Enemy at the Gate (13 page)

We met no lords but the farmers we encountered were unhappy.  They were subject to bandits, brigands and Scots.  They paid their taxes and received little in the way of protection. Times past I would have offered them my shield but I could barely hang on to the manors within my own lands. I would help when at least one of my enemies was no more. Tristan and I parted and he returned to Barnard and I headed for Stockton.

Yule was as festive an occasion as any since my wife died. We now had two young families living within my castle walls and new men who had never had such a home before.  Thanks to
'Adela'
and her bulging hold we had wine and spices as well as wheat.  Alice organised the cooks well. There would be the puddings laced with wine as well as rich cakes made with spices and the last of the fruit from autumn. She had Aiden and his hunters  catching game to hang ready for the celebration. 

Aidan came to me, "Lord, Alice wishes a wild boar. I know you allow us to hunt but wild boar is for lords of the manor is it not?"

"It is but you could hunt it if you wished."

"I would but Edward and Edgar are not experienced enough.  I am loath to lose one of them to a boar.  They are deadlier than the wolf."

"Then we will find one for Alice.  It will be good to join my knights and squires in the hunt. Find us a boar and we will go the day after tomorrow."

My knights were eager for the hunt.  Gilles had hunted with his father in Normandy but that had been deer.  Deer rarely attack.  A wild boar can attack with a body riddled with arrows and spears. They are hard to kill and therefore all the more delicious when eaten. We went to Alf to get some new board spears. The spears he normally made were for war.  A boar spear needed a small bar close to the end of the haft to stop the spear head penetrating too far.  I had seen boars almost eat ordinary spears.  If a man came within range of the tusks he was as good as dead.

Aiden and his scouts had found a family of tuskers three miles upstream in the woods which bordered the river. It was half way between my manor and that of Yarm.  It bordered Sir Tristan's at Elton. Only the knights rode and that would only be until we reached the woods. We had brought two stable boys to watch the horses. With thick leather jerkins and gloves we set off through the forest.  Aiden was going to bring us so that we were down wind of the beasts.  They had a great sense of smell. There was no snow but the ground was hard.  That was a mercy. At least we would have a firm footing.  We did not follow the trail but went in three loose lines.  Aidan, Edgar and Edward led, then the four knights and lastly, the squires with spare weapons. I held my spear before me with both hands.  I had hunted wild boar before.  Harold had and he had the same grip as I did.  Sir Tristan and Sir John held their spears one handed.  They were going for the throw.

Aiden held up his hand and I knew that we were close. I relaxed and then tightened my grip. I would need firm hands when the beast was close. Aiden led his two scouts to the west.  They would approach from upwind.  They would make a noise.  The animals would be driven towards us.  I made sure that we were spaced apart and we waited.  As with a battle this was the hardest time. It was still and I could hear the squires breathing heavily behind us.  It was nerves.  It was like going into battle.  The anticipation built within.

Then I heard the rustle of leaves ahead.  There was a squeal and Aiden's voice shouting, "Huzzah!"

I said not a word for if my companions did not know that we were about to see wild boar then I had  misjudged them.  Four young boar raced towards us followed  by a female and two males.  One of the males was an old tusker. I allowed the four adolescents to run past me. It was the older males I wanted.  Sir Tristan hurled his spear at the female. It glanced off her thick hide and she veered towards the young knight.  His squire tripped as he raced to hand him another spear.  It was lucky that Harold was there.  He ran forward and rammed his spear into the side of the sow.  It was not a mortal wound.  In fact it just scored a wound along her flank but it drove her away from both Tristan and his stricken squire as she hurried after her young.

Sir John had learned from Tristan's mistake and he changed his grip. I braced myself with my right leg behind me and, as the young male passed me I lunged at the old boar. He had been hunted before and he swerved at the last moment.  My spear struck him in the shoulder rather than the mouth or eye. He was powerful and I felt myself being pushed over.  John was as strong as Wulfric.  He had little skill with a boar spear but as the old male turned his head to eviscerate me with his tusk John rammed his spear though the side of the tusker's skull. It twitched and then life left his eyes.  He was dead.

