Northern Knight (10 page)

He, like Ethelred, had seized every opportunity to increase his coins.  He bought tanned hides and had some of the women in the town make them into fine belts and baldrics.  He then sold those at a profit to the men at arms.  He now sent some with Olaf on his ship, to make even greater profits.  He had even bought a sumpter from the manor.  We had received a good price and the extra horses we had gained meant we had spares.  He now led this horse to York. He had items he had had manufactured; scabbards for swords and dagger, belts and baldrics and leather pouches.  The women of Stockton appreciated the extra work and the long nights of winter had been spent productively.

As we neared York I sighed.  There would come a time when John would leave my service.  That was inevitable.  Harold would go to Elton and Edward was at Thornaby.  I would miss their company but I knew that change was bound to happen.  Such was life; it was a cycle of change.

When we reached York I presented myself to the Archbishop first. There was a protocol to such things and then I went to the Great Hall to speak with the Lord of York, Geoffrey d'Aubrigny.  He had come over from Normandy some years earlier and now, in his middle age, he had been given the great castle as his home.

"I have heard great things of you, Baron, and I understand that the King has given you more manors."

"He has. They are both small but we hope that they will grow."

"You are a bastion of the north.  I feel safer knowing that the road from the north is protected. How long do you stay in York?"

"There are just seven of us and we leave tomorrow.  We wished to buy what we cannot make ready for the winter."

"Then stay here tonight as my guests.  There is room a plenty and I have other guests.  I had planned a feast tonight in any case."

"Then I would be honoured."

He nodded, "Excellent; I look forward to hearing some of your tales and stories. I will see you this evening."

I knew that the invitation for the feast would only extend to me and to Harold. My men and John would be happy to make their own arrangements.  York was the largest place outside of London and it would be exciting for them all. It would do Harold good to mix with nobles. He had learned much since he had joined me and he had more knowledge to acquire.  A knight needed to be rounded.  He still had some rough edges. It would be hard to expect anything else of someone who had grown up amongst outlaws.

I rejoined my men.  "We stay here tonight.  Harold and I will be in the castle and you five will be in the warrior hall.  John will give you coin for your food tonight."

"Thank you, my lord."

"Keep your eyes and ears open it is some time since we visited York and I would know how my peers fare. When we have seen to our horses we will buy what we need." I smiled at the men at arms, "Today you will be labourers."

The market at York was a busy one.  Some of the former market stalls now had a roof and the families slept in the back.  John had a list from Adela and the money to buy the things she desired but I was interested in the prices and to see what was on offer.  I recognised a few faces, as we mingled in the market, but none were even acquaintances.  My knights at home were close, like brothers.  The rest of the northern knights were strangers.

John kept purchasing items and the men at arms would lug them back to the castle.  I looked at the thin sun in the sky.  It was drawing late and I was weary of the market.  John suddenly appeared, "That is it, my lord.  We are all done."

I noticed the four men at arms struggling with four heavy sacks. "What on earth are they?"

"They are beans, my lord. The farmers can plant them in the autumn, and we will have an early crop.  The early spring is a hard time.  We can grow and eat when there is little else available to us.  What we do not eat, we can dry and they will do during the winter."

I nodded my approval. "Good.  And do we give the beans to our farmers?" I already knew the answer to my question.

"We will charge them just what we have paid, my lord.  It is a good investment and next year we need not buy any seeds at all."

"Charge them half of what we paid."

"My lord! We will lose money!"

"It is my money and we did well out of our Normandy trip.  Half the price, John."

He nodded, glumly.  "You are far too kind and generous, my lord!"

The Lord of York had no wife and so the feast was all men. That suited me.  I could relax.  However I was acutely aware that we had a lack of women in the valley.  My knights needed wives.  Adela needed company. If Edward and Harold married then, with Sir Richard's wife, Adela would have ladies close by to visit. Since Faren had left it had been a lonely existence.

At the feast I found myself next to a new knight or at least a knight I had not met before.  He was an affable warrior and looked to be some ten years older than me.  I discovered he had a wife and two sons. "I am Raymond of Poitiers, the new Baron of Arncliffe."

