Earl (14 page)

“Release!”

The sky darkened as the arrows flew.  The crossbows were more effective than normal for the Norse raised their shields to protect themselves from the descending arrows and the flatter trajectory of the crossbows tore through mail and into bodies. As the slaughter continued I turned to Ranulf.  “They are your men, my lord.  It is your order we wait.”

He nodded.  When the Norse were a hundred paces from us he said, “Charge!”

We would not be hitting the Norse line at much more than a trot but our long lances would strike their leading warriors before they could strike at our horses. The bolts and the arrows meant that the wedges were not solid and there were gaps. The Earl struck the leading Viking but there was a gap before me and my lance punched into the shoulder of a warrior who was not expecting the blow. As he fell backwards he broke the head from the lance and I threw the now useless wood like a javelin high into the air.  It clattered amongst those at the rear. 

Pulling back on Star’s reins my stallion reared and smashed his hooves at the warriors before him.  It afforded me the time to draw my sword.  As he descended he crushed the knee of a Viking who fell screaming to the ground.  As I spurred him on, he trampled the man to death. The death had made the others recoil and I swung my sword at warriors who were just looking to protect themselves from my horse. My sword struck the neck of a Viking who was too slow to raise his sword. I was now through the armoured Vikings and into the wild men of Ireland.

I heard a wail from my left and, glancing up, saw Sir Edward leading my knights and men at arms sweeping towards the enemy flank intent on causing as much damage as they could.  I could not help feeling proud at the immaculately straight line they maintained. As I swept my sword at a distracted Irish warrior I heard the clash and crack of wood on metal and flesh.  The screams of the dying mixed with the thunder of hooves and the exultant shouts of my men.  Warriors can stand and suffer great casualties so long as they know they have a retreat. The unexpected attack from the flank meant that they were cut off from the safety of Preston’s walls and the Irish broke. They ran in the only direction they could, the river.

Ranulf shouted, “Follow them!”

It was a good decision.  Sir Edward and my men could finish off the Vikings but the Irish had to be destroyed before they disappeared into the woods and forests of the land to the north of Chester.  We had enough brigands and bandits of our own without adding foreign foes too. I reined in Star a little for he would run until his heart gave out and we were catching the Irishmen. Had they had more sense they would have turned to make it hard for us but they did not.  Unprotected backs were hacked, slashed and stabbed as we made a path of bodies to the river. A dozen or so managed to make the river and they threw themselves in. The tide had turned and they flailed in the water. Gradually they slipped beneath the black water. I saw four of them struggle ashore on the other side. The Earl of Chester reined in and spoke to one of his knights.  They would scour the land for the last survivors.

We walked our horses back to the battlefield. As we approached Preston I saw Wulfric leave the gates of the town.  He rode directly to us. I could see that something was amiss from his face. He bowed his head and spoke to us both, “My lords, they have slaughtered every man woman and child in the town.  There are none left alive.  They have even killed the cats and the dogs.” He shook his head and I could hear, in his voice, that he was close to breaking.

I turned and saw the last ten Vikings standing back to back and chanting their death song.  I turned Star and rode towards them. “Dick, fetch the archers and the crossbowmen.”

Their leader shouted at me in Saxon. “Come from your horses, Normans, and fight us man to man.  We will die but we will go to Valhalla!”

“You are nithings! You killed women and children.  You deserve nothing!”

“That was the Irish!” He seemed indignant as though it was nothing to do with them.

“Then in the next life choose your allies better.” I turned to Dick, who had arrayed his men in a half circle around one side.  Crossbow bolts which missed their target could travel for long distances. My voice was cold as I shouted, “Kill them!”

My archers were at such a close range that the Vikings had no defence.  When they held their shields up the bolts from the crossbows punched through mail. Their leader was the last to die.  His body was covered in arrows and as he opened his mouth to curse me a bolt smashed through the opening and he fell dead.

