To Murder a King

by Griff Hosker

  For a nineteen-year-old he showed great poise. He might be cold but he had presence and more than that, he knew how to command. I could not help reflect that as much as I did not like him, he knew how to lead and King Richard did not. I slowly drank my wine while the lords, barons and knights left. There were just the Earl’s squires and pages. I assumed that I did not need to check those.

  “Lord, I will walk around the building.”

  He nodded almost absent mindedly. I put down my goblet and drew my sword. The Earl had picked the best building. There was a wall which ran around the building and there were just two gates. The Earl had two of his own guards there. I had met them earlier and they knew me. I left the main gate and said to Edward Tilbury, “Did the lords all leave?”

  He laughed, “Aye Captain. They cannot hold their ale can they?”

  I did not comment. “If any return let me know. Once I have returned inside, if there is anything which worries you then wake me. I will not be angry at losing sleep.”

  “We know Captain. The Earl has impressed that upon us.”

  The merchant whose house had been commandeered had sense. He had the undergrowth cleared for ten paces around the walls. As I walked I listened for alien sounds. The insects and birds I heard were not those of England but I knew them. I listened for men. I smelled for men. I went into the undergrowth and made water. When I had finished I listened. Silence. I reached Walter Codsall at the rear gate and all was quiet.

  “Captain, the servants have all left. I counted them.”

  “Good. Be vigilant.,” I returned to the main door and barred it. I walked through the empty house. The servants had quickly cleared the table. The kitchen was empty but they had not cleaned it well. That was not my problem. I barred the back door. We were now secure. I headed up the stairs. I knocked on the door. Geoffrey opened it. I saw the Earl in bed. Richard, his chief squire, was making a bed on the floor. There was a young Spanish woman with the Earl. His other squire, Harold, was hanging his clothes from a rail.

  “The watch is set, lord.”

  “Good.” He waved a hand and I was dismissed.

  Geoffrey shrugged as he closed the door. I took off my sword belt and laid it next to the blankets I had brought. I took off my mail. I would sleep in my aketon. I took off my buskins. I placed my sword and buskins where I could reach them and then I wrapped myself in my blankets. I went to sleep quickly. I did not think that the Earl would be in any danger until we were close to war and then his death would be easier. I wished to keep my farm and so I did it all as he would expect; perfectly. The Earl and his doxy cavorted but it did not keep me awake. The silence when they stopped did. My eyes were open in an instant and I listened to the silence. Gradually the noises from within the room could be heard. It was the sound of people sleeping. They snorted, they snored and they broke wind. Satisfied that all was well I returned to my sleep.

  I woke early. It was still dark but my bladder told me that it was time to rise. I donned my sword belt and descended. Unbarring the door, I stepped out into the cooler morning air. I walked to the guards at the ornamental gate. They had been changed and it was Richard of Doncaster who was on duty.

  He nodded, “Morning sir. All well within?”

  “All well within and the watch?”

  “There was some trouble in one of the camps but other than that it was quiet. Will we be here long, do you know?”

  “My guess is that we will not stay here any longer than is necessary. A camp is an easier place to guard.”

  He shook his head, “The Earl likes a roof and a bed, sir. The lords might have to endure canvas and the men hovels but his lordship will have a house, sir.”

  I made water and went back into the house. I washed and drank some ale. Although the table had been cleared and most of the uneaten food thrown out there was still a local ham and some day-old bread. I cut a healthy chunk of ham. I poked the fire into life and added more wood. Sticking the day-old bread on to a long kitchen knife I toasted it and when it was brown smeared it with local butter. The ham and toasted bread were like a feast. As I washed it down with more ale I smiled. When last I had been in Castile the amount of food I had just eaten would have fed my shield brothers. I unbarred the kitchen door. The servants would be arriving. After donning my mail, I returned to the kitchen.

  The first of the servants arrived. They nodded deferentially. I was a soldier and the Galicians knew to stay on the good side of men with swords. I spoke to them and told them that I was watching over the Earl. The man who spoke to me was obviously the one in charge. His name was Raoul. He asked what the Earl would want to eat when he broke his fast.

  I shrugged. I did not know. I smiled and said, “Food and lots of it!”

  He smiled, “That I can do!”

  He rattled out orders. They began to busy themselves and I went back into the main chamber with my ale. I thought that when I became a gentleman then my life would improve. The Earl had set it back to worse than it had been when I served in the Free Companies. I heard movement and stood. The Earl was descending. The young Spanish girl was tiptoeing behind him. She slipped out through the front door. “All quiet Will?” Geoffrey suddenly ran down the stairs and went into the kitchen.

  “Aye Earl.”

  “Well Geoffrey can taste my food and as we leave this morning you may return to your men. Do you have any who know the land in your company?”

  I shook my head. “Just me, lord.”

  “You know the roads?”

  “I tramped them almost twenty years ago. I daresay they will come back to me.”

  “Then you will be the van. As much as I would have you close to me I feel that I need your skill and eyes to help us gain a quick victory.”

  “Do we fight all the Galicians, lord, or is it the men of Castile?”

  “The men of Castile of course!” His tone was scornful and then his face changed. “What do you mean?”

