Outlaw (Aelfraed) (32 page)

I knew that the last thing they would expect would be for us to charge them and, besides, those who had fired crossbows would take some time to reload them.
  The three crossbowmen who had hit us were crouched next to the bridge.  I speared one as he frantically tried to reload the cumbersome weapon.  Ridley’s axe smashed the skull of a second and the third was despatched by Osbert. The Normans had made the mistake of not having others beyond the bridge; they had counted on our turning back into their horses that were now chasing us.  I glanced over my shoulder and saw a column of men rapidly mounting their horses from their hiding places. Aidan’s lifeless body was being dragged along by his horse for his foot was still stuck in the stirrup.  The others appeared to be uninjured.  Once we reached the other side we halted to allow Tadge and Branton to reach us. When Branton did he turned and took out his bow.  He quickly strung it as Tadgh thundered over the bridge.  Branton calmly notched a mail killer and aimed at the knight who was eagerly racing to the other side of the bridge. The range was but forty paces and the arrow smacked him firmly in his open mouth and he was propelled backwards.  His body and his rearing horse caused confusion and the Normans halted.  We turned and raced into the forest which climbed northwards behind us.

I urged our mounts up the steep slope, through the tightly packed trees.
  We were in single file and there were now but five of us.  There looked to be at least a score of Normans behind us and they would struggle to reach us, or so I hoped. At least they could not use their crossbows in the woods and I would still back us to defeat them in hand to hand combat. Suddenly the land flattened out, as did the trees and we were on the old road which ran from coast to coast.  Before us was the old Roman wall; derelict but still an obstacle. I reined in and turned.  The Normans were at least a hundred paces away.  Osbert pointed east. “There is a gate a mile or so that way.  To the west it is a sheer drop.”

That decided us and I kicked my horse along the road to the east.
  We made better time but so would the Normans and they could use their numbers to cut our escape route. “Osbert, take the lead!”

There was little point in my leading as I did not know where this gate was.
  Osbert flashed alongside me and I kicked Sweyn on.  The Normans were now less than forty paces from Tadgh whose horse was labouring somewhat. Osbert left the road and dropped down a small slope. He rode hard and opened a slight gap.  His horse leapt one of the ditches and I followed suit. Then the land began to rise and I saw the stone wall of an old Roman fort on the skyline.  Our horses were tiring as they laboured up the hill.  Behind us the armoured horsemen had slowed but the lighter cavalrymen had begun to gain on Tadgh who was now less than thirty paces behind him.  I saw him look up at me and wave then he turned his horse.

“No!”

His sword was out and he struck two attackers before they knew what was happening.  His sword took the one on his right and, continuing his swing the one on his left.  His mount crashed into another two and then they were lying in a heap. Tadgh was on his feet slashing away for all he was worth.

“Come on, my lord! Do not let his sacrifice be in vain.”

I urged Sweyn towards the walls but I could not tear my eyes from Tadgh’s last stand. He could not defend against the mailed men who speared him as he stood amidst the bodies of the men and the horses he had killed. So Tadgh, who had changed sides, ended his life by buying us enough time to reach the gate. I saluted him and thanked
wyrd
for bringing us together. His sacrifice bought us enough time to escape. It was not a straight ride to the gate and there was debris on the ground.  I hoped it would slow them up. I was now thirty paces behind the rest and when I reached the gate I saw Branton and Ridley with notched bows.  As soon as I was through they loosed and I heard a neigh and a scream which told me they had struck flesh. Beyond the gate was open moor land and there, a mile away, was the security of another forest but this one stretched all the way to Scotland.

As we rode into the forest I looked behind us; our pursuers, all ten of them were about a mile back but still intent on following us. “I don’t know about you three but I don’t fancy having to keep watching over my shoulder for these.”

Ridley dismounted.  “Let’s end it.”

“Branton, you and Ridley use your bows.
  Wait until they are less than ten paces from the trees.  Osbert take your axe and go behind the trees to the left.”

