Conquest (38 page)

Hereward paused and, instead of pressing home his advantage, watched Hamilcar circle him, crouched ready to strike. The Moor, although a man of obvious malevolence, had made his challenge according to the Arab code of chivalry, a tradition that was beginning to be adopted by knights throughout Europe. Hereward decided to respect this noble tradition and, despite Rodrigo’s warning to avoid a knife fight with Hamilcar at all costs, cast aside his shield and sword and drew his seax.

The Moor smiled. ‘Very gracious of you, Englishman. As a reward, I will make your end quick.’

Another battle ensued, but this was much more a sparring of lunges, feints and postures than their previous brutal combat with lances and swords. Hereward knew that a knife fight was like a sword fight; the key was to avoid focusing solely on the eyes of one’s opponent but also to concentrate on his weapon and his body movement. He soon realized that Hamilcar often used a rapid gesture of his right hand just before he thrust with his left. Hereward decided to gamble that the Moor would not know that, because of injuries sustained during his encounter with Thurstan’s assassins many years previously, he had trained himself to be equally proficient with both his left and right hand.

He chose his moment carefully.

As Hamilcar launched another attack, he threw his seax from his right hand to his left. The Moor was surprised and distracted, giving Hereward the opportunity to grasp his adversary’s wrist. At the same time, he plunged forcefully with his weapon – a mortal blow that Hamilcar only avoided at the last moment by a desperate clasp of Hereward’s forearm. The two men fell backwards as Hamilcar lost his balance in defending Hereward’s strike.

Now the two men were face to face, feeling one another’s breath, smelling each other’s sweat, sensing every strain of muscle and sinew; they were as close as two lovers in a tryst.

Hereward had the advantage; his grip was firmer than his opponent’s tenuous hold on his forearm, and it was only a matter of time before he was able to wrestle free his seax. However, instead of inflicting the coup de grace, he delivered a mighty blow to the side of Hamilcar’s jaw with his fist and the pommel of his seax, followed by a second equally thunderous swipe.

Hereward sheathed his seax, stood up and walked towards Rodrigo’s tent, leaving the Moor dazed and motionless on the ground. He had taken only five yards when a shriek from Doña Jimena made him turn round. The saifani jambiya was only inches from his throat; he could see in detail the rubies and sapphires of its decorated hilt and the distinctive pale yellow hue of its handle. He immediately fell backwards, rolling with Hamilcar’s momentum and using it to his advantage.

In their fall to the ground, Hereward was able to get both his hands around the wrist of his foe. He turned the jambiya 180 degrees, so that it now pointed directly away from him and towards the man who had come to Rodrigo’s camp to kill him.

As Hamilcar fell on top of Hereward, the jambiya sank deep into his chest. He did not feel anything for a moment as the razor-sharp blade made a smooth, painless entry. It was only when the steel tip of the blade lodged between the vertebrae of his spine that he began to feel convulsions of unbearable agony. He lost all feeling in his legs, but could taste cold metal on his tongue and a searing pain. They were the last sensations he felt; within moments, he was dead.

Hereward looked at his vanquished opponent and remembered his own search for vengeance all those years earlier in Ely.

He already knew how dangerous the desire for revenge could be; this encounter with Hamilcar of Tunis was further proof that it is a craving so powerful, it can make a man as demented as a rabid dog.

22. England Beckons

It had been obvious for some time that Alphonso and the maid Cristina had become close. They were often together with Rodrigo, Jimena and Hereward – and it was evident that the two of them had found more than friendship.

As they prepared to break camp, Doña Jimena gave Cristina the evening off to spend time with Alphonso and, summoning the finest fare their winter quarters allowed, organized a final dinner for Rodrigo and Hereward.

After an excellent meal and much good humour, Rodrigo attempted to usher Jimena away to her bed. ‘We are going to talk of war and the deeds of violent men, Jimena. You should go to bed.’

‘Am I not betrothed to you, Rodrigo Diaz, the greatest warrior in Spain? Should I not know about war and the deeds of violent men?’

Rodrigo relented. Spending time with Jimena away from court had perhaps convinced him that she did not always want to be treated like a genteel noblewoman.

