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Authors: John Daines

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“Silly man,” she said. “I have wanted you to kiss me ever since last night.” They both stood back and John explained he was going to visit his father and
when he returned he guessed that they would be off to fight again. Tania looked down and said. “Will you miss me?”

“I will be thinking of you every moment until I return,” John replied. “I am not sure your father will be pleased as I am only a Squire.”

“Then we will keep it to ourselves until the right moment,” said Tania with a merry twinkle in her eyes.

John felt as though he was walking on air as he made for the stables, saddled his horse and rode out on to the Bailey, looking up he could see Tania waving
from her window. He would have a lot to tell his family when he arrived home.

John approached Dunston savouring the sights and sounds of his home countryside. Arriving at the edge of the village he could see the smoke spiralling up
from the Smithy fire, urging his horse on he heard the sound of hammering ring out and knew his father would be hard at work. Dismounting he hurried to the
entrance and stopped short as he saw, not his father, but a young man swinging the hammer.

“Where is the Smith?” demanded John.

“He is in the house sir, William go and fetch the Master quickly.” Said the young man as a small boy got up from where he had been sitting cleaning knives
and daggers.

“Who are you?” queried John.

“Thomas, sir, I am Jack Ivanson’s apprentice and he will be here as soon as William tells him he has a caller.”

John turned as he heard the Cottage door and saw his father hurrying over. The two of them met halfway and embraced “I am so glad to see you John, we have
heard so much about the fighting and there have been many visitors to the Castle, your mother will be relieved.”

“I have a lot to tell you father but let’s go in and see mother and Joan.” Over the evening meal John related most of what had happened to him since
leaving home, leaving out his part in the battle. Joan wanted to know if he had encountered Roger during this time.

“I haven’t seen him or heard of him or his family.”

Jack told him that Sir Walter had left to fight with the Barons leaving Ralf in charge, which had not gone well with the retainers. The Smithy was very
busy that is why Jack had taken the two lads on. “We are getting work from all around,” said Jack. “Even as far as Stoke and Newton.”

“They know they can trust you and your work is second to none,” said John. When the women had gone to bed John told his father of the battle at Lewes and
how he felt afterwards.

“You are now a fighting man John and this will not be the last time you use your sword, keep up your practice so that when you strike it will be fast and
sure.” John also mentioned Tania and that he was not sure what to do, considering her position.

“Don’t worry John, take your time and events will come to a natural conclusion, what will be will be.” John thought to himself that that was no answer.
They retired to their beds, Jack to think of the road his son was on, and John to dream of Tania.

II

Roger looked across at his friend Roland, they were sitting in their favourite Inn in Stamford. They had been enjoying the friendship of two of the local
girls and had settled into a routine.

“Any truth in this rumour that there is to be another fight with the King?” asked Roland

“I don’t know for sure, but they say that they are recruiting at Kenilworth. It will be changing one guard for another we might as well stay where we are,”
replied Roger.

“It is pretty dull here though, isn’t it, apart from our evenings.” Roland said as he squeezed the girl sitting on his lap After seeing the girls ‘settled’
upstairs they walked back to the barracks.

“I wonder how Joan is, and what that brother of hers is doing?” said Roger wistfully.

“You didn’t get anywhere there you said, so I wouldn’t bother with them.”

“He was a good friend in spite of his haughty sister,” countered Roger. The two men went to their bunks and started to clean their weapons as they had
practice in the morning and they now had the reputation of being the two best swordsmen in Stamford.

More and more men started to pass through Stamford most saying they were on their way to Leicester.

Roland was becoming more restless each day.

“Something big happening and we ought to be part of it, when there is fighting you can ‘find’ lots of things, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, you can find your death,” replied Roger.

“Anyway I feel like another fight,” continued Roland.

Roger sat and thought whether another battle is what he wanted, he was enjoying the relative calm of being a guard at Stamford and there was a chance for
promotion here especially if more men went to join de Montfort from the town. There was no prospects at home as Ralf would inherit the title and Castle
when his father died, which could be any day.

Walking through the town one morning Roger met the Mayor who stopped him and suggested a glass of ale together. Sitting in the warmth of the Inn Roger
relaxed and listened to the Mayor.

“Are you going to Leicester with your friend?” he asked. “He approached me this morning to say he felt a loyalty to de Montfort, so would go and join his
army. I don’t think that was the only reason.”

“No, I shall not go with him, I am not eager to look for a fight, I hope soon that peace will come and we can lead a normal life.”

“Good, then I have an idea to improve the safety of the citizens and keep the ruffians out of Stamford. I want you to lead a roving group of guards to go
to trouble spots and generally keep order, would you do that?”

“It certainly sounds a good idea,” replied Roger. “ I would like to do that it will be better than staying in one spot.”

“That’s settled then, we will meet in the morning and I will tell you what I want and pick the men for your group. There will be an increase in your money
but now I must get back and sort out with the Captain how we are to organise these changes.” The Mayor shook Roger’s hand and left.

Roger smiled to himself as he thought about his new position, and the increase in his income, without Roland he might be able to keep more of it too. As
Roger made his way back to the barracks he saw a group of horsemen riding through the town. He quickly ducked into an alleyway as he spotted his father and
Henri de Granville in the group, no doubt off to join de Montfort. Roger thought about his new position and how it would fit with the Captain, he liked
Stamford and would like to stay here.

II

The sun was up when John raised his head from the pillow, he could hear people moving about and hammering coming from the forge. He quickly dressed and
went down to the kitchen where his mother was busy baking.

“I thought you were going to sleep all day,” said Matilda. John grabbed a hunk of bread and went out to the Forge. All three were working hard, sparks were
flying and young William was busy with the bellows as Thomas heated up long pieces of iron while Jack beat them into shape.

