Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

  I saw Edward look at Sir Richard. There was apprehension on his face. Sir Richard beamed, “An excellent decision, lord. You are lucky, Edward. It is a small manor but it will help you to become a lord.”

  I smiled at the relief on Edward’s face. “Then I would have you and your men go with Edward on the morrow and begin to build the mound. He will not need a large hall. At the moment he does not even have a squire but when the castle is built then we will have another line of defence.”

  We spoke at length on the design and position of the castle. Saint-Jean was close enough for us to be familiar with the land. There was a small stream which could easily be diverted and dammed to give a good moat and a nearby wood would provide the timber. When they left for their quarters we were all happy.

  When I retired I found that Lady Margaret was not asleep. She had a candle and was sewing. That was unusual. She was frugal and candles were expensive. She looked up as I entered. I smiled, “Tell me what troubles you, my love. I can see it writ clear across your face.”

  She laid down the sewing and then smiled. She reached up, held my beard and kissed me, “You are to be a father.”

  “Why did you not tell me sooner?”

  “It was only this afternoon that I visited the women who deliver babies. Clothilde confirmed it. I am with child.”

  I nodded, “And that is why you sew. I am pleased. I wondered if Alfred was to be our only child.”

  “No, lord, I will bear you as many as I am able.”

  The news had a two-fold effect on me. It made me more worried about our position and so I worked even harder on the defences and it set me thinking about the future. I liked my home here but it could not compare with England. I would return and the Dowager Queen’s gift had made it more likely that I would be able to return to my home and my beloved valley. I just had to work out how to do so.

  We took not only Sir Richard’s men but also most of the garrison to help build the new castle. We were close enough to La Flèche to return if danger threatened. We built the biggest mound I had ever seen. Sir Richard told me that it matched the one the first Bishop of Durham had built at his first home, Bishopton. I remembered the castle well. It was a good sign for although the castle had only been occupied for a year or two, a hundred and forty years later, it still stood. We built a dam and diverted the stream. My men cut down the trees so that there was no cover within four hundred paces of the castle. When Edward gained more archers, they had a killing zone.

  The locals were so impressed with the castle that they began to talk of their home as Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte. The name stuck.

  We were still working on the walls when Tom and Griff returned. I had been watching the road from the north while we had been toiling. They dismounted. “Well?”

  “He is in the keep, lord. King John is also there.” Griff shook his head. “You cannot spirit him from the castle, lord for it has a high wall and the keep is perched upon a rock. The walls of the keep are also high. Lord, I have yet to see a mightier castle save, perhaps, Chateau Galliard.”

  My archer would not exaggerate. I nodded. “I thank you for your efforts.”

  Griff held out the purse I had given him. “We did not need all of the coin lord. Here is what we did not spend.”

  “No, keep that for your trouble. I must now find another way to rescue the Duke of Brittany.”

  The bad news spurred me on and we had the wooden walls and the keep finished by the end of the month. “Come Edward, we return to my castle. It is time that you were knighted. This night you stand vigil and I will summon my other knights to witness your dubbing on the morrow.”

  When I returned to my castle Griff and Tom were waiting for me. “Lord, what we did not tell you was that we discovered that there are many barons who are unhappy with John as Duke of Normandy. Playing wine merchants, we heard much dissension in the taverns. We fear that the French King may try to take advantage of this. There is rebellion in the air and the barons may make war.”

  “Thank you for that. You are right. While I would support a baron’s war against John I would not do so if the French were the beneficiaries.”

  “There is something else, lord. When we spoke with William of La Flèche before we left, he was most helpful and he asked a boon. His son, Gilles, wishes to be a warrior. He is too old to be trained as an archer but, perhaps he could be a man at arms?”

  I smiled. Sometimes fate came to the rescue. “I can do better than that. Edward, my captain of men, will be knighted tomorrow. He needs a squire. Have you met the youth?”

  “Yes lord. He has seen sixteen summers. He worked in his father’s winery and is not afraid of hard work. I fear that he may not have a warrior’s skills yet.”

