Knight of the Empress (6 page)

As we waited for the trumpet signalling the start I said, "Our only chance is if we fight as we did the other day.  Stay tight on me and listen for orders.  Let me know when danger comes." I nodded in the direction of the Teutons. "They will come at us in a wild rush. Rolf and his Swabians will challenge the Count."

"How do you know?"

"Rolf told me!"

The trumpet sounded and, as I expected, the three Teutons hurtled at us. Thankfully they came at us individually and did not keep as tight as we did; it gave us a distinct advantage.  We galloped towards them and I pulled my arm back. I punched forward at the middle knight's cantle with the long lance. As I did so I lifted my shield and it deflected his spear up. Mine hit him squarely in the middle.  I had used Star to lean in too so that he was thrown from his saddle. I saw Edward do the same to his.  The lances of Sir Guy and the last Teuton were broken.  We rode back to replace them.  I had the opportunity to watch the other battle. Carl was down but Rolf and Gottfried were holding their own.

"Sir Guy, can you take the last German?"

"Having watched you two, yes. Go and help Rolf."

With new lances Edward and I galloped to the other side of the circle.  Rolf had knocked one of the Count's men from his saddle but he was then struck from his by the Count himself.  Karl fought bravely but he was outnumbered. He was knocked from his saddle.

The two knights turned and rode back to their table.  Protocol determined that we had to let them re arm. We galloped towards them.  I intended to take out the Count but he had other ideas and he made directly for Edward. He charged across my front and his horse was fast. His lance thudded into Edward throwing him from his horse. I wheeled around and shattered my lance as I smashed its head into the shield of the other knight. He was not thrown from his horse but I could see that I had hurt him.

I returned to pick up a second lance and saw that Sir Guy had finished off the last of the Teutons.  "Two against two eh. Baron?  We have a chance."

"Watch out for the Count he is tricky."

Sir Guy had the joy of battle upon him.  I had seen it before.  He did not wait for me but turned and charged the two last knights. It was a mistake. The Count led with his injured knight protecting his lance side.  It meant that they could hit Sir Guy with two lances.

I spurred Star to help my friend. Even as I charged I knew I would be too late.  Sir Guy was dumped unceremoniously from his horse and, worse still the two knights, with whole lances, came directly for me. I had, however, seen the fate of my companion and I would not fall into the trap. I knew the Count was the stronger and I decided to take out the man I had injured. As I approached them I made them think I was going to the Count and the two knights closed up. Using my knees I moved Star right and then jerked the reins around so that I rode directly for the injured knight.  Once again I punched but this time there was anger in my blow.  There was a huge crack as my lance broke when it struck the shield.  Then there was a cry of pain.

I wheeled my horse around to replace my lance.  At any moment I expected a blow from the lance which the Count still held but it never came. When I turned, at the table, I saw that the injured knight was being helped from his horse. He could no longer continue. The Count handed his lance to one of his retainers and was handed another by a sergeant at arms. I grabbed my own and turned Star.  It was now the Count, the knight who always won these tourneys, against me, who had never fought in one until that day.

I allowed Star a few moments to recover.  He was a powerful horse and he was eager for battle.  I needed to control him. I saw the Count move and I spurred Star. I shortened my reins and held my shield tightly to my head. The Count had a Great Helm upon his head.  I relied upon the fact that his vision might be slightly impaired, I raised the tip of my lance so that it was aimed at his head, as his was with me. I pulled back my arm and braced myself. As we closed I ducked behind my shield and punched at his cantle with my own lance. I heard a whinny from Star as his lance struck her on the mane and then punched into my right shoulder.  I felt a sharp pain but my knees still gripped Star and my own lance had made the Count and his horse stagger to the right.  I threw away the broken haft and drew the wooden sword.

