The Dunston Blade (12 page)

“Sorry about that,” said John. “We wanted to make the arrow slits like a cross so the archers can fire sideways easier.”

Tania laughed and she and her maid went on to the Keep. Everyone was in their respective homes, eating their evening meal when a Page entered the great
hall where John and the others were dining, and approached the top table where Tania was occupying the chair next to the Earl’s empty one.

“My Lady there is a man without who wishes to see the Earl, I told that he was not available, as I did not wish to say he was not here,” said the Page.

John rose and said, “I will go to see what is so urgent, if you so wish.” Tania nodded her head and John followed the Page to the Bailey where he saw
William standing by his horse. John felt a feeling of foreboding as he hurried over and asked.

“What is the problem William, is my family all right?”

“Yes sir, everyone was well when I left but your father asked me to bring some news.”

John led William into the Castle and into an anteroom where William explained the threat that had been issued by Ralf. John felt his anger rising and
questioned William on whether other farms had been dealt with the same way. William said that it was normally the Steward from the Castle that went out to
the other tenants, Ralf did not stir himself only to hunt, he had come to the Smithy himself expecting that Boorman would get nowhere with Jack. John sent
William into the Hall to join in the meal while he thought about the news he had brought. There was no way to discuss it with Sir Cedric as he was probably
on route home, so he must make decisions himself. He was pacing the room when the door opened and Tania, with her ever present maid, walked in.

“What is it John, is there trouble?”

John explained what William had told him and Tania was horrified.

“Why can’t landlords run their affairs the same as we do, we have no major troubles with our tenants.”

John said he would think about the problem for an hour or so and then if he came up with a plan he would call her to discuss it. It was only half an hour
Later when John knocked on Tania’s door.

“I must go and protect my father but I must also try and protect the village too so the best way is to go to Ralf and show him that my father is not alone
and this is not the way to behave. I intend to depose him and take the Castle. I am sure Sir Cedric will understand but I must take action now. I will go
and rest in the forest near Dunston so that we are in position at first light, I will take Carac and 100 men at arms. I know Ralf has only a few fighting
men as they went with his father and not many came back. If I meet resistance from Ralf to my proposal that he should surrender the Castle to me I shall
take it by force.”

“This is a bold move,” said a shocked Tania. “What will my father say, you are his Squire so whatever you do will reflect on him?”

“I also know he would not want to see villages treated this way, it is the route to another rebellion. Dunston is near enough for us to administer and I am
sure once we hold it the men in Westminster will grant it to us, and maybe more. If anyone at Norwich tries to argue against it they will remember where
they stood in the last conflict!” replied John.

He kissed her, in spite of the squeal from her maid and strode out to find Carac.

The force assembled outside the Castle and John explained what he intended and received a supportive cheer when he finished. They rode off with John riding
Anvil with Carac at his side, just behind came Sam with Hammer. They skirted Wymondham so as not to arouse the town and reached the forest and quietly
camped with no fires. John lay down feeling nervous, he was sure of his plan but not so sure of Sir Cedric’s attitude. In the morning as the group began to
ready themselves, John dressed in ordinary doublet and hose as his plan was to first call on Ralf to establish what had taken place. He mounted Anvil and
with Sam in attendance rode out to the Castle. His force was well hidden and as John approached the main gate everywhere looked calm and serene. A loan
sentry challenged him at the gate and when John said he wanted to see Ralf he was told the master had gone to Saxlingham the day before on a rent
collection tour and was not expected back until later that day. John turned back to the forest somewhat deflated, he told the men and sent them further
into the forest so they could light fires and make a meal. John called Carac to him and told him he would visit his father to tell him what was happening.
Within half an hour John was in front of his family explaining that he had come to reason with Ralf, he neglected to include that he had an armed escort.
Jack listened carefully.

“I think you have reacted a bit too soon John, you should have waited for the Earl to come back.”

“Who knows when that will be, they are too busy ruling the country between them, now the King is dead and the Prince still away, Ralf could be here with
his men any day,” responded John.

“Well, don’t go too far, I would like to come with you but I must think of your mother and sister as well as keeping the forge going,” said Jack.

John went back to his men in the forest and found them roasting a couple of pigs.

“I hope they were paid for,” said John. Carac told him that a smallholder with several animals had offered them, Carac had found out he used to be farmer
but had been turned off his land by Ralf for not paying the new rent. As they were cleaning up the remains of their lunch a lookout came hurrying to John
to tell him that Ralf and his men had returned. John mounted Anvil and with Carac set out for the Castle. The guard saw them coming and sent someone in to
warn Ralf who had not yet dismounted. Ralf appeared at the gate and waited for John to reach him.

“Ah, the blacksmith’s son returns then, are you not happy cleaning a Knights boots?”

“More happier than you will ever know,” replied John. “I come today to tell you not to intimidate my family or try to extort money from them.”

“Oh and by what authority do you say such to me?”

“I need no more authority than to protect my family, and to offer it to anyone else who wants it, from your tyrannical yoke.” By this time several people
had gathered nearby and several shouted out in agreement. Ralf went red in the face and glared at John, some of Ralf’s men had begun to come through the
gate and see what all the fuss was about, emboldened by this Ralf called them to arrest John but no one moved as at the forest edge they had spotted John’s
men slowly advancing. He gave a signal for them to stand just behind him. Ralf again shouted for his men to arrest John and one or two began to move
forward. John warned Ralf to call them back as he would not be arrested. Ralf was now consumed with anger and started to go with his men towards John who
gave a signal and his men charged in a compact group towards Ralph. The men at the gate tried to go back but were met by men trying to come out to see what
was happening in the melee that ensued Ralf’s horse reared and unseated him. As he struggled with the animal and tried to get up into his saddle,
unsuccessfully, John rode up to him and looked down.

