Warlord of the North (16 page)

The leading hunter thrust his spear at me. I deflected it and used my powerful mount to force his small horse to the side.  He fought to control his animal and I stabbed at him with my sword.  He was agile, despite the fact that he looked to be a little older than me. Even so he could not avoid the edge of my sword and, as he was not wearing mail, it sliced deeply across his right arm. He tumbled from his horse.

A second man, I took him to be the knight's squire, came bravely at me. He jabbed his spear at my face. It was an easy blow to avoid and I ducked.  Holding my sword out the squire impaled himself upon my blade.

And then it was over. Two men had died and four were captured. I returned to the knight whose arm I had slashed. He was making his own tourniquet.  I dismounted and said, "Yield!"

He laughed, "There is little else I can do although I fear I shall bleed to death before you receive ransom! I yield."

I sheathed my sword and tore a piece of cloth from the dead squire's garment.  I tied it tightly around the knight's arm.

"Thank you Earl."

"You recognise me?"

"I fought alongside you when we fought  the rebels. I saw the wolf and knew that we were in danger.  I am Baron Charles de Touville." He shook his head. "We thought you in Honfleur.  Sir Hugo will be annoyed that you are loose in his lands."

"He will be more than annoyed when we are finished here.  Did you know what he has done with the villages along the river?"

"They are his lands.  Each of us rules in a different way."

"And yet you accept his hospitality."

"The winds have changed, Earl. King Henry is dead and Stephen has claimed the English throne. There are many who vie for the Dukedom.  Baron Hugo would make a strong Duke."

"There is the Empress Matilda and her son."

He shook his head, "She is a fine lady but she is just that, a lady and her son is a child.  As for her husband... I fought Count Fulk too many times to accept his son as even the consort of a Duchess."

"William, have these men sent to Honfleur and we will ask for ransom. They have all yielded?"

"Aye father."

I helped the wounded knight to his horse, "Think what King Henry would have wanted Sir Charles.  Would he be happy with Sir Hugo as Duke?  King Henry was a hard man but he was just and he was fair."

"I will think on your words for I know you to be an honourable man. But your lands are in England and you will leave." He leaned forward and spoke quietly, "The French are already eyeing this land.  King Louis has sent emissaries already to discuss alliances. I look to my own land, Earl."

They put their two dead on the back of their horses and William's six men at arms headed back to Honfleur.

After they had gone I reflected on the words of the knight.  He seemed a reasonable man and what he said was probably the view of many.  I knew that Count Geoffrey was not the same man as his father but his actions until I had arrived must have seemed like a child trying to achieve what his parent could not.

"We continue west." We had smaller numbers now.  There were just thirteen men at arms until William's men returned.

We followed the road but saw no one using it. The land appeared devoid of people.  Perhaps that was understandable.  This was forest  and if Sir Hugo wanted that for the game and the timber then there was little point in living close by. As evening approached we went into the forest and found a clearing close to water where we made camp. Rolf and William were both much like me.  We could sleep under the greenwood. Three of Rolf's men went to hunt our supper while we got a fire going. I doubted that there would be any danger during the night but, in the morning, Sir Hugo would seek out the missing three knights and their squires who had not returned from the hunt.

We still had sentries set but we were relaxed as we sat around the fire. Rolf was silent and I saw his face was troubled. "What ails you brother?"

He shook his head and forced a smile, "I am sorry Alfraed but when I see you and your son together it reminds me of what I do not have. So long as Karl and Godfrey rode by my side then I had a family with me constantly. Since they were killed I have been alone. I have no family and I am no longer needed as  Knight of The Empress. What is my purpose in life? Why do I fight?  The ransom we collect I will spend on ale and horses."

I understood his thoughts.  They were the dark ones I had experienced after the death of my wife.  He was right, William was my future, as well as my dark secret, Henry. My son, however, was young and he did not see the problem.

"Sir Rolf you are not too old to take a wife.  Count Geoffrey would grant you a manor as he did me."

"I know, young William, but I am a grizzled old war horse. Any woman who took me on would need the patience of a saint.  I would not inflict that on any."

