The Fallen Crown (10 page)

They came down steadily at first and then some of the wild warriors began to run as they neared the stream.  When the first ones had leapt over the others began to run and soon it was a wild mob which ran up the hill towards us.  Dick and his archers sent four flights of arrows over and they thinned them out.  Amazingly some ran with three or four arrows sticking into them. There had been a hundred of them and now there were less than seventy.  I waved my sword and led my front rank of horsemen towards them. I left Sir Edward with the second line of forty five horsemen. We had spears and there were fifty of us. Gospatric's son saw what we intended and he hurried his battle towards the stream. Instead of crossing and then forming lines they jumped over and tried to join the fray. Some sank up to their knees in the boggy ground. I had to concentrate upon the men on foot first.  Dick would have to deal with the horsemen. I led the line.  Rolf was eager to go to war and his powerful hooves ate up the ground. I pulled back my spear and, as a limed warrior tried to throw himself and his sword at my horse's head, I punched my spear.  It tore into his chest.  I must have hit his heart for blood spurted.  I pulled out the spear and stabbed a second time at the warrior behind him.  This time I hit him in the stomach.  Even though he was dying he managed to wrench the spear from my hand and I drew my sword. The stream was just two hundred paces from me and I knew we would have to retreat soon. As I leaned forward to hack into the neck of a wild Scot I yelled, "Wheel left!" As we turned we charged across the front of the horsemen lumbering up the hill.  Dick and his archers rained death from one side.  We charged into the other.

It was their shields which faced us and not their spears.  Some of my knights and men at arms still had spears and they did the greatest damage.  They knocked knights from their mounts. Wulfric had his war axe and when that struck it knocked man and shield from the back of the horse.  I saw Sir Harold, Sir Tristan and their squires charge Gospatric's son and the last three of his oathsworn. Sir Harold and Sir Tristan were both powerful knights.  It was an uneven contest and the four Northumbrians were hacked to death.  The whole of the rest of the Scottish right flank turned and fled.

"Fall back!"

As we headed up the hill I saw that the last battle had seen their opportunity and they charged obliquely up the hill towards us. Sir Edward and the last of my men charge down the hill to meet them.  As our horses struggled to make the top I heard a clash of metal on wood as my knights and men at arms struck the shields of the Scots.  Dick had taken it upon himself to send half of his archers closer and they began to pick off horsemen and horses.  By the time we had reached the ridge and turned, the Scots had been broken and the survivors of the three battles limped and trudged back to their Prince.

We reformed and I saw empty saddles.  We had not emerged unharmed.  The enemy still out numbered us but it was not by much.  More importantly they had seen us break three of their attacks. As the afternoon drifted towards dusk I saw them pack up and turn around.  They began to head back the way they had come. Sir Richard of Yarm and Sir Edward had slight wounds and I left them with the wounded and Sir Richard's men at arms.  They would collect the horses and clear the battlefield. The rest of us followed the Scots.  I did not want them to rest.  I wanted them far from my land. Dick and his archers led the pursuit.  They had not used their horses which were fresher.  We saw evidence of their harassment of the enemy as we passed bodies with arrows in them. We were weary but I rode Lion.  Rolf had done his work and pursuit was better suited to my new horse. As darkness fell we closed ranks but our archers ahead of us protected us still. We passed the old Scottish camp at Fissebourne.  We could smell the fires they had used to cook their meals and still we followed. As I had expected our pursuit ended at Durham.  When we saw the huge fortress above the Wear ahead, we halted and I ordered my men to make camp.

We had last eaten at dawn but no one was ready for food.  I had one man in two sleep while I saw with my knights and watched the castle as the moon came out. As dawn broke behind us I saw that the standard of the Bishop of Durham had been replaced by the standard of Prince Henry of Scotland. My men had procured some food and we ate a cold breakfast washed down with water from the Wear.  I saw the battlements lined with the enemy. Taking off my helmet and with open palms I rode towards the gates.  Dick and his archers had their bows ready.  Sir Harold and my two squires accompanied me.  I had thought to take Sir Wulfric but I knew his temper.

