by Griff Hosker
Chapter 2
We did not do badly from the bodies. They had coins. They had raided some churches and some farms. They had known where the farmers hid their gold, and we shared it between us. We collected their weapons and took back the two dead archers. The wildlife would feast well on the Scots carrion. Sir Ranulf had not emerged unscathed. There was one dead knight, Sir Giles, and eight dead men at arms. The Scots had fought hard. The animals they had captured were not to be found, and Sir Ranulf assumed that there were more Scots ahead of us. He ignored us, but was fulsome in his praise of Captain Jack.
Hugh of Rhuddlan came up to the four of us. “You four did well. Ralph, tell me what happened while the high and mighty decide what we do next.”
“We tracked them, and I knew that you would be close, Captain. I gambled. I thought that if we loosed arrows and killed a few men, then they would shout and cry when they died, and you would hear. What I did not expect was that Harry and Gruffyd would have the sense to rescue the archers. I know two died, but I had thought that all three were dead men walking.”
Hugh looked at the two of us. “I can see that you two have a future.”
I know not why I said it, but I did. “Captain Jack asked me to join his archers.”
Alan was aghast. “And you refused?” He began to feel my head, “I thought it was me who had a blow to the skull. If you serve Sir Ranulf, then you live in Chester Castle. You do not have to seek out wild Welshmen who wish to feed your bollocks to the dogs, and you are paid!” He shook his head. “Just when I thought you had something about you, then you do this!”
Hugh of Rhuddlan put his arm around me. “Do not listen to him. I admire your loyalty and it will be rewarded. When I tell Sir Henry what you have done for his lordship there will be coin for you.”
Sir Ranulf shouted, “Hugh of Rhuddlan, yours are the only archers now. North of here lies a castle; Hornby. The knight is Richard fitz Meldred. Take your horses and see if the way to it is clear. We will follow.”
Hugh said, “You heard.”
We mounted our ponies and headed north. “Not so much as a kiss my arse there! I tell you, Ralph of Appleby, I like not this duty. You would have thought we did nought.” Harry was not happy.
“We are the only archers now.”
Alan said, “Aye, but even if all of Captain Jack’s men had survived, we would still have drawn this duty. It is not as though Sir Henry values us. We are paid less than any other archers in the county.”
Ralph was silent. He was torn. Even I could see that, and I was new. He was loyal to his lord, but he saw the injustice. When he spoke, it was measured. “Look, I am not saying you are wrong, but I am not agreeing either. I will speak with Hugh of Rhuddlan when we return.”
Harry was like a dog with a bone. “I have heard that English and Welsh archers are prized in France. They are paid well.”
Ralph turned in his saddle, “You would serve the French?”
Harry shrugged. “Longshanks is in France now. He has relatives there. French, Norman, English – it is all the same to the likes of us. What has the crown ever done for me?”
“You would leave his lordship’s service?”
Harry laughed. “You are a fine archer, Ralph, and a good captain, but you are a fool. Of course I would. There is no reason for me to continue to serve a lord who does not value me.” He turned to me. “When this is over, Gruffyd, come with me. You are handy in a fight. I owe my life to you and I would take you with me.”
“You are stepping onto a dangerous road, Harry!”
“If Gruffyd and I turned our ponies and headed east, there is none to stop us, Ralph. I am not saying that is what we will do, but do not push our friendship. I almost died today, and for what? What thanks did I get? None!”
We rode north in an acrimonious silence. I had not said a word. I would not leave with Harry, but much of what he had said made sense. I began to wonder as we neared Hornby and its castle. We told the castellan of the arrival of the conroi and I was sent back to tell the others that it was safe. I was still the youngest and I still drew those duties. We slept in the stable. It was warm and it was dry. The food was porridge. My father ate better.
The next day we were the scouts who sought the enemy. The difference was that Captain Jack rode with us and so all disloyal talk was silenced. He did praise us and tried to persuade all of us to join his lordship. I knew that Ralph and Alan were tempted, but Harry had spoken to me in the stable. He was ready to run.
