Earl (10 page)

“It is where we miss Aiden and his nose. He would have smelled them before they could have loosed.”

Suddenly an arrow flew from behind me and a half dressed archer fell to the floor some fifty paces from me an arrow sticking from the side of his head.  Aelric and his archers were watching our backs. They had dismounted and were running through the trees almost as swiftly as we rode. I leaned over Scout and peered ahead.  The Scots were hard to spot for they were dressed in brown cloth and were almost invisible in the trees. I caught a glimpse of something shiny and I leaned further forward sliding my sword to the side.  The warrior jabbed his spear which hit my helmet.  The head broke from the spear and I rammed my sword into his unprotected middle.  Scout’s speed tore the sword from the wounded man and he slumped dead besides the path.

I reined Scout in. “Hold!” I realised that this was not going to result in many more dead Scots for they were hard to see.  We would be wasting our time. “Reform and head for the settlement.”

I heard my orders repeated ahead of me. Hugh and I turned.  As we neared the edge of the woods I saw that John had also remained with William. He looked at me apologetically.  “I thought is best to stay with Leofric.”

“You did right, John.” As I sheathed my sword I said, “The pickings were poor anyway.  These were not warriors; these were brigands or farmers.”

Roger of Lincoln drew next to me, “I counted four of them dead, my lord. I think another three escaped west.”

Aelric and his archers waited for us just beyond the woods. “That was a well aimed arrow Aelric.”

He nodded, “I saw his hand and guessed where his head would be.

As we neared the overgrown Roman road I saw Sir Hugh and his men. “We killed six, my lord.”

“Did you lose any?”

He nodded, “Peter of Blythe fell from his horse.  His arm is broken.”

I knew the fellow would suffer more from his friends than from the wound.  It was seen as foolish, in the extreme, to fall from one’s horse.

“Aelric, take the archers and form a screen ahead of us.  I doubt they will try another ambush but let us take no chances eh?”

The land rose towards the old Roman fort.  The road which led to it had not been used for over eight hundred years and it was barely recognisable as a road.  The fort itself was in a state of disrepair.  They had used some of the stones to form a low wall and then added the wattle and daub to the sides.  It would be less draughty inside such a building.  Apart from a handful of fowl and a couple of sheep the village was empty. Even so we rode in cautiously.

“Search the buildings.  See if they left anything worth taking.”

I dismounted. While my men and Sir Hugh’s searched for danger I joined William and my squires.  My son’s face was aglow.  “That was exciting.” I took off my helmet.  He held his hands out for it. When I had given it to him he examined the place the arrow had struck. There was a mark but it had not even dented my well made helm. “Did the blow not hurt, father.”

“It matters not if it hurts. So long as it has not buried itself in your body you fight on.  It is a bruise and nothing more.”

He handed it back to me.  “Is it over now?”

I shook my head. “The women and the children will not have fled through the trees.  The men did that to distract us and allow their families to escape. They were brave men. We will follow them.  They cannot outrun us.”

“And what will we do with them when we catch them?”

I pointed to Sir Hugh of Hexham who was leading the men at arms towards us. “Sir Hugh will make them slaves.  It is payment for the men he has lost.”

“I would not like to be a slave.”

Leofric laughed, “You are the son of the Earl of Cleveland.  You might be held for ransom but you will not be made a slave.”

He looked at Leofric curiously, “And you, Leofric; would you be held for ransom?”

“I wear your father’s livery.  They might take me and try to make the Earl buy me back.”

“Would you buy him back, father?”

I shook my head, “It only encourages such action.  I would take my men and give Leofric his freedom by force of arms.” I saw the surprise on William’s face.  “Remember that, my son, you have a responsibility for the men who serve you.  They will trust you and you should honour that trust.” He nodded and I saw, in his eyes that he understood.

Sir Hugh reined in. “My lads saw them heading north east. They will be heading for Gilnockie Tower.  It is stone and can be easily defended.  It is sixteen miles from here.”

“Then we can catch them.” I turned to Hugh of Gainford. “Have your men slaughter the animals and then fire the huts. We will leave a message for these invaders.  You should be able to catch us up.”

“Aye my lord.”

We travelled through a mixture of farmland and forests.  It seems that this land was wilder than that south of the Tyne. There were only greenways which twisted and turned.  It meant we could be ambushed. Aelric and my archers were vigilant.  After an hour or so I heard a shout from the scouts. “They are ahead of us!”

