Earl (7 page)

"There you are. We have both been hurt.  If you pursue him he will not have time to lick his wounds and send for more men.  Besides it keeps him on the defensive."

"But we are in no condition to fight."

I went closer to him and spoke quietly so that only he and Ranulf could hear. "If you do not then some of our men may decide all is lost and leave. You know yourself, my lord, that men are better when attacking." Even as I said it I knew that none of mine would leave but I had seen the hang dog look of those who followed the other two Earls.

"Very well.  We leave before dawn and march to Wrexham."

"With your permission, my lord, I will see to my men.  I have not spoken with them since the battle and I know not how they fared."

That was something of a white lie for John had already told me that none of my knights nor squires had fallen and that my men at arms had suffered only minor wounds. I was keen to reassure them that all was well.  The camp had a despondent air as though we had been defeated.  Even as I went down to the camp I saw the weary warriors of Sir Ralph de Warenne as they trudged into the camp. Such ill feelings could easily spread.

I found Sir Edward. I had to smile.  My men had sent Aiden and Leofric hunting.  I caught the smell of a game stew made with various animals and wild herbs. They knew how to forage.  Their faces were a relief for they were in direct contrast to those of the other conroi. The other soldiers sniffed enviously at the air which was heavy with the smell of cooking meat. My men were relaxed; they knew we were far from beaten and that we had sent the Welsh running.

"Stew, my lord?"

"No thank you, Edward.  I have eaten although not as well as you."

Wulfric wandered over.  He was only a man at arms but he had fought alongside Edward for many years and could talk as easily with knights as with his fellows.  "And what of tomorrow, my lord?"

"We follow the Welsh!"

Wulfric rubbed his hands. "Excellent.  I still have much room in my purse for gold coins."

"I am surprised the Welsh had much upon their person."

He shook his head, "No, my lord.  It is these men from Dublin.  They all like their arm rings. Some are silver and one was gold.  They also adorn their swords with pretty stones.  The Welsh are not worth searching but the men from Ireland are. Michael the archer told me that there were still twenty or thirty of them with this Welsh King."

"He is a Prince."

"No matter, my lord.  We will take whatever he carries about his person but I was hoping for a crown."

My men were irrepressible. They felt that they could conquer the world.  I was lucky to lead them.

The Earl had been impressed with my archers and it was they who formed the van. Our numbers were not as bad as one might have expected.  Sir Ralph and his wounded were sent to bolster the defence of Chester. We had just twenty five knights, including the three earls.  With fifty men at arms and just my archers the bulk of the army was the fyrd raised by the Earl.  Although there were over a hundred and twenty of them they would not be reliable as a fighting force. I knew that the Earl of Gloucester was dubious about their quality for he kept his own men at arms close behind them. If they chose to flee they would have to risk the wrath of the Earl's men at arms.

When we reached Wrexham the gates were, as we had expected, closed. I waved Dick over.  "Take my archers and stop any leaving from the rear gate.  I suspect the Prince will send for help."

"Aye my lord."

As they galloped off Robert of Gloucester asked, "What is that about?" I told him. "This looks like a difficult place to take, Cleveland."

"I doubt they have many supplies in.  There is little growing in the fields and we saw cattle and sheep as we passed.  We can collect those. They will soon be hungry and we will not."

"You are suggesting that we do nothing?"

"I am suggesting that we wait and we eat the Welsh animals. Our horses will recover and we will eat well.  The Welsh will starve and grow nervous. They will soon tire and either attack us or talk."

"And if they fight?"

"Then we have the superiority in cavalry.  Most of their knights lay dead on the field at Deofold and we made great slaughter of their horses.  We may have fewer men but we have more knights and mounted men at arms."

"Very well." He turned and shouted, "Make camp!"

