Authors: Griff Hosker
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Historical, #Military, #War, #Historical Fiction, #Scottish
While my men rode like professional men at arms the Earl and his half brother had to stop, frequently, to empty the contents of their stomachs. I saw Dick's look of disapproval. He was the most recent knight. He had earned his title and could not understand the behaviour of those who were, apparently, his betters. Tristan and I had been brought up with other young men like that and we were not surprised. I reflected that, of my knights, only Sir Tristan and Sir Hugh were noble born. I had been lucky with them. Those whom I had made noble appreciated their position. Perhaps that was why I had such loyalty amongst my men.
We approached Doncaster towards dusk. Leaving me with my men in the woods a mile from the castle, the Earl and his brother rode towards the castle. The Prince's banner flew from its keep. They would visit with the constable there and send word to us to capture the Prince when the opportunity arose. As it was late we knew we would have to spend a night in the forest for it would have looked suspicious had one of the Earl's men tried to leave during the night.
I saw my knights looking at each other and, finally, Sir Harold spoke for them all. "Can we trust the Earl, lord? He has changed sides remarkably quickly. I thought we would have had to persuade him and use many arguments but he came to our side as soon as you arrived."
I nodded, "Whose banner do we follow, Harold?"
"The Empress, of course."
"And why is that?"
Poor Harold had been brought up as an outlaw in Sherwood forest and I saw the confusion on his face. "She is the rightful ruler of England, lord."
"However, if I was not Earl then whom would you follow?" I looked at Tristan, "Tristan's father behaved the way I believe you would have done. He sided with Stephen, at first, for that was the safest route for his family and the easier act." I held my hand up, "I am not criticising, Tristan. Your father is now on our side but it took a wound to you to do so."
He nodded, "You are right."
"And so it is with the Earl. He chose the safe option and the loss of his land is the same as a blow to Tristan was to his father." Understanding lit their faces. "However others may not have the same motivation. Expect treachery."
I saw Dick nodding, "My time among the outlaws taught me that. Some men smiled and then tried to knife you in the back. The men I trust I see around this fire. All others have to earn that trust. I know what you say, lord but this Earl has not yet earned my trust."
"And yet I have been ordered to bring him into our camp. I will watch him, carefully, Dick. Doubt not that."
It was a cold cheerless night in the forest and I was glad when dawn broke. I was no longer the young man who could lie in the woodlands and not feel it. When the Earl and his men left the castle and headed towards us I knew that something was wrong. We had stayed within the woods to avoid observation.
"What is wrong, Ranulf?"
His face was red. "We have been thrown out of the castle! That young cockerel demanded that I pay him obeisance as he was now my lord. I refused!"
His brother said, "We were guarded during the night. Harsh words were spoken before we left."
I shook my head. Once more the Earl's lack of self control was hurting us. I took a deep breath. I owed it to the Empress and her brother to do my best with this volatile earl. "It does not change things. We wait here. Dick, send four archers to the south road and four to the north road. We will watch this one. When the Prince emerges we will take him."
William de Roumare said, "He plans to head back to Scotland in the next few days."
The Earl said, "How do you know?"
"When you were cursing him and spitting fire and brimstone I was speaking with the servants. They told me that the Prince had heard that the Earl of Cleveland had left his castle and he feared for his life."
"Then we can take him." I turned to Edgar, "We will make a camp in the forest. Set guards."
"Aye lord."
My archers scouted the woods and made sure that we were not discovered. The Earl found the waiting the hardest. He seemed like a pot on the fire constantly bubbling and threatening to spill over on to the coals. His half brother was much calmer and more thoughtful. On the second morning we received unwelcome news. Henry Warbow rode in. "My lord King Stephen has entered Doncaster with knights and men at arms."
The Earl became agitated, "What does this mean?"
"I suspect it means that William Peverel sent word to Stephen the Usurper of our presence. Stephen is a clever man. We might take others in with the ruse that I was ready to negotiate but he would know better. Add to that the fact that my absence from Stockton has been noted and I see treachery."
"Does it not spoil our plans?"
"Of course not! They still have to travel north sometime. I cannot see either the Prince or Stephen happy to stay in Doncaster. Either they come to seek us or they travel. We continue to watch."
Henry Warbow brought us news the next morning that the Prince, escorted by Stephen had left Doncaster and was heading north. "He is going home. How many men does he have, Henry?"
"There look to be ten Scots and Stephen has twenty men with him."
"We have more than enough to take them!" The Earl was quite excited.
"It would seem to me that he would have more men than that."
"Where is your spirit, Aelfraed. I can do Maud's father the greatest favour. I capture Stephen and then the Empress can be crowned Queen."
This was the foolhardy Earl once more. "We will head north, Ralph, take the archers and try to get ahead of them. We will follow and attempt to trap them between us." I had a picture of the land in my mind. They would head for Pontefract or Wakefield. Both had castles and lords loyal to Stephen. After that it was a short distance to York. There they would be safe.
As we rode north, towards the road I said, "A better place to ambush them would be north of York. They have to head towards Piercebridge and I know the land well there."
"No, Earl we will take him as soon as we see him.."
I did not reply. I had the majority of the men at arms and I would decide when we attacked. Within a short time we had reached the road and made good time along it. My archers would be able to ride across country and make much better time. Ralph of Wales knew his business. He would keep them closely watched and send a messenger to me when the time was right for an ambush. Pontefract was a couple of hours from Doncaster and I suspected that the Prince and Stephen would stop there for refreshment. As we neared the castle I slowed us down. "What is the problem Earl? Why do we stop?"