Arncliffe was to the north of the Carthusians' monastery.  "You are almost a neighbour then?"

He nodded.  "I have two more manors but they are further south, close to Doncaster but I have yet to visit them.  My main estates are in Blois.  The King was kind enough to reward me for my service to him. I know you have also been rewarded; Lord of the Valley.  Should you need me and my knights then I would be happy to serve under your banner."

"That is kind of you.  How many knights serve you?"

"Altogether there are eight.  One of them, Philippe, is my brother. They are in the south evaluating the worth of my estates there."

"Then when you have time you must come and visit me in my castle.  It is partly finished but I have two floors of the keep which are made of stone."

He looked surprised, "You have done well for one so young."

"My father brought me up to be careful with my coin and to spend it wisely.  A stone keep seemed a good idea.  Especially when one lives so close to the Scots."

"I understand there are others who have estates on both sides of the border."

"Aye and they have divided loyalties."

"Well I understand there will be another knight arriving soon.  Roger de Bertram has been given Greatham." I frowned. That had been part of Hartness and I had not been told about the change. He saw my frown and smiled, "Do not feel you have been overlooked.  I was in Caen when de Bertram was given the manor and I took ship directly.  The news will be on its way.  He is a good fellow and it means you have another knight to follow your banner."

I enjoyed talking to Sir Raymond who was both entertaining and informative.  I learned much about the campaign against Flanders.  It seemed that the King had reached an understanding with Count Fulk and the southern borders of Normandy were now much safer. As I left for my bed the Baron promised me that he and his family would try to visit my castle before the weather changed.  All seven of us returned north feeling happier about our situation.  Harold had enjoyed speaking with the younger knights and, whilst his education had been different, his experiences as a warrior made him popular. John was delighted with his purchases.  I knew that he had done some business for himself.  I had no idea what he bought but I knew that he would make coin out of it.  I suppose when your father was a moneyer then money was in your blood.

Once back in the valley I threw myself into preparing for winter.  Although it was still some time off we had learned to be ready for whatever nature had to throw at us.  I took Harold to Elton and we met the handful of famers who lived there.  I had expected them to be resentful of this interference from the King.  Surprisingly enough they were all happy to have my protection.  Many had come from the north where Scottish raids were more regular. I did not introduce Harold as my squire.  He was dressed as a knight and they accepted him as one.  When I gave him the manor then he would introduce himself properly.

Edward had built a fine manor house. Although it was not a castle there was a ditch running around and the main door was half way up the wall and could only be reached by stairs.  He had his lower floor built into the ground and he used it to store his animals. We had not been able to hire more men at arms from York and so Edward, like my other knights, spent each Sunday afternoon drilling his fyrd. They were a last resort but so long as they were trained they were better than nothing.

By the time the harvest was in and the animals gathered in their winter pens we had done all that we could.  There were piles of wood drying and every ditch had been cleared so that any winter rain would run off. The bone fire celebration, that year, was one of the best that we had ever had. Some of the young girls of the town had become women over the summer and the wassailing around the fire saw new liaisons spring up.   My archers and men at arms had been young men when they had first come to serve me but now they were seeking roots. It bespoke well of the valley that they wanted to live there.

It was the day after when my sentries pointed to the banners on the south of the river.  I recognised the banner of Sir Raymond of Poitiers. This was, however, not a social visit. I saw his knights with him.

"Harold, come with me.  We will visit with Sir Raymond.  I like this not." When we reached the other side Sir Raymond looked angry.

"We have had slavers, Sir Alfraed."

"They did not cross the river here and I doubt that they would have done so at Piercebridge or Gainford."

"No, they are not Scots.  They are Vikings from the west. We came here first for we thought they might have crossed the river here and then headed back to the west coast."

Vikings! "We have never had them from the west before.  Are they from Ireland or Man?"

"Orkney.  At least that is what Bohemond thought."

Bohemond stepped forward, "I served on the western borders. These looked like Orkney Vikings to me." He held out an amulet.  "They dropped this near the village they raided.  It is from Orkney."