He turned to Hereward. ‘When we talked in the cathedral all those weeks ago, you told me about your own personal relic. I said that one day we would talk about it.’

‘You have a good memory, Rodrigo. It is something that has caused me much anguish, has led me to doubt my wife and is still something that I find difficult to understand. It could carry a message of great importance, or it could be
no more than a cheap bauble. Torfida had no doubts about its worth. The only mystery for her was whether its message came from God, or whether it was a clever symbol of man’s potential to solve his own riddles. Either way, she never doubted its significance.’

Hereward took the Talisman from his neck and passed it to Rodrigo, who examined it carefully.

‘It is the image of Lucifer. How can this be a relic?’ Rodrigo passed it to Jimena.

‘How can you carry such a thing, Hereward? It is the image of the Devil; surely it’s a pagan fetish?’

Hereward outlined his story, beginning with his encounter with Torfida’s father, the Old Man of the Wildwood. He described how he had found her in Hereford and how she had explained the Talisman’s origins. He told them about the strange reaction of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, of Macbeth’s sad demise while wearing it, and how he had been convinced that his journey as the keeper of the Talisman had ended when he passed it to Harold, King of England.

‘The end of the story is a little indelicate for Jimena’s tender years.’

‘Fear not, Hereward, you may speak frankly in front of Jimena.’

Hereward continued quickly, to spare his own shame, as he described the Talisman’s return to him by Edith Swan-Neck. He related the trauma of Torfida discovering them in the forest, her disappearance and illness and, finally, her tragic death.

As he finished his story, Jimena exclaimed,‘The thing is a curse! Give it to the Bishop of Oviedo in the morning.
He can bury it in the cathedral crypt; it will never haunt you again.’

‘It is not as simple as that, Jimena. It is at least a thousand years old, and I am entrusted with its safekeeping. Besides, in her death throes, Torfida sent me a message. I keep it with me always.’ He took a small, tightly wrapped linen bundle from his bag, unfolded it carefully and handed the wooden inscription to Jimena.

The young woman’s Latin was perfect; she read it aloud.

Hereward’s eyes filled with tears as he continued his story. ‘Her death and her message helped me understand the symbolism of the Talisman. It carries five messages of abiding truth that are the key to wisdom and kingship. The first is courage – to overcome our fears and anxieties. The second is discipline – to control the darkness within us. The third is humility – to know that only God can work miracles. The fourth is sacrifice – to forfeit ourselves for God and for one another, as Christ did. The fifth is wisdom – to understand the stone, not to fear it. At first, I thought of it as a lucky charm from which the wearer would acquire the gifts it holds, but Torfida helped me understand that it is a catechism, a constant reminder of the truths it carries. It doesn’t protect you, it only helps you protect yourself.’

Jimena and Rodrigo looked at one another.

Rodrigo spoke first. ‘Torfida was right, you are destined to be its next recipient; no one could be more worthy.’

Jimena pressed Hereward’s arm. ‘They were Torfida’s dying words; you must believe in the Talisman and accept her wisdom that you are the one to wear it’.

Hereward’s two Castilian friends embraced him as Rodrigo placed the Talisman over his friend’s head.

‘I can’t thank both of you enough for your friendship; it is more than I could have dreamed of. I came here knowing it was my duty to go back to England, but I also knew that I wasn’t ready in mind or body. You have helped me become a soldier again – and a much better one – but, most importantly, you have helped me clear my mind and revive my spirit. I am now ready to face the task ahead of me. My eternal thanks to you both.’

They returned to the Great Hall of Count Diego for a farewell banquet. It was an evening of good humour and fine food. Count Diego, despite his stern demeanour, was a good host, and Doña Viraca brought the dignity and manners appropriate to the high table of an important city.

At dawn the next morning, Hereward and Alphonso were ready to leave. Alphonso’s romance with Cristina had become serious. Within twenty-four hours of their return from the winter camp, she had gathered all her worldly possessions, obtained permission to leave from her mistress and even been granted a small dowry.

She was charming, hung on Alphonso’s every word and clung to him like a leech. Cristina would be a source of great delight at St Cirq Lapopie.

