"Frankowski, Leo - Stargard 5 - Lord Conrad's Lady" - читать интересную книгу автора (Frankowski Leo)

Just as I reached the fray, a Mongol horseman swung his sword, and the good bishop went down!




Chapter Five


We chopped into the fight, my Big Person and I. I took the head off one of the Mongols and the arm off another before most of them noticed that I was there. My mount was not being a slouch, either, being every bit as good as Anna and doing at least as much damage as I was. Thunder rippled across the sky but couldnТt drown the crash of sword on shield, the popping squish of a human head trampled beneath a horseТs hoof.

Once the enemy noticed us, though, things got a bit hairy. I was soon surrounded and had to spend most of my effort fending off their blows rather than delivering my own. But theyТd never seen a horse that could fight like mine, and she did in four of them before I could score again. Yet every time a Mongol went down, another was all too eager to take his place. I began to realize that I was growing too old for this sort of thing and that getting ahead of my own troops was maybe not such a good idea.

The cavalry came to my rescue in the form of my captain of scouts, Sir Wladyclaw, the oldest son of my good friend Sir Miesko. He was riding one of our Big People, one of AnnaТs progeny, and was slewing and sliving as I had done before I had become the center of the MongolsТ attention. DidnТt the idiots ever put out sentries?

He soon made it to my side, and while we were still surrounded, at least now I didnТt have to try to watch my own back. We were soon fighting to good effect, and I think that I killed six more Mongols before things quieted down. That wasnТt enough to extract full vengeance for what these bastards had done to that woman in the hamlet, but it was enough to get me a good honor guard into the hell IТd earned for putting her out of her pain.

УWell met, Captain Wladyclaw, and thank you! How did you manage to find me?Ф

УI didnТt, my lord. This is Anna! SheТs been looking for you and disregarding everything IТve wanted to do since we got through the city gates!Ф

УWell, thank you, love.Ф I scratched AnnaТs ear the way she liked it. Then I saw that there was still a crowd of Mongols in front of the monks. УWhoops! ThereТs more work to do. LetТs go! For God and Poland!Ф

In the course of our fight we had drifted a gross yards from our starting point, and so we had time to get up to speed before we hit them again. Big People were larger than the usual war-horses and far more powerful than a little Mongol pony. We struck the Mongols like a pair of bowling balls, and they flew like a rack of pins. Then we were back to hacking and slashing in earnest, the blood and raindrops splashing around us.

I soon realized that the monks were not behaving like innocent victims. They were handing out as much as they took in and were tolerating an unbelievable amount of punishment in the process. They were swinging long iron maces since a man of the Church wasnТt allowed to shed blood, but all the swords except mine were dulled to clubs by that point, anyway.

Then I saw Bishop Ignacy cave in the skull of the last standing Mongol and suddenly all was quiet. We dismounted, and both of the Big People started going about calmly stepping on the necks of the fallen Mongols. They always do that sort of thing, but IТd just as soon not watch.

УFor this timely aid, much thanks, my son! You know, IТve always wanted to say something like that,Ф the bishop said, laughing.

УYou are most welcome, your excellency. But tell me. Did I or did I not just see you go down before a Mongol sword?Ф I asked.

УYou did, Conrad.Ф

УThen how is it that you are standing before me? One miracle in a lifetime is enough, after all.Ф

УThereТs nothing miraculous about it. I am standing now simply because I stood up again after he knocked me down! Oh, I see what you mean.Ф He folded back the cuff of his wide sleeve to reveal a set of our regulation combat armor underneath. Looking about, I realized that all the monks were similarly attired. УThe Lord said that one should turn the other cheek, my son, but he never demanded that oneТs cheek must be naked.Ф

УHow did you get that armor? Why are you wearing a monkТs cassock instead of your bishopТs robes? And why are you down here instead of up in your cathedral?Ф My head was buzzing.

УWe got the armor by going to Three Walls and paying for it. The Church is not poor, after all. I am in the lower city because I judged that Wawel Hill would hold but that I would be needed down here. As to the cassock, well, the ladies often spend years embroidering a single one of my formal robes, and it would be rude to ruin one. Is anything else troubling you, my son?Ф he said patiently, standing in the rain.

УNo, Father. Ф

УThen you had best get about your business. This dayТs work isnТt done yet. Go with God, my son!Ф

We mounted up and rode out.

Captain Wladyclaw and I rode through the town, taking out the enemy as we found them until we got to the ButcherТs Gate by the waterfront. Quite a few enemy horsemen had apparently had their fill of fighting real warriors and were streaming out of the city.