The Agincourt Campaign (Part I)

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction inspired by true events.

After book one of Lancastrian was published I thought about what could fill the gap that I now face before book two is finished. This is when I decided to explore two important events that shape William Bennett's future: the death of his father and the knighting of John Fastolf. Once you read this new short story alongside the novel the connection will become clear. 

Part I

From London to Harfleur

Sir James Bennett paced the floor as he agonized over a letter he was writing to his family. Back and forth before the sultry hearth he went. He had been in London for a year now after returning from his third campaign in France. Presently, his squire came to him and stood respectfully at the doorway, waiting for the knight to take notice. Finally, James stopped and looked at the page.

“What is it, Brice?’ James asked as turned away and peered into the lifeless fireplace. A fire would not be prudent during a hot summer.

“Sir,” Brice began but cleared his throat before continuing. “His majesty, King Henry V, seeks your audience.”

Before James could answer the king marched proudly into the room, taking the knight by surprise. Sir James turned and bowed low, then offered a seat to his ruler.

“It is a fine abode here in my city that you keep,” said the king.

“By what appointment does the king leave his palace?” asked James respectfully, signaling his squire to fetch food and drink.

“My legs needed stretching,” replied King Henry.

James looked curiously at his lord and knew there was something more to it.

“You think I jest, my knight?”                                                                                                

“No, sire,” replied James. “But you, my king, always have purpose for any activity.”

The squire came in, offering refreshments to his king and knight. Before the king took the cup of wine, his nearby servant took it and drank from it. There was an eerie pause. Then the servant handed the cup to Henry, who quaffed the rest of the wine and asked for more. James did not even finish his first cup.

“Ah! Such excellent flavor!” said Henry. “But onto my purpose now! Did you know that French threats against my territories swell every week? It appears that they mock my generous terms rendered through the treaty.”

“Yes, lord,” responded James. “I had heard that Parliament denied your request to go to war after the French denial.”

“Another deal with new terms has been brokered with Parliament. Permission has been given to pursue this endeavor. The council has sanctioned war. Will you go with me to France? I will require as many seasoned knights as possible.”

“With all respect Sire, I had wished to reunite with my family before winter,” answered James. “I have not seen my son, William, for several years and I sorely miss my wife’s embrace! But if my king requests my service, I cannot refuse.”

“Good!” Henry stood up, signaling he was ready to leave. “It will not be long before I set sail. Before then, send word to your home at Colchester and call your knights hither to London. Also, call upon Fastolf at Caister. I know you are discouraged, but rewards will find you after this campaign with a handsome number of coin and a return to Colchester.”

With that, the king left. James sighed heavily as he sat down again, putting his face in the palms of his hands.

“Bring me some more parchment,” James said. “And I would like a more wine. This meager amount here will not suffice anymore. It appears as though the letter to my family is not the only thing that will be penned this evening.”

The content of the letter to his family changed, now it was sad and not optimistic. It would have been a letter to make ready for his return to the estate, now it spoke of a potentially long military campaign in France. Then he wrote a separate letter to the garrison at Colchester, and another to John Fastolf, governor of Caister-on-Sea near Norfolk.

“Send riders to both Colchester and Caister Castle,” ordered the knight handing three letters to his squire. “There are two letters going to Colchester, so do not be perplexed. One goes to the captain of the guard and the other to my wife, Lady Isabel. Return here promptly.”

The page bowed and went out to do as his master commanded. But, it was not long after this that the young lad, whom was nearing the end of his tutorage under Sir James, returned and went to work packing all the essentials that would be needed on the journey to France. The subsequent days saw James’ few men-at-arms and knights in London prepare for departure. The squires of the four knights there were perhaps the busiest, as their masters concerned themselves with courtly affairs. These meetings went on throughout the next week within the king’s throne room, housed within London’s strong fortified walls. By this time, Fastolf had arrived in the capitol with his fighting men and they were soon joined by those from Colchester. The thrall of knights, lords, and nobles stood before the throne and talked amongst each other before the king had even come out to take his seat. Finally, he appeared, and the large gathering quieted their voices to hear the king, who was not a shy man.

