Warlord of the North (17 page)

At forty paces the lines of knights and men at arms charged. Rolf and his men suddenly presented a wall of shields three shields high and with fifty bristling lances protruding. Had they had archers making life difficult for Rolf and his men then the Norman charge might have had more success but, as it was, their horses could not breach the wall of steel.  Our archers rained death on the horses at the rear of the line but the battle line itself was a stalemate. Swords were raised and crashed down on shields which did not break. Eventually a horn sounded the retreat. Our men were well trained and they did not fall into the trap of pursuing the enemy. I saw that there were gaps in our lines.  Men had fallen.  Rolf reorganised them and fresh lances to replace the broken ones were passed forward.  The Bretons fell back too.  In all their attack had cost them over twenty men. In addition I saw at least ten horses which were dead and many others who wandered around with arrows showing their wounds.

"Send water to the men at arms!"

Squires raced to the men who had fought and passed water skins amongst them. Sir Hugo was not a leader to try and then retreat.  As our men were watered I saw him organising a wedge of men at arms. It was every man at arms he had available. He had damaged our men at arms and now he gambled with his own. I had not seen one of  those for a while and never one as big. It was a bold stroke.  One man stood at the front and the rest formed up behind. I was grateful that it was Rolf who held the centre of our line.  With his Swabians around him they would break against him. The Norman who led the wedge was a giant of a man.  That was not always an advantage.  Rolf had fought enough big men in the past for me to be confident about the outcome.

I nudged my horse closer to the archers. "Lay your arrows in the centre of the wedge! Force them to the side!"

The disadvantage of a wedge was that it was wide at the rear.  So far only the Breton horses had fallen into the traps and they had been further away from the road.  The wedge used the road. I wanted it to spill over into the fields.  I hoped to cause more casualties with the wedge.

When I rejoined the Earl and the Count I said, "This may be our time, Earl. We caused casualties amongst their knights and see how they rest by their horses.  They think we stay on the defensive."

"We will see.  I am loath to lose the high ground."

The fact that they walked without horses and held shields above them meant that the men at arms suffered fewer casualties than the mounted men.  However it also meant that they were struck by far more arrows.  Inevitably some arrows found a gap and men fell.  When men fell holes in their lines appeared and more men died.  It was not sudden but slow; it was like a man bleeding to death, slowly. Men at arms rushed to fill the gaps and to gain the protection of their fellows.  As they did so the rear of the wedge widened and some of those fell into the traps. And then the two sets of warriors met.  There was a clash and a crash as men and metal met men and shields.

The archers continued their work. Those in the centre of the wedge were the ones who fell. The heart of the wedge, the part where they should have had all their strength was hollow. Rolf and his Swabians at the centre were being forced back. It was inevitable.  Our line bowed and surged around the giant. I saw Rolf's sword rise and fall.  The giant was no more. The front lines ebbed and flowed. Had this been my men at home we would have interchanged the ranks but these did not know each other and I knew that Rolf and his men would be tiring.

Suddenly I could not see Rolf and his men rushed forward.  Their line became a circle.  Rolf had fallen. His men at arms were oathsworn.  They were a throwback to the days of my father and they fought to the end to protect the body of their fallen leader.  They all died but the enemy paid such a heavy price that I saw our line, reinforced from the rear, pushing forward.

I turned to the Earl of Gloucester, "Now lord. They are pushing back the men at arms.  Their line is thin."

"I am not certain."

"Commit only the Count's men with me and my son at the head. Let us use my name to sow fear into their hearts. You still have your knights and men at arms if we fail."

He smiled, "But you do not believe you will! Aye, do so." He nodded, "Avenge your friend!"

I took my lance.  The Count was keen for this was what he craved, a glorious charge.  For me this was not about glory it was about hitting them when they least expected it.  Sir Hugo and his knights were not ready for a fight.  They were resting and watching their men at arms bleed. We formed up behind the men at arms.  I saw, in the distance some of the Norman knights as they viewed our arrival.  The Earl's herald sounded the trumpet three times and our men at arms suddenly broke and fled back up the slope. I spurred my horse and we moved down the road even as our men at arms passed between us to form a line behind us.  The Norman men at arms had their heads down and when our men at arms fled they surged after them.  All order was lost.  Our archers released another shower of arrows and then we charged. 

