“And without enemies around us,” Stephan said.
Richard stroked his stallion’s neck. He scrutinized Henry and Stephan. “And you two.”
Henry choked under that look, but Stephan ignored the color creeping into Henry’s cheeks and asked innocently, “Sire?”
“Mount up,” Richard ordered. He turned to the forester. “Take us to Sherwood.”
Scaflock spurred his horse. Allan charged after him. Richard shouted out a most joyous un-kingly whoop. Carefree, like a young boy, he started to sing and dug his heels into his stallion.
Stephan rested his arms across Henry’s saddle and grinned. “Ready?” he asked, sunlight reflecting in the deep blue of his eyes.
Spurs clinked at Henry’s back. Boots scraped on the graveled road and carpenters’ hammers dismantling the stone throwers reminded him they weren’t alone. He quelled the fire in his heart. “At least we aren’t the hunted today.” He smiled at Stephan when his comment drew laughter from several knights nearby.
“The things we do for the king,” Stephan said, turning to mount his bay.
Henry looked north. Sherwood’s oaks and birch showed signs they’d bud soon. The trees swayed in the breeze, hinting there would be time to share peace and quiet in the greenwood today—but no, not just today. Give me the tomorrows! From this day forward until he took his last breath, he’d have it no other way. He knew that. He chose that. Chose Stephan.
Stephan shouted, “To the hunt!”
Henry cheered. Filled with hope, he galloped in the king’s wake at Stephan’s side. No matter what the future held, this was where he belonged.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Events in England from 1190 to 1193 could comprise a whole novel unto themselves, but my fictional main character Henry de Grey had been away on crusade. I could not possibly hope to provide all that backstory, choosing instead to focus on those things that most impacted Henry, his friends, and family. I highly recommend England Without Richard, 1189-1199 by John T. Appleby for those interested in further exploration.
The machinations of King Richard’s brother John, Lord of Ireland and Count of Mortain, are well documented in the histories. When John learned that Richard had been captured in Austria and placed in the hands of the Holy Roman Emperor in December 1192, he conspired with King Philip of France—another of his brother’s enemies—to consolidate his power in England. By early 1193, John had begun fortifying his English castles and had hired mercenaries to invade England’s southeast coast, which is where Men of the Cross ended. Before Easter, John’s supporters had devastated the area between Windsor and Kingston and the siege of Windsor began on 29 March. I had originally thought to open For King and Country during the sieges of that March and April, but with those ending in a truce declared effective May 1, it seemed more important to get Henry home. That is where his conflicts truly begin.
The events of For King and Country align with the chronology of May 1193 until the end of March 1194, but occasionally I subverted the timeline to make the plot work. For example, none of the biographies or histories I read specifically indicated when Queen Eleanor left England to deliver the ransom monies to the Holy Roman Emperor for Richard’s release, which was scheduled for January (and then February) 1194. One history placed her spending Christmas 1193 with Richard in Speyer. I needed her in England at the end of November. Sailing the English Channel (known as the Narrow Sea in my novels) would not have been unheard of in December, though it might have been a rough crossing.
Without evidence to the contrary, I have implied that John is involved in the ongoing fortification of his castles during the events of For King and Country, and though he is off-screen most of the time, his presence is heavily felt as the spectre of civil war hangs over England. John’s appearances in Lincoln and Barton-upon-Humber are pure fiction, as is the earthquake in June 1193. There is a precedence for one. A very large quake, estimated at a magnitude of over 5, resulted in massive damage to Lincoln Cathedral in April 1185. (Some say shoddy construction or poor design was to blame.)
The events of the siege in Nottingham deviate slightly from the facts but are based on the excellent descriptions provided by Trevor Foulds in his article “The Siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194.” Every writer of historical fiction dreads the horror of describing things that either did not exist during the time of their novel, or that were very different. I had visited Nottingham Castle in 2010, and as visitors learn, the present day structures on the site were not part of the landscape in 1194. Drage’s Nottingham Castle: A Place Full Royal was priceless, providing detailed information about the design and layout of the castle in the second half of the 12th century.