“Do we all here perceive my reason for this gathering?” asked Henry V.

“My lord wishes to pursue military action against France,” answered a knight. “But, my king, we had believed your request for such a ploy was rejected.”

Every one present, except Sir James, waited for the king’s answer.

“This is true, Sir Alistair,” answered Henry. “However, it is also true that my wish for pursuing a campaign against France has recently been reconsidered, and granted.”

At this, those in the room began murmuring amongst themselves.

“My lord, what conclusion has the council come to that they give you permission to reignite war with our neighbors?” asked Sir Thomas Montacute, a young Knight of the Garter and strong ally of Sir James and Governor Fastolf.

“Since inheriting the throne from my father, I have worked very hard to make England secure here within our borders,” King Henry stated as he stood and paced around the dais upon which the throne of England was raised above the rest of the room. He was already a tall man and towered over most of his strongest knights.

“Now, I can continue that which my predecessors have long sought: the overrule of France!” he continued. “Unfortunately, not all Frenchmen acknowledge me as their rightful monarch. Now, while their country is afflicted with upheaval and weakness, it is a ripe time to conduct my plans. Our idiotic neighbors have brought civil war to their country while still attempting to deny me and my claim to territories in France. I was willing to spurn my claim to the French throne had they accepted the terms of the Treaty of Bretigny. But, they foolishly declined, and so have chosen a continuation of war.”

“Surely we must anticipate some resistance at first,” said Thomas Lancaster, 1^st Duke of Clarence and brother to the king. “Even if the French are busy fighting themselves they will spare anyone to repel our advances. May I suggest a place to stage our invasion?”

Thomas waited for an answer. Even the king’s own brother would not talk over his ruler. Henry nodded as he returned to his seat, signaling his willingness to hear plans from his trusted men.

“There is a port in the estuary of the Seine,” began Thomas. “If we can control the city there, it will be a strong place to proceed from for the invasion. Much like Calais has been for many years now.”

“What city sits there?” asked Henry. “Is it Harfleur?”

“Yes, my lord,” answered Sir James. “But, Calais remains firmly in English control. Why do we not land the army there?”

“If we can take yet a second strong port city it will greatly benefit the king’s intentions,” said Thomas. “The treaty we proposed would have ensured England retained control of our territories in northern France, but since this offer was declined, we will take more than what was originally asked.”

“With respect, my lord,” James stepped forward close to the steps that led up to the throne. “Do we need to pursue more conflict with France? You have secured England and all her borders. We are safe and many of us wish to return home. The French are, as you said, fighting amongst themselves. I do not dispute your claim to France’s throne, but do we need to hound this claim now?”

“But when the French denied the treaty they publicly mocked our king!” Alistair spoke up, defending Henry’s plight. “They must be made to respect the House of Lancaster!”

“Sir James, you are a wise man,” said the king. “But what kind of king would release his grip on the things he is entitled? The kingdom of France is rightfully mine, through my relation to King Edward III.”

There was tension in the air. Sir James would follow his king anywhere, but it was no secret that the knight was critical of England’s occupation of France. Fastolf reached forward and drew his friend back away from the steps.

“Do not fear, Sir James,” said the king. “It is not my goal to conquer the entire French nation, only impose the superior English law within their courts. King Charles VI is of weak mind and not fit to rule. Even his own subjects see that he fights insanity and so they will seek strength elsewhere. They will look to the strong Lion of England! But I ask you, my most trusted men, how do we approach a port city for a siege?”

“The estuary leading towards Harfleur is too narrow for ships of war,” said Fastolf, who was known as a great student of war and a brilliant tactician. “We cannot disembark at the port itself, but rather at the mouth of the Seine. Once we land, our sizeable force and can easily surround the city. This will work to our benefit, as a landing closer to the city would come with heavier resistance. The fleet must remain in the Channel to ensure no French ships come behind us.”

“Then let us go and make ready!” said the king walking down the dais and going out of the throne room. His knights turned and followed.

“The fleet will need time to prepare,” said Montacute. “With all your knights and nobles here we can gather nearly 8,000 men.”

