by Smith, Skye
The man stepped towards a stump and pulled flint, tinder, a pen, sealing wax and some gull from his pouch. He lit the tinder to light the wick of the sealing wax candle.
While his own men were brought horses by the bowmen, Henry signed the scrolls and sealed them with his signet ring. "Usually there is just one name per pardon. All these men will have to stay near to this scroll to be protected by it."
"That is why the two." He reached for the first one signed and passed it towards Mary. "Lady, would you kindly have this scroll turned into many separate pardons, one for each name, and have them delivered to the friar of Moors Cross."
"I will deliver them myself," said Mary. The newly pardoned outlaws cheered her.
"Sire," the chief turned back to the king to be handed his own copy. "When coming here, were you stopped by two outlaws just this side of Yten forest?" The verderer stepped forward and said yes.
"Can you find the place again, because if you get back there fast enough those same men will hand you the assassins who were to ambush the king." He turned back to he men. "Meanwhile I will send some of my men towards Cornwall to pass the word for the Hood to stand down."
The king ordered everyone to mount and then saluted the chief and his men, and turned back towards Winchester. He came up between Risto and Raynar, who was still very quiet. "Risto, that twirling backswing is a move you have never taught me. I wish to book another lesson with you." He got the wide smile back but then saw the whiteness of Raynar's face. "Raynar, are you all right."
"Just tired, sire, very tired." He looked towards Mary, who had doubled up with Eustace due to the shortage of horses. "But very happy not to have yet another nightmare to haunt my sleep."
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The church wedding was held the day after they returned to Winchester. It was purposefully not a large state affair so that Raynar, a peasant, could give away the bride without gossip or questions. The chapel was cold and grim from the gray October light coming through the windows, but the bright colors of the women’s newly imported clothes brightened the gray stone room.
Mary and Edith were standing with Eustace waiting for the ceremony to begin. Raynar came close and presented Mary with a present. He had her remove the simple crystal pendant necklace that she always wore for luck and he replaced it with a work of wonder in gold and emeralds. "Long ago it was a wedding gift from Eustace's father to Rachilde, the Countess of Flanders. A wedding that was never completed. It is time for it to return to Boulogne."
There were whispers and giggles from both the Queen of the English and the Countess of Boulogne. They each took one of his arms and each stood on their toes and kissed him, a cheek apiece. Then they whispered into both his ears, "Thanks, dad."
At the look of shock and horror that crossed Raynar's face at the outing of his deepest secret, Edith whispered, "Auntie Cristina told the both of us while she was slipping away on her death bed. We have known for years."
THE END of Ely Wakes.
The adventures continue in: The Hoodsman - Courtesans and Exiles
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The Hoodsman - Ely Wakes by Skye Smith Copyright 2010-13
