AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jacob hated himself for having to do this, but thanks to the High Sheriff framing him, he had nothing – not even a friend besides Will. He never knew how terrible it felt to be poor or to be an outcast.
It hadn’t felt right the first time he slipped a dead man’s ring from his finger or pilfered pieces of mail and plate armor. But while building his army, he needed to sell what he could for coin. He used whatever weapons and armor he could and melted down the rest to make what they needed. Still, it wasn’t really enough to go up against the wretch that turned Jacob into the pathetic man he was today.
But even so, stealing from nobles on the road was where he stopped. It was too risky. He and Will would be going up against a dozen or two trained soldiers, if not more. They’d either be killed or captured, and he couldn’t have either of those happen. He would not allow himself to be beaten and put on display before he was slain. Neither would his corpse be left hanging in the sun for the buzzards to peck at his flesh and eyes. He had mayhap a tiny speck of pride still left in him, and he wasn’t going to lose that as well.
“We’ve got our army waiting in the woods just outside of Durham. With a little luck and some more training with the weapons, I think we can pull this off,” Jacob assured him.
“But we’re training commoners,” Will reminded him.
“True. But look how far they’ve come in the past three years. I am proud to say with our training, a few of them have mastered the skills better than some soldiers I’ve known. Besides, we’ll have the numbers on our side so I don’t believe we’ll be captured.”
“The numbers?” asked Will. “If we have fifty in our army, I’m exaggerating.”
“But you’re forgetting something. St. Catherine’s Day is approaching. I know for a fact that this feast day is when the wretched High Sheriff, Sir Gregory Arundell, sends most of his men out on the hunt. He has done so the past few years ever since he was made lord of the castle. It is the only time the king allows him to hunt in the royal forest. He keeps only a dozen soldiers on the battlements at this time and sends out not only his hunters, but every knight and able-bodied man he has living within the castle walls.”
“Do you think any of the soldiers who serve him now would be loyal to you instead of him if you returned?” asked Will. “After all, you were the late Lord Emery’s Captain of the Guard and the men were under your command.”
“I am counting on it,” Jacob answered. “Before the High Sheriff framed me, the king was going to give me Durham Castle.”
“Aye,” answered Will. “And you were planning on marrying Lady Catherine even though the late lord of the castle promised his daughter to the High Sheriff.”
“Nay. Catherine was never supposed to marry him.”
“Really?”
“Sir Gregory talked him into changing his mind. It was all by Arundell’s doing that she was taken away from me. There might be loyalty to him from the original knights and soldiers he brought to Durham but there’s no love for Arundell from the original men of Durham. Of this, I’m sure. Because of this, and hopefully help from the inside, it will be easy taking back what was supposed to have been mine.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“The man is stupid as well as greedy,” Jacob grunted. “My sources tell me that he always stays behind from the hunt. He thinks that he and a dozen soldiers can protect the castle while the others are away. He wants as much game caught as he can get. Every year he invites the Bishop of Durham to his castle for a feast to celebrate. I’m telling you, that is our window of opportunity. The dozen guards on the castle wall walks will be so far in their cups that they won’t know what happened. We have to do this. However, once we move forward, there is no turning back.”
“We need real soldiers, Jacob. What we have is naught but farmers and peasants,” Will complained.
“We have constructed weapons, and repaired weapons from the battlefield. We have what we need to fight. I believe my army is ready.”
“But most of them will die going up against trained soldiers. Can you live with that on your conscious?”
“I’ve told you time and again that it was the choice of every one of the peasants to join me. They hate the High Sheriff almost as much as I do for the way he treats them and taxes them to death.”
“I realize the villagers have been mistreated and overtaxed. But Jacob, they are still under the rule of the High Sheriff.”
“Don’t worry about it, Will.”
“This is crazy! I never should have joined you on this mission.” Will paced back and forth, worrying like he usually did. “I should have stayed back at Durham Castle and paid fealty to Sir Gregory Arundell. If so, at least I’d have a decent meal and a place inside the great hall by the fire to sleep.”
“Getting cold feet, Squire? I’ve never seen you act this way, not even before battle.” Jacob’s fury burned in his veins for what he’d been through. But then he realized that he couldn’t take out his anger on the boy. Will had been a loyal squire and even stayed with Jacob after he was stripped of not only his title but also his pride. “However, I know it’s been hard these past three years. I appreciate the fact you stayed with me, Will. But of course, you know you’re free to leave at any time. After all, I’m no one anymore but a thief in the night. I’ve lost everything because of the High Sheriff. My family has all been killed between war and the plague, except for my worthless brother, and I don’t have a penny to my name. Even Lady Catherine is gone now, so there is no chance of me getting her back. I have nothing to offer you at all. Mayhap you should go, as it would be best for you.”
Will lowered his head and took a minute to answer. “Nay, I won’t leave you.” He sighed and kicked at the ground. “We’ve been together for this long, I won’t back out now. I want to help you regain your title as well as claim the castle as your own. After all, you deserve it, not him.”
“Thank you, Squire. I knew I could count on you. If I could, I’d make you a knight for your loyalty.”
“I would like that,” said Will sadly. “Perhaps someday it’ll be more than just a wish.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Sir Jacob, there’s got to be an easier way to go about this,” said Will. “Are you sure you can’t go to the king and explain to him that Arundell framed you?”
“I wish it were that easy but it’s his word as well as the Bishop of Durham’s against mine.” Jacob turned his horse, preparing to leave. “The High Sheriff is a powerful man. If he wants something, he gets it. But I am going to put an end to that soon.”
