Free The King Is Dead by Griff Hosker

deserve."
    "I should also tell you that Sir Guy de Senonches led a large conroi in an attempt to attack Otterburn.  He was defeated and escorted back to Jedburgh.  I have yet to report this to my king but I would urge you to advise your own king.  There were your countrymen as well as rebels with this Frenchman.  Many would constitute this as an act of war. You were fortunate that I was in an understanding mood.  The Frenchman was little more than a brigand."
    "He has returned to France."
    "You knew he was here."
    "After you defeated him I did." I could see that the Scot was embarrassed.  "I thank you for your patience, Earl."
    I nodded, "We have also cleansed our own lands.  The outlaw called William of Lucker and his band are all destroyed. That is good for all our people."
    I could see that this was news to him and confirmed that William of Lucker had had the support of the Scots. "That is good.  And what will you now?"
    "Now I will return to England and scour the Tweed to make sure that all brigands, outlaws and bandits are removed, no matter which lord they follow."
    Sir James nodded, "And I would do the same. Go with God."
    "And you."
    I was relieved, the peace still held.  Perhaps I had overstepped my authority but I thought not. We crossed back over the river and headed west. We took our time and I had Dick and the archers scour the woods for any outlaws who lay within the confines of the woods.  There were none.  Sir Harold and Sir Tristan had cleared them. We crossed the river again and rode up to the abbey there.  It was a new building and showed that King David had used much gold to have it erected. The abbot came out to greet us.
    "Is this visit one of conquest or supplication, my lord?"
    "Neither, Abbot. It is the visit of a neighbour to give you information. I serve the Bishop of Durham and his lands extend to the river.  We have found many of the Bishop's people slain by bandits and brigands.  We have killed them." He nodded.  "However they came from over the border.  I came here to ask you to exhort those who live hereabouts that the punishment for such transgressions will be death."
    "I understand." He studied me, " From your wolf standard I see that you are the Earl of Cleveland,."
    "I am."
    "Even your enemies speak well of you.  Thank you for your words and I will give you a piece of information.  You have made an enemy of Sir Guy de Senonches.  He will not rest until you and your family are dead."
    "Thank you for the warning but I had guessed that already. As he has gone back to France I will worry about that later."
    He came closer to me, "Normandy is close to France.  It is known that you are a Knight of The Empress and you are sworn to protect her."
    "She is in danger?"
    "She may be." He made the sign of the cross, "May God watch over you.  I have looked in your eyes.  You are an honest man and your heart appears pure. I like not treachery from any and it is known that you are honest. Be careful."
    I had much to reflect upon as I rode back to Norham. I sat with my three knights, Wulfric and Dick.  We discussed, each night, what we had discovered. On their own the small pieces of information we had were like gossamer; thin and insubstantial.  Tied together they became steel. There was a conspiracy.  The King and the Empress were the targets. They were close together and vulnerable.  Lavinia the poisoner had shown us how easy it was to get close to one of us. I knew now that once the King and the Empress were neutralised then the Scots and their allies would invade the north.  I could only be in one place at once.  I had to get to the King.  It meant risking my land but I had to gamble that I could reach Normandy and stop the conspiracy from succeeding.
    We left at the end of the month.  John had recovered well although he had an ugly scar.  He seemed proud of it.  The archers he had recklessly tried to save were now bound to him.  They recognised his act for what it was.