English Knight (21 page)

My father had the gift of knowing when a man spoke the truth and I had inherited it.  I knew that this man spoke the truth.  “You swear that you are a good miller and are innocent of the charges.”

“I swear!”

“Then when you are released seek me out.  We will be camped to the east of the town.  I am Alfraed of Stockton and my father, Ridley of Norton requires a miller.  At the very least we will feed you and shelter you. What say you?”

“I am your man, sir for you are the only one to share kind words and not to judge me.” He shook his head, “And there is nothing left for me here now.”

And so we found our miller.  It was another example of what my father’s oathsworn would call
wyrd
. I was coming to see that God was not alone in changing the destiny of men. By the time we passed through Northallerton we had twenty six men at arms as well as William the Miller and Leofric the Moneyer whom we had met on the road. His story had been as sad as William’s.  His downfall had been caused by an Irish raid.  His family had been enslaved and he had fled from Lancaster across the Pennines to forget his loss. He too wished to ply his trade again. We were a huge caravan as we headed towards the river and the ferry.

I confess that I felt a lump in my throat when I saw the yellow tower rising across the river.  This was my home.  We had seen the stone building growing from the river for some miles. Our long campaign had made us all, even Sir Richard, closer and the men sang as we marched.  I hoped that there would be enough maidens for them all.  They were lusty men and they were victorious.  More than that they had coins in their purses and they were keen to spend.  The markets we had visited on our way home had done well out of my conroi. Each man at arms was better dressed and armed than he had been.  They knew that war was their trade and they all had the finest tools which money could buy. This was what a victorious army looked and sounded like.

Ethelred looked pleased to see us.  I noticed he was even more rotund.  He had prospered.  “Welcome back from the wars my lord. Were they profitable?”

I laughed, “You will get your coin you old rogue!”

As we led our horses to the castle I saw William and his son toiling away at the curtain wall. Our departure had delayed the building of the moat but he had worked hard to complete more of the wall.  With the new men at arms we would have them both finished before winter.  The castle would be finished well ahead of schedule. That was another result of our victory.  God was smiling upon us.

I knew that I could not enjoy the comfort of my home yet. Taking Harold with me to escort Leofric and William the Miller to their new home I left Sir Richard in charge of the cattle. “Give five head to the village as a reward from me.” As I rode north I determined that at least half of our cattle and all of the sheep would be given to the tenants.  It would inspire loyalty and also result in more taxes for us.  I had learned much when talking to the other knights.  We all enjoyed combat but each of them knew that it was the farmers at home who allowed them the freedom to do what they loved. I would be on campaign the next year.  I needed the manor to be safe and secure.

William the Miller became more nervous and worried as we approached Norton.  “Suppose your father has employed a miller, my lord?”

I had told him of the building of the mill.  “Then I shall build a mill at Stockton. You will be employed William; I gave my word and I am never foresworn.”

My joy at my return was short lived.  As soon as we entered the gates a worried Wulfstan sought me out.  “Sir Alfraed, your father is ill!”

I was more worried that Wulfstan was so concerned than anything else.  He never looked frightened but that day, as I dismounted and ran to the hall, he did. I took in nothing.  It was as though my senses had deserted me. The greetings were ignored as I ran to his chamber. He looked very grey and very old. He smiled wanly at me as I approached. “Ah the warrior is returned.  Were you victorious?”

Suddenly the cattle, the victories and the gold seemed hollow. “Father, what ails you?”

“Old age. I have lived longer than any of those with whom I fought. I should have been like Aelfraed and died with a sword in my hand.”

“I will not hear such nonsense.  I forbid you to die!”

He laughed, “And I will try to obey but do not expect miracles. I will say that I feel better now having seen you hale and hearty.  Sit and tell me all.” He nodded to the slave, “Fetch me Faren’s broth I have a mind to eat while I listen to my son’s stories.”

I took off my cloak and threw it to the floor. I laid my sword and scabbard on the table.  Before I could begin my tale a pregnant Faren came in with a bowl of broth.  She gave me the most wonderful smile. It showed she was glad to see me. She put the bowl and the bread on the table and helped my father into a seated position and then, as with a child, she put the bowl of broth and soup before him. “It is about time you began to eat!”

She turned and snapped, “And what are you doing throwing your good clothes on the floor!” She picked up the cloak and as she came close to me whispered, “It is good that you have returned.  He pined for you. I pray you stay longer and he will improve.  God bless you, sir.”

The force of nature departed and I resumed my seat and told him all.  It took some time and he finished both the bread and the broth.  I saw colour reappear in his cheeks and I kept talking.  I told him of the miller and the moneyer. I told him of the spring campaign and I told him of Sir Robert De Brus and his disgrace. His eyes were growing heavy when I had finished. He patted my hand.  “I could not be more proud of you, my son. And I confess that I feel better now than in many a moon. Send a slave for the bowl, I am ready to sleep.” A worried look must have flickered across my face for he smiled, “I will sleep only.  I am under orders am I not?  I cannot die until you give permission.  Now go and see the others.  They have missed you too.”