"You are the last of the Empress' Swabians.  Karl, Godfrey, the others, they would have wanted families had they lived would they not?"

"Karl, certainly."

"Then you owe it to them to do what they cannot."

He nodded, "You always were the wise one amongst us.  I will give it some thought." He lay back and laughed, "Just so long as some rebel sword does not end my thoughts and my plans eh?"

He was soon asleep and William and I talked a little longer. "You should think as Rolf, William.  I married your mother when I was but a little older than you. Think about how quickly your mother was taken from me and now I have but one son.  The King and the Queen had but two children.  One died at sea and look at the problems the Empress has. Find a wife and father children!"

He nodded, "You wish to be a grandfather! I will do my best!"

"I did not say that. I said, marry. The rest will follow naturally."

We were up before dawn for we were in the land of our enemies. We headed back to the road. William pointed west. "If the river is closed then they will have to send goods along the roads.  Lisieux is their front line."

Rolf had awoken more energised than the night before.  "Then they will have to come from Rouen. We could find somewhere to ambush on this road."

"A good plan Sir Rolf. The men I sent to Honfleur will join us here and then we will have sufficient numbers again."

"Good.  We ride east until we find a good site to ambush."

We had travelled further through the forest the night before than I had realised.  The road was some way from the eaves of the forest and we found no suitable ambush site in the next mile.  Half a mile later however we did find danger.  We came upon a conroi. There was a bend in the road and as we came around we suddenly saw, a hundred paces from us, five knights with their squires and ten men at arms. At such times a knight has to make decisions quickly.  We could run or we could charge. Perhaps I was arrogant or I thought we were better knights.  Whatever the reason I shouted, "Charge!"

William and Rolf naturally rode on my flanks and we drew our swords as one. My quick decision meant that we were moving more swiftly than they. I heard the leading knight shout, "Charge!" They spurred their horses on but we were already closing. We had reacted quicker. We had swung our shields around from our backs and our swords were in our hands.  They were still trying to get their weapons out.

There was enough space for them to form a line.  They would slightly outnumber us and there was a chance that they would outflank us but our speedy charge allowed us to close with them quicker. The knight who led had a yellow surcoat with a black boar. I went for him.  The horse I had taken from Baron Thierry was a powerful horse.  He was closer to a destrier than a palfrey and this was the first time I had had occasion to use him in real battle. He did not let me down. As we closed I veered towards the leading knight and brought my shield to protect my front. The knight in the yellow surcoat was still trying to bring his mount up to speed. He was distracted.

As we closed I pulled my arm back and swung hard at the black boar on my enemy's shield. My horse leaned to the right as I did so.  He had been trained well. My sword smashed into the shield with all the force I could muster. The knight lost his balance and he tumbled to the ground. My sword was still before me when the man at arms jabbed his spear at me.  He should have aimed at my face but he did not; he went for my shield. His own shield was on the left and he had no protection. My sword struck him in the throat. The blade ripped through his ventail and he fell backwards over the cantle. 

I wheeled my horse around and came upon a surprised man at arms who was racing to aid the four knights who remained.  I jerked back on the reins and my new horse lifted his mighty hooves and struck the horse and the man at arms. Both beast and man crashed into the forest. I pulled the reins around and rode after the knights.  I saw one knight, in addition to the leader, was down. William was fighting two. I spurred my mount and yelled, "Stockton!"

One of the knights turned to face me. Our swords clashed and sparks flew. I had power in my arm I knew not that I possessed.  I was fighting for my son's life. It was an unequal battle. I used my knees and my left hand to pull around my horse's head.  It snapped and bit at the knight's mount. His mount tried to pull away and as it did so exposed the knight's left side.  I lunged at a gap I saw between the shield and the sword.  It sliced through the leather strap holding the shield and the reins. As the shield fell the reinless horse pulled its head around. I swung back handed and hit the already unbalanced knight in the chest.  He fell from the horse and cracked his head against a tree. He lay still.

I turned.  I saw that the leader had managed to mount a horse brought by his squire but he had but one knight remaining. then, looking west, I saw the seven men at arms from William's conroi returning.  Our enemy fled.

