English Knight (23 page)

Harold was terrified, “Aye, my lord.” I heard the fear and awe in his voice.

We rode back to the manor of Norton in the dark.  None of my men dared approach me.  Tancred’s lame horse had been destroyed but those of his men at arms carried the armour and weapons we had captured.  By the time we had packed the horses my men had returned from their fruitless pursuit of the fleeing knights. The last of the butchers had fled to Hartness. It confirmed the conspiracy. I would visit there but first I had to bury my father.

Father Peter had cleaned and laid out the bodies of the dead. Of father’s oathsworn only Wulfstan was without a wound. Athelstan had been struck in the leg and arm.  He would never fight again. Osric had lost an eye to the blow from the mace. They all stepped back when I entered. I stood over the bodies.  Although I spoke to all I addressed my words to the dead who would be just a little way above my head.

“I have avenged my father and his brave oathsworn. Tancred de Mamers is no more.  Robert De Brus will be punished in due course.” I heard sobbing and saw Harold kneeling over Branton’s body.  I was not the only one to have lost family. I turned to face my people and the survivors. “I am now Baron of Norton as well as Stockton.  I hereby appoint Osric to be the castellan of Norton and to guard it in my father’s name.  What say you?”

He dropped to his knees. “I swear I will protect this castle with my life.”

“Athelstan will you be steward?”

He looked confused, “I am no cleric, my lord.”

“Father Peter will help you I am sure.”

“Then I accept.  I will serve you unto death.”

“Edward, ride to Stockton.  I need William to begin to build my father’s tomb.” He wearily climbed his horse and left. “Father Peter, we will have to dig up your floor.  My father wished to be buried beneath it.”

“I promised him that he would rest there until judgement day.”

I nodded, “So be it.” As I looked down at my father I felt the world begin to swim and darkness consumed me.

I opened my eyes and looked up into the face of Father Peter.  He looked relieved.  “What happened?”

“Your squire said the Norman hit you with his mace in the battle.  You have an angry bruise on the side of your face.  I fear you have contused your brain. I was going to release some blood but Wulfstan would not let me. He said you would recover in your own time.” He smiled, “He was right.”

“How long have I lain here?”

“It is almost dawn.” I tried to struggle to my feet but he restrained me.  “You can do little.  Your men have taken up the floor and dug the grave for your father.”

“And his oathsworn.”

He looked shocked, “But your father said nothing about those being buried in my church.”

“It is not your church, it was my father’s and it is now mine and I say that his four oathsworn will be buried around him.  They guarded him in life and they can continue to do so in death. If you wish me to rest longer then give the commands.”

He nodded, “You are harder than your father.”

“I was made by my father.  I have his heart but it is true I am not as gentle.” I shrugged, “It is the way I am father. If it is any consolation I will be at Stockton more than I will be here.”

“I do not judge, God does that.”

As he left I said, “Amen.”

I lay in my father’s candlelit room staring at the ceiling. I wished now that I had never brought those cattle north. They had been too great a temptation for my enemies. As I lay there I heard my father’s voice in my head. I knew it was my father for it was gentle.  When I heard my own voice in my head it was always angry.

“It was wyrd, my son.  It was meant to be.  They would have come anyway.  The cattle were an excuse. I had the chance to die with honour amongst my oathsworn. I was useful at the end.  I did not linger on in my dotage to be a burden to you and my people.  I will sleep beneath the church and I will be happy.  Now you must live. You must find a wife. I will watch over you with Aelfraed for we are together once more. I am happy my son.  I am happy.”

When I opened my eyes it was daylight.  Had I heard my father or dreamed the words I wanted him to say?  Only time would tell.

The next three days passed in a blur. We laid my father and his oathsworn in the ground.  The Latin Father Peter spoke would not have been my father’s choice but it seemed fitting for the occasion.  The last three of his oathsworn and me stood at the four corners of the grave and threw in the soil. We each had something of my father’s. Osric laid his helmet within, Athelstan his Gonfanon and Wulfstan his shield. At the last I laid his sword along his body. It was the sword he had carried since before Stamford Bridge.  It was ancient now and would fight no more but he would have it in the afterlife. Then we covered him with the stone. William had already begun to carve the new stone which would be placed on top of the grave. It would have my father’s name and those of his oathsworn. We needed neither Latin nor any message for posterity.  None of us would ever forget those four brave warriors who had died defending their lord. The carved stone would tell the following generations of the courage of the Baron of Norton. I made sure that William was paid in advance.  He wanted no payment but my father had always told me that a good workman is worth his hire.

