The King Is Dead (17 page)

"Aye my lord, twenty years of living in the east with sun and little rain has made me soft.  I will soon be on my feet."

I shook my head, "No you will not.  I know this sickness.  It can worsen and I would not have such a fine warrior taken from me by the climate! You stay here until Father Henry says you are well." I heard a noise behind me and I saw the priest enter. "And he is here now.  Let me ask him eh? Father Henry, is Erre well enough for war?"

The priest looked shocked and then saw my face. He smiled, "No, my lord.  The new grass will have begun to grow and we will be looking to Easter before he can even think about donning mail once more. Even then I would be reluctant to allow him to stand in a shield wall."

"There, Erre, not my words but a priest."

"But my lord, my duties!"

"Are my concern. You know that you will always have a place here at Stockton.  When I first took your oath I told you that.  My father and his fellows were like you and, like you, there came a time when they began to war less and reflect more.  I believe this is God telling you the same."

"Amen to that, my lord.  You should have been a philosopher."

"I think, Father, that there are many Scots and French who would attest to that!"

"You are putting me out to pasture my lord?"

I shook my head, "That is impossible.  You and I know that you will die with a  sword in your hand defending my home." He nodded.  "I intend to make John, my squire, the castellan of this castle. I shall not need to leave it for some months but when I am gone I would have you be his guide.  He is young but he has a good heart. With you at his side I know that I could leave my castle in the safest  of hands. You can be the voice of wisdom which tells this keen youth where he goes astray. What say you?"

He smiled, "John is a good squire, my lord and will make a good knight. You will knight him?"

I  put my finger to my lips, "Aye, but let that be our secret until I tell him."

He smiled and, perhaps it was my imagination, but he began to look a little better, "You have my word, my lord, and I swear I will be as a father to him.  I was not meant to be a father, at least not to my knowledge but I can be one to John, Sir John, that is."

I rose, "Good, now rest."

I left with Father Henry.  "That was well done, my lord. Oft times the best medicine is kindness and thought."

"I try to do the best for my people.  I grew up around men like Erre.  They have a hard life and, oft times, are discarded like a worn out sword.  I would cherish them and what they have learned.  This will be good for Erre and good for John too."

"Aye my lord, I will go to the church and say a prayer for you."

"Thank you Father.  I need all the help I can get."

My two squires were waiting, expectantly, for me. The wine was poured. "Sit." They sat at the table and I held up my goblet for a toast.  "I toast my two squires.  You have shown bravery and courage.  You are both warriors.  I can say no better than that." They touched goblets and we drank.  I could see they were curious.  My actions were unusual.

"Is everything well with you, father?"

"Aye William.  Erre is ill.  He will be laid up until the spring." They nodded.  Erre was popular.  When he had first come Leofric, John and William had sat for hours listening to his tales of Miklagård. "John, when I next go to war you will not be coming with me." I saw his face fall.  William opened his mouth to speak and I put my hand up to silence him. "You will not be coming with me because you will be the new castellan of Stockton.  Erre will be your guide until you learn your way around the task."

His face split into a huge smile and then the import of my words  sank in.  He looked at William who asked, "He will be knighted?"

"He will.  This time will not be hurried as was that of Leofric. We will hold the ceremony on Christmas Eve.  We will have many knights and it will be fitting."

John knelt and kissed the hem of my surcoat, "Thank you my lord I..."

I smiled, "Go and see Erre.  Tell him I have told you.  He will be pleased. Make him smile, John. He is an old soldier and we look after those." He turned to go.  "John, your wine." He grinned, downed the wine in one and left us. I looked at William, "And now you wonder when I will give you your spurs?"

"Yes, father."

"You know that John and Leofric were squires for many years before they became knights.  You have been a squire for less than three.  I will knight you but not just yet." He nodded. "I will tell you this, William, over the next year will see you become a man. You have grown into your body and now you need to grow into your mind.  Look and learn.  We will be on horseback for most of the year and you will learn what it is to campaign.  Watch others and see how they do.  I did. We both know there are good knights and bad knights.  Observe what they both do and learn how to be a knight who is respected."

"I will and I am not unhappy.  I am pleased for John and Leofric.  They will both be good knights and they have taught me well, at least I hope they have."

