The Dunston Blade (28 page)

“My father will be here later and we can look at your wool. I hope he can get here without trouble, there was some rioting last night, did you hear it?”

John said he had been disturbed but had not heard actual rioting. They sat in Henri’s comfortable house and waited as the rain still came down outside.
There was a noise at the door and a tall man appeared who Henri greeted as his father and introduced John and Tristan.

“I am very pleased to meet you, I am Philip de Bleese, head of the House of de Bleese and we are one of the best cloth makers in Bruges. Let us go and look
at your fleece, the quicker you return to England the better in these circumstances.”

They went out to the barn and unwrapped the wool, de Bleese inspected it thoroughly and after a while stood and said to John.

“This is a very good grade of wool, fine for turning into cloth. If the rest of your flocks can produce this quality then we shall both be very pleased.
Come back to the house and we can discuss how we proceed from here.”

John was feeling pleased that the journey looked like being successful but kept a straight face and hoped he could cope with the business side. Philip was
obviously used to dealing with the English Wool Fairs and set out his usual terms. John queried several points and gained better terms for Dunston with a
date to be set after shearing. Henri wrote up the terms and gave John the parchment and then produced a bottle and glasses from which they toasted their
venture.

The evening sun was hiding behind some dark clouds as they rode back to the Inn. Groups of men were standing about and John could sense a mood of unrest
like a dark blanket covering the City. They were grateful to arrive at the Inn with no trouble.

John and Tristan went down to the Harbour to find a ship for their return journey. Among the several that were moored there was and English ship bound for
Lowestoft on the early tide tomorrow. John arranged passage for them all and they could board tonight. As the rain had now stopped they decided to stretch
their legs and walk the horses back to the Inn. Halfway there they were confronted by a group of men demanding that they give them their horses. When John
refused and stood in front horses. The men rushed forward with swords drawn. John and Tristan quickly drew their own weapons and stood ready. John stepped
forward and met the first man, his sword became a blur as his adversary fell to the ground with his throat cut.

John sensed the second coming at him and with a quick reverse thrust ran him through. Tristan had overpowered another and was holding him at sword point
against a wall, he was begging for mercy as he had a wife and children. The last attacker was standing in shadow and made a move to run but John reached
him before he started and after a quick parry and thrust a third body was laying in the street. Tristan looked at John.

“What shall I do with this fellow?” he said.

“We will take him back to the stables and tie him up, if we take him to the authorities we shall be delayed,” answered John. “With all that is happening
around the City tonight let’s hope they won't worry about this until later.”

As they finished tying the man up and asking Alban to watch him while Chad collected their belongings, Tristan looked hard at John.

“Why do you look at me like that?” asked John. “Help me to move these into the canal?”

“I have never seen swordplay like that, it was so fast!” said Tristan.

“It is a well balanced weapon,” said John as he, himself, could not remember clearly what had happened. This sword certainly had a mind of its own.

Collecting up all their belongings they made their way down to the harbour. The Captain was waiting for them, they were soon aboard and easing their way
down the estuary.

“I will be glad to get back to England,” said Tristan.

They all agreed as they found places on deck to try and sleep while the ship silently slipped away from Flanders.

When they docked at Lowestoft all of them were eager to get off the ship and be on their way home. Once moving towards Dunston their mood lightened and
John thought about what had transpired during their visit. He was sorry he had to kill those men but the situation at that moment meant kill or be killed.
They stopped for a meal and rest by the village of Loddon, villagers had seen them and brought food and drink, it was the first time they had met their
Knight from the Castle. John thought about this and wondered if there was some way he could meet more of the people in his fiefdom.

As soon as they saw the towers of the Castle their mood lightened even further and they started singing, or a noise that could be construed as such.

Tania was waiting in the Bailey and rushed to him as he dismounted, Joan was there with Harold who was excited as much as they all were. Later, sitting by
the fire John relaxed and recounted what had taken place in Flanders but left out details of the fight, he had also commanded the others to keep quiet
regarding this episode.

