El Campeador

by Griff Hosker

  After parting from the rest of the army and with wagons groaning under the booty and the pay we had been given we headed home to a strong castle and women who were pleased to see us. Maria, Anna and Isabelle must have kept watch for us along the road as they were at the gate to greet us as we rode through the gates. I think that they were surprised by the size of our column for we had grown in number. Our army had not lost many men in the battle but the men at arms who had defended King Sancho had been more than hard-pressed. They had fought valiantly, and some had died. Many of the men who fought were men such as my father and his friend Alfonso who had been swords for hire. Unlike my father they had not settled down when they had married. They had taken their families with them. Such an occurrence was not unusual and the camps of the armies which moved around from battle to battle had many such women and children. The women cooked for men and the companies of men paid the women. The children were similarly employed. If an army was victorious then there was plenty of coin to be spread around. Defeat was always a disaster! When we had headed to Valladolid, I was approached by two of the women who had lost their men. These were pragmatic women and the two had found warriors who were willing to continue the arrangement begun by their dead men. However, neither of the warriors wished to be encumbered with another man’s children and the two women had but one child each, in both cases, a boy and they asked if I would be willing to train them. The two youths, for they both looked to be twelve summers old, were also keen to be trained. If you were a camp brat then, inevitably, you would gravitate towards a life with a sword in your hand. Your father normally trained you enough to protect their camp and if they had no one in their life to train them then they would seek another. I took them on. We had horses from the battlefield; not war horses, they were the ones the light horsemen had used and, as such, perfect for Rafa and Carl.

  I was intrigued with both of them but especially Carl for he had blond hair and that was unusual. His name, too, was not Spanish. His father had been a Saxon, an axeman. There had been many such warriors who had died when Duke William had conquered the Saxons in England. He also intrigued me for he was bigger than Rafa and I saw in him a warrior who would grow to be as big as me. Both youths turned out to be good additions to my retinue but, as Maria said, would involve more work for her. I do not think she meant what she said but it was a criticism that I had yet to take a bride and sire my own children. I seemed to be raising other men’s children! The two youths had little in the way of clothes. They had no shoes and their breeks barely covered their legs. Maria was a frugal woman and had never thrown out the clothes that my original six youths had outgrown. Dressed in better clothes they began to change almost immediately. Now I had ten others to help me train them and their improvement was even more rapid. It helped that they had grown up in the world of war so that basic skills like sharpening weapons, foraging, building hovels was a natural skill they already possessed. They needed to be trained to ride but, in that, I had every sympathy for them as that had been a hard skill for me to master. The months flew by and I was happy.

  Both Isabelle and Anna were with child once more and Iago asked permission to build a house in the village of Briviesca. It was the first sign that my company was beginning to break up. Of course, I did not see it then. It is only now, as I sit in my tower and write, that I can see the change that was happening back through the mists of time. Iago was a wealthy man. He had been rewarded by kings and princes and he was good at scavenging. He need not have served me, and I was grateful that he still did. He and the others spent a month building a home on the plot of land I gave to him. The work helped to bond the two new youths for they saw, in my oldest retainer, a future. Iago was the senior warrior and the house was his reward. They saw that we were a family and that was important. If they were a family then the ultimate head of that family was Rodrigo as my life and those of my men were irrevocably bound up with his.

  El Campeador and Álvar came to speak with me in January when the snow was in the mountains and we hunkered in warm rooms heated by well-seasoned timber we had hewn from my forests. Maria frowned when she saw him for as fond as she was of the man she had helped to nurture, she knew that it meant that I was needed and I was Maria’s child, she worried about me. The two knights brought Philip and Paulo who, although servants still, now rode better horses and wore leather armour. They had their war gear with them, and I knew that they would be staying with me to be trained for El Campeador. They had long swords by their sides. Maria’s smile was a cock-eyed one and she shook her head, “And I am guessing that El Campeador is here to take the Lord of Briviesca off again despite the fact that any decent God-fearing Christian stays within doors at this time of year!”

  “I fear you are right, Mistress Maria, but it is at the King’s behest.”

  Shaking her head, she led us into my hall, “If the King would allow you then the two of you might have the time to find a woman and marry her! You are both fine young men! Do not waste your lives!”

  She scurried off to help her women prepare the rooms. Álvar shook his head and said, “She never changes.”

  Rodrigo smiled, “Nor would I want her to for in an uncertain world Maria and her values are the rocks which help to ground a man, eh Will?”

  “Aye you are right, El Campeador, and I know that I have been lucky to have her in my life. My father was a good judge of character.” I led him to the fire in the large room we used for dining. The heat began to thaw the two frozen knights as soon as we entered. “And where are we to be sent this time? The Moors again?”

  The three of us were alone and Rodrigo went to the door to close it. This was unusual for he normally spoke openly when in my home. He took off his cloak and laid it on the back of a chair. “This is delicate, Will, for we are to go to León and speak with King Alfonso at Oviedo.”

  I frowned, “Oviedo, is that not the former home of Don Diego?”

