Housecarl (21 page)

As the evening came to an end
and the guests left I felt as tired as though I had fought in the
shield wall for a day.  The main guests were staying in the
hall which meant that we did not have to follow them. Aethelward
joined us. “Osgar and Wolf can come indoors now for the guards
outside have been told to stop anyone from entering.”

Wolf and Osgar had had the same
experience we had and I could see from their eyes that they too w
ere tired.  It seemed that we had made a mistake and there
would be no threat to anyone’s life . Aethelward was not
certain.  “This would be the best time to strike in the small
hours when the birds of the night rule, and the owl is king.”

All of us shuddered
involuntarily for the owl was a frightening bird and was a symbol
of ill omen . I hoped that I was wrong but part of me wanted to see
the warriors again so that I could ask them about my father.
Aethelward retired to his room for we thought he might still be a
target. The four of us prowled the dark hall without a light for we
did not want to give anything away.

Ridley and I stood in an alcove
close to the King’s chambers whilst the other two guarded Ealdgyth.
“They say that the spirits of the dead walk at night.” Ridley
looked up to the rafters in fear, “and they say that the dead men
who died unnaturally here come back at night to haunt the
living.  What do you think master?”

In truth I believed that the
dead walked at night but not in a sinister way. “Do you remember
Nanna?” In the darkness I felt him nod. “Well I believe that h er
spirit is here and watches over me.  I believe that she
protects me in death as she did in life.”

“And will she protect me
master?”

“Aye , for she loved you as my
friend.  I fear not the spirits of the night , but I do fear
the blade of an unknown killer.”

I found my eyes droop in with
the tiredness and the tension.  I kept jerking my head up and
staring around in panic. I felt that if I just closed my eyes for a
moment then I would be fresher. Suddenly I snapped awake again and
this time my nose could smell something that had not been there
before. I nudged Ridley and he too was awake swiftly and instantly
alert. He said nothing but we both stood in the shadows and let our
eyes seek out that which was unnatural. We could see the drapes
which covered the door to the King’s quarters, in the ante chamber
was Robert of Jumièges. I saw the faintest movement from the
shadows but it was enough for me and I drew my sword and slipped
silently down the side of the rough lath wall which was in deep
shadows and would hide me .  Ridley, faithful and loyal
Ridley, emulated me and I caught the faintest shining glimmer from
his sword. Ahead of me I detected an arm and I moved forward
quickly.  The floorboards were old and one squeaked beneath my
feet.  I saw the killer’s eyes as he turned to face me. He was
fast and his blade leapt towards my throat, I barely had time to
fend off the blow with my gauntlet but I grabbed his arm as the
blade sliced along my cheek, spraying me with my own blood. It was
then that I smelled him and knew what had awakened me for he
smelled not of men but of perfume.  He grabbed my sword hand
and we wrestled around.  He was strong, of that there was no
doubt , but I was younger and I pushed back with my right
hand.  If the edge could get close to his throat its sharp
blade would slice through his skin and end his life. He shifted his
body so that I lost my balance and I felt myself going back
wards.  Once he had me on the floor then I would die. I saw
his face close to mine and I threw my head back and butted him on
the nose.  I heard the cartilage crack as his nose broke and
he could not help but fall backwards.  We both lost our grip
and, as I fell to the floor , I slashed out with my sword and felt
it slice through the hamstring of his right leg.  He crumpled
in a heap. I stepped on his sword hand and held my blade to his
throat.  I glanced behind me and saw Ridley withdrawing his
sword from his dead opponent’s neck.  Wolf, Osgar and
Aethelward had heard the commotion and joined us. 

Robert of Jumièges came out of
his room sword in hand.  His eyes flashed around and , seeing
my opponent on the ground he stabbed him in the throat crying,
“Assassin!”

I turned in horror to my uncle
who grabbed the churchman’s hand. “Why did you do that? We could
have questioned him and found out whom he served.”

The archbishop looked
flustered.  “I thought he might try to kill the king.  I
was protecting his royal person.”

“He was disarmed.  I had my
foot on his hand.”

