The armourers checked that all swords and daggers had keen edges, and that handles were firm.
In the Castle, the excitement was as intense as it was in the camp down below them.
Jervis, all thoughts of falconry forgotten, had rushed away from Madeleine as soon as the message had come for him to help prepare John de Warenne for the morrow. Now he was as busy as the rest of them, his moment of exalted status pushed into the back of his mind, as he concentrated on his tasks. He oversaw the checking of his lord s armour and weapons, then rushed to see that his horse was being properly prepared. From there, he spent a moment checking that his own mount was also being readied, before dropping into the room where the castle s sewing-women were busily stitching. Harried out of there albeit courteously he went
in
search of something to eat, and found himself a
loaf and some broth, which he devoured hungrily.
Chewing and swallowing, he thought suddenly of Judith and Aaron, along with Belaset, sitting in the house outside the walls. He must warn them and get them away from the town, he thought. There was no time now he would have to go there himself. No-one he knew in the castle would know where they lived, or understand why he would want to ensure the safety of some Jews. He would go later, he promised himself, and was summoned into de Warenne s presence again before he could think any more about the problem.
"Jervis, you will be at my side tomorrow," said de Warenne. "I want you to know that I have no doubt of your courage, when the time comes for you to show it."
"Thank you, my lord," said Jervis. "I shall not let you down."
"You have done excellently thus far," said de Warenne, kindly. "Tomorrow will be a testing time for all of us. Brother will fight brother when we meet de Montfort and his army. It will be hard to strike at an enemy, knowing that you were born of the same mother."
He looked deeply sad.
"Harder still to know that some who you counted among your friends did not share your most cherished principle," he continued.
Jervis could not help feeling pity for this man, so noble himself, who had sheltered an enemy for so long without knowing it.
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Belaset’s Daughter
"My lord," he said, hesitantly. "Has there been any more news of the whereabouts of Sir Roger s murderer?"
"There has," said de Warenne. "It was one of de Montfort s men who did the deed for us. The man with the face of a crab-apple eater that you described arranged it all, on de Montfort s instructions, since my lord had no more use for de Tourney himself. Thus was a traitor dealt with. He betrayed his King and was himself betrayed."
"It was a terrible end, my lord, nevertheless." said Jervis, carefully.
De Warenne sighed.
"You have a good heart and a Christian soul, young Master FitzHugh," he said, sadly.
"Let no-one change it too harshly for you."
Jervis bowed his head and waited in silence, as de Warenne gathered himself.
"Well," came his voice again, sounding like his usual brisk and decisive self. "We must make our plans for the morrow. As I said earlier, you will stay by my side as much as possible. I have arranged that any wounded who can walk by themselves, should make their way back here to the castle, where they will be safest. The women and children will also stay here, of course, and any townsfolk who wish to come and take shelter here.
These walls have stood for almost two hundred years, since my ancestor William de Warenne built them. They will surely stand against anything that might happen tomorrow!"
He gazed proudly around him, at the thick walls, and the magnificent tapestries that clothed them.
"Yes," he said. "The castle will stand, when all who live in it today are long forgotten and their bones turned to dust and ashes."
He turned back to Jervis.
"Go and make ready yourself, Jervis. Tomorrow we must fight for the King," he said.
"I shall be ready, my lord," said Jervis, and left the chamber. He went quickly to ensure that all that he had asked of to be done before was now completed and then checked that his short dagger was sharpened. He would have to wear thick clothing, he knew, and perhaps a breastplate, if he could find one, to offer some protection. A leather cap would have to do