Enemy at the Gate (21 page)

Four men fell with surprised looks on their faces as the arrows descended in the dark.  Another three fell to the next flight and then we were amongst them. A man at arms reacted quickly and he picked up his axe.  I hacked across his body with my sword.  Freshly sharpened, it cut his arms through to the bone and he fell spurting blood. Shouts erupted all around us as the alarm was given.  Panic ensued. I ran towards the tents of the knights.  Arrows still descended and struck men who had little idea where the attack was coming from.  Gilbert of Basildon came out of his tent flanked by his two squires.  I had fought alongside him once. That meant nothing now and he shouted, "Cleveland! You treacherous dog! I might have expected this."

I left the posturing to him and I ran at him. He swung his sword at head height.  It was a slow and clumsy blow.  He had never been a particularly clever fighter. I had time to angle my shield and to thrust at his face with my sword.  His sword slid harmlessly down my shield while he had to react quickly to block my sword.  It was not totally successful for it flicked his helmet from his head revealing his coif. Henry of Langdale and my two squires fought with his squires. Sir Gilbert was forced to step back and he found himself in the entrance to his tent.  When he tried to swing at me again his sword became entangled in the tent. I thrust at his middle this time and scored a hit on his mail.  Links were severed.

He was hampered by the tent while I was outside and had freedom of movement.  "Yield and you shall live!"

"Never!" He stabbed at me but it was a predictable strike and my shield was there to block the blow.

I pulled my arm back.  "Then die!" Wulfstan had always told me that I had the quickest hands he had seen and my right hand darted out and my sword struck him between the eyes.  There was neither helmet nor nasal to protect him.  He was dead instantly. I turned and saw that my men had slain the Baron's men. 

I spied papers in the tent. "Gilles you and Richard guard this. We have much to learn. The rest of you, with me!"

I ran towards the next tent. I saw Harold was there already with his men but they were being attacked by eight knights and men at arms. Henry of Langdale had picked up an axe and he hurled himself at their backs.  His mighty blow sliced through the mail and back of one knight and knocked a man at arms to the ground.  As they turned I darted in and stabbed a knight in the groin.  He fell writhing to the ground.

Ralph and the archers had their short swords and seaxes in their hands.  In close combat those double weapons were deadly.  The archers were without armour and could close with mailed knights.  I saw Ralph hamstring one knight who, as he fell had his throat slit by a second archer. The sound of horses approaching was like thunder and men began to throw down their weapons and shouted, "Mercy! I yield!"

Sir Raymond reined in next to me.  "You did not need us, lord."

"I did.  It was your horses which made them surrender." I pointed to the tents , "But this does not seem like a huge army and where is Stephen I wonder?"

As we rounded the prisoners up the gates of the castle opened and Sir Henry Bohun emerged to greet us.  "The Earl of Cleveland! I might have know you would come to our aid."

"Where is Stephen?"

"The King? He and the majority of his army left this morning and headed east."

I turned to one of the prisoners.  "Where has Stephen gone?"

The young knight gave me a smile, "He goes to capture Wallingford! He knew you would take the bait and come here.  King Stephen can outwit a wolf any time!"

Sir Raymond said, "So it would seem."

"I think not Sir Raymond. Sir Brian has Wallingford well defended.  He will hold out.  We rest and leave at noon.  Send a rider to the Earl of Gloucester and tell him the news."

I returned to the tent of Sir Gilbert. My squires guarded it still. Gilles pointed to a box of coins.  "The Baron was a wealthy man."

I examined the coins.  There were some with the face of Stephen but many bore the image of the King of France and the Count of Flanders. Here was a true mercenary. "Guard the chest, Gilles." I was more interested in the papers. "Richard, fetch me a light."

I began to read.  They were messages from lords and barons. Here was evidence that Ranulf, Earl of Chester, had indeed gone over to the side of the usurper.  It also showed that he had spies for one letter spoke of Nigel, Bishop of Ely who was fermenting rebellion against Stephen's rule. Alarmingly there were letters from Prince Henry in Scotland hinting that when he became king he might switch the allegiance of Scotland from Matilda to Stephen. Stockton was in danger.

"Richard, gather these papers.  You are to guard them."

"Are they important, lord?"

"They are.  We might have missed our prey but these are as valuable as the coins which Gilles watches."

