Enemy at the Gate (5 page)

Your son is someone of whom you can be proud.  He has taken young Henry under his wing and it is good to see the two of them together. It is a sign of the bond and the links we share.  There are but three Knights of the Empress who yet live.  You are all three precious to me.

I hope that we shall meet again but that will not be for some time unless you return to La Flèche.

Your friend,

Maud

I read and re-read it four times. To me it was a love letter for I recognised the nuances and hidden meanings but one thing was clear; the warning of enemies.  There was a plot afoot. Neither the Earl nor my son had mentioned it and so it was a deep secret. I would be wary.

The repairs on the ship went far quicker than I could have hoped.  Partly this was John's doing.  He set up a rope walk where we could manufacture our own ropes. It was on a flat piece of land close to the Ox Bridge. With the extra coin we had from the two new manors we could afford to pay some of the women to make ropes. As we had many more women than men in my town this proved advantageous. Sixteen days after he returned, Captain William, Gilles and Sir John sailed across the German Sea to hire men in Frisia. They hoped to return within ten days.

I rode, with my men at arms, to Barnard Castle.  I worried about Hugh of Gainford.  We had captured the great castle overlooking the Tees from Barnard of Balliol but Sir Hugh did not have a great number of men in his garrison. I would be away but one night.  Even so I worried about my home; I had sent Sir John to Frisia.  The words of the Empress worried me.  She had suggested treachery.

The young knight who had survived a Scottish attack when all his family have been killed was now one of my most trusted confederates. He and his wife, the daughter of Richard of Yarm, were now my bastion in the west and controlled the upper Tees but I now worried about the Scots.  Barnard de Balliol had fled to London to join Stephen of Blois.  King David could, by taking Barnard Castle, control the whole of the north of England. There would be isolated pockets such as Hexham but, by and large, it would be under Scottish rule. We had to hold Barnard Castle.

Fatherhood had brought maturity to the young knight. The callow youth was gone; in his place was a seasoned warrior. "Welcome Lord.  How goes the world?  Here we are isolated."

"I am not much better in Stockton but we survive.  How is your wife?"

"She is with child again and this one is proving troublesome.  The priests and her women have confined her to her bed."

I nodded, "I am glad that we do not have to bear children.  Ninth months is eight and half months too many!"

"You are right there, my lord! Come let us sit in my solar.  You have business to discuss. We can be private."

"I have information to impart." Our two sergeant at arms, Wulfric and Harold of Huntcliffe sat in with us.  They were as much part of the defence of the north as any. "The Earl of Gloucester and the Empress have begun the stirrings of rebellion in the south. I have sent Philip of Selby to his uncle to glean more information but there is a danger that Stephen's eye may be drawn to the south."

Harold of Huntcliffe said, "Surely that is a good thing, lord."

Sir Hugh said, "I think not Harold.  It means that King David could take advantage of the movement south and attack.  That is why you are here, lord, is it not?  You fear that we will be the focus of the attack."

"David has three choices: attack here, Stockton or Chester. Chester is well garrisoned as is my castle. However the Earl of Chester appears to lean towards Stephen of Blois.  I believe he has received monies from him. Yours would be the place I would attack. It takes a day to reach here from my castle.  That means if you were attacked you would need to hold out for two days. Could you do that?"

He walked to the window which looked to the west.  That would be the direction the enemy would attack. "We have the bridge and that is a major obstacle. The gate there is strong and well made. An enemy could not take it quickly. Then they would have to travel to the east, around the outer wall, to attack the main gate. That would take them a day, at least. My main gate is well made but it is a dry moat.  I do not have the luxury of a river running around it."

I smiled, "I know, I am lucky.  The Tees is a friend."

"Have you anything which can pour boiling pig fat or water at your gate?"

"Not yet lord but I could build something."

"You have thick stones walls.  Fire is a danger but if you could heat the water or the pig fat there then that would help."

"I could do that, lord."

"The most important thing you must do is keep a close watch north and west of the river.  At the first sign of an enemy then send to me.  By the first sign I mean hoof prints and scouts.  If you wait until you see King David's banners then it may be too late."

"I will."

I hesitated before I made my next suggestion, "If you wish your wife to stay with me at my castle I will guarantee her protection."

"I thank you for the offer and I would take you up on it but I fear the journey there might be worse than the dangers she might suffer here."

