The Dunston Blade (22 page)

“Thank you John, will you be taking part?”

John said that he would and that he had been drawn in the later jousts against the Barons. The jousting started with the young Knights and older Squires
competing, Gavin did well and had not been unseated when the turn of the Barons and older Knights took to the Lists. One of the Barons, Arthur Griffold,
unseated Gavin, dismounted and attacked him with his dagger, a Marshall quickly intervened and dismissed Griffold from the Joust (no swords were permitted
in a friendly Joust, and no fighting after being dismounted). His brother Henry Griffold, shouted at the Marshall and was obviously angry at the decision.
The King called one of his Courtiers to him and whispered in his ear whereupon the man left the stand. The Joust continued and John left the stand to ready
himself for his encounter, he noticed the King was not far behind him accompanied by Sir Cedric. As John rode to his designated end he was aware of the
murmuring as the crowd appreciated his armour and he felt proud for his father’s work. He donned his helm and received his lance from Stephen, as he did so
he looked at the opposing Knight and was surprised to see Henry Griffold. John had expected a Baron from Holt but he thought to himself I have more reason
to unseat this loudmouth. The Marshall gave the signal and the two Knights thundered towards each other, lowering their lances they each looked for the
best place to hit their opponent. John swayed slightly as they came together and also dropped his lance slightly. The move unsettled Griffold who missed
but John’s lance struck home and it took all Griffold’s skill as a rider to stay on his horse. They both stopped at the end of the List and selected
another lance and faced each other for the second charge. This time John swayed in the opposite direction and lifted his lance, it struck home and Henry
Griffold was dumped from his horse to the ground where he lay winded. John reached the end of the List and dismounted to see if he had hurt Griffold but
the man was up and striding towards John swinging a mace. The Marshall was running to them, shouting at Griffold to stop but the Knight was in a fit of
rage and swung at John who had by this time retreated to the end of the field. Suddenly John felt the handle of a sword in his hand. He could feel the ring
throbbing, it was his own sword that Tristan had given him. With two quick parries and a thrust, John sent Griffold’s mace spinning away, he had to
restrain his sword arm or Griffold would have been sent to the beyond without his head. The crowd roared as the Marshall arrived and tried to arrest
Griffold, John stopped him.

“Let the buffoon go and let us get on with the Tournament.”

Griffold turned away and walked to his horse amid derisory chants from the crowd and much laughter. John reached his pavilion and sat down while Tristan
fussed about.

“Who is my next opponent?”asked John.

“ Whoever wins the next bout between Sir Cedric and one of the Barons,” answered the Squire.

John got up and went out to mount Hammer as Stephen told him that the Earl had won at the first charge. John mounted and reached out for his lance.

“Good luck sir,” said Stephen. “Tristan has gone to the far end.”

John closed his helm, the signal was given and the two men began the charge. John tried his usual feint and managed a glancing blow to Sir Cedric, who had
also jolted John. They turned and gripped their second lances as the charge began again. John tried for his alternative feint but Sir Cedric was expecting
it and suddenly John felt a powerful blow to his chest and found himself flying from the back of Hammer to land with a thud on the ground. When he had
regained his breath he stood and bowed to Sir Cedric who waved an acknowledgement. He walked Hammer back to his pavilion. Divesting himself of his amour
John went up to the stand to see who would face Sir Cedric, the crowd were cheering and John looked over to the lists and there was the King mounted and
ready to face Sir Cedric. Their first charge resulted in neither scoring a hit as they thundered past each other. At the second attempt each scored a hit
but no one was unseated. The King altered his tactics at the third charge and was rewarded with a perfect hit on the Earl who swayed in the saddle and
eventually slid off. The cheering from the crowd brought a smile from the King, raising his lance in salutation as he rode back to his pavilion. When they
had all changed and were seated in the stand the King presented the trophies and gifts to the winners of the various events. John applauded Carac as he
came to receive his reward for winning the archery.

