Knight of the Empress (21 page)

"My blood is in the heart of Normandy. I had thought to go to Italy with my cousins the Hautevilles."

"They have done well over there."

"After that winter I wondered if I should not have gone with my heart."

"You will grow to love this land.  Believe me."

He smiled, "The main reason I chose to come was because of the Empress."

"You met Empress Matilda?" I felt my heart race a little.  I had managed to put her from my mind and replace her with Adela but the mere mention of her name brought her face to mind.

He nodded, "She spoke highly of you as did her Swabian bodyguards. They told me you were a good knight and I could do worse than emulate you. She also said that you spoke highly of this valley."

"That was kind of them."

He waved a hand at the other knights.  "They too echoed the sentiments. I will be proud to follow your banner."

When the Earl had sent me the letter he had told me that I was entitled to my own banner for the conroi. We still had the blue background with blue stars but the centre of one of the starts was now yellow. It would show my men where I was.  Edward and Wulfstan still had the two blue stars on their smaller banner. While we rode they remained furled.

The lord of the castle at Barnard had already left for the muster but we were expected and we ate well. With his conroi gone there was accommodation aplenty. The next section of the journey took us over the high West Moors and we spent the night at Appleby Castle. The longest and most arduous journey was the last march to Carlisle. It was long and over a rugged descending terrain. I felt sorry for those on foot and I saw their lords looking enviously at our mounted riders.

The Earl of Gloucester had gathered a mighty host at Carlisle Castle.  I had thought my own castle had a good aspect but the one at Carlisle was protected on one side by the River Eden and on the other by the River Caldew.  An attacker could only approach from the west. I could see why the Scots had failed to take it in their recent raids. The Earl of Chester, Ranulf du Bessin had been Lord of Carlisle but he had to give up that title and he was now with the King in Normandy.  Sir Hugh Bacon had been appointed the Lord of Carlisle and it was he who greeted us when we arrived just before dusk.

"The Earl is north of the river scouting for the enemy. He will return shortly. I am afraid that you will have to use the outer bailey for your men. The castle is a little cramped with the retinue of the Earl."

I smiled at Sir Hugh, he was not much older than I was. "Do not worry; we slept comfortably for the past two nights.  It will do us no harm to prepare for the campaign."

We discovered, as we struggled to find an uninhabited corner of the bailey, that we were the last to arrive.  The majority of the conroi were from the west and Cumberland.  We would be fielding over a hundred and twenty knights and we had five hundred men at arms.  It was a force almost as big as the one with which we had invaded Wales. My newly elevated status meant that I was invited to dine with the Earl and the other leaders of conroi when he returned. There were six conroi although I led the smallest conroi with just five knights. I looked at the faces of the nights with whom I would be fighting and I saw men who looked much like my knights.  Few were older than the Earl and most were of an age with me. Each one looked as though they knew their business.  I saw none of the sly sideways glances I had witnessed in Worms.  They were not here for political reasons.  They were here to punish rebels.

The Earl stood and raised his goblet. "Welcome, now that we are assembled I intend to strike quickly at these rebels. We crossed the Eden this morning and we saw the enemy host gathering just north of here. They are just twenty miles away. They are led by William of Dunbar.  He has shown his allegiance by having a yellow lion on his banner.  He sides with Scotland."

I almost asked if this made them rebels or Scots.  It was a fine distinction. The Solway marked the border.  Many knights held manors on both sides of the border. Then I thought better.  I did not wish to appear foolish. Sir Hugh asked another question which was on my mind. "My lord what of the east?  Are there not rebels there?"

He nodded, "Last year Sir Alfraed and I visited the Gospatric family.  They swore fealty but I fear that they are playing a dangerous game. With lands on both sides of the border they are vying to become more powerful.  The Bishop of Durham has returned to the Palatinate to organise the defence there.  It is why I summoned Sir Alfraed. It may be that we have to divide our forces and Sir Alfraed's knights have shown before that they can deal with the Gospatric family. We will go to the Bishop's aid when we have dealt with these traitors."

I felt my anxiety levels rise as he mentioned rebels in the east.  I had left just a handful of men to guard my lands and the river. I hoped that the Earl knew his business. What did a Bishop know of fighting?

