English Knight (22 page)

We headed deeper into the woods.  The land rose steeply and we had to dismount to climb the slopes. I doubted that any outlaws would choose to live in this particular part of my land. Wulfstan always told me that hunting needs great concentration.  My mind had wandered as I climbed. I was ignoring danger and that is always perilous.

The arrow thudded into the arm of Padraigh who spun to the ground clutching the shaft of the missile. Edgar covered him with a shield and my archers nocked arrows. I held my shield above my head. It saved both me and Scout. Two arrows struck the leather covering.  One skittered off into the woods and the other hung ominously from the top.  That could have been my head.

I tied Scout to a tree and, hiding behind my shield, rushed up the slope with a drawn sword. The outlaws had the higher ground.  The angle of their arrows told me that. I used the boles of the trees for protection as I ran up the leaf covered slope.  I had no armour and that made my journey both easier and quicker.  Even so arrows still rained down upon me.  I took satisfaction in that.  They could not loose at both me and my men at the same time. I heard a grunt from behind me and saw Wulfstan as he struggled up the hill. It made me feel better.

I caught sight of a movement ahead.  It was a white face in a green and brown world. I found it remarkably easy to run quickly without my armour. In those days I was young and had lightning reactions.  I saw the arrow as it sped towards me.  I punched it away with my shield without breaking stride. The archer was already trying to nock an arrow when I fell upon him.  I ran him through almost without thinking and I turned quickly as another outlaw ran at me with a spear. I held my shield before me and continued my turn so that my shield caught his spear and he tumbled down the slope.  Wulfstan stabbed down as he fell close to the huge warrior.  I faced uphill again.  I saw the outlaws as they fled.  They had set a trap and we had sprung it. I knew from Harold that outlaws only survived if they avoided superior numbers.  We now outnumbered them and they ran.

I began to leave Wulfstan and the others behind. As I neared the knot of outlaws who had paused for breath at the top of the ridge I suddenly realised that they were better dressed than I might have expected outlaws to be.  They wore leather and they had boots on their feet. They were well fed. I stored the information as I covered the last twenty paces to reach the six men. They were not outlaws!

When they drew swords I knew that these were not what they seemed.  They had good swords.  They were not as long as mine but they were the swords of soldiers. This was a trap for me and I had not walked into it.  I had run. They had led me to the top of the ridge to be beyond the help of my men.  I faced six of them alone.

I had two advantages: I had a shield and I was far better trained than they were. They spread out in a half circle.  If I stood and waited I was dead and so I lunged forward, holding my shield for protection. I felt a blade smash upon it as my sword penetrated the defence of the man before me and tore into his stomach.  I had no time for self congratulation as I sensed a sword coming from behind. The momentum of my killing stroke had carried me forward and I dived and rolled away from the blow.  I felt the blade strike the heel of my boot but there was no pain.

As I came up I held my shield above me and managed to catch two swords upon it. I was resting on one knee and I swept my sword before me. It slashed into a bare knee and the soldier went to the ground screaming as deep purple blood gushed from it. Using my knee I pushed upwards against the two swords and the men holding them fell backwards.  I brought my blade around and swung hard in the direction of the two men.  Its extra length made them both recoil and I found I had a breathing space.  I now faced four of them.  One had a wound to his arm but they were warier now. They would not rush me.  They circled me.  They would try to attack from four sides at once.

I saw Wulfstan and the rest struggling up the slope to reach me. I smiled as I thought of the words with which Wulfstan would berate me. For some reason that smile seemed to intimidate the men I faced; they hesitated. I used that hesitation to strike. I punched with my shield at the man to my left as I stabbed at the sword to my right. I took them both by surprise and one soldier fell to the ground while the other recoiled holding a bleeding knuckle. I spun and waved my blade blindly behind me.  I heard the clank of metal on metal as I managed to block the blow which was heading for my unprotected back. I turned and flicked my wrist. The move took the blade to my right and I slashed to the left. My sword opened his face and his chest.  He fell screaming.

Then Wulfstan fell upon them. He was angry and his mighty sword took the head of one in a single blow. I brought my sword down on a second warrior who blocked it. I punched with my shield and heard his nose crack. Before he could recover I stabbed him in the chest and kicked his body from my sword.  Suddenly two arrows plunged down on the last warrior and he fell dead. Harold and Dick sat on their horses just forty paces from us.

The rest of my men reached us.  I heard a couple of screams from deeper in the woods and then John appeared on his horse. I bent over to catch my breath. Wulfstan could scarcely breathe either.  When he could I received the chastisement I was expecting. “What in God’s name did you think you were doing? Trying to beat them all on your own!”

“I was trying to catch them.” I paused to allow my next words to sink in. “I did not know it was a trap until I reached the top.”