We left the prisoners with Sir Henry and headed back to Wallingford.  I was concerned for there had been no word from the Earl of Gloucester.  A rider found us as we headed for Wallingford telling me that Sir Miles was also going to Wallingford and the Empress had sent men with him to help relieve the siege.  Our news had reached the right ears.

Sir Raymond rode next to me. "Do we try the same trick with Stephen?"

"If we can then we do but he has campaigned in enemy lands before.  I will be surprised if it works with him. We may have to give battle here."

"How many men will he have?"

"The prisoners spoke of two hundred knights.  There could be a thousand men at the siege."

"Even with Sir Miles, Sir Pain and the men the Empress sends we will be outnumbered."

"In total numbers aye but we will have more knights and we have Wallingford. Sir Brian knows how to defend and he knows how to attack. If he gets the opportunity then he will sally forth. This will be a battle of wits as well as arms."

We reached Wallingford after dark.  We could see the fires of those besieging the castle.  They lay to the south of the castle and to the west of the river. We made a camp and placed half of our men on watch.  I would not be caught out by my own trick. When dawn broke we were tired but unharmed. I sent out scouts to find Sir Miles and Sir Pain while I went with my household knights and Sir Raymond to scout out the enemy positions.

It was a mighty host. Stephen had anticipated relief and dug ditches to the west of his camp to prevent us from attacking that way.  With the river on the other side it would be a costly venture to attack him. He had also encircled the castle so that there was no way that we could deliver a message to the defenders.  I was confident that Sir Brian had prepared for a siege. He would be well provisioned.  When I reached our camp I set Edgar and the rest of the men at arms and archers digging ditches and embedding stakes.  Until the rest of our forces arrived we could be attacked and overwhelmed.  Stephen had the advantage.

Sir Miles arrived first.  "We have retaken South Cerney.  Sir Pain had more trouble at Malmesbury and he lost more men.  It will take him a day or two to reach us."

"Until he does and until the men the Empress has sent reach us then we have to be on the defensive. We make our camp a fortress."

As I walked the lines with my squires Richard asked, "Why will it take so long for men to reach us from Gloucester, lord?"

"They will have many men on foot.  You are used to travelling at the speed of a horse. They will come and they will be needed.  If the Earl of Gloucester came then we could end this war once and for all."

"Why does he not come lord?  The Empress is his sister."

"I know not Gilles but when this is over then I will visit with him.  I served his father too long to allow this petulance to jeopardise his father's legacy."

I had the men dig a deep ditch and line it with stakes we cut from the nearby woods. We had time to sharpen them and fire harden them. When our reinforcements arrived I breathed a sigh of relief.  Although still outnumbered we could now face them and meet them blade to blade. We watched as the enemy built rams and towers. They took time but they would be effective. It was infuriating not to be able to attack them while they were being built. The ditches and the stakes made any attack risky.

I was riding the defensive lines in the mid morning when I saw knights leave the camp of the enemy and ride towards us.  I recognised the standard of Stephen and also that of the Earl of Derby.  I had slain the Earl and I wondered who had claimed his title. My household knights and my squires closed about me. Dick shouted, "Archers!"

I smiled.  My men were protective of me.  I was not worried for they had two ditches between us. Stephen took off his helmet and I took off mine, "Earl.  We are meeting more frequently these days."

I nodded, "The pleasure is all yours."

He laughed, "I forgot, when we met at Arundel that I had to thank you for defeating the Scots for me. I had thought that you would have sided with my cousin's uncle."

"I defend England and I defend my valley against all who would harm them."

He nodded and gestured to the knight who had the livery of de Ferrers. "This is the cousin of the Earl of Derby. He would have words with you."

I faced the young man. He took off his glove and hurled it across the ditches to me. "I am Walter de Ferrers and I am here to challenge you to mortal combat.  You have killed my cousin and I demand satisfaction."

I picked up the glove and laughed, "Is this some kind of joke, Usurper?  Do you find boys to do the work you should do?"

Stephen shook his head. "This is not of my doing, Earl.  I have spent the last few days trying to dissuade the young knight from this folly but he will have none of it."

"You purport to be king.  Order him."

"You and I both know that once someone begins this course of action it must be pursued to its logical end.  I cannot have him leading his conroi off on some wild goose chase to fight with you.  We will do this properly.  You have the choice to accept or decline."

Stephen was clever.  He had distanced himself from the offer.  If I declined then it would weaken our men and if I accepted the young man might prove successful.  I guessed that the young knight had proved himself in the tourney.

