‘You cannot do this!’ said the Moor.

‘I do it to save lives,’ said Blackstone.

‘By destroying the King’s treasures?’

‘We take cloth and silk. There’s no coin or plate here. If you wish to return alive to al-Hakam then help the Spanish at the forest or my men cut silk.’

Álvaraz’s men were already hacking down saplings in the forest the fleeing villeins had used for concealment during their escape. The Moor scowled and said something neither Blackstone or Álvaraz understood, but took to be a curse. He turned his mount away. Blackstone and Álvaraz watched as the Moor shouted unintelligible commands to his men. There was an argument of sorts but the men dismounted and started slashing the valuable cloth.

‘I wish their wits were as sharp as their swords,’ said Álvaraz. He grinned. ‘Who would sacrifice their life for a bolt of cloth, no matter whose it is?’

Blackstone gestured to the villagers. ‘Tell them again what it is I ask of them.’

Doubt still creased the villagers’ faces; some voiced dismay at what was being proposed. Blackstone raised himself in the stirrups so they could all hear the strength of his voice and then Álvaraz’s echoing translation became an appeal and not a command. Slowly, as their leaders quelled contradictory voices, agreement took hold. Those with influence over the villeins took knives and axes and ran into the forest to assist the soldiers in cutting down as many tall saplings as they could before the killers arrived.

‘And now, Sir Thomas?’ said Álvaraz.

‘We ready ourselves. What does the lie of the land dictate if we are to have a chance of success?’

Álvaraz knew Blackstone already had the answer, but replied anyway. ‘I would put your archers a hundred feet behind an extended line of our men. The height and the wind behind them will give their arrows longer flight.’

‘My thoughts exactly. Unfurl every banner and pennon. Have your commanders prepare your men and I will attend to the bowmen.’

They urged their horses down the incline. Time was short and if Blackstone’s gamble didn’t pay off, they would all be dead before nightfall.

*