LAURENCE TAKES NEW SERVICE "Look to them well, Malise," said the Lord James; "'twas you who did the skull-cracking at any rate.

See if your leechcraft can tell us if any of these young rogues are likely to die.

I would not have their deaths on my conscience if I can avoid it." First picking up and sheathing his sword, then bidding Sholto hold a torch, Malise turned the youths over on their backs.

Four of them grunted and complained of the flare of the light in their eyes, like men imperfectly roused from sleep.
"Thae loons will be round in half an hour," said Malise, confidently.
"But they will hae richt sair heads the morn, I'se warrant, and some o' them may be marked aboot the chafts for a Sabbath or twa!" But the swarthy youth whom the others called De Sille, he who had been spokesman and who had fallen first, was more seriously injured.

He had worn a thin steel cap on his head, which had been cracked by the buffet he had received from the mighty fist of the master armourer.
The broken pieces had made a wound in the skull, from which blood flowed freely.