I walked to the glove, picked it up and threw it back across the ditch to him. "Very well. Reluctantly, I accept the challenge but I urge you, young man, to reconsider."

"You are old and no longer King Henry's champion.  You will die by my hand."

"And what will that gain you?"

"Honour and glory!"

I shook my head. He wanted to make a reputation for himself.  He would be the knight who slew King Henry's champion. It was no wonder that Sir Alan de Dinant, lived a quiet life. There would be many who would wish to fight and kill the man who defeated the French King's champion. "Where and when?"

He pointed to the area between the castle and the river. "There and then both our armies will see my victory and your death! Noon when the sun is at its zenith!" I looked at the place.  It was flattish but there was a gentle slope which led to the River Thames.

I nodded, "Noon it is then."

I turned my horse and rode back to our lines. Sir Miles, Sir Raymond and Sir Pain  had all seen the interchange but heard nothing. Only my squires and household knights knew what would ensue. When I told them Sir Pain said, "Decline the offer.  There is nothing to be gained from the combat!"

"And that is why Stephen has put him up to it. If I decline then our enemies see it as a victory and they hope that my wounds and my age will make me weaker.  If not then they have lost but a reckless young knight. Either way they win.  It is my fault for placing myself close to their lines. I had forgotten how clever Stephen the Usurper is."

I would have to fight the young knight. Stephen too was gambling but the odds were in his favour.  He could not lose no matter what the outcome. The best outcome for me was my survival.

I ordered Gilles to saddle my new war horse, Copper.  I had no doubt that the young knight would bring a warhorse and I would not risk Rolf.  I had not ridden my new warhorse over much but as the horse of the Earl of Derby I felt that fate decreed that I should ride him. Gilles put an edge on my sword. "Richard, go and put an edge on my spear."

"You will not use a lance my lord?"

"A long spear is as good as a lance and easier to handle.  Besides you can put an edge on a spear. I would not make the young knight suffer.  He is brave. I have seen splinters from lances kill a man in days.  I would either just defeat him or kill him swiftly."

As my squires dressed me I thought about the young knight.  He may have done well in mêlée and the tourney but they were different from combat to the death.  I had done both. He had been badly advised. Stephen had gone down in my estimation.  I had thought him honourable.  This was not.  Perhaps I brought out the worst in him.

The final preparation was for my helmet to be polished and my mail given one last coat of oil. Although I wore my surcoat I knew that when Walter de Ferrers struck at me with his sword he would cut through the surcoat.  I wanted his sword to slide off my mail and not to cut into it. The tip of my sword had been sharpened too so that a thrust had more chance of penetrating my enemy's mail.  Such were the margins which would determined success or failure.

Richard had groomed Copper so that he shone.  The young Ferrers had made a mistake choosing noon.  The sun in the south made my horse shine like molten gold. It would seem like an omen. My warhorse himself was eager for combat.  I did not think that the Earl had ridden him for some time. Once in the saddle I leaned forward and stroked his forelock, "Today we begin a friendship which will last a lifetime." I was taking a chance riding a horse I barely knew but it felt as though it was meant to be.

Copper whinnied and raised his head.  I took it as a good omen. I took Gilles and Richard with me. They had spare weapons with them in case my own broke.  Wooden bridges had been laid across the newly dug ditches and the sharpened stakes removed.  There would be a truce for the day.

As I passed the main gate of the castle Sir Brian leaned over. "What is happening, my lord?"

"Young de Ferrers has challenged me to a fight to the death."

Sir Brian shook his head, "Has the young man a death wish?"

"I think someone has put him up to it."

"Go with God."

It was not a large area in which we would fight. It was, perhaps fifty paces long but only thirty paces wide.  With the river at one side and a ditch at the other it would need close control for a rider to stay in the saddle.  I saw Walter de Ferrers and his squire as they crossed the ditch towards us. I let him pass for he wanted the eastern side.  It was his first mistake as it meant he was facing the sun.  The three squires took their horses and spare weapons and stood close by the ditch.  They would also have to be careful to avoid being knocked into the ditch during the combat. A whirling war horse could be as deadly as any sword or spear.