The Earl had done this sort of thing before and he organised a closely guarded camp. He ordered his men to capture some of the cattle which still grazed, unprotected in the fields. When they were skinned he had them roasted over huge pits.  The prevailing wind took the smell towards the Welsh. It would make them hungry. This simple act rejuvenated the rest of our army.  A full stomach makes for a braver warrior.

I sent Aiden to find Dick and tell him to make camp beyond the town. The men on the walls watched us. Had I been Owain I would have sallied forth and tried to drive us hence while we were busy setting up our defences but he did not. That told me that he did not have great numbers.  I took heart from that.  After we had eaten I walked around our perimeter and our sentries to reassure myself that we would not be surprised. I stood, just beyond our furthest sentry watching the lights from the town and trying to imagine what the Welsh might do.

“You never stop do you, Alfraed?”

I turned and saw the Earl of Gloucester by my side. I shook my head.  “I worry too much, I know that my lord.”

“I meant it as a compliment.  Your diligence and your scrutiny have saved us more than once.” We both stared out towards the Welsh.  “I tried to make up for my error the last time we fought the Welsh.  I tried to draw the Welsh to me.  It seems I succeeded too well.”

“I think this Welsh Prince is a formidable foe. His men retired in good order.  That speaks well of their commander.” I gestured back towards the camp.  “I spoke with Ranulf.  The defences around Chester are not what they should be.”

“I know. I have the land in the south of their land well managed and controlled by castles. I think perhaps he should visit with you and see your defences.”

“I constantly strive to improve them for our enemies are always looking for ways to breach them.”

“Perhaps when we have killed enough they may accept the inevitable.”

“There are always young warriors who seek to gain glory and fame.  We have them too but we manage them a little better than our foes.”

“You are wise beyond your years.  My sister always says that.” I turned when he spoke of Matilda. He lowered his voice.  “She is at my castle at Gloucester.  She tired of the Tower.”

“She has not returned to her husband then?”

“No.  My father writes weekly urging her to do so but she is strong willed. I think the castellan at the Tower tired of her complaints.  She can be a harpy at times.”

I thought of the Matilda I knew.  The Earl did not know his sister. She was no harpy.

I heard a horse in the distance.  I looked at the Earl who nodded.  It sounded like trouble.  We hurried to the camp. Aiden was dismounting. He dropped to one knee and spoke, “My lord, Dick has sent me.  The Welsh have opened the northern gates.  He thinks they are sallying.”

The Earl of Gloucester looked at me, “He is your man. What think you?”

“I will take my men at arms, my lord and support him.  If I need any help then I will send Aiden back.”

“Very well.” I heard a grim laugh in the dark.  “This Welsh prince is an annoyingly resourceful foe.”

“Wulfric, mount our men.  Erre keep your men here. We need swift riders this night.” On campaign I rarely took off my mail.  John brought Scout to me and Leofric my helmet and my shield. We were mounted in a short time.  “Lead on Aiden.”

We rode into the dark. Aiden had the eyes of a cat and led us unerringly along what seemed to me an invisible greenway.  He held up his hand and slowed.  He was listening.  I heard, too, the sounds of combat. I drew my sword and the others followed suit. The town was less than a mile from our left.  I saw the first Welsh body and it had an arrow in it. Dick was close. I heard Welsh voices.  One sounded as though it was giving commands. I waved my sword to the left and right.  My men spread out in a line behind me.

We came upon the Welsh column almost immediately.  Their white faces turned as they heard our hooves.  I shouted, “Stockton!” At the top of my voice so that Dick and the others knew that help was at hand. Then we were amongst them.  It was a unique experience. We rarely fought battles in the dark. A face loomed up and you had seconds to decide if it was a friend or a foe. We had the advantage for we knew that we were all mounted.  However, when a horse suddenly appeared before me, I realised my error. It was a knight and he swung his sword towards me.