After the funeral we stripped to the waist and repaired Norton and made it even stronger. We cut fresh trees and made good the wall.  We cleared the dead from the ditch and replaced the traps.  We added stones to the base of the gate to make it even stronger.  When we finished I looked at the castle with the critical eye of an attacker. We would need more men at arms but my father had left me well endowed and I would use all of it to make his home safer. At the end of the three days we were ready to go to war.  Wulfstan tried to talk me out of it as did Richard. I would not hear any argument.  Had we addressed the problem before then my father might be alive today. We would attack Hartness. I left my hostage in the charge of the priest. I think he was grateful to be away from my baleful stare.  I knew that I had terrified the boy.

Under our fluttering banners we rode to Hartness in our war gear. Everyone’s eyes were drawn to the rotting corpse that had been Tancred de Mamers as we passed beneath his swaying body.  His eyes had gone already and the movement below the skin told us that maggots were feasting. I was pleased that I had left his son in the charge of my priest.  It was not a sight for a son to see.

Hartness promised to have many more men than I was bringing with me. We would be outnumbered. None of my men had either objected or complained but I knew that they had worked out the odds. I had, however, a plan. I would challenge Robert De Brus to single combat.  He might refuse me but he would lose too much face if he did so. I was quite willing to lay siege to his castle if I had to.  Of course he had a port and could bring supplies in by sea but I had to face him now or else I would, forever be in his shadow. With just three knights and less than thirty men at arms we were not a huge army but I had witnessed what Robert of Gloucester had achieved with less than fifty knights.  I would see what happened.

As we approached the castle the first thing I noticed was the lack of ships in the harbour. There had been a number of cogs and knarrs the last time I had visited. The gates were open but, as we approached they slammed shut. I halted just out of bow range. “Harold, come with me.  Wulfstan, take charge of the men.”

“Would it do any good to tell you that this is foolish?”

I took off my helmet.  “No, my friend but I do not think my life will end this day. I am drawn here. Let us see what the weird sisters of my father and Ralph have in mind for us.”

I approached to the gate. There was no drawbridge and no moat. The wall was, however, too high to climb without ladders. I waited patiently until a face appeared.  It was an old man at arms. The grey hairs and the scarred face told me that he had survived longer than most.

“What do you want my lord?”

“I wish to speak to the lord of the manor.”

“The Baron is not here.  He and all of his men have left.”

I had not expected that.  “Left?  Where have they gone?”

“He has taken the cross and he goes on holy crusade.”

I almost smiled. He was fleeing to his mentor, Count Fulk.  It made sense.  He would be able to tell him that his plan had failed and it extracted him from any criticism.  He was going on crusade; what could be nobler than that?

“I am Baron Alfraed of Norton and Stockton.  My father was treacherously slain three days ago by Tancred de Mamers.  He stole some cattle.  I would like to seek any of de Mamers’ men and my cattle inside Hartness.” That was almost a lie.  Only two cattle were unaccounted for and Wulfstan was certain that they would return of their own accord but it was a legitimate excuse to enter the castle and to search it. I believed the old soldier but I needed confirmation. If De Brus had fled then I would follow. He was a cunning knight and he might be hiding within the walls of Hartness.

The elderly guard disappeared and the steward appeared.  I had met him during my first visit to the castle.

“My lord, I cannot allow you to enter the castle without my lord’s permission.  Sorry.”

“I am going to enter your castle.  There are two ways I can do this. You can open the gates and I can enter and search.  I give you my word that if I do so then I will only take any of the men I seek or the cattle which are missing. If you refuse then I will assault the castle.  As Norton has been attacked twice by your lord and his treacherous allies I know how to do this.  The choice is yours but be aware that if I assault I will not be kind to those who resist me.” I heard the church bell sound.  “You have to the count of a thousand to make up your mind. The bell is God’s warning to make the right decision!”

It was not a bluff and now that I knew the castle was not garrisoned I could easily take it with my men at arms.  The steward knew that too. A short while later he returned to the gate.  “I have your word that you seek only de Mamers’ men and the cattle?”

“I swear!”

