The King Is Dead (20 page)

"Compared with these new ones they are. To be fair they seem keen and they are grateful that they are clothed and fed.  Dick had the bowyer at the castle make them new bows.  The war bows they used were not good enough.  They will be satisfactory but these men at arms? Have we time enough?"

"We will make time.  The King gave us until summer. By the time we reach the Loir we will have one month.  I want to make La Flèche as strong as possible.  These new archers will help. Between you and me, Wulfric, the news I bring from the Archbishop suggests that the King may have more than just the French against him."

"Aye my lord, but no matter how many men are against us they will not be as good as us.  We are English!"

Wulfric was indomitable. He believed one Englishman was worth five of any other nationality.

He began his training the next morning as we headed out to sea.  The pitching rolling deck made a hard training ground but Wulfric persevered. While he looked for the weakness of our new knight and his men at arms Dick had all the archers working.  They did not waste arrows but instead he had them drawing and holding until the sweat poured down their faces.  The first to weaken was sent running around the deck. The veteran archers like Ralph of Wales and Aelric smiled.  They had endured it and knew that in the heat of battle their training could make the difference.

Wulfric had no wooden swords but we had spare spear hafts.  He had the new men at arms using them so that they fought as one.  William joined in.  It was more to show Sir Thurstan and his squire, Robert, that it was all right for a man at arms to order a noble. It was their lack of fitness which was the most worrying.  After less than two hours they were exhausted. William smiled but, thankfully, kept his thoughts to himself.

When Wulfric gave them a break, reluctantly it has to be said, I stood by the stern rail with Sir Thurstan. "Is all this necessary, my lord?  Battles do not last this long!"

"But they do.  Your opponent will be armed much as you are. Unless you are lucky and he has weak mail then it becomes a battle of wills. Who will tire first? When you cannot raise your shield any more then you will be hurt.  When your blows become so weak that they do not hurt your enemy then you will have lost.  There will be no ransom for you, remember that." He nodded. "And when we land and your men have horses all of this will be repeated.  On horseback it is harder.  Persevere and you might live longer than your first battle."

He had the good grace to smile and shake his head, "I had not expected it to be this hard."

"The stories that men tell of battle are just that, stories.  The reality is harder. It is more like butchery. You fight with all to hand, sword, shield, horse, dagger, helmet...all! At the end of the battle the survivors are those who wanted life more than those who fell or the ones who refused to give in no matter how much they wished to."

"I have much to learn."

He must have spoken with his men for they began to improve both in their efforts and their attitude.  Wulfric began to see hope and his occasional smile made them redouble their efforts. By the time we saw St. Nazaire I had a little hope that most would survive our first encounter with the French.

We had to wait for two days until there was a barge which could take us to my manor.  We bought horses for the men at arms and my new archers. Dick took the archers along the river to ride to La Flèche. He saw it as an opportunity to continue their training. Wulfric had the men at arms man the oars on the barge as we left St. Nazaire. It speeded up the voyage and helped harden men and muscle.

I noticed the change at La Flèche the moment I stepped ashore.  The people were smiling.  The oppressive taxes had gone.  I was also in no doubt that Leofric would have won around the locals. He had had almost half a year to show them that he could deputise for me in this foreign manor. Dick and his archers had reached the town a day earlier and Leofric greeted us on the quayside. I left Wulfric, Sir Thurstan and William to unload the barge and I walked with Leofric to his castle.

"How did the winter go?"

"It is much warmer here than Stockton in winter my lord! And we had no snow! It is no wonder they can grow grapes.  It is a very pleasant climate."

"And you had no trouble?"

"No, lord.  The Count and his men visited with me on numerous occasions but there have been raids along the Main and the Loire."

"From Aquitaine?"

He nodded, "Not the ducal armies but bands of opportunist knights.  The Count has sent them hence each time but he is keen to go to war."

"That is King Louis. He uses his allies to weaken. The King is right to take the war to them. Have you met your new archers?"

"Aye, lord, they were a bonus. Dick told me they were, until recently, outlaws."

"They were but Dick now vouches for them."

"Then I have neither fears nor doubts." We sat at his table and a servant poured us some wine.  "My lord I have a favour to ask."

"Speak.  You know that is my way."

"I wish to be wed."

"You have met someone?"

"She is the daughter of Hugo of La Flèche.  He is the leading wine grower and merchant in the manor. Her father is keen for the union."

