‘The sky is clear tonight, lord: we can see enough. And the river shines at night. It won’t be a hardship. I will be back before dawn.’

The two Navarrese edged around the guide’s stench.

‘He wants to check the route, but he feels threatened by you. You bear a grudge towards this man?’

‘Only that he is what he is, Sir Thomas, a thieving poacher who beats his women and is a stranger to bathing,’ said Ariz.

‘Yet he’s the man sent by the King’s bailiff to guide us to Burgos, so you’ll escort him. I want him back safely. Put your ill feelings aside. Don’t beat him and keep him from your wineskins.’

The three men nodded their understanding. Blackstone watched them walk towards the horses, the two Navarrese fighters keeping upwind of the guide. ‘When they report back I’ll speak to Andrés so I know we are not being led into trouble. My thanks for your knowledge. I shall try to impress my son with what little learning I have gained from you. Now, excuse me, Master Josef, I must attend to my men.’

He left the physician and walked through the camp. Pickets had been posted and food prepared. He found Beyard with his men. ‘I’ve sent Ariz and Saustin with the guide, who wants to check our route for the morning. I don’t trust him enough to let him ride into the night alone.’ Blackstone scanned the foothills. ‘It would be easy enough for the French and routiers to be getting closer to Burgos, and if they have swept up from the south-east then they might be closer than we think. If we come under attack on this journey, keep Lázaro close to you. Have your men defend him as you did before.’

‘I will. Don’t worry, Sir Thomas, the men have taken to him. He fetches and carries without being asked. He’s changed since he told us what happened. The secret he carried weighed too heavily on him. It closed his heart and paralysed his tongue. His speech is clearer now but sometimes I see the old fear creep into his face and then he struggles with his words. This journey to Castile is frightening him. I try to reassure him, and he doesn’t know about Ranulph de Hayle going to Paris with the Queen’s ring, but it’s easy to understand how terror must gnaw at his belly.’

‘Keep him as a servant so he appears to have no importance. He has one thing on his side: the assassins who killed the Queen and all her servants – I’ll wager they wouldn’t recognize the boy even though they have learnt of his existence.’

‘The captain of the guard who saved him knows what he looks like,’ said Beyard.