Knight of the Empress (13 page)

"No! Of course not.  Events happened in Normandy which, well let us just say they complicated matters."

"Not for me. You have my heart and I shall give it to no one else."

I was out of my depth.  "What would you have?"

"You."

"Even though I cannot promise that you will have my heart?"

"You will have mine and that is good enough for me.  When we have children then I will have their hearts and they are part of you.  I will be content but one day I will have your heart.  I know that."

I shook my head.  "You are a remarkable girl. Think on this until this time next year.  If you feel the same way then we shall be wed. Does that please you?"

Her answer was to throw her arms around me and to kiss me. "Aye my lord.  Today you have made me a happy woman."

I was surprised by the warmth with which the news was greeted by all in my castle.  It seemed I was the only one who had not seen what was before my eyes. It certainly made my life easier for I could not concentrate on being Lord of the Manor.  I held my first sessions at Easter and I became the knight my father had wanted me to be. Life was good.

War came before we could reap the benefits of Spring. The men of the north, Gospatric's men, came a month after Easter. This was not a handful of hopeful raiders. This was a large warband who came to ravage the land in King Henry's absence. Gospatric had lands which straddled both England and Scotland.  King David and King Henry had both given him lands and manors to make him loyal. The winter barley had been a poor crop and the harsh winter, further north, had killed many animals. Gospatric took himself off for a pilgrimage to Rome.  His lieutenants came raiding. I knew, for Wulfstan told me, that the absence of Gospatric was deliberate.  He could avoid any blame.  He could punish his men if things went awry but if they were successful then he would have more lands and more animals.  He would be richer. Of course we only discovered this much later.  What we did know was that refugees fled from the north, first to Norton and thence to Stockton.  They spoke of fierce warriors who slaughtered men, took the women and enslaved families. They gathered the animals and drove them north. It was not one army but like the fingers of two hands it was columns of warriors heading south and avoiding such places as Durham, Bamburgh, Alnwick and Raby. Too many knights were serving in Normandy or had taken the cross.  There were not enough men to oppose them.

I sent riders to Sir Richard and Sir Mark asking for their men.  I warned Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey of the dangers and told them to get their people within their walls. With seven or eight columns heading south I could not afford to have those two river crossings abandoned. We would have to face whatever came our way with less than a hundred men. We had no idea how many were coming. We just knew that the columns of warriors were sweeping all before them.

While I awaited the arrival of my two knights I rode with Edward to Norton. Osric and Athelstan had begun their preparations. The closest farmers had been prepared while those who were isolated had been urged to enter the walls for protection.  Some chose to take their chances. I knew that we had to have as many within the walls to provide warriors on the walls.

"We are prepared, Baron.  Tom the Fletcher has provided many arrows.  The ditch is deeper and William's gate, while not finished is stronger than the wooden one."  He pointed to the half finished tower.  It stood the height of a man. "And we have that refuge too. Father Peter will shelter the women and children in the church.  Your father will protect them there."

"That is good Athelstan."

"And what will you do, Baron?  Are you going to let them waste their strength on your walls?"

"No Osric.  I have enough horses to mount our men and meet them far from the Tees. I want none of my people hurt by these savages. I was charged with protecting the Tees.  I will do so." I hesitated, "There is room enough behind Stockton's walls."

Osric laughed, "While your father's body lies in the church we are still his oathsworn and we die to protect it. Fear not. We will hold."

I did not tell them that I feared for them.  They were as dear to me as my father had been and I wanted them to end their lives peacefully in their beds and fighting Scottish raiders.

I returned to Stockton.  I would leave Wulfstan to command.  My fyrd would watch the walls.  I had enough horses to mount all of Sir Mark and Sir Richard's men. Mobility would be our strength. Sir Richard arrived on the same day that I sent my summons. He brought, as I had told him he could, his family.  His son, of course would be with him as his squire.

It was the first time he had visited my castle and I saw the envy in his eyes.  "This is fine stone.  You must have a rich manor."

Wulfstan had laughed, "He has a fine sword and sound men.  Sir Alfraed here makes more from his warring than his ploughing." When Sir Richard realised that I was leaving a knight to protect his family he was relieved.

