on the floor.
'Longespee won't thank you for bringing those,' Hugh said. 'Indeed, I suspect he won't allow you. He doesn't have that kind of tolerance.'
Ralph sighed. 'I suppose you are right.'
'I know I am. I tell you what. I'll keep them to remind me of you, and they'll be here when you return - unless Mother throws them out.'
'She won't,' Ralph said. 'She'll keep them, like she's kept all of our baby teeth and our first tunics and shoes.'
Hugh grinned wry agreement, thinking of the chest in his mother's chamber filled with a motley assortment of mementos from their childhood. (His first hobby horse was in there, patched and refurbished, if a little bald around the ears.) Not that he could imagine her adding two wolf pelts to the collection.
Even now, a year later, there was a heavy, unpleasant aroma when they were shaken out.
'I'm going to miss you.' Hugh pulled Ralph into a rough, bear-cub embrace.
'The Earl of Salisbury had better look after you well or I shall be down upon him with all the force of a stone from a trebuchet.' He rubbed his knuckles over the top of Ralph's head. Ralph struggled free and aimed a swipe, but Hugh ducked out of the way.
'Don't worry,' Ralph said. 'I can take care of myself. I promise not to return swirling my cloak and posing as if I expect everyone to look at me.' He struck an attitude.
'If you do, I'll be down on you also,' Hugh warned, but he was laughing.
Ralph flashed an exuberant grin. 'You'd have to catch me first.' He dodged Hugh's cuff and, going to the bed, slung a satchel over his shoulder and hefted one of the baggage rolls. 'I'm going to miss you too,' he said. 'And home.' He looked around the chamber. 'But not enough to stay.'
Hugh lifted the second baggage roll and together the brothers left their bedchamber for the hall.
Longespee was seated talking to their mother. His garments were immaculate and draped with a casual artifice that left Hugh wondering how much practice it had taken to achieve such nonchalance. Their mother was listening attentively to him, her face alight with maternal pride. He was regaling her with a story about a school of dolphins that had played across their bows on the homeward journey from La Rochelle. He was good at telling tales, knowing how to make the gestures and flourishes so that one could almost see the steel-silver leap of the creatures from sea to sky and back to sea. Ralph's arrival was the signal for the conversation to break up and everyone to go out to the courtyard where Longespee's entourage awaited the order to leave. More fervent embraces ensued; shoulder slaps; exhortations to take care. Ralph knelt to his parents and received their blessing and an extra hug from his mother. A groom strapped his baggage to the packhorse and Ralph mounted his bay palfrey. His grey eyes were bright and he was quivering with the thrill of imminent adventure. Nevertheless, as he gathered his reins, he pushed out his chin and affected a straight-backed dignity.
Ida sniffed and dabbed at a tear, and Hugh curved a comforting arm around her shoulders. Hands gripped around his belt and legs squarely planted, his father stood a little aloof to watch his son ride out. 'Count your blessings, madam,' he said with an exasperated look at his wife. 'At least he is going of his own free will and not as a hostage to Longespee's royal brother as the Marshal lad has done. May we always avoid such a situation.'
Hugh felt his mother shiver under his hand. 'Amen to that,' she said. 'I pray for the Marshals and their boy.'
They returned to the hall; it was quiet now the visitors had gone. Hugh didn't miss Longespee's presence one bit, but there was a gap at his side where Ralph had been, and suddenly he was glad he had persuaded his merry younger brother to leave his pungent wolfskins behind.
8
Castle of Striguil, Welsh Borders, June 1206
Sitting at her needlework, Mahelt listened to the patter of heavy rain outside the shutters. She was
'Longespee won't thank you for bringing those,' Hugh said. 'Indeed, I suspect he won't allow you. He doesn't have that kind of tolerance.'
Ralph sighed. 'I suppose you are right.'
'I know I am. I tell you what. I'll keep them to remind me of you, and they'll be here when you return - unless Mother throws them out.'
'She won't,' Ralph said. 'She'll keep them, like she's kept all of our baby teeth and our first tunics and shoes.'
Hugh grinned wry agreement, thinking of the chest in his mother's chamber filled with a motley assortment of mementos from their childhood. (His first hobby horse was in there, patched and refurbished, if a little bald around the ears.) Not that he could imagine her adding two wolf pelts to the collection.
Even now, a year later, there was a heavy, unpleasant aroma when they were shaken out.
'I'm going to miss you.' Hugh pulled Ralph into a rough, bear-cub embrace.
'The Earl of Salisbury had better look after you well or I shall be down upon him with all the force of a stone from a trebuchet.' He rubbed his knuckles over the top of Ralph's head. Ralph struggled free and aimed a swipe, but Hugh ducked out of the way.
'Don't worry,' Ralph said. 'I can take care of myself. I promise not to return swirling my cloak and posing as if I expect everyone to look at me.' He struck an attitude.
'If you do, I'll be down on you also,' Hugh warned, but he was laughing.
Ralph flashed an exuberant grin. 'You'd have to catch me first.' He dodged Hugh's cuff and, going to the bed, slung a satchel over his shoulder and hefted one of the baggage rolls. 'I'm going to miss you too,' he said. 'And home.' He looked around the chamber. 'But not enough to stay.'
Hugh lifted the second baggage roll and together the brothers left their bedchamber for the hall.
Longespee was seated talking to their mother. His garments were immaculate and draped with a casual artifice that left Hugh wondering how much practice it had taken to achieve such nonchalance. Their mother was listening attentively to him, her face alight with maternal pride. He was regaling her with a story about a school of dolphins that had played across their bows on the homeward journey from La Rochelle. He was good at telling tales, knowing how to make the gestures and flourishes so that one could almost see the steel-silver leap of the creatures from sea to sky and back to sea. Ralph's arrival was the signal for the conversation to break up and everyone to go out to the courtyard where Longespee's entourage awaited the order to leave. More fervent embraces ensued; shoulder slaps; exhortations to take care. Ralph knelt to his parents and received their blessing and an extra hug from his mother. A groom strapped his baggage to the packhorse and Ralph mounted his bay palfrey. His grey eyes were bright and he was quivering with the thrill of imminent adventure. Nevertheless, as he gathered his reins, he pushed out his chin and affected a straight-backed dignity.
Ida sniffed and dabbed at a tear, and Hugh curved a comforting arm around her shoulders. Hands gripped around his belt and legs squarely planted, his father stood a little aloof to watch his son ride out. 'Count your blessings, madam,' he said with an exasperated look at his wife. 'At least he is going of his own free will and not as a hostage to Longespee's royal brother as the Marshal lad has done. May we always avoid such a situation.'
Hugh felt his mother shiver under his hand. 'Amen to that,' she said. 'I pray for the Marshals and their boy.'
They returned to the hall; it was quiet now the visitors had gone. Hugh didn't miss Longespee's presence one bit, but there was a gap at his side where Ralph had been, and suddenly he was glad he had persuaded his merry younger brother to leave his pungent wolfskins behind.
8
Castle of Striguil, Welsh Borders, June 1206
Sitting at her needlework, Mahelt listened to the patter of heavy rain outside the shutters. She was
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