We stopped a hundred paces from the walls. I shouted, "I have come to talk."

Prince Henry appeared and William Cumin was next to him, "Talk but we hold this castle!"

I nodded, "Aye.  This is the second time you have escaped me and taken refuge in a castle although I must confess you have brought more men back with you this time."

"Do you have something to say or are you just here to insult me?"

"I am here to tell you that this man whom you have tried to appoint Bishop is a murderer and he will pay for his crimes. This is not Scotland.  Each time you come down to my land to try to take it you lose more men.  I am becoming tired of this. Know you this; if you or any other Scottish rabble come to the Tees then I shall come north and make such a wasteland of your country that it will be worse than when William the Conqueror did so."

I let my words hang in the air.  All remembered the slaughter perpetrated in the land by William the Conqueror.

The Prince pointed at me.  "You hanged one of my knights!"

"I hanged a murderer and a thief.  I will do the same again so be warned." I pointed at the third Cumin knight, Richard.  "If you wish to live young Cumin then stay away from my sword!" He shrank back in fear.

The Prince said, "We will not come south again.  Not until my father decides that we will take back what is ours."

I nodded and said, "Then if you do make sure that I am dead else I will hunt you and your father down and they will die.  You have the word of the Warlord of the North and I am never foresworn."

I turned my horse around and headed back to my men.  It was over.

Of course such things are never over.  There are twists and turns a leader does not have time to consider. I had done what I set out to do.  I had stopped the Scots from raiding my lands.  I had damaged their ability to do so again in the near future and, as August drifted into September, I planned my visit to the Empress.

We had been back a week and I was immersed in the many problems my leaving would create.  Just after dawn I was summoned to the town gate. Alf stood there with two of the town watch.  They had two bound baskets before them and their faces were drawn.  "What is it, Alf?  Is something amiss?"

"Lord these two baskets were placed before the gate sometime in the night." He glared at the two sentries.  "The men know not when."

I smiled, "The walls still stand and we are safe.  I think the two baskets hardly constitute a threat to us."

Alf nodded to the two men. They opened the baskets. I peered in at the dead eyes of Sir Hugh Manningham and his son in one basket and Oswald the scout and Ralph, his squire in the other. Alf said, "I did not recognise them, lord, but I can see that you do."

I nodded, "He was an ally and more than that, a friend.  We had the victory but he paid the price. Fetch them to the church.  I will have Father Henry inter them."

Alf said, "The Scot, lord?"

"Aye the Scots.  You were right to be concerned.  If they could get as close to our walls as this then there is danger that we could be surprised.  Have the undergrowth cut back from the walls and have oyster shells laid before the gate. They will give warning. Is the ditch in a good state of repair?"

"It is lord but there are no longer any stakes within.  We worried about children falling in."

"Tell the children to be careful and plant the stakes." I turned and looked back at the town. "The town watch should have dogs.  See Aiden.  If they have dogs they will give warning. They will bark at danger."

"Aye lord." We had reached the church and the two men laid down the baskets and hurried away.  They were eager to be away from Alf's tongue.  I had no doubt that any admonition they had received before would now be doubled.

I summoned my household knights and told them of Alf's discovery.  All were shocked for we had fought alongside Sir Hugh many times. "How did they manage to do this, lord?  Sir Hugh was a canny fighter."

"He was but he was taken in by Prince Henry and deceived. I am guessing that there was a spy in his household. As I discovered this morning our watches are not as rigorous as they should be.  This is a warning to us; especially as I leave within the week."

"We will be vigilant lord. We will examine and interrogate all who wish to make their home here. Our enemies will not find it so easy the next time." Sir Harold's family lived in my castle.  He would ensure they were safe.  He had more skills in that area than any other knight. "Whom do you take?"

"I will just take my men at arms, Dick and Sir John.  I go not to war but to speak with the Empress. The hope that we had in the spring has withered. However whilst I am gone I wish you all to be aggressive.  Mounted patrols should ride in all but the worst weather.  I want the road to Durham, Piercebridge and Barnard Castle patrolling as though they were my castle walls."

