The gates opened and a stocky man-at-arms strode out, flanked by six more. He stopped thirty paces from Blackstone. It made sense. Standing there, he would not be struck by the lethal bolts.

‘You are Sir Thomas Blackstone,’ he said. ‘I recognize your blazon. I am Godfrey de Claville. I am captain here. State your business, Sir Thomas.’

‘We came across two villages attacked by routiers. We saved these villeins and my man here was wounded while killing many of the skinners single-handed. He’ll die if I don’t find him a surgeon – and these people will die if they are left without protection. I seek help and hospitality.’

The man-at-arms stepped forward, raising a hand to stop his companions from following. The bastard horse dipped its head, ears pricked, hoof scraping the ground. De Claville stopped. ‘Your horse is wary, Sir Thomas. I will approach no closer. I’ve no wish to startle him further and cause any of my men to panic and loose their arrows.’ He waited for Blackstone to answer but the scar-faced man made no response. ‘We are enemies. You come here expecting me to help you? That I might offer to save one of your men? Why would I – even if I had a barber-surgeon? And why would I take in more mouths to feed? In fact, why would I not seize you now and hold you to ransom?’

‘You and your men would die by my hand before your bowmen could loose their bolts. You serve the Lord of Mayenne. This territory is yours to command. Take in these people and offer your protection. Set them to work on the land and they will pay their hearth tax, which enriches your lord. And that raises you further in his estimation. There is a band of routiers raiding this domain, and that is why you have every man you can muster on the walls. And there are scarcely enough to defend the town so you do not have the men to hunt down the skinners.’

Godfrey de Claville swept an arm across the horizon. ‘His name is Ranulph de Hayle. He masquerades as Ronec le Bête, a Frenchman, and he is protected by your great knight Sir John Chandos.’

‘You’re wrong. I know Sir John. He’s the most honourable of men. He would not allow it.’

‘I cannot stop Ronec because I dare not leave the town undefended. His men kill without mercy. And sooner or later he will come here and he outnumbers us. Villaines will fall but we will die defending it.’ He looked up at Blackstone. ‘Perhaps you wish to use the pretext of trying to save a wounded man so that you can get behind our gates.’

‘I would ride into Villaines and risk my life. I would be at your mercy. You fought at Cocherel,’ he said.