Baron of the North (16 page)

I laughed, "Do not worry, my friend.  I have merchants in my town and I know that they are always looking for a profit.  I will not tell the King if you use his hired ship to make a little profit for you."

"Thank you, Baron."

My men were awestruck by the sheer size of the walls of Theodosius.  Each wall was as tall as my whole keep; in places they were bigger. Once Dai knew where to point his ship I turned to Wulfric. "Have the men put on their leather hauberks and surcoats. Keep them on board when we land.  I will just take Leofric." His face fell.  "Do not worry Wulfric, you and the men can explore this fabled and fabulous city later but I need to spy out the lie of the land. We do not want another Syracuse do we?"

It was as I had expected; there were ships in the small harbour but not too many. We easily found a berth at the western end of the harbour. As we tied up one of the Greek officials strode up to us.  The whole of the city was run by clerks.  There were rules and regulations for everything. He came up to us and began to speak in poor Norman. "Who are…"

He got no further.  I held up my hand and spoke in Greek.  His face brightened immediately. Until I had spoken we were barbarians. My Greek told him I was still barbarian but a civilised one. "I am Baron Alfraed of Stockton and I am here as the representative of Henry Beauclerk, King of England and Duke of Normandy.  I have letters for the Emperor."

He nodded, "Thank  you, Baron.  If you wait here I will send a message to the Palace." He waved his hand and a slave came over from a small building with a glass amphora and a goblet. "Pray enjoy some iced wine while you wait."

I took the wine and he scurried off. I was going to sip it but as soon as the icy liquid touched my mouth I downed it in one. The slave cocked an eyebrow but said not a word.  I held out the goblet and he refilled it. I took it back on board.  Wulfric and my men awaited me. "They are sending to palace. Here Wulfric, try this."

He looked sceptically at the liquid which had the appearance of yellow water.

I laughed, "It will not poison you.  It is iced wine."

He sipped it and then, as I had done he downed it in one. "That is a fine drink, Baron. I would prefer beer but on a hot day like this, then that will do."

"Leofric, we will just need our swords and the letters. I am afraid that I will be speaking Greek but do not worry.  I will tell you if there is anything you need to do.  Keep your eyes and ears open.  Watch for those who wait in the background.  I shall ask you later what you see."

The afternoon drew on and I wondered if this was a case of politics and we were being kept in our place waiting under the hot sun.  Eventually a column of Skutatoi with Imperial shields and led by an officer descended to meet us.

"Baron?"

"Yes."

"You are to come with me to the palace." He was a young officer and his eyes flickered nervously to my men. 

I looked around and saw them with his eyes. They looked like fierce barbarians. "I will just need my squire.  The rest of my men will wait here."

He looked relieved.  "If you will follow me; it is not far."

As we walked I said, "I know, I lived here for many years."

"If you have come from England then you have travelled far.  Were you not attacked by pirates?"

"No, God smiled upon us and we had a peaceful journey."

He nodded, seemingly satisfied, "The Emperor is not here.  He is in the north western part of the Empire.  The barbarians have invaded us once more. You will be speaking with the Kometes."

We entered the inner sanctum through the Contoscation Gate. Had we landed at its harbour we would have had a shorter wait and walk but I saw, as we passed it, that there were no spare berths.  I had made the right decision. The Hippodrome looked as though it had not been used for some time. Scrubby grass grew at its entrance. When I had been growing up there had been races there every week.  The Empire was not what it had been. The presence of our escort assured us a rapid entrance to the court. Our guide gave a slight bow.  "We will wait outside, Baron."

Kometes Choniates looked to be as old as Wulfstan.  He had the look of a warrior. His severely cut beard barely hid the scar running along his face. His eyes narrowed and he frowned as we approached. "I do not have much time Norman.  It is only because you speak Greek and I am intrigued that I have granted an audience.  My clerk was impressed with you."

"Thank you Kometes."

"Where did you learn it?"

"Here.  I grew up here."

His frown deepened.  "Here, in Constantinople?"

"Here in the Palace.  My father was Akolouthos of the English Varangians."

Had I slapped him I could not have shocked him more. "What was his name?"

"Ridley."

He suddenly smiled, "I knew him and Alfraed too his predecessor. They were fine warriors.  How is your father?"

"He died in England fighting the Scots."

