"It is meagre information, yet enough to make a start on," the King
said when they had left the room. "Perchance ere you reach the spot,
you will gather more from the scouts who should be coming in. Yet it
is most improbable that the villains took the main roads with the
Countess. They will travel by secluded paths and through the forests;
and if their destination be distant, they will not trust the highways
inside a day's ride of Pontefract. Therefore, go slowly until the
trail be plain. Then--well, I need not tell you what to do then."
"By St. Denis, no, Sire! My sword arm knows how to slay."
"Would that I could go with you," Richard said, his ardor for adventure
and danger working strong. "Yet the King may not, and I do not care to
assume disguise just now. Some day . . . Peste! Some day must care
for itself and wait." . . . He drew a ring from his finger. "Here, De
Lacy," he said, "this bit of gold, bearing my arms and the Boar, may
prove of use. Show it, and your least word will be obeyed--send it to
me, and, if need be, an army brings it back. Guard it well; there are
but four others in the Kingdom. . . Nay--no thanks; Richard trusts
few--them he trusts to the end. Use the ring without stint when
necessary; but hark you, beware the friends of Buckingham. There is
mischief afoot and, maybe, treason brewing at Brecknock."
"And Your Majesty does naught to stem it?" De Lacy exclaimed.
A cold smile crossed the King's face.
"Not yet," he answered. . . "And further, if your course should lie
near Kirkstall, best be mindful of the Abbot. There may be some basis
for De Bury's notion. And now, away.--You have the Queen's prayers,
the Ring of the Boar and your own good sword. You must needs prevail."
As De Lacy and Dauvrey emerged from the shadow of the barbican a bugle
spoke and Raynor Royk rode forward and saluted.
"Are you ready?" De Lacy demanded, running his eye along the line.
"Yes, my lord."
"Forward, then;" and at a trot he led the way.
"You know our mission?" he asked.
"Yes, my lord."
"And the men, also?"
"I ventured to tell them."
"It may be heavy duty and full of danger."
The old warrior drew himself up sharply. "Your lordship does not doubt
me?"
"Nay, Raynor, never you. I only want your vouchment for the soldiers."
"Many would give their lives for you, Sir Aymer; all would die for the
Countess of Clare."
"And you all may be afforded the opportunity ere the quest be ended,"
said De Lacy grimly. "We take the path to the Hermit's Cell; see that
I do not miss it. Furthermore, you know this country intimately, so do
not hesitate to advise me at any time."
Raynor Royk dropped back to resume his place; then quickly turned: "Two
horsemen gallop after us, my lord."
De Lacy reined around and raised his arm for the column to halt.
"They wear armor," said he, "but I discern no jupon."
Raynor Royk shook his head. "The corselets shine plain, but methinks
it is Sir Ralph de Wilton in front."
"Aye, it is Sir Ralph!" Dauvrey exclaimed, "or I know not a man's seat
in saddle."
De Lacy rode back to greet him.
"Did you come from London at that pace, Ralph?" he asked as they met.
"Nay, only from Pontefract to overtake you."
"You have news of the Countess?"
"Alas, no. I reached Pontefract town from London last night, but too
late to report at the castle before morning. . . Now, His Majesty can
wait until we have found Beatrix. I ride with you, my friend."
De Lacy put out his hand and De Wilton reached over and took it; and in
the firm grip of their fingers was the confession of the one and the
sympathetic appreciation of the other.
"We will save her, never fear," Sir Ralph said. Then his eyes fell on
the ring. "By St. George, The Boar! I salute you--for even though you
are not the King, still are you almost as powerful. Whoever wears that
ring has all but the title--aye, and more--he has the King's enemies as
well as his own."
"And me a stranger!" De Lacy observed tersely.
"Aye, and what with that, and the Ring, and the Countess, your life is
not worth a third that mine is."
"It is worth absolutely nothing to me unless Beatrix be found alive."
"Pardieu! her life is in no danger. At the most, she will be held only
for ransom."
"Heaven grant it! though I fear the plot is more deeply laid."
"In that case, my dear De Lacy, when she is rescued let the Church work
quickly its sacrament upon you; there will be less temptation then to
carry her off."
"Yonder, my lord, lies the way to the Hermit's Cell," came the voice of
Raynor Royk.
Under the oaks and beeches whose gnarled and twisted arms overlapped
the path the column bent its course; and as it wound along the narrow
way, the shafts of sunlight, breaking through the leaves, rippled over
the steel casquetels and trappings until it was as if a rivulet had
suddenly gushed forth and was flowing down this forest by-path.
The Hermit's Cell was tenantless. The door had rotted from its
fastenings and lay athwart the entrance. The roof was fallen in.
Mould and rank vegetation choked the place. Long since had its holy
denizen come to the dark River and been lost in the Mists.