Wulfstan’s eyes narrowed.  “A trap?”

Harold dismounted and walked over. “Aye my lord.  Old Tom and Young Tom recognised one of the bodies they found after the initial attack. It was one of Tancred de Mamers’ men.”

He turned over the body pierced by two arrows.  “And this fellow was with the De Brus men in Wales.”

“So they meant to get you.  This attack on Thomas was to draw us off.”

“It failed.”

Wulfstan nodded but I could see that he was not convinced. Their identity was confirmed when we found their horses.  Outlaws would not possess such fine horses.  We took their weapons and the two bodies we recognised and headed back to Stockton.

It was getting towards dark when we reached the safety of the walls.  Nights were drawing in. I was hot and I was sweaty. I took off my clothes and jumped in the newly finished moat.  The guards on the gate seemed bemused.  I did not care for it felt good to let the water wash over me.  The moat was new enough that the water was relatively clear and clean.  I would not try this the following year.

Faren came out with a tunic.  “Do you wish to catch your death of cold, my lord?  Summer is the time for baths.  I do not know what you are thinking! Come get dried. Your father would not be happy!”

I lay in the water ignoring her words.  Why the trap now?  Surely it would have been easier to wait until I returned to Stockton and then draw me into the ambush. They had wanted me away from Norton along with my men but why? It came to me with sudden clarity. Faren had told me without knowing; ‘
my father would not be happy
’! Tancred and De Brus were intending to attack Norton.  The trap was intended for my father.  I would have been the gilding.

I leapt from the moat and grabbed the tunic.  “To horse! To horse! We ride tonight!”

“My lord, have you gone mad?  You have just fought this day.”

As I rubbed myself dry I said, “Faren, “Norton and my father are in danger! They are under attack.”

Faren might love Wulfstan but the man she revered most was my father.  Her hand went to her mouth and she murmured, “God protect him!”
 

I explained to Wulfstan and Richard my suspicions as I dressed.  They concurred. “You will need to leave guards here, Alfraed, in case this is a double trap.”

“We need to anyway.  I want the freshest men and horses.  I will take Star.  Scout will need rest. Aiden!”

My scout appeared, “Ride to Norton.  I need to know if it is under attack.  If it is then return and tell me if not then warn my father that he is to be attacked.”

Aiden deigned to use a saddle.  He rode bareback and he and his dogs galloped across the drawbridge. The noise and the alarum had roused the villagers from their homes.  I mounted Star and did not wait for the rest of my men.  I would risk the wrath of Wulfstan again. I saw Alf, “I believe that we may be attacked.  Bring your folk and the cattle within the bailey.  I go to my father.”

He nodded, “Aye, my lord.  Take care!”

It was the enemy who needed to take care for I was angry. I hoped that Edward and his patrol had been close enough to Norton to go to my father’s side. I heard the hooves of Wulfstan and the others as they hurried to be at my side. This time they would not allow me to venture alone into danger. Harold rode next to me.  He had spurned his bow and now held his spear.  I would have to make do with my sword. It needed an edge but I would wield a bar of iron if needs be. There were just ten of us in all.  The rest would have to guard Stockton.

We were less than a mile from Norton when Aiden returned.  “The gate has fallen.  It is Tancred and his men who are attacking. They are stealing the cattle.”

“Ride to Tom Two Toes and rouse him and his sons.  You can cut off their escape north.” In all honesty I was unconcerned about the cattle.  They had proved a curse as they had drawn our enemies upon us. Aiden wheeled his horse away north.

Knowing that my father was in danger added impetus to my ride.  Star had not been ridden for some days and was full of running. Four soldiers came along the track herding six cattle. I drew my sword and as Star trampled one of them I brought my sword across the neck of a second severing it in one blow. Harold and Wulfstan ensured that these four would raid no more. I saw bodies around the shattered gate but did not slow down. I saw Branton’s head staring sightlessly at the skies. He had guarded the gate with his body. My father’s oathsworn had finally fulfilled his oath. Inside the castle there were two knots of warriors. Our warriors were still fighting but they had been separated.  Between them was a sea of Normans. Edward and his men were hard pressed against the wall of the church while my father and his oathsworn held the door to the hall.  I believed I had come in time until I saw that Garth lay dead and, even as we galloped through the gate Ralph had his life ended by the mace of Tancred de Mamers. My father was fighting his last battle.  Osric guarded one side whilst a wounded Athelstan held two knights off on the other.  Of Egbert I saw no sign.