"Then he is lucky.  That is how most Varangians wish to die; in battle.  Were you chosen for this reason; because of your father?"

"I was chosen because I speak Greek and I have done some service for King Henry and he trusts me."

"Then your King is shrewd.  The Emperor normally hurls Normans into his dungeons and lets them rot a while.  I am afraid, however, that he is on campaign.  You may have to wait months to speak with him."

"I have urgent business back in England, Kometes.  Could I not visit him on the battlefield?"

"You could but it might be dangerous."

I laughed, "I am a warrior, Kometes, and danger is ever present.  My men and I will survive."

He nodded, "How soon can you and your men be ready to leave?"

"If you have horses for us then as soon as my squire goes back to the ship for my men.  We are ready."

"Then send him for I have an Allaghia of cavalry leaving for the front. You can travel with them."

I nodded, "Leofric, come with me." I took him outside.  I explained what I wanted him to do.

The young officer smiled, "That was quick."

"Would you escort my squire to my ship.  He and my men will be returning to the palace.  We leave with the Allaghia."

"You are going to join the Emperor?"

"So it would seem."

"Then I envy you for I am stuck here.  I would be with the real soldiers."

I returned to the Palace where the Kometes was finishing a document. He put his seal upon it and then handed it to me.  "This is a pass which will allow you and your men travel through the Empire. Do not lose it.  Normans are not popular here nor are Franks.  The First Crusade showed us the mettle of your colleagues."

"Not all of us are like that Kometes."

"Perhaps.  When you return I would speak with you a little more."

"My ship will need to wait in the harbour."

He laughed, "It is so small that it will not cause us distress but it is a mark of your courage that you travelled so far in such a vessel.  I would not sail across the Golden Horn in it."

"It served us well."

"Come I will take you to meet the Turmachai.  He may not be happy to have passengers with him."

"We will not slow him up.  I only brought a handful of my men and we travel light.  All my followers are horsemen." He nodded and we moved out of the palace towards the stables and the barracks.  "Your man said it was the Magyar you fight.  I thought their land was far to the north."

"It is but their king, Stephen, has become emboldened of late.  They have encroached as far as Braničevo."

I had heard of it. "That is close."

"The Emperor hopes to stop them before they reach Serdica. The Tagmata will travel quickly.  The commander hopes to be there in seven days."

"He will be travelling quickly then."

"He is young and he is keen to make a reputation."

As we approached the stables I saw and heard the noise of men preparing horses. They were Kataphractoi. They looked to be dressed in a similar fashion to our men at arms save that the hauberk only came to the waist and they had an oval shield.  Their lances were slightly longer than ours and their helmets all had an aventail attached. The armour was lamellar and not mail.

"Turmachai." The leader turned around.  "I have some Normans to accompany you."

The young man's face fell. There was something familiar about him.  As he approached I realised that I recognised him.

"They had better not slow me down!"

"Basil Nikephorus, the day that I slow you down will be a first!"

His face creased into a grin, "Alfraedus! Is it you?  I thought you must have died in the wild lands of the west, slain by a barbarian."

"No, my friend, I have prospered."

We embraced, "But you have not bathed! You smell of… what do you smell of?"

"England and I have been at sea for many days. I could bathe, my friend, if it offends you but it will delay our journey."

"No, I will ride upwind of you."

The Kometes laughed, "I can see that you two know each other.  I will send your men Baron and then speak with you when you return."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Your father was a good man. I would he commanded the Guard now."

"Baron eh?  And how many barbarians do you bring with you?"

"Just seven and pray do not call them barbarians.  They are sensitive."

"Well then,  let us pick you out some horses.  The Kometes told you that we travel quickly?"

"He did. And my men are as good on the horse as you or I."

He looked sceptical. "Come." As we walked down the stables he asked. "How is your father?"

"He was killed."

"I am sorry and are you married? Have you a family now?"

"I am and I have a son and daughter.  You?"

"I will marry when I have made my reputation.  We will drive these Magyar back to their plains and I will enjoy the glory of my victory." It would have been churlish of me to point out that many things can go wrong in a battle.  I had seen that.  Instead I just nodded. He halted at a stall.  "This is one of my own string of horses.  He is called Caesar."

The horse was indeed a fine one.  Slightly bigger than Scout he was a golden brown with a blonde mane. "I will ride him carefully."