“When this is over and we return home, let us leave the rest near to Chester and let us head east. We can be at York and take ship for France. We are both good at hiding. They will not find us.”
I had been tempted but I remembered my father. I could not leave without saying goodbye to him. “Let us wait until we are back at the castle. It will be just as easy to leave from there, and besides, his lordship may reward us.”
“And I may grow a pair of tits and become a wet nurse! You are too trusting, Gruffyd. It will be the undoing of you.”
It seemed we had killed the clever ones. We found the Scots just north of Uluereston. They had raided the town and were grazing their captured animals by the river. With sentries watching clouds, and not for enemies, they were surprised by us when we attacked from the north.
Even though we had only a handful of archers, we were able to slay those who threatened our knights and men at arms as they rode to slaughter the raiders. They could have all been captured, for we had better horses, but Sir Ranulf wished to make an example of them. Sir Ranulf had all of the Scots who surrendered maimed. Most lost their left hand. It was a harsh lesson for them. They would learn not to raid England. It took six days for us to return most of the animals and slaves. Some of the animals’ owners were now dead. They became the property of Sir Ranulf. He had payment for his dead archers.
Harry was not happy as we headed south. We had gained coin and some weapons, but others had done better. I knew that he brooded upon the injustice of Sir Ranulf. The spoils from the last attack were given to his men at arms and knights. We had none. It seemed to confirm his opinion of our betters. We stayed at the estate of Sir Richard Molyneaux. It was in the village of Euxton and was just a day’s ride from Chester. We were relegated to the stable once more. Harry came to me and asked, “I would take the coins we took and ride east. Come with me Gruffyd. We will serve together and make our fortunes fighting for the French. What say you?”
I shook my head. “I will not, Harry. I would like to, but I need to speak with my father first.”
“I have no time to wait. When I flee I will ride hard.”
I shook my head. He held out his hand. “Then this is goodbye Gruffyd. Watch out for yourself, and trust no man!”
He took a palfrey and a sumpter. There were no guards, for all were in the hall, drinking. He took a bag of coins and he walked the horses away. He simply disappeared into the undergrowth. I watched him go and felt regret. For all his gruffness, I had liked Harry. I desperately wished to go with him but I was afraid. Harry was now an outlaw.
The next morning, when the theft was discovered, the three of us were interrogated thoroughly. Sir Ranulf could not believe that we knew nothing about the flight of our comrade. I kept a deadpan face. I had sworn no oath to Sir Ranulf. I owed him nothing. Had he treated Harry better then he would not have run. Captain Jack scrutinised my face. Sir Ranulf sent four men at arms south to try to apprehend him. Harry was heading east. He would evade them.
As we rode south, Captain Jack rode next to me. “I know that you know more than you are saying, and I understand both your loyalty to your friend and the reason for his flight. Reconsider my offer and you will be treated better.”
“I will speak with my father first, Captain, and I thank you for the kind offer.”
“That is a fair comment. He will advise you to join me. Of that, I have no doubt.”
We reached Chester and spent a night there. Sir Ranulf came, with Captain Jack, to see us
in the warrior hall where we were enjoying a feast. “You three archers have shown that you are worthy to serve under me. I know that Captain Jack asked you before, and now I will make it a formal offer. Will you serve under me?”
Ralph said, “I am the captain of Sir Henry’s archers, lord. I cannot.”
Alan said, “I will gladly take the offer, lord.” Then he looked at me and nodded.
I shook my head. “I will not give my answer yet, lord. I will first speak with my father. It was he who advised me to serve Sir Henry. I cannot, in all conscience, make such a decision without speaking with him.”
Sir Ranulf shrugged. “Let me know within this sennight.” He turned and left, obviously displeased with my words.
Captain Jack smiled. “You are a man of principles. I doubt not that your father will advise you to join us, for I know his reputation. Gerald ap Llewellyn was known to be a mighty archer and a man of honour.”
Hugh of Rhuddlan was less than happy that one of his best archers had been poached. He rode with Ralph and me. With dead men at arms we now had palfreys to ride rather than ponies. We led our ponies with our baggage. “I know that you think Captain Jack and Sir Ranulf offer more for you than Sir Henry, but let me speak with the baron. I am certain he will see fit to reward you two for your service.”
