Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

  Fótr arrived. I asked him, “Did anyone say anything?”

  “No lord but I saw some men watching me. I pretended that the jug was full.”

  “Good. Close the door and arm yourself.” I took the jug from him. It had contained white wine. It mattered not. I wrapped my arming hood around the jug and, using the hilt of my dagger smashed the jug. I emptied the broken pieces along the inside of the doorway. The door opened out into the corridor. We would hear when anyone stepped upon them. Fótr had his sword and dagger in his hand. “Now we wait.” I sat on the chair in the corner. I laid my sword and my dagger on my lap. Fótr sat on the floor in the other corner. We could both see the door. The brand in the sconce would soon burn out. If someone wished us harm then they would wait until no light shone beneath the door.

  The light sputtered and then the room became dark. By my estimate it had burned for an hour. Now we waited in the darkness. Time passed. We heard noises in the distance but they did not appear sinister. I had begun to think that the Dowager Queen’s fears were unfounded when I heard something in the corridor. I stood with my dagger and sword in hand. Fótr also rose. The noise had been outside and could have been innocent. It sounded like something catching on the stones. Another guest might have had too much to drink and be staggering back to their room. However, the Dowager Queen’s warning had been good enough for me. I saw that the light in the hallway had been extinguished. That in itself was sinister for servants kept those burning all night. They would replace the ones which burned out.

  Whoever came in was quiet. I barely heard the handle turn but there was the slightest of sounds and I did hear it. The door opened so slowly that the movement was almost imperceptible. I moved closer to the broken pieces of wine jug. The room was, ostensibly, totally black but my eyes had become accustomed to the dark and I saw the hand on the edge of the door. I saw the sword as it entered the room. The first foot in scraped across the shards of pot. It made a noise. It triggered the trap. Three men leapt into the room. The broken jug took the first man unawares. His shoes must have had thin soles and he lurched to one side. Fótr’s sword darted out and struck him in the throat. I brought my sword down on the hand which held the second sword. Freshly sharpened it hacked through flesh and bone. He was a small man but incredibly tough for he uttered not a sound. He had a dagger in his left hand and he lunged at me. My own dagger slashed across his throat. The last man stepped into the room. He was a bigger man than the first two. He swung his sword blindly. It was a lucky blow for it would have hit my head had I not had fast reactions and my dagger came up to block the blow. Sparks flew as the sword and dagger clashed. I felt myself falling backwards. The man raised his sword and then had a surprised expression on his face as Fótr’s sword slid from his back and out of the front of his chest. All was silent. Save for the clash of swords not a sound had been uttered. All three had died silently.

  “Fótr, fetch a light. I would see what we can learn from these killers before someone else comes.”

  When the light was brought I saw that the first two men who had come to kill us were small and dark. I opened the eye of one of them and saw that they were wide. I recognised the signs. I had seen them in the Holy Land. “These two are assassins. They take hashish so that they will feel no pain.” I turned to the other man. He was a Templar knight. He wore no mail but he had tanned skin and, about his neck, bore the Templar sign. I had seen enough of them when they had tried to abduct the Fair Maid of Brittany. “Search them.”

  We discovered coins but they were French and not Norman. Had the killers been sent by King Phillip or was this a complicated plot and they had been sent by King John?

  “Fótr, fetch Sir Hubert. This is his castle.”

  I pocketed the coins. They might tell us more later on. I examined the weapons. They all came from the Holy Land.

  Sir Hubert and his guards appeared with Fótr. He looked at the bodies. I could see the surprise upon his face, he knew nothing about this. “Do you recognise them, Sir Hubert?”

  “The knight is vaguely familiar. He came here last year with a party of Templars on their way to England. I did not know he was back in the castle and as for the other two? I have never seen their like.”

  I stood, “I do not like to point fingers Sir Hubert but how did three killers, two of them strangers, get into your castle and come close to killing me and my squire? The Duke of Brittany is a more valuable prize. Is he safe?”

  Sir Hubert nodded, “I passed his room on the way here. The guards are still outside. And as for how they came to be inside? I cannot give an answer. The castle is full. This man is a knight albeit one with a dark skin. I am sorry, lord.”

  I took him to one side, “I pray you keep a good watch on the Duke. If anything happened to him then you would answer to me.”

  “I swear he is safe in my keeping.”

  I believed him. As events transpired he kept his word.

  He had his men dispose of the bodies and had our chamber cleansed. It was almost dawn by the time it was done and I knew that I would not be able to sleep. We washed and we dressed. Sir Hubert took us to the Great Hall. Food was being prepared. Sir Hubert poured us some small beer and asked, “Did you know them, lord?”

  “One was a Templar and the other two were assassins. They come from a mountainous area of the Holy Land and they are deadly killers. We were lucky.”

  He smiled, “I think, lord, that you are a man who makes his own luck and for that I am grateful. The Queen would be less than happy if anything untoward had occurred.”

  It was the Dowager Queen who rose next and she joined me. We said nothing. “You had a restful night’s sleep, Sir Thomas?”

  I looked at Sir Hubert. The guards who had taken away the bodies would have spread the word. There was nothing to be gained from discretion. “No, Your Majesty. Three killers came to my room. They are dead.”