We had not escaped unscathed.  William's squire lay dead and three men at arms would never follow our banner again. Two knights, including one I had knocked into the forest, lay dead.  The last knight began to stir.  We had a prisoner.

I dismounted and went to him.  I saw that he too had a yellow surcoat but his boar was a much smaller one. I held my sword to his throat as he opened his eyes. "Yield!"

He nodded and said, "I yield."

I sheathed my sword, "What is your name?"

"I am Geoffrey d'Elbeuf and you have made a grave mistake for I am the younger brother of the next Duke of Normandy, Sir Hugo d'Elbeuf!"

My men at arms ensured that knights and the survivors of our attack had headed back to their castle.  We had two knights, a squire and four men at arms as prisoners.  As well as our dead four of the men at arms were wounded. Rolf said, "As much as I would wish to press on, Alfraed, I feel that we should return to Honfleur."

He was right, of course.  We had succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. We had cut the road for Sir Hugo would not dare risk supplies being sent along the road while we prowled. Our reinforcements would have made him think we were a larger conroi. "I agree. We will resupply and return in a day or two."

Geoffrey d'Elbeuf laughed, "The next you come, knight of the wolf, my brother will have assembled all of the knights who are allied to him and you will be swept aside."

William smiled, "Strong words for a man who will have to wait to be ransomed.  Curb your tongue."

William was changing.  He was becoming a man. He had flown the nest and was now a hunting bird himself.  I felt satisfied. I could return to England confident that son needed me no longer.

We reached Honfleur in the early afternoon.  We had had to skirt the castles still held by those loyal to D'Elbeuf. My original plan had long since disappeared.  We had had just two encounters but they had yielded more than we could have hoped. The other two conroi were still raiding. The keep at Honfleur still reeked of smoke and the upper floors were uninhabitable but the ground floor had been cleared a new door replaced the burned one. We secured our prisoners there and sent a man at arms back to Elbeuf and Touville with demands for ransoms. We sought more than we would have in England for we needed to break this rebellion and if we hurt their finances it would end it more quickly.

Gilles had been quiet on the way back and I took him to one side. "Your father?"

He nodded, "He was a good man and deserved to end his days in peace."

I shook my head, remembering my father and his oathsworn.  "He died with a  sword in his hand, Gilles.  Your father was a warrior.  He went too early but the alternative would have been like old Henry the swineherd. He would have lived alone. The coughing sickness or some other plague would visit him and he would have died with none and no purpose to his life. His death had some value for you now know what you wish, do you not?"

"Aye lord, but how did you know?"

"I saw it on the road there where you were eager to close with our enemies and you fought with a wild look in your eyes. You wish to be a knight."

"I do."

"Then we must train you.  My son has lost his squire.  You can tend to us both until he finds a new one and he can teach you how to fight better."

"Why not you, lord?"

"He was recently my squire and learned the lessons from me.  Besides I have much to do here to further the cause of the Empress."

Over the next four days, while we waited for the return of the Count and the Earl, Gilles trained hard each day with William. There were no suitable candidates for squires in Honfleur and William was happy to develop the skills inherent in Gilles. I wrote letters. With Honfleur and Harfleur in our hands we could send ships anywhere we chose. I wrote to the Archbishop.  I could not risk sending a ship to my river but I trusted the Archbishop.  I used our code and told him of the French conspiracy. I knew that the message would get to Stephen. He had diplomatic routes not available to me.  He could appeal to the Pope and to other allies.

The Earl and the Count were able to use their own castles at Argentan and Caen as well as the recently liberated Falaise to raid into rebel territory. On the fifth day after our return they arrived in Honfleur.

We had all been successful to varying degrees but Sir Charles' news about the French was disquieting.  I think the old man regretted what he had said but in his heart he was still King Henry's man and sometimes the truth will out even if you do not wish it so.

The ransom arrived the same day and that surprised me. Perhaps we had not asked for enough or perhaps Sir Geoffrey was important to his brother. I knew that the ransom would have impoverished Sir Charles' family but if it had not affected Sir Hugo then how much did he have?

