Warlord of the North (8 page)

"We have little enough food but we shall share it."

"Until this is over pay no taxes and I would allow your people to hunt in the forests and fish in the rivers. I delegate that power to you."

His servants poured us ale heated with a poker and felt alive as the amber liquid filled us with warmth.  "Tell me all, my lord.  We are isolated here."

I gave him my news and held nothing back. When I spoke of the Bishop he shook his head.  "A weak man! Now I know how the Scots were able to enter our land.  There was collusion."

"Aye treachery at home and abroad. How stands the border?"

"Norham, Rothbury, Morpeth and Otterburn hold. There is a thin strip of England but we are surrounded by Scots.  The New Castle and the crossing of the Tyne are in enemy hands. The west is Scotland now and the land twixt here and Durham is unknown." For the first time since I had known him he did not look confident. Confusion filled his face.

"I intend to fight as my own master until the Empress or her son is on the throne.  The first threat is Scotland and I will rally the men of the north to fight under my banner.  The Bishop of Durham has abdicated his rights to rule by his vacillation."

"And after, my lord?"

"And after they are defeated then I oppose Stephen."

"I will fight alongside you against the Scots but after..."

I nodded, "I understand. You know it may mean I have to fight you if you side with Stephen?"

"Aye, my lord, and I would not have that for the world but if it is meant to be then so be it. It may not come to that.  He may not be crowned."

I shook my head, "With the greedy grasping citizens of London eager to gain power he will. His brother is Bishop of Winchester and he has influenced all of their clerics with his persuasive arguments."

We sat in silence as my words sank in. I was also deep in thought.  I had thought Sir Hugh would have followed my banner.  My allies against Stephen were shrinking.

Sir Hugh banged the table.  "Why worry about something which may never happen.  How do we drive the Scots hence?"

"There is a large army at Barnard Castle.  Balliol has been given power by King David. We march against Balliol.  When he is defeated then we retake the New Castle."

Sir Tristan said, "Why not take the New Castle first?  It is closer?"

"Aiden told me that the army at Barnard is in the town and not the castle.  It is a mighty host.  We have more chance of destroying that army.  When they are defeated the garrison in the New Castle may well decide to surrender.  A siege takes time and we are short of that commodity; we can hire men and make swords but we cannot buy time."

Sir Hugh nodded, "I will send for men from the loyal castles.  We will have to leave garrisons."

"I know.  I need to return to my castle and bring my army north. It is winter and they need not work in their fields.  We can use those who are not warriors.  This is a war of people against people.  There can be no bystanders. Use the fyrd.  It is numbers we need.  Our knights and men at arms have more skill."

Sir Harold said, "It is our archers who will win the day.  None are as good as they."

"You are right. We meet at Auckland a week hence!"

We left the next morning and I called at Durham on the way back. I did not enter but spoke to the Bishop from his bridge over the Wear.  "I have visited your knights in the north.  Unlike you, Prince Bishop, they are defending this land from the Scots.  I go now to gather my men and rid the land around Normanby and Guisborough of the Scottish invader.  Then I will visit the Archbishop.  I have much to tell him."

He said nothing in reply.  As we headed south Sir Tristan said, "I thought we attacked Barnard Castle ?"

"We do.  The message I sent was for the Scottish spy.  They will send word both to Barnard Castle and Guisborough of my intentions. The De Brus family will wait for an attack which does not come and Balliol will relax and, perhaps, even think about attacking me." I smiled at their faces.  "King David and Gospatric are not the only ones who can be devious. I have plans and strategies."

I kept my counsel for I was still formulating my risky plan.  Much of it depended upon my new squire and Sir Hugh of Gainford and just as much rested upon the weather. When I reached my castle I was pleased to see that the wall and the gate were higher.  They were not complete yet but every brick and every course made us that little bit more secure. My knights and my men at arms toiled next to the townsfolk.  We worked together.

Sir Hugh and Sir John came to speak with me as Gilles led Scout away.  "Lord we have more men at arms." Sir Hugh pointed to a dozen men at arms I did not recognise.  They were toiling with my men. "Some came from Durham while other others were from Piercebridge and my estate. Our numbers grow."

"Good for we leave here in five days and go to war."

Sir Hugh pointed to the skies, "But my lord it is winter and soon there will be snow."

"And that is why we attack now. They will not expect it." I put my hand on his shoulder.  "Tonight I will explain all and tell you my strategy but first I must visit with Sir Edward."

Ethelred and his sons had worked as hard as any and his ferry now had a protective wooden wall which was lined at the bottom with stones.  I saw weapons ready there to repel enemies. He grinned when he saw me, "I will teach these Scots to try to take the bread from my bairns' mouths! You go to Thornaby, lord?"