  “They can be taught. Have the young man and his father come to see me.”

  I summoned Edward and told him of my idea. Edward had been the son of a hawker. He had been surprised when I had said that I would knight him. The fact that I had secured him a squire further humbled him. When they returned I saw what his father had meant about the young man and his physique. Gilles was broad in the chest and almost as tall as me. “Gilles, your father wishes you to be a warrior. What do you say?”

  His face told me all, “Lord it is my dream.”

  “Can you ride?” His face fell. “You will learn, Gilles that I value honesty above all things. Do not give me the answer you think I want to hear.” I saw Edward smile. Edward knew how to train men. He could teach Gilles how to ride.

  “I can sit on the back of a horse without falling off, lord.”

  “Can you use a sword?”

  “I know the hilt from the handle but I would be lying if I said I could use one.” He shook his head. “I am sorry, lord. I am not yet ready to be a warrior.”

  “That is for me to decide. Edward here is to be knighted tomorrow. He needs a squire. That means that you would be his servant but, in return he would train you. He would teach you to ride and to use a sword. Does that suit?”

  He dropped to a knee, “Aye lord and I swear I will be the best squire that I can be.”

  “What say you Edward?”

  “I am happy, lord. Gilles will have no bad habits for him to unlearn. It is good.”

  His father beamed, “I know the expense involved. I will buy his horse, mail helmet and sword. I am grateful, lord that you have given my son this chance. We are lucky to live under your benevolent rule.”

  And so, Edward spent the night in the church. He prayed and he contemplated. His world would change the moment I touched his shoulders with my sword and gave him his spurs. After he was knighted we celebrated and I told my knights of my wife’s news. The feast was a joyful one.

  The Knife in the Night

  Chapter 2

  The men who occupied the tower at the south side of the river signalled across the river that riders were approaching. Riders from the south were normally a sign of danger and so I had the garrison stand to. We saw many men approaching. There were six banners which meant six knights but I relaxed when I saw the Duchess Constance and the Dowager Queen Eleanor. My wife, when I told her, took charge, “We will need quarters for them. Husband you will sleep with the other knights and I with my ladies.”

  “If they come at such short notice then they must expect basic accommodation.”

  She shook her head, “Men!” and she left.

  It always took time to cross the river for we had a ferry rather than a bridge. A ferry meant that ships could sail up unhindered and we had better protection should the southern bastion fall. Eleanor and the Duchess were the first to land from the ferry. The Queen Mother looked at my town. “When the Empress gave this to your father it was a tiny, insignificant manor. It is good to see that it has grown into the citadel it has become.” She smiled, “I am sorry that we did not warn you of our arrival. Put it down to old age.”

  “It is not a problem, Your Majesty.”

  She laughed, “And I would wager that your wife would not agree. She
will be racing around your hall now making sure that all is well for the visit of the cantankerous old woman and her court!” She took my arm. “Come and I will tell you why I visit.”

  We walked through my town. The townsfolk, recognising the grand matriarch, all bowed and curtsied as we passed. She waved a hand at them. “As you know, Sir Thomas, Duke Arthur has been captured and is in Falaise. As for Eleanor, it is rumoured, and that is all it is, a rumour, that she is in the White Tower in London. We travel to Falaise so that I can ask my son for the truth. The Duchess would be with her daughter.”

  I looked at the Duchess, “Not your son?”

  She shook her head, “When he allied with the French I knew he was lost to me. I hope that King John will keep him from harm but his people did not take kindly to the act and I have done with him. My daughter, on the other hand, is an innocent in all of this.”

  “Then welcome to my home.” My wife and Alfred stood in the doorway to my hall. She had managed to change and to make Alfred presentable.

  My wife curtsied, “Welcome, Your Majesty. I am afraid that our home is humble. If there is aught you wish then I pray you let us know. This is our son, Alfred.”

  The Queen Mother smiled and ruffled Alfred’s hair, “It is good that you named him after the Warlord. He was the greatest knight in Christendom. Will you grow up to be such as he?”

