El Campeador

by Griff Hosker

  I was proved right and on our flank at least we had no more fighting that day. Both armies retreated to their camps to lick their wounds. My men and I had managed to hack some horsemeat from dead animals and we were roasting it when Álvar Fáñez came for me, “The King and El Campeador wish to speak with you, Will.”

  I nodded and said, “Jorge, save some meat for me!” I was not confident that King Sancho would bother to feed me!

  As we made our way through the camp Álvar said, “We heard that you almost broke through their lines.”

  “Aye but we obeyed the recall.”

  He nodded, “The Navarrese over-extended themselves and were badly cut about. If we had continued the advance then we might have lost the battle for your men, alone, could not break through to Alfonso.” He lowered his voice, “King Sancho is a little dismayed by today. He thought we would win and that it would all be over.”

  I laughed, “We are still in a good position and we have hurt the enemy more than they have hurt us. I take it Rodrigo has ideas?”

  “Of course, and it was he who summoned you.”

  “I did not think it would have been King Sancho.”

  The King, Rodrigo and the senior Castilian knights were all gathered before a fire outside of the King’s tent. His royal bodyguards provided a human wall and they parted as Álvar and I approached. There were camp chairs for all but me. I did not mind for I preferred to stand. The King looked up, “My Armiger Regis thought you might add something to this discussion, Redbeard.” He then turned his attention away from me and said, “Now that we are all here, Rodrigo, what is it that you plan? For I can see no way to end this stalemate. We cancel each other out!”

  Rodrigo smiled, “Not so, King Sancho, for William here showed us the way. He and his men managed to force their way through the enemy lines. The fact that the enemy there were stronger than Don Diego and his men should give you heart, King Sancho. I suggest we use William and his men along with selected knights and led by me. Álvar can be your standard-bearer and I will not ride Babieca. We fight the same way we did this day and they will think that they can predict our actions. However, we will ride through their centre and take their king!”

  King Sancho shook his head, “You make it sound simple, Rodrigo, but my brother will be well guarded.”

  “And if I do not carry your banner nor do I ride Babieca then they will see me as another of Will Redbeard’s men. By the time they realise what we are about then we will have the opportunity to capture him.” The King looked doubtful and Rodrigo said, “And what have we to lose? Have we an alternative?”

  The King realised that he had no option and he nodded, “Very well.”

  “One more thing, King Sancho, let us rouse our men quietly tomorrow so that when they awake, they will see us arrayed for battle and they will be less well prepared than we.”

  And with that it was arranged. I headed back to our camp to tell Don Diego that I would not be behind him. He was an astute man and he smiled, wryly, “So the king trusts me not to run this time?”

  People have often said of me that I am too truthful and when I did not deny his words, I merely confirmed the King’s opinion of him. “You and your men, Don Diego, are brave men and I for one would happily follow your banner.”

  “Aye, Will Redbeard, and that is what makes you and El Campeador unique for your word is your bond and men can trust you. Not all who have banners can be so trusted.”

  I spent the last hour before we retired speaking with my men for the plan which Rodrigo had devised required some adjustments. “Sebastian, you will ride in the fore with me and El Campeador will be behind me. Once we have broken their lines then you need to move to your right to allow Don Rodrigo to ride next to me.”

  Jorge was now the trusted lieutenant and he had learned much from long talks on the training ground from Iago. “We use the same technique as we did today, lord? We ride and strike as one?”

  “We do but this will not be as easy as we have to face the best that the Leónese have to offer. Their Armiger Regis, Count Garcia Ordóñez de Nájera is not the warrior that we follow but he and his men will be hard to beat. Do not underestimate them!”

  The Ordóñez family were the bane of my life! Since I had been a youth in Pamplona, I had constantly bumped into them. It was almost as though my life and theirs were intertwined. That I had emerged victorious was, as far as I was concerned, pure luck!