“Ah, good!” said Henry. “I hope most are proficient in archery!”

“If any proper Englander lacks skill with a longbow then he brings shame to our country!” said Thomas.

“But how soon can all these men be ready to leave?” asked Henry, looking to his brother.

“Most of the men are already here in London, lord,” replied the duke. “But we will have to march out of the city to the docks at Southampton . It is less trouble to move an army through friendly land than bring hundreds of ships up into the Thames then back out again the way they came. We can be at the docks in two days.”

“Hundreds of ships? Ha!” Henry laughed haughtily. “The defenders at Harfleur will cower when they hear of my coming fleet!”

“They will indeed, sire,” said James.

“Then let us leave in three days’ time!” said the king. “Spend tomorrow gathering the necessary tools for a siege.”

At this, some of the knights showed hesitation.

“What now?” King Henry exclaimed. “The 13^th of August? Come now! Do not be cowed by superstition! You are king’s men!”

Then the council dispersed amid a few groans and whispered complaints. King Henry went his way with his brother, but Fastolf and Sir Montacute went back to James’ estate within the capitol. When they arrived the hearth was hot, so they called for and received refreshments from the squire, Brice. Fastolf’s young page, Hadrian, was there also.

“Brothers, when will this conflict end?” James sighed, both from the heat of the day and the weight of their coming venture. “I grow weary of strife and conflict. But, such is the life of a knight! We must bleed and die for our king and country.”

“We at least are blessed that our king is not one to cowardly shy from battle,” said Fastolf. “For King Henry’s reputation beyond the court is that of a warrior. I have not yet fought a French or Scottish army where the king led his troops.”

“Does not the king of France deserve leniency?” asked James. “All of Europe knows the man suffers from lunacy. His uncles have added to his stress as a boy by squandering the inheritance of the family. I am sure there is more to his story than that, but when a man goes crazy should we not pity him?”

“I do agree, but still believe France to be our enemy,” said Fastolf. “Their king’s generals are lucid enough to seek war against their fellow countrymen. Perhaps our king is more justified in his claim of France than some think? King Charles’ insanity is extreme to the point of him imagining that he was made of glass! He has even denied ever taking a wife or producing an heir.”

“His knights will not be so easily persuaded to submit to a new king,” said James. “The people of France, however, might prefer our strong monarch!”

“Showing them that we are stronger simply through battle will not be enough,” said Fastolf. “England has enjoyed more victories in combat than France since this conflict began. King Henry needs to do more.”

“Will the people of France see our law as better for them?” asked Montacute. “I am doubtful of this.”

“Even our French allies, the Burgundians, are unreliable,” said James. “John the Fearless of Burgundy acts as regent to his cousin, the king. Though we still hold friendship with his house, I doubt John will betray his own blood.”

“I say we part ways with all Frenchmen!” Sir Benedict, a very tall and strong man, entered the room. “England will be better off leaving that country and letting it burn as they destroy themselves! Things are good here in my beloved England, even without expanding our rule!”

“Ah! Sir Benedict!” James rose to meet his friend. “Glad we are to have you join us! It will be good to have you and your knights with us. But I’m afraid King Henry will not agree with your belief that we should leave France alone. War is inevitable.”

“Then I will meet it with my great axe!” exclaimed Benedict. “As you know, I prefer this weapon. I only carry a sword for impression.”

The knights laughed and continued discussing their disdain for the war. While they openly supported King Henry, they wished to leave France entirely. Henry knew of this disagreement, but would never imprison his men for a difference in policy, unless it led to open disobedience. Wise leaders never surround themselves with fawners and yes-men. Henry V was seen as strong and charismatic, as such, his knights would never go against his expressed will. Another brother of Henry, however, John Lancaster, the Duke of Bedford, shared more differences than the knights did, and had openly disobeyed the king on numerous occasions. While Henry planned to control only part of France, John Lancaster wished to totally conquer their neighboring country and be set up as its ruler.