Rodrigo and Jimena had risen early to bid them farewell. Jimena hugged Cristina and wished her much love and happiness and then gave Alphonso a stern reminder about his responsibilities to care for her.

She turned to Hereward and kissed him on his cheek in a fond embrace. ‘God’s speed to England. If Rodrigo ever forgets that one day he is supposed to marry me, I promise
to come to England as a poor unfortunate spinster and throw myself on your mercy.’

Rodrigo walked with Hereward to his horse, both men contemplating all that had been said during the course of their winter together.

Hereward voiced his thoughts first. ‘In truth, my mission in England has little chance of success. The English may already be a beaten people. The Saxons to the south are overrun, the Celts are mercurial and will probably only fight if William crosses into their own territory, and the Anglo-Danes, who live mainly in the northern realms of the earls Edwin and Morcar, have been badly led and failed England at the moment of its greatest need. As for foreign support, Denmark is the solitary possibility, but their only motivation will be plunder.’

‘What of the remnants of Harold’s army?’

‘So many were killed with Harold. He does have sons, and some housecarls will rally to them. However, the true heir is Edgar of the Cerdician line. When I get back to Aquitaine, I will know if he has survived and if he has the stomach to fight for his birthright.’

‘If anyone can do it, you can. I am very tempted to come with you, but my mission is here in Spain and I have Jimena to think of.’

The two men parted with one last warrior’s embrace.

Hereward did not allow himself even a moment to savour the prospect of returning to England with The Cid at his side. ‘We would be a formidable partnership, but you must follow the path that fate has ordained for you.’

‘So must we both.’

*

In order to significantly reduce the journey time from Oviedo to Cahors, passage had been arranged on a merchant ship from the nearby port of Gigon, bound for Bordeaux. Strong winds off the Atlantic carried them along Spain’s northern coast and across the Bay of Biscay at a good rate of knots.

With Alphonso’s help, Hereward had mastered the astrolabe and constantly irritated the ship’s captain with endless observations about their course and arrival times. Their progress up the River Garonne was much slower; sail was often no match for the strong current, and draught animals had to be used. They took a trader’s barge as far as Aiguillon, where the Lot joined the Garonne, and then employed oarsmen to row them up the Lot with as much speed as their broad shoulders could generate.

When they arrived at St Cirq Lapopie there was much rejoicing, and Cristina was made welcome. Everyone could see that Hereward was in fine health and had returned to his former self. His daughters were overjoyed; their father had been restored to them.

Edwin had already arrived at St Cirq Lapopie, accompanied by a senior housecarl from Harold’s hearthtroop at Glastonbury. Between them, they gave a detailed account of events in England.

With most of the Normans holed up in their mottes and baileys, the winter had been a period of relative calm for the beleaguered English. However, the harsh winter had done little for people’s spirits, and the fear and despondency throughout the land had become worse. Now that spring had arrived, everyone was bracing themselves for more harsh campaigns from the Duke.

The housecarl, Edmund, a taciturn man of very solid appearance, gave Hereward a frank assessment of the current political and military situation. In the south and east, many Saxons were beginning to make money thanks to the Norman presence. Buildings were under construction at great pace and in vast numbers. Trade in the burghs was brisk, and money from the defeated Saxon aristocracy was finding its way into the pockets of merchants and artisans as the Normans disposed of their new wealth on enhancing their homes and possessions. The ports were flourishing as trade with Normandy and Europe increased at a startling rate. Farmers were prospering – at least, those close to Norman strongholds.

The losers were the provinces and the poorer parts of the community. Most of the hinterland was still not under direct Norman control. There, the people were living in a vacuum of destitution, with neither trade nor security. The peasants of the south, left to their miserable existence, continued to toil for scant reward as they always had. The Saxon aristocracy and the ecclesiastical elite, whose lands and possessions were all but gone, were dispirited and dejected and many had gone into hiding.

Finally, Edmund described the status of England’s surviving professional soldiers. Some had returned to their homes and hidden their weapons. Others, determined to fight the Normans in any way they could, had formed small bands of irregulars. Many had left England to find a life elsewhere.