John, my steward, kept me busy for the next few days. Harold of Hartburn heard that I was home and came to visit with me.  Like William and Erre he was delighted that John was to be knighted. He agreed to talk him through the ceremony and the rights and duties.  I had not had time to do this for Leofric. His visit made life easier for me as I was able to tell him of the King's orders and my plans.

"I am pleased for Leofric and John.  They are not lords of the manor but it will allow them to learn how to become one.  I know that Tristan appreciated his time in Durham."

I could see that he had something to tell me.  He fidgeted and was excited at the same time. "Come on Harold, spit out your news.  You are about to burst."

"I have asked the Lady Eloise of Appleton Wiske to be my bride, with your permission, my lord."

"That you have.  And her father?" Old Sir Henry had been a lord of the manor long before we had come to this part of the world.  It was a small demesne and Sir Henry was just a farmer with a title.

"Her father died in the autumn of the coughing sickness.  I went, at Sir Richard of Yarm's request, to help the family.  Many of their yeomen had left. We were together and..."

I had only met her once and that was many years before.  The rest of Sir Henry's children had not reached adulthood but Eloise must have been watched over by the angels for she had grown into a woman. "Then I am pleased.  You may use my church for the ceremony if you wish."

"I thought that when we come for Christmas?"

"Of course.  It would be a perfect time." I looked at him, "You do not do this out of sympathy do you?  That is not the footing for marriage." The moment I said it I regretted my words.  That was how I had taken Adela as my wife.

Harold smiled, "No, my lord.  We laugh a great deal and I like her smile.  Her mother likes me too.  I will bring them to Hartburn.  It will be better for them both.  There is a yeoman who is keen to run the farm."

"And I am pleased." After he had gone I pondered his words.  I would be taking him away to war in the north. The life of a lord of the manor was not as easy as those below us might think. Taking only William I left a week after I had arrived home.  I had many lords to see.  An enterprise such as the King intended took planning. Each one of my knights needed to be told what I would need.  This would need to be a show of force.

My first visit was not to inform a lord of his duties it was to visit Hartness where the Lady De Brus lived with her son Robert. They would not be providing any men at arms but I wanted the lady of the manor to know what was expected. If Hartness did not provide men then they would provide horses, arrows and grain for the horses. Her husband had been killed in the service of the King and he had been the only de Brus I trusted.  I hoped Robert, his son was being brought up like his father.

I was pleased to see that they had improved the harbour.  Unlike my town this port was on the coast.  Ships travelling to me had a long and circuitous voyage up the Tees. She was always pleased to see me.  "My lord, it is good to see you, and William grown so much.  He is quite the handsome young knight.  There will be many ladies throwing their favours his way."

He was still young enough to be embarrassed by such comments. "And where is young Robert?  I did not see him when we arrived."

"He is down at Guisborough Priory his uncle is abbot there and he is improving his mind."

"Good although I hope he does not neglect his sword.  He will be lord of the manor one day."

"Believe me he knows."

"This will be a brief visit, dear lady. We are to campaign in the spring and I will need ten sumpters, grain for twenty horses for a month and five thousand arrows.  I came here first for I know they will take some time to gather."

"Thank you for your consideration.  I am just sorry that we cannot supply men.  If arrows are lost and grain eaten no one cries but when your men do not return home there will be tears aplenty."

"Amen to that.  And I am here to invite you to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day in Stockton.  Sir Harold marries Lady Eloise of Appleton Wiske.  And my squire, John will be knighted. It may be that one of my knights may need Robert as a squire."

"His uncles have been training him but I know that being a squire is necessary. Thank you I will bring my son."

The message was the same for all those who lived less than half a day from my castle.  The others were just informed of the date we would begin our campaign.  I did not say where we would be going.  There were many loose tongues in my lords' castles.  If they had any sense then they would work it out for themselves. My last visit, at the end of a long week was with Sir Edward.  I had much to tell him.  He had fought alongside Godfrey and, equally importantly, he was my lieutenant.

William went with Gilles, Sir Edward's squire, to look at his new colt.  Lady Thornaby gave us some privacy. She was a sensitive lady.

"Godfrey was a good knight."

"That he was but I fear he had slowed a little.  It happens. There will come a time when younger knights have quicker hands.  There was only Athelstan who was still strong at the end.  If he had not been outnumbered..."