I spurred Scout on and saw a long line of villagers.  They had men at the back and the women were at the fore driving the animals. “Sir Hugh, send your archers to head them off.  We will tackle the men.”

As we formed our lines I saw that they had seen us and a rider galloped off driving a line through the women.  He was on one of the two horses they had stolen from the dead men.  He would escape but the others would either be dead or be slaves within the hour. I knew that he was going for help but I could do nothing about it.  the women, children and the last of the men lay before us.

I did not bother to command Leofric.  He knew what to do. I drew my sword as we descended upon the band of fleeing villagers.  I noticed that there were more warriors with this band.  At least six had shields and over half of them had helmets. Their weapons were a mixture of spears, swords and wood cutting axes. The twenty men turned to form a rudimentary shield wall.  It was a valiant attempt but it was doomed to failure.  Unseen by the warriors the archers were already galloping ahead and their families and animals would be secured.

Roger of Lincoln and Wilson rode to my right while John held the standard to my left.  The others were to his left.  It was not an even line for the ground was not easy to negotiate but we kept the same speed and, to the Scots, we would appear as a solid wall of horse flesh and armour. Some of Sir Hugh Manningham’s men had spears and I saw Sir Hugh urge them on. It was a clever move for their spears reached the brave souls at the front of the shield wall. As the spears of the three men and arms and their horses hit them two Scots fell.  Their centre broken, we poured through the gap.  I saw Wilson slice down with his sword and split open the helmet and skull of a Scot. Roger brought his sword up under the chin of a second.  It emerged through the back.  The survivors ran. 

I chose one, younger than the rest, and brought Scout close to him.  I swung the flat of the blade across the back of his head.  He crumpled in a heap at my feet.  I reined in and watched our men finish off the warriors.  As Leofric and William joined me I dismounted and handed my reins to my squire.  I turned over the youth.  He was no more than fourteen summers. I saw in him, William, my son, in a few years time.  I had laid him unconscious for I wished to question him.

Hugh of Gainford and his men joined me while Roger of Lincoln led my men at arms to follow Sir Hugh towards the women and animals now some way ahead and hidden from view. I took off my helmet and gave it to John.

Hugh of Gainford dismounted and joined me. “That did not take you long.”

“I know.  I wanted a prisoner because I do not understand this attack. They must have known that killing Owain and Alan would bring retribution. Why risk our vengeance?”

Nodding he waved forward his squire, Ralph, “Disarm him.”

As he did so the youth began to come to. I took out my sword and held it gently against his chest. His eyes opened and then widened rapidly when he saw himself surrounded by his enemies. “Do not struggle or you will die.  Answer my questions and I may well allow you to live.  Do you understand?”

There was a moment of defiance in his eyes.  I pressed my sword lightly against his chest and he nodded.

“Good. Why were our scouts killed?” He hesitated. “Every other man in your village is dead and the women of the village are captured. I want to know why your headman ordered such an action. It means the end of your village.”

“It was not our headman.  It was the lord from the west, the Baron of Dumfries, he told us to kill any Normans who ventured north of the wall. He promised gold for every head.”

That explained why they had had their heads taken. “Where does this Lord have his castle?”

He pointed vaguely to the west.  “It is a day’s hard ride in that direction.”

“You have never been there?”

“We came from the north two summers since and I only know the land around our home.”

“What is his name?”

“He is a lord that is all that I know.”

He knew nothing more and I sheathed my sword. “Do you have family to the north?”

“Aye, my lord.  My grandmother lives there still.”

“Then return hence and stay away from England.  You will live longer.”

He rose and looked nervously at the men at arms. “You will not ride me down for sport?”

“No, I will not.  Now go.” He began to run along the greenway.  He kept looking over his shoulder.  He darted into the forest some half a mile from where we stood and he disappeared.

“Was that wise, Sir Alfraed?”

“He may return to fight us but I saw in him, William, my son, in a few years time.  I would hope for mercy for him should he be in a similar situation.”

We heard the sound of animals and keening women as Sir Hugh Manningham returned with the villagers and animals. As he reined in next to me I said, “We will camp at Booth Castle.” I pointed to the sky.  “It is getting late.”

“Aye.” He pointed to the horse his squire led.  “We have Owain’s horse, at least and the slaves will come in handy. Some of these young boys will grow into strong backs.”

