The Fallen Crown (5 page)

"Perhaps." He did not sound convinced.

We had returned to his castle. "We leave in seven days.  We gather at Thornaby.  That way we can cross the vale to Osmotherley and miss out Helmsley.  I would not waste men on a siege there."

"Good, for I hate sieges!"

"How many men will you bring?"

"Fifteen men at arms and ten archers.  I have young Thomas son of Oswald as my squire.  He is a handy lad."

"Then have your scouts seek this Sir Edward.  Sir Richard has scouted the vale of York and we know his defences there.  Malton is his stronghold.  We can expect it to be firmly held."

Sir Edward was in a better position than most. Like me the river gave him much protection and he had some stone features in his wooden castle. He also had the advantage that he could take refuge with me if things became difficult. I told him my plans.  "I will be ready lord."

"And how many men do you bring?"

"I needs must leave a strong garrison for my family are within. There will be twenty men at arms, fifteen archers and two squires.  John, my son is under the wing of Gilles my squire." He looked at me.  "I would have Gilles knighted soon, lord."

"You can knight him yourself, Edward, you know that."

"I do but he and I would be happier if it was the Empress' Champion, Warlord of the North, the Earl of Cleveland, who dubbed him and gave him his spurs."

"Very well. Is he content to live in Thornaby yet?  Does he wish his own manor?"

"Not yet lord but there is a manor south of here, Stainton, which some day it might suit."

"That belongs to the Archbishop of York."

He nodded, "I thought you could use your influence with him."

"Perhaps although his nephew says that he is close to death.  We may lose that influence soon.  I agree with you that Gilles has proved himself worthy and he is of an age.  When we have finished with Fitz Mandeville I will give him his spurs."

As we returned across the Tees on Ethelred's ferry, my squire, Gilles asked, "How long was Gilles of Thornaby a squire, lord?"

"Oh these five years past. Why?"

"You took me from Normandy two years since. I wondered how long I would wait."

"If you were ready then I would knight you now.  Do you feel ready?"

He shook his head, "I have only begun to learn how to be a knight lord.  Each time I think I am one step closer I see you or Sir Harold do something and know I am not even close to that elevated position.  I am happy to continue to learn, lord."

"Good.  For you do learn.  When we go to war watch Gilles of Thornaby and see what he does.  Look not at what he is ordered to do for any man can do that. It is what he is not asked to do and yet does which is important."

Sir Tristan, Sir Harold and Sir Richard of Sherwood, along with my household knight, Sir John of Stockton, would complete my conroi.  I gathered them in my solar where we could discuss the campaign. John, my Steward, was there to take note of what we would need.  When he knew the numbers then he would know how many sumpters and servants we needed.

"Sir Tristan and Sir Harold I do not expect you to bring all of your men.  You have manors to watch.  Given that, how many men do you bring?"

Sir Harold said, "I lost one of my men at arms fighting Cumin.  There will be nine men at arms and eight archers."

Sir Tristan said, "And I lost two .  I will bring eight men at arms and eight archers."

"Dick?"

"I have thirty archers."

"Did you take on a squire?"

He nodded, "Aleric's son, Tom.  He can use a bow but he is a fine swordsman too."

"Good then we have our men.  I will bring eleven men at arms.  The Frisians can defend my castle under John of Craven. There are eighteen archers and I have my two squires. We will bring Aiden and his men with us. Dick you will command the archers and Gilles of Thornaby the squires." Dick cocked an eyebrow, "I wish to see if he is ready to be a knight.  Sir Edward thinks he is."

John my steward had been adding them up.  "That is a hundred and sixty of you not counting Aiden and his two falconers."

I nodded.  "That should be enough.  It is good to know that we leave a good half of our men here.  Should an enemy come to threaten us then we would have over three hundred warriors true to fight them."

That night, when the gates were closed and the watch set I heard a cry from my north gate. The north meant the Scots and I grabbed my sword and raced to the walls.  I was relieved to see that it was not an army but a priest.  It was Thomas of Leyburn and I could tell from his distressed appearance that he had bad news to impart.