I left him the next morning feeling happier than when I had arrived.  I still feared for the safety of the castle but I now knew that its salvation would lie with me. We had walked the bridge and the perimeter.  I had given him suggestions to make an attack difficult for our enemies. The only place it could be attacked would be from the east.

Two days after my return from the west Philip of Selby arrived back from York. I was closeted with him, Wulfric, Dick and Sir John.  He had news of great import. "Kent has risen in revolt under the banner of the Earl of Gloucester."

"The Earl has landed?"

"No lord, but Baldwin de Redvers and other friends of the Earl have been taking castles.  Stephen of Blois has had to return from Normandy."

Wulfric said, "This is great news my lord."

Philip shook his head, "My Uncle fears for the North.  He begs you to be ready to join his standard and to fight the Scots should they come." He paused, "He believes they will come.  The north is ripe for plucking."

"And I concur with your uncle.  I fear you will have to return to  him. I will join him but I protect the Tees Valley first and foremost.  I will not leave Sir Hugh alone at Barnard Castle. If the Scots come from the north then I will try to stop them and the Archbishop can help me, and welcome. If they come from the west then I will endeavour to join him but I will not leave my castles undefended." Philip nodded, "I am being both blunt and honest, my friend. I wish no misunderstanding. You uncle has my word but there are conditions attached."

"And I believe that he will understand. There is more. We have news from the north.  Norham has fallen to the Scots and an army is besieging Wark. Just Hexham and Wark remain in our hands.  The rest is now Scotland."

"Then that hardens my resolve. We will hold and when time and resources allow we will relieve their siege."

Alf, my blacksmith, had used the iron we had mined to produce great quantities of weapons. I went to see how Gilles' armour was coming along.  That was the gift I would give him when he returned from Frisia. Alf had four workshops.  He looked like Vulcan himself as he pounded the iron and steel amidst the smoke and flames of his smithy. He stopped when I approached and joined me outside. He wiped the sweat from his head and downed a whole half gallon of ale.

"God but I needed that.  You have come about the mail, lord?"

"I have.  Is it ready?"

"It has been ready this two days since.  As your squire has not returned I have had my grandson oiling it link by link.  It takes time but it is worth it and it is good practice for someone who would be a smith.  It teaches them patience."

"Good. War is coming."

"King Stephen?"

"No, the usual enemy, the Scots."

He spat and shook his head, "They are like lice.  They have no honour.  Animals! All of them!"

Until I had come to England I had thought that the people of the island were one.  I had since learned that there were more differences on this tiny island than in the whole of the Empire! The Welsh hated the English.  The Scots hated the English and they all hated the Irish. I nodded, "This will be the last bastion.  Barnard, Yarm, Elton, Hartburn, all may fall but this castle cannot! When the enemy are at the gates then I want every man woman and child to defend it.  The consequences of failure do not bear thinking about."

"We know, lord and every man does too.  They will not let you down."

"It is I who fear letting you down, old friend."

He laughed, "You could not, even if you tried. I will fetch the mail and you can give it to him when he returns."

It was four days later that the
'Adela'
came into port. It was the first time in some years since Sir John had left Stockton. A number of us waited for its arrival.  I saw new men waiting on the deck.  That was a hopeful sign. Captain William was  careful and the ship was tied fore and aft before the gang plank was run out.  Sir John, Sven the Rus and Gilles were the first off.

"Well?"

"We hired fifteen men.  I hope that is satisfactory?"

Poor John could not get over being my squire and he was ever hesitant.  "That is fine." I looked at Sven.  "You are happy?"

He grinned, "I am but the twenty we rejected are not."

"Twenty more wished to serve here in Stockton?"

He nodded, "Aye lord.  They know they can make their fortune here.  It is why I rejected them.  I wanted men who were true warriors.  These fifteen are just the sort of men we will want.  You have my oath on that."

"That is good enough for me, Sven.  Come, let us get them in the warrior hall." I could barely contain my joy as we headed for my castle. Fifteen men at arms, added to Erre and his Varangians were more than enough to hold my castle.  If we added the men and boys of the town who were all archers and slingers of note then I could go to Hugh's aid knowing that my castle was safe and secure.

