Knight of the Empress (11 page)

I left half of my men and my archers at the castle.  I took Edward and the other half with me. I did not wish the Dean to think that I was trying to intimidate him. The town and castle were prosperous.  The gate at the bridge had now been finished and would give an attacker their first problem.  The winding road which led to the main gate was also protected by a wall and any raiders would have to run the gauntlet of arrows.  Once the main gate was taken then the garrison could hold out in the keep but I doubted that would happen for the Cathedral lay on the other side of the Green.  St. Cuthbert and his bones needed protection too. After I had delivered him my news I left. It had been an acrimonious meeting. Edward laughed as we descended to the Wear. "I do not know what upset him the most, the fact that you were now in charge of the Tees or the fact that he had lost a valuable income."

"I do not think we have heard the last of this.  I think the priest will be sending a message to the Bishop. We may yet have to deal with the Bishop of Durham. Like his Dean he will not be happy that he is no longer the only dispenser of justice and all that entails." We both knew that there was profit to be made from the law by unscrupulous people. I knew that Bishop Flambard had manors and lands in the south and, at the moment, he was busy with them but one day he would return.  I had yet to meet the man.

The gates of Hartness were opened as soon as my gonfanon was seen.  I had left them in no doubt, on my last visit, that I would not brook any delay in gaining entry. I saw the masts and spars of four or five small ships bobbing in the anchorage. Trade had returned. The port and the town looked more prosperous.

A new headman came scurrying to greet us.  He was a younger man than the last one. "My lord, this is an unexpected honour."

"What is your name?"

"Harold of Elwick, my lord."

"Well, Harold of Elwick, King Henry has appointed me the guardian of this area. I am ordered to protect the valley and that includes Hartness. Until a new lord of the manor is appointed then I will administer the law.  There will be a session at Easter. Any cases you wish me to hear must be brought to my castle at Stockton.  Is that clear?"

"Aye my lord.  That is a good thing.  We need law."

"As the King needs taxes.  The tax collector will be escorted by my men when he comes." This Harold of Elwick seemed quite obliging.  Perhaps there was a change in the air. This time, there were nods and bows as we left.  The people, indeed, appeared more prosperous than they had been under the rule of the De Brus, yet I felt a sense of disquiet as we headed south.  Osric and Athelstan were no fools.  They had said armed men had travelled to Hartness and yet I had seen no sign of them.  Where had they gone?

It was getting dark as we approached Norton. "Edward, take the men home.  Harold and I will follow shortly.  I wish to visit the church."

"We can wait, my lord."

"If I cannot travel the few miles from Norton to Stockton safely then there needs to be another lord of the manor.  I will be safe."

I spoke to Athelstan and Osric before I entered the church.  "I visited Hartness and saw no sign of the men you saw.  That does not mean they were not there.  They may have been in hiding. Remain vigilant and ask those who farm closest to Hartness to keep their eyes and ears open.

Osric nodded, "I will take some men hunting in the marshes.  The seals make good eating in winter and I can speak with the fishermen who use the salt marshes."

"Harold, watch the horses." I took off my helmet and handed it to him and then entered the church. My father's tomb was quite close to the door.  I closed the door behind me and knelt down. His tomb lay beneath the carved stone in the floor.

"Father, I have need of your advice. I fear that I have misled a young maiden and I do not know what to do about it.  You must see all in heaven can you advise me what I ought to do?"

The silence seemed to weigh upon my shoulders in the dim church lit only by a solitary pair of candles at the altar. I had paid Father Peter to keep them burning there for my dead father.  There was no reply from my father just the flickering of the candles. I was about to leave when Father Peter appeared from one of the recesses. "Perhaps I can help, Baron Alfraed.  I am a priest.  Would you like to confess?"

I looked around fearfully. What had the priest heard? I was about to rise when the young priest's hand touched my shoulder. 

"You were asking your father for help. Perhaps he will answer through me."

"You are kind, Father Peter, but I need advice from someone who is a man of the world."

"And not a young barefoot priest who rarely leaves Norton?" He walked around the grave towards the altar.

"I meant no offence."

"I understand your reluctance, Baron, but if the lord of the manor cannot trust his priest then I might as well leave.  I thought I had the trust of all but it appears I am wrong."

"No Father Peter…" It may have been a trick of the candlelight or the shadows cast by the priest but the stone effigy of my father on the stone seemed more at peace. The priest was right.  I had to trust him.  My father had when he gave him the church and his body to protect. "When I rescued the lady Adela there was a joy in both of our lives. Then I went to Normandy and since I returned I have brought her only pain."

"And you would have her joyful once more?"

"I would."

"What made you change, my lord?"

I remained silent.  I would not betray the Empress. I bowed my head and closed my eyes.
'Father, give me an answer to my question.  The priest is kind but he does not understand
.'

"I am guessing that war did not change you.  Lady Adela is more than fond of you.  I am a priest bound by the confessional and I can say no more. I am guessing that you have met someone in Normandy and, for whatever reason, she is unattainable." Father peter was shrewd.

I opened my eyes and stared at the priest, framed in the candlelight and watching me. He knew.  But how?

"Your face is honest my lord and I can now read the story in your face.  What you have done is not a sin. In fact it shows that you are an honourable man. Let me give you some advice.  You may take it or leave it. I am a young priest and you are right I know little of this world.  However I know the Lady Adela and from your deeds and words I know you. Make the Lady Adela your wife. It will make her happy and I believe it will not make you unhappy. The alternatives for the young woman is not attractive.  She would stay a ward in your castle, watching you each day and knowing she could never be with you?  That is not kind. Send her to a nunnery? That would remove your problem but she would not be happy either. Ask yourself this.  Would it make you unhappy if she were your wife?  Would it make you unhappy if she bore you children? You cannot attain what you left in Normandy.  Would you resign yourself, as I have had to do, to a childless life?"