A little way beyond the hut was where Sir John and the Countess had
been attacked. There could be no missing it, for the turf on both
sides of the path was torn and the bushes were crushed and broken. A
brief inspection proved that the Countess had been the quarry, for the
assailants had not cared enough about De Bury to pursue him. They had
gone Northward, as the hoof marks showed, and springing back into
saddle, De Lacy hurried on. A quarter of a mile beyond, the tracks
turned abruptly and struck off through the forest. At length the trees
grew thinner, and presently the highway lay before them, and the trail
ended--nor could they find it again.
"We will on to Kirkstall and its crafty Abbot," De Lacy exclaimed.
"Surely you do not think he knows of this affair?" De Wilton asked.
"When it comes to priests in general and abbots in particular, I never
think," Aymer answered. "It is their game, and few can play it with
them and have a chance to win. I prefer to fight them with my own
weapons," jerking his head toward the fifty men-at-arms. "If the Abbot
know aught of this business, it will do no hurt to let him see these
honest followers of His Majesty. It may loose his tongue."
"It will take more than steel coats to make Aldam speak, if he be
minded otherwise," said De Wilton.
"Doubtless; but while we hold converse with him, Raynor Royk shall have
the premises spied over."
When they reached Kirkstall no porter was in the lodge, but the gates
were open wide, and halting the column, the two Knights with their
squires rode into the courtyard. At the further end of the quadrangle
a dozen horsemen were drawn up, and their leader, his foot in stirrup
ready to mount, was having a last word with the Abbot.
Hearing their approach they turned quickly.
"Darby!" exclaimed De Wilton. "Now what brings him here so early in
the day?"
"Penance and absolution likely," De Lacy answered scornfully.
"Well, I trust he has got them and feels more easy with the world."
"My lord Abbot," said Aymer, as they dismounted, "I am a trespasser a
second time, and an ill-timed one I fear, for which I beg your kind
indulgence--and Lord Darby's," and he bowed to the latter.
"Nay, Sir Aymer de Lacy, you interrupt nothing," Darby responded; "I
was but making my adieu before pushing on to Pontefract."
"And Sir Aymer knows he is ever welcome at Kirkstall, both on his own
account and because he is of the Household of the royal Richard," the
Abbot answered easily; "and I trust His Majesty and his gracious
consort are in the best of health."
"We left them at daybreak much distressed over a most dastardly outrage
perpetrated upon the Countess of Clare and Sir John de Bury," said
Aymer abruptly, watching the monk's face--but all he saw there was
blank amazement.
"Holy Mother! my son, what do you mean?" he cried.
"That they were set upon last evening near the Hermit's Cell by a band
of cut-throats; Sir John all but murdered, and the Countess carried
off."
The Cistercian raised his arms in horrified surprise.
"Incroyable! Incroyable!" he exclaimed.
And Lord Darby began to swear copiously in French.
"What were the facts, and what has been done for rescue?" the Abbot
asked.
Briefly De Lacy told of the riderless horse and the finding of Sir John
de Bury. Of the story revealed by De Bury's finger and head in answer
to the King's questioning and the fact that a hundred men-at-arms had
been searching the country since the late evening of yesterday, and
particularly as to Flat-Nose having led the assailants, he was most
careful to say not a word.
When he had finished, Lord Darby went off again in a storm of fierce
imprecation; this time, however, in good Anglo-Saxon. And the Abbot
was seemingly so stunned by Aymer's recital that he did not note the
irreverence of his lordship, who was let free to curse away to his
heart's content until brought up by De Wilton.
"Take a fresh start, Darby; you are repeating yourself. Change off
again into French."
Darby turned upon the young Knight with a gesture of sharp surprise.
"None but a weakling could hear Sir Aymer's tale without a rush of hot
resentment," he exclaimed.
"By the Rood! I observed only a rush of oaths," Sir Ralph laughed.
Darby's quick anger flamed up; and jerking off his riding gauntlet he
flung it at De Wilton's face. But the Abbot dexterously caught the
glove.
"For shame, Lord Darby, for shame!" he said, "that you, a man in life's
full prime, should so far forget your knighthood over a bit of innocent
banter. Nor may you, Sir Ralph de Wilton, accept the gage. This is
holy ground; dedicated to the worship of the Humble One; and I charge
you both, by your vows of humility, to let this matter end here and not
to carry it beyond yonder gates. Have I your promise, my lord?"
"If Sir Ralph de Wilton be willing, I am content. Doubtless I was
hasty," Darby answered with well-assumed frankness, his passion quickly
curbed.
"And you, Sir Ralph?" the Abbot queried.
"Am content, even as Lord Darby. I have no cause for quarrel," De
Wilton replied indifferently.
Darby bowed curtly in acknowledgment; then sprang into saddle.
"I shall gallop straight to Pontefract;"--addressing De Lacy--"I may
aid in the search. Have you any message for the King?"
"Only that you left us at Kirkstall."