I took the bowl and spoon with me and my sword. The others were waiting in the hall.  Poor Ralph looked beside himself with worry.  “How is he, my lord?”

“He is sleeping. How long has he been like this?”

“A month.  He had a chill and it became worse.  He hid the symptoms.  Poor Faren had the medicine to cure him but he took it too late for it to be effective.  Had you not returned then Father Peter would have given him his last rites.  He told us to prepare his tomb.”

“Well I am back now.  Fear not.  I will stay here until he is well enough to walk around the manor.” Ralph looked doubtful. “I promise you, Ralph that he will walk around the manor again.  I will make sure that he does.”

When I saw belief fill their faces I told them all that I had told my father. Garth said, “I will see to the moneyer and the miller.  Both are needed.  You have done well, my lord.”

It took much to impress Garth and I felt even more pleased with myself. I nodded, “I will have the cattle distributed on the morrow. I want all in the two manors to benefit. We must build pens inside the bailey to protect them” I paused, “We are requested to campaign next spring in Normandy.  I want both estates secure and better defended before then.”

They nodded.  Wulfstan asked, “Will you need me on the campaign, my lord?”

“Want you?  Yes.  Need you?  I think I need you here to watch over both estates and besides you are to be a father are you not?  What kind of lord would I be if I took you away from your son?”

They all laughed and he replied, “You have changed Alfraed. I cannot teach you anymore.”

“But I am what I am because of all that each of you has taught me.  I am your son as much as my father’s and I thank you all. The campaign against the Welsh has shown me how well you have prepared me.”

I spent a hectic three weeks at Norton seeing to the needs of my father and distributing the animals. I left Sir Richard and Edward to complete my castle.  At the back of my mind I had the worry that we were still not safe.  King Henry would now be back in Normandy. He had cracked his whip but I still worried about my neighbours.  Once my father took his first faltering steps in the bailey I took Wulfstan, Harold, Egbert, Osric and Athelstan to visit with Sir Robert de Brus. I did not know why I had to go but I knew that if I did not then I might come to regret it.

I rode Scout when we went the ten miles to Hartness.  I did not want to go armed and ready for war but we did go in armour, helmed and with shields. There were dangerous marshes to cross and I knew that Sir Robert had outlaws who lived close to his land preying on travellers.

His castle was well positioned on a narrow neck of land overlooking the harbour. He had a solid gate which was protected by a wall as high as two men.  I was recognised by the men at arms; they had been on campaign with us and we were admitted.

Sir Robert came down the steps to greet us. He had the false smile he always wore.  I had only seen it disappear when he had been chastised by King Henry and sent back from the wars.

“Ah Sir Alfraed, how is Good King Henry?  Has he recovered from his wound?”

“He has Sir Robert and the campaign is over.”

“So I hear and our king has returned to Normandy.  Come into my hall.  Let us not stay our here.  There is a chill wind.  I hear you father is not well.  Has he improved since your return?”

I heard Osric suck his teeth in annoyance. I agreed with my father’s oathsworn.  This knight took an unhealthy interest in my business.

“He had a slight chill but he is recovered.  Living in the east did not prepare him for these northern climes.”

As we entered his hall my eyes had to become accustomed to the gloom.  I saw that it was full.  When my eyes adjusted I saw that they were all knights.

“I believe you have met Sir Tancred de Mamers before.”

The knights who had raided us were in the home of Robert de Brus! I flashed a look of warning at my comrades and I smiled.  “I did not expect you here.  I would have thought you would have gone back to Outremer.”

“So long as Count Fulk is in Anjou I will enjoy the company of my friends.”

Here was treachery.  Count Fulk was the enemy of my king and here was one of his barons in this nest of vipers that was Hartness.  I knew then that I had been right to come here. I had to draw on all my experiences in Constantinople. I smiled and played the game of the hypocrite.  It did not sit well but it was necessary. I did not need to tell the others to be wary.  They had taught me the rules of this game. I would let them identify the knights and the banners. I would concentrate on the words of the two leaders.

All were keen to hear of our exploits in Wales. I told them, simply, and without exaggeration of our capture of the Welsh king.

“And King Henry only chose cattle?  He did not wish to conquer the country?”

“He appears to have no ambition in that direction.  I think I agree with him. The land is fit for sheep. Our horses liked it not.”

Robert de Brus nodded his agreement. “We lost two destrier when we charged them. Still I think I would have taken hostages for their good behaviour.”

I said nothing.  We had had much ransom from the families.  That would deter them from rising again.  The knights in the hall began to question me and to court me. Their words told me that they wished me to join them.  They were oblique in their approach and never once spoke directly but only an idiot would have misunderstood their intentions. I smiled a country bumpkin’s smile and pretended that I was foolish. I was dismissed from their minds.

