CHAPTER FORTY

Sir Guy de Buissant checked himself as, for at least the fortieth time, he paced up and down his modest cell at Corfe Castle. He could not really complain, his accommodation was neatly furnished and it was as if he were merely a closely-confined guest. How ironic the very place where he had been Eleanor’s squire although effectively her warder not so long ago. There had been his knighthood, his growing reputation, the prospect of being right hand man to the Queen of England. All this dashed now, gone completely with no realistic chance of recovery. How he cursed his own over-exuberant nature, he wished that he had about him some of that coolness of his friend de Mauléon, still you could not put an old head on young shoulders. He smiled to himself, thinking of what retort Savary would have at being referred to as “old”. A genuine friend was that Poitivan rascal. Still de Buissant knew that he would have to think constructively now as to his own future. It was all very well having friends, but often your destiny lay very much in your own hands.

“You have guests de Buissant but only for a brief while.” These words came almost at a gallop from the coarse-looking guard who entered Guy’s enforced quarters.

“Who have I the honour to see?” enquired the former squire.

The slovenly dressed official merely spat vehemently on the ground and pointed a grubby thumb in the direction of the two people who had entered the prison. Clearing his throat violently and spitting once again the guard turned on his heels and left Guy with his two visitors.

“Melissa, Jadabal!” cried Guy almost gleefully “I am thankful that I have been given leave to see you both albeit I gather for just a brief period.”

“We are here for a specific purpose my brave Guy.” Answered Melissa.

“Yes indeed” continued Jadabal. “We have become gravely concerned with the development of affairs. Eleanor has been taken to Bristol under close escort and it is not clear how the land lies.”

“My God!” snorted Guy. “They surely would not do her any harm. William Marshal and Hubert de Burgh rule the land, they are men of great honour and integrity they would never see any harm come to her.”
“Hopefully not” replied Melissa. “But would you stand in such good stead. I feel that freed with room to manoeuvre and you would be a much better ally to Eleanor. An eagle with its wings clipped is no eagle at all.”

“All very well my dear lady” mused de Buissant. “However, how am I to secure my release from this quaint little cell here?”

“Perhaps we can help you in that” winked Jadabal. “Provided that you would not mind switching clothes with me . Melissa can spirit you out of the castle while I await here in your place. When the deception is found out you will be miles away.”

“An interesting idea” smiled Guy. “However, I could never allow you both to compromise your positions. Far better if I exchange places with our scruffy friend out there. You would not be suspected if I engineered the scheme entirely by myself.”

Jadabal and Melissa looked at each other seeking some form of inspiration. With none forthcoming Guy strode to his cell door and hammered loudly. After what seemed an eternity the slovenly footsteps of the guard could be heard moving slowly towards them in the outer area. A muttered expletive followed by a revolting belch was firm evidence that the man was close-by. There was a slightly swifter jingling of keys as the captor sought to place one of them in the lock outside.

“Alright the two of you outside now, your time is up.” The uncouth gaoler barely looked at the two women jerking his head towards the now open door.

“Temporarily my dear friend your time is up” snapped Guy driving his fist fiercely under the chin of the guard sending him crashing to the ground. Moving quickly he stripped off most of his own clothes, and kneeling over his fallen adversary he commenced to remove the rough-hewn garments from the man. Soon he was dressed in the same garb as his gaoler the latter, privilege of his former prisoner, was shortly afterwards an unimpressive replica of Guy at least in terms of clothing.

“Come my dear ladies time is of the essence. I need to make my escape from here as quickly as possible.”

“It would help if we both walked with you for a distance. Seeing three people in casual conversation would be unlikely to excite too much comment. At least let us do that.”

“My dear Melissa you are a treasure. I will gladly take-up your offer” smiled
de Buissant. “Let us proceed.”

There was considerable tension over the next twenty minutes or so as the three participants in the drama sought to appear as casual as possible. Almost as if in a dream Guy and the two women somehow managed to find themselves in the court yard outside the castle. There was almost an over-casualness about the day as market traders, hawkers, and merchants passed to and from the building.

“Leave me now ladies” whispered de Buissant “I am a good judge of horse-flesh. Allow me to wander to the stables I can saddle-up and be on my way before anyone realises that I have disappeared from here.”

Melissa nodded silently to Jadabal and the two friends moved discretely away from the worthy paladin. They had done their work well and hopefully Guy would have left Corfe well behind him before anyone was the wiser. In seemingly a matter of minutes the young knight had selected an appropriate animal and was mounted almost as if he were on a casual ride out soaking in the atmosphere as if there were nothing in life to worry about.

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