title: Knights of the Hawk: 1066: The Bloody Aftermath
author:  James Aitcheson 
description: JAMES AITCHESON was born in Wiltshire and read History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where began his fascination with the medieval period and the Norman Conquest in particular. <i>Knights of the Hawk</i> is his third novel. For more about the author and his work visit his website at www.jamesaitcheson.com.
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  Forever Knight
  
  
  Jackie Ivie
  
  One
  
  “Heave, lads! A bairn wouldn’t feel that gentle touch!” Grunts followed
  Gavynn’s cry, but little else. “Put your backs and arms into it!”
  
  “Perhaps you could put your mouth into it as well?”
  
  One of the lumps of straining men muttered it. Gavynn ignored him. He had to.
  Iain’s freedom depended on it. And the man wasn’t accurate. Gavynn had been
  right in the struggle with them until he’d stepped away to assess their
  progress. And lack, thereof, from what could be seen.
  
  Rainfall washed them, making it difficult to see. That was just and right and
  necessary. Rain helped hide perfidy such as pulling down a castle wall,
  cloaking the thirty-four men anchored to its base with a series of thickly
  woven ropes.
  
  “Courage, lads! You’re acting as if ’tis constructed with more than sand and
  piss!”
  
  “’Tis solid cursed stone!”
  
  One of the lumps quit straining in order to yell the answer. Gavynn shouted
  louder. “Verra well. I’ll admit they may ha