There were only thirty two of us.  A paltry number in the scheme of things but as we thundered down the road the men at arms found themselves without their fellows protection.  It was like sticking static pigs. I pulled my arm back and punched my lance into the face of a sergeant at arms.  He fell backwards and I allowed his body weight to pull it from my lance.  I pulled it back as another man at arms braced himself with his sword and his shield. I feinted to his head and as he raised his shield changed my aim and gutted him.  This time he broke my lance.

I raised my hand and shouted, "Lance!"

Gilles must have been close by my horse's rump for he was there in an instant.  I took the lance and saw that we had broken their line.  They were streaming towards their knights who were hurriedly trying to mount.  It was too late for the men at arms impeded any chance they had of charging us and the men at arms were broken.  I was not the only one to have bloodied his lance. I spurred my horse and he leapt at the knight who was struggling to turn and face me.  He failed and I punched with my lance and struck him in the right shoulder.  My horse was both heavy and powerful.  My blow was delivered with all of my strength and it penetrated deep into his body.  The blow knocked him and his horse to the ground. His fall took the lance from my hand and I released it.

As I reached for my sword I glanced to my right and saw a spear coming at my own unprotected right side. I was a dead man. Then Gilles thrust my last lance into the helmet of the knight. It was a good blow and it pierced his coif and his neck.  The lance fell from his dead fingers. I nodded my thanks and kicked on.  This was not the time to pay compliments.  I swung my sword at a knight who was trying to control his rearing horse. I thrust my blade into his side.  It had been freshly sharpened and had not been used. It came out to the other side.  I ripped it out and he fell from his horse.

William appeared at my left. His sword was bloody. "We have outrun the Count's men.  We must hold!"

Shaking my head I said, "Look, Sir Hugo's standard.  If that falls then we win!"

There was still confusion in the enemy ranks.  I heard the trumpet as it kept making the new call.  It was the signal for the whole army to attack.  I need not turn around.  The Earl was bringing all of our mounted men against the Norman knights! I rode at the standard bearer and the squire of Sir Hugo.  He was busy trying to control his horse. William leaned forward and brought his blade against the squire's shield.  It was a powerful blow and he reeled.  Gilles still had his lance and he punched it at the standard bearer who tried to use the banner as a spear.  It was brave but doomed to failure. The head of the lance glanced off the standard and struck the standard bearer in the eye. He could not help himself and he dropped the standard as he put his hand to his face.  I had chosen Gilles for his skills on a horse and he showed them by leaning down and catching the standard before it reached the ground.

Sir Hugo roared in rage and spurred his horse towards Gilles.  My horse was tired but he had enough energy to leap when I spurred him.  Our beasts met in a tangle of mane and teeth. I swung my sword at Sir Hugo.  It was not blind but I knew I would not cause a wound.  He had to use his sword to deflect it and that gave Gilles time to turn and take the standard back towards our lines.

Sir Hugo tried to hit me with his shield but I pulled my horse's head around so that Sir Hugo hit fresh air.  I lunged at him for the punch with the shield had opened up his side. He barely had time to use his own sword to block the blow. Behind me I heard the wail as the Earl's men struck the disorganised men at arms and knights. I head cries of "Mercy!" Sir Hugo whipped the head of his horse around and joined those of his men who had been able to extricate themselves. He fled and the field was ours.  We had won. There were no faces before me only the fleeing backs of men who had broken.

The men of arms of the Earl pursued the survivors while we tended to our own. I rode back, with William, to the last stand of the Swabians. He had been my friend but he had also been William's guide. The bodies had been hacked and slashed so that they were barely recognisable.  They had been faithful until death. Gilles, with Sir Hugo's standard, made his way to us as did William's men at arms.

I dismounted and looked at Rolf's body.  He was beneath his men. I saw that it had been a slash to the neck which had felled him.  The huge bloodstain on his surcoat told me that he could have lived only for moments after the blow.

"We bury Rolf and his oathsworn here at the side of the road. Gilles, take the standard you captured from the pole.  We wrap him in the banner.  It was his victory."

