Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Penman (best ebook reader android TXT) 📗

men panicked, whirling about, slipping in the mud, crashing into one another in their haste to escape the trap.Walter jerked his sword from its scabbard. Godfrey's action had been instinctive, but Walter knew it was also futile. The Welsh were firing from both sides of the road, with savage-sounding battle cries that only panicked his men all the more. The woods offered no refuge, only shafted death, and he shouted, "Make haste for the castle!" An arrow burned past his thigh, grazed his stallion's mane, and he spurred the animal forward. The horse stumbled over Giles's body, righted itself, and lengthened stride. In the fading light, Walter never saw the rope stretched across the road. It caught him in the chest; he reeled backward, hit the ground with jarring impact.When he came to, dazed and disoriented, he did not at first remember where he was. He groaned, started to move, and a knife blade was at once laid against his throat. Behind the knife were the coldest green eyes he'd ever seen. The man was young, twenty at most. He said something in Welsh, and Walter said, "Ido not understand."The youth spoke again, harshly, and Walter shook his head, tried to sit up.His coif was jerked off, and the knife nicked into his throat; a thin red line appeared upon his neck. He froze, scarcely breathing, and the pressure eased slightly.From the corner of his eye he could see several figures huddled on the ground:a freckle-faced, frightened youngster, Godfrey, and a third

61an smeared with his own blood Beyond them a body lay sprawled in the mud, and nearby was a young Welshman, seeking to soothe Walter's roan stallionAnother man was now bending over him, a huge youth with a scarred cheek and deepset brown eyes He reached for the neck of Walter's hauberk, and as Walter recoiled, he grinned "Easy, English," he said, m accented but understandableFrench "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver'"He drew out the rolled parchment, eyes widening at sight of the Earl ofChester's seal "Chester," he murmured, passing the scroll to his companion"Well, well You fly high, English "Walter drew a deep breath, thanking God for this French-speaking, amiable giant Surely he could reason with this one But the other he glanced at the glinting blade, swallowed, and said in a rush, "My name is Sir Walter deHodnet, son of Sir Odo de Hodnet of Welbatch in Shropshire My father is a man of means, and will pay dear for my safe return ""Indeed7" The Welshman smiled at him "Horses7 Gold7""Yes, both," he said, knowing his father would not part with so much as a shilling on his behalf"You hear, Rhys7 We've a man of wealth in our midst Tell me, English, what of your men there7 Who ransoms them7"Walter stared up at him, perplexed Who'd pay money for men-atarms7 "I do not see""No, I know you do not But I'd wager your men do " He was no longer smiling, and Walter's mouth went dry Giles's voice was suddenly thudding in his earsHe blinded them Blinded them Blinded themHE was barely twenty, his face contorted with pam, sweat beading his upper lip, his temples A dark stain was spreading rapidly across his tunic Llewelyn knew few injuries were as dangerous as an upper-thigh wound, all too often the man died before the bleeding could be checked Drawing his dagger, he split the tunic, set about fashioning a rude tourniquet It was with considerable relief that he saw it begin to take effect"You're a lucky lad, Dylan," he said, and grinned "Half a hand higher and you'd have lost the family jewels "Dylan was chalk-white, but he managed a weak smile at that, whispered, "Jesu forfend "Two men were bnngmg up a blanket stretched across two poles, and Llewelyn rose, watched as Dylan was lowered onto it A flash of movement caught his eyeHe turned, saw the guide, Martin, standing

62several feet away. Llewelyn unfastened a pouch at his belt, sent it spinning through the air. Martin caught it deftly, tucked it away in his tunic For a moment their eyes held; then he silently saluted Llewelyn and vanished into the wooded darkness beyond the road.Ednyved was now at his side. He said, "Well?""Three dead, including one gutshot so badly that I thought he'd count death a mercy. Four captured. The rest fled. One horse taken. And this." HandingLlewelyn the parchment roll.Llewelyn, too, was startled at sight of the seal. "Chester, no less!" He turned, beckoned to the closest man. "Rosser, fetch a torch.""One of those taken is the lack-wit who led them right to us. A fool of the first order, but you might want to talk with him nonetheless, Llewelyn. He says his name is de Hodnet. Is that not what an English friend of yours be called, too?"Surprised, Llewelyn nodded. "Yes, Stephen de Hodnet. Yet the last I heard, Stephen was attached to Fulk Fitz Warin's household, not Montalt's. Of course, Stephen does have several brothers" He broke off and, after a moment, laughed and shook his head. "But no, I could not be that lucky!"GODFREY was cursing under his breath. Edwin sat stunned and silent beside him.They both stiffened at Llewelyn's approach, watching warily as he stopped before them and then moved toward Walter de Hodnet.Walter waited no less warily. The man standing before him was quite young, nineteen or twenty, dressed in the same homespun as his comrades, and Walter was startled when he said, in fluent French, "I'm Llewelyn ab lorwerth.Welcome to Wales."Walter flushed; even as frightened as he was, he did not miss the mockery in the other's voice. But he could not afford pride, not now, and he said hurriedly, "It's glad I am that you speak French, my lord. If I may say so, you're young to have made such a name for yourself." He summoned up a smile, was encouraged when Llewelyn smiled back. "My lord Llewelyn, may I speak plainly? I