“I’m off to see Father Aldred. “ said John.

“You had better take some cider with you,” called Jack.

“Will do,” replied John as he went over to the stables and saddled Anvil. John whistled as he rode and took in the beauty of the countryside, there is
nowhere like home, and then he thought of his other home in Wymondham and the woman who waited there. As the two men sat and enjoyed the cider John told
Father Aldred about his adventures.

“What is the situation at the Castle now, is there any news of Roger?” asked John.

“Ralf is ruling the roost now and making a fine mess of it too. I hear Avice is to be married off to a Norman Knight. I have a brother priest in Stamford
and he sent a message to me to say that young Roger is one of the guard there, but no news of Sir Walter.” The priest continued with other village gossip
until John took his leave and rode home. John spent the rest of the day helping his father and over dinner retold the information the priest had given him.

“ Where is Stamford?” enquired Joan.

“West of here, I think,” said Jack. John said nothing. He was not sure of Rogers intentions or what he was going to do as Ralf would not want him at the
Castle. The following morning John loaded up the pack horse that had been left at the Smithy and saying farewell to his family set off for Wymondham. On
the evening of the eighth day the Castle came into view and John blew on his hunting horn. The drawbridge was down and the outer gate open, as he came
through the inner gate the postern door opened and Tania rushed out. Dismounting quickly John was just in time to catch Tania as she jumped into his arms.
Holding her close John glanced over her shoulder and spotted Sir Cedric coming out of the main door and seeing the couple he spun round and went back
inside.

John pushed the excited Tania away. “Your father is watching, behave, or I shall be told off.”

Together they walked over to the stables where a groom helped John unload.

“I must see your father now.” He said to Tania. “I will see you later if I am allowed.”

“Of course you will be allowed,” said Tania.

John looked at her with love in his eyes but a heavy heart, he knew his future lay with what Sir Cedric decided. He went to his room and cleaned himself up
after the journey. With trepidation and weakness in his legs he made his way to Sir Cedric’s rooms. John knocked on the large oak door and heard a stern
voice bid him enter.

“I hope you found your family well, your father is a good man.” Sir Cedric was standing by a window, with the light behind him John could not see his eyes
to see if they would give an indication of his mood. “You appear to be very friendly with my daughter, John.”

“Sir, it happened very quickly, I did not know she felt as strongly as she does.”

“Do you feel strongly about her?” asked the Earl

“Sir, I do.”

“Well, there’s a problem. You are going off to fight for your King, with me, and who knows whether you will survive. I have a mind to send her to her
cousin in Lincoln to give you some space. Have you spoken to the Squires who came to the Castle recently?”

John shook his head and replied “They did not want to talk.”

“I have been remiss in explaining what happens to a Squire in his service to his Knight you had better look in the Library, there is a book there that will
give some information, you may see then that given time you maybe in a better position than you are now to pursue my daughter. Until she departs for
Lincoln I put you on your honour to control your emotions and be a true Squire.”

John could only nod his head and with a downcast look went back to his room. Later he walked into the Library and looked around, there were a few chairs
and small tables, the rest of the room as expected was filled with shelves full of books, some very dusty and some that had obviously been used. He looked
along the shelves not knowing what he was looking for when he suddenly found an open book on one of the tables. He sat and read the page that was open, it
was a list of conditions for Squires attending their Knights at Jousts. Reading further John began to understand some of the tasks he would have to be
accomplished in, to become an efficient Squire. There were pages describing the Code of Chivalry, Rules of Heraldry, Horsemanship, Weaponry and many more
skills. Towards the end of the book it became clear that this was more of a guide for Knights to test their Squires and for what reason? To make him a
Knight! John lay awake that night wondering if this was Sir Cedric’s plan, to take a lowly Blacksmith’s son and turn him into a Knight. With these thoughts
racing through his brain John eventually slept. In the morning of the next day, while John was working out with the guards he was interrupted by the sight
of Tania and her maid watching. John stopped his sword practice and walked over to Tania.

“Good morning John,” greeted Tania. “Will you walk with us I want to talk to you.”

Sheathing his sword John joined them and they made for the Castle gardens. The maid dropped back so that the couple could talk privately.

“My father is sending me to my cousin in Lincoln and I am only to see you with my maid present.”

“He has already told me, I should have gone to him earlier but I went home instead, it made things worse. The question is how will this affect you?”

Tania looked at John, put her hand on his arm and stopped him speaking. “I love you John, I have done since that day in Wymondham, if I have to wait for
you then that is what I shall do.” John felt his heart surge and he longed to take Tania in his arms

“I love you too with all my heart but I have to follow your father as his Squire and abide by his decisions. I do know that if we are patient then we can
be very happy.” They looked into each others eyes and through the tears in Tania’s John saw the love.

“I leave for Lincoln in three days time so we can walk and talk until then.” They walked back to the Bailey and John resumed his practice. That evening he
went back to the Library and looked for books to help him learn the duties of a Squire, he was determined to prove to Sir Cedric that he had made a wise
choice when he offered him the position. During the next few days Tania and John met as often as they could under the watchful eye of Tania’s maid. Sir
Cedric was away but John kept his passion in check and was just pleased to walk with them in the gardens. Soon it was time for Tania to go, on that day
John was away hunting with two other young men who had come back with Sir Cedric. Gavin was the son of a Knight that had been to the Crusades with the
Earl. Carac, a younger man, was the son of a Norfolk nobleman. The three men soon became good friends, studying and relaxing together. John was the master
of the sword even when the other two ganged up against him. Gavin was the better man with the lance and spear while Carac who was smaller, could outride
them both and there was no one who could match him with the short bow on horseback. All in all they were a formidable trio. One morning while they were
caring for their horses Sir Cedric appeared and called them to him.

BOOK: The Dunston Blade
8.34Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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