I smashed Star through the men at arms who turned to face the new foe who came at them. I was oblivious to their strikes and Star and I laid about us with hooves and blade. The press of bodies was too great and I leapt from his back. I smashed the end of my shield into the skull of one man while I ripped my blade across the throat of a second. I began to fight my way to my father. I saw that he was fighting bareheaded but he held his old shield as he had done for the Emperor and for King Harold. This was the last stand of Harold’s housecarls and they were holding their own against knights and men at arms who were half their age. Of course it could not last. Osric was felled by a blow to his helmet by Tancred. My father sliced his sword into the side of the knight who attempted to finish off Osric. It cost my father his life.  Tancred smashed his mace against my father’s shield and the old man fell to the floor. Tancred stood over him and he raised his mace.  He glanced over to me.  I could not see his face for his ventail covered it but I knew that he was laughing. He brought the mace down. My father’s sword came up and slowed down the blow but it still made contact with his head.  The cowardly Norman then mounted his horse and he and his knights galloped towards the wall.

I despatched the man at arms who had slowed me down and ran after Tancred.  As I reached the end of the hall I saw that they had gained entry through the wall.  They had pulled down a section and were galloping away through the newly made gap.

I turned and ran to my father. His face was a bloody mess.  I threw down my sword and helmet and cradled him in my arms.  “Father it is Alfraed!”

He opened one weak eye and a smile started to appear.  A tendril of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. “I knew you would come. My oathsworn died well and so did I. I can meet Aelfraed and Harold Godwinson in heaven now and face them.” I could not help the tears which dripped down my face. “Do not grieve for me, my son.  I have seen you grow into a knight and a man. I could not be more proud of you. You will be a greater warrior than I could ever have dreamed of becoming. My only regret is that I have not had a grandchild but I shall watch from…”

And then he died.  Ridley of Norton, the last of King Harold’s housecarls died, slain by a Norman but with his honour intact.

I stood and looked up at the sky. “I swear that I shall have my revenge and I will avenge your death.” I donned my helmet and grabbed Star.  “Wulfstan, look to the wounded.  Harold, Edward, we ride!”

Wulfstan grabbed my reins. “Do not do this in hot blood! Your father would not wish you to throw your life away.”

“I am cold as ice, Wulfstan.  I intend to kill these treacherous knights and when I am done I will scotch the snake that is De Brus. My sword has been sheathed too long.”

I led my handful of men through the gap in the walls.  I knew the route they would take. They would ride through the woods and then head around the marshes to reach Hartness and safety. “Edward, find us a way through the marshes!  We will cut him off before he reaches safety.” I did not want to have to winkle him out of Hartness.

It was a risk but Edward and Harold were familiar with the marshes and it would save us time. He spurred his horse past me.  As he came next to me he said, “I am sorry my lord, we came too late from our patrol to save them!”

“But you came and that is all that is important.”

Even though night was falling Edward managed to keep a good speed.  We soon found firmer ground as we headed towards the farms around Cowpen. Harold suddenly shouted.  “There, my lord, I see them!”

They had made the mistake of trying to take four head of cattle with them.  Their greed would prove costly.  I counted five knights and six men at arms.  There were just eight of us.  As soon as they heard the hooves following them they deserted the cattle and spurred their horses towards the safety of Hartness. They had neither honour nor courage.  I can only assume that they thought we had more men than we actually had.

Star was in his element.  He ate the ground up.  The men at arms had either a rouncy or a palfrey between their legs. They were no match for Star.  I did not even unsling my shield I held the reins in my left hand as I approached the rear most soldier. As Star’s head turned to bite at his horse I stood in the saddle and brought my sword to shatter his back. The blade almost cut him in two. Harold had overtaken me and I watched as he pulled back his spear to punch the next man at arms in the back. We now almost had parity of numbers.

Edward and the others were keen to redeem themselves and as three men at arms suddenly jerked their horses to the left Edward and Scanlan veered to follow them. Three knights were far ahead now but I saw that Tancred’s horse had been injured and he and another knight were falling behind. The last man at arms made the mistake of looking over his shoulder at the wrong time.  His horse tripped over a tree root and the rider flew over his head to crash into the bole of a tree.  Tancred and the last knight saw that they could not out run us and they halted. “Richard, take the men and pursue the last knights.  I would know where they go.” And there were just the four of us.  I realised, from his shield, that the second knight was Tancred’s son, Geoffrey.  I recognised his livery.  I hoped that Harold could deal with him for I would make sure that Tancred de Mamers ended his treacherous life this night.

My father’s killer made the mistake of trying to fight me on horseback.  He had an injured horse and Star’s blood was up. He charged at me and approached shield to shield. He swung his mace at my shield.  I struck at his head.  Star did what he could by trying to take a chunk from his destrier’s neck. My left arm felt the force of the mace and he then flicked it at my head and I saw stars but the blow from my sword almost unhorsed him.

