‘Charles of Blois won’t be a part of this. It’s a separate fight,’ said John Jacob. ‘Sir John has let them slip through.’

‘No, Chandos couldn’t stop those routiers already under contract,’ Killbere said. ‘The new French King will pull together any of these men. It serves him and Blois when the time comes. Thomas, if we find more survivors along the way then we’re bringing another problem to his door.’

‘Then we must rid ourselves of them before we reach him. We need to find out more about these routiers, especially any Englishmen. Send Renfred and Meulon to me,’ he told his squire.

Killbere fussed at the fire. ‘It will take us… what, nine or ten days to reach Chandos? Perhaps more with these stragglers. We need to make better time.’

‘I know. We’ll find another village that doesn’t belong to one of Navarre’s lords. They’ll need their strength so we will let them rest and eat what food we can spare.’

‘You know what these villeins are like. They don’t welcome outsiders from other villages.’

‘I’ll bribe them. Money buys lives.’

‘A blade to the throat might be more effective.’

‘That’s the down payment.’

*

Renfred and Meulon accompanied John Jacob to Blackstone. They squatted next to the fire as Blackstone scratched out a route on the ground for them and made a model of the territory where he had spent his earlier years raiding against enemies and protecting villages. ‘Ride south-west. We are here on the edge of Alençon, half a day’s ride should bring us on the Roman road to Villaines.’ He indicated the rough terrain he had laid out: ‘In this forest is the village of Saint-Pierre. Scout the road. See that it is safe. We’ll leave the survivors there.’

‘We should cut out their tongues,’ said Meulon. ‘They’ll talk. Just because we’ve helped them doesn’t mean they won’t tell the French or Bretons where we are or where we’re going.’

‘And I’m telling them that we are going north not south.’

‘And how do we go on from there, Sir Thomas?’ said Renfred.

‘We skirt Villaines. The town’s loyal to the French King. We must get to Sir John.’

Meulon and Renfred nodded their understanding. ‘Where do we meet you?’

‘Edge of the forest, here.’ He pointed with the stick to the rough model. ‘Look for a ruined chapel. We’ll feed these people and let them rest and then travel by night along the road. It’s quicker and there’s less chance of an attack. Routiers won’t risk an assault against a column of men whose strength they can’t determine.’

Renfred tapped Meulon’s shoulder. ‘There’s another hour before it’s dark. We’ll leave now to give us more time.’ The two captains got to their feet.