"
Black Will had notched an arrow and was raising his bow when
Aylward's second shaft passed through the shoulder of his drawing
arm. With a shout of anger and pain he dropped his weapon, and
dancing in his fury he shook his fist and roared curses at his
rival.
"I could slay him; but I will not, for good bowmen are not so
common," said Aylward. "And now, fair sir, we must on, for they
are spreading round on either side, and if once they get behind
us, then indeed our journey has come to a sudden end. But ere we
go I would send a shaft through yonder horseman who leads them
on."
"Nay, Aylward, I pray you to leave him," said Nigel. "Villain as
he is, he is none the less a gentleman of coat-armor, and should
die by some other weapon than thine."
"As you will," said Aylward, with a clouded brow. "I have been
told that in the late wars many a French prince and baron has not
been too proud to take his death wound from an English yeoman's
shaft, and that nobles of England have been glad enough to stand
by and see it done."
Nigel shook his head sadly. "It is sooth you say, archer, and
indeed it is no new thing, for that good knight Richard of the
Lion Heart met his end in such a lowly fashion, and so also did
Harold the Saxon. But this is a private matter, and I would not
have you draw your bow against him. Neither can I ride at him
myself, for he is weak in body, though dangerous in spirit.
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