“I could not see that.  Who
can think in a moment besides it is obvious they were sent by
Malcolm Canmore, they are Scots.”

My eyes narrowed and I looked at
my uncle.  How could he have known that?  Before we could
speculate the King emerged. Robert reacted quicker than I could.
“Majesty these two Housecarls have just saved your life and foiled
a plot to kill you.”

The King’s grateful, eyes
widened and he embraced first me and then Ridley.  “Tomorrow
we shall reward you.”

Other guards arrived, having
been summoned by Ulf who looked darkly at Aethelward. My uncle
shook his head and turned to the four of us.  “You have done
well and saved the king, now you need to get your rest and we will
talk in the morning.” The message was obvious, talk in private
where the Archbishop could not hear us.

I found it hard to sleep as I
ran the events through my head.  My father was involved with
the two Scotsmen and so was the Norman churchman, that was obvious
but what linked them and what was their purpose? My head was too
fuzzy with the action and tiredness. This was all I could know I
would need daylight and my friends to unravel the knotty problem
.

Before we had chance to discuss
the events we were summoned into the presence of the king. 
The Archbishop stood behind him his darting, dark eyes never
leaving our faces. The King looked a little calmer than he had the
previous night. “We would like to thank these two brave Housecarls
for their bravery in saving the life of ourselves.  As a
reward I am giving each of them a piece of land and title in their
native Northumbria . To you Aelfraed of Medelai I give the parish
of Maiden Bower close to Topcliffe and to you , Ridley son of Oswin
, I give the parish of Coxold and title therewith. “ One of the
priests with him gave us both a document with the royal seal
appended. We both knelt and kissed the proffered hand.  “Today
we will return to London knowing that our city of Winchester will
be well protected by Earl Harold’s brave Housecarls.”

When the King’s retinue had left
I noticed the look I was given by Robert of Jumièges; it was a look
of pure hate.  I had, in some way, unwittingly earned the
enmity of a mighty Norman.  We were still exhausted the next
day but I sat with Ulf and my uncle to run through the
events.  Aethelward agreed with me that the Norman bishop had
shown his hand by acknowledging that they had been Scottish
assassins.  The only way he could have known that was if they
were involved.  The fact that he disposed of the loose end
merely confirmed that he had known something. “But it is your
father and his involvement which is more worrying.  We know
that the Normans want Edward dead and Duke William on the
throne.  With Earl Harold a prisoner of the Duke it would be a
perfect time to remove the king of England and then the Council, of
which the Archbishop is a member , would have the Norman Duke as
king.”

Ulf looked at Aethelward, “The
sooner the Earl returns the better.”

When I left the hall I was
thronged by my comrades who were delighted that I was now a
lord.  I had not thought of that but I did feel for
Ridley.  He was now a superior to his father.  His parish
was smaller than mine but would provide an income.  The two
were adjacent and I knew that our lives had changed forever in that
moment. I was now Aelfraed of Topcliffe and Ridley was the Lord of
Coxold.  Neither of us knew that we would hold those titles
for a mere three years but once given they could never be taken
away. We were lords. We both wished to travel north to see our
lands but we knew that to do so whilst the Earl was a captive would
have been dishonourable so we stayed. I used the time to question
Ulf and Aethelward about my responsibilities.  I learned that
both men had lands of their own but used a steward to manage them.
Neither of us wished to be absent landlords besides the thought of
riding to battle at the head of my own men appealed to me.

Surprisingly quickly Earl Harold
was returned to us.  There were rumours that he had sworn an
oath to support the Duke’s claim to the throne should Edward die
but he assured us that it was a lie.  We believed him, because
he was our liege lord but I for one was not convinced. He seemed
inordinately proud of the fact that I had acquired lands and
immediately acquiesced to our request to visit them and have some
time away fro m his Housecarls. The one regret I had was that I did
not get to see Gytha but I did impress upon both the Earl and my
uncle that I desired to make her my bride and, now that I was a
lord, I could so. They patronisingly smiled and nodded; they did
not know me.  I meant it and one day I would achieve my
aim.