The time had come to leave London. The army gathered in the fields of Southwark, south of London Bridge. King Henry was not afraid of leading his troops, whether it was for a simple march or while charging into battle. The simplest man-at-arms knew that his king would not shy away from battle. This emboldened their fighting spirits with confidence in their king. The priests, who traveled with the army, gave a blessing and benediction before they set off. Their path did not stray too far from the Thames River at first, which took the slow-moving march east a little. London’s strong walls and towers were visible for some time. But soon they were heading south, then southeast. This path took them through many open fields and farmlands. Only a quarter of the day had gone by when they reached a heavily forested area with a large clearing towards the center, which still had patches of trees scattered throughout. Here there were ancient mines and a small encampment of miners, who starred and gawked at the bright array of the king’s parade. On through more forests they passed and some of the men began to groan and complain.

“A mere 17 leagues sit between us and Southampton,” said James. “I hope the men’s spirits rise before we come to France. Marching through hostile lands will be more difficult than this!”

Eventually they went through Chelsfield, a town in the northwestern part of Kent County. Not long after this, the town of Otford was reached and here, the king ordered a short rest. Henry took advantage of this time and gathered his top knights and captains.

“Now, tell me how we should approach Harfleur,” he asked after looking over a map.

“Sire, the first goal we must pursue is landing safely on the French shores,” said Fastolf pointing to the estuary near their target city. “You see here there are smaller waterways that lead up to and passed the city. We can dock there but then we must use our ships to set a blockade at the mouth of the Seine River.”

“What is it your fear from the river?” asked Sir Benedict. “Surely any reinforcements from Paris by river will be slow in arriving.”

“True that is, sir,” replied Fastolf. “But there are docks all along the great river’s length. It is larger than the Thames we are all used to, and so the French have wisely placed military docks all along this river’s shores. Were it not for this, Benedict, then we would have nothing to fear from the water. We do not want to lose access to our ships, and hence risk the only way home.”

“Could we not also use a few ships to bombard the city?” asked Alistair. “If we can do this it could make our siege more fluid, once the army comes closer to the walls.”

“Nay, we must do this slowly,” replied King Henry. “I wish to leave as much of the town untouched as possible. Even if this means a long and rigorous siege awaits us.”

They did not linger here long, and soon the king gave the order for the continuation of their march. The trek southward continued in much of the same fashion as it started; no trouble befell the army, save the usual fatigue and slow pace a great host endures while traveling to their destination. Sussex County was easy to pass through, and the soldiers indeed had little more to complain about. Eventually, word spread that the ships bound for France would not leave until the next day. At this, their spirits rose. A night of rest, food and wine awaited them at Southampton! King Henry and his servants would bunk at the castle there, which provided a beautiful view of the Channel. The lord of Southampton was expecting them, and although he found great honor is housing the king, he grumbled when the men from the army caused disturbances in town.

“My king!” said the lord bowing as Henry entered the stone walls. “I am glad to see you here before you depart! I know it is simple, but may my contribution here be of some help to the war effort.”

“Indeed, lord Adrian,” said the king as his entourage came into the great hall. “This town it still important to the safety of England, as the castle watch could easily spot any incoming ships from France. But I am glad for your hospitality!”

“You may sleep in my quarters,” said Adrian. “It is more humble than your stately accommodations in London, but it is homely.”

While the king and his servants went up to prepare the chambers James also sought rest. Since there were few adequate rooms to lay a head in the castle itself, and the town possessed several comfortable inns and taverns, James found one to his liking and prepared to rest his road weary bones.  He was not one to indulge in many drinks before a battle, but his close friends, Fastolf and Benedict, however, drank more than their fill and sang the night away.

“Most of those who drink now might regret doing so when we board the ships tomorrow,” James said to himself. “There will not be much time to sober up between the beginning of our voyage and the commencement of the siege.”

After this he prayed for his king and country, then placed his sword aside the bed and drifted to sleep.

Pick up my book here

A Brief History of the Lancaster Family

By now several of you have got your hands on the first book of Lancastrian, and so I thought now would be a good time to explain the history behind the antagonist and his family. If you haven't started reading or finished the book yet, don't worry, no spoilers will be given here, as this is purely a background.

