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Back Shadow of the Hawk
Chapters (96)
  1. Cover
  2. By David Gilman
  3. SHADOW OF THE HAWK
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. CHARACTER LIST
  8. Map
  9. Epigraph
  10. PROLOGUE
  11. PART ONE
  12. CHAPTER ONE
  13. CHAPTER TWO
  14. CHAPTER THREE
  15. CHAPTER FOUR
  16. CHAPTER FIVE
  17. CHAPTER SIX
  18. CHAPTER SEVEN
  19. CHAPTER EIGHT
  20. CHAPTER NINE
  21. CHAPTER TEN
  22. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  23. CHAPTER TWELVE
  24. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  25. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  26. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  27. PART TWO
  28. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  29. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  30. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  31. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  34. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  35. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  36. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  37. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  38. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  39. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  40. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  41. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  42. PART THREE
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY
  44. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  45. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  46. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  47. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  48. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  49. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  50. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  51. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  52. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  53. CHAPTER FORTY
  54. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  55. PART FOUR
  56. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  57. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  58. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  59. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  60. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  61. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  62. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  63. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  64. CHAPTER FIFTY
  65. CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
  66. CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
  67. CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
  68. CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
  69. CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
  70. PART FIVE
  71. CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
  72. CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
  73. CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
  74. CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
  75. CHAPTER SIXTY
  76. CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
  77. CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
  78. CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
  79. CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
  80. CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
  81. CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
  82. CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
  83. CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
  84. CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
  85. CHAPTER SEVENTY
  86. CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
  87. CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
  88. CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
  89. CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
  90. CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
  91. CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
  92. CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN
  93. CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
  94. Author’s Notes
  95. About the Author
  96. An Invitation from the Publisher

‘Ten thousand and more routiers are coming under the command of Sir Hugh Calveley, Bertrand du Guesclin, Matthew Gourney – these names are known to you, your grace. The Count of la Marche, le Bègue de Villaines, Arnoul d’Audrehem – I could name a dozen others. Men of France, Spain and England, destroying everything in their path because they seek your death and are being well paid for it. They want your gold, silver and treasure. This man who stands with me is Sir Gilbert Killbere. He has fought at our King and Prince’s side and he is a veteran knight who knows what these men plan. I prize his experience beyond all measure, as do our King and Prince,’ Blackstone said, boosting Killbere’s status in one easy breath. ‘If you will not believe me then let him speak.’

Don Pedro did not notice the slight flexing of Killbere’s shoulders as Blackstone laid on him the burden of persuading the King. The monarch looked as though he needed no more convincing but he nodded, the misery of the looming truth already creasing his features.

‘Sire,’ Killbere bowed again. ‘One group has already cut off Granada and turns north towards you. Hugh Calveley will not try to come through the mountain passes: he travels the same route we did, through the valley of the Ebro. We crossed the river at Miranda de Ebro. Thousands of men are less than one hundred miles away. If they ride slowly to save their horses, they will be here in four days or less. Once he reaches here, he will join up with those from the south. They will encircle you.’

Killbere’s information had the effect Blackstone desired. The King sprang to his feet. The collective groan from the courtiers and the shocked look on the women’s faces meant they finally understood the imminent threat to their lives. Blackstone watched Velasquita. She showed no sign of surprise or panic. She glanced quickly at him, catching him by surprise as if she knew he had been watching her. She smiled. Blackstone felt the visceral chill plunge from his chest to his gut. Ice cold. The chill felt moments before battle.

And then the warmth of arousal.

Blood pounding, welcoming the fight ahead.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN