The Fallen Crown (3 page)

The two guards looked at each other.  Their heads disappeared and then reappeared. One shouted, "The Bishop is not a well man.  It is said he is close to death."

"Then all the more reason that I speak with him."

There was a hurried conference and the two men left.

I turned to Wilfred. "Watch for treachery."

My men were the finest men at arms in the land.  Each was equipped as a knight. All had a full mail hauberks, good swords and the best of helmets. Moe than that they could think for themselves. There were just ten of them but I would back them against fifty others.

"Aye lord." He turned to Richard, "And you, Master Richard, you keep tight hold of that banner and if I say move then stick closer to me than my horse's saddle!"

Wilfred was a rough and ancient soldier.  He had lost teeth and had scars.  I saw Richard nodding fearfully, "Aye Wilfred!"

Eventually the doors groaned open. The two men we had seen waved us through.  I saw a knot of men at arms waiting by the keep. I saw no priests. I glanced around the walls.  They were manned but not heavily.  Where was the garrison? If this was all that the Bishop had to defend his walls then the Scots could walk in any time they chose. We stopped and I handed my reins to Oswald and my helmet to Richard. My shield hung from Rolf's side.

A sergeant at arms gave a slight bow, "I command the garrison Lord. I am Ralph of Rothbury."

I had not met the  man before but he was a powerful looking warrior.  Rothbury had been English and was now Scottish. This man could have allegiances on either side.

"I hear the Bishop is ill?"

He nodded, "The priests are with him."

"Then take me to him."

He hesitated, "I am not certain that is a good thing, my lord."

I looked him in the eyes. "Know you that I am the Warlord of the North?" He nodded.  "I led the armies of the north when we defeated King David at Northallerton and I have a warrant from the Empress Matilda to rule in her stead.  Would you disobey me?" He looked around.  Someone else was making decisions here.  He quailed.  "He is in the chapter house."

"I know where that is!" I did not add that I had recaptured this castle from enemies before. "Wilfred, watch the horses.  Come Gilles!" As we strode across the green to the chapter house I said, quietly, "I rely on you to watch my back!"

"Aye lord." His hand went to his sword.

I entered the chapter house and surprised a young priest who turned around with a startled expression on his face. "I am the Earl of Cleveland.  Where is the Bishop?"

Unlike the sergeant at arms the priest looked happier to see me when he heard my name.  "Come with me, my lord.  It is good that you have come."

As he led me through a corridor I asked, "Trouble?"

"The Dean will tell you all." He shrugged, "I am but a novice, my lord.  You need to know facts and not what a young priest has gleaned."

I smiled, I liked this young and earnest man. "What is your name, priest?"

"I am Brother Thomas, sir, from Leyburn."

"You are an honest man. My castle always welcomes such men." He nodded.  I knew we were close to the Bishop's quarters when I began to smell death.  It hung in the air and lay like a fog in the tees valley. If the Bishop was not already dead then he would be before too long.

An older priest stood as we entered the chamber. 

I turned to my squire, "Gilles, go back to the chapterhouse door and keep watch." He glanced around the room and I smiled, "I am safe here.  These are men of God and we can trust them." He left.

The Dean said, "Not all men of God are to be trusted my lord.  I am William of Arundel, the Dean of Durham."

I looked at Geoffrey Rufus.  He lay still and white looking like a piece of marble. "How is the Bishop?

"He clings on to life by a thread."

"What is the illness?" The young priest and the Dean looked at each other.  "Speak!"

The Dean said, "I think he was poisoned. He was hale and he was hearty a week since and then he woke one morning vomiting.  We gave him purgatives and water but I think the deed was done by then."

"Has he woken?"

"Sometimes he opens his eyes but we have heard no words these last three days."

I went to the bed and touched the Bishop's hand.  It was still warm but only just.  I could feel his heart beating in his wrist but it was painfully slow. As I held it I said, "I saw empty villages and dead bodies.  Was this the Scots?"

I heard the Dean say, "The Scots have not visited their wrath on us these last two years; not since the battle." I took that in as I looked down at the man on whom King Henry had placed such faith. "And the garrison; it seems a little smaller than it used to." His words were guarded.