A fine banquet had been prepared for that evening and they were all nursing aches and pains as they sat for the repast. The King thanked everyone for
making it a successful Tournament and announced he would be staying for a further three days. The next day the King attended Mass at the Cathedral,
celebrated by the Bishop of Lincoln who was travelling with the King’s party. On returning to the Castle, King Edward summoned John to him.

“I have been hearing about your exploits, from Sir Cedric, and it would appear that you have a genuine interest in the success of your lands. I am
therefore granting you the lands that you already hold for Sir Cedric plus the ports of Yarmouth and Lowestoft. Sir Cedric agrees with this decision and
will support you when needed. You will also receive your charter for the market and wool fair at Dunston.”

John thanked the King and promised his fealty. The King looked at him and said that he might call on him in the near future. That evening only the King’s
party, and John with Tania, sat down to a meal. Queen Eleanor was deep in conversation with Tania no doubt talking babies, thought John, when Sir Cedric
asked the King what was happening in Wales.

“The situation is such that it will need my intervention before long,” muttered Edward.

The King arose the next morning and decided that as the weather was fine he would hunt. John quickly sent Tristan and Stephen off to arrange beaters. It
was nearly mid morning before the hunters left the Castle and entered the forest, so a halt was called to take food and wine before the business of killing
animals began. The hunt proved to be successful the King bringing down a Stag with a fine shot from his bow, the hawks brought in a bag of birds and
rabbits too. They were all in good humour on the way back to the Castle when dark clouds began to build in the sky. The King and his party put spurs to
their horses and galloped off to the shelter of the Castle. John and his Squires, stayed back to oversee the delivery of the game and made slow progress.
They were nearing the edge of the Forest when out of the trees rode Henry Griffold and four men at arms.

“Lost your protector have you?” snarled Griffold. “Now you can face me with proper weapons and no stupid Marshall to interfere.”

As he finished this outburst he drew his sword and spurred his horse towards John. Tristan and Stephen drew their swords and moved to cut off the men at
arms while John calmed Anvil and drew his own sword. John and Griffold met with a clash of steel, Griffold’s mount reared and threw him to the ground. John
quickly dismounted and waited for Griffold to stand. They circled each other until Griffold attacked slashing and lunging, John danced around him parrying
the attack. Griffold in desperation and rage pressed hard and John knew he would have to end the fight so with a consummate display of swordsmanship he
disarmed his attacker and with his sword at Griffold’s throat said.

“Yield, or I run you through.”

Griffold stood and let his arms drop, as John lowered his sword he suddenly stabbed at John with a knife that he had hidden in his sleeve. John’s sword
leapt in his hand and with extraordinary speed ran Griffold through the heart. As John withdrew his sword he could feel the ring pulsating on his finger,
looking around he could see that the men at arms had been reduced to two and the others had surrendered. John stood and cleaning his sword as he approached
the two men at arms.

“You will come with me and report this action truthfully to his brother,” he said. The men nodded and John told them to put Griffold’s body on his horse
ready to move off to the Castle. When they arrived Sir Cedric was in the Bailey.

“What’s this, extra game?”

John explained what had happened and said he would take the body to the Griffold’s estate. The Earl held up his hand.

“No, I will send a messenger to tell them to come here as I would like to speak to that family myself.”

John went to his room where Tania made a fuss of him, she was getting quite large as the birth approached. John tried to assure her he had been in no great
danger as Tristan and Stephen were there, omitting to tell her that they were also fighting at the time.

They lay together in bed as John pondered on what would happen when the Griffold’s came. It had been a natural reaction in a fight to finish off your
opponent, would the King get to hear of it or would Sir Cedric handle it himself, he was also still mystified by the way his sword seem to be connected to
his ring. Perhaps he should take the ring off. All these thought were racing around in his head as he turned towards Tania and found she had fallen asleep.

John came down to the Hall early and found Sir Cedric already there.

“Good morning John,” said the Earl. “You slept well I trust. I talked with the King last night of your escapade and he will talk to the Griffold family
when they arrive, there is history between them and the King wishes to settle it.”

