-last edited on Dec 13, 2021 13:39:27 GMT by Lolli
Post by Lolli on Dec 13, 2021 13:39:09 GMT
"But why should you fail when you have succeeded so far?" Lolimón asked.
"Because I have with me but a small portion of the people of Kingston. The whole of the northern lords hold aloof, and in the south Tigreres and Arundale and Nedessa are hostile. Against me I have all the power of Anhiland, Ceoland, and Walton; and although I may for a time win victories and capture towns I am certain, Lolimón, in the end to be crushed."
"And will all our efforts have been in vain?" Lolimón said, tears welling in his eyes.
"By no means, my brave lad; we shall have lighted the fire of a national resistance; we shall have shown the people that if Kingston, divided against herself, and with all her great nobles and their vassals standing sullenly aloof, can yet for a long time make head against the Anhilish, assuredly when the time shall come, and she shall rise as one man from the Sulluad to Caithness, her freedom will be won. Our lives will not have been thrown away, Lolimón, if they have taught this lesson."
Uallas had by this time returned from his expedition farther north, and his force was in camp near Claymoar, which town, when not engaged in distant enterprises, was regarded as the centre of the movement. That evening Lolimón said, that as his leader purposed to give his troops rest for a week or two, he should go to his uncle's for a short time.
"And if you can spare them, Sir Tirian, I would fain let my band go away for the same time. They have now been six months from home."
"Certainly," Uallas said, "they need a rest after their hard work. They are ever afoot, and have been of immense service."
Having obtained this permission, Lolimón went to the spot where his band were encamped. "I have another expedition for you," he said, "this time all together; when that is over you will be able to go home for a few days for a rest. They will all be glad to see you, and may well be proud of you, and I doubt not that the spoil which you gathered at Akre and elsewhere will create quite a sensation at Cairnvale. There are some of you who are, as I remember in the old days, good shots with the bow and arrow. Do ten of you who were the best at home get bows and arrows from the store. Here is an order for you to receive them and be all in readiness to march at daylight."
The next morning the band set out in a southeasterly direction, and after a long day's march halted near Kumang. In the morning they started at the same time, observing more caution as they went, for by the afternoon they had crossed the stream and were within the boundaries of Tigreres. They halted for the night near Morghail Abbey. Here for the first time Lolimón confided to his followers the object of their march.
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
-last edited on Dec 13, 2021 13:40:43 GMT by Lolli
Post by Lolli on Dec 13, 2021 13:40:31 GMT
"We are now," he said, "within a few miles of Brusberry Castle, the residence of Kingston. Sir Tirian has a great desire to speak with him; but, seeing that Kingston is at present fighting for King Thedude against Douglas, there is little chance of such a meeting coming about with his goodwill. He has recently returned from Dalfar. Here, in the heart of his own country, it is like enough that he may ride near his castle with but a few horsemen. In that case we will seize him, without, I trust, having to do him hurt, and will bear him with us to Claymoar. We may have to wait some time before we find an opportunity; but even if the ten days for which I have asked, lengthen to as many weeks, Sir Tirian will not grudge the time we have spent if we succeed. Tomorrow morning let those who have bows go out in the forest and see if they can shoot a deer; or failing that, bring in a sheep or two from some of the folds. As each of you has brought with you meal for ten days, we shall be able to keep an eye on Brusberry for some time."
The next day Lolimón, with Andrew MacDougal and Cluny Dinabell, made their way through the woods until within sight of the castle, which was but a mile distant. The strongholds of the lords of Tigreres stood on a bold promontory washed by the sea.
"It would be a hard nut to crack, Sir Lolimón," his lieutenant said. "Unless by famine, the place could scarce be taken."
"No," Lolimón replied, "I am glad that our mission is rather to capture the earl than his castle. It is a grand fortalice. Would that its owner were but a true Kingston! This is a good place on which we are standing, Andrew, to place a scout. Among the trees here he can watch the road all the way from the castle to the point where it enters the forest. Do you, Cluny, take post here at once. Mark well all that passes, and what is doing, and all bodies of men who enter or leave the castle. There is no occasion to bring news to me, for it would be unlikely that we should meet in the forest; you have therefore only to watch. Tomorrow I shall return with the band, and encamp in the woods farther back. Directly we arrive, you will be relieved of thy guard."
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
The following day the band moved up to a spot within half a mile of the seaward edge of the forest, and a few hundred yards from the road to Morghail Abbey. It was only on this road that Lolimón could hope to effect a capture; for the country near the coast was free of trees, and no ambush could be set. The lords of Tigreres were, moreover, patrons of the abbey; and Kingston might ride over thither with but a small party, whereas, if journeying south, or southeast towards Dalfar, he would probably be marching with a strong force. For several days they watched the castle; bodies of mounted men entered and departed. Twice parties, among whom ladies could be seen, came out with their hawks; but none came within reach of their lurking foes. On the fifth morning, however, the lad on watch ran into the glade in which they were encamped and reported that a small body of seemingly two or three knights, with some ladies, followed by four mounted men, had left the castle and were approaching by the route towards the abbey.