I took great license creating Greyton and placing it about four miles north of Grantham, Lincolnshire and southwest of what is present-day Barkston. The manors and villages of Westorby and Cartholme are wholly my invention, but Ringsthorpe, recognized as one of England’s deserted medieval villages, did exist in the 12th century. It was in a prime location for Sir Henry’s story given its proximity to Lincoln and to Nottingham. Platts’ work, Land and People in Medieval Lincolnshire, was a great resource for Lincolnshire history and geography.
For King and Country continues to nurture the Robin Hood legend with the introduction of Robin’s love, Marian, and the rest of the gang who, one day, will become the Merry Men. It can be overwhelming to think of the wonderful books and movies featuring these legendary figures, but I did not let that scare me off. I loved creating the storylines for Much Miller, Tuck, and Will Scaflock, and if you, dear reader, have half the joy reading about them as I had writing them, I will be thrilled and honored. Allan and Little John have become young men in Battle Scars II. Their lives and convictions continue to be shaped by their association with the knights Henry de Grey, Stephan l’Aigle, and Robin du Louviers. As I look to the future, I am plotting how these characters will be brought together in ways perhaps none of them imagined.
Please drop by my website for a more comprehensive list of my reference resources and to monitor my progress on Book III, Swords of the King. Find me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter. I would love to hear from you.
http://charlenenewcomb.com
http://www.facebook.com/CharleneNewcombAuthor
http://twitter.com/charnewcomb
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I must offer special thanks to beta readers Jen and Julie, and to my writers group and editors Cathy, Marie, and Mark, who offered wonderful suggestions and constructive criticism every step of the way. To Laurel, for her insights on horse behavior, and to many friends - including virtual ones - who supported and encouraged me on this journey.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlene Newcomb lives, works, and writes in Kansas. She is an academic librarian by trade, a former U.S. Navy veteran, and has three grown children. When not working at the library, she is still surrounded by books and trying to fill her head with all things medieval. She loves to travel, and enjoys quiet places in the mountains or on rocky coasts. But even in Kansas she can let her imagination soar.
Visit Charlene’s website: http://charlenenewcomb.com
Follow her on Facebook,
http://www.facebook.com/CharleneNewcombAutho
or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/charnewcomb
ALSO BY CHARLENE NEWCOMB
Battle Scars I: Men of the Cross
Keeping the Family Peace
A Certain Point of View
in Star Wars: Tales from the Empire
Shades of Gray: from the Adventure of Alex Winger
freely available via Random House
(linked from the author’s website)
And numerous short stories in the Star Wars Adventure Journal,
published between 1994-1997.
PRAISE FOR MEN OF THE CROSS
Book I of Battle Scars
Awarded the indieBRAG Medallion in 2014.
“It takes guts to approach such myths as Richard Lionheart and the events of the Th
ird Crusade. It takes considerable skill and imagination to twist the story somewhat, thereby bringing something new to the table. Ms Newcomb does just that . . .”
–Anna Belfrage, award-winning author of The Graham Saga
“The author draws a vivid picture of the Third Crusade through the eyes of Henry de Grey and his fellow knight, Stephan . . . filled with excitement, passion, and plenty of action.”
–Professor Andrew Latham, author of The Holy Lance
“Newcomb . . . explores issues of sexuality and social mobility in an era when rigid rules governed even the most private aspects of people’s lives and tells a compelling love story against the backdrop of both tedious army life and terrifying battle.”
–Deborah Bogen, author of The Aldinoch Chronicles
“. . . a resounding, epic novel of love and war . . . The love affair and the associated conflict that drives the story are handled exceedingly well . . .”
–Lex Allen, author of Imagine Trilogy
“Midst war atrocity and soldier camaraderie, [the knights] force themselves to question their own stolid values and their relationships. Their life and lifestyle decisions are as hard fought as those of the battlefield. The scars of war cause them to rethink everything about their lives – except loyalty to their King.”
–Mark Rogers, author & editor at Fiction House Publishing
For King and Country (Battle Scars Book 2) Page 46