After our hostages had left and while Rolf and William divided the ransom equitably the Earl of Gloucester and the Count of Anjou held a counsel of war to which I was invited. We had a crude map on the table. I jabbed my finger at Lisieux. "See we have the rebels penned back all the way along this line save for Lisieux. It holds out still. Sir Hugo was on his way thither when we met him. If we can isolate it then we have a chance to gain all the land to the Seine."

"We cannot assault it.  The castle is well made."

"I know, Count. We cut the road to the east.  Argentan and your wife hold the road to the south and Honfleur guards the road to the north. They will have to relieve it."

The Earl nodded, "And when they do we meet them in the field." He looked at the map.  "Here at Thiberville the ground begins to rise after the road passes the town.  We could spy our foes from some way away and meet them there."

The Count was dubious, "If they come that way."

"It is the main road. It is D'Elbeuf land and he will feel confident about the roads close to his manor. It is a pity we do not have more archers.  If we had then we could end this rebellion there in one fell swoop."

"We have doughty knights and men at arms, Earl.  That will have to suffice. This is not England."

"Archers, as the Earl and I know, give us an advantage.  This is not a game to see who can win the tourney, Count.  We fight for your son's birthright. For that reason we make sure that we are as strong as we can be and when we fight we do so to win and not just to gain glory."

"Alfraed is right, brother.  We need to prosecute this war ruthlessly."

Whilst the Earl of Gloucester did not posses as many archers in Normandy as we would have liked he did have excellent scouts. Twenty of them ranged far to the east and the Seine. They reported back regularly. Our preparations were also sound. The Count and I went to Thiberville where we had cut the road and established a camp. We had enough men to stop a sortie from Lisieux but not enough to fight Sir Hugo if he stirred. We relied upon our scouts for advance warning.  The Earl of Gloucester meanwhile, was raising an army to join us.  We hoped that by midsummer's day we would be in a position to fight Sir Hugo on ground which we had chosen. A week before midsummer we heard news from our scouts.  Sir Hugh, too, had mustered an army and they were preparing to move to relieve Lisieux. We had to change our own plans. Riders were sent to Caen to summon the Earl.  We would have to fight with the army which was available to us and not the one we might have chosen.

We waited on the high ground to the west of Thiberville. We had been there long enough to prepare the ground.  The fields to the left and right of the road had been prepared with pits and spikes. The limited number of archers and crossbows we had were behind sharpened, fire hardened  stakes. We had brought lances and spears from Caen for we intended to use our knights to destroy this enemy host. This would be one battle to decide how Normandy would look over the winter. If we won then we would retain control of the Seine and with it the life blood of Rouen. If we lost then we would have to retreat to our line of castles and plan for a spring offensive.

Our scouts brought regular reports so that we knew when the Norman army left Elbeuf. The Earl of Gloucester brought his forces in the day before we expected our enemy. The scouts we had sent kept us well informed as to the enemy's movements. Our numbers were not as great as they might have been but we had enough. There were sixty knights with their squires and three hundred men at arms.  The archers and crossbows were an insignificant number; just a hundred of them.  They would guard our flanks.  The levy were left, all two hundred of them, as a reserve and to guard the horses.

Rolf came to the Earl and the Count, "My lords I know that you plan to use dismounted men at arms to tempt the enemy on.  I beg you to let me lead them. They need a knight and we Swabians fight as well on foot as we do on a horse. With my men at arms in the centre we will be a rock on which the enemy will shatter their spears."

"An excellent idea, Rolf!"

I shook my head, "Let me do it lord.  Rolf has still not fully recovered from the poison which killed your father."

Rolf laughed, "Alfraed, old friend, I will not let that witch who now rots in hell have the satisfaction of knowing that she kept me from a battle." He lowered his voice. "This is meant to be and this day will be long remembered.  This Sir Hugo will remember the courage of Rolf and his Swabians." Raising his voice he said, "And I will claim a boon when we are victorious!"

"You shall have anything you desire Rolf! I shall give you a manor!"

"Thank you Count.  I shall fight even harder with that reward in mind." He turned and clasped my arm, "Do not be too reckless eh, old friend."

"And you take care too."