  “The very same. King Alfonso likes it as a retreat for there he can indulge his pleasures unseen by the court.” I looked up and he shook his head and held up a warning finger, “Do not ask more for King Alfonso has some appetites which are best not spoken of.” I remembered the conversation with Álvar where he had told me how the King had tried to seduce Don Diego’s daughter, Jimena. Things became clearer.

  “And what are we to do?”

  Rodrigo’s voice became lower, “We are there to seek an alliance between King Alfonso and King Sancho against their brother King Garcia.”

  The shock must have shown on my face for I was a simple man and it seemed inconceivable that a family could break apart so quickly. “But we fought against King Alfonso!”

  Rodrigo shrugged, “And that served merely to show King Alfonso that he has a weaker army. This olive branch will gain him land for King Garcia is the weakest of the three brothers.”

  “And this sits well with you?”

  The door opened as Maria and her women brought in mulled wine and food. Rodrigo answered me but could not elaborate, “No, it does not but I am Armiger Regis and my fate is bound up with King Sancho.” He smiled, “We will speak on the road for we leave at dawn. We have far to travel.”

  I left Iago, Juan, Pedro and Geoffrey at home. It was a conscious and necessary decision. My seven young warriors had acquitted themselves well at Lantadilla and I wanted to give my three older warriors some peace. Juan and Pedro had both become interested in two women who lived in Briviesca. Iago had a family and I wished to give them the chance to have one too. As for Geoffrey, he had three children and he had begun to breed horses. He had never really been a warrior and in his heart he was a horse master. It suited me. We had taken a couple of mares at Lantadilla, one had belonged to the standard-bearer of the knight we had slain. She was a large mare and Geoffrey wished to let Killer mount her and the other three mares we had taken. He would spend the time we were away making colts. I took Copper as my horse. Of course, my young warriors were delighted to be given such responsibility. They woul
d be guarding El Campeador and there was no greater honour in Castile.

  The roads were awful and our cloaks and horses were besmirched and encrusted with mud when we finally reached Oviedo. We had passed few people on the road and we were the only warriors we had seen. As we entered King Alfonso’s retreat, I reflected that we looked more like beggars than emissaries from a king! That we were not expected was obvious for we were kept waiting for two hours in an antechamber. Eventually his steward, Raimundo, who had been the cleric who had taught Alfonso when still a prince, appeared.

  “Don Rodrigo, this is an unexpected honour. My master asks what is its purpose, for he comes here to reflect and to contemplate God?”

  I had already guessed that there were young girls in the hall for I had caught sight of some as we had led our horses to the stable. If King Alfonso was contemplating anything it was more of a carnal than a spiritual nature.

  Rodrigo knew how to play this game, “I am here at the behest of King Sancho of Castile for he wishes to end the belligerence and conflict which exists between our two kingdoms.”

  The Steward was a clever man and had helped to shape the man who was now King of León. “Then I will have quarters for the three of you. Your men and servants will have to make do with the stable.”

  It was an insult and a deliberate one at that, but I knew the young warriors would not object. Rodrigo nodded, “That would be acceptable.”

  The hall was a magnificent one and I wondered, as we were shown to our chambers, if King Alfonso had deliberately made advances to drive Don Diego from his home. Certainly, from what I had learned at Lantadilla, his appetite was for girls who were younger than Jimena Díaz. Although the welcome we had been given was cordial there were still guards on the doors. I wondered now at the wisdom of bringing just my young warriors. My older warriors would have used their ears and eyes to gather information. Abu could discover some things but the colour of his skin meant that men would be less open in his presence.

  I had brought some good clothes for I was greeting a King. The fine garment I would wear had been given to me all those years ago by the then Prince Sancho and it still fitted; I had worn it so infrequently that it appeared as new. I also combed my hair and beard. I did not apply the oil which I knew some knights did. It was an Eastern custom and I had yet to adopt it. The three of us were summoned by a herald and we went to the dining chamber. I had expected to see his armiger there or, perhaps, Don Gonzalo but they were not present. The young knights were not known to me but one caught my eye. There was a greasy look about him and I guessed that he oiled his hair and beard in the Eastern manner. It was his eyes which chilled me for they were the eyes of a killer. I learned that his name was Vellido Adolfo, but I never discovered if he was a knight or not. I would meet him again in the future but the Norman in me often wondered if my reaction to him was a sign. All I knew was that I was uncomfortable and distrusted him! We were indoors and none wore spurs as that custom was considered the height of bad manners.

  King Alfonso looked as though he was enjoying being the King and his fingers were bejewelled and his beard perfumed. That was in direct contrast to King Sancho who now went for the plain look of a warrior and his only ring was his seal.

  “Don Rodrigo, this is a surprise, but you are more than welcome. When I heard that Don Álvar had come I wondered if he had reconsidered my offer and decided to join me.” He smiled and waved a hand of dismissal, “As you are with him and you are Armiger Regis then I can assume that I was wrong.”

  Álvar nodded, “Yes King Alfonso. I am still oathsworn.”

