The Crusader's Crown (Tales of the Brotherhood Series Book 1) by James Mercer (ink ebook reader txt) 📗

was poor and they were still a good distance away from the castle walls. Robert could only count five at most.

  Slowly one of the Bridgenorth guards turned his horse and was returning to the castle. As he arrived at the barred gates he looked up.

   “Forgive me my lord but I was told to give you this message exactly as it was said,” said the man-at-arms.

  The hint of a smile was hidden as he spoke. Robert nodded at the guard’s news and waited.

   “If the high and mighty Sir Robert doesn’t open the bloody gates. The Lord of Sancerre will put him on his lazy arse!”

  As the man had announced the title Robert’s head snapped up in the direction of the two mounted parties. He gave a shout of delight.

   “Bid them enter and allow them to keep their arms.”

  The guard galloped back to deliver the message and the two parties rode towards the castle. As they neared, Robert recognised all five of them. The only two who had really changed was the man at the head of the party, whose hair was now greying at the sides, and the youngest - who had grown a beard and broadened out since they last saw one another.

  The gate opened on their approach and Robert and Nathanial both raced down the steps of the gatehouse. The clatter of hooves on stone could be heard when they had reached the bottom and Robert looked up at the man who had changed his life.

   “Well I’m agreeably surprised,” said the mounted warrior with a grin. “I was expecting you to be fat and liverish, after living in such comfortable luxury for so long.”

  The man dismounted and started to approach him.

   “And I am slightly alarmed. For I must admit, that I didn’t think you would age so much in only eight years.” replied Robert.

  There was a pause between the two, before both men laughed and embraced as if they were brothers.

   “Commander Reynard.”

   “Sir Robert Spurling. It’s good to see you again my friend.”

  The other four riders had also dismounted. All four of them had stood side by side with Robert in the Crusade battles of Constantinople and the siege of Bridgenorth. Robert and Nathanial greeted and embraced three of them with genuine affection, the fourth stood silent and smiled a rare smile. Robert approached the great Moor, Ruscar, the finest of warriors he had ever fought alongside and grasped his arm.

  The two brothers were laughing with Nathanial as Robert turned back to them.

   “Still alive then?” he said to the two rogues.

  The Gutsberg brothers, Cherik and Jürgen. Bloodthirsty war dogs from Germania but loyal friends and deadly fighters.

   “Alive and eager for strong drink and a bare, breasted maiden,” grinned Jürgen.

   “The drink I can do. The women, you’ll have to pursue elsewhere.”

  Finally Robert turned back to a friend who he had not seen since his departure from the Byzantine capital. Jimmy Houghman had not been happy that Robert had not included him in the company of men who escorted the Commander back to France.

   “So do we call you me lord or do you still go by Rob?” he asked.

   “Rob will do. It’s good to see you Jimmy. So how long did it take you to sprout the beard?”

  The two men laughed and clapped one another on the back.

   “So what brings you here?”

   “Best we talk inside,” answered the Commander. “And where is that ancient veteran, Sir Roger,” he asked.

  Robert’s smile dropped.

   “Alas, Sir Roger died from a fever only a month or so ago. His body has been laid to rest already I’m afraid.”

   “I am sorry to hear that. He was a fine man and an honourable knight,” said the Commander.

   “Well, let us not mourn a man like he. Let us toast and celebrate his bravery and honour,” replied Robert.

   “Now that I like the sound of,” said Cherik.

The seven men laughed and joked as they drank their fill and cleared the several platters of food. Kate and Jennifer came to pay their respects to the Commander and hugged him fondly along with Cherik, Jürgen and Ruscar. Robert noticed that Jenny had caught Jimmy’s eye. He was amused at the thought of the trickster trying to outwit his older sister, for he would never succeed.

  Several toasts were made throughout the meal, some to Sir Roger and others to their lost friends who lay in peace not far from the castle. Sir Leon des Clemence and Nico of Sicily had both been slain at the battle of Bridgenorth castle and were buried beyond the castle walls. To bring about happier toasts, Nathanial was congratulated on his marriage to Kate and the arrival of their son.

  Soon after his sisters left them, Robert decided to ask the question again.

   “So what news? Have the Forgotten Army come to support the King against his rebellion?”

   “Nay. The squabbles of John and his barons are of little consequence to us. Certainly when neither the King nor his rebel lords could afford us,” answered the Commander.

  Reynard took a long gulp of wine before continuing.

   “The Pope has called for another Crusade.”

   “He wishes to cause even more chaos in the east again?” Robert asked grimly.

   “No. Palestine is crumbling and the Christian territories are slowly being seized by the Saracen. Knights and lords still travel there for glory and riches, but little comes from it. The Crusade is to support the Christian armies in Iberia. With the Pope’s encouragement, King Alfonse of Castile has succeeded in uniting the kingdoms of Navarre, Aragon and Portugal with his own. They intend to take their armies south and seize the