"Open the gates, let him in. Send for Father Henry" I went down the steps to meet with him. "I can see your news is grave.  Speak."

"Geoffrey the Bishop of Durham is dead and the Dean and many of my brothers killed."

Even I was shocked.  "They killed the Bishop's Dean?"

"William Cumin's guards said he had murdered the Bishop.  He had not."

"I know that.  And you?"

When the guards came to find all those priests who were loyal to the Dean I slipped out of the gate you and your men used. Some of my brothers came with me. That was two days ago.  I have been hiding from his men as they hunted us."

"Us?"

"There were others.  We were separated.  They would have caught me too but I can swim and I jumped in the river.  I am not sure how many of the others escaped."

"But you think none." He nodded.  "Fear not, Father Thomas, their deaths will be avenged." Father Henry had arrived as well as Alice. "Go with Father Henry.  He will take care of your hurts and Alice will bring you hot food."

She was shocked, "Of course! You poor man! Who would do such a thing to a man of God?"

Father Thomas gave her a sad look and said, "The man who now calls himself the Bishop of Durham."

Alice's hand went to her mouth and Father Henry crossed himself.  "We will talk in the morning but you are safe here, Father.  You have my word on that."

After they had gone I summoned Dick and Aiden. "I want you to ride tomorrow morning and look for any sign of the other priests who fled Durham."

"Aye lord."

We found none, alive. Aiden found three dead priests.  They were half way between Durham and Stockton.  They had been stripped as though bandits had done this.  Bandits would never risk the wrath of God by killing priests.  This had been done by someone who could offer absolution; a Bishop, albeit a false one. Father Henry and Father Thomas wrote a joint letter to the Archbishop of York and we sent it with an escort of four men at arms. He had to know what had happened and we could not risk the letter being intercepted.

While they were away
'Adela'
arrived. She was overdue and I had been worried. Fishermen brought us news that she was negotiating the bends and loops in the Tees.  John and I waited for her at my quay.  She was low in the water as she tacked up the river. That was a good sign.  It meant her hold was laden. Her sides were also filled with new faces. They would be the men sent by Leofric. Harold Three Fingers was the first off the ship. "There are more twists in this river than a lawyer's arguments!"

"Did you have trouble, Harold?"

"Goodness, no lord.  It just took more time to gather and store the trade goods and then we had unfavourable winds north. Captain William is well pleased with the voyage."

John my Steward  asked, somewhat anxiously, "Are you whole?  Can you return soon?"

He laughed, "We could go back right now but the crew would like at least one night ashore! They make fine wine in Anjou but it cannot compare with Stockton beer. I have a thirst that only Mary the Alewife can satisfy!"

I clapped him on the back. "Stay a couple of days if you wish.  Ask your captain if he will dine with me this evening.  I have much to ask." I pointed for I could see that he was busy on his ship.  "I will not take him from his duties.  John, have the new men at arms and archers sent to my Inner Bailey.  John of Craven and I will speak with them."

That evening my household knights, my steward and my squires joined me as William of Kingston told us of his voyage and, more importantly, events in Normandy and Anjou.

"Your son is now a most important knight, lord. He is at the right hand of the Count and leads a large number of knights. They have almost finished quashing the rebel barons in the southern part of Normandy."

"Good then the Empress will soon have reinforcements."

He shook his head, "I fear not lord.  The Count of Flanders has begun massing armies by the border and it is rumoured that the French are casting covetous glances at Blois.  You can expect no help this year nor, in my view, next year."

That was a blow.  "And Leofric, how is he?"

"His wife is with child again! He is happy, lord, and he is popular.  That is rare.  The people love him for he is a thoughtful leader."  He suddenly looked worried.  "The men he sent, they are satisfactory?"

Sir John answered for me.  "They are! We can now take more men when we campaign.  Are there more in training?"

"With the war in Normandy almost at an end there are keen young men who wish to fight and it is said that the land of the Warlord of the North is the best place to become rich and successful. The ones you have are the best.  The others are sent to your son's castle in Ouistreham or they stay with Sir Leofric."