"We will advance on the morrow towards the Solway. The enemy has more men than we do but not as many knights.  Nor are they as disciplined.  Some of the knights may be Norman but most of the men they lead are the savages who fought the Romans.  They are fierce and they are wild but they are no match for the men at arms you lead. We will guard our flanks with our archers protected by half of our men at arms.  They will be the rocks upon which the enemy will waste their efforts.  They will fight dismounted. We will use two lines to break their defence.  I will lead the knights myself.  Sir Hugh will lead the men at arms. With God's help we will drive them back into the Solway and the heads of the rebels will adorn the walls of this fine castle."

The clatter of hands on the table and the cheers told the Earl of Gloucester that the force he would lead were ready for the fight.

It was a glorious host which headed north the next day.  The enemy, our scouts informed us, had marched to Gretna where they awaited us.  They appeared confident that the river and the land would protect them. Their lack of aggression encouraged us for they outnumbered us so greatly that they should have attacked. The Earl did not bother to parley. He offered no quarter. They had rebelled against the King and had we not held Carlisle then they would have swept south. My men at arms had been chosen to guard the archers, also led by Dick, on our left flank. The rebels had fewer horses.  These they had placed upon their right flank.  If they charged it would be against my men at arms and archers.

My knights and squires were to the left of the Earl and his household knights. Star was keen to get into action and he stamped and snorted impatiently.  The Earl's herald lowered his banner twice and that was the signal for us to begin to move.  The rebels had neither prepared pits nor laid traps but they had archers arrayed before them. As we moved forwards, at the trot, I prayed that Star would be spared the attention of the archers. My father had told me how, at Hastings, the housecarls had tried to get at the Norman horses. A knight who fell from his mount would not last long on the battlefield. We had left my banner with Wulfric and my conroi would follow my gonfanon. That now had a yellow centre to one of the stars.

As we began to canter I noticed that the bows the rebels were using were the short bows rather than the long bows Dick and my archers used. They had neither the range nor the penetration of our longer bows. When we were a hundred and odd paces from their front rank they pulled back on them; they were ready to release. The Earl lowered his lance as a signal to charge. I pulled my shield tighter to my body and I rested my lance on my cantle. I glanced at Harold; this was his first charge in the front rank. I prayed he would not suffer Alan's fate. The arrows flew.  I tightened my shield close to my body and tucked in my head. Three arrows pinged off my helmet and two off my shield.  I was pleased that they had aimed at me.  They would have been better to have aimed at Star.  I remained unhurt and we were now travelling so quickly that we would be terrifying the archers who faced us. It was then that I concentrated on the man I would kill. It was not an archer, they would flee.  Behind them was a line of spearmen. Their shields were not as big as ours and they had no armour. My lance was longer and I could gain extra length when I punched forward.

The archers fled as I pulled back my lance and punched at the red bearded warrior who stood before me.  As my lance sank into his chest I felt his spear as it grazed my legs.  The mail did its job. It turned the head. Star was a powerful beast and he kept going even with the speared man on the lance.  I lowered the end and the body slid off.  Star crashed into the shield and the man in the second rank. He crumpled beneath Star's hooves and I punched forward with the spear at the warrior in the third rank. This warrior managed to bring his shield up but Star's momentum and my punch drove the lance up under his chin and into his head.  The lance broke and I threw it to the ground.  Drawing my sword I saw that I was amongst the rear ranks.  These had not expected to fight yet.  I could see fear in their eyes.  As my sword came clear of my scabbard I pulled back on my reins and Star reared.  It enabled me to stand in my stirrups and bring my sword down on the swordsman to my right.  Even though he tried to parry my blow the edge shattered his blade and split his head in two.

With no one before me I glanced around and saw that my knights were still with me although we were no longer knee to knee. Harold was fighting two men and I jerked Star's head around and swung my sword across the man to his shield side. The sword tore across his back.  Harold wheeled his own horse around and stabbed the second warrior in the chest. We had broken their lines and their army was split into three.  Their knights were charging our left flank. They were trying to do as we did and charge our foot.

I yelled, "Stockton!" loudly and when my knights looked at me I pointed to the rebel charge.   I led my handful of knights and squires obliquely across the field.  The Earl had not seen the danger and he and the men at arms were surrounding and slaughtering the rebel foot. If our left flank was destroyed then all would be in vain. I had to take my tiny conroi to the aid of our foot.

We had the advantage that no one was loosing arrows at us and we were unseen. The rebel knights were focussed on the archers and men at arms standing before them. Dick and my archers released flight after flight. Standing behind the men at arms meant that they could keep releasing longer than the rebels had. They were better archers and they brought down horses as well as men.  Wulfric had a hedgehog of spears.  Unlike the rebel spearmen Wulfric had the second and third rank presenting their spears over the shoulders of the front rank. It was a solid line of iron which they would have to breach.

I smiled as I heard my sergeant at arms yell, "Stand fast!"

We were not knee to knee but we did not need to be.  We were approaching the knights on their shield side. As the rebels struck Wulfric and his men we hit the left side of the charging knights.  I stood in the stirrups and brought my sword around the back of the end knight.  He wore mail but the length of my sword struck his back.  The links could not hold such a blow and they severed. Star had kept going and my blade ripped through his gambeson and into his back.  All that kept him in his saddle was the cantles on his saddle.

The knights were in a quandary.  They were desperately trying to face us but their cumbersome lances got in the way. They could not turn without striking their fellow knights. When Dick's archers attacked from the other side those who could fled but those closest to my knights yelled, "Quarter!"

"Yield and drop your weapons and we shall give you quarter!"

Ten rebels surrendered to us.  Our warhorses were too exhausted to charge again and so, after disarming the knights, we watched as the men at arms charged north after the fleeing rebel army.  It was mainly my knights, men at arms and archers who were closest and they began to cheer.  We had won and we had captured knights.  We would all be richer.

"Sergeant at arms, collect the weapons of these knights and guard them.  Come Harold, we will find the Earl."

Robert, Earl of Gloucester, was in the middle of the field surveying the dead.  As I approached I took off my helm.  "My lord, we have captured ten knights and driven off the rest."

He took off his own helmet and grasped my forearm.  "Well done, Alfraed.  That was nobly done.  I did not see the charge until it was too late and then I saw you and your conroi.  You did well."

"It was my men at arms and archers who held them, my lord.  We were just lucky."

"I believe, Alfraed, that you seem able to make your own luck."

"The field is ours."

"Aye it is.  Have you their leader?"

"I do not know but I doubt it. None of them looked to have the standard of William of Dunbar."

"I fear you are right.  He will have fled across the Solway."

"Do we pursue?"

"My father would not be happy if I incurred the wrath of the King of Scotland.  Until he has finished with the Angevin we are only to keep our borders safe." We trotted back to the prisoners and he glanced over to the disconsolate knights standing beside their horses.  "You will all have fine ransoms."

I nodded, "That will please my new lords.  They are all keen to equip more knights and employ more men at arms."

"Take your men and prisoners back to Carlisle Castle.  Announce our victory. Perhaps, when we have questioned the prisoners we will discover the extent of this rebellion."

The knights who had surrendered must have wondered at the wisdom of their decision as we took them back to Carlisle. The ransom we would ask might ruin their manors. I did not know how I would react in such a situation. We discovered that all of them had manors in England.  Most had a manor in Scotland too.  That alone meant we could ask for larger ransoms.  As they had surrendered to my conroi we would all share in the profits. Sir Guiscard was particularly ebullient. "If it is always this way I shall soon be a rich knight."

Sir Richard shook his head, "Sometimes we are lucky and at others we fight and go home poorer than before.  When we sent back the raiders from the valley we gained naught."

I nodded, "It is a gamble but you all fought well and we lost no one this time.  That to me is almost payment enough."

Edward laughed, "That is going too far Baron! We want the ransoms!" They all cheered and banged their shields with their swords.  Everyone was in a good mood.

By the time we had passed through the gates of the castle we had discovered the names and manors of our prisoners. Wulfric and Edgar led the prisoners away to our tents. Harold had just taken Star away when Edgar sought me out. "My lord, one of the prisoners is asking for a quiet word in private with you."

I was intrigued, "Bring him over and then keep watch on us from a discreet distance."

He was one of the younger knights. He looked to be no more than eighteen years old. In helmets and with a ventail all knights look the same but bareheaded, as he was now he looked like a youth, little older than Alan had been before he had been killed. "Thank you for speaking with me Baron.  Could we go where my comrades will not see us?"

"No tricks.  I am not a patient man." I led him through the gates of the inner bailey and Edgar followed. "Now then, I would like to eat and drink so be swift."

"I am Guy of Gisburn.  My estates are hard by the river close to Skipton.  It is a small and poor manor for it is mainly upland."

"Is this to ask for a smaller ransom?  If so then your words are wasted. You have English estates and you are a rebel.  The Earl could have you executed.  If it is not worth a ransom then you might pay with your head."

He shook his head and hurried on, "No, this has nothing to do with a smaller ransom." He paused, "I would like you to forego the ransom," I opened my mouth and he said, "Baron, let me speak, I would have you forego the ransom in exchange for information."