I heard the clash of arms as Harold fought Geoffrey de Mamers but I could not watch.  I wheeled Star who came around far quicker than the injured destrier of Tancred de Mamers. Speed is all important in such contests and I was able to ride Star towards the side of the injured destrier. As Star bowled into him I brought down my sword.  Tancred managed to half deflect the sword with his mace but his horse was already falling.  As Tancred was knocked back in his saddle he pulled on the reins and the two of them tumbled to the ground. I leapt from Star and approached Tancred as he dragged himself from under his horse.

I saw that he did not stand easily.  His leg was damaged.  He dropped his ventail. “I yield! Quarter!”

I took off my helmet so that he could see my face. “No quarter! You do not deserve quarter.  You are treacherous and killed the finest man I have ever known. The most noble and honourable of all knights.  You gave my father no quarter and you will die, slowly!”

He laughed, “I have fought greater warriors than you.  You will regret your decision.”

He thought to catch me napping and lunged at me with his mace.  He hoped to take advantage of the fact that I had no helmet.  He was fast but his damaged leg and my speed took me out of range of his bloody mace. I swung my sword at his head and his helmet flew from it.  I saw that his head was bleeding from my earlier strike. He suddenly hurled the mace at me as he drew his sword. I dodged the deadly club easily. His sword would be sharper; I had taken the edge off mine already.

He made the mistake of swinging at my shield rather than my unprotected head.  Perhaps he thought he had weakened my arm. I deflected the blow easily. I feinted at his head and as his shield came up I slashed at his already damaged leg.  I was in no mood to finish this quickly. He screamed in pain as the mail hose was ripped and blood started to ooze from the knee. He glanced over to his son who lay prostrate on the ground. I heard Harold as he shouted, “Do I give quarter, my lord?”

“For the moment.  I may want to end the young snake’s life myself when I have slain his father.”

As I had expected, that enraged Tancred who tried to come at me with a flurry of blows. I halted them all with quick ripostes and the blows only served to tire him. “Your master, Count Fulk, will be disappointed that your plot has failed.  You have not fermented rebellion in these northern lands.  When I have finished with you then De Brus will feel both my sword and my wrath.”

Tancred pointed the sword at me.  He spoke in gasps for he was out of breath. “Count Fulk has not finished with you.  He knows your name and it is marked for death.”

“Then I hope he has a better assassin than you in mind or he will have wasted his gold.”

He came at me again but he was losing too much blood. I feinted at his knee again and, when he lowered his shield, I sliced backhand across his left shoulder.  My blade had lost its edge but it was still sharp enough to slice through the leather strap and into his arm.  His shield fell at his feet and I saw resignation on his face. He knew then that death was inevitable. He may have had more experience but I had fast hands and a strong arm. I punched him in the face with my own shield and he fell to the floor.  I ripped my blade across the mail covering his chest.  Links broke.  I stamped on his right hand and heard the bones break.  “End it now I beg of you!”

I ripped my sword back across the already torn mail and saw my sword penetrate his padded tunic and his stomach.  I heard horses behind as Edward and Alan arrived. I did not turn around.  His eyes pleaded with me, “You will not take ransom?”

“If I need ransom then I have your son but I want you to die. I cannot make it as slow as I would like but I swear I will rid the world of your name and your seed.”

I said it slowly so that he would know that I meant what I said. His eyes widened as he took in the words I spat at him. His eyes tried to move to his son but the tip of my sword was at his throat. “You will die unshriven!” I lifted the sword and jammed it into his mouth so that he could not curse me.  I felt the tip strike his spine and he died.

“Strip his body and hang it, naked, from the tree so that the birds may feast on this evil man.” Leaving Edward and my men to do as I had bid I strode over to Tancred’s son, Geoffrey.  The blood of his father still dripped from the end of my sword. I saw him recoil in fear and even Harold looked terrified.  My eyes blazed with anger. I kept my voice low as I jabbed the point between the youth’s eyes. The tip broke the flesh and a tiny ribbon of blood dripped down the side of his young head. I saw that he was barely eighteen. “Now boy it would not take much to end your life too.”

“I yielded to your squire!”

“But not to me! It will be no sin if I push this sword to end your life now!” I roared out the last word and he recoiled. “Understand me boy! I will keep you alive only as long as you are useful to me.  You are still alive because I do not wish to dishonour my squire. He is more important to me than either you or your worthless father. If you attempt to escape I will hamstring you. If you try a second time I will castrate you.  If you try a third I will blind you.” I paused so that he understood.  “Harold here is the only reason you live.  Take off your mail and give it to him. Harold, dress him in the clothes of the dead man at arms.  If he tries to run you know what to do.”