Jasper Read Free Page A

spoken man, he began laying out a row of instruments to remove the arrowhead. He handed one of the monks a long-handled poker to heat in the fire, and Jasper flinched as he realised they intended to cauterise the wound.
    At last he spoke. ‘He has been lucky, my lord. The arrow has a bodkin head, still not easy to remove, but a better chance of saving him.’
    Jasper nodded. ‘I wasn’t certain he would make it here.’
    ‘Much longer and it would be too late for my modest skills.’
    Before he could reply the friar who first welcomed them caught Jasper’s attention. ‘You must be hungry after your journey, my lord. Come with me and I’ll serve you bread and beer.’
    Jasper realised he hadn’t eaten a thing all day. He had planned to ride through the night and reach Carmarthen Castle as soon as he could, but after a meal of rye bread and a generous slice of cured ham, washed down with a tankard of weak ale, he closed his eyes to rest.
    He dreamed of his father, trying to rally his men as York’s cavalry overwhelmed them. As if in slow-motion, he saw the figure of Edward, grinning as he hacked down the Welshmen with his deadly sword. Again, he glimpsed the descending poleaxe at the edge of his vision yet could not see the face of the man who nearly killed him before he surrendered to the blackness,
    He woke to the shrill cry of a cockerel to find he had been so exhausted he’d slept well past dawn. He immediately went in search of Gabriel, who he found sleeping in the infirmary, a clean linen bandage bound tightly around his wound. At least he had survived the night. Jasper turned to leave when Gabriel spoke.
    ‘Good morning to you, my lord.’
    ‘You know who I am?’
    Gabriel smiled. ‘I heard the monks call you that. They told me you are Sir Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke.’ He winced in pain but his eyes met Jasper’s with gratitude. ‘I’m truly in your debt, sir, for saving my life.’
    ‘We live to fight another day, Gabriel—and I will keep good my promise to return your horse and sword.’
    ‘I thank you, sir, as I’ll need them if I’m to be in your service?’
    Jasper smiled at the hope in Gabriel’s voice. ‘For now, you must rest, and I must return home, as many lives could depend on it.’
    ‘I wish you well, my lord.’ Gabriel raised a hand in farewell.
    As Jasper rode through the wintry dawn towards the Black Mountains and home, he allowed himself a smile at the memory of Gabriel’s discovery of his true identity. He felt great relief that the Irishman had survived. Helping him cost a lot of time and put them both at risk of discovery, yet at least he had been able to rest. Now he thanked God to be alive, and could begin to plan how to deal with the usurper, Edward, Duke of York.

Chapter Two
     

March 1461
     

    Pembroke Castle loomed like a jagged cliff from the grey mists swirling over the River Cleddau. Jasper found plenty of time on the long ride to think about what he would say about how he had escaped the battle. He could not lie but Lady Margaret would be the only one to hear the whole truth. She read it on his face as soon as she saw him, as clearly as if she knew his most secret thoughts.
    She said nothing until they stood alone together in the privacy of the castle chapel, and he watched her light a votive candle and place it on the altar. The beeswax briefly released its honey scent as the yellow flame flickered, then burned brightly, reflecting golden echoes in her all-seeing eyes.
    ‘A prayer for your father, Owen Tudor.’ The cold air in the chapel formed a glistening sheen on the single stained-glass window, but her voice sounded warm as she said his father’s name.
    For once Jasper felt lost for words. He felt closer to Margaret than anyone, yet struggled to tell her of the slow-burning fear that gnawed at his thoughts since he had left the Black Mountains.
    ‘I have failed my father.’ Emotion choked his words.
    ‘You were given no choice, Jasper. My prayers