  “As I recall the lords of Castile who rule this land are like those on the Welsh Marches. They are not local. If you wish the Galicians to be on your side then find those lords and remove them. The Galicians will then see you as saviours and not enemies.”

  “That is sound advice. Then find me a Castilian that I may have a speedy victory. We head south. I would sleep next in Santiago de Compostela.”

  “Lord, the roads are not English roads and it is thirty miles or more. Besides, the horses need rest after the sea voyage. We cannot leave for two, perhaps three days.”

  Geoffrey brought him a goblet of the local wine. The Earl drank it. I saw him thinking on my words. The Earl was a thoughtful man. He liked to do things his way but he was less than twenty years old. He understood others knew more than he did. “My father will not be here for four or five days. He will have the same problem that I do. The delay will give me an opportunity to plan. William, get me some maps.” He took a small purse. “Your horses may need rest but you and your men do not. Buy local horses. If they will not sell them then take them! I would have the road to Santiago de Compostela scouting out. Speak to the locals and find where the nearest Castilian lord is. I would have a victory.”

  I took the purse. “Aye lord.” I would be away from the town and that could only be good. I went, not out of the front door but into the kitchen.

  “Raoul.”

  “Yes lord.”

  In my crude Spanish I told him that I needed maps of the area and horses. “There are maps in the master’s desk. It is in the small room off the dining room. Horses? Just along the road south of here there is a horse breeder, Pedro A Coruña. He is not a pleasant man but he knows his horses.”

  I went back to the Earl and told him where to find the maps. I then returned to my men. They were up. “Roger, fetch the men at arms. We go on a horse hunt. Stephen the Tracker, when we return we scout for the day. Find food, skins and ale.”

  Peter and Henry came with us as we marched south down the road. I had not been told how far south but a short way so
uth the horses grazing in the field was a good sign. There was more forest than field in this part of the world. We turned up the farm track. It was wheel rutted. When we neared the farm ten armed men appeared. Peter said, “Well it looks like we may have to fight for the horses, Captain.”

  “Keep your weapons in your scabbards. I will try to talk us into a sale.” It is hard to face men with bared weapons without drawing your own but I knew that it would be a bloodbath if we drew ours.

  One of the Spaniards spoke English. It was heavily accented but far better than my Spanish. “Whatever you wish to take from me Englishman know that you will have to fight for it.”

  I spread my hands to show that I was unarmed. “I come not to fight but to trade.”

  “Then why do you need men of the Free Companies with you?”

  “You know the Free Companies?”

  “I served with the Yellow Company in the war against Peter the Cruel.”

  “Then you know that if we came to take them we would have sneaked up on you and already be riding your horses away.”

  “Perhaps. What do you want?”

  “Twenty-two horses!” I held up the purse. “I have gold.”

  “That is almost half my herd.”

  “We need them for a day or two. We can sell them back to you when we are done.”

  I saw him calculating a profit. “The other men are as big as these? Mailed?”

  “As big but not mailed.”

  He turned and spoke to the men around him. His Spanish was so quick that I did not catch many of the words. They sheathed their weapons and hurried off. “You need saddles, reins, stirrups?”

  I shook my head. “We have those and we have horses. The horses have been at sea for eight days.”

  “Give me the purse and I will take what they are worth.”

  I held the purse before me. “This gold comes from the son of the man who would be King of Castile, John of Gaunt. I know you know the name. It would not do to cheat the Earl of Derby and Northampton.”

  “Nor will I do so. I served with Englishmen. I know that you do not cross them but I will be honest, Englishman, I would you were gone from my land. Free Galicia and then go. Your John of Gaunt is only welcome here if he rids us of Castilians.”

  I gave him the purse, “Amen to that.”

  He did not take all of the money. “If you wish to sell them back to me I will give you a good price. These are not war horses. If you scout with them then they will serve you well but they are not battle trained.”

  “That is all we need. And some information.” He cocked an eye. “I believe that you will be happy to furnish me with this this information. If I were to look for a Castilian lord between here and Santiago where would I go?”

  He smiled, “Ah, if I were to tell you where an English lord who supports the usurper to the Castilian throne should avoid, would that suffice?”

  “It would.”

  “North of Santiago de Compostela is a castle. It is not a large one but it controls the road. It guards the bridge over the Timbre river. Don Pedro is the lord there and he is related to Henry, the Lord of Santiago. He has the sign of the red hawk on the yellow field.” He smiled. “Does that help, Captain?”

  “It does indeed.”

  My men at arms took the largest horses. I sent two men back to my archers. They led the smaller horses. We spent the time they were away getting to know our horses. As I had expected my squire was the one who struggled to control his new horse. The rest of us had all been sergeants at arms. Until I had become a gentleman I had not actually owned a horse. We learned to ride new horses all the time. As Henry was deposited on the ground for the third time I reflected that he was having a painful lesson in horsemanship. He was sweating already. That was no surprise. The erstwhile King of Castile had chosen the hottest months in which to campaign. I was using the hood from my cloak to keep my head cool. As we waited I advised the others to do the same. Henry had lessons to learn but so had the others. We were in a hot country.