The Lancasters were responsible for most of the conflicts during the 100 Years' War, having laid claim to the French throne. But England was not entirely united in their conquest of France. During the time of which Henry VI was yet too young to rule, his uncle, the Duke of Bedford, wished to occupy the majority of French territories that Henry V left. Meanwhile, Humphrey of Lancaster, the 1st Duke of Gloucester, wished only to maintain Calais. This rivalry eventually led to the War of the Roses, so named because because the Lancastrians adopted a red rose as their house seal, while their rivals from York, chose a white rose.

The family was split into two different branches that led to the House of Plantagenet. The first house was started by Henry III of England, and the second came from John of Gaunt, who married the heiress of Henry III's house. John of Gaunt married his sons off more for wealth than political power, which in turn made the House of Lancaster very wealthy. Out of these marriages came King Henry IV, grandfather of Henry VI, who you will find to be very important in The Knight of Colchester book.

The Tower of London

When Henry VI came of age and took the English throne, which had been watched over by his uncle, the young monarch inherited the failing war with France, which ended in 1453. The conflict's failure led to his mental breakdown and Richard, the Duke of York, took the throne. The plan was to allow Henry VI a year to recover before taking up the crown again. But civil war began, during which the English king was captured and imprisoned twice by York. Henry's second time in jail, in the Tower of London, would see him to his end. It is believed that Edward of York ordered his execution. Henry VI left no surviving heir, only a widow, who could never claim the throne without a surviving male heir. The Lancaster house was not long-lived, having been founded in 1267 and coming to an end in 1471 since Henry VI's son had also been executed by Edward of Westminster. The Lancastrians did leave a lasting impression for today, having started several colleges, including King's College.

Ultimately, it was Henry VI's insanity that led to the downfall of the Lancaster dynasty and the rise of York. Since I plan to turn Lancastrian into a trilogy, this may be something that is explored, but perhaps not until book 3.

Paperback editions of Lancastrian: The Knight of Colchester

Nearly two weeks have gone by now since the eBook publication of the first book of the Lancastrian series. Now, a second option is available in the form of a paperback.

https://www.amazon.com/Lancastrian-Knight-Colchester-J-Charles/dp/1539450716/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1476452650&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Knight+of+Colchester

I'm excited to finally share this form of the story that I have worked hard crafting. And even now I am working on the second installment. I can assure you that process of publishing was daunting, at first. But now that the ice has been broken, the wait for book II will not be as long.

Becoming an Author

Too many years now have passed since I began my journey towards becoming a published author. Looking back now on this first book's progression gives me mixed feelings. A small part of me wants to settle and stop writing, but this would anger myself and my readers, since you'll soon find out after reading book 1 of Lancastrian that this story is meant to continue. I may be a while from now until words are put to page on book 2. I say that because I don't wish to get too eager before jumping in again. There is a lot of preparation and research, even in fictional novels, to gather before starting a story. But, while saying that I hope the sequel will simpler to begin than the first volume.

The French Fleur-de-lis and English lion adorn the book's cover.

In the meantime, I know there are many people who expressed interest in the book long before I considered making it into an eBook. Right now, a digital form through Amazon is the only way to find Lancastrian, but rest assured, a printed copy is on its way soon. For now, here is a direct link to the Amazon bookstore! I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I did writing it!

https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Colchester-Lancastrian-Book-ebook/dp/B01LY0XXLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475513823&sr=8-1&keywords=knight+of+colchester

Medieval Society, Religion, and the Crusades

You will probably be hard pressed to find any medieval book or movie that does not dwell on religion, even for just a brief moment. The same can be said of Lancastrian: The Knight of Colchester. While religion is not a main topic of the story, there are references to the church, Christian Chivalry, and even Scripture quotes. Feudal systems had a hierarchy, much like any other system. There were those who prayed, those who fought, and those who worked. Your status in medieval society was determined by what you did. Peasants and Serfs were not viewed as important as a soldier or certainty a knight in the eyes of nobility and royalty.