We had suffered.  Many were wounded.  Our horses had suffered too and we camped at Preston for a week to recover and to bury the dead villagers. The Earl of Chester decided to burn the old town down.  “I will have a new castle built and this one will be of stone. My squire served me well and I will knight him.  This will be his manor.”

I saw the looks on the faces of the other squires when the news was announced.  It gave all of them the hope that they, too, would be elevated through an act of bravery. The move was a clever one.  Even as we left, at the end of seven long days, the men of the Earl of Chester were beginning to build the castle.  The heads of the last four Irishmen would adorn the gatehouse when it was finished. It would not be a finished castle but its new bones rose like a phoenix from the blackened remains of the charnel house which had been Preston. It would become stronger and the raiders would not have such an easy time of it the next time they came.

We headed north to make sure that Sir Gilbert and the men of the north had scoured the land for the last of the raiders. We would head home.  I would see my family again.  This time I would not need to leave so soon and, possibly, I might be at home when my wife gave birth.

As we passed the scene of the battle of the Lune we saw the blackened remains of the bonfires used to burn the bodies.  In future years the crops would be good from the bones and ash of the dead raiders. Some good would, at least, come from their raid. I was still angry at the slaughter of Preston.  It is easy to be critical in hindsight but the Earl of Chester should have erected a stone castle before now. The temporary one his squire would erect was a start but that was all. It took two days to reach Carlisle.  We stopped at Kendal and spent some time with the baron.

“I am grateful, my lord, for the advice you gave my son.  He is young but I now have high hopes for him.”

“He is a fine knight.” I spread my arm to the north and west. “What of the people here?  Do they have Viking blood?”

“They do. Many were slain when King William scoured the north but there are many hidden valleys and caves.  They survived but they are ever suspicious of us. Between Carlisle and here there is little hospitality.”

“It is dangerous?”

“No, my lord.  They are not so foolish as to attack us but they harbour legends and stories of heroes who will come to save them.”

I was intrigued, “Who are these heroes?”

“They speak of a King Coel and his warlord, Lann, who drove the Saxons from this land and then disappeared beneath a cave in Wales.  It is said they sleep there with Merlin the wizard and one day will rise from the dead to reclaim this land.”

“You are Christian; you cannot believe such legends, surely?”

“It matters not if I believe it or not they do. They are Christian but they have some pagan beliefs.  They speak of wolf warriors who prowl at night and can change into wolves.”

“You have wolves here; perhaps they mistake them for warriors.”

“King William appointed a young lord of the manor at Coniston in the north west of the land. It was said wolves howled and he and his five men at arms and squires were found dead.”

“They were killed by wolves?”

“No, my lord, by blades, and my father found footprints there but even though he searched for weeks no trace of their killers was ever found.  He hanged five local men but it did no good.” I cocked my head quizzically, “The hangmen were found dead and the wolves were heard again.  I leave that lake to the locals. We have had no trouble since.”

As we rode north the next day I pondered his words. I did not believe the story of the men who could change into wolves.  This was the work of men who could make the sound of a wolf.  If I ruled this land I would hunt them down and end the threat. This was not my land and I had problems enough at home.

We did notice the land warming as we neared Carlisle.  In the ten days we had been away spring had decided to erupt. It was a good sign. We were not destined to get home soon, however.  In the short time we had been away the Scots had decided to make raids in the absence of Sir Gilbert. With so many of his household knights fallen he begged me to stay until he had finished the castle. I sympathised with him.  The Baron of Kendal had shown me that the hold on this side of the land was tenuous.  We stayed in the castle and I had my knights take their conroi north of the river to intimidate the Scots. I gave orders that they were not to attack unless they were attacked first.  However any stray animals were to be collected and brought back.

The stay gave me the chance to help Sir Gilbert divide the profits from the attack.  The Vikings always carried their treasure with them and we had a fine collection of gold and silver arm bands as well as many precious jewels.  The mail was always useful if only to be melted down and reused.  With the treasure form Preston all of my knights, men at arms and archers were much richer.  Even John son of Leofric would be happy. I was also keen for the horses to recover.  We had treated them harshly and the spring growth allowed them to recover some of their vigour.

