Sir Brian was a short, slender man of about fifty years of age. He was clean-shaven, thus revealing a long upper lip and a strongly-formed cloven chin. His bluish-grey eyes were close set, and brimming with good-humour. His hair fell in long lank masses from beneath a cone-shaped steel cap. His body was unprotected by defensive armour save by a breast-plate that terminated at his waist, and was without gorget. From his belt dangled a long, cross-hilted sword in a scabbard of black leather, ornamented with Runic characters, while across his back was slung a targe of wood covered with undressed leather.
As for his two squires, they were unable to speak a word of English, and since Geoffrey and Oswald were ignorant of Irish their attempts to entertain their visitors were limited to dumb show.
It was a strange story that Sir Brian related a part of. His light cavalry had been surprised earlier in the day by the soldiers of Sir Denis, and after a fierce engagement the former were compelled to retreat, leaving four of their number in the hands of the Lord of Malevereux, by whose orders they were hanged on the battlements of the castle.
When the Irish knight heard that Sir Oliver was about to assault the stronghold of Sir Denis, his excitement knew no bounds. He would, he declared, join his men with those of the Hampshire knights. There would be booty enough and to spare for all, but he chiefly desired vengeance upon the Lord of Malevereux for the execution of his four men.
"As thou wilt, Sir Brian," quoth Sir Oliver. "The more the merrier; but, since we start at daybreak, thou hadst best seek repose."
When the march was resumed a strange sight met Geoffrey's eyes. He had often heard of the King's Irish kernes, but since they were employed almost exclusively in scouring the country around Rouen, he had never before had the opportunity of seeing them.
They were for the most part only partially clad. Many were barefooted, others boasted of one stocking and one shoe only. They rode barebacked upon wiry mountain horses, so small that the riders' feet came within a few inches of the ground.
All except their leader were quite without armour, their offensive weapons consisting of stout spears and long double-edged knives, while a few carried round targes provided with a steel spike in the place of a boss. Though they were ill-disciplined they were excellent scouts, while in a hand-to-hand conflict they made up for their lack of mail by a wild impetuosity that struck terror into the hearts of the well-accoutred French men-at-arms.
It was late in the afternoon when the expeditionary force came in sight of the Castle of Malevereux. The appearance of the gloomy pile, rendered even more forbidding by the presence of four gibbets and their ghastly burdens standing clearly against the sky, aroused many burning thoughts in Geoffrey's mind.
As it was too late that day to open the assault Sir Oliver ordered his men to rest themselves, and having constructed hasty entrenchments the Englishmen and their Hibernian allies lay around the castle, so that none might leave or enter.