Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,59

glittered on shields and weapons, as well as the armour of the front riders. The sound of hooves reached them, growing rapidly from a faint rumble to a louder beat, as the column came nearer. It seemed endless literally dozens of horses, then carts, then people on foot. There were several carriages, such as those which were used by ladies, with rich hangings , and beautifully-caparisoned horses to pull them. As they drew nearer, Judith BOSON BOOKS

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could see that some of the riders, particularly those riding beside the carriages, were gorgeously dressed and carrying only the lightest of weapons.

She gasped.

"It is the King!" she said to Aaron. "King Henry is back from France but where is

he

going? Where are we?"

She looked around in bewilderment.

"They are heading towards that," said Aaron, pointing to the buildings on their left. "It must be a nobleman’s dwelling."

Judith shook her head.

"It is not fortified," she said. "No nobleman would live there. I think it must be a monastery or priory, such as the one in Lewes, which has William Foville as its Prior."

She gripped Aaron’s arm in sudden excitement.

"We must join them!" she said, gesturing at the riders passing in front of them. "If I can get my name before the King why, we are safe!"

"If we simply gallop out, we shall be attacked," said Aaron. "And we cannot, in any case, because of our unconscious companion. We had better watch them, and, if they do go wherever that is," he nodded in the direction of the buildings," we can follow later and ask for shelter ourselves."

"We shall be safe if we approach them slowly now," argued Judith. "We are two horses and three people one obviously sick, or in trouble. If we come out of these trees slowly, with one arm upraised in greeting, surely they will not see us as a threat? There are scores of them."

Aaron shrugged.

"If you think so," he said.

"I do!" she retorted, and urged her horse forward out of shelter. Aaron followed, every muscle tensed, ready for instant action although

what that might entail, he could not

fathom. He and Judith both raised their right arms and waved them slowly.

A sudden shout from the procession below them indicated that they had been seen. A group of riders detached themselves from the rest and came cantering towards then, drawing their swords as they did so. Aaron and Judith stopped the horses where they were, and waited.

They could see that the group consisted of five men, all in light chain mail and helmeted.

They held short, heavy broadswords in one hand, while the other held the reins. Judith, slightly in front of Aaron, could feel his tension coming in waves behind her, and willed him to keep still. The burden his horse carried was clear, as he stood beside it, one hand on its reins. The riders drew close and circled them, peering at them to make sure that they presented no danger. Judith raised her chin and stared back at them confidently.

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"It s Belaset s daughter, by God!" said a voice.

She turned to look at the rider who had spoken her name. He was a tall man, lounging easily on his horse, as though part of it. Pale eyes looked back at her, beneath the helmet, above a purposeful mouth.

"Sir Roger de Tourney!" she said. "I am greatly relieved to see you."

"But how come you here?" said de Tourney. "Were you not returning to Lewes from Amiens?"

"That was my plan, Sir Roger," she said wryly. "But someone had other plans for my future. I was diverted to London and..."

She looked round at the rest of the group.

"...and I shall tell you the rest in private," she finished.

De Tourney nodded in understanding. At that moment, Jervis stirred and moaned. De Tourney looked at him and then blinked, and bent closer. He straightened and looked harder at Judith.

"It will be of great interest to me, to hear what you have to tell me," he said.

"Meantime, we must escort you and your companions to shelter. The King stays in his chambers at Merton Priory tonight, and we will all find lodgings, food and warmth there with him. The monks will no doubt see to your friend. They are skilled in such matters."

The other four riders had neatly positioned themselves behind Judith and Aaron’s horses, as they had been speaking. Now, guarded discreetly, but guarded nonetheless, they rode down the slope to join the column making its way along the road. The tail end was