Warlord of the North (19 page)

"This will take some careful planning but I will catch these spies. Tomorrow I will return, Alf and you shall take me around my town so that I may see these four.  We will say that I am keen to see how my people fare. I want to know who these four see regularly.  It will be those who are incomers anyway."

"I am sorry for this, lord, but I find it hard to believe that there could be a spy. These four are hard workers.  Robert of Whitby and Alan Squint Eye are religious.  They are often found in the Church."

"The Pope himself uses spies, Alf. If it were not for the well disguised tracks in the woods I would agree that these four may be innocent but I have seen the evidence with my own eyes. There are spies in our town. The alternative is even more worrying that someone we know well spies. We are now outlaws, Alf and must rely upon our own resources to survive."

When I told Wulfric he was a little more direct. "Lord this is easy.  Have the four arrested and let me question them.  I will discover the truth."

I shook my head, "That may well be a solution but we will try other ways first. If we are wrong then arresting these four alerts the real spies. These are the ones we investigate first. I have ideas how to trap them but let us just watch them first."

Over the next four days I saw all of the suspects. None, on first sight, appeared disloyal.  As I had learned to my cost first appearances could be deceptive. When Aiden returned he brought equally disturbing news, "Lord Sir Hugh knew nothing of spies but he has heard from his own spies that Barnard Balliol's cousin, the Baron Skipton, is raising an army north of the border."

Baron Skipton's land was to the south of the Tees. It was almost in the centre of the country and if the Scots held that then we had a dagger held at the heart of the north. With Balliol and Stephen reconciled it could well be that they thought it a good time to retake their lands.  As I ran Aiden's words through my head I remembered that Balliol had also claimed the manor of Piercebridge.  King Henry had given it, instead, to Wilfred's father.

"Did Sir Hugh know where this army would march?"

"He said to tell you that it would not be on his side of the country but when the poor weather closes in then his control of the Roman Wall is tenuous at best.  He said that men could slip over. He is right, lord.  I have done it many times myself.  There are few roads north of the wall but many well used trails.  The gates through the wall are now open. Once through there is naught to stop an army."

"Except for Barnard Castle which blocks that route and the other is through Auckland and towards our back door.  You have done well Aiden."

"And tomorrow I will take my falconers Edward and Edgar.  We will seek out these camps."

"We have looked and they are all cold."

"Nonetheless I will be happier lord when I have cast my eye over them."

My three lieutenants were as disappointed as I was with the news. The watch over the four would be spies had yielded nothing. I began to wonder if Wulfric's draconian solution was the only one.

"At last, lord, we can prepare for their attack in winter.  We know from whence they will come and we can be ready."

Wulfric growled, "You may be right, Sir John but remember how we took Barnard Castle .  Unless we have rid ourselves of all spies then they may well be within our walls and that could spell disaster. They could open the gates for the barbarians."

"Then we must smoke them out."

"How lord?"

"We use William the Mason. I will prepare him. The great danger to our enemies is that we make it harder for them to gain entry from the north.  We have just improved the western gate to the town but the north gate is still largely wood with a stone foundation.  If we were to say that we were building a better gate there then the spy would have news to take north.  We have each one watched by a pair of Dick's archers and when they leave we follow them.  If they go about their lawful business and do not leave a message or meet anyone then they are innocent."

Dick nodded his approval but Wulfric said, reasonably, "Why not actually improve the gate?  It makes sense."

"William and his masons are still helping Sir Harold and Sir Tristan.  I would not leave those two exposed.  We shall improve the north gate but that will be in spring."

Dick said, "I will have my archers watch them anyway."

"Will that not make our suspects suspicious, Dick?"

"No Sir John, my archers are busy at this time of year making arrows.  We do not do it in one place. It will help make our suspects less alert. They will become used to their presence. It is like a hunter in the forest.  He hides until the animal no longer sees him."

William was happy to be part of the deception.  He and I went to the north gate and we took measurements and discussed, loudly, what stone we might need and when the work might begin. I hated to deceive both Alf and Ethelred but when we came into the main square we discussed the improvements with the two of them. It meant that, by nightfall, the whole town was talking about the new gate and how it would make us safer.

The only one who left was Robert of Whitby. He left on the evening tide. He was the only one we could not follow. Dick berated himself, "I should have thought of this problem."

"Dick, ask the archers who watched him to come here." When they were brought to us I asked, "Who are the ones Robert of Whitby speaks with?"

Long Tom said, "He is a queer stick, my lord. He keeps to himself  but he is a religious fellow. He visits the church each day and prays for half an hour or so."

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck begin to prickle. "When he is in there is there anyone else inside the church?"

"Sometimes Father Henry although he was not there the last time he visited."

"No one else?"

Rafe who had been watching with Long Tom said, "There is only that servant, Alan Squint Eye.  He cleans the church."

I turned to Dick.  "I think we have our two spies. Unless I miss my guess when Robert returns, Alan Squint Eye will visit York. It is clear now.  The two spies allow our enemies to have two avenues of communication. I have no doubt now that Robert makes contact with Guisborough.  We know the de Brus are traitors.  There will also be a spy in York.  I will send Philip of Selby to speak privately with the Archbishop."

Wulfric, who was now with us said, "And then do we question this fisherman?"

"When Alan Squint Eye has left for York, aye we will."