With the horses hidden we watched as they thundered up the slope leading to the forest trail in which we hid.
  I had Death Bringer and Osbert had his trusty axe.  I was counting on the fact that they would be keen to close with us and assume that we would have fled. They were all mailed and they had their shields strapped to their backs.  They held their spears in their right hands.  Although Ridley and Branton only had a couple of knight killers with them I hoped that Osbert and I could do the most damage.

Ridley’s arrow flew a moment before Branton’s.
  They took the third pair of warriors down.  At the same time I swung Death Bringer and hacked upwards through the neck of the first rider’s horse.  He soared over the headless mount and crashed with a sickening thud somewhere behind me.  I had no time to see what had occurred for the second man lowered his lance to spear me in the chest.  I reached forwards and grabbed the spear head in my mailed fist. As he stabbed at me I pulled forwards and a surprised Norman crashed to the ground next to me.  I swung Death Bringer one handed to decapitate the prostrate figure. I turned, quickly to see the last two men fall to Ridley and Branton’s arrows. 

I heard a moan from one of the Normans but before I could react, Ridley leapt forwards, drew his dagger and slit the man’s throat.
  “That is for Coxold!”

Branton ran by me to grab his brother who had suffered a wound to the leg. One of the lances had pierced it, just above the knee.
  It looked nasty and bled heavily but it looked as though it was not serious.  Branton quickly stripped the armour and tunic from Osbert and, taking a water skin from his horse cleansed the wound.  I searched in my satchel and I found a tiny morsel of Reuben’s paste.  I gave it to Branton and then joined Ridley to search the bodies. There were some young men amongst the dead and they looked to be of noble birth from their fair skin and fine undergarments.  They had died in their quest for fame; they had wanted to be the ones who killed Aelfraed, the last Northumbrian, but they had failed.

We left the bodies where they lay.
  We had no time to bury them and we knew not how many other hunters were following. We managed to get a white faced Osbert on to the back of his mount and, leading the four best Norman horses, we headed north.

Because of Osbert’s wound we had to take it slower than we would have liked.
  It amused me to see Branton being the mother hen; normally it was the other way around.  Ridley seemed more at peace with himself.  The slaughter of the ten Normans seemed to be a mark in the sand.  For myself I was leaving England reluctantly but the persistent chase by young Norman warriors keen to make a name by killing the notorious outlaw showed me that it would have been only a matter of time before my luck ran out and I did not wish to die just yet.  I had no idea what my destiny was but I was certain it was not to die in a northern forest pierced, like a wild boar, by Norman lances. I was still a young man and I knew that neither Ridley nor myself had reached our prime as warriors.  The wounds we had sustained had not slowed us up.  I suppose, had we been older, then the wounds might have had a greater effect but when you are young the wounds do not impact quite as much.

We bypassed the towns and we reached the estuary which led to Fife.
  Ridley looked at me strangely.  “Why do we go to Fife, Aelfraed?  Do you feel the need for more pain?”

“No Ridley.
  I was just as guilty as the Lady Gytha.  I lay with Ealdgyth did I not? I need to see my son and then say goodbye to them both.”

Branton and Osbert exchanged looks.
  Ridley looked across the water to the ferry which slowly made its way across the choppy waters. “And then Aelfraed; what do we do?”

Ridley was still Ridley; he was still the man who followed me no matter where I went.
  It was a great responsibility.  I wondered what it would be like to travel alone.  I had always had him by my side.  I asked my self, was it fair? I said nothing for I had not yet decided.  I had a vague idea what I wished but that was all. We left one of the horses with the ferryman as payment for the ride with the promise of another one when we returned south.

The Scots looked at us strangely, as we rode north of the river, for we were well armed and bore many marks of war.
  Since the Normans had arrived in England the border had been quiet and it amused me that they had not yet met the killing machine that was the Norman army.  When they did then they would know what hardship was. Calum’s castle showed all the signs of having been improved.  I wondered whom he feared.  As we rode up the road I saw the drawbridge raised and armed men appear on the ramparts.  I wondered, briefly, if some other Scot had taken the castle and if so where was my wife and son.