Sir Tristan was the one who engaged the Scots.  While patrolling close to Booths Castle he was challenged by a young Scottish knight to single combat.  It was a mistake for Tristan had been trained by both Edward and Wulfric. He returned with him and his warhorse while his squire went for ransom.

I took the opportunity of speaking with the young man, who was a cousin of Walter Comyn, the man who had placed a price upon my head. Sir Robert Comyn was a fiery youth who hated the Normans and wanted the traditional lands of Scotland to be ruled by King David. Even so we managed to speak for he respected me and my name.

“The land you claim was English.  King William conquered it and I have read that in the time before the Romans it belonged to what is now England.”

“It does not matter we held it before the Bastard came and we will take it again.”

I could see that he would not be persuaded and so I spoke with him of the politics of the land of Scotland. “Does the King have support from all his lords?”

His eyes narrowed, “Are you trying to get me to be disloyal, my lord?”

I shook my head, “I have no doubt that you are loyal to your king.  I can see that you are a true patriot.  I am thinking of others who covet the throne.”

He relaxed a little. “There are some.  It is said the De Brus family who have lands in England and Scotland has ambitions to be the ruling clan. And then there is the Balliol family.  They have some claims to the throne.” He shook his head, “Not very strong ones but…”

“Sir Barnard is a friend of your cousin is he not?”

The young man was naïve and did not see beneath the question. “He is a different branch of the family.”

Different or not I suspected that Hugh’s neighbour was straddling the border with a foot in each camp. “Can your family afford the ransom?”

“We are not poor, they will pay!”

“I doubt it not but perhaps next time you will only challenge someone whom you can defeat.”

I saw in his face that he was embarrassed that he had lost, “Sir Tristan looked young.”

“He is but he has fought with me for many years.”

“They say that you are the most dangerous knight in the north of England.”

There was no answer to that, “Any knight can be dangerous as you discovered with Sir Tristan. Take my advice young man and become the best knight that you can be before you challenge others.”

He reflected on that and a couple of days later, when the ransom arrived, he thanked me for my advice.  “One day, my lord, I will be ready to meet you lance to lance and then you should watch out.”

“I will, my fiery young friend.  You may be an enemy but I admire your spirit.”

With the castle almost finished and the border quiet we took Sir Tristan’s ransom and began our journey home.  We had been away for longer than I would have hoped but not as long as we might have. I looked forward to seeing my land burgeoning with new crops, animals and people. I stayed with Sir Hugh to break up the journey and left the next day with just Sir Tristan and Sir Harold for company. I did not cross the river at my ferry but at Yarm where Sir Richard had constructed a wooden bridge.  The river was narrow and so long as only two riders crossed at the same time it was safe. If trouble came it would not require much work to demolish it.

When we reached Yarm I knew that there was trouble ahead. Lady Anne had a troubled look upon her face.  Sir Richard thought the problem lay with his manor.  “What has happened?”

She came to me.  “We had a message ten days since that the pestilence had come to Stockton.  Your good wife sent a message that we were not to come close until it had been eliminated.”

“And have you had word since?”

“No, we obeyed her and to be truthful we feared the worst.”

“You were correct to listen to her.  She is a wise woman.  We will go home and find out the situation. Sir Richard I leave William in your care.”

“I want to come with you! It is my mother and sister!”

“And I am not only your father but also your master.  You will obey me.”

Lady Anne smiled, “Your mother will be happier knowing that you are here, young William.  Come.”

Lady Anne was a close friend of my wife and was almost as an aunt to William.  He did as he was commanded. “I will send word Sir Richard.”

“It will turn out for the best.”

I shrugged, “We are in God’s hands now.”

Those last few miles were torture.  Neither Harold nor Tristan could offer me comfort.  They were too young.  My mind was filled with pictures of our people dying of the awful disease. It could come in many forms.  Sometimes it was red pustules which covered the bodies.  At others it was a heavy fever. It seemed like a punishment from God in whatever form it came. The contagion could spread like wildfire. I prayed that my wife had locked herself in the tower and sat it out.  I knew that she would not.  She was too kind.