“I must see the Earl as soon as possible,” he said to Tania. “He will need to know details of what we have agreed about the Wool Fair.”

“Think about that tomorrow,” replied Tania. “Now it is time to go to our bed.”

John yawned and agreed. John looked at Tania laying beside him, he touched her tummy and noticed there was just a little thickness there.

“I wonder if Harold will have a brother or sister?”

“I would like him to have a sister,” said Tania. “I expect you want another boy.”

“No, not really, I just hope you are all healthy and all goes well.”

Tania snuggled closer to him.

The next morning John went down to the forge and found his father. He told him of the fight in Bruges and what had happened when he used the sword.

“There is some power that guides this weapon. I am not sure that I like it.”

“I think the power comes from you, not the sword. You fit together and your skill is enhanced,” said Jack. John did not reply but thought to himself that
there was something strange about the sword.

John worked hard making sure his garrison were well trained and able to protect his fiefdom, he made the rounds with Roderick and informed the shepherds of
his visit to Flanders. They were very pleased and asked if it meant more for them and when told that it would, they shook John’s hand and said he would
have the best fleece in Norfolk. Tania continued to grow and as the summer came let Joan take more charge of Harold so she could rest. John found his
conjugal rights restricted but understood and remembered that it did not go on for ever. Sir Cedric visited often accompanied by Lady Ann, she seemed to
like the family atmosphere at Dunston.

II

One sunny afternoon Stephen came to John to tell him that a young man was outside the Castle at the end of the drawbridge, demanding to see him. John
thought it odd that he would not come into the Bailey, so he followed Stephen to the where the young man sat his horse. John noticed the man had a
companion with him and they were both wearing swords. Stephen went onto the drawbridge and called to the young man. “Who are you and what do you want? Will
you come forward into the Bailey where we can talk?”

“I will not step into your trap, I wish to speak to John Ivanson, is he here?”

John kept himself hidden while Stephen was talking but he had a clear view of the man and did not recognise him. The young man called back.

“My name is Nicholas Hausman and I claim revenge on John Ivanson for my father’s murder. Tell him to arm himself and meet me here in one hour and I will
have the revenge I seek.”

Stephen replied. “This is the home of Sir John Ivanson, a Knight of King Edward’s and you would do well to go back to your home and remember your father
was tried by a judge and jury and found guilty of his crimes. I will inform Sir John and he will decide whether to come out to you or not.”

Hausman inclined his head and the two of them rode away. Stephen came into the Bailey and John told him he had heard it all.

“Prepare Hammer in all his regalia and bring a tournament lance.”

Stephen went to prepare Hammer and John went into the Castle calling for Tristan.

“Fetch my armour and help me into it.”

John, with Tristan’s assistance donned his armour, strapped on his sword and stomped off back to the Bailey where Stephen stood holding Hammer’s reins.
Hammer was resplendent in his trapper and armour as John was helped to mount he was hoping his strategy would work. Placing his helm on his head he was
ready, he rode out of the Castle with the sound of a horn and Stephen at his side bearing his lance. Housman and his companion were facing him a few yards
from the drawbridge.

“Who challenges me?” roared John.

Houseman raised his lance.

“I, Nicholas Hausman, for the wrong you did my father.”

“When you fall, where will you be buried?” enquired John. Taking the lance from Stephen he rode towards Housman who grasped his lance and kicked his horse
into a charge. Hammer need no urging as this was what he was bred for. They sped towards each other and John used his same technique as in the Jousts and
his lance struck home and lifted Nicholas clean out of his saddle. John quickly reined in and turned towards the man on the ground, who was not moving. His
companion was holding up his hands shouting.

“He yields, have mercy,” as he rushed to the fallen man. John pulled Hammer to a halt and called to Stephen. “Take him in to the Castle, if he is alive,
and fetch the Priest.”