"It was his time, my lord.  So the King intends us to invade Scotland?"

"No, we are not to cross the border but we are to scour out any rebels close to the border.  He wishes us to rid the land of outlaws and let King David know that King Henry watches his border." I smiled, "We are also to let them know that we are aware of their paymaster, Louis."

"What of the Earl of Chester?"

"The King has sent a message to ask him to come and support us in the north.  It will not be a large force he brings for he must guard Chester."

"We will need an enormous train.  With that number of men and horses we will need an army to feed us."

"That is true. The King has also written to the Bishop of Durham.  As the soldiers are coming from the Tees then Durham provides the food and the camps."

"Excellent, my lord.  It means that any ransom and treasure comes to us and our expenses are lessened."

I was acutely aware of Lady Hartness' words.  "The cost in men will be higher." I looked over to make sure that the door was closed. "We campaign for a month and then you and I will travel to Normandy.  The King wants us in the war against France."

"The King will declare war on France?  That is a bold move."

"No, we attack the castle of Guy de Senonches.  He has committed crimes against Normandy and invaded England.  If Louis objects we say that we are extracting retribution for past crimes and recovering stolen taxes."

"And has he?"

"Aye.  My manor on the Angevin border."

"And how is Leofric coping with his new duties?"

"Well. It was as though he was born to it. I will have to ask Sir Richard to watch over John while I am in France.  I am not so sure of his skills."

"But he will have Erre and John son of Leofric to advise him."

"Aye, I am probably worrying too much. And your sons.  Have they begun their training?"

"They are but eight and seven but they work with my men at arms."

His wife came in, "Do you require more wine, my lord?"

"No, my lady.  I shall travel back to Stockton soon."  When the door had closed I said, "I am sorry to be taking you away from your wife and family."

"My lord you have been more than fair.  There were many times you could have asked for my sword but you took Tristan and Harold.  I appreciate it but I know my duty," he grinned, "and to speak the truth I grow bored with life in Thornaby, there is only so much hawking and hunting I can take.  I was a warrior for too many years before I became a knight. In those days I had to fight to eat and now I fight because I choose to."

We left for the north on the first of March.  It was bitterly cold and the wind chilled to the bone.  I took with me seven knight, eight squires sixty seven men at arms, sixty six archers and forty servants.  Each knight left at least ten men to guard their homes.  We were not foolish enough to take all with us.  I had no idea how many men the Earl of Chester would bring but I guessed it would be less.  It was the banners which would strike fear into the hearts of any would be rebels or brigands. The men I led had been the scourge of the north for many years.  My knights were not tourney knights they were warriors.

John was disappointed to be left behind.  It was the first time he had not ridden at my side.  I left with him Erre and my Varangians as well as Aiden and eight archers. I took the new men with me.  This would be a good opportunity to see if Dick had hired well.  I did not doubt his judgement. However sometimes good men could fall to pieces in combat. Any who did not meet our high standards would be paid off.  Others might hire them but we wanted only the best.

We all gathered at Barnard Castle. Worryingly Sir Barnard de Balliol was not at home.  His castellan said he had gone to Rome on a pilgrimage.  That was more likely to be a political rather than a religious visit. When the castellan told me I said, "Then as the Baron cannot provide men we require ten sumpters, a thousand arrows and enough grain for twenty horses."

He paled, "My lord that is a huge amount."

"Would you rather I took the garrison and left you vulnerable to an attack from the Scots?"

"No, my lord.  Your supplies will be ready by the end of the week."

"No they will be ready by the morrow or there will a new castellan here and I will have had the hide from your back.  I do this with the authority of the King."

"Very well, my lord."

He was happy to see the back of me for we ate well at his castle. As we headed west I rode with Sir Hugh of Hexham and Sir Edward at the head of the column.  "What do you think it means, Balliol visiting Rome?"

"The Pope has no love for King Henry but King Louis is a favourite.  King David is also thought highly of by the pontiff. The King cannot stop his barons visiting the Pope but it worries me. What are they planning?  Will the Pope support the Scots in an attack on England? I think that I shall have to question Sir Barnard when he returns."

The Earl of Chester was at Carlisle waiting for us. He knew us of old and was indebted to me.  He was, like Edward and Sir Hugh, one of the most dependable knights I knew. "I am sorry, Cleveland, but I only brought five knights and forty men at arms.  The Welsh have been raiding of late.  We have sent them packing each time but even so."

