Warlord of the North (25 page)

Stephen stood and smiled.  He walked towards me with his hand held out. "Earl, the Archbishop has told us how you ended the rebellion of Skipton.  We are indebted to you."

I gave a slight bow which allowed me to put my hands behind my back.  I did not wish to shake his hand. "You are welcome, Count, it served my purpose for they came to take my castle first."

My use of his former title caused the flash of a frown across his face. He soon recovered his composure, "Then you will be happy that I have already appointed a new lord of the manor.  This is Sir Edgar Mandeville and he is the new lord of the manor of Skipton."

I nodded to him.  I did not like his face.  He appeared to have a permanent sneer on it. "Then I hope Sir Edgar knows how to fight Scots for they will be a constant thorn in his side."

"Fear not, Earl, I will fight all enemies of my King and I."

It was a clear threat and I nodded so that he could see I understood it. Stephen said, "And now I need words alone with you, Cleveland. Your Grace, would you accompany us to your cloister where we can be a little more private."

Once outside and wrapped in furs he began, "I need you to take a message to my cousin in Anjou."

I nodded.  "Surely you have those who could take a message to her yourself."

"We both know how highly she prizes both your words and your opinion.  I would end this schism between us.  We are now the last grandchildren of the Conqueror.  We should not be fighting amongst ourselves."

"And I take it you do not wish the message to be written down?"

"You are astute.  The Archbishop is here so that you know I will not go back on what I say." He paused. "I would have peace. I give up all claims to Normandy if the Empress will give up all claims to England.  I go further. I will provide men to help her to conquer Normandy."

He stopped and looked at me as though he expected me to give him a round of applause. "You offer to give the Empress what we have within our grasp?" I shook my head, "Did you not hear that it is only the land around Rouen which holds out and the Earl of Gloucester will complete that work in the spring.  Then the Empress can give thought to winkling you out of the throne."

He became angry, "It is a reasonable offer! Will you take it or not?"

"Of course I will take it but she will think me the new court jester."

"Then that is all that I ask."

I knew from his tone that this was not over.

When we returned inside there was a look of anticipation on everyone's faces. There was an imperceptible nod from Stephen. Robert de Brus gave a slight bow and said, "With your permission, your majesty, I shall return to my manor. I have neglected it too long."

He had to come past me and I put my hand up to arrest him. "My Lord Guisborough, a word before you go." He was smaller than I was and he had to look up into my face. "Do not send spies into my land.  The last time I destroyed your tower and enslaved your men.  Next time I will destroy your manor and kill all that I find."

They thought they had trapped me for there was a clamour as voices were raised against me.  I knew what I was doing.  I was telling Stephen the Usurper that I was not afraid of him.

"Do you hear, your majesty?  This is too much! This renegade should be punished!"

I put my hand on my sword, "And will that be you? Will you fight me?"

The Archbishop put his elderly frame between us. "Not in these holy grounds."

"Then let us go outside, De Brus.  We have bad blood between us.  Let us purge it now.  Come outside and face me man to man."

I saw fear in his eyes.

Stephen said, "That is not the way we settle things."

"It used to be.  There was a time when Champions settled matters such as this." I turned to Stephen the Usurper.  "What say you and I fight for the throne of England.  You are a warrior.  Who knows you might defeat me and then all of England would be yours."

"You go too far."

"Then nominate a Champion.  I will fight any!" I glared at them all defying them to accept the challenge.  One by one they  all dropped their gaze.  "As I thought, not a backbone amongst you!" As Robert de Brus continued out I said, "Heed my words Guisborough. I do not use them lightly!"

When he had gone Stephen said, "Deliver my message, Cleveland, and then prepare your castle for if my offer is rejected then I will pull it down stone by stone!"

He and his entourage swept out.  The Archbishop shook his head, "You are headstrong.  Why can you not play the game?"

"Because this is not a game, your grace.  It is men's lives and the words of a dead King. If we cannot uphold our oaths then we are as animals in the fields."

He left.  I turned to leave with Wulfric, who was grinning all over his face and Gilles who looked bemused. As we stepped out Sir Edgar appeared, "And a word of warning for you, Earl of Cleveland. You have insulted my king and I will not bear it. If I find any wearing your livery south of the Tees then they die!"

I nodded. "We know where we stand then.  Prepare your walls, Mandeville, for if you annoy me then I will destroy you and your castle. Unlike the words of de Brus that is not an idle threat. It will be backed by my sword."

Once we had gathered our belongings I sent Gilles to fetch the wagon and drivers.  We had pots to take home. I suspected my visits to York would be far fewer in the future.  I had worn out my welcome. Archbishop Thurston, wrapped in furs, came to speak with us as we waited for the carters. "Alfraed you always seem to choose the most difficult course."

"I am sorry, your grace but Stephen's offer is pitiable.  He has lost Normandy already and he wishes the Empress to give up her claim for England! It is ludicrous."

"But if she wins in Normandy then what?  Will she and her Angevin come to England?  Would we have two rulers?  That would be anarchy."

I went closer to the Archbishop so that only he could hear my words, "It the Empress came to England then I would hope that all true Englishmen, knights, men at arms, men of the church would rally behind the banner of the true heirs of King Henry."

"The country would suffer if there were civil war."

I shook my head, "Then speak those words to the man who has stolen the crown and not me.  Farewell Archbishop Thurston.  You are a good man and I hope we fight on the same side once more but you know where my loyalty lies."

"Aye, my son, that I do."