It was now my sword skills which would be tested. I rode after the Count who was trying to control his horse. Star was angry and snorted as he leapt after them.  I stood in my stirrups and brought the sword down across the middle of the Count's back. I think he must have thought that I was down for he had not drawn his own sword. He was, however, a good horseman and he wheeled his horse in a tight circle whilst drawing his own sword.

I could not afford to let this superior warrior get the better of me.  He had the advantage for he had done this before.  I was a novice. I swung the sword, as we closed horizontally. I saw the weakness in the great helm for he only saw that it was coming for his head at the last moment. It clattered into the helmet and his head jerked back. As we passed he smashed his sword across my back. It hurt.

I pulled to the right and headed for his sword side.  He, too, turned and, standing in his stirrups brought the sword above his head. I raised my shield above my own head, spurred Star and swept my own sword across his middle. Star's speed, my blow and his unbalanced stance meant that he tumbled backwards over his horse's rump to land in a heap on the floor of the arena.

The cheers from the stands told me I had won and when Edward, Guy and the Swabians rushed to me, it was confirmed. I took off my helmet and felt the cool air around my hot head. Edward patted Star's mane, "That was superb sir. You cut him down to size." Suddenly he stopped and held up his hand.  It was bloody.  Star had been cut.  "Baron, look at this."

The others stopped smiling and looked at the bloody hand. Rolf examined Star's neck. "There is a long cut here."

"Perhaps the lance splintered.  See if there is wood within."

Rolf shook his head, "No, Sir Guy, this was made by metal it is sharp." He pointed to my surcoat. "And there is a hole in Baron Alfraed's surcoat. This was a metal tipped spear."

I held up my hand.  "I am not hurt and Star will heal.  Say nothing. Let them think that we do not know what they have done.  Come on, smile and cheer, we have won."

Rolf shook his head, "You are a strange one but we will go along with you."

They led Star to the dais.  I dismounted and approached the Emperor and Empress.  I saw the joy on the face of the Empress and the thin lipped smile on the Emperor.  He was not happy and I wondered how much he had had to do with the attempt on my life. I had no doubt that he had used the Count to try to hurt me. As we waited for them to descend I glanced over and saw the Count and his men leaving the arena.  I would have to watch out for him.

I knelt as the Emperor approached, "You have done exceptionally well, Englishman.  That is the first time I have seen the Count unhorsed.  He is never beaten. You are someone to keep an eye on." I was looking up into his eyes and I saw hatred.  There was something else I saw, pain.  The Emperor was not a well man.  Perhaps this explained his dyspeptic nature. He held out the chest.  "Here is your reward, rise."  I rose and took the chest. "I am told you leave today."

"Yes, sire.  We have to get back to Caen. The King may need us."

"Then I hope you have a safer and less eventful journey home than you had coming."

I wondered if that was a threat, but I smiled and replied, "As do I sire."

Matilda said, suddenly, "I have decided to reward the six of you for your services to me.  I know that the Emperor has rewarded you but we would like to give you all something to remember me by." I could see that the Emperor knew nothing of this from the expression he bore but the silent arena and crowd meant that they had heard Matilda's words which had been spoken loudly enough for all to hear. She waved a delicate hand and two servants came across, each bearing a cushion.

"I have created an order of knights.  They will be the Knights of the Empress Matilda. You six will be the first recipients.  Kneel." We all fell to our knees and looked up at her. She began with the Swabians who were kneeling to my left and she placed what looked like a large coin or medallion around each of their necks.  She spoke quietly to each of them as she did so. Then she went to Sir Guy at the other end of the line and placed one around his neck.  After Edward she came to me and put the medallion around my neck. "By this token you are sworn to protect me and to come to me should I need you."

As I looked up I saw that her eyes sparkled and there was more behind the words than within them.  "I swear, as I did to your father, to protect you with my life; always."

Spontaneously the others all intoned, "We swear to protect you with our lives."