"I would not worry, the Earl of Gloucester is heading into their heartland.  The King does not worry about upsetting the Welsh; they are not allies of the French nor do they have the support of the Pope. The Scots are a different matter."

"And what is our plan?"

"We travel the border, if we happen to stray over then I shall not worry overmuch.  We hang every outlaw and brigand and we seek rebels. Although our banners will not travel north our scouts will.  If we can find Gospatric or any of the other disloyal lords then we will cross the border to fetch them.  That does not break the peace." The Earl frowned. "I was there when the treaty was signed.  We have permission to seek traitors and rebels.  If they have land in England then they are ours."

"And how long do we ride?"

"I would wish to be back in my valley by the end of April.  The King needs me in France."

"The we will need to move swiftly."

"Aye, my lord.  We leave on the morrow.  I would head up to the border close to Carlisle and then head to Norham."

"Then we had best get our line of march organised."

It took some time to ensure that all of our supplies and animals would be protected as we headed north and east.  The Earl of Chester took the rearguard and I the van. It made sense for I knew the land and he did not.  Dick and my archers were our scouts. They foraged far ahead of us on both sides of the border. It would be an eighty mile ride. We began at the Solway.  It was too wide to cross save by ferry.  They would see our progress and wonder what we were about. I wanted the Scots to know we were coming. There would be no chance encounters. If they risked a confrontation then so be it.  They would pay the price.

We were four hours from Carlisle when we saw the Scottish warriors on the northern bank of the Esk. There were just four of them and none were knights. We had travelled a few miles when one of them kicked his horse in the rump and disappeared north. I turned to Sir Edward, "I think our Scottish friends are reporting our progress."

"I am not familiar with this part of the country.  Where can they cross?"

I pointed ahead, "A few miles yonder is Longton. It is a disputed village.  Sometimes the Scots have it and sometimes we.  The people have a flexible loyalty." I shrugged.  "I understand it. But there is no castle."

Henry Warbow galloped up, "My lord, Dick has sent me. He is at Longton.  We crossed the river and there is a conroi north of the river."

"How many?"

"Two knights and twenty men."

"Good. Tell Dick to deny them the crossing.  We will be there shortly." As he rode off I said to William, "Ride to the fore.  Show them who comes."

He spurred his horse and headed our column. As I looked up at the sky I thought it unlikely that we would get much further before dark.  "Sir Hugh, we will camp at Longton."

"Aye, my lord."

Our pace was more urgent and we trotted rather than walked. As we neared the village I saw villagers heading towards us.  "Fear not, we come to your aid.  We are not enemies."

A white beard said, "I am sorry, lord, but even if you bloody the noses of the Scots they will come back when you are gone.  Best that we are not there.  We may be able to talk our way out of trouble."

I could not blame him.  I would ask the Earl of Chester to leave a knight and men at arms there until he returned to Carlisle. It was unfair to abandon these people. However it meant that the village would be empty. No one would be hurt accidentally. If the Scots had any sense they would see our numbers and retreat. Dick and his archers were using the huts adjacent to the river for shelter. I saw one dead horse in the centre of the wooden bridge.  Sir Hugh said, "At least we eat meat this night." He was ever practical.

"Dismount.  William keep the standard flying. Leopold, watch my squire."

They both nodded.  Leopold of Durstein was a big man and my son would be safe from any crossbow bolt or arrow.

"Where are they, Dick?"

He pointed north and then north east.  "One knight is at the other end of the bridge.  He has eight men with him. They are hiding close to the woods. The other headed along the river.  There is an island yonder.  I am guessing that they can ford there.  I have Ralph of Thirsk and Long Tom watching them."

"Did you manage to hit any?"

"The horse and rider.  Two other men at arms were struck by arrows.  They retreated to safety as soon as we loosed.  They keep hidden." He hesitated, "My lord, we did not initiate this attack.  They had charged over the bridge and were threatening the villagers."

"I know, Dick.  You have done right." I turned.  "Sir Harold and Sir Tristan, ride north east towards the island.  Deny the Scots the ford there."

"Aye, my lord."