  Alfred nodded eagerly, “I will and I will help my father drive King John from England!”

  I shook my head and my wife said, “Alfred!”

  Eleanor laughed, “Oh the innocence of honest children! You know, young man that I am King John’s mother?”

  “I did not and I am sorry for he is a bad man!”

  “Many think so but I hope that he will learn greatness.” She turned to me. “When we have cleaned up after our journey I would speak with you. I have something to ask of you.”

  “Of course.”

  I was intrigued. While my wife saw to the ladies I went with Fótr to make arrangements for the knights and men at arms who accompanied them. It took some time. It was fortunate that Sir Edward had taken some of the garrison to help finish work on his castle or we would have struggled to accommodate them all.

  Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Duchess Constance were with my wife in my hall when I returned. Of Alfred there was no sign. I think my wife had sent him off with a servant to keep him from mischief! They had goblets of wine. “This is good wine, Thomas. It reminds me of the red wine of Chinon.”

  “Thank you, majesty.”

  “My visit here is deliberate. I would have you accompany me to Falaise.”

  “I am not certain that your son will be happy about that.”

  “Leave my son to me. This will be my last act as Dowager Queen for after we have discovered the whereabouts of Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany, I will retire to Fontevraud Abbey. I will become a nun. I tire of this world of politics. I have outlived all but two of my children and I wish to prepare myself to meet my maker.”

  “But I still do not know why you wish me to come with you.”

  “I have seen in you hope for you are true to that in which you believe and that is rare. You are not swayed by money or by land. You fight for that which is right. Like Constance I believe that Arthur has now burned all of his bridges but I would not have harm come to him. I intend to make my son guarantee your right to La Flèche and Whorlton. I want him to know your feelings about Arthur. It may, perhaps, dissuade him from some rash deed. It will be my last act as Dowager Queen and I would see things right. I owe your family much. If it were not for the Warlord then John might not have been born nor Richard nor any of my other children. If I can I will protect his last heir.”

  And so, when they left the next day, I accompanied them. I took Fótr, ten men at arms and ten archers. We rode north. I was going to meet the King who had sworn to have my head. As we passed my new castle the Queen Mother said, wryly, “I see you do not let the grass grow beneath your feet.”

  “My priority is the safety of my people. We are surrounded by enemies. Strong walls will deter them.”

  “You may be right. King Phillip is merely regrouping. He sees Brittany as something he can take and Normandy is not as strong as it was. I thank God for William des Roches. He is well named for he is a rock.”

  The journey north opened my eyes for we were travelling with the most famous and powerful woman in the land. We were feted. Even I was accorded respect. I wondered how I would have been greeted if I had travelled just with my men. We did learn much, as we travelled. My men spoke with the garrisons of the halls. We discovered, as Griff and Tom had that there was great unrest in the land. It was the barons of Normandy and Maine who were unhappy. Some feared France and others wished France to take over Maine and Normandy. Civil war loomed large.

  When we neared the mighty castle, I saw that Griff and Tom had been correct. Falaise would be impossible to take. I could have held it with a handful of knights, men at arms and archers. Sir Hubert himself greeted us, “I am sorry, majesty, but the King is absent. He rode to Rouen two days since. I expect him to return with the next day or so.”

  “In fact, when you saw our approach you sent a rider to fetch him hence.” She smiled to take the sting from her words, “Good then I can have the royal quarters and I think that the Duchess of Brittany would like to see her son. Make it so.”

  He nodded and looked at me, “And Sir Thomas?”

  “Sir Thomas and his squire are my guests. They will stay in the castle too.” She turned to me and smiled.

  While the castellan was unhappy he could do little about it. No one argued with Eleanor of Aquitaine.

  The chamber we were given was a small one. I did not mind. Fótr would have to sleep on the floor. I changed from my mail into something more suitable and, leaving Fótr to see to the horses, I descended to the Great Hall. There was no sign of Eleanor but Arthur was there with his mother. I was about to turn and leave when Arthur waved me over. “My lord I would speak with you.”

