nodded. “The rest of the Grellon are to be trained to the longbow.”