Easter was early.  It was the end of March when it arrived. We had had blue skies and warmth in the day and freezing temperatures at night.  We had had sea frets and fogs.  The month was out of sorts with itself. Father Henry was keen to make the oldest Christian festival a good one.  We invited my neighbouring knights over so that we could feast. Alice made Simnel Cakes and decorated the hall.  It was a good celebration.

I sat with my knights and their families in my hall. We had been to church and now we celebrated Christ's death.  I took the opportunity to tell my knights and their ladies our situation.  I spoke true for that was the only way I knew.  When I spoke of the danger of Barnard Sir Richard and Lady Anne held hands tightly.  Their son, Tristan, had almost died and now their daughter and newest grandchild were in danger.

I said, "I believe we will come through this but I am no fool. It will be hard. If they attack Sir Hugh then I will take my men, archers and men at arms and go to his aid.  I will need all of my knights and half of each knights' men at arms and archers.  If the Scots attack Barnard then there will be enough left to defend our homes. I will not leave Sir Hugh alone!"

I saw the gratitude on Sir Richard and Lady Anne's faces and was gratified by the nods from the others.

"My intention is to ride as soon as I hear of danger.  You must follow as soon as you can.  Sir Tristan and Sir Harold, you are the closest.  I would expect you to ride with me.  Sir Richard and Sir Edward; get there when you can."

Sir Richard asked, "And what if it is here that they attack?"

I smiled, "I hope that it is. I would rather bear the brunt of the Scottish attack than your son in law. If it is here then you assemble at Thornaby and use my ferry to come to our aid."

The feast ended well.  For the first time in a long time I felt that we were all, even Sir Richard, of one accord.

A full five days after Easter my sentries announced the arrival of armed men.  They did not ride with shields on the their arms and their hands were on their saddles.  Nonetheless I was wary for I knew none of them.  Then Wulfric said, as they drew closer, "I recognise that device, lord.  It is Sir William Redere. He is a Scottish lord of Norman descent.  You captured him two years since on the border.  His family paid ransom."

"I do not remember him. Can we trust him?"

"He is Scot but, for a Scot he seemed to have some honour.  Best be wary, lord."

"I will." I shouted down, "Admit them!" There were but ten and we could easily defeat them.  "Maintain a watch on all of the gates in case this is a ruse."

"Aye lord." Erre had his new Frisians on guard and they were all keen to impress.

I descended to my inner bailey.  I saw the knight taking in the defences.  Was he a spy? My castle held few secrets but it was as strong as any I had visited.

The knight, who appeared to be my age had dismounted and taken off his helmet. He bowed, "My lord, I come from King David and I have news for your ears only."

"Your men can stay here.  Come with me." I strode off, not waiting for him to follow me. He spoke to his men and scurried after. In my hall I waited for him to enter and shut the doors.  "Well?"

I examined him as he spoke.  He had fine armour and a good sword hung from his side.  This was a warrior.  I remembered him now.  He had fought well but he lacked the experience I had. The ransom I had extracted had been high for his family was rich.

"My lord I bring a message from my King. It is not written down for he did not wish it to fall into the wrong hands." I nodded. "The King of Scotland has decided to support his niece Matilda, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire and Countess of Anjou."

I do not know what reaction he expected but my face of stone was not the one. "And..."

He was put off his stride; I could see that. "And he will help to conquer her lands from the north.  Now that rebellion is in the south then we can reconquer the land which is the rightful inheritance of his niece the Empress Matilda."

His face looked as though he expected effusive praise for such altruism. "And the King has no desires on England?"

"None save the return of his rightful inheritance; the land north of the Tees."

"My land."

"The King assures you that you will retain the title and lands of the Earl of Cleveland.  More than that he will give you the lands of Guisborough and Northallerton."

"Very generous of him.  And yet the land between the Tweed and the Tees is English and has been since the time of the Romans. You would have me fight for a Scottish King and then give him the very land that belongs to us. I do not see the appeal!"

"But the Empress will rule England."

"A smaller England and a greedy neighbour to the north."

"The Empress has said she agrees."

As soon as he said that I knew that he had been lied to.  I did not doubt his honesty.  They had chosen an honest man to deliver a dishonest message. Even had Matilda not warned me I would have been suspicious of such an offer but with the letter in my mind I knew that it was a lie. The Scottish King would let my men bleed for him against Stephen of Blois and then he would take my lands.

