The Last Princes of Wales (Violent Delights Book 7)

Chapter 4: The siege, September 1407

According to Ieuan ap Gruffyd

"Do you think this is going to work? They'll let us go?" Gruffyd asks, as we sit about supper. Nobody has an appetite. Not after today.
"I don't think anything will work," I grunt.
"It's a binding contract, if we get no relief, we surrender the castle by All Saints Day, it's entirely fair," Rhys says, gently. His boy Meredith is leaning against him. But despite his bold words he isn't eating either.
"We're not getting relief, we know there's no army," Owain says.
"Where will we go?" Blont asks, he's sitting at my left, picking at his food but not properly eating.
"Anywhere. I speak some english. We could work on a ship. Just leave Wales," I say.
"It's not worse than losing our heads," Rhys says looking me in the eye. I ignore him.
"No, this is a chance, Louis' been quiet I'm going to bother him about that," I say.
"Do not," Rhys says.
"It was a long day," Louis says, not looking up from his food.
"And you knew our charming negotiator," I say.
"I met him at Oxford, that's all. He's one of their top scholars, as he's done just many student projects, and as he's memorized much of the scripture. They said he'd done it as a boy from hearing it spoken in church he could simply recite it, that clever," Louis says, "That's all. I was surprised to see him here."
"Well, if the Prince is as religious as the priest claimed, makes sense he would employ a learned man," Rhys shrugs.
"It could be true," I shrug, "The prince hasn't been seen in Wales. And why wouldn't he come to his own negotiations? If he were lying surely he'd lie to our face."
"He's likely infirm after what happened to his head, and walks out to make a show then has to retreat," Owain says, "And they cover up the sickliness with a devotion to god."
"Probably. In which case, if he's proving he can run a campaign, when he can't then we have no quarrel, and all is well," I shrug, "We get our lives. I send word to my father we've lost the castle, we're all in hiding. Tomorrow's another day."
"And we've a month to arrange it, he's letting us get messages out now," Rhys says, "As you said, warn your father. And we plan to go into hiding ourselves. We don't trust them long. But we can get through it. They've given us some time."

According to Richard Courtenay

"Three days?"
"Three days, within that time they'll have breached the terms by contacting Glyndower. Easiest way to transfer a message safely is through the church which you can't intercept but I can," I say, as I pace in Henry's tent. It's late evening. The peace treaty has taken all day and my throat is dry from the cold and from talking.
"We intercept the messages. They'll interpret your religious babble to mean I'm infirm, there's no way Ieuan won't send a message to his father," Henry says, he's going over correspondence while I pace.
"Then we can invade, they're undermanned and unless I'm wrong there's not three hundred men in that garrison," I say, closing my eyes as I recall the guards I observed, "It has be. Three hundred or less."
"And I burn it to the ground. We've material enough for greek fire, and their heads I mount on the gates. Checkmate," Henry says.
"What's our worst case scenario? Glyndower attacks?" I ask, "With an army we didn't anticipate?"
"That's not worst case I'll gladly capture him on the field. I have the better lay of the land whether he knows it or not," Henry shrugs.
"All right then, worst case, they don't send a message. They play by the rules," I say.
"They can't. Your rules are too strict it's why I keep you," Henry sighs, "They've broken it if they so much as damage any of the bloody huts they've got in there. I can probably inspect and find a reason to have their heads tomorrow."
"We're two moves from checkmate," I sigh, putting my hands through my hair, "And I would like to make them."
"It's the waiting that gets to you. I'm only calm because no matter what way I get to war, your part is done," he says, getting up to come and rub my back. I know I'm tense. "You've made our moves beautifully. They've sworn an oath, they can't break it now."
"No," I say, "But I'm going to keep contemplating how they could tip the board."
"Don't use that phrase. Nothing can happen. What, Glendower comes? Then I fight him as I've wished to since they tied me to a litter at Shrewsbury."
"They—had to tie you down?" I sigh, putting my face in my hands. Of course they did. I really will have to bury him one day won't I?
"Yes, I wished to pursue Glendower I was really well—,"
"Henry, you had an arrow in your head!!!"
"I noticed," he snarls, "And it didn't stop me nor shall anything. We will win. We have won, they are in check. The game is over."
"Unless it's rigged," I breath.