  My archers soon rejoined us. As much as anything I was assessing the road south. Even though the Earl had a relatively small number of men the Spanish roads were not the best. Small obstacles could slow the wagons which carried the war gear of our men. The sun became hotter. I saw men drinking from their waterskins. “Do not drink until we stop and then drink sparingly. This is not England. Respect the land or it will punish you.”

  We saw few people as we headed south. The Galicians might want rid of Castilian rule but we were still foreigners and they hid. When we won we would be welcomed as heroes. Now we were a threat. The road climbed and I knew that might slow down the wagons. The horse trader had told us that it was more than thirty miles to the castle. I knew we could not reach Santiago and return. The Earl would have to make do with the news we brought.

  We were, by my estimate, just seven miles from our destination when I decided we would stop. My men had obeyed my instruction but we all needed water: man and beast alike. We crossed a river. There were thick stands of trees along the side. We left the bridge and descended to the river. I left Lol son of Wilson on watch on the far side of the bridge. I watered my horse and swam her across the narrow river. It would cool her off.

  I dismounted and led her up the far bank. I would relieve Lol. Suddenly he ran towards me, “Captain. Ten men. They have a yellow livery with a red bird on it.”

  It was Don Pedro’s men. “How far?”

  “The road is flat. Less than four hundred paces.”

  “Tell Peter and my squire to watch the horses. Have the rest of the men come up on both sides of the road. Ambush!”

  “Aye Captain!”

  I drew my sword. My shield was on my horse but I did not think I would need it. I tied my horse to a branch and hurried through the woods to the road. I could hear, in the distance, the sounds of hooves galloping down the road. I stood behind a tree and peered along the road. They were four hundred paces from me. I heard movement behind me. It was James War Bow. Harold four Fingers was also there. I gestured for them to move south and line the woods. I heard the hooves coming closer. I had to trust that Stephen the Tracker and Roger of Chester were on the other side of the road. I did not risk peering out. I felt men moving behind me and following James and Harold.

  When I deemed that the horsemen were close I stepped out and said, in Spanish, “Stop!” The first two riders jerked their reins. Their horses reared. Every man’s hands went to his weapons. “Stay your hands or you die!” My men were well hidden. I said, “Men at arms show yourselves!”

  It must have looked a pathetically small number to the horseman who led the nine other riders. He shouted, “Kill them!”

  Ten arrows flew and six riders fell. Two of the horsemen came at me. One was then struck by two arrows. I swung my sword two handed at the other. He had leaned from his saddle to take my unprotected head. I was a strong man and he was not. Our swords cracked together. There was a scream and he dropped his sword. I had broken his wrist. Before he could escape Wilfred of Loidis had grabbed the reins of his horse. The rest of my men ran to grab the horses and secure the four wounded men.

  “See to their wounds.” I walked back to the bridge. “Henry, Peter, bring the horses.”

  The Spaniard with the broken wrist was cursing at me in Spanish. I understood some of the words. My men were busy moving the bodies from the road and taking any weapons and treasure which might be of use. I heard John Bowland bemoaning the small size of the Spanish feet. Roger of Chester said, “These Spanish have good steel, Captain.”

  “Good. We will share it out later. For now, bind the wounds. Harold Four Fingers. Pick two archers and another man at arms. Take these prisoners back to the Earl. They will have valuable information.”

  James War Bow had already made a sling from a piece of one of the dead men’s shirts. The Spaniard said, slowly, “You will pay for this Englishman.

  I smiled, “That I understood!”

  “I am Roderigo, the n
ephew of Don Pedro of Sigüeiro. He is a powerful man!”

  “Good, then he will pay ransom for you.” The horses had reached us. “Henry, Peter, help this wounded man on to his horse.” I turned to Don Roderigo. “Know this, my archers can pluck a hawk from the sky. If you try to run they will kill you. Do you understand?”

  “I do and I will laugh when you die!”

  We remounted and as Harold led the prisoners north we continued south. We had spare horses now from the dead Spaniards and we could afford to ride them hard. We stopped just half a mile from the castle. We stayed in the trees which were on a level with the hall. It was an old-fashioned castle. They had merely rebuilt wood with stone. It stood on a mound and the ditch had not been improved since it had been built. There was one gate in and no sally port. I could see that it was there to protect the bridge and the river crossing. Already a plan was in my head. We could cross the river upstream and the Earl could attack from two directions. The small hamlet was outside the castle walls. I counted twenty men. Some walked the walls and manned the towers. There were a couple by the bridge. I saw a rider leave the castle and head south. I wondered if they had been alerted to the arrival of the Earl. It seemed likely.

  I turned my horse’s head and we rode north. The afternoon was half gone and we would arrive back after dark. The men were in good spirits as they rode along the quiet Spanish road. They would all have coins and some weapons from the dead. We would have ransom for the living. As we passed the bridge I saw movements in the woods. Animals were already feasting upon the dead flesh.

  It was dark when we rode into A Coruña. I sent my men back to the inn with my horse and I went to speak with the Earl. It was Edward on guard again. “You had a good day we hear, Captain.”