Ridley turned to me.
  “Do you think they know who we are then?”

Osbert gave a wry laugh, “I think, my lord, that they know exactly who we are and that is why they prepare for war.”

Branton saw my confusion.  “I think the Thegn of Fife fears you have come for revenge.”

It all became clear.
  We had been so used to war, and dressing for war that we did not know what we looked like. I shook my head, “Let us look peaceful then.” I spread my arms out, as did the others and we rode towards the motte. The archers on the walls never once took their attention from us but I saw the drawbridge lower and the gate open. Calum, Thegn of Fife appeared with six mailed and armed warriors behind him.

I dismounted and approached him. “This is a strange welcome for someone you promised eternal friendship to.” The confused look on his face almost made me laugh out loud.
  It was then I realised that my world had been dominated by war and rebellion, Calum’s had been dominated by a new spouse and a fear that here former husband would come seeking revenge.  In the scheme of things Gytha’s infidelity meant nothing. “If you worry that I come for revenge then allay your fears. Had I wanted you dead then you would be, believe me.  I have fought and killed better men than those who stand behind you.”

One of them started forwards and I heard Ridley’s sword slide from his scabbard.
  Calum held up his hand.  “Peace, Hamish.  He comes in peace.  Sheath your weapon.” He strode up to me and embraced me. When his head was next to mine he whispered, “I am sorry.  We did not mean it to happen.”

I held him at arm’s length. “Then I am sad that you did not think to tell me and face me like a man.
  Were you so afeared of me?”

Again his men bristled with indignation at the insult but Calum held up his hand. He smiled sadly at me, ”Fear the greatest warrior in England?
  Of course I was afraid.” He saw my look of doubt.  “I have spoken with the Aetheling and heard the tales of your deeds.  And we receive word from the refugees who flee north.  There is a mighty price on your head, old friend.  The Bastard fears you!”

We were allowed into the castle although the bodyguards of the Thegn cast us murderous looks. Having had the Normans try to kill me for the last few years the enmity of the Scots did not worry me. Calum’s Steward took us to a smaller version of the warrior hall.
  We were to be kept alone, that much was obvious.  It did not worry me; we would be there for a short time only. Once I had seen my son and said goodbye to Gytha then I would leave. I was still uncertain as to my final destination but I knew that it would be neither England nor Scotland.  One other place it would not be would be Sicily and southern Italy for they too were riddled with the curse of the Norman.

Calum had a bath house which he had had built for Ealdgyth who loved such things.
  I made sure that I took a hot one for I disliked the smell I had developed; it was a mixture of sweat and dried blood.  I knew that it would soon come to me again but, when I met my son again, I would not stink like some animal.

As soon as I dressed and re-entered our quarters, I could smell the other three.
  I could not help the involuntary wrinkle of the nose. Ridley laughed, “I believe our lord thinks we smell a little unpleasant.”

Partly to cover my embarrassment but mainly because I was waiting for an opportunity to speak with my friends I held up my hand.
  “No, no Ridley.  I am no longer a lord.  What am I lord of?  My horse, Sweyn?”

Ridley looked puzzled but Sober shook his head.
  “You will always be our lord.”

“Like the hundreds of our comrades who now lie dead? No, this is a time for new beginnings and a new way of working.
  I am leaving this island.”

“And going where?”

“Byzantium.” They all looked in surprise at me although I think Branton had an inkling of what I meant for he nodded slightly.

“Why Byzantium?”

“I spoke with Reuben and he told me that many warriors who survived Senlac Hill joined the Varangian Guard and they serve the Emperor Romanos.  Since we slaughtered so many at Stamford Bridge the Emperor needs other axe wielding warriors to defend him.”