John my steward had listened to all of this impatiently.  "And trade?  Is it as good or does the end of the war mean prices have fallen?"

I shook my head.  John was the son of a moneyer and it showed! William of Kingston was used to dealing with such men. "Trade is good. Alf's iron goods are in great demand and his swords are highly prized. The high quality of the wool is also much sought after."

John's face lit up into a grin.  "And the leather?"

"I am afraid that the leather from Spain sells for a higher price. But look on the bright side we sell a great deal.  You were happy with your share were you not?"

"Of course."

Harold laughed, "But although he is happy he is never satisfied! He wants more!"

We now had more men to use in our war against Sir Edward Fitz Mandeville. The last report we had was that his banner had been seen flying at his castle.  That meant he was there.  We had him in his lair. We gathered at Thornaby in the last week of May. It had been some time since such a mighty host had headed south. We rode down the Great North Road.  We had many scouts out.  Aiden, Edward and Edgar were joined by those of Sir Richard of Yarm, Sir Wulfric and Sir Edward.  We were well protected.  Our mounted archers guarded our flanks, our wagon with the siege machines and our sumpters. My aim was to make any spies who might see us leaving Thornaby to assume we were heading for Gloucester and the Empress. We travelled slowly and stopped at the old ruined castle of Osmotherley.  Alan son of Alan had been born there and all of his family had died there when I had been attacked by assassins. Arriving in the middle of the afternoon, we  spent the night. 

By dawn there was no sign of us.  We left in the middle of the night screened by archers. They found and killed two enemy scouts on the road across the moors. I had no doubt that they had come from Helmsley.  I intended to catch Sir Edward close to Malton.  His new castle was only half built.  They had used, according to our scouts, the old ditch from the castle destroyed by the Scots and they had begun to build in stone but the bulk of it was wooden still.  Helmsley was stone. By using this route we cut him off from an escape to his other major castle.

We dropped down from the moors to the flatter lands around the fertile vale. This was rich farming country.  Had I wanted I could have laid waste to it and damaged the enemies' coffers but I would not do that. They were English who farmed there.  It was not the people's fault that their leaders had sided with the usurper.

I knew from my scouts that the castle was at a bend of the Derwent.  They would have a fine view to the north and so we halted at the woods close to Hepton Hill.  The slope and the woods gave us protection but, more importantly, we sat astride the road that the enemy would have to use if they tried to flee. Such a large host is impossible to hide and I had no doubt that rumours would have reached Sir Edward Fitz Mandeville of the threat we posed.  He would, however, be in the dark for we kept our banners furled.

We left once more in the middle of the night.  I wanted him to see us outside his castle when dawn broke. I sent Wulfric and Edward with half of the archers and all their men at arms across the Derwent to the south side of the river.  They would appear when I had my trumpets sounded.  I was trying to make Fitz Mandeville think that we had more men than we actually did. The jangling of our arms and horses would have alerted Mandeville's sentries.  I did not mind now.  We were in position.  Even if he ran we would catch him. We unfurled our banners.  We would let him know who we were.  We had no need to hide.

My archers dismounted.  I had fifty on my side of the castle. They moved down to within bow range of the wooden walls.  Wulfric and Edward would be doing the same on their side. There had been houses below the castle but the Scots had burned them too.   My archers sheltered in the charred remains and we waited. The river was not a serious obstacle.  It merely slowed down an attacker. There was little point in sitting on our horses.  If we fought then it would be on foot.  I wondered if he would surrender.  I did not know exact  numbers within the castle.  I doubted that he had half as many as we did.

I made sure that my men were all ready and, as dawn broke I had the trumpet sounded.  My archers let fly and the sentries on the walls fell.  More men raced to the walls and were cut down too. They soon learned and we saw no more faces. We knew they were there. I turned to my knights. "Had I built this castle I would have used stone and had a curtain wall by the river. We may not need the siege machines."

Sir Harold said, "We could attack now, lord. The archers have cleared the walls."

