Page 1 of Lionheart

Chapter One

Northeast Wales, 1258

The battlefield ran red withblood. Fighting under the banner of young Prince Edward of England, Lionel deCoeur, known as Lionheart throughout the realm, wielded his sword with strengthand dexterity. The battle had been met near Cragdon Castle, long considered astronghold of Llewellyn ap Guflydd, the prince of Gwynedd and leader of therebellion now taking place in Prince Edward's Welsh lands.

The battle was fierce.Hand-to-hand combat was being waged in an all-out effort to decimate Llewellyn’sforces. Prince Edward's army and Lionheart's forces had formed a pincer toprevent the Welsh prince's escape.

As abruptly as it had begun, the din died away tooccasional groans and the cries of the dying. A blood-drenched sword clutchedin his hand, Lionheart gazed across the battlefield and realized that the only men left standing were his own.The bulk of Llewellyn’s forces had fled.

"Llewellynhas fled, Lionheart," his friend Giles de Clare reported.

Removinghis helm, Lionheart turned his steely silver gaze upon Cragdon Castle, risingabove the banks of River Clwyd. "As much as I would like to believe Llewellynhas fled to Snowdonia, I am more inclined to think he is licking his wounds inyon fortress. Lord Rhys of Cragdon has ever been Llewellyn’s champion."

"Thenwe shall take the castle," Giles said with conviction.

"I amall for storming the castle, but we must await orders from Prince Edward.Gather up our dead and wounded and have them transported to Edward's fortressat Grantham." A frown touched his brow. "It angers me that LordEdward has been offered no help from either the king or the marcherlords."

"Mayhapthe power struggle between Simon de Montfort and the king concerns them morethan Edward's Welsh lands."

"Aye,"Lionheart said, removing his gauntlet and wiping the sweat from his foreheadwith the back of his hand. "Find my destrier, Alan," he commanded hissquire.

Returninghis gaze to the fortress, Lionheart studied the ancient ramparts andbattlements, wondering how long it would take to batter down the walls and gainentry. If Edward wanted the castle taken, Lionheart would not hesitate tolaunch an attack.

"Theprince approaches," Giles cried, pointing toward a contingent of horsemenand foot soldiers pouring down from the surrounding hills and forest.

Clad inchain mail and a blue tabard bearing his coat of arms, the golden-haired princewas a handsome and splendid warrior. Taller than any man in England, he wasaffectionately dubbed Longshanks by those close to him. Edward and Lionheartwere a contrast of light and dark. Where Edward was a powerful golden god evenat his young age, Lionheart was just as impressive, Handsome in his own ruggedway, dark, dangerous and dynamic, and nearly as tall as Edward, Lionheart wasten years older than the nineteen-year-old prince. Edward had been the first tocall him Lionheart. During a battle in Gascony, Lionel had displayed uncommoncourage, and the name Lionheart had stuck.

Mounted onhis black destrier, Lionheart rode forth to meet Edward, aware that theprince's famous temper would explode when he learned Llewellyn had slippedthrough their trap.

"Tellme Llewellyn is lying dead on the field," Edward said without preamble.

"I wishI could," Lionheart replied. "I suspect he has taken refuge inCragdon Castle with Lord Rhys."

"Bloodof Christ, Lionheart! I refuse to be defeated by the prince of Gwynedd."

"Isuggest we storm the castle and rout Llewellyn from his safe haven. Once LordRhys surrenders both Cragdon and Llewellyn, the rebellion will lose itsteeth,"

"Youradvice, as always, is sound," Edward said. "Unfortunately, I cannotremain in Wales to lend support. You will be on your own. I am to meet withSimon de Montfort, my uncle by marriage, in ten days."

"Simon de Montfort is a man in search of power. He will tryto woo you to his cause against your own father," Lionheart warned.

"I amwell aware of that," Edward replied. "The barons are enraged at theking for appointing Frenchmen to high offices while neglecting his own Englishbarons. They want him to sign the Provisions of Oxford, which sets up a councilof barons to advise the king. So far their powers of persuasion havefailed."

"Wheredo you stand?" Lionheart asked. "At first you favored Simon. Will youjoin forces with him and turn against your own father?"

"Iwill make no pact with Simon until I have studied all the ramifications."

"Simonwants to rule England," Lionheart cautioned.

"Makeno mistake, my friend. I will rule England one day, not Simon de Montfort. 'Tismy God-given right. I will not let de Montfort seize power from me."

"I amyour man, Lord Edward. No matter what you decide, I am with you."

The furyin Edward's eyes waned as he regarded his friend and staunch defender. "Iknow, Lionheart. If anyone can bring Llewellyn to heel, 'tis you. Dead oralive, it matters not. If he is not put down now, he will become a powerfulenemy once I ascend the throne."

Weary fromthe fierce battle he had just fought, Lionheart squared his broad shoulders andgazed at the fortress, whose walls sheltered Edward's enemy. "Go meet withSimon, Edward. I have sufficient men at my command to storm the castle andseize Llewellyn."

"Whatdo you know of Lord Rhys of Cragdon?" Edward asked.