The Watchman's Notebook
by John Watson
as told to Brother Harold the Heretic
as told to Brother Harold the Heretic
I have lived a long life.
And for the most part, a very interesting one. I fought for my country, if under the Normans and I watch my city, London, grow from a town to the greatest city in the world. And I was a part of it.... if only for a chance meeting.
I was only 13 months old when William the somewhat likable Bastard conquerored Dyfed and Glamorgan. There wasn't much of a question if William was going to take on the man of power in Wales, Bleddyn; Duke of Gwynedd, as of when. He waited 15 years for his opportunity, by that time I was looking for a way to make my fortune, and if history taugh me anything....
There's always money in solidering.
I served in William's short campaign in Wales under his son William Rufus, with a bit of medical knowledge that I picked up over my well spent youth, I was a rather important man for my squardon, I was able to help my fellows during the siege that follow the battle of Gwynedd.... However, when we faced Bleddyn's son, Count Maredudd, in the battle of Perfeddwlad fields. I was hit with an arrow on my right leg, though I obviously lived. I would limp the rest of my life. My days of solidering was over before they really begun.
I return to London in early fall of 1082, with the little money I picked up with the Welsh campaign, my future look rather dour.... Until I bumped into an old friend from my childhood: Standford, a messanger boy for the minor gentry.
"So the rumors are true, your leg is a mess."
"Well, that's just a small problem, I'm more worried about getting a job. There's not a lot of employment for a cripple whose only skill is the fact he knows every street in London."
"That's odd."
"What?"
"Someone with the Sheriff's office was over here, looking for exactly that sort of man."
"You're kidding!"
"Oh no, the new Sheriff........ is rather strange. He thinks the best way to police the kingdom is with Anglo-Saxons who known their town. Then again, what does a prince know?
"A prince? Why would a prince become Sheriff?"
"How should I know? This Stephen de Normandie is an odd one, I can tell you that though. Just check it out. A job in government is often an easy one, if you don't get assassinated"
I agreed with his logic.
So I headed down to Court of Justice, not knowing that I was about to embark on the greatest adventure of my life.
"That's enough for tonight" said John "I'll continue on tomorrow...... What did you think, Brother Harold?"
"Not enough sex" replied Brother Harold. "If you want to interest your reader, you're going to need a lot more sex."
"But my readers are going to be mostly intellectuals and the clergy" said John.
"Exactly!" said Brother Harold, "There's nothing the clergy and intellectuals enjoy more then a good, old-fashion, sex story!"
John only could sigh and rub his head in response.
Well, this is my first ARR. If no one shows interest, I'll cry for a few days, then move on with my life. If the hints weren't obvious, this is going to be a mystery series, with a quite a few spy stories thrown in for good measure. I hope you enjoy it!
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