"But where is Sir Mark?"

"He has not arrived yet.  If he has not arrived by the morrow then we will leave without him. However he will do that at his peril for I will raze his castle to the ground if he fails to heed my order."

"Have you the power to do so?"

I shrugged, "No one has told me I may not. If I am punished then so be it but I rule as I see fit."

In the end Sir Mark did arrive but it was with a pathetically small force.  He brought only three men at arms and five crossbows. I brought him before the other knights and squires in my hall. "Sir Mark, did you misunderstand my message?"

"No, Sir Alfraed but I had to leave some men to protect my lands."

"Why? The raiders can only get to your lands across my ferry.  The nearest ford is at Gainford and that is protected by Sir Guy. Your lands would be safe. I fine you one silver piece per day for each warrior you failed to bring and one penny a day for each of the fyrd."

"That is outrageous.  You have no authority."

I held up the parchment.  "I have the King's authority but if you wish to ask a jury of your peers there are three of them here.  Ask them if they think I am being unjust."

He retreated a little. "They are your men," he said sulkily.

I smiled, "And I thought you were my man or did I misread the instructions from the King?"

"I am your man."

It was as close to obeisance as I would get. I dismissed his behaviour from my mind.  I had to focus on the task in hand. "We are a small conroi but I intend to strike at these raiders whenever we can.  We strike and withdraw. I want them to go elsewhere and raid. We need them to fear this valley and our knights."

"With five knights?" scoffed Sir Mark.

"No with four knights for I intend to leave Sir Wulfstan to lead the fyrd in case we fail."

"Then it matters not that I left my fyrd at home, Sir Alfraed."

"It does because it means that Sir Wulfstan has twenty fewer warriors."

Wulfstan snorted, "If they are all as spineless as this popinjay then it as well they are not here."

Sir Mark coloured, "Are you questioning my honour?"

"Of course I am you insubordinate apology for a warrior and when this is over if you wish satisfaction then seek me out I will not be hiding!"

Sir Mark fell back.

I held up my hands. I was a leader and had to begin to act like one and not become annoyed because I did not like Sir Mark. "Peace.  We do not fight amongst ourselves. I will tell the men later but you all need to know my tactics and plans. We have only four knights but we have three squires. They are dressed as we are and may be mistaken for knights. We charge in a tight line.  I shall have Sir Edward and Sir Mark next to me.  My squire, Harold, shall flank Sir Mark.  Sir Richard will be on Edward's left with his son and then Alan.  It is a great responsibility on Alan and Harold but I know they are up to it. Wulfric is my sergeant at arms and he will command the men at arms. Dick is my captain of archers and he will command the archers and the crossbows of Sir Mark.  We ride mounted.  I do not believe that the enemy will be a mounted force. We will speak with the men and then we ride before dawn's early light."

When all had retired I sought out Wulfstan. "I would have you leave Sir Richard's fyrd here and take mine to Norton.  The walls of this castle will come as a surprise to any raider but Norton is still vulnerable.  We have enough horses to get you back here should danger strike."

"You are right Alfraed although I like not leaving my family."

"Alf and Ethelred are not fyrd and they will be in Stockton.  They are both sound men.  They will hold Stockton with the other burghers.  They have a vested interest in its survival."

We reached Norton while it was still dark. Dawn would break in an hour or so. We did not enter but I summoned Aiden.  "Come Aiden and bring your dogs.  You will be our eyes and ears. Go to the north and find the enemy."

Dick knew the worth of Aiden and he, like me was happy to have the youth and his dogs ranging far ahead. Dick, as captain, had to delegate the scouting duties to others and Aelric led the four archers who were behind Aiden, watching for our foes. I had spoken with Dick before we had left the castle to warn him to treat the crossbows with respect.  Our numbers were too few to disregard these weapons and the men who used them.

By the time the sun was warming the earth Aiden was back. He pointed to the west.  "My lord they reached the fork in the road from Hartness and they headed west."

I had been outwitted.  My arrogance had led me to believe that an enemy would raid me first. Of course I was wrong.  By sweeping west these raiders had the soft underbelly of the valley to ravage.  They had avoided Durham and could raid the fertile lands as far as the stone castle at Barnard. The land was well tilled and teemed with animals now that spring was finally here.

