Read Online David the Prince - Scotland 03 by Nigel Tranter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nigel Tranter
Tags: Historical Novel
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chalices, pattens, crucifixes, plates, candlesticks, images of saints and the like, many jewel-encrusted. Opening one of the chests here, the Prince showed that it contained unnumbered rings and brooches, necklaces and loose gem stones. Another was filled with gold chains and belts.
But it was to a special solid-silver chest, banded in gold, placed in the deep single window-embrasure of the thick walling, that Henry made his way. With the third and smallest key he unlocked this. Inside, on the padded velvet cushions, lay the symbols they had all last seen eleven months before at the Crown-wearing - the crown itself, the orb and sceptre, the ring and the spurs, gleaming dully in the thin slantwise evening sun.
Henry picked out the crown, looked at it for seconds on end, and then, transferring it to his left hand, shut the lid again and relocked it. "Enough!" he said.
Neither of the other two had spoken a word throughout.
They went out, locking the two doors behind them. Henry kept the keys. Beyond the outer door they found the crowd grown. There was a great indrawing of breaths and a swell of comment when they saw what the prince was carrying.
He raised his voice. "De Comines - go find the Justiciar Flambard. Tell him to have everyone of any quality in this palace assemble in the Great Hall. At once. The castle guard to muster and come to me. At the dais entrance. And send wine. Now. You have it?"
"Yes, my lord Prince," the Chief Butler said, agitated. "But . . . the King's Grace . . ."
"Do as I say, man. Forthwith. I speak with the King's voice. Heed it!"
Henry now led the way to the hall, speaking to none. David felt distinctly foolish with his two swords. De Breteuil walked grim-faced behind.
So they came to that same dais platform. All but the three principals were sent curtly down into the body of the hall. Henry remained aloof. But when wine and beakers were brought, he dismissed the servitors and poured for his two companions.
"That New Forest," he said, in a voice different from that he had been using. "It is accursed. I shall never hunt there again. This is the third of our line to die there. My brother Richard, gored by a stag. My half-brother broke his neck, thrown. Now William. That monk from Gloucester spoke truly . . ."
Flambard appeared from the dais-entrance, looking concerned. His glance went straight to the crown, which Henry had placed on the table.
"My lord Prince - what is this?" he exclaimed. "Where is His Grace the King?"
The other did not answer, not in words at any rate. He pointed a finger at the Chief Justice and then jabbed it down towards the lower level of the hall-floor. Flambard hesitated, then, compressing his lips, descended the dais-steps.
Henry poured himself another beaker of wine.
The hall was filling up now, and agog with talk. Reginald de Lucy, the commander of the royal guard, appeared from the dais-doorway. "The guard is assembled, my lord Prince," he announced. "Is this the King's command?"
"Yes. Have a file of them in here. Behind me. The rest round to the door of the hall. When the horn blows, none to enter or to leave. Save on my orders. See to it."
De Lucy looked doubtful but did as he was told.
At length Henry turned. "A blast on your horn, David."
When the wailing notes died away, the prince raised his voice. "My friends - and, it may be, my unfriends also! I have tidings for you, important tidings. Heed well what I say. King William, my brother, is dead. Slain by an arrow, in the New Forest . . ."
The commotion in the hall halted him, and he let the noise prevail for a little, expressionless. Then he raised hand for silence.
"My brother was slain by a bolt shot by Walter Tirel. Whom all know. Who was alone with him in the wood. Whether of intent or accident is yet to be established. But . . . Tirel has fled!"
Again the uproar drowned his words. Henry turned to David and pointed to the horn once more.
The high notes of it gained approximate quiet.
"You
But it was to a special solid-silver chest, banded in gold, placed in the deep single window-embrasure of the thick walling, that Henry made his way. With the third and smallest key he unlocked this. Inside, on the padded velvet cushions, lay the symbols they had all last seen eleven months before at the Crown-wearing - the crown itself, the orb and sceptre, the ring and the spurs, gleaming dully in the thin slantwise evening sun.
Henry picked out the crown, looked at it for seconds on end, and then, transferring it to his left hand, shut the lid again and relocked it. "Enough!" he said.
Neither of the other two had spoken a word throughout.
They went out, locking the two doors behind them. Henry kept the keys. Beyond the outer door they found the crowd grown. There was a great indrawing of breaths and a swell of comment when they saw what the prince was carrying.
He raised his voice. "De Comines - go find the Justiciar Flambard. Tell him to have everyone of any quality in this palace assemble in the Great Hall. At once. The castle guard to muster and come to me. At the dais entrance. And send wine. Now. You have it?"
"Yes, my lord Prince," the Chief Butler said, agitated. "But . . . the King's Grace . . ."
"Do as I say, man. Forthwith. I speak with the King's voice. Heed it!"
Henry now led the way to the hall, speaking to none. David felt distinctly foolish with his two swords. De Breteuil walked grim-faced behind.
So they came to that same dais platform. All but the three principals were sent curtly down into the body of the hall. Henry remained aloof. But when wine and beakers were brought, he dismissed the servitors and poured for his two companions.
"That New Forest," he said, in a voice different from that he had been using. "It is accursed. I shall never hunt there again. This is the third of our line to die there. My brother Richard, gored by a stag. My half-brother broke his neck, thrown. Now William. That monk from Gloucester spoke truly . . ."
Flambard appeared from the dais-entrance, looking concerned. His glance went straight to the crown, which Henry had placed on the table.
"My lord Prince - what is this?" he exclaimed. "Where is His Grace the King?"
The other did not answer, not in words at any rate. He pointed a finger at the Chief Justice and then jabbed it down towards the lower level of the hall-floor. Flambard hesitated, then, compressing his lips, descended the dais-steps.
Henry poured himself another beaker of wine.
The hall was filling up now, and agog with talk. Reginald de Lucy, the commander of the royal guard, appeared from the dais-doorway. "The guard is assembled, my lord Prince," he announced. "Is this the King's command?"
"Yes. Have a file of them in here. Behind me. The rest round to the door of the hall. When the horn blows, none to enter or to leave. Save on my orders. See to it."
De Lucy looked doubtful but did as he was told.
At length Henry turned. "A blast on your horn, David."
When the wailing notes died away, the prince raised his voice. "My friends - and, it may be, my unfriends also! I have tidings for you, important tidings. Heed well what I say. King William, my brother, is dead. Slain by an arrow, in the New Forest . . ."
The commotion in the hall halted him, and he let the noise prevail for a little, expressionless. Then he raised hand for silence.
"My brother was slain by a bolt shot by Walter Tirel. Whom all know. Who was alone with him in the wood. Whether of intent or accident is yet to be established. But . . . Tirel has fled!"
Again the uproar drowned his words. Henry turned to David and pointed to the horn once more.
The high notes of it gained approximate quiet.
"You
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