“We should be getting back.  Night is falling and the swamps between our lands are treacherous.”

Robert de Brus smiled.  “You are right, we need no wall there.  But be careful.  There are bandits and outlaws who eke out a parlous existence between the land and the sea.  I would hate to think of you being ambushed on the way home.”

“Do not worry we have learned to be vigilant.” I smiled at Tancred de Mamers. “And it was good to see you again. I had thought you might have returned to the warmer east.  I know that I miss both the clime and the life there.”

The smile from Tancred was a genuine one, “You are right.  The food, the warmth, the baths and the women are all sadly lacking here in this wild and cold land.  One day I shall return.”

We rode in a tight formation as we headed south.  When we were out of earshot they told me all that they had gleaned. “They are planning something. De Mamers and his men are waiting here for a reason.  They are the men of Count Fulk.” Wulfstan had a sharp mind. “I spoke with some of the squires. De Brus wants your cattle. He knows nothing of the ransoms we collected, my lord, but he knows of the cattle. His men say he was unhappy about being sent home before the fine was delivered.  He feels cheated by the king.”

“Then we will keep a close watch upon them.” We were close to the sea at this point.  I reined my horse in. “We could collect salt there could we not?”

“We could.  What have you in mind?”

“We need salt anyway, Wulfstan, but we have too many cattle to keep them safe from raids. I would slaughter the old and the weak cattle.  Our men will benefit from beef each week anyway.  Our surplus we can salt and store in barrels. If we breed from the younger animals we can make up those we eat in the spring.”

Osric chuckled, “And that is a fine plan.  It stops them being stolen and I like my beef.”

Once we reached Norton and I had told Ralph and Garth of my plan we set to preparing secure pens within the walls to protect the cattle. I kept my father ignorant of the plotting of our neighbours.  I needed him well again. He would be kept as free from worry as it was possible. I briefly returned to Stockton to fetch Edward and some of my men at arms. We kept a constant patrol of archers and men at arms along our borders. They hunted while they watched but every man knew the dangers.

I also introduced some eastern ideas to the two castles. We began to have more hides to tan.  I had communal amphorae places around the castles.  All were invited to use them; at first they could not understand the need for ‘piss pots’ but when the tanner began to use them to cure the hides they did.  Wulfstan explained to Faren how the liquid could also be used to bleach and to clean clothes.  Once she began to use it the rest of the two communities did so too.  We soon had leather and cleaner laundry. Finally William the Miller began to produce flour. It was of a much better quality and finer than the hand ground variety we were used to. Once we grew wheat we would be truly civilised.

Winter drew on but we were even more comfortable than we had been.  We ate well and we all had purpose.  More importantly my father was well and all who lived in Norton felt the benefit. It was as though the heart of the manor was recovering too.

The outlaws came with the first frost. I received a message from Sir Richard that Old Tom and his son had been attacked at Hart Burn. My father was recovered enough to send me away.  “Go, you have stayed and watched an old man long enough.  I am becoming well again.  You and your men are needed to purge your land of these vagabonds.”

I pointed to Branton, “Do not be so quick to judge father.  Branton was an outlaw but he was no vagabond.”

Wulfstan laughed, “What a change we have here.  I will come with you, my lord and I will bring my wife.  She is keen to give a woman’s touch to your castle.”

In truth it needed it.  William had finished the building but it was empty.  We slept on straw the like horses and the dogs, and our food was cooked by the men at arms.  It was neither comfortable nor homely. Richard did not regard it as his home and I had been over long at Norton. It seemed a good idea. My father gave us three female slaves and we returned to Stockton.

It still looked new but the winter would age it a little.  I left Faren and the slaves tut tutting about the lack of tables, chairs, beds, pots…. everything. Faren, the former slave, wagged a finger at her husband.  “You have let Lord Alfraed live like this.  I will need four of your men who are handy and I will see those in the village! When you return, I hope that you see a change! I will get some decent furniture made and we will send to the cities to get other furnishings.  He is a lord and not a bandit!”

I led my men west along the river. There were a number of farms now which filled the land from the Hart Burn to the walls of my castle but the land between Hart Burn and the river was wooded and wild.  They would be a perfect hiding place for outlaws. I let Harold lead Dick and John as scouts.  They went with Aiden and his two dogs. The rest of us were armed as for the hunt. We did not wear armour but we took our shields.

The autumn rains had swollen the river and its waters covered the path at times.  It ebbed and flowed by the roots of the mighty trees which lined it. We soon found evidence of occupation. There were the remnants of old fires. It was hard to work out when they had been used. Aiden found tracks heading east towards Tom’s farm. I sent John and half a dozen men at arms to check on the two Toms. Wulfstan thought the tracks might be old ones.