  I wandered over and the would-be Duke stood, “I have to thank you for saving my mother and sister. I must also apologise. You were right about Phillip of France and I should have trusted you.”

  “You are young and you will learn from your mistakes.”

  “If I am given the opportunity. I confess, Sir Thomas that I fear for my life. My uncle has murderous intentions.”

  The Duchess said, “That is why the Dowager Queen is here. She will ensure your safety.”

  “I pray that you are right. And my sister?”

  “That is what we need to ask King John.”

  The King did not arrive until after dark. It was an interesting moment and showed that while John was King his mother knew how to show where the power lay. She insisted upon eating when it suited her. The result was that King John arrived half way through the feast. I was seated next to Duchess Constance. Her son was seated between Eleanor and the Duchess. I saw King John’s face darken. He then saw me and he coloured. He was angry. Sir Hubert left his seat next to the Dowager Queen and hurried to speak with the King. The two of them left the hall.

  Eleanor nibbled the fowl before her and said, mildly, “It seems someone has upset my son.” She put down the bone, wiped her mouth on her napkin and looked down the table towards me. “I am guessing it is you, Sir Thomas.” She had a cheeky smile upon her face. She still knew how to play games.

  I smiled back, “And I made certain that I had my beard and moustache combed!”

  She nodded as she laughed at my attempt at humour, “You will do, Sir Thomas, you will do.” She leaned closer and said quietly, “Just hold your tongue and your temper. All will be well. There will be a storm. We shall weather it.”

  When King John came in it was without Sir Hubert. King John sat next to his mother. He took out the knife he used for eating and pointed it at me, “What is that traitor doing here?”

  I was mindful of his mother’s words and I bit back my retort.

  Eleanor
put her hand on her chest, “What a fine welcome for a guest! I thought I had brought you up better than this! Sir Thomas is my guest. As he prevented King Phillip from getting his hands on the Duchess and her daughter I assumed that, like me, you would wish to thank him.”

  She was a clever woman. King John hacked a large piece of meat from the wild boar before him. He began to chew. It gave him thinking time. How could he gain from this situation? He did not know, yet, of Whorlton nor did he know of his mother’s decision to go to a nunnery. He ate the meat and then washed it down with wine.

  “I suppose I should be grateful. At least I now have the Fair Maid of Brittany safe from Phillip’s tentacles!”

  The Duchess said, quietly, “And where would that be, my lord?”

  He frowned, “She is safe in England.”

  The Duchess looked hard at King John, “Where in England?” King John did not reply. “I should like to go to her. I am her mother and I can assure you I pose no threat!”

  He still said nothing. Eleanor nodded, “Very wise, my son. You know not whom you can trust among your barons I hear. Better to let the Duchess know when we three are alone, eh?”

  He had been outwitted again, “Yes mother. That would be best.”

  She smiled, “And now I will retire. Sir Thomas, would you be so good as to accompany me to my room?”

  “Of course, Your Majesty. Fótr!”

  The two of us each took an arm and we walked her to her chamber. As we reached her door and her ladies came she said, quietly. “The storm has yet to break Sir Thomas. I hope you did not drink too much. You will need your wits about you this night.”

  The door closed and we headed to the upper floor and our room. I turned to Fótr. “That was as clear a warning as I have ever had. Go back to the Great Hall and fetch an empty wine jug. Pretend, when you bring it, that it is full.”

  “Aye lord.”

  The Dowager Queen had given me a clear warning. I would heed it. I reached our room and I pushed the door open. There was a burning brand in the sconce next to the door and I took it. There was no one in the room. I pulled back the bed sheets. There was no venomous creature lurking there to sink its fangs into me. I now knew why Eleanor had left the hall so quickly. She wanted to avoid any chance that my room could have been tampered with. I lit the brand in the room and replaced the one in the hall. I had gone to the meal with just my eating knife. Now I drew my sword and laid it on the bed.