  That night I prayed harder than I had ever done before for Rodrigo was taking a huge risk and showing great faith in men who were not knights. I was confident about my men, but I knew that they followed me because they trusted me, and I hoped I would not let them down. I slept badly and woke well before it was necessary. I went to Killer and made certain that he was warm enough. He was the same age as Babieca, but he had lived a harder life. This would be his last battle. I would have Geoffrey school his colt and I would ride that one. Geoffrey and Abu ghosted next to me. Abu had some warmed wine infused with herbs. It was a chilly morning and my one-armed servant always worried about me.

  “Geoffrey, are the horses ready for this?”

  “Aye, lord. None were hurt yesterday and the warhorses we took mean that if you wished you could ride them.”

  “No, for today we need horses and riders who are as one.”

  I heard a chuckle behind me, and Rodrigo said, “Even when you could barely ride you taught me that.”

  Abu said, “I will fetch your wine, lord.”

  Geoffrey absented himself too for they knew that Rodrigo wished to speak with me. “Today is your opportunity, Will.”

  “Opportunity for what?”

  “Why to gain your spurs and a knighthood. Remember Salamanca when King Ferdinand knighted the young men you trained?”

  “You mean the same battle where I was lauded as a hero and was given a manor which provided protection for King Sancho? Aye, I remember it and I doubt that the outcome will be any different tomorrow.”

  “You are a bitter man, Will!”

  “And you see good in all men. There are some men and we serve one, who only seek to make their own life easier and the rest of the Kingdom can go hang!”

  “Will! Your voice!”

  I laughed, “Here I am camped amongst my own men, Rodrigo, and I trust each and everyone.”

  He sighed, “You will never change and that, I suppose, is a good thing!” He tried and failed. I would not change my opinion and I was sure that no matter what I did I would not be given my spurs. I did not mind. I was my own man and liked it that way.

  We were all prepared well before dawn and in position, hidden behind the King. Álvar had a horse which was of a similar colour to Babieca. As the three of us all wore similar armour and helmets then the deception would, in theory, work. Don Rodrigo wore a blue cloak and not his red one. The Leónese would see what they expected to see, Rodrigo with the standard next to the King. Their best men would be facing the standard and we would ride in from the right side of the King and his bodyguards. There they would not have the protection of shields and the shock of twenty-two men coming like an arrow into the heart of the Leónese line might just work. We all had the same spears and that, too, would work in our favour. The Leónese would be looking for lances with standards and guidons. Our spears would be dismissed for they would assume that we were still behind Don Diego and his men. That it was a good plan was purely down to Don Rodrigo!

  As the sun came up, we moved into position and our archers and crossbows were there as the Leónese moved to their starting positions. This time it was our missile men who won the duel for we were ready as the Leónese tried to form up and that meant King Alfonso had to hurriedly form up his mounted men and infantry to try to clear the archers and crossbows from before them. The Leónese lost both horses and men as they forced our archers back. The Leónese had to form hurried lines and were still doing so when our horn sounded three times and we began to move forward. We had been ready for hours and moved as one. We were a
lready cantering when the Leónese began to walk. King Sancho was not in the front rank. That honour went to Don Iago of Astorga and the other knights we had trained. Of all the knights on the battlefield that day, they were the ones I trusted the most.

  We heard the crack and crash of lances and shields meeting. Horses and knights died, and the two lines became intermingled. It was then that King Sancho’s horn sounded four times and Iago of Astorga and his men pressed hard towards King Alfonso. It would have taken an eagle flying high above the battlefield to see the subtle gap appear but I knew it was there and I urged Killer through the ever-widening gap as the knights protecting King Alfonso were drawn to Don Iago of Astorga and his knights. Our knights were making inroads into the bodyguards of King Alfonso and that played into our hands. As we each pulled back our arms and thrust our spears forward it was not like eleven individuals, it was like one enormous mounted man. We punched a hole through the bodyguards whose spears were aimed at the fore and not to the side. I shouted, “Now, Sebastian!” and he urged his horse to the right. Rodrigo slid into the gap seamlessly.