  For once she was taken aback. “I expected something, Sir Thomas, but not this. Did you know them?”

  “A Templar and two assassins. They had French coins in their purses.”

  “Phillip’s hired killers.”

  “Or perhaps someone closer to home who wishes to throw us off the scent. They are dead now and we could not question them.”

  “Sorry, lord.” Fótr looked contrite.

  “You saved my life Fótr, do not be sorry.”

  The Dowager Queen put her skeletal hand on mine, “And I too am sorry. I appear to have brought you into danger when I thought to make your life easier.”

  “When I was in the Baltic on the crusade some of the older warriors, you might call them Vikings, believed in three sisters who spin webs. It is not a Christian idea but it might explain much. Perhaps there are things which happen and they are beyond our control. It may have been that the killers might have gone to my home to kill me. I would rather they tried to kill me here and leave my family safe.”

  She nodded, “You are a wise man. As soon as my son rises I will broach the issue with him. The sooner you leave for your family the better.”

  John was a late riser. I suspect the fact that he had been ousted from his own bed by his mother had not pleased him. Everyone else was up and had partaken of food by the time he arrived. I had been questioned by everyone about the killers in the night. As I had expected the guards had not held their tongues. This was not my castle and they were not my men.

  King John avoided me. Eleanor of Aquitaine had been seated with me. She saw the slight and she sighed and rose. She walked over to him. There was an animated conversation which went on for longer than I had expected and then he nodded. The Dowager Queen waved over one of her ladies and then returned to me. “Come, my son has a chamber we can use. Give me your arm. I will not use a stick! It makes me look old. If I lean on you it is just a lady with an eye for a handsome young knight.” She took my arm and I realised how frail she was. “He knew nothing of the killers. I know my son and I know when he is lying. He might wish you harm; in fact, I know h
e does. That is why I gave you warning but I think he is too clever to risk hurting you here. I would keep my eyes open on the road.” She laughed, “What am I doing telling one of Alfred’s blood what to do? It is in your nature! You are a survivor.”

  The room we entered was a large one. There was a table and around it six finely made chairs. The castle had been built by the first King Henry. I wondered if the Warlord had sat at this table. The Duchess and her son arrived next. Arthur said, “Lord, I have heard that assassins came for you in the night. They were sent by Phillip?”

  “They are dead, Duke Arthur. And as for their master? It could have been King Phillip. He wishes me gone from my land. It would make the taking of Anjou and Brittany so much easier.”

  He sat and I saw that my words had given him much to ponder. His mother stroked my hand. “I am pleased that you live. Whilst you do there is hope for Brittany.”

  King John came in with Sir Hubert and a cleric. He stared at me, “I am sorry that your life and that of your squire was put in danger. This is my castle and my guests should be safe. I have punished the guards. It was not of my doing.”

  I nodded, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I have met these killers when on Crusade. God watched over us.”

  King John made the sign of the cross. “Good fortune and God; you are indeed a lucky knight. Now, mother, what is this meeting about? I have much to do. King Phillip still threatens my land.”

  She nodded, “And Sir Thomas is a bastion for you against him but we will come to Sir Thomas later. Firstly, I wish to know where is Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany? Her mother and I wish to know.”

  He looked first at his mother and then at Arthur. “I have sent her to Brough Castle in England. There she will be safe until I return home.”

  The Duchess looked confused, “Brough Castle? Where is that?”

  I said, “It is in the north of England. It is just south of the Roman wall.” I looked at King John. “It is a bleak and desolate part of England.”

  King John smiled, “And therefore easy to watch. She will be safe from King Phillip’s clutches.”

  “I would go to my daughter.”

  “I cannot allow that… yet. When I have returned to England and secured her in another castle, further south, I will send for you. Until then, Duchess, I suggest you return to Brittany and rally your knights to defend the land against the voracious French.” He held his hand up for his mother was about to speak. “I will have no argument in this matter mother.”

  Eleanor nodded. She had not finished with her requests. “That will have to do Constance. Now, my son, with regard to Arthur. He is the rightful lord of Brittany.” She paused and King John nodded. “And as such I would have him safe. I am pleased you have brought a cleric for I would have you swear that you will keep him safe and you will ensure that he lives.”

  I thought that he would stand and leave for his fists knuckled on the table and his face reddened.

  The Dowager Queen smiled, “I am old. Soon I will be with God. I have made a will. It would pain me to leave my lands in Poitou and Aquitaine to another. Perhaps your sister would make a better ruler.” It was a direct threat. Joan was married to King Alphonso of Castile. If he was to gain control of Aquitaine and Poitou it would be an end to the Angevin empire. John had no choice. I was not sure if the Dowager Queen would carry out her threat but neither did John.

  He nodded and turned to the cleric. “I swear that I will keep my nephew alive.” He looked at his mother. “There! Satisfied?”

  She shook her head, “Father would you fetch a Bible. I would have the oath taken on one.” The priest hurried out. “And now we come to the matter of Sir Thomas. I have given him the manor of Whorlton. It is mine to give. I wrote to you some months ago to tell you of this but you have not replied.”