“Will you yield to me and surrender your Castle or shall I take it, and you, by force?”

As he said this John unsheathed his sword and had it at Ralf’s throat, Carac’s force drove at the gateway and stopped any chance of the gates being closed.
Most of Ralf’s men had run back into the Bailey with just a few standing by him with swords lowered. Ralf dropped the reins of his horse and stood looking
up at John, still with the sword inches from his throat.

“You will never get away with this, I will have your life for this outrage.” Ralf spat out the words.

Calmly John spoke to him again. “I ask you again,do you yield?”

Ralf looked at John then at his sword and the men around him and being the coward he was, offered his sword to John.

“In the face of these odds I yield.”

John lifted his sword from Ralf’s throat and raised it aloft. “I take this Castle and all its entitlements in the name of Sir Cedric of Wymondham, as
surrendered to me by Ralf de Brehalle.”

There broke out loud cheering not only from John’s men but also many villagers and farmers who had suddenly appeared. John told Carac to see there was no
looting and to put guards on the gate also to see any of Ralf’s men were rounded up and put in the dungeons, Boorman suggested Ralf and the officers be
sent to the West tower where there was only one entrance. John agreed and then rode into the Bailey and dismounted. Boorman stood in front of him and
bowed.

“I would like to remain in service here sir, I am willing to pledge allegiance to whoever takes control of the Castle.”

“Thank you Boorman, I will need you as you know the Castle and I do not. Sam stable my horses, find Carac and meet me in the main hall.”

John’s adrenalin was still flowing high as he stomped into the Main Hall and sat himself down at the large table there. Sam and Carac came in and John
issued orders that the Castle should be made secure, guards posted, battlements manned and a courier brought to him.

“A lot to do for our small force,” said Carac.

“We must send for reinforcements from Wymondham,” responded John. “We can clear out the Castle of Ralf’s men, that will help.”

After John had sent the courier off to Wymondham they started to close the Castle down for the night.

John found an empty bed and tried to get some sleep but the thought of what he had done kept churning around in his mind keeping away that pleasant
blankness that sleep can bring. The morning brought no relief and he entered the Hall with some trepidation. A place had been set for him and Carac and
food was on the table.

“Have the prisoners been fed?”

“ Yes,” said Carac. “Ralf has asked to see you.”

“Any sign of reinforcements? I had hoped they might march at night,” said John.

Carac told him that everywhere was quiet and the Castle staff were going about their duties as though nothing had happened.

“Everything went so quickly, I still can’t believe what we have done,” said Carac as he finished eating and prepared to check the guards and bring Ralf
down to John.

“Wait,” said John. “I will see him later, when I have thought a little more on our position. Send out scouts to see what the atmosphere is like in the
villages, two men should do, Fredric and Steven would be the best, they are level headed and will bring back a true report. We need to know if I have poked
a stick into a hornet’s nest.”

As they sat at the table a guard came in and reported that there was a large crowd of people at the South gate. John followed him to the gate and on
arriving called out to the crowd.

“Do you have a spokesman, or someone who can speak for you?”

“ Yes, we do,” said a voice that John knew well and his father stepped forward.

“Open the postern and let him in.”

John greeted his father and asked what the crowd wanted.

“They have heard that Ralf has been defeated and want to know what is going to happen, as do I. How did all this happen son, are you now ruling this
village?” asked Jack.

“As I am here then yes I will be in command until I hear from Sir Cedric. How did they know so quickly and what do they expect?”

Jack explained that the quarter day was tomorrow so they were all coming to the Castle, they were worried what was going to happen as most of them would
not be able to pay the new rents.

“Go and tell them that no rents will be collected until I have seen the records and then I will look at each tenancy and we will reach an agreement on what
they should pay, until then they are to carry on with their work as we need the crops and the animals to survive.”

Jack smiled at John’s words, he could see his son had grown up. Jack went out and spoke to the crowd who cheered and most turned away to go back to their
farms, all but a number of rough looking men who gathered round Jack. John prepared to open the gate and assist his father but Jack re-entered the Bailey

“Those men are ex men at arms that Ralf threw out when times got tough they want to know if they can be of use?”

John thought for a moment. “Let them through the postern one at a time and I will speak to them.”

After he had spoken to them all only two were told to leave, it transpired that most had been living in the forest and were on the edge of becoming
outlaws. John sent them to the battlements and told all but four of his own men to come down and be ready in the Bailey. A shout came from the battlements
that a rider was coming, it was one of the scouts and he came to report to John that he had seen nothing out of the ordinary to the North. John sent him to
the kitchens for food and despatched another rider to watch the road from Norwich. John told a guard to bring Ralf to the hall. John and Carac sat at the
table when Ralf was brought in.

“ You cannot keep me as a prisoner, I demand to be released, and when I am you can be assured that I shall be on my way to see the King.” Ralf demanded.

“ You will have a long way to go as the King is still abroad. I don’t want you here either but I must wait for Sir Cedric to decide on your future and
until then you will reside in the West tower, take him back.”

The guard escorted Ralf back to his room. John decided to get some fresh air and went up onto the battlements, he could see the smoke curling upwards from
the Smithy in the still air and thought of his peaceful life there, such a lot had happened since leaving his home, he knew he had changed, but was it for
the better? He suddenly had the urge to go home to see his family but he could not leave the Castle yet. After their evening meal John and Carac walked
through the Castle talking to the staff who had remained, they appeared to have accepted the situation and responded to John. That night he slept easier
and drifted off to sleep thinking of Tania. He rose early and went back to the battlements, the night guards had seen nothing to report. The morning was
crisp and the mist lay close to the ground, it was very still. His reverie was broken by the sound of a galloping horse as the courier returned from
Wymondham. John ran down the steps to meet him as he dismounted.