Baron of the North (13 page)

"New Castellan?"

"Yes Cedric, Tristan of Yarm will hold this until I have had time to find a new lord to hold this most precious of palaces. I would rather take my time and make the right decision than end up with another Hubert."

He nodded, "And the Dean?"

I turned to Father Michael.  "You are a man of the church best that you speak with him. He might be less fearful. We will move away so that he might open the door."

We headed back to the castle. I felt happier with the lost men replaced.  I would have to stay here for a while in order to give advice to Tristan and then I would need to visit Sir Hugh and the rest of the border lords. They would need to know what had happened.

"Leofric, I need to write some important letters, see to it that I am not disturbed." This was when I missed John.  My steward had been my clerk and it was some time since I had had to write my own letters. I thought about each word that I wrote. I made sure that I used fact and not conjecture.  I just wished that it had been a third party and not my just squires who had heard Sir Hubert's confession. Although even then they might have said that it was extracted under duress. My hope now rested upon the Dean. If he confessed then all would be well. It took half a candle to write the two letters which I then sealed. As I emerged Leofric said, "My lord, John and Sir Tristan have arrived."

Sir Tristan had brought his squire, Ralph, with him. "Ralph take your master's horse to the stable.  John show him where it is." I wanted to speak privately with Sir Tristan.

"Aye my lord."

When we were alone he looked at me expectantly. "The Castellan, Hubert and the Dean have been proved traitors.  The Castellan is dead and the Dean has claimed sanctuary." He nodded, "I would like you to be Castellan until I can appoint a permanent lord."

I had genuinely shocked him.  "My lord! You wish me to take charge of this mighty fortress?"

I nodded, "It is a grave responsibility but it will hold you in good stead for the day you are given your own manor.  I am leaving Wulfric and ten of my men at arms here but I need a knight I can trust and I can trust you. All that I need you to do is to hold Durham.  I doubt that there will be any attacks but I intend to take to the field in any case and make a presence in the north. We did so this time last year and it kept the peace.  I hope it will do the same this time."

"I am honoured, Baron and I will do the best that I can."

"That is all that a man can do.  Come I will show you the castle."

The longest of days finally ended.  I dined with my squires, Wulfric, Cedric and Tristan.  I wanted them to know of my plans. "I will send my letters as soon as I reach Stockton but it will take months for the King to learn the news. You are the three men who will hold Durham until you are relieved.  I will visit as often as I can.  When I am not available then I will send your father and Harold.  It is important that any spies see us controlling this land.  At the first sign of weakness they will pounce."

I could see that Tristan was still worried about the responsibility. I smiled, "You need not collect taxes, nor hold court.  The church I will leave in the hands of Father Michael. Cedric knows the castle and Wulfric here knows men. The ten warriors I leave with you are the best that I have. You may not be fully garrisoned but you can hold this mighty fortress with half the number you have."

He smiled, "I am resolved, my lord. We will hold it."

"Good man."

I slept well.  Leofric and John were in the antechamber and I was exhausted.  When I heard the cry in the night I awoke quickly from my deep slumber. Grabbing my sword I ran to the main hall.  Wulfric stood there. "Baron, the Dean and his priest have escaped.  They have slain Father Oswald."

I regretted now that I had not forcibly taken the Dean.  It would have been sacrilege but a fine priest would still be alive. "How long ago?"

"I know not. Father Michael wondered where the priest was and discovered him. The sally port is open.  The guards saw nothing."

I nodded.  "Bar that sally port! I realise the horse has bolted but we need the castle more secure." I could see that Wulfric was upset.  "It was not your fault, Wulfric.  He will pay, fear not."

As I went back to my chamber I realised that the Dean would flee directly to Gospatric.  They would know how thinly Durham was held.  I would have to bring my men north once again.

I sent one message to the Archbishop with one of Dick's archers but I was fortunate that Olaf was in port and he was about to sail to Harwich and then London. He had come back for one last cargo as the river had yet to freeze. Stockton's thriving economy meant more goods for him to transport south.   "Olaf, it is vital that this gets to the Tower as soon as possible. I have addressed a letter to the Constable but inside is a letter for the King."

"We will fly like the wind, Baron!"

My riders summoned my knights and their men at arms. I left the rest of my men at arms under the command of Edgar. I would not leave my home undefended at such a time. Adela was more worried about Tristan than she was about her own safety.  "It is a grave responsibility for one so young."

"We all have to learn and he is a good fellow. If there is danger here then have Alf call out the fyrd."

"We will be safe.  Look, William has almost finished the gatehouse."

I had noticed it when I had arrived.  There were now two low walls which divided my bailey into two.  If anyone breached my walls they would not have easy access to the gate of my keep. "Good, he has done a good job.  I will leave Aiden this time.  He has a nose for danger.  Let him keep watch."

I noticed sadness in her eyes and I cuddled her, "I keep thinking of poor Wulfstan and Faren. When you were last away it was he protected me and…" She burst into tears.  I saw William looking fearful.

"You will have to look out for your mother now, son.  I go to war again."