"That does not matter.  How do you feel? Do not marry just because it will please the locals.  You are your own man."

He smiled, "I am happy, lord.  She makes me laugh and I make her smile. She reminds me a little of the Lady Adela."

"Then I am happy too and you have my permission." I smiled, "At least we are guaranteed good wine for the wedding feast."

"Aye, lord, we are that!"

Now I understood the smiles and the mood of those we had seen.  A wedding always made people smile and what could be better than this marriage?  The castellan and the daughter of the leading merchant.  Had I organised it I could not have planned it better. Perhaps our fortunes were changing for the better.

I left three days later when Scout had his land legs once more. I left Wulfric to continue the training of Sir Thurstan.  The King was in Rouen and it would take a week to get there and back. I felt it was important for him to receive the Archbishop's news as soon as possible. I took Edgar, Leopold of Durstein and Wilfred.  We could travel quicker that way.

I had forgotten just how prosperous Maine and Normandy were.  The borderlands might be dangerous but the heartland was rich and verdant.  This was a prize plum and I knew now why Louis coveted it so.  Sir Henry de Varenne greeted us at Le Mans where we first broke our journey.  He, too, had much information for me. Armies were gathering on the borders. Blois was in a state of war. Enemies were raiding it and Theobald, Stephen's brother was hard pressed. When we left for Rouen, the next day, I was filled with foreboding. Perhaps the King had delayed too long. It took another two days of hard riding to reach the capital.

Rouen looked like an armed camp. Tents mushroomed all around.  I recognised the banners; these were King Henry's most loyal knights.  "Edgar, see if you can find somewhere for us to sleep. We will walk from here."

William and I left our shields and helmets on our horses and walked towards the keep. I clutched the scroll from the Archbishop. Someone must have told the King that I had arrived for one of his court officials found me.  "My lord, the King has asked for you to see him." He looked at William, "Alone."

"You had best find Edgar and make sure our horses are cared for."

He was disappointed but he nodded, "Aye, my lord."

I was led through a warren of corridors.  We were not going to the Great Hall. When we descended some stairs I wondered what the King was up to.  Eventually we came to a door guarded by two sentries.  They parted to let me in.  The Earl of Gloucester and the King were there, along with the King's torturer.  Their prisoner had a bloody face and his half naked body showed the signs of an iron, a red hot iron.

"Ah Cleveland.  You have come at a most propitious moment. This is one of Baron Senonches's men.  He was discovered close to the road from Le Mans to La Flèche. We have been questioning him for some time. He is now being cooperative." I saw that both of his eyes had been removed by fire. He would be praying for death.

"What was he doing at La Flèche, my liege?"

The Earl answered, "Looking for you.  It seems that Guy de Senonches has not finished with you yet." He turned back to the man, "You were saying that your master has been hiring brigands and bandits to swell his ranks." The bloody skull nodded. "And what is his intention?"

There was a slight hesitation and the Earl nodded to the torturer who applied an iron to his ear lobe.  There was a smell of burning hair and flesh and then a scream. "He is to attack La Flèche and when you withdraw men from the borders then King Louis and the Count of Flanders will cross the border and take Blois. That is all that I know."

Suddenly the scroll in my hand seemed very important. "Your majesty I have information here from the Archbishop of York.  It confirms much of what this creature has said."

The King looked surprised, "Does it? Come we will go to my hall.  The smell of burning flesh is most unpleasant. Watch the prisoner Abelard. See that he does not die."

"Aye, my lord."

The air felt cool and clean when we left the cell.  I followed the King and the Earl.  I did not know my way around this huge castle and I feared I would get lost if I was on my own. Once in the Great Hall he dismissed everyone else. "I shall read this.  Cleveland, tell my son all that has happened in England.  It will save time."

I did as I was asked and the Earl of Gloucester nodded, "It sounds as though you had the same experience that I did.  The borders are safe." He lowered his voice.  "I think my father hoped that you would bring all of your knights but I am happy that you left enough to guard the border."

The King put down the scroll.  "Damn this Pope and this Emperor.  I would that the Emperor Henry had not died and we would not have this problem."

Robert of Gloucester said, "We would, your majesty, for the Empress would have been childless and the nobles would not countenance leaving England and Normandy to the Emperor."

"You are correct, of course.  If only that cursed ship had not sunk."

He was referring to the infamous White Ship in which his son and heir had perished.

"So, what to do here?" He looked at me, seeking an answer.

