Rochester Writers Association

Writing Exercises:  Complication versus Situation: novel excerpt focusing on a complication (during a situation the control is taken away from the character, i.e. an outside force entering the situation.)

from my work in progess--Your feed back is welcome!  D

Warraine’s drawbridge stretched between the castle and the bailey. The portcullis lay open in welcome as our advance force pounded into the yard their blood running hot. Tradesmen and peasants scattered to their workshops, sensing the angry mood which curled around them like a dragon waiting to strike as our knights dispersed to take the guards at sword point. Seeing Sir William’s banners, Warraine’s men at arms had thought this was a visit not a chevauche. That saved their lives, but handed the Castle straight to us. If they were my guards, I’d have them flayed for dereliction. I felt Ivo’s derisive laugh well up inside. The fools! Sir William’s Guard of which we were a part clattered across the bridge and collected in the courtyard below the tower inside the second palisade.

“Warraine de Lancaster! Brother! Come and greet your betters who have ridden in and taken your bailey without a stroke or arrow. Attend me, knave and hear your fate!”

Sir William, astride his grey charger, bellowed in a mighty voice. The horse danced below the tower. Even Warraine could not pretend he had not heard. The Keep doors in the great tower opened and three guards preceded their lord, swords drawn and faces grim. Warraine swaggered out alone behind them confident and hateful. He spat on the flat threshold before he spoke with an oily unpleasant tone.

“You wished to see me, dear brother? I would not have thought it likely you would trouble so many of your vassals to pay your respects in Tibbay.”

Before William could respond another man appeared behind Sir Warraine—Lord Ranulf de Glanville, Justiciar of the King and holder of the Castle Lancaster which both Warraine and his brother coveted. His eyes looked black with rage and his face ruddy.

“Sir William. An unexpected pleasure, I am sure.” He surveyed the yard and battlement. “Tell your men to stand down, in the name of the King. Select six men to attend you and proceed inside with me. You have my surety of safety. There will be no war this day. I seek agreement between you at the command of Henry II. Include a man to keep account for your records as Warraine has for his. Come. There is no point in delaying what must be done.” The Justiciar turned on his heel and returned to the Hall. His blue cape swirled behind him, showing a fine fur lining. Warraine laughed without amusement.

“Your face, dear brother, speaks heart to heart with mine. It seems we both are trapped by a King who is more fox than man. It is almost worth this argument with the Crown to see you humbled. Don’t keep De Glanville waiting. He doesn’t like it.” Warraine left followed by his men-at-arms. From places unseen the Justiciar’s Guards emerged behind the Tibbay wards, their blue surcoats flapping in the wind revealed Glanville’s Crest. His archers stood on the palisade cat walks of both Keep and bailey their bows drawn on us. Every eye watched Sir William who sheathed his sword and signaled we do likewise. Astride his horse, back straight and hand clenched about his sword hilt, he spoke with dark, calculated fury.

“Sir Galeran, Sir Pierre, Sir Ralph de Talibois, Sir Alec, Sir Meldred, Sir Justin de Pennington I have need of you.”