  “He killed the Bishop of Durham! How can he rule a manor?”

  She waved an irritated hand, “And he did penance in the Baltic Crusade much as your father did penance for the death of Thomas Becket. You knew that my son! I would have you recognise him as lord of the manor of Whorlton and La Flèche.” The priest returned. “The Bible is there and I would have you swear. And swear that he has done penance. There is no crime for which he is accountable! He can travel where he will in England; even to Stockton and Durham!”

  “Mother you are asking much for a traitor.”

  I was about to speak and she put her hand on mine, “My son sometimes you are a fool! Sir Thomas has defended your land against the French when other lords turned traitor. The only time he fought against you was when you sent men to take his castle! When I was at Mirebeau I was not closeted in isolation. I heard what happened around me. I would have you swear. If not then I will ride home, change my will and you will lose one half of your empire.”

  The King had nowhere to go. In that moment I became his greatest enemy. He would have to swear; that much was obvious. He could not take away my lands. The Dowager Queen had made me secure but he could still have me killed. He could hire killers. I would have a price upon my head.

  He nodded and put his hands on the Bible. “I swear that Arthur will be safe in my care and Sir Thomas is the rightful lord of Whorlton and La Flèche.” His mother looked at him until he continued. “And I also swear that, as he has done penance for his crime he is free to travel my realm unhindered.” As he took his hands from the Bible he added, “But if Sir Thomas rebels against me then I will wipe him and his brood from the face of the earth!”

  It was a threat he could not carry out and I just smiled. His mother, in contrast, became angry, “Have you no spark of nobility in you? I am pleased that I have chosen a life in a nunnery for I can pray for your soul! You have much need of prayer!”

  Insulted, he stormed out. The priest was about to leave but Eleanor said, “I would have you write down what transpired. Give one copy to Sir Thomas and one to the Duchess.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  He left. “Sir Hubert you are the castellan. Do you swear to keep Arthur safe?”

  “I do and you have no need for me to swear on a book. I am a true knight and my word is my bond. I will die before I let anything happen to the Duke.”

  Eleanor nodded. “Then I am satisfied.” She looked at me. “I owed much to the Warlord. I pray that I have done enough for his heir to keep him safe. If you are safe then the north of my husband’s realm will be safe.” She patted my hand and then turned to the Duchess of Brittany, “I am sorry, Constance. I could not get you close to your daughter but there is hope that you can see her and I have ensured that Arthur will live. He might be a prisoner but he has life and while he does then there is hope.”

  Ambush

  Chapter 3

  I bade farewell to the Queen. I never saw her again. She had been the most powerful woman in the world. She had brought her husband half of his empire and she had ruled it with him. She was a throwback to the time of my sire, the Warlord, and, I confess that I knew I would never see her like again. The world would be a sadder place without Eleanor of Aquitaine.

  It was noon by the time we left. My men had heard of the attempt on my life and cast murderous looks at all whom they passed. Their hands were never far from their weapons. The did not like other men’s warriors guarding me. The attempt had confirmed their opinion. We would have left earlier had we not had to wait for the parchment from the priest.

  Ridley the Giant said, “We will not get far this day lord, and we do not have the protection of the Queen.”

  I nodded. “We will avoid Alençon and Le Mans. I know not if we would be safe. We will take the other road, further west. It is quieter.”

  Griff said, “Aye lord but it passes through forest for most of the way.”

  I smiled at Griff and spread my arm around, “And I have, with me, the best archers in the land. I trust to you and your archers to keep us safe.”

  As we headed towards Le Grais, eighteen miles away Fótr asked, “The Fair Maid, she is lost to us?”

 
; I saw him fingering the half locket she had given him. I would not give him false hope nor would I dash them. “She is in England and that means she is safe. She is in the north of England and the people there have good hearts.” I patted my saddlebag which contained the parchment. “And now we can visit England. We can go to Whorlton. It is not far to Brough. If we can”

  He brightened. “Thank you, lord.”

  Griff and Tom were at the fore. Fótr and I rode mailed and with arming caps. I was under no illusions. King John hated me and he would send men to hurt me. They would not be his knights. They would be hired swords. I knew that there were many of them to be had. When we had been at Le Goulet we had met them. Landless lords, they would do anything for coin. Then there were brigands and bandits who had lost lords. The good ones, like James Broadsword, came to lords like me. The ones with murderous intent found likeminded masters. We would keep our eyes and ears open until we were safe in my manor.

  Le Grais had a castle. It was on a higher piece of ground and was made of stone. We were spied as we approached and a pair of riders came towards us. I had intended staying in the town and wondered if this approach was to keep us moving. We reined in and my men closed up on me.

  “You are Sir Thomas of La Flèche?”

  “I am.”

  “Our lord, Baron Odo de Le Grais invites you and your men to his castle. He would entertain you.”

  I could not refuse. I was duty bound to enter the castle but I did not know this knight. He had heard of me but I had not heard of him. It would pay to be cautious. I smiled, “Excellent. We will be delighted to accept the baron’s offer.” The two men led the way. I said, quietly to Ridley, “Have the men drink little and keep their ears open.”