"Aye.  I will not be long.  I would have you wait for me."

Edward had now built a tower on his wall which was but a hundred paces from the ferry.  There, too, was a sally port.  He met me there having seen my approach. I saw that he no longer had his left arm in a sling. "How goes it, my lord?"

I smiled, "We know where we stand, old friend... alone.  We cannot count on the Bishop and Sir Hugh has just five castles under his control. Our war begins small."

As he led me inside he said, "My arm is healing.  My men and I can ride with you."

"I shook my head.  I have much to tell you and I have a plan.  It necessitates you waiting behind your walls.  I tempt De Brus to attack you."

"In winter?  Only a fool would do so."

"I will be attacking Barnard Castle so does that make me a fool?"

"You were never that my lord. I pray you tell me in simple terms.  I am just a soldier. I was never a strategos."

"Do not do yourself a disservice." I spent half an hour telling him my plans in detail.

He smiled when I had finished. "We have our own Caesar amongst us, my lord.  I will hold here and we have more men trained to fight.  When Spring comes we will be ready."

I headed back to my castle more confident than I had been.  Perhaps that was born of desperation but when your back is against the wall you have nowhere left to retreat.  The only way is forward.

As I stepped on to the ferry there was the clatter of hooves and we drew weapons.  These were nervous times.  It was a rider from the Archbishop. I recognised him.  He had been one of the archers the Archbishop had loaned me when I escorted the King's gold to Normandy.  He handed me a scroll.  Leaning down he said quietly, "My lord, King Stephen has been crowned in London.  The Archbishop wished you God speed. He says he will pray for you and he is ever your friend." He nodded towards the scroll.  "None of that will be written down.  He begs you to use trusted men.  These are dark and treacherous times."

We had a bigger host gathered at Auckland than I expected.  We had more recruits and men at arms who wished to fight back. Dick had managed to train more archers too. As we left our camp at Auckland the snows blew even harder than when we had arrived two days earlier. The thirteen miles were along a road otherwise the task would have been impossible.  We had fifty archers, ten knights and squires, a hundred men at arms and fifty men of the fyrd. Aiden had reported that Balliol had over two hundred and fifty men camped at his castle in addition to those within.  We could expect to face three hundred men.

Wilfred of Piercebridge rode now as my standard bearer with my banner. My standard remained in Stockton. It flew from my walls. Wilfred had one of his men at arms as a squire and rode with his father's standard.  Sir Hugh of Gainford was with us.  Our counsel of war ensured that all knew my plan.  It involved splitting my army; that was always dangerous. We left my main force and headed towards the old Roman Road which led from the south.  We had but ten horsemen, two mounted archers and what looked like forty men of the fyrd. In truth there were just ten volunteers from the fyrd and the rest were Wulfric and other men at arms disguised in rude raiments. We were the bait. Sir Hugh Manningham commanded the bulk of my army.  He would be the hammer.

As we rode along the virgin snow, for no one had passed this way in the blizzard, I stressed again to Sir Hugh of Gainford what our plan would be.  "Remember that Balliol thinks I am at Normanby. He knows not that you escaped his men.  When he sees us he will think you are both foolish young men trying to reclaim your land. He will not be surprised when we flee.  His men will think to make sport with us. They have been camped by the castle for almost three weeks now.  They will be eager to raid our lands."

Sir Hugh asked, "Why camp here in winter?"

"King David took advantage of the death of the King and my absence. Although not a perfect time of year to attack, by occupying this land he is ready to invade when the weather improves.  The Tees is not his ultimate aim.  He would, I believe, take the land as far as York, if he could."

We were not moving at the speed of the horses but that of Wulfric and the men on foot. I knew that Erre and his fellows were more than happy to be marching rather than riding. Their shields and axes were covered by cloaks and furs.  In their hands they held spears. We would be an inviting plum to be picked by the Scots.  Sir Hugh just had to tempt them.

The two roads met half a mile from the castle.  There were houses and huts straddling the main road, the one we were on, closer to the castle and it was the area behind that which was occupied by the Scots.  We could smell the roasting mutton from their camp.  I had no doubt that their raiding parties were gathering sheep daily to be slaughtered.  They were English animals and, as such, fair game.

We halted less than four hundred paces from the first house.  We were spied as I knew we would be and ten riders galloped out.  They were not knights. They halted twenty paces from us. Their leader was a man at arms. His livery suggested he was a follower of Gospatric.