"How many?"

"It was hard to tell but they have a mixture of horses and foot.  I would estimate a large warband."

"Take my archers, find them and follow!"

We spurred our horses west. We spied the still burning houses of Seggesfield. It was a small community.  I suspected the raiders would be disappointed.  They made pots there and other objects from clay.  The few animals they had would not be what they sought. That was confirmed when Atheling returned.

"They have killed the men, eaten the animals and taken the families as slaves my lord." He shook his head, "They smashed their pots!"

I had been right.  That was not what they came for. That was mindless destruction borne out of the frustration of not finding what they sought. "Which way have they gone?"

"They are heading south west, towards the river. Aiden and the others are closing with them."

I sent him to rejoin the other scouts. Spurring my mount on I began to berate myself. They could be heading for my castle which was held by a handful of men from Yarm.  In stripping it of Wulfstan and my fyrd I had laid it open to attack. Sir Mark seemed to read my thoughts. "If we head back to Stockton, Sir Alfraed, then we could be there before the enemy."

"True Sir Mark, but they could just as easily head towards the bridge over the Tees at Piercebridge. Until we know where they are going we have to follow but we can, at least, follow quickly."

We rode hard to catch up with them.  Each step to the south west took them further away from Stockton but I was surprised at their speed. They were travelling at least as fast as we.  It was past noon when Atheling returned.  "We have found them, my lord.  They are heading for Piercebridge. Aiden and Aelric are watching them.  They have started to raid the farms."

For the first time that morning I allowed myself a smile. Sir Geoffrey would have collected in all of his farmers and animals. By raiding Seggesfield first they had allowed Sir Geoffrey to save his people. They would come away with little to show for their raid.

We saw the smoke from the farms some two miles from the river. That both saddened and angered me.  They were just destroying for the sake of it.  There was nothing to be gained save alerting Sir Geoffrey. Perhaps that was their intent, to draw Sir Geoffrey on to their blades. Even Sir Mark hurried to follow me as I led my men towards the sound of the screams. Not all of the farmers and their families had heeded Sir Geoffrey's warning. Aelric and his archers awaited me.

"My lord the force has split into two.  One half raided the farm just over there the other half headed towards the river.  Aiden has followed them."

"How many are there?"

"There are forty or more here.  They have but two knights and most of them look like the wild men of the north.  They fight with long swords and axes."

"They shun shields then?"

He grinned, "Aye my lord."

"Dick, take the archers and go with Aelric to the north.  When you are in position then rain death upon these wild men.  We will wait. I will ambush them when they flee towards the river and the rest of the warband."

I kicked Scout on and we rode just four hundred paces to the south.  There were many open fields surrounded by ditches.  This land had been farmed since the times of the Romans and was fertile. We crossed the ditch and waited in one long line.  I could see the farm on the other side of the small copse of trees. I saw the arrows as they soared in the air. Men who do not wear armour and have no shields are vulnerable to arrows and the hidden archers caused mayhem. The raiders burst from the trees. They were led by three mounted knights and eight men at arms. I guessed that the rest would be on foot. We charged obliquely across the field.

I urged Scout on for I wanted a wedge formation.  We outnumbered their horsemen and I wanted them despatched before the wild men with the axes came. Because of our oblique attack we struck them like a hammer on their shield side.  They had no lances to counter our attack and two knights were hurled to the ground.  The third was far enough away to avoid our lances and he took off west like a startled deer.  The other riders had suffered equally.  I caught sight of Richard's son, Tristan, as he struck his first enemy in battle.  His lance was held high and it speared the Scot in the throat, throwing the lifeless body to the ground and breaking the lance.

"Draw your sword boy!" I heard the father's voice, filled with pride as he looked to his son.

The wild men with the axes, hammers and long swords were finally free from the bites of the arrows and they fell upon my men and horses like demons. One of Sir Mark's men had his leg severed and his horse gutted like a fish by a Scot wielding a two handed Danish axe. Edgar ended his life by spearing him with his lance.