He returned back inside. He seemed smaller somehow. I saw the usurper and his cronies watching us from the doors of the palace. Philip of Selby said, "Robert de Brus and his men left in hurry.  Did you upset him, lord?"

"Left?"

"Aye they got their horses and galloped out of the north gate."

"Then he heeded my words.  I suspect he and his men will go to make their castle stronger."

By the time the wagon came and we had packed it the afternoon was half spent.  We would not make it home before dark. We rode through the gate by the church and along the Roman Road. Once through the old Roman defences the houses became sparse and it was an empty land through which we travelled. The road was well travelled and the snow had long since gone.  However the wagon meant we did not travel as quickly as we might have hoped.

As darkness approached Wulfric said, "We cannot travel all night, lord.  It is turning colder and if it freezes then the road will become dangerous."

"I know. Alan take us to your old home.  We will stay there."

"Aye lord."

The snow hid all signs of the fires where we had burned the bodies of the assassins a year ago. The gates were still open and the virgin snow showed that only animals had entered of late. A year of neglect had meant that the hall was no longer water tight and small flurries of snow could be seen in nooks and crannies.  The walls were, however, sound and the gates could be closed. My men were industrious and once a fire had been lit in the hall and the animals stabled we all felt better. We ate communally in the Great Hall with no division of rank.

I saw Alan looking at the dark stain on the floor. That was where his mother and father had died. He was now a man at arms, the equal of  any save Wulfric. Gilles too had grown much in the last year.  He was thoughtful and he knew the cause of Alan's silence. He sat next to him and began talking.  I knew not of what they spoke but whatever it was it took Alan's mind off the stain and he even smiled.

I stood and walked to the fire.  Wulfric and Philip joined me. "My uncle is in a difficult position, lord. He is the second highest priest in the land.  His position means he has to support whoever is crowned."

"I know, Philip, and the fact that he has sent you to serve me shows his true colours but there will come a time when he has to choose. When the Empress returns that will be such a time."

"Before then, lord, we have the problem of this Stephen of Blois. With King David in the west as an enemy Stephen has bound us to the south and east with enemies. De Brus will not be alone and that Mandeville looks like a nasty piece of work. I am now glad that we hired those men of Skipton for we will need many more soon enough."

The two carters, James and Matthew joined us.  "Lord we have something to tell you but we know not how."

"Speak, you both know me and my word. I will respect whatever you have to tell me."

"After you hired us we were offered money not to do as you asked."

Matthew quickly added, "We did not take it."

"Who was it?"

"We are not certain but I believe it was one of the men at arms of the de Brus clan.  He had a cloak over his livery."

"Was he upset when you refused?"

"No lord but I liked not the look on his face."

"Thank you for your honesty."

"Lord, when we get to your home we would join you there."

"Why? You both have a business in York, do you not?"

"There are many men with carts and wagons in York. Sometimes there is no business. Besides we both come from the valley.  It is our home. There would be work for carters there, would there not?"

"Of course."

"And although we cannot pull a bow these days we can wield a sword.  We have heard how you fight the Scots still and we would join you."

"Then join us and welcome!"

They both seemed pleased and after they had left us Wulfric said, "If they knew we had hired a wagon then they might plan an ambush."

I nodded.  "That was my thought too. They know our numbers. De Brus is not brave enough to attack our castle but he might risk an ambush where he can outnumber us. It would be a way to rid the land of me and my best warriors in one fell swoop. We must work out where that might be.  At least forewarned is forearmed. We are but half a day from home."

"Lord, that is half a day in summer.  It might be nearer a day in this weather."

"Then we trust to God, our swords and the skill of Philip's archers."

We warned the men of the dangers and set off before dawn.  The hills to the east hid dawn for longer than normal. The weather had eased so that it was just a grey dawn which came filled with scudding clouds. The lack of rain and snow meant we had good visibility. Alan knew the land and he and Stephen the Grim rode ahead with two of Philip's archers. Our strategy was clear.  We had to keep to the main road and look for any sign that others had used the road. Guisborough was just twenty miles away over the other side of the Roseberry. They would have reached home before we had arrived at Osmotherley.  That was more than enough time to prepare warriors. Wulfric guessed they would have left their own home before we had. They would look to intercept us. The question was, where?

Wulfric said, "We could deceive them, lord and make for Yarm and not Thornaby. It would take us further west.  I am guessing that they will try to take us by Hilton. There are dips and hollows on the road there.  The wagon may struggle."

"Aye, if we take the road from Crathorne to Yarm we would  just have that one steep bank and then it would be downhill. It is worth the risk."

We did not reach Crathorne for, not far from Arncliffe, our scouts rode in.  "Lord, look on the crest of the hill."

I looked north east and saw the banners of De Brus on the hill side. There were no roads leading down but there were track ways. The enemy had seen us and began to descend.  He had sent only horsemen. The numbers suggested they outnumbered us. They disappeared into the woods.  There they would make better time as the branches would have kept the tracks clear of snow. "Philip I want half of your men inside the wagon.  Tie their horses to the rear.  We use the wagon as a mobile castle. Wulfric we surround the wagon with our men at arms. We cannot out run them.  Let us outwit them. Matthew, when we are attacked we stop."

"Aye lord."

"While we can we put as much distance between them as we can."

Had things been better between us I might have sent a rider to Richard of Yarm but I felt I could not trust him yet. It was better to fight with men you knew you could trust than rely on those with dubious loyalty.

It was the long slow slope which slowed us down.  With the extra men in the wagon we moved at a snail's pace. The men of De Brus burst from the woods. There were forty of them. "Halt!"