at them in disgust, then gazed into the distance, over their heads.
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Luckily, at that point, Trubodi joined them. He seemed to have fully recovered from the exertions of the day, and sat his horse as though he could barely restrain himself from digging his heels in and galloping off at top speed. He looked eagerly at Guy.
"Where to now, master?" he said.
"Wait until the others are here, and let Sir William tell us all," said Guy.
Monchesny pointed to where the four foot soldiers were approaching them across the courtyard. The men looked ready for anything, in their leather jerkins and iron helmets.
Their short swords were at their sides and each man had a dagger stuck into his sword-belt. They marched in step and drew up smartly, on the command, in front of Monchesny. He looked them over and nodded approvingly, then looked up at the others.
"Here’s the plan," he said. "The Jewry is, as you know, a small space of a few streets only. One hour should give us time to search every house, if necessary. We’ll approach the area quietly, so as to avoid notice. That means it would be better if we didn’t all arrive at the same time. I want Guy, Trubodi and two of you men to go to the north side; the rest of us will go to the south. We’ll sweep round the outer street, then meet in the middle, by coming in at each end. Keep watch for anyone trying to slip away, specially from houses which have already been searched, to warn other families."
He paused and Guy placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I have something to add to your plan, if I may," he said.
The other man nodded and Guy looked round the group.
"We’re looking for someone who we know has a message for the King," he said. "It’s a woman. Under no circumstances is any harm to befall her is that clear?"
There was a murmur of surprise from the foot soldiers.
Monchesny nodded briskly.
"Nothing will happen to her, when she is captured," he said. "She’ll be escorted straight back here and lodged for the night. Any man with any other ideas will be severely punished. Before we start, are there any questions?"
There was no response. Satisfied, he divided the four soldiers the sergeant and one other with Guy and Trubodi, the other two with Jervis and himself. He turned to the sergeant.
"I trust you to guide our friends to the far side of the Jewry," he said. "Once there, search every house and their synagogue thoroughly. Take no excuses and leave no house, until you are satisfied the woman is not there. They will curse you, but remember they cannot harm you with their words and it is not their way to use weapons. We’ll meet outside the house of their leader, Benjamin Yechiel, whose house I will search myself.
One group should have the woman with them by then."
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He nodded curtly at them, then led off towards the gates. The others trotted silently behind him, with the foot soldiers running one beside each horse. They went under the arch and across the drawbridge. Once more, they headed down Thames Street, passing again the entrance to London Bridge. Guy looked down it, quieter now that darkness was coming, but still with some traffic on it, hurrying across before the way was barred by the great gates, which were closed each night.
A short way past it, Monchesny held up his arm for them to halt. He turned in his saddle and spoke in a low voice, but one which the group could all hear.
"This is where we part," he said. "Guy and Trubodi, the sergeant and two of his men will take you round past the Black Friars and into the Jewry from the north. We’ll start just here, and sweep round and up until we reach the top, then we will come back down the middle and meet you there. Good luck!"
He urged his horse on and Jervis followed, making a cheerful salute to the others, his injured pride apparently forgotten in the excitement of the moment.
"And good hunting to you, my lord!" said Trubodi to his master. Guy smiled wryly, knowing it was no slip of the tongue.. He squared his shoulders and gathered up the reins of the horse more firmly.
"Well, sergeant, we are in your hands," he said to the man beside him. "Lead us to the first house, and let’s hope that this job will