"They are riding abroad."

"And who leads them?"

There was another pause and before the Dean could answer the Bishop's eyes opened, "My lord, you have come.  God has answered my prayers." His voice was weak but I saw the spark of life in his eyes.

"I am come."

His claw like fingers gripped my hand as though he was clinging on to life. He pulled my arm down towards him.  I lowered my head. "I have not long for this world. I am at peace and I have no more sins for I have confessed." I did not know if he was talking to me or to God. "I have been poisoned.  It is Cumin.  You were right in your suspicions he is in the pay of the Scots."

The effort of speaking was too much and he sank back into the bed.  His hand fell to his side.

I turned, "Where is Cumin?"

The Dean said, "In the Great Hall.  He commands here now."

"And his men?"

"They are led by his nephew, Osbert."

"And they lay waste to this land?" The Dean looked helplessly at me and nodded.

I felt the Bishop's fingers as they tapped on my arm.  He did not open his eyes but he whispered, "Take care of my people, lord."

Just then Gilles burst in. "Lord, armed men are heading this way from the keep!"

I turned to the Dean.  "Stockton will always welcome those who cared for this man. I will have to leave now.  I have few men with me but I shall return."

The Dean nodded, "I know, lord. That has always been a comfort but we are bound to the Bishop.  So long as he lives we stay. I pray you hurry. They mean to trap you."

I was drawing my sword even as I hurried down the corridor.  "Gilles, stay close behind me. We must get to the horses!"

As we burst from the door I saw the eight men at arms led by Ralph of Rothbury. They were forty paces from us and  hurried towards us in a column of twos. Wilfred had seen the danger and he and four of my men rode towards us. They were on the other side of the bailey. I pulled my sword back and ran at the eight men. They had shields and we did not.  As Ralph of Rothbury swung his sword at me I grabbed his right wrist and punched him in the side of the head with the hilt of my sword.  He was not expecting it and he fell to the ground.  The man behind had not expected that and when I swung my sword sideways the blade ripped open his cheek and jaw.

I felt a blow to my back but my mail was well made. I whipped my sword around me in an arc.  As I turned I saw that my sword had bitten into the neck of Ralph of Rothbury who had attempted to strike my unprotected back. Gilles was pulling his sword from the stomach of another as Wilfred and my men bundled their horses into the backs of the others. Their swords make short work of them. The alarm bell was ringing. I saw Raymond of le Mans and Richard galloping towards us as my men finished off the men at arms. The walls were filling with men.

As I mounted Rolf I shouted, "The sally port! The gate will be guarded." I pointed to the small postern gate which lay close to the Cathedral.

Wilfred nodded.  We had used the sally port to gain entry.  He waved his arm and the last of my men galloped towards us.  I donned my helmet and hefted my shield. Cumin was a cunning man and he would know about the sally port.  It would be guarded but not as well as the main gate. I spurred Rolf towards the small gate in the curtain wall. As I had expected he had men on the walls and four crossbowmen at the gate.  Other men were flooding from the keep where they had been hiding. I led and that drew the bolts. The four all aimed at me. I held my shield across my chest.  One pinged off the side of my helmet and two struck the shield.   Cumin was no soldier.  If he had been he would have used archers. It took too long to reload a crossbow.  Rolf was fast and my sword hacked into the neck of one of those with a crossbow as Gilles slashed a second across his back.  Wilfred sent two men up the ladders to clear the ramparts while the rest slew the remaining crossbowmen.

Oswald leapt from his horse to open the door. We would have to lead our horse through and we needed to buy some time. "Gurth, Leopold of Durstein, with me! The rest of you get through the gate.  Gilles hold the gate for us!"

We did the unexpected.  We charged the gaggle of men at arms who raced towards us.  Leaderless now that Ralph of Rothbury was dead they came like a rabble. Rolf had enough space to open his legs. With my shield protecting both my left side and my middle I leaned forward to scythe sideways at the men at arms. They were already trying to get away from Rolf's slobbering jaws and his mighty hooves. The last thing they were watching for was my sword as it hacked through necks, backs and arms. My quick hands struck four blows so quickly that my blade was a blur. I reined him around.  It took all of my strength to do so. My two men at arms had carved a similar path and we rode back through the maimed and wounded.  The ones who could, fled before us. Behind me, from the top of the round keep, I heard William Cumin, screaming, "Kill them! Kill them all!"

