Read The Archer's Gold: Medieval Military fiction: A Novel about Wars, Knights, Pirates, and Crusaders in The Years of the Feudal Middle Ages of William Marshall ... (The Company of English Archers Book 7) for Free Online Page B

haven't broken their necks and are still alive, we cut their throats or stab their eyes through their helmet eyeholes if we don't want to hold them for ransom - which we mostly don't.
           George and the rest of Thomas' students are where they'll be safest - in the center behind the second four lines of Raymond’s Horse Marines and outriders.
           Thomas and the three outriders are with the boys and all of their horses are tied to the trees immediately behind them along a path that runs through the trees.  I goes from where we are to a meadow with a view of the road in the distance.  The rest of our horses are tied to trees further on down the path.
           The only men further back than George and the other boys are a couple of Raymond’s outriders.  They’ve been posted on the other side of the woods.  They'll gallop down the path through the trees and sound the alarm if anyone tries to come up behind us.
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           Roger de Broase is my knight.  He's one of the Earl of Gloucester's knights and I’ve been squire to him ever since he flogged Hubert for running away when Sir Roger was in France and the French broke through our lines at Limousin. 
           At least that’s what Sir Roger said happened even though some of the other squires say otherwise - they say that Hubert didn’t run, that it was Sir Roger who ran and Hubert merely followed him as a good squire should. 
           Well I won’t run even if Sir Roger acts like a coward; I want to be advanced to a knight.  It's always been my dream and I’d as soon as die before I’d run and disgrace my father the way Sir Roger claims Hubert disgraced his.  I've already decided - if Sir Roger runs I won't follow him.
           I'd had trouble sleeping and was wide awake when old Peter, one of our sergeants, came around with the bucket of breakfast ale to wake us so we can get the horses ready and help our knights into their armour. 
           It's seems early and I can hardly see but perhaps that's what happens when the knights are anxious for a battle to start. 
           Edward, my friend and fellow squire, is already at the horse lines when I arrive carrying my horse's saddle blanket under which I'd been sleeping - and find him using my leather grain bucket to feed his knight's chaser.
           "I know my friend; it's your bucket." Edward said with an apologetic shrug of his shoulders. 
           "But someone stole mine so please let me use yours for a few minutes while you lay out Sir Roger's armour.  It's good luck to help a friend before a battle, you know."
           Edward is indeed a friend so all I can do is nod and rush back to where I'd been sleeping to fetch the harness, saddle, and front padding for Sir Roger's destrier.  I'll saddle the destrier first while I'm waiting for my grain bucket and then make a second trip to get my own saddle for the rouncey mare my father provided for me.
           Hmm.  I wonder why Sir Roger is riding his destrier instead of his big rouncey.  They are for tournaments and charge much slower you know, destriers I mean.
           My trouble begins when I get back to the horse line.  Sir Roger is waiting and in a great rage.
           "My armour isn't laid out and my horse hasn't even been fed," he said as he slapped me face and lifted his hands to beseech the heavens.  "This will never do."  He is so angry he is trembling. 
           Five minutes later and things have settled down even though everyone is terribly excited, even the castle servants who aren't going with us.  I've both my horse and Sir Roger's destrier saddled and both are eating the traditional double ration of grain horses always get before a joust or battle. 
           Sir Roger has settled down as well.  Now he is all excited and talking loudly and boldly with the other knights in our entourage. 
           We're ready to go even though I'm