"Information?"

"Information which the Earl of Gloucester and the King would find useful."

"And of course you will not give us the information unless we agree to your terms." I pushed my coif from my head.  I was still hot from the battle. I needed a cool head."This information which you think is so valuable may not be valuable to the Earl.  Besides you are my prisoner.  Why should it matter to me?"

It was his turn to smile, "Because, my lord, your reputation precedes you.  Everyone knows of your nobility and honour. If you give your word then you will keep it and you are the Earl of Gloucester's man. When we saw your banner on the field our hearts sank.  We hoped you would have protected your valley still."

There was something in his words which arrested my attention. Why should I need to protect my valley?  The Bishop of Durham was guarding my northern borders. I waved Edgar forward, "Guard Sir Guy here.  Find somewhere close by the Great Hall.  I must find the Earl." I pointed to Sir Guy. "You are playing a dangerous came, my friend.  I may be honourable but I will gut you like a deer if I discover you are playing me false."

I found Harold and had him saddle me Scout. "I will get my horse, my lord."

"No Harold, I go to meet the Earl.  I will be safe.  You did well today. How was it charging in the front rank?"

"Not as frightening as I thought, my lord, but I suspect it would be different charging other knights."

"You are right but I will be happy for you to face barbarians until you are more accomplished."

I headed back towards the battlefield. I found the Earl and his household knights prodding more prisoners towards the castle.  These were the foot and the men at arms. They would not be ransomed but they would be put to work in one of the Earl's castles on the Welsh Marches.  Their days of fighting were ended and their lives of servitude were about to begin.  They were alive and, I dare say, they believed that where there was life there was hope. I pulled Scout around to ride next to the Earl.

"You have something to tell me, Alfraed?"

I knew that I could trust his knights and I did not lower my voice.  "One of the prisoners says he has information which you would find useful and if I forego the ransom he will tell us."

"And what do you think?  I value you your judgement."

"He only has estates in England and it is a poor manor.  I believe he may have information but he plays a dangerous game for if he betrays his betters then it may go ill for him."

"You think he means to betray others?"

"He asked to speak with me out of sight of his fellow captives."

"Then we will speak with him and then decide what to do. Bring him to my quarters in the castle."

Once we returned to the castle I left Scout in the outer bailey and walked through the gates to find Edgar and my prisoner, "Thank you Edgar, I will take him now."

I led the young knight to the Earl's room.  Edgar had ensured that this was not an assassination attempt and that there were no weapons on the knight. I had not been particularly worried.  I believe that the Earl and I could have dealt with him even if he had tried anything underhand.

The Earl was waiting.  He gestured for me to take a seat next to him.  We let Sir Guy stand.  "Well, Sir Guy, what is this information you have which you think is so valuable?"

"Do I have your word that there will be no ransom if I tell you."

Robert of Gloucester roared, "Do not presume to bargain with me! Give me the information and I will decide if it is valuable or not. You are a rebel and your life hangs in the balance, never mind your ransom. Your estates are in England.  Remember that.  I am the King's representative here. Tell me what you know or be prepared to pay with your life."

I could see that he was shaken.  "I am sorry, my lord, it is just that I have a wife and a young family…"

"Then you should have thought of that before you gambled on this ill fated rebellion."

He nodded and bit his lip.  Taking a deep breath he said. "I was told that if I did not join the rebellion then I would lose my lands when the north rebelled and the King of Northumbria was created."

Robert nodded, "With Gospatric as the first king." He waved an impatient hand at the knight.  "Go on for you information so far is not worth a silver coin.  The rebellion has failed and William of Dunbar has fled north."

"My lord, he is not the leader of the rebellion." He sighed. "This attack was to draw you west so that Durham could be taken.  We hoped that we could inflict a major defeat upon you and that Durham could be taken easily."

I sat up in my chair.  "But the Bishop of Durham returns to the palatinate, how could Gospatric hope to take it?"

There was silence.  Robert growled, "Boy, do not test my patience."

"Bishop Flambard will be held as hostage for the Dean Albemarle is part of the conspiracy and William of Morpeth is heading for Durham with his knights."

That all made perfect sense to me. We could never assault Durham and each day it was held would weaken the power of the King in the north.  If the Dean was party to the conspiracy then the mighty bastion in the north could fall without a blow being struck. Only our routing of the western rebels had given us a chance.

"Tell me Guy of Gisburn, when did William of Morpeth leave for Durham?"

He looked at me, "As soon as word came that you had left Stockton, my lord." This was devastating news.