"I am with my Swabians! We will be a solid wall!"

From out scouts we knew that we faced eighty knights and squires as well as over three hundred and fifty men at arms.  They had brought far more of their levy.  The scouts estimated four hundred of them. It was a daunting number but we relied upon the quality of our men.  When the scouts told us, towards evening, that the enemy was on the other side of Thiberville we sent our men to sleep where they would fight.  Fifty of our best men at arms, commanded by Rolf, would fight on foot in two ranks between our pits and traps. Behind them would be our forty archers.  I rued not bringing Dick and his men. They would have slowed down the enemy attack. We would have to use what we had. Our knights would be mounted and would be led by the Earl.  The men at arms would absorb the enemy attack and brunt it.  Our job would then be to become the hammer which would smash them apart.

It was Gilles first real battle and I took him to one side. "You need not carry my banner tomorrow.  I would have you keep three spears with you and a spare horse. When my spear is shattered find your way to me and give me a fresh one.  If my horse falls then bring my spare. When we break the enemy then follow close to me and watch my back."

"You are confident that we will break them, lord?"

"Not confident but hopeful.  We plan for success, Gilles, not failure. If we do not break them then we try something else. Now sharpen our swords and daggers.  By mid morning they will be as blunt as an iron bar!"

We rose before dawn. It was so dark that Gilles thought it the middle of the night.  We had heard our enemy arriving during the previous evening. I thought that the Normans would scout our lines out but would not attack.  I was proved correct.  Our own sentries caught and killed four such scouts.  There would have been others of that I was in no doubt. The priests we had brought with us as healers now blessed us we prayed in the dark for success.  I knew that our enemy would do the same.  We each believed that God was on our side. We ate cold meat and cheese washed down with the beer we had brought with us. And we waited for dawn to break.  We had the advantage that we were in the darkness of the west.  Although the sun would illuminate us it would highlight and silhouette the Normans as they advanced from Thiberville.

Gilles was nervous and did as many men did on such occasions, he talked.  "Lord why have we made them a present of Thiberville?  They will have food and they will have shelter."

"Aye they will but we have height and a good soldier never gives away height, but more importantly it blocks their escape. I told you last night that we plan for success. When we force them from their positions they cannot run freely.  They either use the road which will be congested or they use the fields and we hunt them down. In a month or so we shall go home and by then I want Normandy to be more settled than when we first arrived."

He nodded.  He was of low birth but he was bright and he learned quickly.  He would remember the lesson of the battle of Thiberville and it would help him in battles yet unfought.

Dawn broke and still Sir Hugo kept his army behind Thiberville.  The Count of Anjou became worried.  "Perhaps he will not take the bait and attack us!"

"In which case he loses Lisieux. They must be short of food.  His people cannot even begin to harvest for our men guard all the roads. If he is willing to lose the castle then he does not attack."

"Suppose he tries to outflank us?"

The Earl smiled, "We chose this place because to go around would mean an extra twenty or thirty miles and our scouts watch those routes.  He has not made that move yet.  You can see his banners beyond the town.  He will be working out a strategy to defeat us.  He sees our dismounted man at arms and debates how best to counter that."

"Suppose he chooses not to use his knights.  He could use his men at arms dismounted as are ours."

It was my turn to smile, "Then we will win."

"You are so sure?"

Robert of Gloucester said, "The Earl is correct.  We can hope that he is foolish enough to try that. Dismounted men at arms charging uphill against Rolf and his Swabians would give us an advantage."

In the event, as the sun rose and our armour began to weigh down upon us, Sir Hugo chose to charge with a mixed force of mounted men at arms and knights. He was not going to oblige us by making the attack we wished. There were fifty men in the three ranks which came up the road towards us.  He had a further fifty lightly armed Breton horsemen on each flank.  They were armed with javelins.  They were unexpected but not a difficult problem. They walked their horses until they were a hundred paces from us and then began to trot. At a hundred and twenty paces our archers began to loose arrows.  The knights and men at arms held up their shields.  Once again it was horses which were felled and not their riders.  On the flanks the Breton horsemen discovered our pits, traps and stakes. The crossbows we had brought felled many.