Sir Harold nodded, "And who commands in your stead lord?"

"You command the castle and Sir Edward the valley.  I will speak with him before I leave.  I will inform John what is required too."

"How long will you be away, lord?"

"It could be a month and it could be half a year. I told William of Kingston that I wish him to use Bristol on his way back from Anjou.  That way I can send secure messages. Do not use the land to send messages.  It is too dangerous."

I visited with Sir Edward and told him the same.  He agreed with my strategy. "We have more men now and more horses than we know what to do with. I will have our men hunt the forests and scour them of enemies."

I had thought I was ready to leave when a rider arrived from York.  It was one of the Archbishop's most trusted clerks and I knew him well. I admitted him straightaway and saw him in private. "Lord I bring a written missive from the Empress.  The Archbishop spoke with her at the peace conference the Bishop of Winchester arranged at Bath." He handed over the letter.

"Do you know what it contains?"

"No lord but the Empress asked that her messenger should wait until you had read it and be available to take a reply back to her."

I nodded and I read.

My Lord Cleveland,

I thank you for all your efforts on my behalf in the north.  You have excelled yourself and once more my son and I are indebted to you.

This peace conference has not gone as well as it might and this insidious war goes on. I beg a boon of you.  The Earl of Essex has a cousin whom you hold.  I would have you release him and send him under escort to York.  I know that you could have great ransom for him but this act may do more for our cause than you know.

I need to see you.  I would have you join me in Gloucester at your earliest convenience.  I know that the journey will be difficult and I would not ask you unless I needed you. I do need you.  If this war is to be brought to a speedy conclusion then I have to have you by my side.

Your Empress and friend,

Maud

I looked up at the messenger. "Let us go down to my hall.  You will be returning later.  I will have some of my men escort you."

As I went to fetch Baron Fitz Mandeville I wondered how this could aid us. I would obey but I was not happy about it.  I also knew that I had to change the plans for my journey.  I might be away for longer than I had expected. When we reached my Great Hall Alice was waiting with refreshments.  "See to our guest Alice." Sir Tristan and Sir Harold approached.  They had heard of our visitor. "Sir Tristan I wish you to escort the Archbishop's clerk and Baron Fitz Mandeville back to York."

"Aye lord, has the ransom been paid then?"

Shaking my head I said, "He is to be treated now as a guest  Go fetch him and find him a horse. On your way back call in at Helmsley and tell Sir Wulfric my plans.  He will need to be alert to danger too."

As he left Sir Harold said, "You like this not, lord."

"No, Harold, I do not but it is the Empress' command and I obey. I will need to take more men with me.  I intend to take seven of the new men at arms too." I held up the Empress' letter.  "The Empress has need of me. I may be away longer than expected. I will never write to you, Sir Harold.  If I need anything then I will send someone you know and trust. These are dangerous times. The people I trust are in this valley and nowhere else. We need to walk and speak carefully.  Keep a good watch."

"I will lord. I have a son now and my wife is with child again.  I have more to defend than my life now."

"And I will write a letter to my son and to Sir Leofric.  Have them sent on the
'Adela'
next time she docks."

The Baron looked confused as he was led into my hall. "What is this, lord?  Another trick to fool the Scots?  Do you torment me again?"

I pointed to the clerk. "Sir Tristan will escort you and the Archbishop's clerk to York.  You are free.  I have no doubt that the Archbishop will explain all."

The clerk came over and said quietly, "The Archbishop is not well my lord.  The journey to Bath proved to be a trial.  When I left he was confined to his bed. The Earl of York rules in his stead." I had fought alongside William of Aumale at Northallerton.  He was a good warrior but a little like a straw; he bent with the political wind.  I had no doubt that he would agree to support the Earl of Essex.

I turned to the Baron.  "Your cousin, it seems, has asked the Empress for your freedom.  I have granted it."

He smirked, "And my arms and armour?"