William dismounted and sent men back to get us tools. The rest of the army was busily looting the dead and despatching the wounded men at arms.  In the middle was peace and calm as we honoured our dead. All ten of us set to work with silent fortitude. Some of William's men had fallen also and they, too, would be placed in this one grave. The soil was both soft and sandy and we made good progress. We were just laying the first body in the grave when Geoffrey of Anjou and Robert of Gloucester rode up.  Geoffrey was ebullient.  "Come Alfraed! It is time to celebrate our great victory. We defeated them easily!"

I looked up at him.  Each time I thought he had changed and become the man the Empress and I hoped he would be he said something like that. "First we bury our dead and do them honour."

He looked perplexed, "But your men can do that!"

I pointed at Rolf's body, now wrapped in a shroud made of the Elbeuf banner, "This is the last of the warriors who protected the Empress Matilda.  They never faltered in their duty and all have now died in the service of Anjou. I know my duty, Count.  He was my friend and I shall see him to the Otherworld and then I will mourn for him.  When that is done I will celebrate this victory but if you thought it was easy then look at these men who paid for that victory with their lives."

There was an edge to my voice and Robert of Gloucester said, "Come brother, Alfraed is right.  There will be time to celebrate but it is not yet."

By the time we had finished and the dead had been laid in the grave, we covered them in soil and finally lined their grave with turf. We were the last ones on the battlefield. It was silent. The wounded had gone and the enemy dead still lay where they had fallen. We stood with heads bowed and I spoke, "Rolf and his brothers, Sir William's men at arms, we salute you.  You were warriors to the end.  Now you will be with those who have gone before and you will have great tales to tell.  The last stand of the Swabians will be told and retold for it was a deed of great courage. Farewell my friend."

There was silence which was only broken by a flap of wings from the nearby wood.  I saw a hawk rising slowly to climb the thermals. It seemed to circle overhead. I unsheathed my sword and, pointing it to the skies said, "Rolf, Knight of the Empress!"

All those around the grave did the same and said, "Rolf, Knight of the Empress!"

The hawk took flight and headed heavenward to hunt.  In my heart I knew that was the spirit of Rolf.

We prepared to ride to Lisieux but some survivors must have fled the battle and reached it already for they capitulated before we reached there. They pleaded for peace. Their only chance had gone when Sir Hugo had been defeated. The baron there accepted the authority of the Empress. We set off north eastwards towards Elbeuf.  We were met by a delegation of Norman knights. "Sir Hugo would like to discuss a truce."

The Count and the Earl were delighted.  The year had begun with the loss of Normandy now more than half had been recovered in a couple of months. The Earl made arrangements to meet at Elbeuf. After the Normans had departed the two of them began to talk animatedly about the reparations which the defeated knights would have to pay.  I knew it was necessary but Rolf's loss was still too raw.

"My lords I will return to Argentan.  I must speak with the Empress about Sir Rolf and then I will take ship for England. It is now July and I said I would be home as soon as I could.  You no longer need me here and England calls for me."

The Count looked crestfallen, "But Alfraed this is as much your victory as ours! Surely you wish to be there when we humiliate our foes."

I saw that the Earl did not like the words either but this was not the time for a disagreement, "You do not need me there, lord.  My son can stay if he wishes."

"No father for I would return to my own manor too. This is not over.  Next year we will begin to fight once more and I need to train more men."

The Earl nodded and clasped my arm, "Once again, Alfraed, Earl of Cleveland, I am in your debt.  You were ever my father's man. We will send your share of the reparations to your castles.  You shall have your share."

"Thank you."

As we headed towards Argentan William was reflective, "Sometimes I think that the Count is just like you, and then at other times I wonder if he is two people. How can that be?"

"Men are complicated, William. We are made by our fathers and by our experiences. The Count was made vindictive by his father.  The Empress has made him a man but sometimes the old Count, the son of Fulk, rises to the surface. One day the demons within him will finish fighting and we shall see the real Count of Anjou."

Word of our victory had reached Argentan and we were greeted like heroes.  The details were unknown but they had heard that we had sent the rebels packing and all were in the mood for celebration. The castle was also in high excitement for the Empress was about to give birth to her third child. Despite her confinement she sent for William and me as soon as we arrived.

"My two heroes!" Henry and Geoffrey were with her in the solar and their faces were filled with joy too. "Tell us all."

"Rolf is dead." I said it flatly and it seemed to puncture the very air of the room.  As soon as the words were out I regretted saying them.