"You have no armour and he will think it a joy to have so little weight."

I led him out and mounted him.  He was well trained and did not baulk at my touch.  I spoke to him in Greek.  That would be a problem for my men.  They would have to learn a few words of command or they would look foolish. I heard their voices as they approached.

I dismounted and Basil said, "Ye Gods! These are your men?  I would have taken them for brigands."

I suddenly saw myself in Basil.  That had been my attitude before Wulfstan had shown me the error of my ways. "We have travelled far and had no time to either shave or bathe.  Do not doubt these men, my friend. We have fought Scots, Irish, Vikings, Normans, Germans and Welshmen.  They have never been defeated."

I noticed smiles amongst the Kataphractoi.  Wulfric and my men glared back belligerently. It was time for me to be a peacemaker.  I spoke in Saxon so that the horsemen would not hear my words. "Be patient.  We look like bandits. When we get the chance we will wash and we will shave.  Just take your horses and mount.  We have over seven days of hard riding over rough terrain ahead of us."

Wulfric nodded, "Aye, my lord, we understand."

"And before you mount here are some Greek words you will need for your horses. They do not understand your words either Saxon or Norman." I gave them the basic commands.  I saw the smiles become grins as they butchered the words.  I just hoped that the horses would understand.

We made better time than we would in England as we travelled on Imperial Roads.  These were like our Roman Roads but were actually maintained. There were still the mansio which allowed us hot food and some shelter each night.  My men were treated as officers.  That was mainly because they rode with Basil and me.  I did not want Wulfric to use his ham like fists to teach a Kataphractos a lesson.

Despite the urgency I enjoyed the ride.  It afforded me the opportunity to catch up on the politics of the capital and to discover what I had missed. Apart from the baths it seemed I had missed little. Basil was still trying to get to the place I occupied; a leader of men who would follow you anywhere into battle. The baths and the fine food were something I had missed but I had far more in England than Basil had here, in the east. He had had to buy his commission and this was his first campaign. He had much to learn. I wondered how he would cope on the battlefield.

The journey was good for my men. Gradually they picked up the odd word or two of Greek and mixed a little more with the Kataphractoi. The wariness of travelling with barbarians wore off and the Kataphractoi accepted my men as warriors. One morning I saw that one of the Greeks had been in a fight.  Dick told me later that Wulfric had had to put one of them in their place.  He did not suffer fools gladly. After that there were no further problems.

One aspect of the ride which I did not enjoy was the lack of security. I was a guest but I could see that Basil had no scouts out.  When I mentioned this to him he laughed, "This is not the wilds of your land, Alfraedus; this is the Empire and we are still safe. We are just days from the greatest city in the world.  Do not fear. I keep my men together for it impresses the populace when we go through their towns and villages."

I could not dissuade him but I kept my own men close to me. John insisted on riding with my banner unfurled. I was not certain it would be recognised by any but my squire was determined that all should know the knight who travelled through their land.  Leofric was the guardian of our documents. He guarded them as though they were a baby.  Each was contained securely in a waterproof leather valise of its own. In addition to that we each had our shields and even my archers had brought their small bucklers.  Their war bows were not fully strung but it would be the work of moments to prepare them.  I was pleased that their sharp eyes scanned both sides of the road.

We were six days from Constantinople when Dick's sharp senses came into their own, "Baron! Ambush!"

I shouted, "Ambush!" in Greek and pulled my shield tightly around.  It was none too soon for three crossbow bolts smashed into my shield. My three archers had their bows strung and three arrows winged their way into the forest.  I had not seen the ambushers but they had.

Basil recovered his composure quickly and he barked out his orders. "Defensive circle!"

It was too late for the four of his men who lay pierced by a number of bolts. Three horses suddenly reared as our attackers targeted the vulnerable beasts. "Basil, you cannot just wait here they will pick us off one by one!"

He hesitated.  It was the mark of a novice. His second in command, a grizzled bear of a man said, "The Frank is right! Better to take them on than suffer like this."

"Very well! Left file, hold your position. Right file, clear the forest to the right."

They all turned as one and lowered their lances.  That was  a mistake.  Swords would be better in the forest. "Leofric and John stay with Dick and the archers.  Wulfric, Roger, with me!"