We were sword to sword and I barely had time to block his blow with my own weapon. He was not a tall man but he was incredibly broad and powerful. Our horses spun around each other as they, too, fought. As I was taller I used that to my advantage. I stood in my stirrups and swung my shield before me.  It allowed me to bring my sword down towards his head.  He could not bring his shield around and he blocked with his sword.  I punched at his helmet with my shield. He leaned into me and I felt myself overbalancing.  I sat down and Scout continued his turn. He was well trained. 

I was aware of the battles around me as men fought and died in the dark. Now that we were side by side again the knight swung his sword at my neck. I thrust my sword up and they rang together. It would be the strength of our weapons which decided this and when I saw the slight bend in my opponent’s sword then I knew that his was a weaker weapon. I went on to the offensive and swung my own sword down hard.  He met it with his own and the bend became more obvious; more than that it became harder for him to wield. It became unbalanced.

Once more I risked standing and I hit him again with my shield.  This time he reeled and I stabbed forward with my sword. His weapon was now a hindrance and its shape, as he blocked, allowed my blade to slip between the sword and his saddle.  It slid into his mail.  I felt the links as they sheared.  The gambeson gave some resistance but when I leaned into the blow it sank into flesh. I heard a grunt and I turned my hand and pushed harder. My tip was stopped by the cantle on his saddle and I withdrew the blade. He tumbled from the side of his horse.

I turned quickly to see how we fared. John and Leofric guarded my back.  I saw a dead Welsh warrior between them.  Dick and Wulfric rode up. Wulfric raised his helmet and pushed back his coif.  He believed the encounter was at an end. “They are all dead my lord.” He looked at the dead knight.  “It looks like he was the only knight with them.  Most had no armour. I think they were relying on speed.” He pointed to Dick.  “But for Dick here they would have succeeded.”

Dick shrugged modestly.  “They were no woodsmen and we heard them. We kept withdrawing and then releasing arrows.  Had it been daylight we would not have needed help but they were like insects in the forest.”

“You have both done well. Wulfric, keep the men at arms here and I will return to the main camp.  The Earl will be worried. I doubt that they will risk a second sortie but it is better to be safe than sorry.  Give me the head of the knight.  It will be evidence for their prince in case he doubts our word in the morning.”

Wulfric dismounted.  He took off the knight’s helmet and examined it.  “Too small!” He threw it to the ground in disgust. Taking his axe he made a swift strike and the head was cleanly severed.  The man was already dead and there was little blood.  He picked it up by the hair; the Welsh liked to wear it long and he handed it to me. I saw that it was an older warrior; older than me. That explained his skill.

“I will see you on the morrow. Leofric pick up that helmet and keep it for William. John, come with me too.  Aiden, you can stay here.”

It was a slower ride back for I did not have Aiden’s skills. I knew I was close when I smelled the cooking meat on the wind.  It made me hungry too. The Earl was warming himself by the fire when I rode in. “Well?”

I held up the trophy.  “Some tried to escape. I think they were going for help.  None will be coming. I left my men at arms to guard the northern gate. This may come as a surprise to the prince when you negotiate tomorrow.”

“Just so.  And you must rest. From what my son in law has told me that the Welsh may well know you.  I believe they will remember you from our last visit. What we lack in numbers we will make up for in reputation.”

I was exhausted and as soon as I lay down I was asleep.  When I woke I found that I had been covered with a blanket.  My squires were close by.  I did not disturb them when I rose.  I suspect that they had watched over me during the night. The two Earls were up and eating some of the beef which was still warm from the previous night. I joined them.  “We have no bread but this will suffice.”  The Earl gestured to the walls. I doubt that they will have eaten well. We will visit with them at noon.” He laughed.  I have sent one of Ranulf’s men as though he rides to Chester for aid. It will set the Welsh to thinking.”

In the end we did not have to initiate a truce.  The gates opened and three riders emerged.  One bore the flag of Gwynedd. The Earl said, “Ranulf, ride and see what they want.  If they want to speak, then agree to it.”

As the Earl and two men at arms rode off, Robert of Gloucester said, “An interesting development.”