I rode at the head of the column and we made our way south again. Hugh of Gainford looked around at the land which had been taken by the Scots. “I can see why the Scots took this land.  It would take more men than Sir Hugh’s to control it. There should be a castle.”

“And when King Henry returns to England I will suggest that to him.  We have done what was asked of us and this time I cannot be reproached for laying waste to the land.  We dealt with murderers, that is all.”

“You will not seek a confrontation with this Lord of Dumfries?”

“There is little to be gained and we have not enough men. We will let Sir Hugh take the slaves back to Hexham and we will head west and then return along the Roman road by the wall. We have done as the Earl wanted.  The man who left will have reported my banner. The Scots know who is here now and, I hope, will heed the warning.”

He nodded, “It is coming to high summer and soon the men will be needed to work the fields.”

“That was my thought too.  We will be home again in four days.” I turned to William.  “Have you learned much in this little expedition and campaign?”

“Yes father but I thought fighting would be harder.”

Hugh laughed, “That was not fighting William.  We were hunting men that is all. When you face a foe who has armour and is well led then it is a different proposition.”

Each day brought a change in my son.  This was his school room.  I had learned to be a knight in Constantinople where I had learned the theory.  It was only when Athelstan had begun my training proper that I had understood the real meaning of knight.  William would learn by watching us. 

Sir Hugh wanted to send some of his men to accompany me but I waved his offer away.  “We have done as we were asked.  The Scots know I am not in Wales. We have bloodied the nose of the Earl of Dumfries. Besides this makes our force look twice as big for with you heading east and me heading west we can make a larger show.”

He saw the wisdom of that suggestion. “I will send your share of the profits to Stockton.”

Normally we would have divided it into four parts; half for me and the other half for the other two knights. “You lost the men and the horse, Sir Hugh, you take half.  We are satisfied.”

He did not argue. He had had little other opportunity to make money.  “I will make sure I keep armed men along the road to Carlisle then.”

We headed east.  I was making for the gap in the wall at the deserted Roman fort which lay close to the steep part of the wall.  The land to the west was within twenty miles of Carlisle.  I thought that would be safe from attack. Aelric and my archers formed a screen ahead of us.  The land began to rise towards the wall.  It became less cultivated and wilder. In places you could see the natural rock protruding through the soil. I could now see why the Romans had built their wall here. I think I began to relax.  The land through which we passed was empty.  No one lived here.  The ground to the north was better for farming.

The Roman road down which we rode had been abandoned for many years and was like the one we had used before.  It was overgrown.  It also passed through forests which had spread towards the ditch. Soon, unless it was repaired, the road would be consumed by the forest and it would be as though man had never been in this land.

Hugh of Gainford’s men formed the rearguard and one of them, Alan of Reeth, rode up to his lord and me.  “My lord, we are being followed.”

I knew better than to ignore such things. “Aelric, send two archers to the rear.  See if we are being followed.”

“Aye my lord.”

As the two men passed us I said, “Prepare yourselves!”

My men at arms all adopted a closer formation. Our swords were drawn and shields pulled tighter. The road was wide enough for four abreast but Hugh and I rode together so that Ralph and John could protect William and Leofric.

There was a shout from behind and I heard Ralph of Wales shout, “Ambush!”

I knew that there were men to the rear of us, Ralph’s shout had told me that but if I were laying an ambush I would have men ahead of us too. I saw, ahead, the sky lightening as the forest ended and more open ground appeared. “Ride for the open but keep a tight formation!”

Our horses leapt forward and that must have taken the enemy by surprise for they were slow to emerge from the trees to attack us. My archers could not use their bows on horseback but they had all practised with their swords. Two men galloped from the forest to my right.  One was a man at arms.  They had four others running behind. The danger was the man at arms. He had his shield towards me and that was my only advantage.  I would have the first blow.  I would need to rely on John, behind me, to despatch the second rider.

I veered Scout towards the man who was taken aback by my aggressive move. He made the mistake of turning to his right and I swung my sword hard across his shoulders and back. His manoeuvre and the force of my blow sent him tumbling from his saddle.  His head cracked into a tree and he lay still.  I felt a punch in my shoulder as the next horseman thrust his spear at me.  My mail held.  I jerked Scout’s reins to the right and he spun around allowing me to stab at the horsemen. He had no armour and my blade pierced his chest aided by the speed of his horse.  As he fell from the horse my sword was released.