  “No matter. Now let us eat for whatever words you have to say can be said when I have a full stomach.” He clapped his hands and a succession of rich and heavily spiced foods were brought in. I had been brought up on simple and plain fare. I ate the delicacies but, I confess, I thought Maria’s lamb stew with beans was better! I drank sparingly, as did Rodrigo. It was then I noticed that Vellido Adolfo also drank little and his eyes rarely left Rodrigo. Was he an assassin and was Rodrigo’s life in danger? We were sharing one chamber and, if necessary, I could sleep behind the door.

  When we had finished the meal, the King dismissed all of his knights but retained Raimundo, his steward. He gave an oily smile, “I guessed that what you had to say would be for my ears alone.”

  “You are wise beyond your years, King Alfonso.”

  “Then speak for I have need of my bed.” The lascivious look on his face left me in no doubt what that need was and it was not sleep.

  “I will come to the point then, King Alfonso. Your brother believes that there is no need for conflict between us. Your raids into Badajoz show that you have ambitions to the west.” The King nodded noncommittally. That his forays had failed were well known. The King needed a victory and that was the ironic olive branch which his brother held out to him. Rodrigo sighed for this did not sit well with him but he would do as his king had demanded, “King Sancho believes that Galicia is weak and that if the two of you attacked together then it could be conquered quickly and the land divided between you. He would be happy for you to have the tribute from Badajoz and he would have Sevilla and Córdoba.”

  I could tell that this had taken the King by surprise. “Why so generous? Most of the land of Galicia is closer to my Kingdom.”

  “Let us say, King Alfonso, that King Sancho did not like the division of your late father’s Kingdom into three.”

  King Alfonso laughed, “So he wants me to help him defeat my brother and then he swallows me? Does he think me a fool?”

  Rodrigo shook his head, “No, Your Majesty, and I cannot read King Sancho’s mind. I am here to deliver his words. As you know I do not forswear. The words you hear from my lips are the truth as I know it.”

  The King nodded seriously, “And that alone is why I will consider your words.”

  We were dismissed for the King rose to retire. Left alone there was much I wished to ask Rodrigo, but this was not the place as I did not know who might be listening. We went to our room and after ascertaining that there was a bolt on the inside, I slid it across and felt much happier. The room was a large one and by sitting away from the door we were, effectively, next to the outside wall of the hall.

  Álvar asked the question which was on my lips, “What is to stop King Alfonso going to King Garcia and telling him what our King plans?”

  Rodrigo smiled and that told me that he had already thought of this. “Nothing, except for a keen sense of self-preservation. If you were King Alfonso which brother gives you the best chance of winning?”

  We all knew the answer, but Rodrigo wanted his cousin to answer it, “King Sancho, of course for he has defeated Alfonso and with you to lead his superior army he could defeat either brother.” I watched him sip his wine as he followed his thoughts to their logical conclusion. “He could even defeat both brothers if they combined,”

  Rodrigo nodded, “If King Garcia discovers this then he will fear that King Alfonso might be trying to trick him, and he might attack León and that would put King Alfonso in the middle. He might well reject the plan, although I do not think he will, and if he does he will not tell King Garcia about it. The worst thing that might happen would be if King Alfonso fought King Garcia and lost or won. Either way, it would make one brother potentially stronger than King Sancho.”

  Álvar said, “We could still defeat the winner!”

  I sighed, “This is too complicated for me.”

  “And I am not happy about it either. I am the Armiger Regis and I have to obey the King, but this is not good for Spain.”

  The next morning we went to our breakfast, but the King did not show himself for some time. When he came, he came with his steward, “We have decided that we will think on this and take advice from those close advisers who are not here. This is my time of rest and I will wait until I return to León before I give my brother a decision. I will use as an emissary someone I can trust. You should be honoured, El Campeador, for despite our
differences I trust you and Álvar.”

  I was not offended by the fact that I was ignored. I was not a noble!

  We left straight away for there was nothing to be gained from staying there. It was a cold and miserable journey home and I was glad to see Burgos. “William, I would have you with us when we report to the King.”

  We had arrived in the late afternoon and as it would take us almost half a day to reach our home there was little to be gained by leaving quickly. It would give me the opportunity to speak with my old friends in the garrison and make some purchases in the market. They say that Fate is capricious. If I had gone immediately home and arrived back in the dark, I might have been cold and hungry but how different would my life have been? The extra night changed my life forever!

  King Sancho was anxious to speak with us and we were summoned immediately to his presence. Only the four of us were present for I think that the King wished to have time to ponder King Alfonso’s answer before making it public. I knew that one of the main reasons that we had been selected for this task was discretion. We knew many of King Sancho’s secrets and we had never divulged even one of them. The importance of the meeting was reflected in the fact that Don Juan of Burgos and Don Iago of Astorga were the two guards on the doors.

  Minaya and I stood behind Rodrigo as he recounted King Alfonso’s words. He then elaborated on what he thought King Alfonso would do. King Sancho nodded his agreement, “As ever, El Campeador, you have assessed it aright and now we apply a little pressure of our own. It has come to my attention that King Sancho of Aragon and King Sancho of Navarre seek to make war on us for they see Castile as weak. They wish to retake the land we won after Atapuerca.” I wondered how he had gathered this information. He must have seen the questioning look I gave to Rodrigo for he added, “I have many sympathisers in both courts, and they have sent me coded messages.”