Keep
the main tower of a fortified castle. It can be centrally located or part of the rampart. The keep is the ultimate refuge and is often used as the lord's living quarters. It is a powerful symbol of seigniorial domination.
Carry shoulder-high
to carry triumphantly at the height of a man's shoulder. Metaphorically here, to designate as king.
Betrayal
in this context, the breaking of an oath
Defy
to disregard, despise.
Scorn
to show your disrespect for someone.
To give one's word
to swear to.
Traitor
a person who is disloyal to his lord.
Fleet
a group of ships sailing together and involved in the same operations.
Ditch
a deep trench with steep sides used as a defensive feature around a castle.
Double-crossing
said of a slyly, hypocritical person who pretends to be honest.
Rogue
a dishonest or immoral person.
Rascal
infamous person.
Heir
the person who receives all or part of the goods belonging to a deceased person.
Portcullis
a wooden grid, often reinforced with iron, the base of which is armed with sharp points, which slides vertically at the entrance to a fortified castle to stop anyone entering.
Housecarls
elite foot soldiers forming the Anglo-Saxon kings' personal guard.
Illegitimacy
being born out of wedlock.
God's judgment
leaving the outcome of a conflict in the hands of God's judgment is considered as a fair and infallible way of proving one's good will, since it is generally acknowledged that God will always let the innocent triumph.
Lineage
descendants.