I sighed and went to the map which was on a small table.  It was intricately drawn and had all the castles and roads of the region clearly marked. "The Baron is taking a huge risk. It is a bold move. He must travel eighty miles to reach my castle.  He has to pass Le Mans and its garrison. He is a clever man.  He did something similar in Scotland and northern England, travelling through forests unseen.  It is why he is hiring bandits and brigands."

The Earl leapt to his feet.  "You are right Alfraed, he is not stupid. By attacking your castle the men from Blois and Le Mans would come to your aid.  If the French attacked from Orleans they would be able to take Blois almost without a fight."

"And with help from the Emperor and the Count of Flanders they could strike towards Rouen!"

The King was grey, "Is there naught we can do?"

"I do not believe that the Emperor will accompany the men who invade.  They will use those Counts and nobles who have land close to the border.  The Count Aachen will come. The Earl here said that he found evidence of the Count's men on the Scottish borders.  They will be the ones who test the waters. Only if Rouen and Blois are taken would the Emperor step in to claim Normandy and Blois."

The King shook his head, "That does not help me, my son."

I smiled, "It does, your majesty.  You keep your men here at Rouen. Have the Earl go to Blois and warn Le Mans. The Earl can be mobile.  It may be that he can stop Senonches before he gets close if not he can go wherever there is the greatest danger. I will send to Count Geoffrey for assistance. If the armies are stopped at the borders then the Emperor, King and Count will distance themselves from the men whom they have sent."

"You are trusting the Count of Anjou."

I could see that relations between Normandy and Anjou were still strained. "I do, my liege and I trust to my own men."

The King nodded but the Earl of Gloucester said, "What about this traitor in Angers; the one who is influencing the Count?"

"I will set a trap for him, my lord. They are using me to get to you.  La Flèche is not as important as le Mans and Rouen.  If it falls then it can be recaptured but I do not fear brigands, bandits and hired knights.  When he is defeated I will go to Senonches and reclaim the taxes that were stolen."

The King closed his eyes and put his hands together as though in prayer. "It might work.  I like not sitting behind my walls and allowing these enemies to rampage across my land but as so many Norman knights are disaffected I can do little about it.  Very well. But keep me informed."

"I will my liege." I was about to go when I had a thought. "Did you ask the prisoner when this attack was to take place?"

I could see from their faces that they had not.  The Earl of Gloucester said, "I will go and ask him now."

I had intended to leave but it seemed prudent for me to wait. "What of Scotland, Earl?"

"We made our presence known and the Earl of Chester and Sir Hugh Manningham have agreed to patrol the border."

"Do you think Sir Hugh is a good leader?"

"He is."

"I have been thinking of Gospatric.  When we have defeated Louis and after Yule I shall visit England.  I thought to take away Gospatric's title and make Sir Hugh an earl. What think you?"

"It would be a just act, my liege.  He has defended the border heroically."

"We will say nothing until I am in England but I will clear my house of all the vipers who hide in the dark corners."

The Earl came back with the King's torturer.  The Earl looked angry. He pointed to the torturer, "Tell the King!"

"I am sorry, your majesty, I did not touch him again but he just died!"

The King stood, "You fool! Do you not know your task? Now we will never know! Get out of my sight."

The man scurried out, grateful that he had not incurred a greater punishment.

"I think it does not change much, your majesty. It seems to me that Senonches will approach from hidden ways and hope to take us by surprise. I expect to be surrounded but he cannot surround the river. I will send a message to St. Nazaire. This means that we must hold out for at least two days.  We will keep a watch."

"You take great risks, Cleveland."

"I should have realised how dangerous he was when I found him in Scotland. Now that I know what he has done to my manor I will end this."

The Earl walked me to my horse. "I will do my best to be close.  My father is correct.  This is dangerous."

"If I did not have Leofric's archers and my own it might be and besides I trust Count Geoffrey."

"Well neither my father nor myself do but it is your castle you risk and your head." He clasped my arm, "Take care my friend.  We are in dangerous waters here."

My men were not surprised by my decision to leave so quickly but William was. "Things change, my son.  We must adapt.  I want to be back at La Flèche as quickly as possible."

We stayed in an inn at Fouqueville and left before dawn. We pushed our horses hard to reach La Flèche as quickly as possible.  I informed Sir Henry of the situation when we reached Le Mans.  He was keen to be of some use. "I can help.  I will send out my men on patrols to your town and back."