As I viewed the scene I could see that we were outnumbered.  Our only chance was to make for the gap which was still some way away. “Roger, form on me.  Make a shield wall.”

It was a risky strategy.  If the Scots decided to attack our horses then we would be vulnerable but our shields would be locked together and, with our armour, we should be safer. It took some moments to gather and I felt arrows striking me. I heard a cry as one of my men suffered a wound. 

Roger shouted, “Ready my lord!”

Hugh of Gainford shouted, “I have your rear, Earl.”

“William, draw your weapon. Today you fight!”

I held my sword behind me as we swept towards the gap. I counted on the fact that we had horses and most of those who followed us did not. I did not worry about Aelric and the archers for they were woodsman all; they would look after themselves. We were almost at the gap when a huge warrior hurled himself forward and swung his two handed weapon at Leofric’s horse.  The blade bit into the shoulder slicing through to bone and the brave steed crashed to the earth, dead.  Leofric was thrown from its back and he landed heavily.  The huge warrior pulled his axe from the body of the horse and raised it to slice down on the unconscious squire. To my horror William leapt from his horse and, with his sword in one hand and his buckler in the other ran to protect Leofric.

I was forced to whirl around and break the shield wall of men and horses. I could not let my son die without trying, at least, to help him. Even as I turned I saw that he had used his head.  As the Scotsman swung his deadly blade my son ducked and ran hard at the man. He held his sword before him. He must have been terrified but he ran bravely at his foe. He ran straight into the man’s middle.  His momentum forced the blade into the man who screamed in pain. He used his left hand to smack my son in the side of the head and he fell, stunned, next to Leofric.  I did not break stride as I swung my sword around at the man’s neck.  My well sharpened blade sliced through as though the flesh was butter.

Reining in I looked for enemies.  John appeared next to me and, after handing him Scout’s reins I jumped to the ground. William opened his eyes, “Is Leofric safe?”

“Never mind Leofric I will see to him.” I lifted him on to Scout’s back. “John I charge you with the protection of my son.  Let nothing stand in your way!”

Before I could get to Leofric four warriors or five ran at me.  In a bunch they were hard to differentiate. They were eager to finish off a dismounted knight who stood alone over the body of his squire. A spear was thrust at me and I deflected it on my shield as I spun around to my left.  I brought my sword across the bare back of the warrior.  I cut through to the white of his backbone. I felt a blow on my helmet as a sword was smashed down upon it.  I briefly saw stars and I tried to continue my spin.  God smiled on me that day for the axe which would have hacked through my mail struck, instead, my shield. My move had opened up the warrior and I stabbed my sword into his unprotected middle. I pushed until the hilt hit his flesh. He spat blood and a curse at me as he died. 

Withdrawing the sword I turned quickly.  There were three of them left.  The rest of the skirmish seemed to be far away but perhaps that was my imagination. Suddenly a horse burst next to me and Hugh of Gainford galloped into the three men.  They had concentrated so hard on me that they had failed to see the horse and knight galloping at them.

Hugh’s horse bowled one of the men over and was trampled beneath the hooves of his mount.  One of them staggered towards me and I brought my sword down diagonally across his body.  It ripped it open to the ribcage. Hugh backhanded the last warrior across the back of the neck.

Edgar and Wilfred appeared and formed a defensive half circle with Hugh.  I knelt down and took off Leofric’s helmet. There was heavy bruising to his head but he was breathing.

“Edgar, pick up Leofric and put him on your horse.” As he did so I saw him begin to come to. I looked at the scene of the ambush. There appeared to be just a couple of combats continuing and they were going the way of my men. I looked up at Wilfred. “Ride to John and guard my son.” He galloped off. Hugh’s squire appeared. “Ralph, sound your horn! We need to rally!”

The strident notes of the horn echoed through the forest and, one by one, my men appeared. Roger of Lincoln led a horse. “My lord, Alan of York will not need his horse any longer.”

I nodded and mounted. I saw that we had suffered grievous losses. Three of my men at arms were dead and I could see wounds on two of the others. Sir Hugh’s men had also suffered and two of his men at arms were also dead.

Aelric rode up, “I have let you down again, my lord.  I should have spotted the ambush.”

“No, Aelric.  I was complacent.  Did you lose any archers?”

