“Looks like he was bashed and bashed, over and over and a piece finally gave way. I wonder what happened to the man that did that.” Ackerley De Godefroy
The cock crows loudly as the sun begins to rise and warms up the damp dew covered grass of Saxmundham.
The miller has been awake an hour and is already preparing the wheat for the grinding stones of his mill. The blacksmith, begrimed with charcoal from yesterday, stokes his furnace whilst the brothel owner fries large chunks of bacon on the small open fire he had arranged earlier. The meats sweet fatty odour is the first thing that the residents smell as it clings to the autumn breeze which blows softly throughout the villages buildings.
Ackerley De Godefroy, Mary Archard and Brother Nash have all had a good night’s sleep after the exertions of yesterday afternoon. For Lord De Godefroy it meant relaxing his beaten body after the heavy introduction to John Hornet and Daphne the hammer and it was the first night, since the tragedies at Stowburgh, which he could remember sleeping throughout the night. Mary slept soundly, with a smile on her face as wide as the river, as she recounted Ackerley’s misery in her dreams, whilst Nash pottered around into the small hours before laying down his greying covered head.
At the assistance of Hornet, Ackerley had stayed in Hornet’s bed, although he would have been more than comfortable to spend another night with his horse Clairvaux in the stable. Opening his eyes and customising himself to his surroundings, Ackerley stretches and sits up in bed as the unmistakable heavy beat footsteps of yesterday’s tormentor approached.
‘GREETINGS!’ Shouts Hornet, prior to entering the room. Ackerley smiles as John ducks under the doorframe. ‘Ahh-, now you got me! Thought you might be sleeping like a baby my young Lord,’ Hornet suggests.
‘I did but the body feels pretty good thus I woke with the cockerel.’
Hornet plonks his large frame at the foot of the bed and says, ‘it was great to see your improvement over such a short space of time and as I said yesterday, it is obvious you have been taught well.’
‘Thank you and thank you for all the tips they will come in handy.’
Hornet nods and looks sheepishly before saying, ‘sorry if I speak out of place sire, but-, but-, I never got the chance to say how sorry I was to hear of your troubles. I have been through similar and know the pain they draw on your heart.’
Ackerley looks down sombrely and takes a few seconds to respond. ‘No need to be sorry John and thank you for your sympathy. With your help yesterday and Brother Nash’s contacts I will clear my heart of that pain and return home a better man.’
‘Yes you will-, I am sure of it.’
The lessons of the day before would never leave Ackerley’s mind. For if there was one thing he absorbed like a sponge it was the art of war and combat. The new techniques of seeing how your opponent stands or holds his weapon, using this to decide their next move and looking for off balance points were all relatively new to De Godefroy and after the initial pounding he took, he managed to finish the day with a flourish and even put the big man on his backside with a perfectly placed and timed leg sweep.
‘Apparently, you are going across to Mary’s for breakfast, which is ready by the way and the good Brother will meet you there. I will wave you off before I go on my errands for the Lord of the manor.’
‘Fine. Thank you,’ smiles Ackerley. Hornet stands, without a groan, and walks to leave when Ackerley says, ‘make sure you bathe that arse regularly it will help with the bruising!’
Hornet stops in his tracks and slowly turns to frown at De Godefroy before breaking into a smile. ‘I’ll give you that one for free!’ he chuckles as he re-ducks and leaves the room.
YOU ARE READING
Echoes of a Legend
Ficción histórica“A Templar Knight is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armour of faith, just as his body is protected by the armour of steel. He is thus doubly armed, and need fear neither demons nor men." Bernard d...