"What do you wish, sir knight?  You are Gainford are you not?" He laughed, "We have taken your land and your animals what else have you to offer us? Your women, yourself?" He thought he was a wit baiting a young knight.  My face was hidden by the hood of my cloak.  I was just another knight.

"Piercebridge and I come to tell you that the Earl of Cleveland has returned and he sends a message to Balliol to get back to Scotland before he comes and destroys him and his army!"

The smile was wiped from his face. "If that butcher comes within ten miles of here we shall gut him like a fish and watch him bleed his life away."

"I came here to deliver a message and not to be insulted. Deliver the message Scotsman!"

"Or?"

Sir Hugh nodded to the two mounted archers. At twenty paces they could not miss and the two men next to the man at arms fell dead.

"Treachery!"

The ten of us drew our swords and the man at arms whirled his horse around and galloped back yelling, "To arms! To arms!"

Sir Hugh nodded again and two more arrows flew and plucked a third Scot from his horse. "Well done, Sir Hugh, and now we leave!"

We headed up the old Roman Road which led to Auckland. This was  a much smaller road.  In fact I doubted that it had been used much for the woods had reconquered the sides which had been cleared.  In places cobbles were missing and the ditches had long since filled up with leaves and the detritus of hundreds of years. As we turned to see if they pursued I said, "Remember Wulfric, you are playing a part. Appear as though you are frightened." Our ambush was waiting up this road.  We just had to drag as many Scots behind it as we could.

"Aye my lord! If I can pull this off I shall become a mummer!"

I was aware of trumpets sounding behind us. Osric son of Dale was at the rear and he shouted, "They are mounting, my lord."

"Good, then turn and begin to act agitated. Remember we appear to be surprised by their numbers. You men from the fyrd, now is the time to run."

The ten volunteers laughed as they ran through us.  They were in on the ruse and were confident despite the proximity of so many enemy warriors.

"I think, Sir Hugh that such a youth as yourself might ride a little harder."

We spurred our horses and our line lengthened.  Had it been any other than my handpicked men at arms I might have feared for their safety but I did not. We looked over our shoulders.  It fitted the part we were playing.  I saw that their knights were leading the charge.  They had grabbed spears and were eagerly racing after this sport. Not all had joined the chase but I saw a mob following. They had taken the bait.

"My lord! Now!" Osric's call was the signal.

"Run as though the devil himself was behind you.  Knights, wheel!"

As Wulfric and he men ran through us we turned and lowered our lances. The knights would have seen it as a foolish gesture.  It was merely a delaying tactic. We charged towards the horsemen.  Although outnumbered the ten of us filled the narrow road in two ranks.  Our sudden turn took those at the front by surprise. Sir Hugh was an accomplished knight and his squire was well trained.  It was just Wilfred and his squire whom I did not know.

We did not meet at full tilt but Sir Hugh and I stood in our stirrups to punch our spears at our enemies.  The knight who took my spear in the chest hit my shield.  Sir Hugh's foe was speared in the thigh. As we struck their line and they recoiled Sir Hugh yelled, "Retreat!"

As we turned disaster struck. Wilfred had not killed his enemy and as he turned a spear was thrust at his face. His life was saved by his turn but the spear went through both cheeks. His squire managed to thrust his own spear into the side of the knight who fell backwards tearing the spear from his bloody mouth. "Take your master to the rear!"

The squire grabbed Wilfred's reins and spurred his horse.  Wilfred was held by the cantle of his saddle else he would have fallen. Ahead, my men at arms had formed a shield wall.  The ambush was about to be sprung. As we galloped towards Wulfric and my men they opened ranks to allow us through.  That should have warned the Scots that they were not the fyrd.  These were highly trained men at arms. As we wheeled around them the shields of Wulfric and my Varangians locked. The second and third ranks laid their shields over them and spears protruded like the spines of a hedgehog.

The Scots tried to stop.  This was where the weather aided us.  The snow was icy and, where we had trodden it had turned to icy slush.  The horses could not stop.  They slithered and slipped.  Some tumbled into the ditches and trees but most were impaled upon a barrier of spears. At the same time the archers who were strategically placed around the sides began to loose arrows at a ridiculously short range.  Even those with armour could do nothing as the deadly arrows flew from the dark recesses of the forest. The Scots were tightly packed and had nowhere to go.

While we still had the initiative I dismounted and, with Sir Hugh, joined my men at arms and we stood to push back the Scots.  The ones on horses were at a disadvantage. The road was very narrow and they got in each other's way. Erre and Wulfric made a space for me and Wulfric grinned as he said, "Push! Now!"