Cumin was not a soldier.  Had he been he would have led his men. With their captain dead his men were reluctant to risk the wrath of the warlord.  They were tardy in their advance. We slowed our horses down, to calm them, and walked them to the sally port. Gilles stood, as I had asked, holding the door open.  We dismounted and walked our horses through.  On the other side my men waited on the narrow path which circumnavigated the walls. I had no doubt that the men on the walls would try to shower us with crossbow bolts but we had our shields. We made the Stockton road with just one injury. A bolt had managed to penetrate the links on the hauberk of Stephen the Grim.  It had barely nicked his leg. We rode home and I realised that we now had no allies whatsoever north of Barnard Castle and Norton. We were alone.

As we headed south my wounded man at arms was the butt of my men's humour. "I see the bolt did not make you smile then, Stephen the Grim!"

"Repairing your mail will cost you a coin or two!"

"I saw the crossbowman if you wish to go back and get him!"

He shook his head. It was true he never smiled.  He had been wounded in the face and for some reason he had lost the ability to do so.  He had a good sense of humour and gave as good as he got. "Fear not Leopold I have coin enough.  I, unlike you, know how to choose rich knights to fight!."

Wilfred rode next to me as they bantered.  "I am sorry I was so slow reaching you lord."

"I wondered at the delay.  What happened?"

"I see now the ploy. They sent out food and ale.  We were distracted."

I suddenly turned, "You did not partake of either did you?"

"No, lord, for we saw the men at arms moving towards you.  Why?"

"In all likelihood it was poisoned! The Bishop is dying and he believes that Cumin poisoned him."

"Curse him for a dissembler and a villain!" He turned and looked back at the walled city.  "Does this mean that Durham is now a stronghold of the Scots?"

"Not yet.  He is not Bishop.  Until he is then he cannot ally with Scotland but one of his nephews, Osbert, serves Prince Henry and leads the savages who raid and pillage. Once we reach my home and before we join the Empress we will rid the Palatinate of this scourge."

"Then Sir Hugh is on his own?"

"I fear so.  We will have to leave a stronger garrison in Stockton. This land is more dangerous now than when we set off."

We reached my home well before dark.  After warning John that I would need to take a conroi north I sought Aiden and his falconers.  The two youths were now almost men and Aiden was training them well. "I need you to find this band which rides through the Palatinate.  They murder and they destroy.  Their trail should be easy to find."

"And yet you ask for the best scout in the Tees, my lord."

I nodded, "You are Aiden and you are wise.  I do not wish you to be seen.  If we fright this prey they will run to Durham and I have no desire to try to winkle them from that stronghold."

"They will probably use that as their home, lord.  It is central.  Did you see where they had been already?"

"They have laid waste to the land around Barnard and the upper Tees.  Gainford is safe; for the moment."

He nodded, "There lies your problem, lord, for if I were this robber baron then I would strike at the richer settlements along the Tees. There are but two castles to stop them; this one and Sir Hugh's"

Harold and Tristan rode in from a day's hunting.  I told them my news. "I will take your men, Harold and Tristan, and as many mounted archers as are still here. I cannot wait for the return of Philip and Dick.  We must act before more people are hurt."

Aiden nodded, "We will leave before dawn and head to the west and then north. If you follow my trail lord then either Edgar or Edward shall find you."

Philip of Selby and his archers arrived later that night. He looked travel weary when he arrived and his horses were lathered. "Was there a problem, Philip?" I saw both Tristan and Harold listening.

He nodded, "We left  York this morning but there was a large conroi of knights and men at arms waiting for us close by Easingwold. Had my scouts not spied them we might have walked into them.  We took the road towards Arncliffe and Appleton Wiske. We discouraged their scouts and three lie dead but I did not relish a fight with so many mailed warriors."

"You did  the right thing.  Know you who it was?"

"From my uncle's words I am guessing Sir Edward Fitz Mandeville."