“Tom the Bowyer fell.”

I nodded. We had lost six men.  Even if Dick and Wulfric had been successful in their search for more men at arms we would be no better off. “Find any horses you can and bring any treasure you can find.  Roger, bring our men and we will bury them.” I pointed to the open area.  We will find somewhere close to there.”

We passed Will’s son who was kneeling over a Scot. He stood. “These men were sent by Sir Walter Comyn. It was he who gave orders to the villagers at Booth’s Castle.  This man was the one who rode for help.” He pointed to the horse which I recognised as one of Sir Hugh’s. He wiped his dagger on the dead man’s kyrtle. “He told me all, eventually.”

“You have done well.  Bring the horse.  We have need of it.”

John and Wilfred flanked my son who looked shaken.  I put my arm around him.  “You were brave, my son, but you should not have risked your life for Leofric.”

Leofric who was behind me said, “He is right William.  You should have left me.  I am grateful that you tried to save me but you are more important than I am.”

William looked confused. “But you would have done the same for me.”

I shook my head, “Nevertheless Leofric is correct.  You are my son. Perhaps I was wrong to bring you.  Your mother was right.  You are not yet ready to go to war.  It is too dangerous.”

I thought for a moment he was going to burst into tears but he stiffened his jaw and said, “It was not my turn to die and it was not Leofric’s! I am your son! I would do the same again.”

I nodded and saw that both Wilfred and John smiled their approval. Inside I was proud of his courage and his skill. Wilfred handed him the Scotsman’s axe. ”Keep this as a reminder of how close you came to death.”

I almost laughed out loud when my son tried to hold the axe. It was a heavy weapon. The blade and the decorated handles showed it to be a fearsome weapon.  The blood of Leofric’s horse still stained its edge. We buried our men and covered their graves with rocks.  I said words over their bodies for there was no priest but they had died as warriors. They would soon be in heaven with Athelstan and the other dead oathsworn. It was getting on towards dark but I did not want to risk another ambush and so we headed for Carlisle. My original plan lay in tatters amidst the ambush on the road. We reached there before the sun set and my banner was recognised.  We were admitted.

Sir Gilbert de Bois was the castellan.  He was not there permanently.  He had been charged by the King to oversee the completion of the castle.  I had met him once and he was a dour, unimaginative man.  He would defend the castle well but he could not think of the wider picture.

“What were you doing north of the wall? That is full of Scotsmen.”

I sighed, “It is still part of the King’s lands and I was charged to show myself.”

He grunted, “I do not know why anyone would want that land.  There is little there of value.”

“There are people, Sir Gilbert de Bois, for they were there before they were driven hence by the Scots.  I would have you send patrols north of the river just to show the Scots that they are not forgotten.”

I was an Earl and he could not gainsay me. He nodded.

That evening after he had quaffed a fair amount of wine he loosened up a little.  I was somewhat distracted for I was concerned about the blows to the head which both Leofric and William had suffered.  Although Sir Gilbert’s healer had looked at them I was anxious to have Father Matthew look at them.

“You are well known in these parts, Earl.”

“Hmn?”

The Scots use your name to terrify their children.  They call you the Wolf from the Wall.” He laughed and I realised he was a little drunk. “It is your standard of course.” He leaned in.  “I have heard that Gospatric has put a price on your head.”

“It is a sad man who cannot defend his own honour.  Gospatric is a bloated carcass who has others do his killing for him.”

“You are probably right.  I do not know the man. I will be glad to get to a warmer clime where the wine is drinkable.”

“You are from Normandy then?”

“Aye.  My elder brother has the estate.” He laughed, “And he has not yet had the good grace to die. He has no children and so the manor would be mine.  Still this is not a difficult task I have been given.”

“No, I expect it is not.” A thought came to me. I had had an itch in the back of my mind which I could not scratch.  Perhaps, in his cups, Sir Gilbert de Bois might give me the answer I sought. “Do you see much of Sir Barnard de Balliol?”

“He has passed through here once or twice.  He has a cousin in Scotland.  He likes to hunt there.”

“A cousin?”

“Yes, one of the Comyns, William I think.”

I became more attentive. “He is in Dumfries then?”

“They have land all over Scotland but I believe that Sir Barnard does visit Dumfries regularly. To be honest, Earl, I would have thought you would have had regular contact with him.  After all he is a near neighbour of yours.”