THIRTY-SIX

 

"Close the gates! Close the gates!" The shout came from Henk, as he raced into the bailey.

Julia hurried down to meet him. "What is wrong? Are we in under attack?"

Henk and Jan waited until they'd barred the gates before they turned to answer her. "Not any more. Sir Shouts-A-Lot has just come down to the orchard, ranting and raving about the proper way to plant crops. When we told him we were mining salt, not planting anything, he pitched a fit. Called us traitors and fools and all manner of unpleasant things. So Jan here told him it was all according to the miller's instructions, for the miller had been mining salt for months in his own fields. Sir Shouts-A-Lot said some even more unpleasant things about Master Romein, before rushing inside to put his armour on. Then he rode out the gates, swearing to teach that upstart miller – his words, not mine, Lady Julia – a lesson in manners."

"But why shut the gates? Surely you should be riding full speed to the mill, to warn Romein!"

Henk shook his head. "Master Romein can take care of himself, Lady Julia. He does sword practice every morning, just like you'd expect of a knight. Not like Sir Shouts-A-Lot, lazing in bed every morning and drinking late into the night, and shouting at people every hour in between." He winked. "When that lazy knight comes running back here from the beating Master Romein will give him, he'll find the gates closed and no welcome waiting. Mistress Amma said she would boil a pot of water and tip it over the palisades if he tries to break down the gate."

Julia wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at that. But Romein. She could not let him face Thibault in full armour alone. Romein didn't even carry a sword. It was all well and good that he knew how to use one, but if he didn't have one on him and Thibault attacked him while he was defenceless – which she fully believed an honourless bastard would do – Romein would have no chance.

She would not lose her husband to Thibault again. Last time, she'd been too shocked to stop Thibault, but now...now she wished to strike a blow of her own.