I turned and saw that the rest of the small herd had fled. It was good.  There was another male to carry on and we would hunt him some time in the future.  The sow would heal and learn from her experience.  "Is anyone hurt?"

Sir Tristan shook his head, "Just my pride and that of my squire. I have learned a lesson today."

We took some time to tie the beast to four boar spears.  It would help us to carry it.  Aiden and his two hunters emerged from the woods.  They had a brace of game birds.  They had not been idle!

"We have put the boar on spears.  You two falconers help the squires to carry him.  He is a big beast. You did well to find him, Aiden."

I smiled as they struggled to lift him.  He would feed my castle! As we walked back I anticipated the delicious roasts as well as the sausages we would make. Nothing would be wasted.  His head would adorn the wall above my fire in my hall.

We marched triumphantly through my gates. The hunt was more than a way of getting food.  It taught my squires and young knights how to fight an unpredictable enemy. The lessons learned could be translated to the battle field.

I had been eager to travel to Chester to see Ranulf de Meschines, Earl of Chester, but, after Yule, we had blizzards and storms which made life hard enough in the valley and would have made the high passes impassable. So it was that, as we headed over to the west, Stephen's emissaries were travelling to Durham to conclude the peace treaty. Thanks to the intelligence gleaned by Sir Hugh we knew that Stephen had given away almost everything: Prince Henry was given the earldom of Northumberland and was restored to the earldom of Huntingdon and lordship of Doncaster. King David, himself, was allowed to keep Carlisle, Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire north of the Ribble. Stephen had only hung on to Bamburgh and Newcastle.  He had bought off the Scots with half of the Earl of Chester's lands. All that we could have won had been given away.  King David had lost the battle but won the war.

I had with me my four knights and their squires, Philip of Selby and half of my archers and my eleven men at arms.  Deaths and knighthood, not to mention my garrison in Anjou, had taken their toll.  The eleven were more than enough.  We took three servants too but left our warhorses at home.  I did not think that we were going to war.  We were going to find allies.

The blizzards had long gone and, once we crossed the top of the col across, the snow thinned and we made better time. I was not worried about enemies: there were too many of them but as the Scots were just interested in the lead mines to the north of us and the land before Chester had few people, I was confident we could reach the Earl safely. No one with any sense would be out at this time of year. What I did not know was how I would be received.  He had sided with Stephen.  Even though he was married to Maud, the Earl of Gloucester's daughter, he had decided to take the opportunity to ingratiate himself with Stephen.  I was disappointed.  I had thought better of him. There were many such men who had taken Stephen's offer of money and titles.

I sent Ralph of Wales and Walter of Crewe to scout ahead.  They could both pass for natives of the area. I wanted to avoid any conflict before we reached Chester.   It was with some relief that we saw the huge castle and my two scouts returned to tell me that they had entered the city without incident.  We might not have such an easy time. We rode through the outer gate without too much  trouble.  I think the guards there were half asleep or perhaps the cloaks we had wrapped tightly about us hid our identity. We rode through the narrow streets of the busy city.  We passed the cathedral and saw the castle with its fine keep. When my banner was unfurled and our cloaks opened armed guards rushed to the gate. A sergeant at arms asked, nervously, "What is it you seek, my lord?"

I had fought alongside many of the Earl's men and they knew me.  More importantly they knew my reputation. "I am here to speak with the Earl.  I come in peace." He looked beyond me at my men.  I said quietly, "If we came for war, sergeant, then you would be lying dead with arrows in your body.  You know that.  Let us enter.  I promise you that your master will not be harmed."

He nodded and stood aside.

We rode through the gate into the castle. It had a large square keep and a huge bailey. We rode up to the keep and I dismounted.  My men remained outside with the horses.  I knew not what reception we might receive. The Earl himself came to meet me.  He was flanked by his half brother Sir William de Roumare and his wife Maud. I was happy to see that she was smiling.  She had always liked me.  The Earl and his half brother looked worried as though they feared I would draw my sword and slay them all.

I smiled, "My lord, I am here on an embassy."

"From whom, my lord?"