I wheeled my borrowed horse around.  Caesar had courage. He leapt forward as I pricked him with my spurs. I had my sword ready.  I had no idea what arms would be carried by our ambushers but a crossbow is slow to reload and it gave me confidence. I began to swing the sword sideways when I saw a flash of white. It was not a crossbowman; it was a half naked warrior with a rhomphaia.  This deadly curved weapon had been feared by the Romans. My sword was slightly longer and I used my knees to wheel Caesar to the left while I leaned out to the right.  The reins were not as long as the ones I used at home and I had less manoeuvrability. We both swung our weapons together but the combination of my extra length and the snorting spitting beast I rode gave me an advantage and the tip of my sword and one edge tore across the man's stomach. His knees crumpled and he dropped the weapon as he tried to hold in the entrails which cascaded out.

I saw a crossbow man aiming his weapon at Basil's back.  His second in command shouted a warning and Basil turned.  I spurred Caesar and, standing in my stirrups, brought down my sword to split the man's head in two. The ambush had failed and the attackers were fleeing to the east. I remembered that we had left half the men to be targets. "Basil! The rest of the men! Sound recall!"

At first I thought he had not heard me and then he shouted an order and his second in command, the grizzled Kentarchos shouted for the trumpeter to sound recall. I knew my men would not know the call and I shouted, "Fall back!"

My men turned and reacted the fastest; we headed back to the road.  I saw that the rest of Basil's men had taken heavy casualties.  John held the banner above his head and he and Leofric were shouting encouragement to the others.  The fact that the Greeks would not understand a word did not appear to matter.

Wulfric and Roger rode to my left and right.  Wulfric held his war axe as easily as clerk holds his stylus.  We raced across the road and caught six crossbowmen in the flank; their attention was on the horsemen. Wulfric's axe smashed into one skull so hard that pieces of flesh and bone flew into the others who turned in horror at the apparition before them. Wulfric was too close to me to allow me to swing my sword horizontally and so I brought it down between the head and shoulder of the nearest man. It bit deeply into his body until it ground against a bone. I did not pull but allowed Caesar's momentum to carry me through and drag the sword from the savage wound.  His hooves cracked and crushed the leg of one of the men who had not got out of the way quickly enough. I reined around so that Roger and I could finish off the last two.

I did not risk further pursuit as there were no enemies before us.  Basil's men were busy finishing off the last of the ambushers. I saw that neither Wulfric nor Roger were hurt.  I patted Caesar on the side of the neck.  "Good boy! Well done!" He whinnied and flicked his head in the air as though proud of his actions. To my great relief none of my men had been hurt.

We all dismounted to rest our horses and waited for the Allaghia to return. I looked down the line.  We had lost ten horses and there were at least twelve dead or dying men.  It had been an expensive ambush. Yet, when Basil returned, he seemed elated.  "We killed at least forty of them. Your archers are superb; they are so fast and accurate!"

I waved my arm around his dead, "But you have lost too many men, Basil."

He looked confused,  "They are soldiers and they died for their Emperor." I shook my head.  This was a different philosophy from mine.

The men were buried and the horses burned.  They did not do as we would have done and eaten the dead beasts. Perhaps when I had lived in the east I would not have done so either.  I had changed.

The best thing to come out of the ambush was that Basil now had scouts riding to the left and right of us in the forest.  We would not be surprised a second time. As we rode I asked about the rhomphaia. "It is a frightening weapon, Alfraedus.  It is two handed and the men who wield it are fierce warriors.  It tears through men and swords.  Horses are terrified for the edge can sever a leg."

"But they fight without armour."

"They are susceptible to arrows and crossbows but they charge so quickly that they are a hard target.  And, as you saw, they can flee into woods where they are safe." He nodded to my sword.  "Your weapon is longer and straighter than the ones we use."

"Aye, we have learned that you cannot use the point to stab a man in armour; it never works.  The point is for those, like your Thracians, who deign armour. We prefer the horizontal blow which can break ribs and decapitate infantry or the blow brought from on high.  The area between the helmet and the shoulder is vulnerable.  If we can then we slice across the face.  Your men do not have a nasal.  At the very least the blow makes a man recoil."

"You do not use a Kontos?"

"We have a lance but it is not as long as the one you use."

