Post by woodville on Feb 11, 2016 0:44:05 GMT
Richard could see the castle of Corfe in the distance a bastion of stone flanked by two shallow hills only a hundred meters high along a slight slope. The Castle was located in a valley carved by the River Corfe, its huge stone gatehouse flickering with the torches of the sentries, Richard was resting in the town of Norden excruciatingly close to the keep where the townsfolk of Wareham had told him Richard Woodville could be found. Richard Grey rubbed his knuckles, they were stiff from riding, his horse had taken a stumble but needed time to recover, come a few hours he would trot through those large heavy doors and embrace his uncle Richard.
He knew that war hung in the balance, peace hard won by the Yorkists would abate, now that the heir to Edward the IV was gone, perhaps he was dead, if he was then it was quite possible he too would soon die. It seemed the world had slowed a cusp of the end of an era, perhaps this was the apocalypse, would the horsemen ride? Suddenly he realised, there were four horsemen who had followed them, he had caught a glance before he left his uncle, suddenly a shiver of dread crept up his spine. Were they the agents of the end? Was Anthony dead?
It was a day and a half of heavy riding that led to this moment, Richard Grey trotting his steed through Corfe’s gates, he was met silently by Woodville, who could plainly see the message Richard had come to deliver. “Where is the young King?”
“He was taken my lord! We do not know who. We were attacked!” Richard frowned.
“Someone take his horse!” Richard swung his arm in a wide arc, gesturing to all his Guards. Crossbowmen stared down into the courtyard, Pike men leaning on their pikes mouths agape, Knights in fine clothes glared out of windows of the Keep, whilst young Squires stood frozen in the stable tending to their master’s horses. “Give his Horse water, come hither Richard!” he beckoned arms open.
It was at Dinner that the message came, a courier pigeon bearing news of the Death of Earl Rivers, the food mostly untouched was left to go cold, Richards appetite despite not eating for two days was spoiled. Anthony was dead, his body mutilated and his head mounted on a pike outside Calverton, rumour had it that local bandits were responsible. It was the good Buckingham who had sent the message by bird, in it he had given his condolences and had sent word to the Regent to deliver the news to Elizabeth. Strangely, however, there was no word of Edward’s abduction, or the fact that of all people to attack a Royal Host, was a mere group of bandits. Something just didn't appear right; however, given the grief that engulfed Richard Woodville he felt best not to probe it, instead he knelt and gave his sword and loyalty to the new Earl.
He knew that war hung in the balance, peace hard won by the Yorkists would abate, now that the heir to Edward the IV was gone, perhaps he was dead, if he was then it was quite possible he too would soon die. It seemed the world had slowed a cusp of the end of an era, perhaps this was the apocalypse, would the horsemen ride? Suddenly he realised, there were four horsemen who had followed them, he had caught a glance before he left his uncle, suddenly a shiver of dread crept up his spine. Were they the agents of the end? Was Anthony dead?
It was a day and a half of heavy riding that led to this moment, Richard Grey trotting his steed through Corfe’s gates, he was met silently by Woodville, who could plainly see the message Richard had come to deliver. “Where is the young King?”
“He was taken my lord! We do not know who. We were attacked!” Richard frowned.
“Someone take his horse!” Richard swung his arm in a wide arc, gesturing to all his Guards. Crossbowmen stared down into the courtyard, Pike men leaning on their pikes mouths agape, Knights in fine clothes glared out of windows of the Keep, whilst young Squires stood frozen in the stable tending to their master’s horses. “Give his Horse water, come hither Richard!” he beckoned arms open.
It was at Dinner that the message came, a courier pigeon bearing news of the Death of Earl Rivers, the food mostly untouched was left to go cold, Richards appetite despite not eating for two days was spoiled. Anthony was dead, his body mutilated and his head mounted on a pike outside Calverton, rumour had it that local bandits were responsible. It was the good Buckingham who had sent the message by bird, in it he had given his condolences and had sent word to the Regent to deliver the news to Elizabeth. Strangely, however, there was no word of Edward’s abduction, or the fact that of all people to attack a Royal Host, was a mere group of bandits. Something just didn't appear right; however, given the grief that engulfed Richard Woodville he felt best not to probe it, instead he knelt and gave his sword and loyalty to the new Earl.