Excerpt

That day the rain turned the forest track to a quagmire. They were riding along a gully when a surge of water rose up around them. They urged their horses up the bank and got out just before the gully became a raging torrent.

“We have no choice but to take the road now. If God is with us, we’ll be safe,” said Jehan.

The horsemen appeared at a gallop, at the crossroads, around a bend in the road. The roar of wind and rain muffled the sound of their horses’ hooves.

Jehan’s heart gave a sickening thud; he looked around for a hiding place, but there was nowhere to go. “Aveline! Get away!” he shouted, drawing his sword.

She kicked her horse hard, but two of the horsemen were in her way. The other two rode around and stopped behind them.

“Get hold of the reins!” shouted one of the men.

They’re English! Jehan didn’t wait to see what they wanted; their swords were drawn.

Aveline pulled her mare’s head hard to one side and tried to get around them. Jehan was holding the donkey’s reins and now prodded the donkey’s haunch with the point of his sword. The animal began kicking viciously and turning around and around. It landed several hard kicks into the bellies of their attackers’ mounts.

“Now, Aveline—do it now! It’s your only chance!” he yelled, slashing at the horsemen’s reins. “I’m ready to die, you bastards—come any closer and I’ll cut you down!”

The riders swore and pulled their horses back, making them rear up. Aveline saw an opening, whipped her mare and forced her way through. Once she was clear of them, she pulled her mare to a stop, looked back and cried, “Jehan!”

One of the men headed her way. She cried out again. Jehan roared, slashing at his attackers with his sword. He turned his horse hard and fast, around and around, heading off their attempts to approach him. One of them slashed his arm and cut through the mayle. Blood poured out of the wound.

Aveline screamed: “No!” when one of the English soldiers grabbed hold of her mare’s reins with a triumphant yell.

A large group of men on horseback overtook them. One of them tore the reins from the English soldier’s hand. Aveline was surrounded.

© Valentina Cambiazo