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Chapter 1
England 1174
From the ramparts, Judith could already see the enemy steadily approaching, and right beside the symbol of Henry’s rule, she glimpsed the azure banner which displayed a nimbly black eagle soaring with spread wings.
“My lady,” Sir Roderick said in astonishment. “The banner... It’s...”
Sir Roderick was in charge of the castle’s defence, and there was now a look of deep worry in his eyes.
“I know what the banner is,” Judith cut him off with an impatient wave of her hand. “How long can we last if there’s a siege?”
“We’re well prepared, my lady, and it could be perchance months. Redmore has strong defences and it is one of the few stone keeps in England. But–”
Sir Roderick paused, but Judith already knew what he meant to say. She nodded to herself, coming to see there was no other course. She had pledged her allegiance to the cause of Queen Eleanor and of her son, Young Henry, who had rebelled against their king together with two of his younger brothers. Nevertheless now Eleanor lay vanquished, and Redmore was one of the last places King Henry’s loyal followers hadn’t taken. Eleanor’s cause was lost, so a siege would be pointless. The enemy would call for reinforcements and the castle would be eventually lost. And many lives would be wasted on both sides. Judith didn’t think it fair that her people should die for her choices. They must not perish pointlessly just because their lady had chosen the side which had been vanquished in this war. Henry’s victory had been arduous, because Eleanor and her sons had gathered many followers. Still, it was Henry who was victorious and not Eleanor’s party.
“They will be upon us in less than an hour,” Sir Roderick said, now casting expectant eyes upon his lady.
“You shall raise a white flag and open the gates,” Judith answered in a steady voice.
She pulled her shoulders back, knowing too well there was no other course left. She prayed the enemy would prove merciful. Her fervent hope was that mercy would be given to her people. As for herself, she expected no mercy.
Sir Roderick looked relieved and nodded in acknowledgment of his lady’s decision.
“I shall be there to meet them at the gates,” Judith went on. “But I will need to speak to my lady mother. She does not know what I’ve resolved, and she needs to be told.”
Sir Roderick bowed his head.
“Aye, my lady.”
It was with a heavy heart that Judith made her way to the solar which her mother had turned into her chambers. Lady Fenice met her with an anguished look in her fine blue eyes.
“They’re at our gates already? Our enemies?” she inquired.
Judith nodded.
“It’s just as well then,” her mother said, attempting to plaster a brave smile upon her face. “We shall withstand them. Redmore is strong and it will bear the siege. We’ve months and months ahead. And even if the castle’s taken, we shall be able to take the secret escape tunnel your father built.”
Judith knew the next words she would utter would be hard upon her mother. Yet her mother needed to be told the truth at once.
“I have decided to surrender,” she said loud and clear.
“Surrender? Why? The castle stands strong.”
“Yet our cause is lost. And the siege will end only with our defeat. They will send for more men. Redmore is one of the last castles King Henry hasn’t taken. No one will aid us. Eleanor and her sons are vanquished. So there’s no choice but to surrender.”
“Are you so cowardly? It will be noble to fight to the end!” Lady Fenice countered with a regal tilt of her head.
“Noble, aye! Yet I cannot ask my people to sacrifice their lives over a noble cause. I cannot look them in the eye and tell them it’s nobler to die for the sake of my honour,” Judith countered in determined tones. “Father would not have wanted this, and you know it. He cared for his own, and, as his heir, I cannot do otherwise.”
“They’re only commoners,” Lady Fenice muttered with a sigh.
Judith stared at her amazed, as she’d often been in these past months, she’d not been able to see before that her mother did not, in truth, care for the people put under their care. Yet it was so, and Judith tried to tell herself it was mainly the melancholy which had become lodged into her mother’s soul which was causing this. Her mother had always been gentle and kind, and only of late had she started speaking so disparagingly of others.
“Mother, for all our sakes there is no choice but to surrender. We’ll put ourselves at the mercy of our enemies, hoping they will prove gracious in their victory and spare our people.”
Lady Fenice started to shake her head, but Judith halted her with a gesture.
“My mind is set and it is my decision to make, not yours.”
