< previous page page_90 next page >

Page 90
How did Lord Rannulf let such a thing come to pass?"
"He did not let it come to pass. He did it apurpose. Look you how we were welcomed. Sir Giles can greet us with open arms because he is sure we do not come to tear away his livelihood. He has no need to dare the danger of trying to elevate himself from castellan to vassal because his father held after his grandfather, he held after his father, and he can expect with confidence that his son will hold after him."
"Yes, and that is all well and good until the day that he begins to think of how little he keeps of the value of the land and how much a vassal keeps. The people regard him as their lord. How will you force him from the land if he should deny you what is yours?"
Alinor shrugged. "There is your finger upon the sore spot in all this good. And, indeed, from that spot infection may spread. My grandfather sought to keep the plague in check by visiting often and for weeks at a time in each of his keeps. I also have tried, but the danger is there and with each generation it grows worse. At Kingsclere the castellan died without issue and at Ealand there were only young children, none fit to hold for me. In these places I have new men. But in Iford, and other places too Simon, to put Sir Giles out I could not."
"Of course you cannot punish a man for being a good servant, you cannot just send him away. However, we could shift the castellans. Sir Giles can go from Iford to Ealand, and that man"
"Could we, Simon? You know we cannot shift a man after three generations. It were better to kill him, and his son, than to break his faith in me first and then give another keep into his hands. In his mind Sir Giles knows I have the right to send him to hold another keep for me or even to put him out landless if I desire, but he does not believe in his heart that this can happen. His faith is old and built on solid

 
< previous page page_90 next page >