"Is this the place for such discussions, my lord?" I saw him hesitate, "I told your guards that you would be safe. Do you fear that an old friend will turn violent?"

Maud snapped, "This is Aelfraed, husband! You will be safe!" She came next to me and put her arm through mine.  "William, see to the Earl's men." She walked into the keep with me. "Tell me, my lord, have you heard from my father or the Empress?"

I said, quietly, "I have my lady and I have travelled here at their behest."

"Good." She spoke equally quietly, "I have told my husband that he has sided with the wrong ruler but..."

We had reached the Great Hall and she let go of my arm and clapped her hand.  "Food, wine, hurry! We have a distinguished guest."

I was seated between the Earl and his wife.  His half brother faced me. I could see the discomfort in both men's faces. When the wine came Maud poured me a beaker.  "I hear, my lord, that you were at the battle of the standards?"

"I was."

"Then let us toast a hero for the Scots would have been at our very gates had you not done so." The two knights were forced to accede to her request.  "Tell me, Earl, who led the men at the battle?"

"It was the Archbishop, Thurstan himself, who led us, my lady."

For the first time Ranulf smiled, "I fear you are not being totally truthful.  Thurstan is a brave fellow but he has no more idea of dispositions for a battle than my wife here." I smiled as she giggled. "I hear that it was you."

I did not answer his question directly. "Sadly, my lord, I had no power.  If I had had the command I would have followed King David to Carlisle and defeated him once and for all." I paused, "Stephen has allowed King David to keep the lands he has taken."

"That is a lie!"

I said quietly, "Careful, Ranulf.  I promised you that I would not harm you but do not insult me.  When have you ever known me to lie?"

"Then you have been misinformed."

"Prince Henry has been given the earldom of Northumberland and restored to the earldom of Huntingdon and lordship of Doncaster; King David, himself, has been allowed to keep Carlisle, Westmorland, Cumberland and Lancashire north of the Ribble. I have no reason to lie."

"None save that it would bring me into the Empress' fold."

"Which is where you should be, lord. You swore an oath to King Henry to uphold his daughter's claim."

"Stephen was crowned!"

"More shame on those that did so. We all took an oath to see that the Empress and her son would rule. Now is the chance to make amends.  The Empress has allies in Kent who are making advances.  This year sees the return of your father in law and the Empress."

I could see that I had surprised the two men. Maud poured more wine.  "It is as I said, husband, my father will return. Join them."

Just then the door burst open and a dishevelled looking messenger threw himself to the floor.  "My lord, I apologise for the interruption but I bring grave news."

I looked at Maud. She said, behind her hand, "He is in the service of the Baron of Congleton."

"Rise then for you look like a worm wriggling there! Speak!"

"I have come from Windsor, lord and there was an announcement that King Stephen has concluded a peace treaty with the Scots. All of your lands north of the Ribble as well as Doncaster, are to be given to the Scots.  Prince Henry has been given Doncaster and he is there now looking at his new lands and manors."

Ranulf was roughly the same age as I was but he behaved, sometimes, like a spoiled child.  He hurled his beaker at the messenger and began to beat the table with his hands. "I have been betrayed! That bastard! I will kill him! He has deceived me for the last time!"

Maud put her hand on mine and shook her head.  She said quietly, "He is often thus.  He will calm soon."

His half brother said, "The Earl was right, brother.  He did not lie."

I could have taken offence at that but I chose to ignore it. "You say that the Prince is at Doncaster?"

The shaken messenger looked grateful that I was not hurling things at him, "Aye, lord. He arrived there three days since.  He came directly from Durham."

I wondered how he had got by my castles and then realised, that in winter, he could do so with ease. Maud asked, "Why do you ask, my lord?"

I shrugged, "I just thought that if we could get hold of the Prince then we might be able to exchange him for the lands Stephen the Usurper gave away."

The Earl of Chester suddenly looked interested, "Could we?"

"When I chased him back to Carlisle he had but one household knight with him. He may be guarded but they will not be the best of guards.  It could be done. However, my lord, if you did that then you would be rebelling against Stephen for he has signed a peace treaty.  Are you willing to do that?"

