King Henry's Champion (20 page)

She reached under her cloak and took out a blue stone on a golden necklace.  It was the same blue as I had found at my father’s home in Constantinople.  “And I carry your favour at my breast too.”

My mouth opened and closed.  This was strange.  “It is the same colour as the stone in my sword.”

She nodded, “And your standard.  Margaret saw your sword and when we were in Wales with my brother we bought the stone from a Welsh merchant.  It was the same colour and … well it gives me comfort.”

I peered closely at it.  It seemed to shine brighter in her pale hand.  “It looks to be the twin of this one.  Where did the merchant say it came from?”

Margaret said, “He told me a tale of falling into a hole in deepest Wales and when he put his hand out he found it.  He said the cave was magical.” She shook her head, “I think he was making the story up to make a sale.”

“I am not so certain.  My stone has a story attached to it and I have yet to reach the bottom of it.”

The Empress nodded, “And I too believe this stone has a connection to me.  Why else would it bring me peace when I am troubled?”

Judith said, “And we will have more trouble unless we get you indoors, Empress. This cold is not good for the child.”

I was left with more questions than answers.  I remained distracted trying to make a connection between the stones and our destinies which seemed intertwined.  We had both been born in the same year. We had been thrown together by fate more than enough.  We had shared a bed and, I thought, a child. Yet we could never be together.

The questions at the feast ended my distraction.  Far from being troubled by their defeat the Angevin knights seemed to think it a mark of honour that I had unhorsed them.

“You rode into battle too quickly and you tired out your arms. Keep together and keep your lance vertical until you charge.  Punch when you strike and, if you are a good horseman stand in your stirrups. You get more power.”

The Count said, “I can see that now but when we charged I felt the blood course through my veins.  How do you fight your own body and blood?”

I tapped my head, “You use this.  You need the blood coursing when all is lost and you must fight for your life.  Until then use your head.  Seek weakness. All three of those in the centre went for the glory of unhorsing the King’s Champion.” They had the good grace to look shamefaced. “You fight together but if there are six of us and six of you then you have to take one man each or you will lose… as you did today.”

They took that in, “And I was wrong about your horse, Earl, he looks old but today he was magnificent.”

“I am happy with him and when we have schooled the yearlings then we will have replacements to give Hunter the rest he needs.”

The training during and after Easter proved to be our most productive. My squires improved but the Count and his knights improved even more. They knew that they needed more skills before they could fight in the King’s tourney.  This year it would be held in July in Rouen. At the same time as they were practising my squires and men at arms were schooling the four yearlings. They had all been named.  They were named for their colours.  John’s was jet black and so he was called Raven. Leofric’s was a wonderful golden colour but Leofric named him Copper; I know not why. William’s was grey but its mane was white. He was named Snowman and the last, the one they did not choose but left for me, was black with a white star and a white flecked tail and mane; we named him Badger.  Like a badger he proved to be stubborn and fiercely loyal. He proved to be the best war horse of the four. Perhaps he was meant to come to me.

Our training ended at the start of May. We did not choose to end it for we had not finished but war came and we were called to the aid of King Henry. A group of rebels, led by Amaury of Montfort and William Pointel, had chosen that moment to attack the King.  Both had rebelled more than ten years before and had lived in exile ever since. The knight who brought the request for help was Reginald de Dunstanville another of the King’s illegitimate children.  A young man in his twenties I had met him before but I did not like him. He had the lean and hungry look of someone who craves more than he has been given.  He reminded me of his half sister Juliana. On this occasion he was actually pleasant to both of us and we learned from him why the flames of rebellion had been relit.

“I fear it is our sister, Matilda, who is the cause of this attack.”

“My wife?” The Count had matured since I had first met him. There had been a time he would have erupted like a volcano.  Now he kept hold of his temper.

“Oh it is not her fault, of course, but having given birth to Henry there is now a male heir to the throne. More importantly, it gives your son, Henry, the Dukedom of Normandy.  That is a prize which is coveted by Amaury.  He is old but he would have it for his son, also called Amaury.”

The Count nodded.  When he had married the Empress he had been little more than a child.  Now he knew what that marriage entailed. There were thrones to play for.

I was not bothered about the politics; I was more concerned with the numbers of men we might face. I could not summon my men but I assumed I would fight alongside Count Geoffrey under the banner of Anjou. “How many men do the rebels have?”

“Every unhappy lord from the south and east of Normandy has flocked to his banner.  In addition there are many mercenaries from France.  It seems they have been hiring men for some months now. Warriors have come from Brabant and Flanders.  It is even said that he has crusaders in his army. They are disillusioned Normans who have returned from the Holy Land. They see my father’s Dukedom as a ripe plum to be picked.”

The Count said, “It will take a few days to gather my forces. Where do we meet?”