When anyone writes a historical novel they cannot exclude important aspects of the culture of which they are writing. In the case of Lancastrian, being set in 15th Century England and France, you will find that religion in those times was more of a popular idea to cling to rather than an actual practice. Of course, if you've studied medieval history at all you would know that, being before the Reformation, English translations of the Bible were scarce. Even if someone managed to have a copy, chances are they couldn't read it.

Of course the Popes abused this monopoly by convincing the "Christian" armies that a holy crusade to Israel was God's plan. The Crusades were not entirely selfish acts, however, since the fear of being invaded by the Saracens was in the minds of Europe's kings. The politically correct movie, Kingdom of Heaven, does not tell the whole story and anyone watching that movie who does not understand this might think negatively towards Christians.

While reading Lancastrian, do not be surprised when coming across references to Christianity and religion in general. Since, it is true that any writer puts part of who they are into their stories and also because the time period demands it.

I apologize for the shortness of this recent entry, but more, including my novel is coming soon!

The 100 Years War

In my upcoming book, Lancastrian: The Knight of Colchester, you may find that the historical/fiction genre is not as suited for it as "alternate history" would be. The story introduces real historical figures, such as Sir John Fastolf and John Lancaster, while introducing fictional characters as well. Why then would I classify Lancastrian as alternate history? To understand the answer to that question you must first learn of the historical events that inspired this story.

If you are familiar with English history then you know one of their greatest military rivals was France and that the greatest conflict between these two Medieval superpowers was the 100 Years War. Though it did not actually last for exactly 100 years, and several lengthy periods of temporary peace interrupted it. This conflict involved five generations of kings and more countries than just England and France. When king Louis X of France died and left only a female heir in his absence his brother, Philip V, concluded that women should not hold the position of a royal throne and thus ascended as the next French monarch himself. Convenient, right? Ironically, by admission of his own law, Philip's own daughters were not allowed to inherit the kingdom and upon his passing the crown was given to the king's younger brother, Charles IV. But of course, like most European monarchs, he did not last long.

Before this, there had been a gradual rise of tension between England and France. But things only worsened with Charles IV's death. Having a French mother and English father only complicated things. The French nobles never wanted to call Isabella their queen, since she and her lover were suspect of the death of the late English king, Edward II. Through this, territorial disputes arose. While England claimed a territory in southwest France called Gascony, France claimed it also as their own. Soon after this war was officially declared.

The English had won many victories, most notably the Battle of Agincourt. Through these victories their grip on France tightened and more control was given to their Burgundian allies. Not all was well however. King Henry V fell ill and suddenly died. With his death, a 9 month old son was left behind. Henry V gave his brother, the Duke of Bedford, John Lancaster, command of the campaign in France and also temporary rule of England. The duke experienced several victories, one of which weakened the Scots so severely that they were no longer a significant fighting force for the remainder of the war, thus leaving France without their most prominent ally.

This was not the end of the war. Shortly after the Duke of Bedford became the English royal regent the notable figure Joan of Arc appeared and revived the French cause to rule themselves free of any English monarchy. She was very successful, galvanizing the French army toward several victories and overtaking multiple English strongholds along the Loire River.

Around this same time, the young English king-to-be, Henry VI, came of age and claimed the English crown. Joan of Arc's campaign did not go on long and she was soon captured by Burgundy, who burned her at the stake. Though the French war maiden died young, her labors were not in vain and the English gradually lost control. While some wanted to defend their territories, other Englishmen desired for peace talks with France. The war officially ended in 1453 at the Battle of Castillion with a sound French victory.

Now, picture if you will the French resurgence gaining strength before Joan of Arc makes her appearance in 1428. Additionally, John Lancaster, the Lord Protector of England, attempts to murder his nephew and rightful heir of England, Henry VI. This is where my book strays from actual history and becomes a "what if" scenario. The English withdraw from France in the years prior to the book's first chapter. The Duke of Bedford's power grab invites civil war. Meanwhile, the overzealous French king, Charles VII, seeks complete control of France by routing the English-loyal Burgundy forces.