"Why come all the way across the country?"

"It is not far and they can sail their dragon ships up the Ribble and the Lune. I need your help, Baron. You know these lands better than I do."

I nodded, "There is little point in your coming north.  Head west and south." He frowned, "That is the shortest route to the rivers you mention. They did not come this way. There are few castles along the way.  If they cross the river they have my castles to contend with and beyond that Bowes, Barnard and Brougham. They will not risk that direction.  South and west that is where we will find them. Do they have a start?"

"A day."

"I am guessing that they have other slaves they captured along the way. They must have been greedy.  Had they stopped earlier we might not have known. We will catch you up.  I will gather my men.  We will catch them."

We had to say hasty farewells.  I took Aiden and eight archers as well as Wulfric and ten men at arms. I left Star at home.  When we crossed the river I asked Edward to watch my home. "I will come with you, Baron."

"No, my friend, we need speed.  Already I am an hour behind Sir Raymond. We will be back within the week at the most.  With God's help we can find them quickly." I hated the thought of having our people enslaved by the Vikings.  They would sell them in the slave markets in Ireland or Scotland.  Few would ever return home.

We went along the river to Yarm.  I wanted Sir Richard to know what we were about.  Tristan begged to be allowed to accompany us. I saw that his father was torn.  "I will watch over him but this may be a chance to see the improvement he has made." Sir Richard nodded his agreement but I could see that his wife was far from happy.  Mothers hated letting their sons go.

He was eager to be away and we rode swiftly west from the manor. Although Sir Raymond had a start on us we knew the roads and he did not. We caught up with him north of Ripon.  As we approached the prosperous city Tristan asked, "Why did the Baron not seek help from here? It is closer to his lands."

"He does not know the country yet.  He is new.  He knew me and I think he expects us to do what he cannot; find his people." We rode towards the column of knights which were heading west along the road.

Aiden came trotting back from the west. He had ridden ahead of us.  "I have cut their trail, my lord.  They have travelled across country rather than using the road.  They were to the north and west of us."

I turned to Harold, "That makes sense.  The land is gentle and is not as rocky and difficult to travel upon.  The slaves will be on foot but they will have to drop down to the road soon for the gorges are treacherous. We need to ride harder." The men at arms at the rear of Sir Raymond's men heard us coming and the column stopped.

I pointed to the north and west.  "The slaves have headed across country.  They are just a few miles ahead. They will be on the road before too long." Sir Raymond looked relieved, "Do you know how many Vikings and slaves we follow?"

"No.  They took at least two villages and many farms. We had no time to check."

I turned in the saddle, "Aiden, Dick and Wilson, find them."

The three galloped off. I noticed that Sir Raymond had only crossbowmen. "I would use archers if I were you, Sir Raymond.  Crossbows defend castles.  Out here they are more of a liability."

"But in Normandy…"

"In Normandy there are many more castles than there are here." I saw the doubt on his face.  He would learn that, in England, bows were better than crossbows.

It grew dark and we had still to hear from our scouts. "We will need to make camp."

"Surely we can push on." I knew that Sir Raymond was angry and that was no way to pursue an enemy.  It was too risky.  I also know that we had to conserve our horses.  Vikings were hardy warriors.  They needed no horses. We would catch them but it would take time.

"And risk horses falling down ravines or breaking legs?  They will have to stop to eat and to rest.  My men will find them.  We rise early and we pursue them. The rest will do the horses good." I pointed to my archers.  "They have no armour and can ride faster than we can.  My archers can hold them until we arrive and then your knights can do what they do best."

He bit his lips.  He was torn between wanting to ignore my words and continue the chase and listening to what he knew was sage advice. He nodded and we camped. Wulfric quickly organised the camp and the food.  He was an old campaigner.  It did not matter if the Vikings could smell our fire or see the flames. They were the ones who were being pursued.

A weary Wilson rode in as we had just started our food. "They are ahead sir, just twenty miles away. They are not far from Gisburn."

I suddenly remembered the knight who had told us of the rebellion at Durham.  Guy of Gisburn had been allowed to return to his manor. Perhaps this was fate.