He held his wooden sword.  "She is safe with me, father."

This time I led my whole conroi into the bailey of Durham Castle.  It was a message to the spies who would, no doubt, report to Gospatric.  It told them that this land still belonged to King Henry and was protected by me. Tristan seemed happier after a few days in command.  His father looked proud and Harold looked envious. Here we had a Great Hall in which to dine and I used it to speak to my knights. Wulfric and my men kept the doors guarded so that we would not be overheard.

"We thought it was dangerous the last time we came north; I have to tell you that this time will be perilous beyond belief. Thanks to the treachery of those who lived here we have fewer men with which to patrol the north. The rebels know our weakness and will, I have no doubt, exploit it. This time we cannot sneak across the border and cause mayhem. We go to show them that we are not afraid of them.  We go to show our people along the wall that King Henry has not forgotten them but we go, most importantly, to stop our people suffering raids this winter."

I had not meant it to be a rousing speech; I was just speaking the truth and telling them what to expect but they took it as a call to arms and they banged the table and applauded loudly.  I sat and Edward said quietly, "Good speech; you could have been an orator!" He made me smile; not because of his words but because my right hand was back. 

We had brought many spare horses, arrows and weapons.  I left these at Durham. We would not have as far to go to re-supply. I took Father William with the Pyx and the banner.  He was one of Father Michael's priests and he was keen to help us. More importantly he was a warrior monk. He had been a knight before he took holy orders and he carried a sword. It was another mark of the differences this time. We headed for Hexham. Sir Hugh had been informed of the Dean's escape but he and his men had not seen any sign of him.

"If I had known of the problems further north then I would have had the Tyne crossings watched. I thought we had bought peace at Bamburgh. I can tell you this; the bridge at the New Castle is now watched as closely as any and he did not cross there."

"I wonder if he had friends at the Abbey here."

He shook his head, "The Abbot is a good man.  He would have told me."

I kept my counsel.  The Dean and Sir Hubert had fooled me easily enough. "Then where do you think, Sir Hugh, that he would have gone? My men found signs that the two killers had headed north.  If they did not cross the Tyne then where would they go?"

Sir Hugh quaffed some ale and, after wiping his mouth said, "Dumfries. That is where Gospatric and his rebels have their estates. It is fine hunting and they have good, well sited castles." He laughed, "You have bloodied their noses too much on this side of the land.  The ransoms we took mean that there is not a manor east of the divide which is not reduced to poverty.  I have heard that most of the knights who were ransomed have taken the cross in the hope of riches."

"Where is the nearest castle then?"

"Gilnockie on the Esk.  It controls the road north and the road to Dumfries. I chased some cattle thieves there last year. The castle is well sited and the bastards got away with thirty head of cattle!"

"How far away is it?"

"Forty miles or so."

"Then we head there.  I want prisoners so that we can discover where the Dean has fled and I want to show Gospatric and his rebels that they are not forgotten.  If we are to defend our land then we have to go on the offensive."

Sir Richard warned, "But it is in Scotland!"

"The King commanded me to prosecute the war until our borders were safe. We destroy Gilnockie!"

Sir Hugh laughed, "But you have never even seen it."

Sir Edward said, "It matters not to the Baron.  He will devise some plan when he sees it."

"However, Sir Edward, we will leave half of Sir Hugh's men here to guard our backs. I will not leave this back door into Durham unguarded this time. We will leave in the morning so that Dick and his archers can scout it out for us. We leave our war horses here we shall not need them.  When we reach this castle we will fight on foot."

As we rode I discussed with Edward our plans as well as the motivations of Stephen of Blois. "You will have to be careful with this Stephen of Blois, Baron.  When I was at the wedding his brother, Theobald, was favourably viewed by the King. I heard that they are also possible heirs for the King should he not have issue himself."

"Then he is not enamoured of Geoffrey of Anjou either?"

"It is expediency from the king, no more. He is a gambler and he is betting on the first horse to win, however he has a contingency plan should that go awry."

"Blois is very close to France.  King Louis is a cunning man. He is no warrior but he knows how to plot and suborn.  It would not surprise me to discover that he was behind the problems we are having." Edward nodded, "Do not be like the King, Edward.  My motivations are not personal.  It is true I do not trust this Stephen of Blois; after all you and I know that he tried to capture the Empress but it is the trouble he fosters and ferments here which is of more concern to me."

"You are right.  I had forgotten the Red Knight.  Perhaps the time I spent at the King's court addled my brain."

I laughed, "My father always said that courts did that.  That is why he surrounded himself with down to earth warriors like Wulfstan and Osric."

"And you have done the same now."

After reaching the small village of Hautwesel we rested to allow Dick and his archers to range ahead.  I took the opportunity to tell them what Edward and I had formulated between us. "From what I have learned this is a wooden castle which nestles in the bend of the Esk. We will use our armour to gain entry.  While the archers secretly cross the river to attack that side of the castle we will march to the gate and force it."

"That is dangerous."