"There is no hurry. These are wooden walls.  If they use boiling fat it is as dangerous to them as it is to us.  We have enough men to attack the wall at various places.  Let us see if this Fitz Mandeville is wise enough to surrender."

Sir John laughed, "If he does then Wulfric will be like a bear with a sore head."

It took just one more flight of arrows before the standard of Fitz Mandeville was lowered and the gates opened.  A pair of priests came forward. "It seems he is wiser than I thought.  Come with me."

I led my knights and squires towards the gate. The priest was an old man. "Lord the garrison surrenders."

"Where is Edward Fitz Mandeville?"

"The Baron is not within the castle lord.  He was at Helmsley the last we heard." I was not sure if I believed this priest.  He held out his cross and said, "I swear lord!"

"Then why does his banner fly from the keep?"

The priest looked down.  "I fear it is a deception practised by the Baron.  He likes to keep his enemies guessing lord."

I turned to Gilles, "Ride to Wulfric and tell him that the garrison has surrendered. Sir Harold and Sir Tristan, take some men and escort the garrison out." As they waved their men forward I asked, "Who commands here now?"

"The castellan was felled by your arrows." He looked around helplessly. "I think it would be me."

The garrison, when they came out, were just twenty men.  We had slain another eighteen on the walls. None of those who trudged out wore mail.  Wulfric and Edward joined me.  Dick shook his head, "What a waste of arrows!"

I too was disappointed. I had not been outwitted but our scouts had not done as good a job as I might have wished.  I had not used Aiden and his men.  I had relied on Sir Richard and Wulfric. Our clever plan had been a waste of time.  The place we had avoided was the very place that Fitz Mandeville was using.

"Bind the garrison and take all that is of value then burn it!"

The castle was half built and now it would be destroyed again.  I was not being vindictive but practical.  Until this civil war ended I did not wish a castle so close to my lands be a threat. It was noon by the time we had finished.  I sent the prisoners back to Thornaby with an escort of Sir Edward's men.  Their fate would be decided later.  The priest stayed in the stone church of St. Mary. It was the only building left standing and looked forlorn. We headed north west.  This time I sent Aiden and his scouts due north to see if there was a garrison at Pickering.  A small castle, it guarded the road from Helmsley to Scarborough. As we rode Wulfric seethed.  "Next time I will scout the land myself! What did my men do?  Stand atop the hill and see the banner?  They did not even count the men within!"

I smiled.  Wulfric was learning the problems of leadership. You chose men you could rely on.  Wulfric could spot a good man at arms half a mile a away but a good scout could be under his nose and he would not recognise him. I would have to loan him the services of Aiden.

"Let us concentrate on what is ahead. We worry about mistakes later. Helmsley is a stone castle and has a better aspect than Malton.  This may be bloody."

"The river is not deep there and there are many fords.  We can surround it easily." Edward knew the land well. Before he had entered my service he had served as a man at arms with other lords. "And the curtain wall is a long one.  Unless he has a large garrison there may well be some point of weakness."

"Good. We will cross the river and attack from the north."

We rode down the greenways and headed north and west.  It was but sixteen miles. I left a strong guard with the baggage to follow on for I was anxious to get to the castle before dark.  As we approached the castle I saw that the Mandeville banner flew.  That meant nothing. There were a hundred mailed men with me and, even as we approached I saw the gates open and twenty knights and men at arms gallop from the gate and head west.  I had never seen this Fitz Mandeville but I recognised his surcoat as his fled this castle.

Wulfric smacked one hand into the other, "Will I cleave no heads again?"

"Ride!"

We rode hard towards the castle. As we did another forty men galloped through the gates. Wulfric and his men were desperate to get to grips with an enemy, any enemy, and they pursued them. I was more concerned with capturing the castle.  As Wulfric and his men at arms hastened after the last group of men to leave we galloped over the ditch.  I held my shield above my head in case there were defenders left but I entered the bailey without hurt. I was met by servants and two priests. Dismounting I approached them.  The older and rather well fed priest said, "The castle is yours lord.  The Baron has fled.  I beg you treat us mercifully."