There was a momentary pause then the crowd all cheered and the moment was gone. The Emperor whisked Matilda away before she could say another word and we were left alone in the arena. I looked at the medallion.  It had been cast in bronze and had the Empress' image on one side and Saint George slaying the dragon on the other.  It seemed appropriate. As we compared them Rolf suddenly laughed, "It seems we are not all equal."

Sir Guy asked, "What do you mean?"

He held up his.  "Do you see how each of us has a different colour stone in our medal? The baron has a blue one but if you notice it is placed in the heart of the Empress.  Ours are in her hand.  It seems the baron must be her favourite."

I shook my head.  "I think you are wrong.  They look to be in the same place to me.  The man who made them must have made a mistake."

Gottfried said, "No mistake but it does not matter.  We six are sworn to protect her.  Let us take the blood oath."

Sir Guy looked confused, "Blood oath?"

In answer Rolf took out his dagger and made a cut across the palm of his hand.  The Swabians, Edward and myself all did the same.  I knew the custom from my father.  Sir Guy nodded and did the same.  We then all clasped hands so that our blood intermingled. Rolf nodded, "Now we are blood brothers and oathsworn. He walked over to a brazier burning in the corner and, taking his knife, plunged it into the flame.  After a few moments he took it out and placed it on the wound.  He repeated it with us all.  "Now we are oathsworn in blood and fire. When the Empress is in danger then we must go to her side; no matter what."

After we had tended to Star's injury we returned to our quarters.  Guy and Edward took off my surcoat.  "Look at that sir.  There is a dent in the armour."

I could see that there was a small dent in the armour.  It was where the lance had struck me.  It had not penetrated but the scale would need replacing.  Just then Carl came in holding something in his hand. Gottfried and Rolf were with him

"I returned to the arena and found the lance the Count used.  I found this in the broken end." He opened his palm and there was a narrow arrow head.  It would have been invisible in the end of the lance. Edward took it and placed it next to the dent in the armour.  It was a perfect match.

Edward rolled the narrow arrow head in his hand.  "They didn't know you wore lamellar armour Baron.  If you had worn mail then this would have gone right through." He placed it next to his mail and I saw that it would have gone through. "The Count was trying to kill you."

"Keep that safe Edward. I shall return it to the Count one day." Turning to the Swabians I said, "And you three watch yourselves.  Being associated with me may be dangerous."

"Do not worry, my English friend, we have learned about treachery the hard way and our comrade paid with his life.  We will watch."

We parted from the Swabians and, after picking up the surcoats and supplies for the journey we left. It was in direct contrast to our arrival. The streets were empty leading to the gates for people were enjoying the holiday atmosphere in the taverns of the town. We were able to slip out unobserved. The men were satisfied for they had enjoyed their stay in the town for they had had none of the politics to contend with.  They had drunk and wenched.  Some had spent all of their coins and were now eager for action and the prospect of more treasure. The three of us, who rode at the front, had much to think on.  Harold and Alan had been on the periphery of the intrigue but Edward and Guy knew as well as I did that there were plots and intrigues going on here.

"Guy, you live in the Empire; how does it view France and Normandy?"

He shrugged, "We are in the provinces and it is hard to judge.  As far as we can tell the Empire supports your King Henry.  After all his daughter is the Empress of the Empire but events in the last few days have made me question that."

Edward had an annoyed expression on his face.  Since he had discovered the arrow head he had been silently fuming, "My question, Baron Alfraed, is how did those knights get so far into the Empire unless someone was giving them support.  We were almost within sight of Worms when they attacked.  And those two Teutons, Lothar and Konrad, who got them close to the Empress? This is a big conspiracy. No sir. I am glad to be rid of that place.  Not the Empress mind, she is worth fighting for, but she has found herself in a nest of vipers there."

We rode in silence for a while.  I did not want to think about the Empress Matilda trapped there so far away from home and so vulnerable.  I turned to Edward's squire. "How is the arm, Alan?"

"It aches a little but the physician we saw in Worms said that Wulfric had set it well.  I am just pleased it was only my shield arm."