"By God I am! You and my wife are both right! I should never have broken my oath.  I have been punished by God for that act!"  His wife jumped up and kissed him.  Then he looked at me, "Earl, will you come with us? You have the best men at arms in the land and this is the sort of thing you are used to."

"Not exactly used to but I will come with you.  The Prince and I have unfinished business."

"It is ninety miles to Doncaster.  If we took spare horses we could be there in two days." He suddenly seemed to realise that the messenger was still in the room.  "Go and thank your lord.  I will reward him when time permits." The messenger bowed and left. "I am sorry that I ever doubted you.  I was seduced by Stephen's generosity."

"It is easy to be generous with another man's goods, titles and lands.  He has done the same to you; giving your lands and titles to an enemy.  He seeks to cling on to power no matter what it takes."

The food was brought in.  I said, "My knights, they are being fed?"

Maud shook her head, "Of course.  How rude. William fetch the knights of the Earl of Cleveland and see that his other warriors are well looked after."

I felt happier with my knights close by.  It was important that they knew what we were about. I told them the news and Dick said, "Doncaster? I know the area. It has fine woods for hunting but the castle is a strong one. It would not fall easily to a conroi such as ours."

I shook my head, "I had not planned on assaulting the castle. The Prince will want to inspect his lands.  He will be abroad and there we can take him.  Philip's archers should be in their element in the woods and forests."

We spent the rest of the evening discussing plans.  It was decided we would take my men along with the Earl, his half brother and ten of his men at arms. The two brothers soon drank more than was good for them and, after my knights had retired, I was left with Maud.

"Do not misjudge my husband, my lord.  He has many good qualities."

"Self control and loyalty do not appear to be among them."

She shook her head, "You are the perfect knight.  My father told me so.  He wished he could be more like you.  Look how long it took him to declare for his sister.  It is another reason why my husband joined Stephen. He wanted to do as you did but lacked the self belief. You see problems, which would be impossible obstacles to others, as challenges to overcome.  You were being your usual modest self earlier.  It was you who led the forces which defeated the Scots. You did that despite fighting alongside men you despised.  It is no wonder the King had you as his champion and you continue to serve the Empress even though she is far away."

"It was the way I was brought up.  You cannot change your nature.  I fear the Earl will be ever thus." She nodded. "The sooner your father comes here the better."

"Amen to that but fear not, Aelfraed, the blood of the Conqueror runs in my veins too.  I may be a woman but I can fight... in my own way!"

As we headed east it was as though winter had disappeared and spring was trying to burst forth.  The skies were bluer and the air felt fresher even though the ground was still hard and a vicious wind blew from the east. The skies gave us heart as we headed into the biting breeze.  We would stop but once at Glossop Castle.  The Baron there, William Peverel, was a friend of the Earl.  It was half way and we would be weary when we arrived.

"I know not this Baron.  Upon whose side does he sit?"

"He says Stephen, but as I did that too it will not be a problem."

"And how will you explain me?"

"I will say that I have persuaded you, as my friend, to travel and meet with King Stephen and settle your differences."

"And will that be believed?"

He laughed, "You are the only one who sees things as either black or white.  The rest of us see shades of grey and accommodation. He will believe us."

The castle was set against the high hills which were the east west barrier. The Baron greeted us warmly enough and the Earl was correct.  He seemed to accept the story that I was considering speaking with Stephen.  It helped that he knew me not.  I had never fought with him.  That, in itself, was revealing for he had never fought alongside King Henry nor the Earl of Gloucester. He had not earned what he held. He was, however, generous with his hospitality and the two brothers, once more, ate and drank more than my knights. We were on campaign and we would be frugal in what we drank. My knights and I retired early leaving the Earl to carouse with his friend.

We had not told him our plans save that we were heading for the London Road as we believed that was where Stephen would be. The Baron left with us for he was on his way to his castle at Nottingham.  We parted at the Dunford Bridge. My knights were alert as we rode the road to Barnsley. We did not want to alarm the Prince. My banner was furled and we rode beneath the banner of Chester. As far as all knew the Earl was still a loyal supporter of Stephen.