I nodded.  There was something about this I liked not. I looked around.  The walls looked sound and I could see no reason why Edward Fitz Mandeville had not defended this castle.  We would have bled but it would have been taken.

"Secure the castle.  We will stay here this night."

The baggage had reached us and Sir Wulfric had returned by the time my sentries reported Aiden approaching. Sir Wulfric had ten horses with him.  We caught some of them but they were without mail and they fled us." He patted his war axe.  "At least I got to cleave some heads."

When Aiden arrived he said, "Pickering is held by twenty men.  Had I had ten of our archers we could have taken it."

I nodded. Aiden could be trusted. The reports from Philip and his uncle were that Mandeville had sixty knights and up to two hundred men at arms.  We had seen nowhere near that number. I estimated that he had just six knights with him when he had fled. Where were the rest?

As my men took the weapons and supplies I had the servants and priests gathered in the Great Hall. I sat on the lord's chair.  "Bring me the two priests." The one who looked well fed also appeared more confident.  The younger one looked like the other's dogsbody. "Where has the Baron gone?" Neither answered. "You know who I am?"

The older priest said, "You are the Warlord of the North."

"Then you know that I would not worry about extracting information any way I could.  He left you and I want to know where he fled!"

The older priest feigned ignorance and shrugged. "York?"

I knew he would not go there and when the young priest flashed a look of incredulity I knew that there was something amiss. "Gilles, Richard, bind this fat priest and watch him."

"I am a man of God."

"Be careful then that you do not upset me, priest or you will be seeing him even sooner than you might wish!" I put my arm around the young priest. "Come with me...?"

"Brother Alcuin.  I am visiting here from Fountains Abbey."

"What is the name of the other priest?"

"He is the Baron's priest, Father Thaddeus."

"I wish no harm on any priest but I will not be lied to.  If you do not wish to tell me where the Baron has gone then just say I refuse to tell you. Father Thaddeus did not do that and we both know that he is lying." He nodded.  "Then I ask you, directly," I turned him so that I could see his eyes. "Do you know where the Baron has gone?"

He shook his head and said. "I do not know where he went."

I nodded, "You are telling the truth."

"But I know what are his intentions."

Hope sprang, "You do?"

"When your men were spotted he cried
'I have him now! The Warlord has fallen into my trap and is many miles from home
.'" He paused. "I did not understand that then but you are the Warlord and so..."

"Thank you Brother, I am indebted to you."

I raced back in. "Mount. Fetch all the grain you can carry for our horses.  We have to tax them this night. Sir Wulfric leave two of your men to guard the castle, the baggage and our servants. Each man at arms, knight and squire shall bring his lance or spear!"

My knights all stared at me as though I was mad.  Sir Edward said, "We have ridden far. What is the rush?"

"This is a trap. The Baron knows our plan.  He has drawn us here, far from our home so that he can attack the valley.  That is why he has so few knights and men at arms with him.  Wulfric make sure that the two men you leave know how to get information.  Someone here knows something.  Let Brother Alcuin go but the rest are my prisoners until I return."

Wulfric's face was black with anger. It had been his scouts who had let us down, "I will leave Hrolf the Swede and Simon the Jew.  They could both get blood from a stone!"

While my men mounted I planned our action. I had no doubt that the Baron had gathered his men at Thirsk.  They would have already moved towards the Great North Road and that would be their route to my castles. Yarm was a small castle and could be taken.  They would give them a barrier across my river. Then they would attack Piercebridge.  I had brought the  bulk of my men with me.  The only forces which could face Fitz Mandeville were Sir William at Yarm and the garrisons of Norton and Stockton. I led my men north towards Rievaulx Abbey.  There was a green way which led through the moors.  It twisted and turned and eventually brought us out at Swainby.  It meant we could travel parallel to the Roman Road and yet still be hidden from view. We could then send for Sir Richard and his men and meet them on the rise close to Osmotherley.

"Sir Tristan, send your squire ahead.  Tell him to fetch your father and his men.  Meet us south of Harlsey. Hopefully that is where we will meet and stop this cunning Mandeville."