The Earl stood, "You stay here.  Alfraed come with me." Once outside he said, "I believe him.  Now what do we do?"

"They are in Durham and cannot possibly know what occurred here yet.  The survivors fled north not east. If I take my conroi then I can reach Durham by the morning."

"What good does that do?  How can you assault the castle with your hundred men?"

I had a plan already but it was a little vague. "My lord, if you force march the army then you can reach Durham by tomorrow evening.  Lay siege to it and I will gain you entrance."

He smiled, "I will bring the army.  The constable here will hold your hostages until they can be ransomed.  I will keep our young friend with me as much for his own safety as for yours. Now tell me your plan or is it still fermenting in that fertile Greek mind of yours?"

"No, my lord, I have the plan.  There are two parts; first I must gain access to the castle and then I must enable my men to do two things: secure the bridge gate and the main gate."

As I told him my plan I saw him nodding.  "It has a chance of success but it is risky."

"Life is a risk, my lord. I hope to give you and the rest of the army a chance to take the castle.  If you do so then my people will be safe."

Shaking his head he said, "You worry too much about your people.  They are there to serve you."

"That is not what I was taught by my father and it is hard to undo that belief.  Not that I wish to."

I left the castle and sought my knights and squires. "We are leaving tonight.  I believe that Durham has been taken through treachery. We ride tonight.  I am going to get us inside the castle.  We must capture the bridge and the gate and hold them for the Earl."

The new knight, the Baron of Normanby shook his head, "I have heard that the castle is one of the mightiest in the land with just one bridge across the river.  It is impossible."

Sir Richard laughed, "It will be difficult but if the Baron says it can be done then it will be."

"And the captives?"

The Earl has promised that the Constable will watch them until we return. Edward,  have them taken to him. Prepare the men.  If they have food ready they should eat it. We will be travelling quickly and we have no chance to eat on the way. Harold, fetch Dick and Aiden."

While I hurriedly ate I began to refine my plan in my head. There were clearly a number of parts I had to complete and in a set order.  When Aiden and Dick arrived the four of us sat and I explained my ideas and asked what they thought.  Dick and the archers would have the hardest part. He grinned, "Aye, my lord.  I believe we could do that.  When we lived in the forest we used many such ruses did we not, Harold?"

"Yes my lord."

I smiled. If they believed we could do it then that was half the battle. "First we see the abbot of the monastery. Harold, come with me. Dick, make sure that all is ready. It is growing late and I would leave as soon as I return. Have those of the retinue without horses stay here and guard the warhorses. They can follow with the Earl tomorrow. We will not be hampered by men on foot. Speed is of the essence."

It was coming on to dusk as we left the rest of the army. The men were surprised for the knights were all with the Earl holding a war council. We had seventy five miles to travel and it would take all night. I wanted to be south of Durham Castle by dawn. The men would be able to rest during the day for what I had planned needed the cover of night to succeed. We travelled along the old Roman Road which ran south of the wall. Although we were passing through the land ruled by the Gospatric family I had to assume that all the knights and the rebels would be within Durham. They would want as large an army as they could muster. We had to be quick for I knew that they would be waiting to hear of the success or failure of their attack in the west. Some might have escaped and be heading east even as we were. We had to beat them there. It was the gamble I made as we passed the burnt out shell of Hexham. We had destroyed that last year. Corbridge was still held and we were challenged as we crossed the river but no arrow or bolt came our way. We rested the horses each hour to make sure they were not exhausted although we travelled light. Our armour was on the small sumpters for we travelled with as little weight as was possible.

The Castle and the Cathedral had been built on a large loop in the river. It was like an elongated O. At the southern end, on the side of the cathedral, there were trees and woods which abutted the river.  My small force would wait there. As we had travelled over I had explained my plan to my knights.  They helped to refine it. The biggest problem lay in the fact that I might be recognised. While we waited for dawn we shaved my beard.  It would disguise me, as would the monk's habit I adopted. I could not take my sword but I did have two sharp daggers and they would have to do. Beneath my habit I would wear a leather byrnie for protection. Aiden and Harold donned their habits too. I had thought to take Sir Richard's son for he spoke Latin but Harold and Aiden had other skills which I needed.

I pointed to the small postern gate on the south west corner of the wall close to the Cathedral.  We could see the shadows of the guards as they patrolled the walls above it. "Watch for us there tomorrow in the late afternoon or early evening. Stay alert and watch for a signal."

As I turned to leave Edward said, "What if you are captured?"