The Empress judged my mood and said, "Judith would you take the boys to the hall perhaps young William will tell them of the battle?"

William looked at me and I nodded.  He grinned and held his hands out for the boys.  "Come and I will regale you with the tale of  how your father fought alongside mine to defeat the rebels at Thiberville! How we charged our enemies and drove them from the field!"

There was just Margaret left in the room.  The Empress gestured for me to sit next to her.  Margaret closed the door so that we would not be disturbed. Maud took my hand, "Tell me all and do not spare my feelings.  He was the last of the men the Emperor hired to protect me. I would know how he fell."

By the time I had finished tears coursed down her cheeks.  I took the handkerchief and dabbed them away. "Do not grieve for him.  He told me, not long before he was killed, that he did not want to waste away.  He died the way he wished.  He would not have been a burden on any. He is at peace now. It was a good death for he was ready."

"His last visit to Angers now makes sense.  He arrived not long after you had left. When I told him you were back he determined to follow you but before he did he asked to be freed from the obligation of being my bodyguard.  He said that there were other younger men who could do that." She sighed and squeezed my hand a little tighter.  "He left me his treasure.  It is in two chests in his quarters. He was ever frugal and over the years he had collected coin and treasure as well as the payments we made.  They are for you and for William.  He said that William was as close to his own son as he would ever get and that you were like Karl, Godfrey and the others, you were his brothers. The two of you are his heirs."

I nodded, stunned by the gesture, "Then his death was planned. I guessed as much from his words before the battle.  It puts my mind at ease."

The Empress nodded.  I wondered if I should have been so honest in my account.  She shut her eyes.  I knew what she thought.  Had she known it was the last time she would see him she would have spoken from the heart. Then I saw her wince as a sharp pain seemed to grip her.

"When is the baby due?"

She smiled, "I think you should call my women, Alfraed.  You have many skills but delivering a child is not one of them!"

I leapt to my feet and ran to the door, "Margaret! The child! It comes!"

She nodded as she entered, "Be calm my lord.  She has had two before.  This one will be easier.  Find Judith and send her to me.  You can care for the boys until we have done." She smiled, It will be good for you to get to know Henry."

Judith smiled when I told her, "You stay with the Earl, boys, while I see to your mother."

Geoffrey was seated upon William's knee and Henry climbed on to mine. His hands played with the blue pommel stone on my sword. "Mother says that you will win back my kingdom for me, lord. Will you?"

"I swore an oath to your grandfather that I would make sure that his wishes were observed so aye I will."

"It will take time will it not, lord?"

"It will." I pointed to a dove which was gathering twigs to build a nest high beneath the castle walls.  "Watch that dove, see how he builds a nest." As we watched the dove tried to put three twigs into place.  Two fell but one held.  It flew away to gather more. "It will take time for that bird to build a nest for its young but it will persevere.  When the nest is strong enough only then will the bird trust it to its young. That is what we will do.  When your nest is strong enough then you and your mother can come and claim the throne that is rightly yours."

"That may be many years hence."

"Aye it may."

"Then I shall fight alongside you and William and I will help to regain my birthright!"

"And we will be proud to fight alongside you too.  We will help you become a great warrior!" There was a cry from inside and I said, "I am guessing that you have a new brother or sister."

We rose and Judith came running out, "Come boys, you have a new brother.  Come and meet William!"

I think my son was more delighted than any. I knew that the baby had been named for his great grandfather but my son took it to be for him. It made him closer to the youngest of the Empress' children.

I had planned on a brief stay but it was not to be. The Empress and her ladies wished me to stay and I could not, in all conscience, say no. I sent Gilles to La Flèche to bring back some men at arms to escort the treasure back to my manor.  The inheritance from Rolf was not the only chests we had to escort.  Over the next few days our share from the victory was brought from Caen.

William left before I did.  He had enough men to escort his share. "You will return to Stockton father?"

"Aye, I will."

"Would you have me return thither with you?"

I smiled, "Do you wish to do so?"

"Truthfully? No.  This is my home and I will be needed to regain the Dukedom for the Empress."

"I think it is for the best.  Until we have Normandy I do not think that either the Earl nor the Count will contemplate invading England to reclaim the throne."

William said, "I am not certain that the Count will wish to leave Normandy."

My son was become wiser.  "I believe you are right.  When Normandy belongs to the Empress again then join me in England."