  It was Count Garcia Ordóñez de Nájera who reacted the quickest, “It is El Campeador! Protect the King!” He rode directly at Rodrigo.

  Killer was the best of our horses and I kicked him hard in the flanks making him leap ahead of Rodrigo’s horse. It took me closer to Count Garcia Ordóñez de Nájera and cut off his attempt to get to Rodrigo. Of course, it also broke up our line, but it had done its job and my men now formed a protective circle around Rodrigo and myself. I could leave the King to Rodrigo and I faced the Armiger Regis, the champion of Alfonso.

  Ordóñez’s spear came directly at me but I had my shield already prepared and I deftly flicked the head to the side as Killer forced himself between the Count and Rodrigo. It meant that I had to strike at the champion from the side and I could not put all of my power into the strike. Even so I still caught the mail over his shoulder, and I had the satisfaction of tearing through a pair of mail links. As I brought the spear back, I smacked him in the side of the helmet with it. His ears would ring, and he would be disorientated. We were too close for spears and I dropped mine and drew my sword. I am a far bigger warrior than most men and when I stood and brought down my sword even the champion of León struggled to block the blow. Killer had aided me by snapping at the Count’s mount and he only blocked it with his spear and my sword snapped the shaft in two.

  As I raised my sword again, he was forced to back his horse away and, behind me, I heard Rodrigo shout, “Yield, King Alfonso, for I do not wish to kill a King!”

  I kept after the Count who drew his sword but when I brought my sword down his was not in position and I hit him and his sword so hard that he tumbled from his horse. I raised my sword to end his life for his family were treacherous when I heard King Alfonso shout, “I yield!”

  Even as I brought down my sword to kill my enemy, Rodrigo yelled, “Will! They have surrendered! Hold!”

  Had the King himself given me the order I would have disobeyed but this was El Campeador and I obeyed even though I allowed myself the pleasure of turning the blade and smacking the Count’s helmet. Blood poured from his nose and, childishly, I suppose, I felt satisfaction. What I did not know was that I should have disobeyed Rodrigo. The fact that I had not would come back to haunt me.

  Chapter 11

  The enemy dispersed as soon as the King surrendered. Those who were still fighting were taken prisoner. I had a valuable one in the Count. His warhorse, mail and sword were now mine! As I had expected I was forgotten by King Sancho and that suited me for my men, none of whom had been wounded, were able to take from the dead bodyguards of the King. If we were not to be paid, then we would take our pay from the enemy and we reaped a rich reward.

  Far from being grateful that I had saved his life, Count Garcia Ordóñez de Nájera was bitter, “You are not a noble and I yield you nothing!”

  In the middle of the battlefield and surrounded by my men it was the wrong thing to say. King Alfonso was being led by Rodrigo to meet with King Sancho. I pricked the neck of the Count with my father’s sword, “Take off your mail now or I will have my men strip it from your dead body! Christos, lead the Count’s warhorse to Geoffrey. Jorge take his sword!” The Count stubbornly remained silent and so I pushed with the tip of my sword to break the skin.

  His eyes flared but he said, “Very well but this is not over!”

  I sheathed my sword as he began to take off his mail, “And there you are lucky, Count, for Rodrigo de Vivar has just saved your life and the next time we meet I will not be so kind.”

  I think that was the moment that he realised what he had lost. He was no longer Armiger Regis for his King was no longer a king. King Sancho had sent King Garcia into exile and that was the best that the champion could count on.

  King Sancho showed his power when, after the battle, he had the head of his brother shaved and made him wear a chasuble; he was no longer a king! It was humiliating. Rodrigo and Álvar were ordered to take him to the monastery of Sahagún where he would be kept a prisoner. Now King Sancho had it all and he had unified his father’s three kingdoms into one. My men and I were almost forgotten, and days later we headed back to Briviesca as much richer men. We did not travel alone for as we crossed back into Castile, we found men whose lords had perished at the battle. They were good warriors and as the battle had been fought in the middle of winter, they faced an uncertain future. I took the ten best on as warriors in my company and gave the others some of the coins we had taken. It never hurt to make men grateful to you for who knew when you might need a friend and we had coin enough. They each had enough to see them through the winter and then they would seek a new lord.