"I will think on the King's offer, which is a most generous one.  You will have my answer before midsummer day."

He then made his first mistake.  It reflected his honesty.  "But my King needs to know before Whitsun.  He has plans."

I nodded, "Very well then I will tell him seven days before Whitsun. Whom should I send with my answer?"

"Send your priest.  That way God will be happy too."

"Very well.  Will you stay?"

"No I fear I have a long journey home."

After he had left me I sent for my captains and Sir John.  I told them what had transpired. They knew me well enough to wait for my words. "The Scots are about to invade.  If they do not attack now then it will be by Whitsun at the latest but I fear it will be now. The messenger was sent to allay my fears and lull me into indolence. Dick, have Aiden and his falconers follow the Scottish knight.  I would know where he goes."

"Aye lord."

"Wulfric send a rider to Sir Hugh and tell him to be on his guard.  The Scots are abroad."

"Aye lord."

"John, send to my knights.  "I would see them on the morrow."

John, my steward, nodded. "I will do so."

Left alone with Gilles, Sir John and Philip I said, "The question we must divine is where will this Scottish attack come?"

Sir John said, "Perhaps this is a true overture of peace and aid."

Philip shook his head, "It confirms my uncle's worries about the Scots.  I agree, Earl, they will attack."

"Sir John, I intend to leave once Aiden tells me where they are. I am guessing that Barnard Castle will be their target.  You need to ensure that the castle is secure.  We will speak with Alf and the burghers in the morning when my knights have been informed. Assume that any stranger is a spy or an enemy. These are parlous times. Captain Phillip, go to your uncle and tell him the news.  He needs to know."

I was alone in my chamber and I reread the letter from Matilda.  She had warned me of the danger.  Had King David approached her?  I suspected he had.  He could feel righteous that he was helping his niece but I knew that he had an ulterior motive.  There was no one I could consult.  I was Warlord.  I was the only representative of the Empress and the Earl for hundreds of miles. I had no one with whom I could share this burden.  I steeled myself.  The worst decision I could make would be to make no decision.  As soon as I discovered where the Scots had gathered I would formulate my plan.

Edgar arrived back at noon.  I had just finished my meeting with my knights where I put them on a war footing.  Edgar rode in. "Lord, they took the old Roman Road north and west.  They are heading for Carlisle."

I smacked my palm. "Then they are coming through Barnard Castle." I looked at Edgar.  "Where are your brother and Aiden?"

"Aiden said he wanted to make sure that the knight did go to Carlisle."

I smiled.  Aiden had been bought as a slave but since his manumission he had been the most loyal of my men.

"I want the men for my conroi gathering by tomorrow.  If you fear for your families then bring them within my walls. I guarantee that they will be well guarded. Bring your war horses for we will need to break the back of this Scottish attack.

"Aye lord."

They left immediately.  I sought out Father Henry. "I go to war, Father.  The Scots are coming."

"And you need shriving?"

"No, father, I need a priest  to tend to our wounded and our injured."

"Father Abelard is a good healer.  He will come with you.  I will bless the men before they leave.  When will that be?"

"Tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"We have time then."

John, my steward, had sent me to war enough times to know what he needed to do.  He had servants and slaves filling the wagons.  They would carry the spare weapons, tents and bedding as well as the food.  He had ten servants ready to accompany us and serve our every need. There would be food and enough beer for five days. We had learned from our earlier campaigns. Gilles had his new armour but also our horses to deal with.  I would be taking Badger as well as Rolf.  He had but one horse, a palfrey.  He had been a squire long enough to know that this was his best chance to get a warhorse at little cost to himself. His life would be the coin he gambled in the heat of the battle.

Even though my messengers had not returned we left as soon as the army was gathered.  I wanted to meet the enemy as far from Stockton as I could. We met Edward as we passed Piercebridge. "Lord, Aiden says they are moving east.  The Scots are coming over the high passes."

"He watches them?"

"Aye lord.  He says if you do not see him before you see the Scots then they are heading for Barnard."

Aiden would only be seen if he chose to be seen. We would not reach Barnard before dark and so I headed for Gainford.  Sir Hugh's old castle was still manned and we could defend it if I was wrong. If the Scots decided to pass Barnard Castle then they would come down the river and attack Stockton.