“Verneuil-sur-Avre.”

“North of Le Mans?”

“Just so.”

“How far is that?”

“About a hundred and twenty five miles from here.”

“We could force march it in two days.” I suggested.

Reginald said, “Oh no, my lord.  The King requires you to return with me. He says he needs his champion now.”

The Count smiled, “You are popular, Earl.  I would have you travel with me but it seems the King has greater demands.”

“I would leave my yearlings here in Angers, my lord, with your permission.”

“Of course.” He clasped my arm. I will meet with you at Verneuil-sur-Avre.  There we will see how good our training has been.  My young knights will be keen to impress you.”

“I would prefer it if they impressed themselves.  A man is his own best judge my lord.  It is how we see ourselves which makes us men; not how others view us.”

“A knight and a philosopher.”

“Bid farewell to your wife for me.  Needs must we have to travel quickly.”

My squires were almost tearful to be leaving their yearlings. As we headed north with the King’s son I gave them a warning. “Much as I love Scout, Star and now Hunter, they are machines of war.  They are like my sword and my shield. Like those weapons they can become hurt. You have to be prepared for that.  They are not like my hawks; they are not playthings.  Remember that.”

We rode in silence for a while as my squires reflected upon my words.  Then the King’s son spoke. “I was not in London for the tourney, my lord, but I hear that defeated both Blois and the Empire singlehanded.”

“Not true. Had I not had the aid of the Earl and his men then I would have been defeated.”

“That is not how I heard it, my lord, for even my father said that no knight could have done what you did.”

I said nothing for a while.  Any response would have either sounded ungracious or boastful. “So I am sent for as a Champion?”

“Aye, it seems that the rebels have their own Champion and my father wanted you in case a challenge was issued.”

Sometimes that happened to save bloodshed.  I could not see that being the case here.  If the rebels had the backing of King Louis then they wanted the King, and not his Champion, dead.  That was a ploy but what was behind it? “Who is this knight?”

“No one knows his name.  He is called the black knight because he wears a surcoat of black with no device upon it and he rides a black war horse.”

“Has he defeated many?”

“That is the interesting part, my lord, no one knows.  He is just spoken of in terms which suggest he is a mighty and puissant warrior.”

“Who says these things?”

For the first time the young man looked perplexed, “Why everybody!”

“Then it is gossip or worse, lies spread by your father’s enemies. Judge with your eyes and not by the words of men you do not know.”

Although I saw him considering my words I do not think that he heeded them. King Henry’s blood ran through all of his children but I judged the blood of some of the mothers of his offspring to be dubious in colour and quality.

Verneuil-sur-Avre had a small wooden castle.  The surrounding fields were filled with tents, men and horses. The Avre was hardly more than a large stream.  As a defence to the castle it would do little unless we had rain and the land became swampy. Norham had been a far easier castle to defend. Reginald took me directly to the King while my squires and my men found a spot which would be ours.

The King was in the keep with his closest advisers.  He beamed when he saw me, “Earl! I am pleased you are here.  Is my son in law on his way?”

“He is.”

“You have been training his men?”

“Some of his knights, yes, your majesty.”

“Good.” He waved a hand around the other nights gathered around the table, “You know most of the other knights.” I recognised Richard D’Avranches, one of the King’s oldest friends. The others were minor Barons.  Where were the counts? The most important, William, Count of Ponthieu was absent as were the other leaders of western Normandy.  I had expected them to be there. The King returned to the map. “They have come across Blois. I have not heard from Stephen or Theobald yet but I hope he and his men will join us soon. I have sent messengers. Here, at Dreux, Baron Hugo of Dreux will slow them down.  I hope that we shall have enough men to face them within a day or so.  How long will it take for Anjou and his battle to reach us?”

“It could take five days or more.”

“That may be too long.”

“How many men do we have, your majesty?”

“Sixty knights and an equal number of men at arms; forty crossbows and thirty archers.”

“That is not a great force.”

One of the barons, Sir Hugh D’Evreux said, “We have a hundred other men who are armed.”

The King waved an irritated had, “And they will not stand! They are farmers, swineherds, potters and tinkers! They can guard the animals and the camp.” He looked at me, “Have you archers with you?”

“Just two.”

He nodded disappointed, “Still they increase our force. How many men at arms did you bring?  Have you brought your giant with the axe?”

“I have two men with me and one is Wulfric.”

“Good then keep him close by us. I will feel safer then.” We spent some time assessing which way they would come.

“Any ideas?”

Everyone looked bereft of answers. I ventured, “You say they outnumber us?”

“You know these reports, Cleveland, they come from the ones who have fled them and we know not if they are exaggerated or not. If we divide the numbers reported by two then they outnumber us by four to one.”

“Then the answer is clear, my liege.”

“It is?”