"And where are Aiden and Dick?"

"They are watching them.  It was dark, Baron, but from their fires Dick estimated that there were sixty or more warriors."

I nodded, "Two boat loads and that means there will be a third boat to take the slaves. You have done well.  Eat."

"Yes my lord," he hesitated, "there are children Baron." I saw the pity in his eyes and I nodded. We would get them back or die in the attempt.

Sir Raymond said, "Your face showed that you know of this place."

"Let us say I have heard of it and there is a castle at Gisburn but it is a small demesne. They may not be able to do anything to stop them but, equally, we might be able to add them to our force.  Sixty Vikings are a formidable warband."

"You have fought them before?"

"Not from Orkney but I have fought them. We will need to use lances.  They go for the horses knowing that a downed horse makes a knight easier to kill. Hopefully they will not have much mail and our archers will be able to pin them down." I smiled, "And perhaps your crossbowmen will come into their own."

We rose before dawn.  We had three knights, three squires, twenty men at arms and a force of fifteen archers and crossbows.  I hoped that it would be enough. By the time dawn had broken we were armed, armoured and ready to ride.  As soon as we started to ride Sir Raymond saw the reason we had camped.  Within half a mile of where we had spent the night we had a gorge cascading to one side of us and precipitous rocks above our heads. Wilson led the column for he knew where they had spent the night. They had obviously moved when we reached their camp but their trail was easy to find.  Dick and Aiden would leave signs if there was the danger of an ambush. 

Once we passed through the last pass the ground fell away and we saw them two miles ahead. They were on the road and it was descending between the wooded slopes of the valley. I hoped they would not realise they were being pursued but that did not really matter now for we could see them.

"Wilson, take the archers and find Dick.  There looks to be cover to the side of the road.  Have Dick pin them down until we can get there."

The archers trotted away.  They did not use the road but headed into the fields and scrubby bushes which lined the road.  They were masters at hiding. I turned to Harold and Tristan.  "Get the lances." As they went to the pack horses I took my helmet from my cantle.  "We had better arm Sir Raymond. As soon as they see us they will form a shield wall." I hesitated.  I did not want to insult him. "If you have never fought a shield wall I should advise you to try to strike between the shields rather than the head or the shield. You have more chance of making a hole in the wall and that is what we must do.  If we can break their shield wall then we have a chance."

"These are barbarians.  They cannot stand against Norman knights!"

"Do not underestimate them, Baron. They are worthy and ruthless opponents.  They will take the legs from your horses if they can."

He did not look convinced but he and his men at arms prepared.

"I would suggest we ride in a line five abreast." He nodded. "Tristan you ride next to Wulfric in the second line."

"Yes Baron." If he was disappointed he did not show it.

We cantered down the road.  Our horses were still relatively fresh and the slope helped us move more easily. The noise of our hooves must have alerted them.  There were faces turned to us and then a sudden movement as shields were presented.  I was impressed with the speed with which they formed a shield wall. These were well trained warriors.  This would not be easy. Their spears protruded and, as we closed to within five hundred paces I saw two lines of spearmen and, behind them, a line of mailed warriors who looked to be the leaders.  The slaves, and there were many of them, were penned in by ten lightly armed warriors. 

As we lowered our lances I hoped that my archers had managed to get into position.  Sir Raymond's crossbowmen were riding with us.  They would be of little use until it was all over. I was pleased that Harold was keeping tight to me as was Sir Raymond.  Worryingly the knight to the left of Sir Raymond, William of Helmsley, was not and worse, he was getting ahead of both Sir Raymond and me.  It was too late to order him back for we were now galloping. I pulled back my shield closer to my body and looked at the warrior I would strike. I stood in my stirrups as I punched forward.  Even as I was striking I heard the scream of a dying horse as William of Helmsley's mount was hacked by a Danish axe.  William was thrown over the horse's head to be butchered by the warriors behind.