I rode to the western end and waited.  He was the challenger and it was up to him to initiate the combat. I watched him as he began to build himself up for the fight.  He kept pulling back on his reins to make his horse rear. It evoked a cheer from his own men each time he did so.  I wanted my horse calm and so I stroked his mane and spoke quietly to him. I kept my eyes on young Ferrers. He had a proper lance and not a long spear such as I held. It would strike me before my spear could hit him.  However it was much heavier. His posturing and rearing was sapping energy from his arm.  The longer he did this the more tired he would become.

Perhaps he realised he was becoming tired for he suddenly put spurs to his horse and hurtled towards me. I set Copper off and kept my spear levelled on my cantle.  He had decided to attack my shield side.  That suited me.  I saw the tip of his lance wavering up and down.  He made a second mistake when he leaned too far forward. I remained upright and held my spear slightly behind me. Although he was aiming at my head his wavering lance meant that he hit my shield as I raised it.  The lance shattered.  I punched with my spear the moment his lance hit my shield.  I aimed at his middle.  My spear slid above his cantle and beneath his broken lance. The sharpened head struck him hard in the stomach and the head must have severed some of the mail links for I felt it grate before it was torn from my hand. It fell to the ground.

I wheeled Copper around and was able to turn faster than the young knight who was travelling far too fast.  He barely managed to stop his horse before the river.  I drew my sword as I cantered up. He turned his wild eyed horse's head around and saw that I was closing with him.  He panicked a little and drew his sword as he spurred his horse.  This time I had the choice of which side to attack and I pulled Copper to the left so that I met him sword to sword. I swept my sword just above his horse's head.  I saw him raise his sword to hack at my head.  Bringing my shield across I held it before me. The knight's antics had made his horse skittish and when my sword came towards its head it pulled to the left.  The result was that my sword struck him hard in the middle again while his hit fresh air.  Worse, he overbalanced and tumbled from his horse.

I turned Copper towards Gilles and Richard.  Sir Walter's squire ran to help his knight to his feet and to grab the rearing horse. He would have difficulty.  As Richard held Copper I dismounted.  "Gilles, you had better help his squire with his horse."

"Aye lord."

Richard asked, "Is it over, lord?"

"It should be but I fear the young man is too pig headed.  He is brave but he lacks control." Richard helped me to tighten the strap on my shield.  We used it loose when fighting on horseback but held it tightly fastened when on foot. I nodded my thanks and headed back to the knight who was now on his feet having shrugged off his squire. I noticed that he had not tightened his strap. That was a third mistake.

His fourth was to run at me.  I had hit him twice in the middle.  Those blows sapped energy and he now wasted even more.  He was, however, a strong knight and his blow, when he struck my shield was a powerful one. I took some of the force from it by stepping to the side and angling my shield. I held my sword slightly behind me to disguise my strike.  He was going for power and was attempting to bludgeon me to death. He swung at me a second strike, this time backhanded.  It meant I could not angle my shield but I was able to bring my shield up across my body. The length of my shield absorbed the blow for me but I saw that it had hurt the knight as it jarred his arm.

He stepped back expecting a strike from me.  I kept my sword behind me. "Use your sword old man!" Taunting me was a desperate measure. It demonstrated his lack of experience.

I said nothing. I noticed that his shield was hanging a little loosely from his arm.  He had not tightened his strap and the blows had made him tire.  Mine was still held tightly to my body. I knew what he intended next for he raised his sword high above him and swung from behind his back.  He would take my head. Instead of stepping back, as he assumed I would, I took a step towards him and lifted my shield as I stabbed at his middle. His sword hilt hit my shield and I heard the gasp from him as his knuckles struck it. Then the tip of my blade began to sever the already weakened links.  I kept pushing and the sword tore through the hauberk and the gambeson. He hurriedly took a step back.  Pulling my sword back I saw blood upon it.  Equally damaging for the young knight was the fact that his hauberk was now split and a length of severed mail hung down.

I spoke for the first time.  "I have first blood and you are wounded.  Let us end this now for you are brave but this will not end well."

In answer he ran at me.  It was a double mistake.  It made him bleed faster and his trailing mail tripped him.  I stepped to the side as he lurched towards me.  He fell and rolled on to his back on the slight slope leading to the river. I stepped above him with my foot on his right arm.  I cut the fastenings on his ventail revealing his young face and put my sword to his bare throat.  "Yield!"

On the castle walls fitz Court's men were cheering. I saw De Ferrers' squire hang his head but the young knight said, defiantly, "Never! Kill me! I die with honour!"