I had everyone’s attention. “Of course.  They will come here for you.  They have overwhelming numbers and their strategy will be to defeat you in one quick battle.  Normandy would then be theirs. If we waste time and men seeking them out then we merely weaken ourselves. We wait here and make them attack us. The castle becomes the rock on which we stand.”

“It does not suit me to wait for war. I like to attack.”

“And you do attack, my liege. If we have scouts watching for them then we will know when they are close. Attack them as they approach.  They will need to build a camp.  They will be riding palfreys.  We use our knights and our men at arms to strike their best soldiers when they are in a column of men on horses tired from a day’s march. At the very least it should disrupt their plans and delay their own attack.  That will allow more of your forces to arrive. It is what we did at Norham and it worked for they were surprised.” He nodded thoughtfully.  “The Count of Ponthieu, will he be coming?”

The King gave me a shrewd look, “My messenger could not find him. If we had him and his knights then we would easily defeat these eastern rebels.  Amaury is a poor general.  I have defeated him twice.”

Richard D’Avranches growled, “Third time pays all.”

“Your plan is a sound one, Cleveland.  Richard, I leave the planning of the defences to you.  Have the camp moved to the west of the castle.” His old friend nodded and the King put his arm around my shoulder to lead me from the hall. “Come we will talk.”

Reginald hovered behind us, “What should I do, father?”

“Help Sir Richard.” As his son disappeared he asked me, “What do you think of him, Cleveland?”

“He seems pleasant enough but I prefer to judge a man when I have stood with him in the line of battle.”

“As do I.  You have a shrewd and quick mind.  You saw that William of Ponthieu was absent.  It is disturbing me too. Some of my nobles think I am getting old and Geoffrey of Anjou is a frivolous young man.  They see weakness which they hope to exploit.  It is true I am no longer young.”

“The Count of Anjou is maturing rapidly, my liege.  He is not the same as he was.  Perhaps that is fatherhood. He and his men have impressed me.  They are still young and raw but they will not go hurtling after the enemy as they did the last time we fought. I think that they are a useful addition to your army.”

“Good. I am relieved.  Did my son mention this champion of theirs?”

“He did but I judged the reports to be without evidence.  I think it is a ruse.”

“A ruse?  How so?”

“It makes us think that they will not fight but have a single combat to decide the outcome. They will not do that if they outnumber us. A single combat is a risk.  A battle when you have more men of equal skill and overwhelming numbers is predictable. The larger army will win.”

“That is not like you, Cleveland, you are normally optimistic.”

“I am saying, your majesty, that is what they believe but although we have smaller numbers all of your men are fighting for you and for their land. I would rather have this small army than one made up of men seeking gain.  They have many mercenaries in their army.  They have, from what your son told me, treasure hunters from the east. They come for easy pickings.  They see Normandy as a corpse to be picked over.”

The King’s face brightened, “So if we bloody their nose first then they may become disheartened.”

I nodded, “In England locals like to fight with their fists.  Coming from the east I found it strange for there we wrestle but I have come to admire the skills. Sometimes you have a much smaller man and he fights a giant.  If they were wrestling then the giant would win but I have witnessed small men darting in and giving a rapid flurry of blows and then retreating before the giant can land a single punch.  By weakening the giant the smaller man wins, eventually.”

“And the small man always wins?”

“No, for too often the smaller man becomes over confident and allows himself to be trapped by the arms of the larger one.  That is what we avoid. We hit them where they are weak and we are strong and then we fall back. They will have to live off the land.  If Blois and Anjou come to our aid then we have a good chance.”

“I brought you here quickly for I thought that they would use this champion of theirs now that I have considered your words I agree with you.  They might not even have a champion.”

“No they may not but it tells us that there are enemies who were in England at the tourney who spread the word that you now have a champion. I fear, your majesty, you have plotters in the west as well as in the east.”

“Aye and there you are right.  It is why I leave my son and Roger of Salisbury to guard my capital and the west.” He smiled at me, “And you to guard the north.” He stopped, “I heard that you let the Scottish usurper go and did not report the incursion from Scotland.”

“I judged that it would have been irresponsible to begin a war and I let the usurper go to weaken the Scots.”

“You did right, Cleveland, and the usurper has been defeated.  I know not his fate but when this is over you should return to England and not Anjou. I have need of you and your mighty arm. I fear I need to stay here.”

Over the next two days more knights and their retinue struggled in.  Our numbers were not swollen by many but we would have a fine array of standards. Scouts reported the enemy still besieging Dreux.  The King could not afford to raise the siege.  It would, like a pawn in a game of chess, have to be sacrificed. I sent Griff of Gwent and Ralph of Wales with some of the scouts and when they returned we had a much better assessment of numbers. The enemy numbered over five hundred. Almost a fifth was made up of knights and two fifths the men at arms.