"What of your manor?  Leofric's"

"That will become a place where my men are trained.  I will need more men in England and now I have the coin to pay for them. La Flèche is a rich manor and I will use it to keep the north safe.  I believe it is what King Henry would have wished."

The Count arrived a day after William left. He was delighted with his son. He saw it propitious that his new son had been born within days of his great victory.  My departure for La Flèche was delayed by a further week as we celebrated the birth of his child.  The result was that I did not leave for La Flèche until August. I felt I had done more than enough for both the Count and the Earl.  I needed to be in England. When Gilles had returned with the men at arms he told me that my ship,
'Adela'
, was in Angers. That solved one problem at least.  I would not have to wait for him.

We had captured horses, mail, weapons as well as four chests of coins. I was happy to have my men at arms guard it.  The convoy would be a tempting target for any brigand or bandit.

The Empress and the Count came to see me off. The Empress said, "The Count and I are grateful beyond words, Alfraed.  When other former allies defected you remained loyal and we will never forget it. As much as I want the throne of England do not be reckless. You may have to bend.  We will understand."

I smiled, "Then you do not know me, lady.  I will hold on to the island that is Cleveland and, when the time is right for you to bring forth your forces to England I shall join you."

She nodded and kissed me on the cheek.

The Count clasped my hand, "You stand alone against a sea of enemies.  I admire you and your courage.  I would my son learned some of those qualities for he will need them when he attains the throne.

I caught the Empress' eye and she nodded.  I reached down to ruffle Henry's hair, "And know this, Henry of Anjou, that I will be at your side when you come to England to claim your birthright. I will be your champion as I was for your mother and your grandfather."

He impulsively threw his arms around my neck and hugged me. It was a struggle to maintain my dignity.  I saw the Empress and her ladies well up too. I mounted my horse and left Argentan. I had the seventy odd miles to La Flèche to reflect on my situation. Gilles was coming to know me and he remained silent as we headed south.  We could have stopped along the way; the castellan at Le Mans was keen to speak with one of the heroes of Thiberville but I was anxious to get to my castle. The result was that it was dark when we crossed the bridge to my Angevin manor. Leofric was pleased to see me and his new and heavily pregnant wife also made a great deal of fuss over me.

"My sympathies, my lord, for the death of Rolf.  I only served with him briefly but he was a mighty warrior."

"And his death was equally mighty.  It was he won the battle and made the truce. The harvest can be gathered without fear of raids and invasions.  Our people will prosper." I waved a hand at the horses which were being unloaded. "I leave some here to pay for the  wine and other supplies which I will now need.  I rely upon you and your steward to fulfil all of my orders."

"You return to England then lord?"

"You think I should stay here?"

"King Stephen will soon tire of your rebellion, lord and bring his army to crush you."

I shook my head, "Do you have so little faith in me, Leofric?  Have you grown so comfortable here?  Do you not know how we have fought against great odds many times before?"

He looked distraught, "I am sorry, lord! I meant no offence. I just thought that it was time for you to enjoy some of the riches you have acquired."

I was thinking of Henry of Anjou as I said, "I do this for my son and for the Empress. I gave my word to Henry's grandfather.  I will keep my word."

"I understand."

As we made our way in to the hall I said, "You have another task for me while you are castellan. I do not expect you to come to England and fight as much as I would value your skills." I saw his wife breathe a sigh of relief, "However I expect you to train and supply me with a steady source of men at arms. Now that the truce is in place there will be men at arms who seek employers.  Spread the word that you are interested.  Have Brian and Padraig select the best and they will be sent to England.  You can keep any of the rest."

"I will, lord, but we have enough men here now."

"We have bought peace but war will return, Leofric, and you must be ready.  This castle was in disrepair when I came here.  I would have it better than it was."

"Aye, lord."

I spent a few days at La Flèche and made sure that Leofric had his fair share of the weapons, coins and armour.  The remaining horses, however, would be needed in England.  Leofric could buy more and I could not. I sent the goods to be transported down to
'Adela'
. William would need time to load the valuable horses.

As I was leaving I said, "What we lacked at Thiberville, Leofric, was archers.  I know the skill does not come naturally to the Angevin but have Griff of Gwent seek out those local youths with potential.  Pay them well and have Griff train them. You and I will need them before too long."