As we rode through the gate I did not know what I would do.  I was ensuring that the Normans had gone but having been let in so easily I knew I would not find any of my enemies. I also knew that I would not find any cattle but I was making a point.  I decided to ride to the harbour and then leave. The doors were all shut as we rode through.  The people of Hartness hid in fear from me. I rode slowly to show I was not afraid of their departed master.  I was also humiliating him even though he was not here. I reached the harbour and dismounted. I looked around the empty port. It was likely that he had fled to warmer climes.

Mounting Star I retraced my steps. I did so slowly examining every stone and every building as I rode through the bailey.  As we passed the hall I heard a scream and then a young slave hurtled through the doors and threw herself at my leg.  Star whinnied. The girl’s eyes pleaded with me as she looked up into my face. “My lord I claim sanctuary.  I have been abducted and held prisoner against my will!”

The elderly guard, clutching a raked face, and a hatchet faced woman appeared. The woman pointed a bony finger at the girl and hissed, “She is a slave, a runaway.  You are bound by law to return her to us.”

I held up my hand, “Archers cover them.  Once false move from any of them, and you have my permission to release your arrows.” No-one moved although I heard doors opening behind us as the villagers watched the tableau before them. “Child, come here.” The girl was no more than sixteen years of age and looked to have been beaten and starved. “What is your name?”

She raised her head and said proudly, “I am Adele the daughter of the murdered Lord of Norton Guy de Ville and I have been held prisoner this past year and more. My mother was abused and died of a broken heart and I am all that remains of those who lived in Norton. I throw myself on your mercy.”

I looked at Wulfstan who shrugged.  None of us had ever seen the old lord of the manor but I did know he had had a daughter. “Where is the rest of your family?”

  She turned and spat in the direction of the old woman, “Dead! These are worse than animals.  I have been abused and ill treated my lord! Will you give me sanctuary?”

I dismounted, “Harold, watch the girl.  I want no harm to come to her.”

I strode over to the steps leading to the hall.  The old woman looked defiantly at me but the man at arms looked ill at ease.  I could see where she had scratched his face.

“You were a soldier?” He nodded.  “Take out your sword and hold it before you.” He did so.  I saw that his hands were trembling. “Does the girl speak true?  You hold the sword and it is in the shape of a cross. Swear.”

He looked at the old woman.  “Keep your mouth shut you old fool!”

I pointed my sword at the hag. “I have neither struck nor killed a woman before but if you open your mouth again then I shall have two new experiences this day.” Her mouth narrowed into a slit.  I looked at the soldier and held his gaze. “Swear that she lies or swear that she tells the truth.  There can be no other answer.”

His head dropped and he said quietly, “She speaks the truth.  I swear.”

“Louder!”

He jumped at the ferocity of my words. “She speaks the truth she is no slave.  I swear it.”

“Then find her a horse now!” I turned to her, “I will take you to Norton. You are safe now!”

In answer she threw her arms around my shoulders and began to sob uncontrollably. I felt her emaciated body as it was wracked with spasms.  I glared angrily at this nest of vipers.  I should burn it to the ground but I knew that I would not and now I knew why I had come here; it had been ordained. It was father’s weird sisters weaving once more.

I had forgotten about the corpse until we actually passed it.  I looked at the young girl we had rescued.  Surprisingly she did not seem afraid of it.  Rather she looked at it defiantly and then spat. “Abuser of girls!” were the only words she spoke but I saw hatred in her eyes. During the last couple of miles before we reached Norton I put my mind to her future. I could not just abandon her once we reached her old home.  What could I do with her? My father had been acutely aware of the lack of fine ladies in the two villages. The women who were there were farmer’s wives and daughters. The fine women who had been with Adele had been killed or sold into slavery.  It was yet another problem for me to solve.

When we rode through the gates of Norton all eyes were upon us. I suspect many had thought that they had seen the last of us and we were riding to our deaths. That fate would be some time off. There were those old enough to remember Adele and I saw older women pointing to her as we rode into the bailey.  Father Peter came from his church with the hostage.  He recognised her immediately. The girl ran sobbing to his arms. He smiled gratefully at me over her shoulder, “This is a miracle my lord and your entry into heaven is guaranteed by this act.”

“Care for her, Father Peter, whilst I put my mind to the problem of her future.”

His face fell.  He had not thought ahead of the warm welcome he was giving the girl. Harold took the horses away.  “Wulfstan, Richard, come to the hall I would have conference with you both.”

The slave brought beer and wet cloths for us to refresh ourselves. “What do we do with the young lady?”

Richard looked surprised at the question, “Do? Nothing.  You have done your duty and rescued her.”