Knight of the Empress by Griff Hosker Page B

to them."
    That night we camped on a small hill where we could defend ourselves.  I divided the money we had won between Sir Guy and Edward.  I knew they would use some to pay their own men.  I would do the same.  Sir Guy had used his reward from the Emperor to hire four more men at arms.  There had been many in Worms and Rolf had chosen them for him. We were a formidable looking force as we sped along the roads to Bar. I hoped that, without the Empress and with so many men, we would deter any attacker. I was proved correct for we reached Bar quickly and without incident.  However as we approached the gates of the town I saw, on top of the castles walls, the heads of Lothar and Konrad. We would question no one.

Chapter 6
    "But the message came from the Emperor with the news of your good fortune, Guy.  We were told to execute them as traitors. The rider arrived two days ago." The Count du Bar looked upset. He had given his word and the Emperor had forced his hand.
    "That explains the games and the delay in holding them.  They wanted us there. I wonder what they could have told us."
    "Just before they died, Lothar shouted, 'Curse the Count! He has betrayed us'. I guessed he meant the Count of Flanders."
    Sir Guy shook his head, "We met two more candidates in Worms, uncle; the Counts of Aachen and Stuttgart. I am glad to be home."
    His uncle smiled, "And now we can help you build your castle.  Baron, will you stay awhile?"
    "No, thank you for your kind offer but we must get back to Caen and I fear we have the more dangerous part to come."
    "We will escort you as far as La Cheppe."
    "You do not need to."
    "It will not be any trouble and I am loath to lose your company."
    Sir Guy laughed, "I think my uncle will be glad to have me off his hands! He just has one demesne to find for Raymond."
    Raymond nodded, "Oh you need not worry about me.  I am going to seek my fortune in the Holy Land. You have found fame and fortune when you left Bar, perhaps I will have the same good fortune."
    "Besides, we need to help him rebuild the castle and this time we will do it in stone.  It does no burn so easily. We can make a better castle than poor Guiscard did."
    "I only made a few gold coins, uncle."
    "We still have the gold from Lothar and Konrad.  I feel I can use that to build a stronger defence.  After all you will be protecting my western approaches."
    We camped that night, at the desolate graveyard that was La Cheppe. I did not envy them their task.  They would have to clear the site of the dead before they could begin their work. or our own.  We now had to move through the land of France, skirt Flanders and find a way to avoid Count Fulk's men in Anjou. We left the encampment at La Cheppe at dawn. The farewells showed the bond that we had made.  Three of us were Knights of the Empress.  I was not certain how we would serve her but I knew that the three of us would never forget our oaths.
    We did, at least, look like a real conroi.  The blues of our gambesons and surcoats were almost the same colour and the two stars looked good.  The men, even the archers, had liked them. We now had only five archers. This had been an expensive foray for archers were almost impossible to replace. I split them into three uneven groups.  Being lightly armed their horses could ride further without tiring and I had three, under Dick, ranging far ahead while the other pair rode to our left and right protecting our flanks. We were also down to five men at arms.  Our adventure had cost us good men. We shunned towns wherever possible. The Count had provided us with supplies of dried meat and we had water skins.  It would be the rivers which would determine our course west.  We had to cross the major ones and use the minor ones for drinking. That was how they eventually trapped us. We had not been forgotten.  We had merely delayed their pursuit. We had headed to the north of Paris this time but we had to turn west otherwise we risked