"We used to have bows as well but few could use them effectively and they were discontinued.  That is why I admired your archers."

"But they do not fight on horseback.  They dismount to use their war bow.  They are quick to mount.  We find it more effective." We spent the next days discussing how I fought in England. When I had left the east I thought that the Franks, as we called them, were inferior to us.  I now saw that was not so.

Serdica was a border fort.  There were thick walls and towers.  The work begun by the Romans had been extended by the Empire. It was surrounded by the camps of the army and Skutatoi, peltasts and horsemen roamed its streets. I even saw some off duty Varangians.  They were the only ones who afforded us a second glance.  I suspect it is because they were the ones who recognised us for what we were, English. Basil and I were directed to our bivouac for the night.  After leaving the horses with John, Leofric, Basil and myself headed back to the Emperor's headquarters.

Basil was admitted immediately.  Leofric and I cooled our heels. The two Varangians who stood guard stared ahead.  From their appearance I guessed they were Norse or Rus rather than English. We had been there some while when one glanced at us and sniffed.  It said much that we smelled even worse than two Varangians. I would ask if there was a bath house in Serdica. We needed one.

Eventually the door was opened and Basil stood to allow us entry.  "I will see you later at the camp." He looked a little deflated and I suspect his losses on the road had been considered too many. He had been reprimanded.

The Emperor sat at a desk.  A single Varangian Guard stood behind him.  He had a long axe.  Next to the Emperor was a clerk.  The room was Spartan in appearance.  This was an Emperor who knew his business and that business was war.

"I knew your father, Baron, I liked him.  I was sad when he left.  Had I been Emperor then I would have made it worth his while to stay." He spread his hands, "It was the will of God.  And I understand from my officer that you intervened on the road.  Thank you.  From what my officer told me you saved more men from being wasted.  Would you not consider bringing your men into my army?  We can always use reliable and tested warriors."

"It is a generous offer, Emperor but I have a family in England and I swore an oath to King Henry."

He put down his scribe and leaned back in his chair, "Ah yes the oath.  I remember your father and those closest to him were great believers in oaths. Harald here fights for a great deal of money but I suspect it buys loyalty. Do you pay your men?"

"I feed them and arm them but they follow me because I am successful." I turned to Leofric and changed my language, "The Emperor wants to know if you fight for me without pay." I knew the Emperor could speak many languages; he had to with such a polyglot army.

Leofric nodded, "We do, Baron, happily!"

"And does King Henry pay you, Baron?"

"No, he gave me a piece of his land to hold but I pay him taxes and guard his land."

"A most interesting system; you pay to protect your King's land and for the privilege of serving him. It would make life simpler if I could do that. You know that Normans are the bane of my life?"

"I do and you know, Emperor, that I am not Norman. Besides my King is not a Hauteville, he has no desire to fight this far east." I turned and took the relevant documents from John, "These letters will attest to that."

He laughed and leaned forward, "I can see that you are your father's son.  You come directly to the point and do not waste time.  I like that. Leave the letters here.  As you will well understand I have more pressing matters than an alliance which may well be irrelevant.  However I promise you an answer within five days. Until then would you like to be accommodated here in Serdica?"

I shook my head, "I will stay with the Turmachai."

"Good and if you wish to reconsider my offer, even on a short term basis then you will be richly rewarded."

"Thank you."

It was a tempting offer. When the door closed I turned to one of the Varangians and asked, "Is there a bathhouse here in Serdica?"

He grinned, "You need it, Frank, that is for certain!" He pointed along the road. "Go to the main square and there is one on the western street."

As we walked in the direction indicated Leofric asked, "Are we not going back to the camp, Baron?"

"No, Leofric.  I have had enough of smelling like a farm animal.  We will bathe and it is time that you learned a little of the Eastern culture."

It was not a large bath house but we were lucky, it was a quiet one. Leofric looked fearful as we were undressed by slaves and then wrapped in towels. The whole experience, from the caldarium to the tepidarium was a revelation to him.  When our bodies were oiled and scraped with strigils I think that he thought he was about to be tortured but he endured it when he saw that I was. I had my hair cut, beard trimmed and oiled for the first time in a long time.  I felt human again. Finally, when we were both dressed my young squire smiled. "That was an interesting experience, Baron.  My body feels… well different.  I sort of tingle."