Quest of Hope(84)

News of the rift between Villmar and Runkel quickly found its way to the eager ears of Lord Conrad in residence at nearby Mensfelden. He called a council in the second week of June and organized a raid against the abbey’s manor. “The time is right to strike! The abbot has lost his love for the Templars; he is in division with Klothar; he is ripe for picking! He shall beg to contract with us for protection.

“Now hear me, hear me well! Our purpose is to expose the weak arm of Klothar. We strike his men without quarter but do no harm to the villages.”

It was two days before the Midsummer’s Day feast when the Templars learned of Conrad’s plans through a spy well placed in the young lord’s court. Eager to thwart the ambitions of another rival, they sent messengers to both the abbot and Lord Klothar. By dusk the church bell in Weyer was ringing the alarm, and the distant gong of Villmar’s new warning bell could be heard thudding faintly in the distance.

The Templars rushed a company of men-at-arms south to defend Selters from an attack from the corner nearest their own. Oberbrechen and Weyer were left to a reluctant Lord Klothar and his knights from Runkel. Though frustrated and angered by the recent amendments to his contract, Lord Klothar was a man of honor and dispatched a large company of soldiers into the abbey’s land. Joining thirty mounted sergeants were seven knights, including Simon—the former liege of Richard—and Gottwald, the aging knight with whom Heinrich had spoken. Each of these two had insisted their swords be specifically used in defense of Weyer, and they separated from their larger company with a dozen seasoned sergeants.

Lord Conrad was young, but was no fool. He expected resistance but had no interest in quarrelling with the Templars. In fact, he had large sums of money held in Templar banks and thought it best to avoid any clash with the armed monks. When he learned of Templars riding in defense of Selters, he adjusted his plans. His forces quickly turned away from Selters and divided in the forests east of the Laubusbach. “You… Roland, take a company to Weyer. I shall lead these against Oberbrechen. Godspeed!”

Roland, a robust knight of middle years, was savage and brutal. He was known for his cruelty throughout Palestine where he had slaughtered countless innocents in the mountain villages of that holy land. He was often drunk and boastful, frequently bragging of his butchery. Conrad was in fear of Roland and oft wished the rogue knight be slain. Perhaps, he thought, this day shall yield profit in many ways.

Roland led his men along the Laubusbach’s high eastern bank until the peak of Weyer’s church could be seen below. He had heard the warning bells clanging all through the valley and knew there’d be no surprise, but surprise was not intended, for the purpose of the day was to engage the village’s defenders. He urged his mount forward and stood in his stirrups to survey the scene below. His gaze scanned the empty footpaths and the vacant workshops of the abandoned village and could see no soul in either field or hovel. Nothing moved, save the smoke which curled perpetually from the thatch-covered huts. His eyes inched along the view until they fell upon a line of troops standing ready along the roadway at the base of the church. Roland smiled and waved his men forward.

Klothar’s men had arrived in good time and they formed a formidable defense at the base of the church hill. Above, the churchyard was filled with anxious peasants crowding its stifling nave or peering over its chest-high stone wall. It was here that Heinrich stood between Emma and Richard, his family safely tucked within the sanctuary.

Lord Conrad’s men were now visible, trotting casually along the ridge parallel to the stream until they disappeared into a tuck, only to reappear at the swine ford. They crossed the water carefully and angled toward the village center and the wall of stiff-faced soldiers waiting dutifully on the roadway.

“By the Virgin!” whispered Richard. “The fight’s to be just beneath us!”

Heinrich nodded and begged Emma to find cover in the churchyard. “Nay,” she answered. “I’ve naught to fear. Notice, lads, the enemy bears no torches, they pay no heed to the village. Methinks we are not their quarry.” She began to perspire and breathe shallow breaths as she clutched her hands to her breast.

Emma had barely finished speaking when Roland raised his gloved fist and set order to his troops. With a few barks and gestures, his mail-clad warriors tightened into a knot of horse, steel, and leather. They are impressive, thought Heinrich, disciplined, well-armed, and confident. Roland ordered his company to advance.

A mere twenty rods away, Klothar’s knights countered. They tightened their line and looked to their commander, Lord Gottwald. The gray-haired knight stood in his saddle and snarled. Then, with a wave of his hand a sudden flock of arrows was launched from a low hedge edging the glebe to one side. As the shafts whistled their descent at the surprised invaders, Gottwald pointed his sword and led his company in a charge.