Don Pedro bristled. For a moment he held back his obvious anger at the small size of the English force sent to rescue him, but self-pity soon got the better of him. His finger tapped the map with increasing irritation. ‘You are a stranger here. You come uninvited and now you challenge me. If the Prince had sent an army instead of a handful of contemptuous men to aid the true King of Castile, I would not be obliged to retreat!’

Blackstone ignored the insult. ‘The contempt comes from your enemies, your grace. I offer an escort to the Prince in Bordeaux where he can best serve the treaty between you. Once the French army joins the routiers then they have broken the treaty. Until now the French King and the Pope have only been employing brigands and men contracted to war. We need to get to Santiago and then the coast. Going south would be dangerous.’

‘You fear conflict? The King’s Master of War?’

‘I fear being unable to serve my Prince. His command was to escort you to safety.’

Don Pedro stared down Blackstone, who returned his gaze without blinking. ‘You challenge me.’

‘I disagree with your decision.’

‘But you will do as I command.’

‘I will but with reservation and a suggestion.’

‘You are insolent.’

‘I am a soldier who knows a bad decision when I see one. I have a duty to serve you and take you to safety. If I did not voice my disagreement I would be doing you and my Prince a disservice.’

Don Pedro turned to the commander. ‘Well?’

The Spaniard eyed Blackstone. ‘Our men are stretched across our border, sire. Those who remain to protect you are few in number. Let this man draw the enemy away from your journey to Seville. Then we can reassess what we can achieve from there. It will take ten days to reach the city but we know the route and the river crossings; our enemy does not.’

Don Pedro waited for Blackstone to answer.

‘Highness, you need as many of my men alive as possible so we can take you to France. We know the routes into Gascony that bypass Navarre’s men. If you squander my men, you will lose valuable support from my Prince. We are his best men, proven time and again.’

‘Your men are of no concern. If the enemy is four days away, then we have two days to prepare before evacuating Burgos. Sir Thomas, you will escort us halfway and then seek them out and engage them. You will buy me time. When I reach Portugal, there is no need for me to run to the Prince. I will regroup my army and seize back Castile. Discuss this and be ready.’