"It is not safe, Sir Roger, I grant you that but it is not as hazardous as you might think. The only danger will come if they have a bridge which they can retract. If they do then we will have to change our plans.  I am guessing that they have made the entrance so that there is no direct approach and a ram cannot be used."

"I hope your guess is right, Baron."

We headed west after the horses had been rested. We were the smallest conroi I had led for some time.  With just ten knights and less than sixty men at arms we hardly made a mark on the landscape. I was hoping that this castle would have a small garrison and trusting to the arms and weapons of my men.

Dick and his men were awaiting us at the huddle of huts that would become, some years later, Catlowdy.  Dick and his men had not harmed the villagers who hid in their homes fearfully.

I dismounted with my knights and Dick used an arrow to draw the castle in the soil. "It is a slightly bigger castle than you thought, Baron.  It uses an ancient fort for part of its defences.  There is a double ditch which surrounds it but no stone was used in its construction. The path which ascends the hill twists and turns towards the end so that those on the walls can hurl missiles at an advancing enemy who have to climb up an earth ramp.  It is like the one at Bamburgh but less sophisticated."

"Is there a bridge which can be withdrawn?"

"No, Baron."

"And is there cover for you and your archers on the river side?"

"There is.  My better archers can use the small hill which is across the river from the castle.  The range is extreme but they can send arrows within the walls. The others can ford the river and use the shelter of the lower ditch. The old fort must have had three or four ditches at one time."

"Good.  How long will it take us to reach it?"

"No more than an hour."

"Good then we camp here and leave an hour before dawn. Send two men back to watch the castle for us."

Harold and Richard joined Edward and me after we had eaten our frugal meal. As a conroi we had fought alongside each other enough times for  friendships and alliances to be formed.  It was no bad thing.  Most of my knights listened to the stories of Sir Hugh who was a larger than life character in every sense of the word. He regaled them with his adventures and an easy atmosphere prevailed.  That was important. I had seen camps where rivalries and tensions led to bloodshed the night before a battle.  That was not a good thing.

"Why did you choose Tristan to be Castellan. Baron?"

"You think I should have chosen you, Harold?"

"Oh no, my lord! I am the last person who should be Castellan. I could not even hold on to Elton. I was not thinking of myself but Tristan.  You have given him a great responsibility."

"Aye and you should know that I considered you as well Harold.  My choice was made because you have had the experience of being lord of the manor. Tristan's time will come.  This will stand him in good stead."

"I lost my manor!"

"No you did not.  You were serving me and the King and your home was raided." I threw the bone I had been gnawing into the fire. "What will you spend the winter doing?"

"Baron?"

"Will you sit before my fire and feel sorry for yourself?"

He coloured.  "Do you think so little of me that you would say those words to me, Baron?"

"Then answer me."

"I will build my home and make it stronger."

"Why?"

"So that it will not be taken again so easily."

I smiled, "And that is the reason I chose Tristan.  He will live in Durham.  He cannot make a castle as mighty as that one but he can learn from its construction.  When he is given a manor, and it will not be long coming, then he can use those ideas. You will do the same.  When you next leave your manor to obey my orders you will have left in place a manor which can be defended." I pointed to the north. "These Scots and these raiders will never stop coming south to take what our people have earned.  Ten generations from now our descendants will still be fighting off the Scots. They have the same problem in the east. Miklagård is mighty but each year the Emperor has to despatch troops to the borders to send back the hordes who come to take what they covet."

Sir Richard shook his head, "Then the only way to stop them coming is to become as poor as they are."

"I am afraid so.  I have read books and it is ever thus. Our fathers took risks and they built up something valuable. Others do not want the hard work they merely want to take."

Sir Richard had been listening to our conversation from the moment we had mentioned his son by name. "And that is why you will destroy this castle."

"It is, Sir Richard. It tells them that my arm is long and even though my home is many leagues away I can swat them like a fly if I choose." I saw Harold take all of what I had said and reflect upon it.  That night he changed and he became stronger. He became the Harold of old.  He became the Harold who had survived in Sherwood forest against all the odds.

We left while the night was still black.  There was a mist which covered the ground. It was the sort of mist which would be burned off by noon the following day but which would cling to the ground and deaden sound.  It worked in our favour. Dick led his men along the eastern side of the river to their point of attack.  We swam our horses across the Esk.  We only had a few paces to swim for we crossed at a bend in the river where there was a beach and a single farm. According to Dick the castle was just two hundred or so paces to the north but the night and the mist hid it.  We left the horses with three squires. Two men at arms guarded the farm. If things went wrong we could shelter there and use it for our defence.

We moved north through the mist. I counted the steps so that when I reached two hundred I held up my hand. I waved Leofric forward and the lithe squire disappeared into the mist. I turned and motioned the men into position.  We were using a version of the old Roman testudo. Edward, Hugh and myself would be the front rank.  The other seven knights along with Leofric and Gille would form the rest of the block.  Edward's men at arms would lead the others in a similar formation.  John and the rest of the squires would remain with the banners to give the illusion that we had reinforcements to bring to the fight.