Our hero, a farmhand from Colchester, is caught up in the middle of this strife and forced out of a comfortable and happy life. Lancastrian: The Knight of Colchester follows William as France plots revenge and the Lancaster dynasty scheme to control England as their own. During this journey, William meets up with a group of knights who hold fast to the beliefs of Christian hospitality and chivalry and together they fight to restore their beloved England amidst the threatening prospect of total war in Europe.

About My Writing and a Short Examination

They say the first blog post anyone does is the most difficult. This is true. But the second can also present a challenge. So I decided to give a short preview of my novel and let it speak for me, as it were. However, since this will only be a small portion of the entire novel it is important to give you some context.

Lancastrian: The Knight of Colchester is an alternate history story, not to be confused with the popular genre historical/fiction. This is more of a "what if" story. In this case it would be what if the French had won the 100 Years War before the popular historical figure Joan of Arc announced her intent to fight the English and the result of this defeat left England with economic and political strife.

Our story follows William, a young farmhand from a rural town popular for its wool distribution. As you can imagine, all begins well, just as in any novel, but William's life changes soon after we meet him.

Keep in mind that the section I chose to share is toward the end of the first chapter and therefor some context is missing. I hope you enjoy this excerpt from the first entry of the Lancastrian Series.

      Several hours had passed when William was suddenly roused by the sounds of breaking glass and angry yelling. Startled, he quickly sat up, sweating and clutching Simon's sword. As his grip weakened he realized that Simon had not yet returned. Slowly standing up he thought he should peek his curiosity by investigating the commotion downstairs. When the door cracked open he could smell smoke. However, this was not from the pipes of bar attendees, for upon pushing the door open the rest of the way William peered over the balcony and saw a fire climbing slowly and steadily up the steps and around the balcony pillars. The place was empty, save a quick glimpse of a dark shape. Its face seemed to look up at the lad then it quickly ran out of the blazing tavern. William ran back to the room and grabbed the bag of gold and the sword then made his way out of the building, dodging the growing flames and crumbling roof.
     There was no peace to be found outside as he saw the soldiers of Thurrock were running about fighting off raiders. The people of the town frantically ran about trying to escape death and flames. As William watched bewildered a burly man ran at him and tackled the boy to the ground. The sword was flung out of reach and the young shepherd was pierced in the side by a knife. Thinking it was his end, William closed his eyes and braced for the next blow. It never came, and instead of feeling another sharp pierce from the knife he felt blood dripping down on his face. He looked up and saw that his attacker had been skewered from behind by a great spear. Of course he expected to see Simon but rather there was an English soldier.
     “You must leave, lad!” he said helping William to his feet. “This place is doomed! We are being overrun and will not last the night. Get out before it is too late!”
     “I cannot! Not without my friend. He would not leave me behind and so I will not leave him!”
     “Then you stay at your own risk,” answered the soldier after a short pause. “I cannot help you anymore. My duty is to save as many people as I am able. I have already done what I can for you but now I must move on. Go now!”
     They parted; the soldier went and met with several others and a mounted knight who led them into the darkness toward the gate while William traveled down the main street searching for Simon. Although he knew nothing of wielding a blade he brandished the sword close to his wounded body, prepared to defend himself. Then remembering what Simon had gone out to do earlier he set his path toward the stables. When he arrived, however, it was empty and everything had been burnt and the town stores were looted; destroyed with their goods thrown throughout the streets. He began scanning the area and saw at the end of the road at the foot of a lamp post a single body lying on the ground. When William drew near the figure grew more recognizable; it was Simon. William ran to his side to find the man motionless, as if asleep, or dead. But a blade had been driven through Simon's gut. William began to weep. But suddenly, Simon grabbed him firmly.
        “Do not feel sorrow!” he said choking on blood. “You must leave and return home while you have the chance!” William attempted to interrupt but was not allowed. “Take my sword as it belonged to your father first. Take the gold also. Do you remember the good knight who helped us yesterday? Go to your mother and take her to London. You must seek out that man and he will help you again. You cannot save me.”
      With that Simon breathed his last, leaving William alone in his despair. He sunk his head on his friend's motionless body. For a moment William did not know how to react, but then he realized that he was no longer alone there in the quiet and empty streets. Turning around he saw Donatello; the large horse stood silently looking down as if trying to speak to the lad. This was indeed a blessing and already Sir Fastolf's desire to help William had been fulfilled. Looking back upon Simon's face one last time he gently closed his friend's eyes then climbed upon the black stallion and proceeded toward the nearest gate. No trouble befell him on the way out, for most of the looting and fighting now seemed to be at the other side of town. But hearing the terrible sounds of death and battle, even from a distance, twisted the boy's stomach. He was eager to put all of this behind him. Once out of Thurrock and a seemingly safe distance away William looked back at the town from atop a hill and saw flames shimmering underneath billowing clouds of smoke. The town had been destroyed. Then looking at the fields he saw distant and dark shapes moving quickly toward him. He could not be sure who they were but upon hearing thundering horse hooves and angry calls he was sure that these oncoming shapes brought trouble.
     William kicked Donatello with both feet but was hardly prepared for the horse's reaction. Rearing up and darting off quicker than any animal could was enough to force William to grasp tightly on the reins and lean over the horse's neck. He was afraid to let go or even look up to see where he was going. He however had nothing to fear while riding, not even the pursuers, for they were rapidly losing ground on the Spanish horse. Donatello was bred for such a time as this, taking his rider quickly through a battle or toward a destination with great speed. However, this did not deter the pursuers from continuing their chase. Climbing the Langdon Hills William could see them still riding hard toward his direction. Donatello would not stand still for long knowing that danger was closely behind them. He rode on and soon they came back to North Benfleet where William saw many people lying dead on the ground. It seemed the assault on Thurrock had stretched further out into the countryside.
     Still the chase went on, further into the night and further north into Essex, until they came to a heavily forested area north of Maldon. Here William hid off the path among the engulfing brush underneath a small outstretched cliff. He managed to get his horse down on the ground and together they sat waiting for several minutes before the patrol caught up. Despite Donatello's speed, William did not wish to be perpetually rushed to ride with haste through the night. They too stopped and began looking around this way and that, all the while speaking French. William peeked around and up through the shrub and saw the Fleur-de-Lis adorn their flags. The leader of this group was harsh toward his men, shouting at them even as they seemed to offer advice or ideas. William waited breathlessly, watching the black-clad knight dismount and walk in his direction. He came and stood not fifteen yards from where William hid, but he stopped and for an unknown reason, turned and went back to his horse. William listened as the galloping hooves became faint in his ear, but was yet too afraid to come out from his concealed area. He did not even shift enough to loosen his tight grip on the sword.

