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was fully occupied trying to serve the earl to the best of his abilities. Edwin didn’t know the new junior squire, Adam, at all, and besides, the boy was a number of years younger than him. He sighed, lonely, and continued with his gloomy thoughts.
    He was disturbed by a tug at his sleeve and turned to see a small boy holding out a steaming bowl to him. It was Peter, an orphan from Edwin’s village, who had accompanied the host when it travelled. Edwin had seen him in the company of Sir Roger, one of the earl’s knights, but he had little idea of how this had come to pass. Still, presumably the lad was earning his keep, which was better than starving back in the village.
    Edwin was a little unsure where the food had come from, but he took the bowl with thanks. Peter, still not used to speaking, mumbled that it was from his lord, and fled. Edwin was a little confused, but his stomach was crying out for the meal so he took out his spoon and shovelled it in before it went cold. As he was finishing it, another man sat down beside him. Edwin started to leap to his feet, for it was Sir Roger himself, but the knight bade him stay seated. Edwin was grateful, for he wasn’t sure that his legs would have supported him all the way up anyway. Still, he felt ill at ease sitting next to a knight like this. There was silence for a moment, before Sir Roger looked at him, seeming as always to be pulling himself back from a serene and remote place. The sapphire gaze was piercing and Edwin bowed his head.
    ‘I’ll speak to Hamo for you.’
    Edwin jerked his head up again. He couldn’t have heard that right. But Sir Roger was looking at him with some sympathy. Had he noticed what had happened yesterday? Surely not. He was a knight – why would he care?
    But he had underestimated Sir Roger’s calling for righting wrongs, no matter how small. ‘I know Hamo of old, and he often tries to belittle anyone he doesn’t like. I won’t let this continue – you’re the earl’s man and it is right that he should treat you as such. The service you rendered him during the last week was invaluable: these are troubled times, Edwin, and you’re the sort of man that my lord is going to need around him. His troubles aren’t over: the regent still harbours some suspicions about his defection to the rebel cause and then his return, and he doesn’t trust him entirely. There was some debate about whether he should be allowed to join the army at all.’
    So that was what the trouble had been about earlier. Edwin supposed that if he was going to serve the earl properly, he’d better keep himself informed about this kind of thing, although he didn’t really know how to go about it. He must keep his eyes and ears open.
    Sir Roger fell silent and Edwin wasn’t sure whether he was supposed to continue the conversation or whether he should take the lack of speech as some sort of dismissal, but fortunately he was saved from having to make the decision by the arrival of two more men whom he didn’t know, but who were obviously knights and friends of Sir Roger’s. He stood awkwardly while the three men greeted each other, unsure whether he should just slip away, but with calm civility Sir Roger invited him to step forward and be introduced.
    ‘Edwin, these are two friends of mine. Sir Reginald le Croc – ’ he gestured towards the man on the left, a tall fellow, perhaps slightly older than himself, with long dark hair and merry eyes. Sir Reginald automatically held out his right hand to Edwin, but then winced as he took it, and Edwin realised too late that the hand was bandaged. He started to offer an apology but the knight waved it away, smiling.
    Sir Roger continued: ‘– and Sir Gilbert de l’Aigle.’ The other man was older, perhaps thirty years of age or more, and he had a seasoned and weather-beaten look about him. However, he was pleasant and welcoming, greeting Edwin courteously.
    Sir Roger now had his hand on Edwin’s shoulder, preparing