That was when the voice came into my head,
'He is right, my son, heed his advice
.'

I stood and walked past the gave to the priest at the altar.  I clasped his hand, "Thank you for your advice, Father Peter.  I will think on your words but you have comforted me marvellous much."

Harold and I rode back through the night to the sanctuary that was Stockton.  I had not yet made up my mind but I slept well that night.  And that was the first time in a long time.

At breakfast I told Wulfstan, Edward and Adela of my two visits. Adela frowned.  "Harold of Elwick was a friend of the de Brus, my lord.  They went hunting in the woods to the north of Hartness. He bought many of the slaves which were taken by those like de Mamers. Were there ships in the port?"

"There were.  Why do you ask?"

"Harold of Elwick owned ships. He has a fine house at Elwick. I never visited but I know that De Brus stayed there and he liked his comfort."

"I see a plot here my lord. We have removed one of the heads of the hydra but another has grown and from what you say this one is equally devious."

I hated inactivity and I hated waiting for things to happen. "Edward we will ride today and take all of our men.  Wulfstan, would you ride with us."

  I saw the worried look on his face. Faren patted his hand.  "Go my husband.  Your child will not enter the world this day. You have been cooped up here all winter.  Go."

It was good to have my old mentor with me.  He was still the finest warrior I knew. I had learned much but he had forgotten more than I had learned.  His advice and his wisdom would aid me.

We rode north on the track which led to Hartness. Where it forked we took the northern fork to head towards the Wear. That route would take us past Elwick and the tiny village of Hart.  I did not know what we were looking for but it was good to be out with my conroi. "Dick, take one of the new men and scout Elwick.  Carry on to Hart and then rejoin us."

The land rose steadily as we headed north.  Where the trees allowed we had a fine view of the sea.  We even saw the masts of the ships in the port. We halted where the land flattened out and afforded us a good view of the track leading north.  The Romans had not built a road here and the track we trod could be impassable in winter. If this were my manor I would have had a road built which could be used in winter. Hart was a huddle of huts on a slight rise.  It had a fine view of the sea and yet was sheltered.

Dick and Wilson joined us. "What did you see?"

"Both are prosperous my lord.  They have cattle and swine.  The hall at Elwick is a fine one and there is a ditch around it."

"Did you see any armed men?"

"No, my lord but…"

"Go on Dick."

"Well my lord the track which led north was well trodden." He pointed over his shoulder. "The last part had had few hooves upon it but a mile or two to the east there are signs that both horses and men have been making use of that way. We saw cattle by the houses."

"You have done well." I saw my old mentor looking north and rubbing his beard. Sure signs that he was thinking. "Wulfstan?"

"A puzzle indeed."

"If there are cattle there then the Scots have not been raiding them.  Have they been raiding the Scots?"

Edward shook his head, "If that is true then there is naught for us to do. King Henry charged us with stopping the Scots raiding our lands."

"But there have been raids. Sir Richard. Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey all told us that their isolated farms had been raided.  Suppose those animals had been taken first to Elwick and then distributed north?"

"We would have noticed."

"No we would not. The Bishop of Durham does not keep the northern road patrolled except for five miles around his domain. If they passed to the north of Wulfestun they could cross the track near the fork and head to Hartness. We will ride east and follow this track."

I sent out four archers as scouts.

Sometimes we know not why we make decisions and they turn out well. Sometimes they do not. It was just after the weak early spring sun had passed its zenith that Aelric rode in. "My lord there is a band of warriors heading south.  They have their war gear on."

"What banners did they carry?"

"None, my lord."

"Were they Scots?"

He shrugged, "They could have been but there were at least four knights with them and they held shields such as you."

"How many in total?"

I was fortunate in that Aelric could count well.  Many of my men could count but not using numbers. "I would guess at thirty or more.  They were travelling loosely."

"Horses?"

"Half of them were mounted, the rest were afoot."

Loosely suggested a warband of raiders out for what they could take. I looked to Wulfstan for guidance. He shrugged, "They could be friendly knights."

"Then why travel this track which just goes to Hartness?  This is a path you tread if you wish to remain hidden but we will be cautious." I spied a clearing and a dip ahead. I led the conroi forward. At some time there had been a couple of huts there but all that remained was a jumble of daub and wood.

"Wulfric take half of the men and hide in the woods to the east.  Await my command. Aelric take the archers and hide in the woods to the west." I turned to the other six men at arms. "You six form a second rank behind me.  If we charge then you follow up." As they did so Wulfstan and Edward flanked me and Harold and Alan took post at each end of the line. As we waited I lifted my helmet to the back of my head so that I could be seen.  It also enabled me to see clearer too.  I knew that Dick and my other scouts would be trailing them. If fighting began then they would come in from the rear and give the warband a nasty surprise. My men could be right and these could have peaceful intent. My mind told me otherwise. I formed our line up at the edge of the clearing so that there were a hundred paces for us to use.

Alan asked Edward, "Why is it significant that they do not have banners?"

He pointed to my gonfanon. "This marks Baron Alfraed a banneret knight and tells others who he is. It identifies him.  These warriors are coming hidden; in disguise. They may be peaceful but it is unlikely." Alan looked at my blue banner with the two stars, seemingly for the first time. I smiled. He was learning what it meant to be a knight. Harold, who held the gonfanon, seemed to sit a little straighter at those words.