Belaset's Daughter - By Feona J Hamilton Page 0,60

nearest to them, and the usual rabble of kitchen and stable boys pranced, shouted and fought its way along in the footsteps of their elders and (sometimes) betters.

De Tourney took them along until they reached a cart, on which they laid Jervis, who seemed to have sunk into oblivion again. He was left in the charge of a fat, comfortable woman, who clucked in concern over him, as soon as he was placed near her. Once relieved of him, the other two were taken at a canter up the column towards the front.

They passed other riders, similarly equipped to their escort, then the closed carriages which carried the noblewomen and their companions, then more riders, and then there came the cluster of gorgeously dressed men on horseback. Their armour gleamed, their surcotes were gaudily embroidered, their horses were clad in the same colours as their riders. Pennants fluttered about them, carried by eager squires. In the centre, laughing and talking, was a fair man, handsome despite the slightly drooping eyelid. Henry III, King of England, was enjoying himself, riding through his kingdom in the early spring sunshine, surrounded by friends and full of confidence.

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Belaset’s Daughter

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

They passed under the great gateway of Merton Priory and entered a maelstrom of noise and bustle. Travelling with the King’s entourage had seemed noisy enough, especially after the silence of the marshes, but here in the middle of the crowded courtyard it was deafening. Judith’s horse, knocked by another, snorted and Judith patted its neck soothingly. She sat tight and looked around her, wondering what she and Aaron should do.

A movement caught her eye, and she looked to her left. De Tourney was standing up in his stirrups, gesticulating at her. She could see his mouth opening and shutting, but the sound of his voice did not reach her, let alone any words. Realising this, he waved at them to come in his direction. It seemed an impossible thing to do, but Judith began urging her horse forward, forcing people out of her path. She glanced behind her, and saw Aaron struggling along in her wake. It took several minutes to reach de Tourney, but they were beside him at last. He grasped Judith’s arm and, leaning towards her, shouted in her ear.

"Go with my manservant," he said. "He will guide you to your quarters. I have told him to place you both near to me."

She nodded and mouthed her thanks at him, but he waved her to go on with a smile. The servant, a beefy young man, with the biggest forearms she had ever seen, already had hold of her bridle and was gesturing to her to dismount. There was nothing for it but to do so in the middle of all the upheaval. Once down on the ground, with Aaron following her example, she grasped the back of the servant’s cloak and felt Aaron do the same to her.

Thus linked, the three of them began to edge their way to the side of the courtyard. It seemed to take another age of pushing and shoving, easing past men and horses, ducking where necessary to avoid outflung arms, weapons and feet. All around her, Judith could hear scraps of conversation and shouted commands. She was deafened and bewildered. At last, they reached the wall in safety, and their guide opened a door and walked into the building.

The heavy oak door banged shut behind them and the silence was as shocking as the noise had been. For a moment, there in the gloom, with the sudden total silence making her ears ring, she felt suffocated. Then, as her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, she saw that the passage stretched some way in front of her, and the manservant, some paces ahead, was smiling and beckoning. The oppressive feeling lifted and she stepped forward with more confidence. Aaron gave a great sigh of relief behind her. She put her hand out and he squeezed it once, then let it go again.

The manservant led them up a flight of winding stone stairs, then stopped and opened another heavy oak door at the top. They entered a large, light room, with windows all BOSON BOOKS

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Belaset’s Daughter

along one side. Judith walked across and looked out , to find herself gazing straight down into the courtyard they had just left. The chaos showed signs of lessening, as horses were led away and men left to find their own quarters. The King had already gone, she