  Marie was delighted that we returned hale and hearty although the new men would be a burden for her. We would need, once more, to enlarge the hall, but I was content that the war had been but a brief one and we had emerged well. I could not know that the peace would be a short one. I put Killer to stud and began, with the help of Geoffrey to school Hercules. A month after the battle of Golpejera, Rodrigo and Álvar came to see me. I knew what it meant. The King had need of me again and my brief peace was over.

  “But King Alfonso is a prisoner and King Garcia in exile! Who is there to fight?”

  Álvar smiled, “His sisters still oppose him; Elvira is in Toro and Urraca in Zamora. The King needs the hero of Salamanca for we all know your skill in sieges.”

  I sighed, “And will we be paid this time?”

  In answer he gestured to a pair of horses each of which bore two chests, “You have done well out of the King, Will. This is your share of the tribute from the war. Come, let us not break up this triumvirate!” Rodrigo knew that I would not refuse him and so we went to war again.

  We headed for Toro where Elvira had barred the gates. King Sancho had kept his army together and I met, again, with Don Diego. Here we would not need our warhorses for it would be rams and ladders, siege towers and mines. I was pleased when my men and I were given the task of building a ram. I was proud of the fact that it took us less than seven days to complete it and we were the first ready to begin the assault. In the end it was not needed. As we wheeled the ram into place Elvira surrendered. I do not think it was because of the presence of her brother but the fact that El Campeador was present as was William Redbeard; Álvar was correct, my reputation in sieges was almost legendary. Her brother sacked the town and sent her to a nunnery. King Sancho was a ruthless man!

  As we headed to the much stronger fortress of Zamora, we knew that it would be a much harder task for the river protected one half of the town and castle, in addition to which there was a deep ditch. We took apart our ram and transported it to Zamora, but I doubted that we would get to use it for the ditch would stop its use. King Sancho surrounded the town, although with the river close to it then it was impossible to completely cut it off. For the first few days of the siege I did not see much of Rodrigo. I had sent home almost all the booty we
had taken from Toro and given some of my married warriors the time to spend with their wives and families. I stayed with the rest of my men for I would never have a wife and family; I was married to my sword.

  As the weather turned autumnal Rodrigo and Álvar spent more time at my camp. The King was in low spirits. He had defeated two brothers and a sister, and I think it galled him that Urraca was able to thwart him. He just wanted to unite Spain. Already he had most of the taifa states paying him tribute and I know, from what Rodrigo said, that they had a plan to unite the Moors and the Christians and take the last ones under his control. Then he would turn his attention to Aragon, Navarre and Catalonia. Although Aragon and Navarre paid lip service to Castile and King Sancho, Count Berenguer in Catalonia remained a thorn in our side. I confess that I thought it would be a matter of time before we reduced Zamora and that was not because Urraca was a woman. We had the town surrounded and soon they would starve. King Sancho had decided not to waste men in a useless assault. It was one night as the three of us were drinking and talking of old times and old warriors that Rodrigo came up with an idea which seemed at the time ridiculous but, as we spoke together, became more plausible. I had already spoken to the King and Don Rodrigo of Don Gonzalo Ordóñez and the battle where he had refused to fight with me. It had helped Don Diego defeat the men we faced. As we talked around our campfire, the three of us realised that we could do the same with the Zamorans. We decided to ride before the walls and challenge the Zamorans to combat. None of us thought that they would actually rise to the bait, but their refusal would hearten our men and weaken the defenders.

  “Do we tell the King what we intend?”

  “No, Álvar, for they may not accept the challenge. Let us just prepare for it and do it in three days. We will have to make certain that it is just the three of us and we must tell the other men to stay clear or they will not accept the challenge.”