I said goodbye to my knights some three miles from home and led my men towards the western gate.  The land seemed empty.  Where were they all? I saw that my banner still fluttered from the south west tower. That meant nothing. The gates of the town were open.

“Aiden, come with me.  Wulfric take charge and keep the rest of the men out here.” He looked to argue. “If the pestilence and the plague are still within then you have to protect us.” He nodded. As Aiden and I rode forward I turned and said, “I bring you for you are the swiftest rider.  If there is trouble then obey my commands.”

I was relieved when I saw that smoke still came from the huts.  Alf came from his hut.  He looked pale but he walked. He held his hand up when he was twenty paces from me. “Thank God you have come, my lord.  We have the plague.”

“And yet you live.”

“That was by the will of Lady Adela.  When the plague came it was in the castle. She blocked the doors and told us to stay until she emerged.  She charged me with sending a message to the other manors. I sent my son and told him not to return.  We all became ill but few have died in the town.  Had an enemy come then we would all have been taken for we could not fight both the disease and an enemy. Father Matthews insisted upon going into the castle.”

“And have you heard from the castle?”

“There are still people alive within the walls but we have seen none on the battlements.”

“I needs must enter.  You say there is no disease here any longer?”

“No, my lord.  We were sick and none ate for days. The tanner’s daughter died over ten days ago and none have died since.  Some did not even get the disease.  They cared for the ones who did. I had the men clear the poisoned matter we produced from the town and pour it into the river beyond the town walls. The river will take it to the sea. It is only in the last three days that we have eaten.”

“There were no deaths here then?”

“Only the old and the babies. That was to be expected.  Death always comes to those first. Oh and one young girl, Alice the daughter of James the Tanner. We did not bury them but burned their bodies. We wanted to rid the land of the disease.” He frowned. “We smelled burning bodies in the castle, my lord. I know not who they were.”

“Aiden, fetch Wulfric. Tell him to care for the town.  Alf I need a ladder.”

“You would enter even though there is disease there?”

“If it were your family Alf….”

“Then I would go too. I pray you wrap something around your mouth my lord.”

“Fetch the ladder.  If I am fated to die then a piece of cloth will do nothing for me will it?”

He fetched the ladder.  I took off my helmet and my cloak.  I turned as Wulfric and my men rode in.  Alf held the ladder and I climbed it to mount the walls. I felt like an attacker yet my sword would not help me against this enemy.  It was a disease and was invisible.

At the top I looked down into my bailey. It was eerily empty.  I descended to the gate of the keep. There were no horses within the stables for we had them all.  I wondered about my falcons and the falconers. I almost struck myself.  Why was I thinking of hawks when my family was in danger? I saw the ash from the bonfires they had used to burn the bodies. It seemed a pathetically small amount; perhaps few had died.  As I walked across the silent bailey I wondered where everyone was.

“Hello! Adela!”

I heard a thin voice from the servant’s quarters. It was next to the bottom floor of my keep. I opened the door and was struck by the smell of disease. Father Matthew was attempting to rise from a chair by the table.  “Stay, Father.”

“The Lord has answered my prayers and you have returned. I must speak with you for my time is short and I have not long to live.”

“Where is everyone?  Where is my family?”

“The ones who live yet are in the Great Hall.  Most of those who died are burned.” It was maddening that he did not tell me what I wish to know and yet I could not rush him.  He had the smell of death about him. “It was your new men at arms who brought the disease; the ones who came from the lands of Muslim.  Your daughter played with them and she became ill first and then the first of them, Will’s Son, went into a deep sleep from which he never recovered.  Your daughter died the same night.” I felt my heart sink to my boots.  My daughter was dead. He pointed to a small pot.  “Her ashes lie in there.  They should be placed in the church.  There are niches at the side of the altar for urns such as this.”