Bibliophiles Welcome!

Have you ever read a book so exciting that it inspired you to pursue your own story? If so, then we have something in common! Nearly fifteen years ago I read J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy, the Lord of the Rings, and have since been captivated by the world the Oxford professor spent much of his life creating.

At first however, reading these books seemed a daunting task, being as they are over 1000 pages when combined. My motivation for this came from a desire to watch the upcoming film trilogy based on these novels. Seems silly, right? Given that many recent book-to-movie adaptations skewer the book's story and original theme. But when my father gave me an ultimatum, one where I could not see the movies until first reading the book, I quickly found the time to read. Of course, soon after starting the first book, it didn't feel like a task anymore that had to be done! I wanted to read! The intent of my father doing this was not to "keep me busy", as it were, but rather make me appreciate the author's words before seeing someone else's interpretation of them on a big silver screen. 

Through reading works form Tolkien and other big authors of his time, I myself developed a fond interest in writing. I became fascinated by Lord of the Rings fan fiction and even wrote my own 80 page spin off of the Middle-Earth saga... sadly, I never submitted it to any fan fiction sites. It would be interesting to look back now on that.

However, over the years that followed, my interest in writing turned from fantasy to historical/fiction. I have a particular fancy of the medieval time periods and have been working on a novel for some time now. So stay tuned for a future sample

My name is J Charles, and my intent for this new blog is to invite bookworms and writers alike here to discuss, well, books! And occasionally loath or geek over the latest film based on our favorite books.