Killbere tossed a handful of dirt onto the mound. ‘Better we still had an archer in our ranks than a widow woman who’ll end up starving without her man. That or turn to whoring. Kynith’s death was a waste.’

‘A man’s life is not wasted by an act of courage,’ said Blackstone. ‘No matter the cause.’ He turned away from the grave and the priest who had officiated at the burial, despite his fear of the men of violence. They had spared the convent and his church: praying for a dead archer, no matter if he was a hated enemy, had been a small price to pay.

Will Longdon went among Kynith’s Welsh archers and gave the most senior of them the archer’s pendant, Arianrhod, the Goddess of the Silver Wheel.

‘You’ll need to send two men to me so I can choose Kynith’s successor to act as your ventenar. Find men who match his strength and belligerence in battle.’

The men looked sceptical. ‘He was a hard bastard,’ said one of them. ‘I doubt there’s one among us as unbending. You and him, you were at each other’s throats in the beginning and Sir Thomas taught him a lesson or two. Kynith came round, Will Longdon, as well you know, to serve Sir Thomas and you loyally. He died a stupid death.’

‘And Sir Thomas will seek out the man who killed him. Stand together and keep his memory alive so that when we face this man, the urge to avenge him will bring us victory.’

Their mumbled grunts were the affirmation Will Longdon needed. It was not unusual for men to desert when their leader died, but the promise that Blackstone would lead them to vengeance on Kynith’s killer would cleave them to him.

*

Sir John Chandos questioned Beyard. If the English mercenary Ranulph de Hayle had fought on the side of the French at Cocherel and taken the Gascon prisoner, then any parole given him by the Prince would be cast aside. Now that he had murdered one of Blackstone’s men there was sufficient cause for him to be brought to justice.