As I walked around the camp I spoke with as many of my men as I could.  My father had taught me to do so.  He had told me that you must know the hearts of the men you led. It had proved a successful strategy in the past. Those with whom I had never fought always asked me about the legends which surrounded me.  I told them the truth.  They were still impressed which I did not understand.

We broke camp and headed west.  I sent two of Dick's archers south of the river in case there were Scottish scouts there.  If there were then that meant they were heading for Stockton. As we travelled along the old Roman Road I remembered when we  had taken the castle from Barnard de Balliol.  I had seen how it could be taken and I had to learn from that. Barnard de Balliol had fled before he could be taken. Like De Brus he was a wily adversary.  In those days he had allied with the Scots; now he had fled to Stephen of Blois. Men like that were dangerous for you never knew their true allegiance.

It was just eight miles to the castle and we reached it by noon. Hugh opened his gates to welcome us. My two archer scouts crossed the bridge from the west and reported no signs of the Scots south of the river.  While my men set up camp close by the town I held a council of war.

"We will have every archer within the walls of the castle.  This is too good a vantage point to waste.  We will keep all the horsemen, including yours, Sir Hugh outside the castle walls. We will hold the horses in the woods to the east of the castle.  When Aiden reports their presence then we will take down our camp and wait in the woods."

Sir Hugh nodded, remembering our earlier conversation. "You intend to wait until they attack our east gate."

I nodded, "Once he is committed then our knights and men at arms can fall upon them and wreak havoc. Their men at arms will be on foot trying to take the walls."

Sir Edward, like me, had fought the Scots his whole life, "I still worry that he will take the route south of the river.  The road is not as good as this one but the whole of England would lie before him. He could advance as far as York and that, my lord, is an even greater prize than either Barnard Castle or Stockton for it houses the Archbishop."

"And you are right.  It is why we camp here.  As you said, Sir Edward, the road is better north of the river.  We can be at Gainford in an hour.  From there we can head south and cut him off close to the junction of the two Roman Roads, hard by Northallerton. In many ways I hope he does just that for our valley will be safe and we can trap them between the Archbishop and his men and ours."

Sir Edward bowed to me, "I should have known that all was well thought out, lord."

The enemy did not make an appearance for two more days.  Aiden rode in late one night looking weary.  "The Scots come my lord.  This night they camp just four miles away at the old Roman fort by the farm of Bowes. I estimate that they have the banners of twenty knights.  I saw few archers but there was a company of Flemish crossbows. Half of their men at arms were mounted.  Their army is in excess of four hundred." He paused.  "The King is not with them.  They have that fat slug Gospatric with them and the Earl of Moray's banner was amongst them."

Bowes farm and the old Roman fort of Lavatrae was the point at which the road forked.  One road came to the castle but the other headed towards the Great Road in the east.

"Do you know if they intend to attack here?"

He smiled, "The reason they have taken so long to get here is that they stopped at Brough Castle where they built ladders and a ram.  They have the parts of the ram in wagons. Unless they intend to lumber across the north of this land so slowly that a one legged man could catch them then they are coming to Barnard Castle, lord."

"Thank you Aiden.  Your news is all the better for your judgements."

"Do the ram and the ladders change our plans, lord?"

"No, Sir Hugh. You will have, within your castle over one hundred archers.  The twenty two men at arms can defend the bridge gate but it is the archers who will slaughter them as they cross the bridge and then travel around your castle.  Captain Dick will thin their numbers.  They may have mail and shields but the ones who carry the ladders and fetch the wagons will not. They will have to find somewhere safe from the arrows to construct the ram.  That is the only change.  My seventy horsemen will destroy their war machine and the men with the ladders. Your men at arms will not be able to hold the bridge gate for long.  Do not risk them.  When the gate is lost recall them to the curtain wall.  That is the advantage of a second gate.  Your bridge gate is the point which is the narrowest.  They will only pass it slowly."

"But Aiden said there were over four hundred in the army."

I smiled, "Sir Richard, with seventy such men I would happily fight the Tartar horsemen of the east.  Trust in your son and trust in your men. We have right on our side."

That evening in our camp, for I shared the hardships with my men, Gilles sharpened my sword and oiled my mail.  My shield had been repaired after the bolt had struck it and I was as ready as I would be. "Will you ride Badger tomorrow, lord?"