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Updated: June 28, 2025
And now as they went, came they on many and divers signs of the Red Pertolepe's passing; here a smouldering heap of ruin whereby lay pale, stiff shapes half hidden in the grass yonder a little child outstretched as though asleep, save for wide eyes that looked so blindly on the sun: and there, beyond, upon the white dust of the road, great gouts and pools that had trickled from something sprawled among the underbrush.
But, as they mustered to the charge, as shields flashed and lances sank, Sir Benedict's pikemen wheeled, their ranks swung wide, and lo! the V was become an L. Now from this L bows twanged and arrows flew amain above the kneeling pikemen, what time Sir Pertolepe's trumpets blared the charge, and down upon those slender ranks his heavy-armed chivalry thundered; horses reared and fell, screaming, beneath the whistling arrow-shower, but on swept the charge; those thin ranks bent and swayed 'neath the shock as lance crossed pike, but these pike-butts rested on firm ground and upon their deadly points, horses, smitten low, reared transfixed, and above these rocking pikes steel flashed and flickered where the stout archers plied their heavy broadswords, while, loud above the din, Sir Hubert's voice boomed hoarse encouragement what time he thrust and smote above the kneeling pikemen.
"News," growled Roger, seating himself at table, "the woods be thick with Pertolepe's rogues seeking my master, rogues known to me each one, that ran to do my bidding aforetime in especial one Ralpho that was my assistant in the dungeons once.
Forth sprang Ulf, swift and eager, but Walkyn, bounding up, shouldered him aside his axe whirled and fell once, and Sir Pertolepe's mace was dashed from his loosened hold whirled and fell again, and Sir Pertolepe's great casque was beaten from his head and all men might see the ghastly, jagged cross that scarred his brow beneath his fiery hair whirled again, but, ere it could fall, knights and esquires mounted and afoot, had burst 'twixt Walkyn and their reeling lord, and Walkyn was dashed aside, shouting, cursing, foaming with rage, what time Sir Pertolepe was borne out of the fight.
But one more blow and the Red Pertolepe had been in hell " "Yet, forsooth, didst save our rear-guard, comrade!" said Ulf. "Aye and what o' that? 'Twas Pertolepe's foul life I sought " "And there," quoth Beltane, "there spake Vengeance, and vengeance is ever a foul thing and very selfish!" Now hereupon Walkyn's scowl deepened, and, falling further to the rear, he spake no more.
But, upon the silence, loud and sudden rose a high-pitched quavering laugh, and Giles spake, his voice yet shrill and unsteady. "'Twas Walkyn ha, Saint Giles bless Walkyn's long legs! 'Twas Walkyn I saw Walkyn hath brought down the outlaws the woods be full of them. Oho! Sir Pertolepe's slow fire shall not roast me yet awhile, nor his dogs mumble the carcase, my Rogerkin!"
So there, upon the bridge, the fight raged fiercer than before; men smote and died, until of Sir Pertolepe's garrison there none remained save they that littered that narrow causeway. "Now by the good Saint Giles my patron saint," gasped Giles, wiping the sweat from him, "here was a good and sweet affray, tall brother a very proper fight, pugnus et calcibus while it lasted "
"They be torturing the women!" hissed Walkyn; "'tis ever so Red Pertolepe's pleasure!" "And I have but twelve arrows left me!" groaned Giles. But Beltane ran in silence, looking neither right nor left, until, above the hum of voices he heard one upraised in passionate supplication, followed by another a loud voice and jovial and thereafter, a burst of roaring laughter.
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