Blackstone looked around the scattered houses; his men all edged closer to the square. He beckoned Meulon and Renfred. ‘We’ll burn down the tavern. Send ten more men to me and then position yourselves in the alleyways. When it catches fire, de Hayle’s men in the houses will arm themselves. Kill as many as you can. If others escape, Will and his archers will finish them.’

‘We found their horses,’ said Renfred. ‘They’re split up. We don’t have enough time to cut them all loose.’

‘Ignore them. The flames will frighten them and they’ll break free without any help from us. Bring bundles of faggots and any lamp oil you can find.’

The two captains ran back to their men. Blackstone pointed to three of those with him and gestured them to kill those that had been too senseless with drink to return to the tavern. A dozen fast strides later they were dead.

‘There are two women in there,’ said Blackstone. ‘There’s a front and a back door. Pile anything that will burn around the place. John, fire up the coals, light torches.’

‘You’ll let those women die?’ said Killbere. ‘I’ll get them.’

‘You think I’d leave them there? When the flames bite I’ll go in the back door. You come with me. Use your axe and cut them free. We’ll drag them out.’

Killbere grunted. ‘At least let’s slit a couple of throats in there while we’re about it.’

‘There’ll be no time.’

‘Cutting a throat takes no time at all,’ said Killbere.

Men scurried back and forth as they raided winter log stores and brought sheaves of dry kindling, then stacked them against the wattle-and-clay-built tavern. As each man settled his bundle another spilled lamp oil on them. Blackstone saw John Jacob’s face glow as he pumped the blacksmith’s bellows. Torches flared. Blackstone beckoned the men to him. ‘Surround the tavern. Kill everyone who gets out. When it’s alight, Sir Gilbert and I are going in the back door to bring out two women.’

Blackstone’s men waited, torch flames exposing grim features, eyes stark in the light, teeth grinning through their beards: eager to kill a foul enemy. He looked to where Meulon and Renfred slipped out of sight into the passages between the houses. They stayed out of the moon’s glow so when de Hayle’s men emerged they would not know the buildings’ shadows concealed those intent to kill them.

‘Burn it,’ said Blackstone.