Free The King Is Dead by Griff Hosker Page B

cellar building to store food.  Buy whatever you need this year so that we can have a surplus of beans and other food which can be stored.  Beans dry and keep well.  Buy salt or have salt made, I care not which.  We need to preserve as much meat as we can."
    "Is war coming, my lord?"
    "I think so but I cannot predict when.  I wish to be prepared.  Our gold goes into future.  We do not keep it. I hope that we will increase our revenue for this year, at least, our lands will be safe."
    "Aye, my lord."
    I smiled as I donned my tunic.  "What, no arguments?"
    "When you speak thus, my lord, I listen.  I may like gold and economy but I am no fool.  I will do as you have ordered."
    My visit to Alf served two purposes; we needed mail and he was the leading citizen in my town.  He needed honesty from me.
    "Good to see you, my lord."
    "You may not think so when I have finished."
    "Have we offended you, my lord?"
    "No but I have some things which you may find unappetising. I need new suits of mail for my squires and mail leggings for all of them." I put five gold pieces on his anvil. Each was worth a year's labour.
    He rubbed his hands.  "This I find very appetising!"
    "And I need them in a week!"
    "A week?"
    I warned you."
    He nodded, "If I hire extra  men and cease all other work then we should be able to.  Can I use the old mail?"
    "So long as it does not weaken the whole."
    "Then it shall be done."
    "The next part is more delicate.  It is for your ears only but you will need to make judgements based upon my words."
    He took off his apron and led me to the rear of his smithy.  He poured us each a jug of ale. "This sounds serious, my lord."
    "I think trouble may be coming sooner rather than later.  I fear that there will be rebellion or invasion north of us. My men and I have quelled it temporarily but I need to ask the King to allocate more men to the defence of the Northern March. Until then the defence will be down to us and I will be in Normandy for a short while.  I hope to be back by Christmas but, as we know, sometimes these things do not work out."
    "Then we will have to be vigilant."
    "And watch for spies."
    "Spies?"
    "Not all who come to our town will be who they say they are.  There may be refugees but within their numbers are those who would spy or harm us. Remember last Christmas?"
    "Aye, my lord, I do."
    "Father Henry is a good judge of character.  Use his skill.  John and William the Mason are improving my defences and John is laying in plenty of supplies.  If danger comes while I am away then have the townsfolk go into the castle."
    "Aye you are right, the town walls are no long sufficient.  We need to make them bigger.  There are more homes without rather than within." He finished off his ale.  "Thank you for confiding in me, my lord.  You can trust me."
    I patted his shoulder. It was like stroking granite, "I know, Alf, I know."
    I felt a huge sense of relief when I had told Alf.  Even more than John I could rely on him.  This was his town and he would die for it. I went to the church.  My wife was buried there.  When I wanted to clear my mind and feel peace I sought solace there. I took a lighted brand and placed it in the sconce.  I knelt by her tomb.  My daughter and Father Matthew were also buried there. I should have brought flowers.  Adela had loved flowers.  I had never brought her enough. I brushed away the little dust that had gathered there.  Father Henry had women who came each day to sweep it but it made me feel as though I was doing my part.
    I sensed the priest's presence behind me. I stood. "There is no need to get up on my account, your lordship."
    "I have much to do Father.  I must visit with the King."
    He shook his head.  "When I came here I wondered if you would be like the lord of the manor where I grew up.  Would you be hunting and wenching every hour of every day.  A monk has more time to himself than you do, my lord."
    "Not true but it is kind of you to say