"He is still here in the north then?"

"Aye, lord.  It seems he sees the opportunity to carve out his own fiefdom. But there is more.  Revolt against Stephen has sprung up in the fens.  Nigel, Bishop of Ely has risen in support of Matilda."

"That is good news indeed!"

"But Stephen has moved to nip the revolt in the bud."

"And we have Fitz Mandeville between us and the Bishop!" He nodded, "How many knights did he have?"

"I can give you detailed information on that, lord. My uncle does not like him and he told me.  He has sixty knights and almost two hundred men at arms.  It is why we fled. We are not cowards. He had twenty of his knights and half of his men at arms on the road."

"Do not berate yourself.  Your news is vital.  This Fitz Mandeville profits from the favour given to his cousin Geoffrey de Mandeville, the Earl of Essex. I have no doubt that the two of them communicate with each other frequently.  Where does this Edward de Mandeville make his stronghold?"

"It is Malton.  The Scots burned it and, it is said, this Mandeville is rebuilding it in stone.  He uses the money he extorts from the people south of the Tees."

"What of Richard of Yarm?"

"I told him of the danger when I crossed the river there. He said that his men had found evidence of this banditry!"

I was annoyed.  Sir Richard should have told me! It seemed I had two campaigns that needed my attention.  "And how is your uncle?"

"He is not well, my lord.  His skin looked thin enough to see his bones beneath.  I fear he has not long for this world."

I shook my head, "Your uncle is a true Englishman we shall miss his like. You have done well. Rest your men and tomorrow afternoon we ride to hunt Osbert Cumin and his Scottish raiders."

I turned to Sir Tristan and Sir John asked them to stay.  "Sir Tristan, I will take your men tomorrow but I want you to ride to you father.  Tell him our news.  I want his men to scout south of the river.  He is not to act until I reach him but I must know where this Fitz Mandeville hides."

He hesitated.  "Lord I know my father.  He probably thought not to bother you and that he could deal with the problem."

"I know you defend him Tristan, as a son should.  I do not condemn him.  However I would rather be bothered with a thousand questions than one of my people was hurt because of a knight riding wild in my land. Had I known of the danger that Fitz Mandeville represented then I could have done something about it.  Just ask your father to keep me informed."

"I will."

When he had left me I turned to Sir John, "I need you to stay here too while we scotch this snake. We will be riding to war with this Fitz Mandeville. I want you to decide which men stay with John of Craven and which ride. I need you to decide which horses are ready for war."

"This is a great responsibility lord. Am I ready for it?"

"You were castellan here for long enough that you know the castle as well as any.  You know the men and you know John of Craven.  My mind is filled with plots and plans; enemies and allies.  I need someone to take some weight from my shoulders.  It is what Leofric does for me in Anjou."

He stood a little straighter.  "Then if you have faith in me, my lord I will try to live up to your expectations."

He left and I went to the maps I kept in my chest.  Wulfstan had been the one who had started my obsession with them.  He could read and he taught me how to understand maps. Now I found them invaluable.  I added to them whenever I found a new place or a new feature.  I traced the route we would take. If we headed to Piercebridge and then Gainford I could turn north and east. If Aiden was right then this Osbert would gradually pick off the outlying settlements. He would hope that I would be blind to it or perhaps he thought I would be heading south again soon. He was wrong on both counts.

With two knights, twenty five archers, the men at arms from three conroi and my two squires I was confident that I could deal with this Osbert if I could pin him down. His method was not new.  Some of the nomadic tribes who lived on the borders of the Byzantine Empire did the same.  They would hit and then run. They were past masters at it and the only defence the Empire had was a string of forts and fast moving horsemen of their own. I would do the same. All of my men were mounted and were excellent riders. Philip of Selby had his own eighteen archers and seven from my garrison.  They were excellent riders although they never used their bows from the backs of horses.

Philip protested that his men did not need the rest and was keen to ride earlier. I waved away his protestations, "I am happy at the delay for it gives my scouts the time to find them and besides it is your horses which concern me.  They had a hard ride yesterday.  Let us not jeopardise their health for a couple of hours."