"Yonder is a castle. We cannot ride through it. We must wait until we see our prey move north and then skirt the castle."
"Why not skirt it now and get ahead of them?"
"We have men ahead of them. What if they choose to turn around and head back? This could be a ruse. He may be visiting his nearest neighbour." I could see that the Earl was not used to thinking such things through. He just reacted. "Send one of your men to the town. He can return here when he sees which way they go."
"John. Ride to the town." The Earl gave him a copper coin. "Buy yourself a beaker of ale."
I put my arm on his shoulder, "If you are questioned tell them that you are on your way to Barnsley on an errand for your master and make sure you leave by the west gate." He looked at the Earl who nodded.
William Roumare said," You are a cautious man, my lord."
"It is how I have survived so long surrounded by enemies. If you do not think, you die."
I could feel the Earl's impatience. He fiddled with his mail and with his sword. He strode around like a caged wolf. I shook my head and said to his brother, "He is wasting energy."
"It is his way. He is a man of action."
"Better to save your action for when it will do the most good; on the field of battle."
John returned a short while later. He reined in next to the Earl. "I have found out where they go! They are riding to Tadcaster where they will spend the night."
"Excellent!"
"How did you find out, John?"
"I was in the inn and when two of the King's men entered in livery they began to talk about it."
"That is convenient." I was suspicious of such happenstance.
The Earl shrugged, "Sometimes men are careless. We are wasting time. We can catch them at the River Aire. They will have to catch the ferry at Fryston. We ride!"
I let the two brothers lead their men off. Something about this did not smell right. I rode next to Dick. He was the master of ambush. I told him what we knew. He shook his head, "I am sorry, lord but it is just too much of a coincidence for two of Stephen's men to go into a tavern and tell the whole world their plans."
Harold asked, quite reasonably, "But how could he know that the Earl has defected and that we pursue them?"
"I can think of two reasons: the servant who brought us the news and William Peverel. Both could have told Stephen. It is known he pays well. I fear that this is a trap. Warn the men. We may have to run from our foes this time." I now regretted sending my archers ahead. They would be watching for somewhere where they could spring an ambush upon our prey. I hoped that they did not fall foul of whatever plan the Usurper and the Prince had concocted.
The Earl and his men were now half a mile ahead of us for they were eager to catch our prey when they tried to cross the ferry. Just after the small village of Brotherton there was a wood which closed in with the road as it descended towards the river. The Earl was so concerned with catching Stephen and Prince Henry that he failed to keep a close watch on the undergrowth to the side of them. Suddenly arrows, spears and stones were hurled at the column of men. Four men at arms fell in the first volley. It was a trap. I heard a horn sound and knew that Stephen and Prince Henry would be returning to deal with the enemy they thought was me.
"Dick, take Tristan and go right with half of the men. John, take Harold and go left with the other half. Leave your squires with me!" I spurred Rolf. "Draw your swords, squires and keep tightly to me."
My plan was simple. The ambushers needed to have their attention on the road. That would enable my men at arms to catch them unawares. I had no doubt that Ralph of Wales would be bringing my archers back for they would have heard the clamour. I drew my own sword and pulled my shield tighter to my body. Even as we approached another three men at arms fell. The Earl, his brother and their squires were fighting desperately but they were assailed on all sides by men wielding axes and billhooks. Horses and men at arms fell for they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Beyond the ambush I saw the banners of the Prince and Stephen as they rushed back to catch the prize that they hoped was me. I put them from my mind. I veered to the right and brought my sword down on the back of the neck of the cross bowman who was levelling his weapon at the Earl. My sword tore through his aventail but he was dead already. The blow from the heavy blade had broken his neck. Gilles had learned well and he leaned to the side to sweep his sword at the unprotected head of an archer. Blood, pieces of bone and brains splattered the trees. I heard cries from my right and left as my men at arms and knights fell upon the ambushers.
The Earl and his brother were the only two survivors who remained on their horses and I saw Prince Henry and Stephen as they raced to finish them off. I spurred Rolf who responded magnificently. I left the squires in my wake. Their horses could not keep up. I fended a blow from a billhook with my shield. The Earl and his brother had both been struck and their horses were struggling. I shouted, "Clear the way! Earl, fall back!"
I was less than twenty paces from them but they managed to pull their weary mounts to the side. I did not slow up but went directly for the Prince and Stephen the Usurper. It was a move they did not expect. They were riding boot to boot and I aimed Rolf at the narrowest of gaps. Their horses both pulled away. I swung my sword horizontally at Stephen as I punched as hard as I could with my shield at the Prince. My punch caught him just as his horse veered and he tumbled from his horse. My sword smacked hard into Stephen and he pulled away to the right. I saw the men at arms coming towards me. There were too many for me and my squires. I had bought the Earl enough time and I pulled my horse to the left. I slashed at the two men at arms' horses as I turned. The blade made them both baulk. At the same time I saw the next two were plucked from their saddles by invisible hands. It was my archers.
When I had completed my turn I was astonished to see the Earl and his brother still in the middle of the road, "Retreat! Back! Do you want to die?"
They seemed to see the column of men behind me and they put spurs to horse. I felt something strike my back but I did not turn around. I kept yelling, "Fall back! Fall back!"
Had my archers not arrived when they had done then it would have gone ill for us. As it was the unhorsed Prince and the foiled ambush made them form a defensive line. We left the woods and, when we were half a mile from them I halted the remnants of our conroi. I was relieved to see that I had lost none of my own men. The Earl and his brother looked shocked. I saw my archers as they emerged from the woods. They, too, had avoided losses.