The Viking I had aimed my lance at had glanced to his left.  It cost him his life as my lance sank into his shoulder.  William's dead horse crashed into the shield wall and Harold managed to spear a Viking in the face. It meant we had created a gap.  I continued to urge Scout on and the dead Viking's body fell against the spears of the men behind him and they could not bring their spears to bear.

Dick and his archers began to rain arrow on the unprotected backs of the Vikings. With their centre broken by the four of us and their right flank assaulted by archers the cohesion of the shield wall was gone. We were no longer knee to knee but Wulfric and our second rank were now in a position to bring their lances to bear. I threw my broken lance at the men before me and, as I unsheathed my sword, I pulled back on the reins so that Scout's hooves rose to clatter down on the broken shield wall.  Our combined weight came down on a warrior and crushed his chest as though it was a sheet of thin ice.

We could not stop, that would be disastrous, and I yelled, "On! We have them! No quarter!" There were too many of them for us to risk trying to take prisoners.  I stabbed down and found the unprotected throats of a blond, bare chested Viking. We were now a wedge which was forcing its way towards the five leaders who stood waiting for us. They were a different proposition.  They had mail byrnies and well made shields. They were also standing on a small mound.  We finished off the last of the shield wall.  Dick and his archers had done the most damage. There were just the five leaders standing between us and the slaves.  The warriors who were guarding the captives would not be an obstacle.

I turned to Sir Raymond, "Bring up your crossbows.  Let us see if they can make these last five charge us."

He shouted and his seven crossbowmen arrived. "Sir Alfraed wants you to hit those five."

The leader nodded and the crossbows cracked as they sent their bolts towards them. All of them hit the shields.  They were well made shields and did no damage.

"Aim for the legs." That was one advantage of a crossbow.  It had a flatter trajectory. The Vikings were not expecting it and, when they had reloaded, the seven bolts hit the Vikings.  One was hit by two and he fell to the floor.  The captain of the crossbowmen looked at Sir Raymond, I shouted, "Keep going! Do not stop.  When they are on the ground we will charge them!"

The five were brave men and they were hard to kill. The crossbows seemed to take an age to reload. I shouted to Dick.  "Take out the guards on the captives!"

It did not feel glorious to watch the end of the Vikings but they had risked all for their slaves and they had paid with their lives.  Finally one of the Vikings ran directly at me.  I was dismounted, standing next to the crossbows.  They had yet to reload and he ran with his war axe swinging.  He threw his shield like a giant discus and it smacked into the chest of a crossbowman. I did not wait for his strike.  With my shield held tightly I stepped towards the Viking and pulled back my sword.  As his axe smashed into my shield I stabbed forward. My sword tore into his mail and his stomach.  I punched so hard that the tip struck his spine. I twisted and pulled. As his guts spilled out the last of the Vikings fell dead at my feet.

The men at arms all cheered but I felt sad. It had been an unequal contest.  If Sir Raymond's knight had not broken ranks we might have suffered fewer casualties.  As it was one of his knights had a broken leg, suffered when his horse had been killed and two of his men at arms had foolishly advanced beyond my men at arms and been hacked to death.

Sir Raymond said as he viewed his dead and wounded, "I see what you mean.  I will heed your advice next time."

The captives were delighted to be rescued.  It turned out that half of them had been taken from this side of the great divide. "Are any of you from the manor of Gisburn?"

A woman and her daughter came towards me. "We are my lord.  Thank you."

"Is it far from here?"

She shook her head.  "Just five miles to the north my lord."

"Harold and Tristan, go with these women and ask Sir Guy if we can stay at his castle this night.  He may remember you, Harold. If not then remind him of my name!"

It took some time to strip the Vikings of their valuables and pile their bodies on some dead wood.  Wulfric kept shaking his head as he organised the weapons and the treasures. "These Vikings are a strange lot, my lord.   There were just a dozen who fought in armour and yet every one of them has a piece of silver or gold around his neck.  Most of them have these." He held out a small piece of metal on a thing.

I examined it.  "Thor's hammer.  There are many Christian Vikings now.  Perhaps this explains their raid here. They are going back to their old ways."

"They fight well enough, my lord but no discipline."