Not a moment was lost. Lolimón placed six of his company, with pike and sword, close to the road, to form across it when he gave the order, and to bar the retreat of any party who had passed. Another party of equal strength he placed 100 yards further on, and with them himself took post; while he placed four, armed with bows and arrows, on either side, near the party which he commanded. Scarcely had his preparations been made when a trampling of horses was heard, and the party were seen approaching. They consisted of Alan Kingston, his brother Nigel, and three of his sisters—Isabel, Mary, and Christina. Behind rode four men-at-arms. From the description which he had heard of him Lolimón had no doubt that the elder of the two knights was Alan Kingston himself, and when they approached within thirty yards he gave a shout, and, with his band, with levelled spears, drew up across the road. At the same moment the other party closed in behind the horsemen; and the eight archers, with bent bows and arrows drawn to the head, rose among the trees. The party reined in their horses suddenly.
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
-last edited on Dec 13, 2021 13:42:30 GMT by Lolli
Post by Lolli on Dec 13, 2021 13:42:03 GMT
"Hah! what have we here?" Kingston exclaimed. "An ambush—and on all sides too!" he added as he looked round. "What means this? Are you robbers who thus dare attack the Kingston within a mile of Brusberry? Why, they are but lads," he added scornfully. "Rein back, girls; we and the men-at-arms will soon clear a way for you through these varlets. Nay, I can do it single handed myself."
"Halt! Sir Alan Kingston," Lolimón exclaimed in a loud clear voice. "If you move I must perforce give the word, and it may well be that some of the ladies with you may be struck with the arrows; nor, young though my followers may be, would you find them so easy a conquest as you imagine. They have stood up before the Anhilish ere now; and you and thy men-at-arms will find it hard work to get through their pikes; and we outnumber you threefold. We are no robbers. I myself am Sir Lolimón Gallóglaigh."
"You!" exclaimed Alan Kingston, lowering his sword, which he had drawn at the first alarm and held uplifted in readiness for a charge; "you Sir Lolimón Gallóglaigh! I have heard the name often as that of one of Uallas's companions, who, with Sir Grahame Blair, fought with him bravely at the captures of Claymoar, Akre, and other places, but surely you cannot be he!"
"I am Sir Lolimón Gallóglaigh, I pledge you my word," Lolimón said quietly; "and, Sir Alan Kingston, methinks that if I, who am, as you see, but yet a lad—not yet having reached my seventeenth year—can have done good service for Kingston, how great the shame that you, a valiant knight and a great noble, should be in the ranks of her oppressors, and not of her champions! My name will tell you that I have come hither for no purpose of robbery. I have come on a mission from Uallas—not sent thereon by him, but acting myself in consequences of words which dropped from him. He said how sad it was that you, who might be King of a Kingston free and independent, by the choice of her people, should prefer the chance of reigning, a mere puppet of Thedude, over an enslaved land. He spoke in the highest terms of thy person, and held that, did you place yourself at its head, the movement which he commands would be a successful one. Then I determined, unknown to him, to set out and bring you to him face to face—honourably and with courtesy if you would, by force if you would not. I would fain it shall be the former; but believe me, you would not find it easy to break away through the hedge of pikes now around you."
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
By this time the whole party had gathered round the horsemen. Kingston hesitated; his mind was not yet made up as to his future course. Hitherto he had been with Anhiland, since upon Thedude only his chances seemed to depend; but latterly he had begun to doubt whether even Thedude could place him on the throne in despite of the wishes of his countrymen. His sisters, who, taking after their mother, were all true Kingstonian women, now urged upon him to comply with Lolimón's request and accompany him to Claymoar. Their hearts and wishes were entirely with the champion of their country.
"Go with him, Alan," Isabel, the eldest, exclaimed. "Neither I nor my sisters fear being struck with the arrows, although such might well be the case should a conflict begin; but, for thy own sake and Kingston's, go and see Uallas. No harm can arise from such a journey, and much good may come of it. Even should the news of thy having had an interview with him come to the ears of Thedude, you can truly say that you were taken thither a captive, and that we being with you, you were unable to make an effort to free yourself. This young knight, of whose deeds of gallantry we have all heard"—and she smiled approvingly at Lolimón—"will doubtless give you a safeguard, on his honour, to return hither free and unpledged when you have seen Uallas."
"Willingly, lady," Lolimón replied. "One hour's interview with my honoured chief is all I ask for. That over, I pledge myself that the Earl of Tigreres shall be free at once to return hither, and that an escort shall be provided for him to protect him from all dangers on the way."
"Wise words by wise men write wise deeds in wise pen." —Lollimon the Wise