John looked puzzled and hoped this was not a bad omen. The midday meal had just finished when the Griffold’s were announced. The hall was cleared except
for John, Stephen, Tristan, Sir Cedric and the King there was also a clerk in attendance. Arthur Griffold entered the Hall accompanied by an elderly couple
and two men at arms, four of the Castle guards stood behind them.

The King, sitting on a raised platform, spoke.

“Remove those armed men at once, what is this a rebellion?”

The two men at arms withdrew immediately and Arthur Griffold said. “They were here for our protection Sire as from past events we were not sure what to
expect.”

The King’s face turned red and he stood up, with the raised platform and his own great height his anger permeated the whole room.

“Kneel before your King you insolent dog!“ he roared.

The Griffold’s before him sank to their knees and bowed their heads.

“You seem to cause me to lose my temper every time we meet Sir Roland.”

The King addressed this to the old man.

“Fetch a chair for the lady and then tell me why your son was in the forest. Was he poaching my deer again?”

The old man, Sir Roland Griffold, looked up at the King.

“I am sure my son meant no harm, your Majesty, he was returning home after the Tournament and called to see a charcoal burner in the forest to arrange a
delivery for us.”

The King looked down on him.

“This was in the opposite direction of your home and you have your own charcoal burners near to your manor. Do not protest sir, your son died as a result
of his stupidity in attacking one of my valued subjects. You will return to your home and see to the burial of your son and Arthur will come to London
immediately after and join my guards where my captain can keep him under watch. I would not want him to follow in his father footsteps and be disloyal to
his King.”

Arthur looked at his father with questions in his eyes and Sir Roland bowed his head.

“Leave now before I remember too much.”

After saying this the King sat down and beckoned Sir Cedric to him.

“Have one of your men journey with them to make sure I am obeyed.”

The Griffold’s departed and King Edward said he was going to rest and would see them at the evening meal. “What was all that about? queried John. “How was
he involved with the King before?”

Sir Cedric said that if the King wanted him to know he would tell him.

That evening as they ate the King was in a jovial mood, he had rested well and he spoke of the campaign in Wales and that he would have to deal with
Llewellyn again, this was the second time he had mentioned it and John wondered if he was trying to tell him something and then dismissed the thought. If
the King wanted his services he would soon tell him.

When the Edward and his entourage left the next day crowds lined the streets and cheered the Royal Couple until they were out of sight. The visit had been
what the citizens had needed and now they could get on with their lives, even though they had to pay the fine for the damaged caused by the rioting.

Sir Cedric promised John he would be back as soon as possible with a Sheriff and John could then get back to his own lands.

For the next months John worked hard at getting Norwich back to a thriving and peaceful City, as well as making sure Dunston did not suffer too much by his
absence, he was helped in this by Tristan and Stephen as well as Roderick who looked after his Tenants. One night Tania was very restless and the next day
she began her labour, Matilda and Joan were there to look after her while John walked up and down in the Hall. Several of the older men who had families
tried to calm him but with no success. At last the Castle echoed with the sound of a baby’s cry and John rushed up to their room. Throwing open the door he
was confronted with a smiling Matilda and Joan and there in the bed was Tania with a little bundle in her arms.

“How are you and what is it?” said John, standing by her side.

“I am fine, and IT is your son, here hold him and see how beautiful he is,” laughed Tania as she held up the child to him. John held the little bundle
gently and pulled the cover away from the baby’s face, his heart nearly burst with pride and joy even though he would not have called the screwed up face
beautiful.

“Well done Tania,” he said as he laid the baby back in her arms and kissed her. “You must rest now, I will send a messenger to your father.”

A proud John came out of the room and seeing his two Squires embraced them and told them the news. Stephen said a celebration was called for and John
agreed but said they were to wait until Tania was strong enough to enjoy whatever they decided. Sir Cedric arrived and grasped John’s hand.