We parted from our friends Wolf
and Osgar.  They both nodded to us and said, “Farewell my
lord.”

“I will never be my lord to you
two.  You are our friends and remain so.  I will be
insulted if you refer to me as my lord again.  I am Aelfraed
and this is Ridley and we will always be Housecarls.”

Their smiles at my words showed
me that they were happy and the two of us headed north up the great
Roman road. We had not travelled far when Ridley spoke ,
“Master.  Could I visit with you at your demesne?”

“Firstly I am not Master and
secondly, why?”

He hung his head.  “I am
pleased that I am a lord but I do not know how to act. If I watch
you then when I go to mine own lands then I will not look quite so
foolish.”

How I loved the simple
uncomplicated Ridley.  He never let me down through our whole
lives and I never had a better friend.  In that moment I knew
that I could not let him down and I agreed. I knew that I would
protect Ridley with my life and he would become a great lord, as I
hoped to be.

When we crossed into Northumbria
we detected a change.  There were more beggars and the people
appeared to be less well off than those in Mercia. We stayed in a
small inn close to Doncaster and when they discovered that we were
Earl Harold’s Housecarls and that we had fought the Welsh they
relaxed. We found out that Earl Tostig was taxing the life out of
his land and the people were suffering. He was using the threat of
the Scots as the excuse but, as the inn keeper told us, the Scots
still ravaged the land despite the high taxes.

We bypassed Jorvik for I had no
wish to swear fealty to such a man.  I would claim my lands
first and then visit Jorvik. I know that sounds cowardly but I did
not like Earl Tostig and never had.  Another part of me
worried that I might see my brothers.  I was not afraid of my
brothers but I had no wish to spill their blood and if we met again
then I knew it would come to that . So we eventually came to Maiden
Bower at Topcliffe and I fell in love with it immediately.  To
the north east lay the hills of the white horse which seemed
apposite bearing in mind that that was the sign of Earl Harold. The
parish itself was at the junction of two rivers and was close to
the great Roman road.  I could see now that King Edward had
given me a strategically import ant post. If someone could build a
fort here then they could deny any invader passage south. I
wondered where the previous owner was.

When we reached the small
village the Steward came to greet us. “Greetings my lord, how can I
be of service?”

I glanced over at Ridley who was
watching my every move.  “ I am your new lord,” I flourished
the document given to me by the king. “I am here to claim my
demesne.  This is Ridley lord of Coxold.”

He and his wife fell to the
ground.  “ I am sorry my lord no one warned us.”

“Rise er ,,,”

“Thomas sir, Thomas of Topcliffe
and this is my wife Sarah .”

“Well Thomas I would like to
inspect my lands.  Do you have a horse?”

He looked panicky .  “Er
yes sir.  But it is not …”

I knew he looked at our fine
mounts and that his would be a nag at best. “It can be an ass for
all I care , Thomas, just so long as we can see my lands this day.”
I smiled as I said it and to my relief he smiled too. This would
work.

I was pleased when we visited
the farms for it looked to be a prosperous place but I was
concerned with the finances. “Thomas, tell me , the farms are
producing much?”

He beamed at me, “Oh they are
doing very well. God has been kind to us and we have not had
floods.”

“And the last lord, before me;
when did he die?”

“He went north ten years ago to
fight the Scots and did not return.  He had no heirs.”

“So the profit from the estate.
  Where does that go to ?” I kept my voice even for it seemed
to me that there should be a horde of silver and I could see no
evidence of that .  Thomas looked like an honest man and his
words had sounded truthful but there was a gap between what I had
seen and what I could touch.

Thomas was a bright man and he
understood the implications of what I had said.  “All of the
money is given to the church for the priest to care for. He was the
friend of the lord.”

I smiled, I could see the
picture clearly now.  My run in with other men of the church,
latterly the Archbishop, had given me a different perspective to
the men of the soil who saw them as Christ’s protectors on
earth.  I saw them as greedy, voracious and political beasts
who feathered their own nests. “Then let us visit with the priest
and find the lost money for we shall need men at arms and money for
building.”