"He asked for you.  He will get you and nothing more.  We will loan you a horse to carry you to York and that will be the end of our association.  Do not be under any illusions Mandeville.  You and your cousin are still my enemies and I do not forgive easily.  The privations you inflicted upon the people of the north is too close to be forgotten!" Sir Tristan and the clerk nodded.  They were ready.  "Leave now!"

The air felt cleaner somehow when he had gone.  I did not mind losing the ransom; it was merely gold but I hated dealing with dishonourable men.

I left the first week of September when the nights were drawing shorter.  The land was still fresh and filled with nature's bounty.  My land would have a good harvest and my people would be fed over the winter.  I was leaving it in good hands.  With a ring of knights and castles surrounding the river I felt secure.  I had frightened both Cumin and the Scots.  They would not bother us; at least not for a while.  The day I left, as I headed west, I met a rider bringing news.  Archbishop Thurstan had died.  He was an old man but he was the most honourable churchman I had ever met.  It had been he who had masterminded the defence of the north against the Scots and I would be forever in his debt.  The thought that he had passed on was doubly saddening.  He had been an ally in York.  I did not doubt that there were others there who would think favourably of me but I was their enemy.  My circle of allies was shrinking.  Sir Hugh had been murdered and the Archbishop had died. I was more alone than I had been for some years.

After we had collected my squires' new swords I also picked up the short sword I had had made for Henry FitzEmpress.  I had ordered it when I had returned from Gloucester and been waiting for the leather scabbard which I had also had made by the skilled leather workers of my town.  It was beautifully decorated and I was pleased with the gift. I could not give my son much but I could give him this. It would be a gift from a knight and as such he could accept it.

We were a powerful conroi. Although I had but two other knights we had over twenty men at arms as well as four squires and twenty archers.  The six servants we had brought with us were all capable of handling weapons. They led our spare horses.  I brought Rolf but rode Lion. My others I had left in my stable.  Aiden would care for them and, if they need it, ride them.  If they needed schooling then Harold would do that. We rode to Piercebridge first where I gave Sir Philip the news about his uncle.  Like me he was sad. He owed as much to his uncle as I did. He took me around his castle while we spoke. His defences had improved.  He was an archer first and foremost.  He had looked at his walls and made them so that they favoured the bow. The land was cleared further than was normal and he all manner of devices to deter horsemen. He had ten men at arms to garrison his fort and when he was able to collect taxes from his people he would hire more. I told him what we were about and left him confident that the river crossing of the Tees would be contested if an enemy came close. He and Sir Hugh had developed an understanding and riders passed between them on a daily basis. I did not ride to Barnard Castle.  I crossed the river at Piercebridge.  Once I did so then I knew I was in enemy territory.  More likely than not anyone we met would not be our friend or ally!

Instead of heading west I took my men south.  Dick asked, "Why this way, lord?"

"I would gauge the mood of our enemy and besides this way takes us close to Lincoln.  There the treacherous Earl of Chester lives. I wish to know how he is received by his new subjects." I smiled, "Besides it is an easier road than travelling over the windswept top of England, is it not?  You should be happy; we will pass close to your home!"

He nodded, "Aye.  I am not unhappy at the route; we have danger whichever direction we take but it would be a foolish knight who tried to stop the Warlord of the North. I fear, however, that we will have little comfort on our journey south."

In that he was right. That first night we stayed in the ruins of Osmotherley Castle. Alan son of Alan, my man at arms had lived there.  We always felt safe there. We could have ridden further but I wished to make a longer ride and evade scrutiny from York.  With the Archbishop gone I knew not whom I could trust there. I decided instead to ride the one hundred miles to Lincoln. It was a good road and by leaving early we could make it in one day. As we ate in silence I noticed that one of the new men at arms had a familiar look to him.  I had not met them all yet.  Edgar had chosen them. I called him over.

"What is your name where do you hail from?"

"I am Günter from Swabia."

"I thought I recognised the armour and the weapons.  I am pleased that you serve me.  I was a brother of four fine Swabians who served the Empress."