We cut directly across the long loop in the Tees. We went due west. With two archers as scouts I did not fear us being surprised. We were wrapped against the cold.  The spring was the coldest I had ever known. Already April was almost half gone and the buds were still shy of appearing on the trees. As we neared Piercebridge I remembered the lord who had lived there. William of Piercebridge had been a quiet knight.  The Scots had not only killed him but his whole family.  There was no lord there. The Roman fort on the north bank had been robbed of most of its stones and the stark, blackened shell of the wooden castle William had built lay on the southern bank overlooking the bridge and this vital crossing.  It was where King David had crossed with his army two years since.  I wondered if the raid on Piercebridge had been a plan to gain them access to the soft underbelly of the north.

As we crossed the bridge I surveyed the houses.  People still lived and eked out a living. With no lord of the manor I did not tax them.  What was the point?  There was nothing to tax. As Richard took Rolf down to the river to water him an old one armed man approached.  He knuckled his head, "Good to see you, my lord."

I vaguely recognised him then I saw his axe held in his mighty right hand.  "Why it is Tom of Ulnaby! Are you well?" He had been one of William of Piercebridge's men at arms.  He had been left for dead after the raid.  He had lost his left arm and all of his comrades.

He looked pleased to be recognised. "Aye lord.  I felt one of his lordship's men should farm around here but it is hard.  If it is not Scots who plague us it is raiders and bandits."

"How many men are there in the fyrd?"

"Oh we can muster twenty but that includes four old cripples like me and five boys. The priest has gone but there is a bell in the church." He pointed to the Roman walls.  "Most of the stones might be gone but they serve us yet. If a lord came..."

"I know Tom and you are right to reproach me.  I have been remiss."

"Oh no lord! I meant no such thing. If it were not for you then... besides who rules the country now? If you and the Archbishop had not stopped the Scots at Northallerton I would not be here.  I am grateful." He smiled, "But I can wish and I can hope.  One day there will be a lord and he will have a castle.  Then I will stand on the walls once more and spit defiance at these Scottish barbarians!"

As we headed to Gainford, Philip and Harold talked of Tom. "He makes me feel humble, Harold. We have so much and he has so little yet he is grateful for the little protection we offer him. Did you see his home?  It was made of wood and turf."

Harold laughed, "When I was an outlaw in the forest a turf house would have seemed like luxury! But I know what you mean."

We had reached Gainford and night was falling.  I decided to stay in the wooden walls of Hugh's castle.

We had just set off, the following morning, when Edgar found us.  "Lord, Aiden sent me. We found the trail of the Scots.  They attacked Walworth last night."

"Are they still there?"

"They were when we left.  Edward went to Piercebridge." He hesitated.  "They burned the priest alive, lord."

I nodded, grimly, "They will pay. Let us ride. "

As we headed north east I closed my eyes as I tried to picture the map. They would gather their ill gotten gains and use the best road available to them  That would be the old Roman Road.  It went through Auckland.  That belonged to the Bishop of Durham.  It was a distance of about seven miles. "Sir Harold take your men at arms and those of Sir Tristan.  Ride due north towards Headlam and then find somewhere on the road to Auckland to ambush this Osbert as he returns to Durham."

"Aye lord."

As my knight and his men left us Philip asked, "You are sure he will go that way?"

"It is the shortest way back to Durham. If he suspects we are close he will bolt and leave his goods behind.  This man has achieved what he has by avoiding being caught.  He will continue to do so."

"And Sir Harold will stop him?"

"Sir Harold will indeed stop him. He knows ambush and the men at arms he leads are the equal of any.  They will certainly be able to deal with these brigands no matter how well armed and armoured they are."

We had less than six miles to go and I was keen to catch them before they knew we were on to the trail. I turned to Philip.  "I will charge the Scots. I want the archers to lay down a screen of arrows to the north west.  That is the route they will take.  When they have fled take your men into the village and see to any survivors."

"You will not need us more?"

"If you and your archers can thin them out then good but I want them afraid of your arrows so that they run into Sir Harold's ambush.  We will catch them and have them between the hammer and the anvil. I am the hammer. Harold is the anvil.  He and his men will not yield."