He dropped his lance and let Hammer have his head, galloping off to calm both of them down. Nicholas was carried back to the Castle and put in the tower,
he was certainly alive but in pain, The Priest announced he had suffered broken ribs and a broken leg. Stephen said that if John had not used a tournament
lance the man would be dead. John returned and went up to see Nicholas, the man was conscious and in pain. John said he would talk to him later. He went
back to the hall where he met Tania.

“His father was a villain how do I make him understand that?”

“You can’t, my love,” said Tania. “My father might and he should visit us again soon.”

John shrugged and wandered off. He had felt a certain exhilaration when he rode out in his armour, he needed a few more fights, but where? The King was
still occupied in Wales and he’d had enough of that wet place. Maybe he should go on a Crusade, in the meantime there was plenty to keep him occupied at
home.

After three days John asked Nicholas’s companion if he was fit to talk to and the man said he was. John went to the tower and found Nicholas sitting in bed
with bandages round his chest and his leg bound up between two pieces of wood.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” said the injured man.

“You may be right but it would have been for the wrong reasons,” replied John. “Your father committed crimes here in England and he paid the price. The
Earl of Wymondham will be here soon and will explain to you what happened.”

“Will you not tell me,” implored the young man. “All I have heard is that you captured him and hung him.”

“The first part is right, I did capture him, but he was tried by a court in Wymondham and sentence was carried out there. A Judge came from London and he
had someone to speak for him. What am I going to do with you, you can’t travel yet so I guess you will have to be my guest until you are fit.”

He then told him the details of what had caused the demise of Henri Hausman. At the end Nicholas told John that he did not know his father very well as he
was always away, mainly in France. He had been told by some of Henri’s friends that he should take revenge and kill John.

John left him to think about what he had told him and went to meet Tania. She was sitting the garden talking to Harold while Joan walked with Gavin, John
saw her and said.

“When are those two getting wed, we need to know so we can arrange another companion for you?”

“There are plans afoot in that direction but you must be patient until they tell us. You are unsettled, my love, come tell me what ails you?” she replied.

“I suppose it’s this business with Hausman, I will have to make up my mind what to do with him soon.”

After Sir Cedric had visited them and spoken to Hausman there was a definite change over the young man, he pushed himself to be active and get his strength
back. John found it easier to talk to him and he learnt more of life in Flanders and the cloth making industry. The time came when he was fit enough to
travel and they agreed, with his companion’s help, he would leave the next day.

As life returned to normal John’s thoughts turned to the two Squires and he resolved to push them on, it was time they accepted the responsibilities of
knighthood, he would ask the Earl on his next visit, if he would conduct their investiture. One afternoon a young knight called at the Castle, John’s first
thought was that another Hausman family member had come after him, but when the man dismounted in the Bailey and removed his helm it revealed Gavin. He
asked where he could find Jack and John accompanied him down to the Forge. He left Gavin with Jack and guessed the reason for his visit. On his way back
into the Castle he met Joan and asked her to come with him to the Hall. Jack and Gavin came into the Hall and Jack announced that he had agreed to Gavin’s
request to marry Joan, Joan leapt up and went to Gavin and stood by his side, it was difficult to embrace him in his armour. Gavin asked to be excused so
that he could divest himself of his ‘tin suit’ and Joan was left hugging her father and John together. That evening he sat in his room thinking about the
future and he decided to ask Gavin if he would like to live in Dunston, if so he would talk to Sir Cedric. Gavin was older than his two Squires and his
experience would be an asset to the Castle, John’s plans could now start to take shape.

Talking together in Sir Cedric’s room John was able to outline some of his plans and the Earl agreed for Gavin to move over to Dunston and also for Stephen
and Tristan to finish their quest for knighthood at Wymondham culminating in the investiture at the Abbey. During their discussion’s John learned that the
Earl still had property in France and suggested that John might like to visit there and assess the situation. This would be the adventure that John was
looking for, a journey into another country.