They were both sensible and Harold knew how to use cover. "Sir Edward, we will go on foot and clear the far end.  Sir Hugh, command until the Earl arrives. William, remain here."

The bridge was wide enough for six men. I stood next to Wulfric and Sir Edward in the centre. I pulled my shield tightly before me and we set off across the bridge. There were over twenty of us. Unless the Scots had been reinforced we would outnumber them. Once we had negotiated the dead horse we closed ranks once more.  No missiles came our way. I looked for the Scots but I could not see them. As we stepped from the end of the bridge I saw that the Scots had moved to the shelter of the trees and were mounted. I recognised the livery of De Vere.  Was this Sir Richard de Vere?  His family had already paid a fine ransom to me.

I shouted, "De Vere, withdraw now for we outnumber you!"

He nudged his horse forward a few paces, flanked by his men although they still stayed close to the trees..  "This is Scotland, not England.  You are the one who is trespassing."

"Longton is English and you tried to cross the bridge."

"The Earl of Galloway comes to punish you for breaking the peace."

"I have broken no peace.  Withdraw or pay the price." I lowered my voice and said, "When he refuses then we charge."

"Aye, lord."

"I do not obey the orders of a man I do not respect. At them!" They began to move towards us.

Only forty paces separated us and the Scots had placed themselves against the trees. Our move would, I hoped, take them by surprise.  Had they had archers they might have caused us problems but they had spears. I had fought with Edward and Wulfric many times and we moved as one. We had done this before. I brushed aside the spear which came at my head and struck the Scot's horse's head with my shield. Edward swung his sword sideways and it bit into his thigh. Sir Richard took the opportunity to gallop at me.  He had a clear run. He came at my exposed side.  Unlike his man at arms he had a lance and he would know how to use it.  Fortunately Wulfric's axe swept into the side of his horse's head. It was such a powerful blow that the horse was pitched to the side and De Vere thrown from his horse. He sailed through the air and his body crunched sickeningly into a tree.

I yelled, "If you do not lay down your arms then you will be dead men." I pointed behind me where Dick and his archers had their bows levelled. They did as commanded. I took off my helmet and handed it to Wulfric, "A fine hit."

When I reached Richard de Vere he was still alive although his body was broken. "You are, it seems, my nemesis, Earl Alfraed of Cleveland. I thought you were lucky the last time we met; now I know it." He tried to laugh but I could see the pain was too much. "You are a marked man now.  My family had already sworn vengeance upon you.  My death just makes it certain."

"Your death was of your own doing.  I gave you the chance to withdraw.  You would have lost no honour.  I will send your body and your arms back to your family." He tried to say something but his eyes glazed over and he was dead. I stood and beckoned over the sergeant at arms. "Take your lord and his arms back to his family.  Tell them that I gave him the chance to withdraw but he wanted to fight me."

"Aye lord.  He hated you and swore he would remove the shame you heaped upon him. The ransom has made his family the poorer."

They left and we returned across the bridge.  I hoped the Scots would heed our message. The dead horse was quickly butchered and put on the fire to cook.  The Earl of Chester had organised the camp well and sentries were already set.

"A good start, Earl."

I shook my head, "I would have preferred him to walk away and warn the Scots.  Now I have even more enemies."

Sir Harold and Sir Tristan had had more luck.  Their sudden appearance and numbers had sent the Scots back across the river. Now we just had the Earl of Galloway to contend with.  The Earl of Chester left Sir Roger of Bickerstaff and his men to guard the bridge.  We carried on into the wild lands north of the Roman Wall. Within an hour of leaving Longton we found that the river could be forded anywhere.  The river was the border and we kept it to our left as we continued our patrol.

The Romans had never built many roads north of the walls and they had certainly never maintained them.  They were, however, preferable to the rock strewn hill sides which surrounded us. Dick and his scouts heralded our progress.  For the most part the English who lived in this land were pleased to see us. There were few lords of the manor hereabouts. These were tenant farmers who scratched a living goring oats and tending a few sheep. At noon Dick returned to advise me that we were being followed by Scottish scouts.

"They are wary, my lord, and clever enough to avoid us."

"Send two men north of the river and see if you can see for whom they scout."

"I will go, lord."

"No, Dick, you cannot do everything just as I cannot do everything.  Send two men.  You trust your scouts do you not?"