Iron Doors Page #2

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The last time we were all together must have been Dieppe.

The days when the King was still good to us.

He's taken all the castles along the coast.

If he takes Rochester, he'll control southern England.

If the whispers I've heard are true, he's too strong now.

He's got an army of Danish mercenaries.

Wait for him in London.

Do you think I want this? I'm not a soldier, not any more.

I'm a fat wool merchant with a hen-pecking wife and three daughters.

But, unfortunately, he won't let it be.

I'm sorry, Baron. Not this one.

I learnt about the Crusades.

Is it true what the Templar swords say?

"Blessed and omnipotent is the warrior of Christ"'?

Yeah, water. Water.

- Hey!

- Agh!

What do you think he's worth?

- Are you sorry for what you've done? - Bollocks.

- Release him. - Amen!

Papa!

Get inside. Now!

- Joseph.

- Daniel.

- Wulfstan.

Becket.

You...are a filthy whore, Becket.

So was she.

We'll never hold that castle with this lot.

They may not be worthy of that cross you wear, but they'll hold the castle.

Not for England...not for God...

but for me.

Winter's soon, so if I'm not back by first snowfall,

take your sister to your aunt, give her this. Hm?

Work hard.

Be polite.

And what's written here is true?

From my ears to this paper, Sire.

Tiberius, six of your fastest scouts to Rochester.

Instruct them to hold the castle.

- Kill anyone they find there. - Hyah!

Money.

And you know these men?

So what does that make you?

Worthless.

There it is.

Looks small from here.

That...small castle...

controls all the land as far as you can see.

Be patient, Squire.

As long as there's women.

- What say you? - I bring business from Archbishop Langton.

Isabel!

We have company.

I have told you before, I will not tolerate drinking.

You won't tolerate anything.

My Lord. We have men at the gate.

I tolerate the politics of the King, Isabel.

Our marriage was arranged for land and wealth.

It would be well if you were to remember that.

And he owns us, body and soul.

Open the gates! Let 'em in!

You arrive unexpected, Baron de Albany.

What matter does His Grace send this late?

That we claim this castle in the name of the rebellion.

If your visit is to claim my castle, Baron...

you're too late.

Unusual saddles.

- Danish. - What was that?

They're Danish. They arrived last night.

The King's scouts. His army is less than a day away.

Oaks, get the guard here quickly.

That one was at Darnay Castle two days ago.

Aargh!

Argh!

No. No, no!

Marshal, down!

Yargh!

Baron.

Stand down! Stand down!

Listen to me.

By the archbishop, we claim this castle in the name of the rebellion.

The rebellion's over. The King surrendered to the great charter.

Magna Carta.

This one sealed by the King's own hand.

And now... he's executing everybody who supported it.

But does the Pope know that the Archbishop is claiming royal castles, against the King?

I watched as three of my brothers were killed

by the soft hand of a king that is murdering his way across the country.

And he does so with the Pope's blessing.

The French army make sail any day now.

Giving us...a new king.

A true king.

Seal the gates.

Lock all the doors! Move! And, Oaks, no one else comes in.

Very well.

Well, Marshal...

you got us our castle.

- What is your strength, Captain? - Eleven men-at-arms.

- We have less than 20 men? - And these walls.

- They've never been breached. - Does the keep have a portcullis?

- It does. - Good.

- Once it's down, no one gets in. - Water. Where is the supply?

From the Well. Draws straight from the river. No one here gets thirsty.

- it's good, it's not sick or brackish? - Water's good, sir.

Guy, with me.

These walls are designed to be defended by one man per station.

Outlook is perfect. Any approach can be seen for miles.

Now, let's see the gatehouse.

You, day or night, stay alert. Now open it up.

What's the problem?

There's no moat.

That'll do.

Now, when they come...

..hit them hard.

Hit the post.

I said, hit the post. Hard.

They'll come? The French.

We waited for the French at Damascus. They didn't come then.

Even to a Frenchman I think Rochester is nearer than Damascus.

Hit it.

You better hit it harder than that, boy.

Or you'll be dead before they get here.

They hate women.

Just to look at one's a sin.

Some people say they worship the devil.

Celibates with stone hearts.

Then I have a stone heart, too, Maddy.

I didn't mean it like that.

A Templar offers his Chastity to God,

but a wife...

she suffers hers by her husband.

My husband's appetites don't include me.

Thank the Lord Mary herself.

Now, I am... "curious, Albany.

Why is it that you and your friends are so struck with this rebellion?

- Mm. - Cos we are for the people.

I see your esquire is well-trained in the art of naivety.

- Go on. - Call me naive if you will, sir,

but the people deserve more than a king that treats them like animals.

Ah, bold words for a Squire.

Have you read Magna Carta?

- I... - Ah, I see. You can't read Latin.

It's a pity, arguing from ignorance.

Argumentum ad ignorantiam, ab uno disce omnes.

That's Roman, innit?

From one person, learn all people.

Excuse my wife's bold tongue.

Becket, I'm gonna need you on the far wall.

- Guy can't defend it on his own. - Do it yourself.

What?

You want a drink? A woman?

Don't you sniff your nose at me.

I've been places. I've seen what your holy brothers have done.

Your pious bile makes me sick.

Becket. I want you outside.

I'll watch your boy's back, but who's watching mine?

To the battlements!

- To the battlements! - Right away!

- Take your positions, men! - Get those men up here, quickly!

Mercel, they're here!

Let's see what rats have taken up in my home.

Move it! Come on!

Albany, a word. You cannot engage the King without considering terms.

He wants our heads on spikes. Where are the terms in that?

There are some in here who didn't pick this fight.

Ask yourself who you're for, Cornhill.

The King or the country? Because we both can't be wrong.

They're here.

Albany!

Albany!

How did he know? What can we do for you, John?

The Pope has ordered me to reclaim my country.

Now, surely you don't bar your door against a king, and the Church?

Does he know you sealed a charter...

giving the people of England freedom,

and that now you go back on your word?

England is mine, Albany.

God's will bestowed it unto me, the Pope blesses it to me,

and this castle belongs to me!

You're no more a king...

than the boil on my arse!

Huh.

What a tedious little man.

Get the swords now. Come on!

Move yourselves!

Stay by your posts.

Remember, they have to climb over these walls.

And we do not.

So you stand firm!

Have you ever fought so many with so few?

Uh-huh. Don't you forget, you hold the wall, huh?

Now, go to your post.

North and south advance!

Get ready, archers!

Loose!

Take cover! Incoming

And again! Take cover!

Get down!

Ha-ha!

Come on, lads, come on! Take your positions! Look lively!

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