The fisherman returned two days later.  Now that we were watching for him his movements became clear. He unloaded and sold his fish remarkably quickly. I could tell that he had not charged enough for his customers were delighted at the prices they had paid.  He then went immediately to the church. Alan Squint Eye must have been watching for he followed him into the church.  Now that we knew the conspirators their collusion was obvious.  After the fisherman and Alan Squint Eye left the church Alan hurried in to speak with the priest.

"Wulfric, take three men at arms and get on the York road. When he gets to York then see whom he meets. Apprehend him on the way back. We know he will be going there and if you are before him then he will not be suspicious. Shadow him in York."

"And if he sees us lord?"

"Offer to escort him and tell him you have a letter for the Archbishop from me.  He will be slower than you.  I would wait at the inn in Easingwold until he has passed."

Wulfric quickly left and I saw him and his two men at arms on the ferry. They crossed, thereby giving them a lead over the spy. That would ensure a healthy gap between them and Alan Squint Eye.  The spy emerged and led the poor sumpter he used to the ferry to wait. I found Father Henry tending his small herb garden. "Your servant is going somewhere, Father Henry?"

He nodded, "I have to keep in touch with the Archbishop. He needs a record of the births, deaths and marriages." He shrugged, "And he likes to keep in touch with the church here.  We are part of the Diocese of Durham, lord."

"I know and I was not criticising. I merely wondered why he was going today."

"Ah, he reminded me that I needed  some more candles for the church. We used our last one three days since."

"You should have said, I would have brought some back with me from Normandy.  They make fine ones there."

"And I will do so for it is annoying when we run out. He is a good and hard working servant but sometimes he forgets to remind me of such needs.  Still he is always happy to travel the long road to York for me."

After I had left him I felt guilty for deceiving him however if I was wrong I would have upset him for nothing. Meanwhile John, along with Erre and  Sven the Rus had gone down to the river to fetch Robert of Whitby.

I waited for them in my hall. When he arrived he looked confused, "Have I done wrong, lord? Why have I been dragged from my boat by these two Vikings? I am an innocent man."

I smiled, "Then you are truly blessed.  Erre are you an innocent man?"

He laughed, "Why no lord, I have done many things which I should not."

"And I know that I have committed crimes and sins but perhaps your frequent visits to the church means that you have absolution and that you are, truly, an innocent man.  Is that it, Robert of Whitby?"

For the first time a look of doubt flickered across his face, "I do visit church regularly, lord.  Is that a crime?"

"Of course not." I smiled, "You came to my town when I was in Normandy and I know you not.  My men tell me you are a good fisherman but somewhat lonely."

"I am happy with my own company it is true."

"You seem to have a good friend in Alan Squint Eye."

"I know him but..."

"Did you know him before you came to my town?"

This time his eyes flickered. Whatever he said would be a lie. "No, lord."

"I am not satisfied, Robert of Whitby. I need to investigate more.  Until then you shall be my guest."

He tried to rise but Sven the Rus' hand clamped on his shoulder. "My lord, I protest."

"Protest all you like until I am happy then you stay here. Sven take him to my dungeon. Have him watched." When they had gone I turned to John and Erre. "Well?"

Erre said, "He lies."

"I am not certain."

Erre shook his head, "The trouble is, Sir John, that you have not met many liars yet.  I lived in Miklagård.  I can smell a liar."

"Thank you both and now we wait for Wulfric."

I know that I was jumping at shadows but I liked not this conspiracy. I wondered if I should visit my wrath upon Guisborough.  If there were enemies there I should rid myself of them. Why did Alan go there first and then speak with the church spy.  It made no sense.  Either way a message could not reach north of the border for many days. Dick and his archers had reported that the other suspects never left the town save on legitimate business. They would still be watched but as they had not risen to the bait then they were no longer such good candidates.

Wulfric and my men returned three days later with a very unhappy spy.  He looked to have been knocked about. Father Henry happened to be in his garden when Alan Squint Eye was brought to my gate. "Wulfric, what are you doing with my servant?"

I stepped forward, "He is obeying my orders, Father.  I pray you join us and listen to what Wulfric says before you judge us."

He knew me well enough to agree and he followed his servant.

Once in my hall Father Henry and I sat.  I said, "Wulfric tell me what you saw."

"We followed this man when he went to York.  He did not go to the Archbishop's palace.  He went directly to the
'Blind Beggar'
, the inn by the river and sat there for an hour until the captain of a small merchant ship docked and came to speak with him.  They spoke for an hour. This man gave the sailor a document and then he left and went to the Archbishop. The merchant ship left straightaway.  They unloaded nothing else.  The ship arrived just to meet with this man."

Father Henry frowned.  Until that moment I believe he thought we had lost our mind.

Alan Squint Eye said, none too convincingly, "It is a lie."

"Why did you not go directly to the Archbishop as I asked?" Father Henry spoke calmly. I knew he was looking for a reasonable explanation.

He said nothing and Wulfric put the final nail in his coffin, "When I delivered the letter to the Archbishop I asked his clerk about Alan Squint Eye here.  He said he never stayed long and often left before the Archbishop could see if a return message was needed."

Silence hung in my hall like some heavy weight. I spoke quietly. "The fact that you had no reason to speak with this captain who came just to speak with you strikes me as damning evidence.  Your defence is to call Wulfric a liar. Even I would not do that.  He speaks the truth. We know about the messages passed to you by Robert of Whitby. I need to know who is your master and why you use such a complicated method." The spy remained obstinately silent. I let silence hang in my hall and then delivered the killer blow. "Robert of Whitby lies in my dungeon."

There was fear in the spy's eyes.  What did we know?

He appealed to Father Henry.  "I had to do it Father."