I raised my sword, "You are a brave young man but a foolish one." I brought my sword down and stabbed him in the palm of his right hand.  I turned the sword as I pulled it out.  I wanted him incapacitated for some time. "Live and have children.  Learn wisdom."

I stepped away and lifted my sword.

I walked to the side where Stephen and his army watched. "I have defeated your young knight.  He needs a surgeon..…"

"My lord! Watch out!"

Gilles' words made me turn around. Walter de Ferrers was running at me holding his sword in his left hand. I swung my sword backhanded.  His sword flew from his hand as my blade struck it.  Left handed he had no power.  I pulled back my shield and hit him so hard in the face that he fell unconscious at my feet.  "Brave and yet treacherous.  Just like your master!" I sheathed my sword and waved for his squire.  "Come, take your knight home.  Gilles, Richard, help him to put the knight on his horse."

I was lauded all the way back to our lines.  Sir Brian leaned over and shouted, "You should have killed him, my lord.  He will hate you for the humiliation you have heaped upon him."

"It is why I hurt his right hand.  He can still be a lord but he can challenge no other.  I will live with his hate."

The enemy in contrast to the cheers from my men were malevolently silent. Stephen had gambled that he could not lose from the encounter but the sparing of the young knight had been unexpected. Soon his men would speak of it and would begin to doubt both themselves and their knights. 

I crossed the ditch, followed by my squires and the defences were reinstated.  The truce was over and the siege resumed. The castle's garrison was in good heart and we would soon have more men from Gloucester.  I was more confident now than I had been.

I dismounted in the heart of my camp, "What now, my lord?"

"Now, Sir Miles, we prepare for a night attack from our enemy." Both he and the Sheriff of Hereford looked at me quizzically. "They will think we celebrate.  Their tower and their ram are not ready.  They were close enough for me to see that they were still being constructed.  It was as they intended. Stephen is clever. In Normandy he used a night attack on the French once.  They will think we will be relaxed.  Have the men make much noise this night as though we feast.  I want half of the camp standing to as soon as it is dark. They will come across their ditches and it will be knife work this night."

Had we been in open country then I would have had my men lay traps but we were so close to the enemy and the ground so open that was impossible. I waved my household knights and my leaders of archers and men at arms over. Pointing to my standard I said, "They will make for us with their best warriors.  Stephen tried to get rid of me today and tonight he will use assassins. Have our men rest now.  Tonight we play drunks.  Before dark I want our men to pretend to drink.  I want much cheering about the fight today.  They will expect it.  Dick, I want you and my knights to do the same.  You will stagger around as though drunk and retire early. It will encourage them."

Dick grinned, "They will come thinking that we are unable to move because of drink and they will slit our throats."

"Exactly and their very silence will work in our favour for the noise of any who die will be taken as our deaths."

I went to my tent with my squires. "Put an edge on our swords and daggers.  Then the two of you will sleep. Tonight you must be alert. We will have to wait within for those who come to kill us."

Gilles nodded, "Aye, my lord.  Come Richard.  I will show you how our lord likes his sword sharpening." Gilles would keep young Richard occupied rather than dwelling on the morbid thoughts of death.

I took off my own mail and gambeson.  Some of the blows I had taken had been hard ones. I used some of Father Henry's ointments. They would make my aching injuries less painful. Then I lay down on my bedding and closed my eyes.  I doubted that I would sleep but I would need my rest. I had made it sound easy to the others but I knew that waiting to be killed by shadows in the night would test the nerves of all of my men. Harold, Dick and the others who had been brought up in Sherwood would find it easiest but even they would worry as they lay in the dark feigning drunkenness. They would need senses that they rarely used now.

Gilles and Richard returned.  I heard them enter my tent but they made not a sound. I smiled.  Gilles would be gesturing for Richard to lie and to sleep.  I felt my cloak being laid upon me, "Thank you Gilles but I am just resting."

"Aye my lord."

Despite myself I dozed.  However I was awake before dark. Wrapping my cloak around me I went out into the camp.  It was like a midsummer fair. I smiled as Dick and Harold came up to me as though drunk and shouted, "Hail, the Knight of the Empress!" The drunken cheer went up from my men and Dick winked at me. I passed around my camp and was cheered by all.  Sitting next to the pot of food I fed myself and then picked up a wineskin. Leaving the stopper in I held it to my mouth and mimed drinking deeply.  I pretended to put the stopper back in and wiped my mouth. I repeated that a number of times and then staggered back to my tent.