Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,135

again, and began to pick his way, skirting the corpses that still lay where they had fallen. Mercifully, the fading light hid the worst of their wounds now, but it also meant that sometimes he stumbled over an arm or a leg, and shuddered at the unwelcome contact. Here and there, people were moving among the dead, stripping them of anything valuable they could find. Weapons, rings, even crosses on chains, would all disappear into the capacious sacks such robbers carried with them.

He was close to the West Gate now, and passing within sight of Belaset s house, when he almost walked into a group of soldiers. Just as he was about to hail them, he noticed the white crosses on their tunics. De Montfort s men! He stopped dead, then backed slowly and soundlessly away, and around the corner of the nearest house.

What were de Montfort s men doing, strolling so confidently around? There was only one, unbelievable answer: despite the early successes of the King, de Montfort had somehow swung the battle in his favour. Jervis considered what he should do now.

Should he still make for the castle, and risk being captured? Should he simply hover about, and try to hear what was being said? Should he make his escape, while he was free but where

could he go? He was on foot, wounded, extremely hungry (he now realised), and completely alone. There was only one place near enough for him to seek shelter and ask for help help which he had no doubt would be gladly given.

* * *

Inside the house, barred and shuttered from the turmoil outside, Belaset had sat with Aaron and Judith. The shutters and door had been made to fit so tightly that not the smallest chink of light had penetrated. Belaset had agreed that they should use one candle, when it was time to eat, so that they could at least see their food. Other than that, they had sat in the close darkness, waiting for time to pass. It had gone more slowly than Judith had believed possible. The only sounds that they had heard had been muffled by the thick walls, but there had been the sound of many men passing, then faint cries and shouts.

Their house and, as far as they knew, the houses of the rest of the small community, has been ignored. It was strange, sitting there in the darkness, whispering the occasional words to each other. The candlelit meal, coming in the middle of the day, added to the oddity of the experience. She was glad that Aaron was with them, and he and she had sat hand in hand for much of the long day. Now and then, she felt him shifting beside her, and knew that the inaction was chafing him as much as it would any man. She squeezed his hand sympathetically, when he sighed suddenly, and he put both his hands over her one hand as thanks.

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Belaset’s Daughter

They were all startled when the knocking came at the front door. It was not the peremptory thunder of marauders, but a more persistent tap, tap, tap. Belaset lit the candle again, and they sat waiting to see what would happen next. The knocking was repeated, and Aaron stood, taking the candle, and walked out of the room to the front door. They heard him say "Jervis!", in a surprised, but glad tone, and then heard the door being unbarred and opened. Belaset and Judith looked at each other, in the light that came through the open door, then turned to watch as Aaron, supporting Jervis by an arm around his waist, half-carried him into the room.

One look was sufficient to make the women hurry to help. One side of Jervis s head and face was matted with blood, and blood still oozed from the cut in his temple. His clothes were torn and muddy, and he looked as pale as death on the unmarked side of his face. Gently, Aaron lowered him on to a chair which stood near the wall, and Jervis sat and laid the back of his head wearily against the wall.

"I am glad to see you are all safe," he said.

"Of course we are safe," said Belaset, sounding cross in her anxiety. "But, Jervis, what happened to you?"

Jervis gestured weakly.

"I was sent to find out how Duke Richard s men were faring. It was clear that things were going well, so I turned to go back to my lord de