The men behind us, all twenty of them pushed into our backs as we stepped forward swinging our swords and axes. The four axes alongside Sir Hugh and I were terrible to behold. They did not just cause minor wounds and cuts, they lopped limbs, they hacked bodies, they tore mail. Sir Hugh and I stabbed slashed and hacked along with them and we moved relentlessly forward. 

Sir Hugh Manningham, meanwhile, led the rest of my knights and our mounted men at arms to charge the Scottish camp. Many Scots were caught wandering into the woods in the hope of finding some treasure or spoils of war.  As the men of Hexham charged all that they received was an icy grave. While my archers and men at arms held the bulk of their men Sir Hugh Manningham tore through their camp slaughtering all.  Those who could fled into the castle but the gates were quickly slammed shut as my knights closed with the mighty stone walls of Barnard Castle .

My archers now began to slip amongst the Scots using their short swords and the packed ranks to  kill all those at the edge of the forest.  They were masters of such warfare. Any hope of a fight back ended as more spears prickled from our line as we spread out; my men speared and impaled the confused Scots.  We were moving at walking speed.  I wondered if I would either blunt my sword or tire before the slaughter ended and then we heard a collective wail as Sir Hugh Manningham brought his conroi into the rear of those in the woods.  They were hemmed in from all sides.  I know some escaped; some lay, feigning death.  Some climbed trees and some just ran and were too quick to be caught. It took all night to finish the slaughter. As dawn broke my men were busy despatching the wounded.  I took my horse from Aiden and rode with my knights to the walls of the castle. My archers were gathering anything of value from the camp.  The plunder they had taken was now ours.  Their horses, weapons and mail belonged to us.  Even the mutton they roasted was taken to be devoured on the way home.

We sat on our horses, out of bow range and I lifted my helmet so that Barnard de Balliol could see my face.  He remained hidden but I knew he would be watching and listening. I shouted, "Barnard de Balliol you are a coward and man without honour. Your men have bled and died here yet you hide behind your walls.  You send others out to attack your neighbours.  Know this it is I who rule this valley.  Not King David.  I will hold this land until the Empress Matilda or her son come to claim it. I give fair warning that neither Scot nor rebel will be safe. If I find you then you will die.  Today you have had a taste of what we can do.  Warn your master that he is not safe.  I fear no king and no king is safe from my blade. The only king I swore allegiance to is now dead! Your master had a hand in his death and I will have vengeance."

I allowed the words to echo.  I wanted his men to hear the implied challenge. I had insulted him and if he was a man who had any kind of honour then he would fight me.  He did not.

"Gospatric, you bloated carcass, you pustule on the backside of Scotland, I swear this.  You shall never rule one inch of Northumberland but shall have a piece of earth five paces by five paces.  That should be big enough to bury the vastness that is your body!"

My knights and men at arms began banging their shields and cheering.  I said nothing but continued to stare at the walls.  Finally I held up my sword and all went silent. "There is no one who will answer me? Then before I go I say this.  If there are any Englishmen within Barnard who cannot stomach fighting for a man who is insulted and does nothing about it then join me. If you have joined Balliol and Gospatric for riches then you have chosen the wrong side.  All that they will bring you is death!"

I turned my horse around and led my men away east. Sir Hugh Manningham rode next to me, "By God Earl you make a bad enemy! Insulting them was a master stroke. There will be many inside who wonder at their lack of courage."

I shook my head, "So long as King David backs them then they will survive. I wanted the Scottish King rousing.  I hope I did so."

"Why rouse him?"

"I want him angry and hasty.  I want him to make mistakes. When you return to Hexham send your spies to find out what goes on at Berwick and north of the border.  Keep me informed.  I want news, no matter how trivial. We have the upper hand and I do not intend to relinquish it." We spoke as we rode of my plans and I gave him instructions.

When we reached the road where we had ambushed the Scots he led his men towards Auckland and thence home. I led my men south and east along the Roman Road. Edgar sought me out. "Lord, we must get Wilfred to a healer.  I have staunched the bleeding but it needs Father Henry."

I turned to Aiden, "Go with Edgar the falconer and ride as fast as you can to Stockton.  You know the best ways to go.  He is a brave youth.  I would not have him die because of me."

Along with Wilfred's squire the four of them sped off.  They would not spare their horses and I prayed that Wilfred of Piercebridge's life would be saved. It took us all day but we reached home; we were frozen and wet but we brought great booty.  The men at arms and fyrd who had walked to Auckland rode back.  Every one of the fyrd who had volunteered had a new sword, helmet and, in some cases, mail. Aiden had beaten us back by some hours and my people gathered to cheer us through the gates.  We had had a victory and it was close enough to home to mean something. It was the beginning of our fight back.