Ralph shook his head, “He has lost two archers and there are four fewer men at arms. He has nothing to show for his fealty to the Earl of Chester. I will wager that we will receive shorter shrift than before.”
“Then why did you not choose to go with Captain Jack?”
“I told you. I swore an oath.” He looked at Hugh. “What say you, Captain? Can we not reward Gruffyd by allowing him to visit with his father?”
Hugh reined in his horse. We were riding at the rear. “You would return? You would not do as Harry did and run?”
“I swear that, no matter what my father says, I will return to his lordship. I would not be a man otherwise.”
“Then go, and return on the morrow. I will answer to the baron for your absence. I owe you that at least, for you did noble service, and I appreciate it even if Sir Ranulf did not.”
I left them at the baron’s forest. I had no bread nor ale to take to him, but I would call at Ada’s and buy some cheese and milk. It had been well over a month since last I had seen him. We had been on campaign for almost eighteen days. Much could have happened in that time. Ada and her sister Gurtha were outside cleaning out the goat pen as I rode up. I should have known something was amiss from their faces. Ada normally had a warm welcome for me. Instead she began wringing her hands. I wondered if something had happened to Seara, the third sister.
I dismounted. “What is amiss?”
The two of them threw their arms around me and began to weep. I put my arms around them in return. Seara must have died. They lived alone and my father and I were the only ones they saw. Ada stepped back. “His lordship would not let us tend to the body! We had to leave him where he is.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “He?”
“Your father is dead. His body swings from a tree outside the remains of his hut.”
I forced myself to be strong and to make these two upset and overwrought women tell me exactly what had happened. When I knew all, then I could act. “Tell me all and tell me slowly. I need to know.”
Ada nodded. “Aye, for you are a man now. Your father was always proud of you. He said you were the best thing to come from the time he spent with your mother.”
I said, patiently, “What happened?”
“Eight days since, Sir Henry and his friends were hunting. They were using dogs and they had been drinking. They caught no animals. They stopped near to your father’s hut. Old Wolf stood and growled, or so the beaters told us, and Sir Henry’s dogs tore it to pieces. Your father went berserk. He took his axe and slew six of them before his lordship had him taken. He had him blinded and then hanged for damaging his property. He forbade any to touch the body. He wanted it kept as a reminder that his property is sacrosanct. He had your father’s hut destroyed.”
I nodded. I was numb, but I reached into my purse and took out a silver sixpence. “Here, take this for your kindness to my father.” In my head I was already planning what I would do. I would join Harry, but first, there was something else I had to do. It was something so terrible, even thinking it made me shiver.
Ada took it and said, “What will you do?”
“I will bury my father and Wolf.”
“And that is all?”
“Farewell ladies. I fear I will see you no more. I thank you for all your kindnesses. Think well of me, no matter what you hear.” I mounted and rode away, ignoring their protestations. I knew what I would do. I could see now that I was meant to come back. It was not to seek my father’s advice, it was to do him one final service.
I saw that the birds had feasted on my father’s flesh. Flies buzzed around his body. Of Wolf, there was little left. His bones had been picked over. I noticed that his lord’s hounds had been taken. I tied up my horse and climbed the tree. I cut the rope. My father was old and had not been heavy. I lowered his body to the ground. I saw that although the hut had been destroyed, nothing had been taken, save the axe he had used to kill the hounds. It had been thrown around as though by wild animals. I found a mattock and his wooden shovel. I went to the vegetable plot. My father had been happy tending it. He would now spend eternity there. I dug a grave. I made it deep. I found the cloak he had worn when he had served the Earl of Chester, and I wrapped his body in it. I laid Wolf’s remains at his feet. I placed stones along the two bodies, and then I piled back the soft earth. I neatened the sides and then fashioned a cross.
It was coming onto dark and I lit a fire. I needed neither food nor warmth but I needed the fire. When it was hot, I used pieces of metal and my knife to carve in the cross, Gerald the Archer. The hot knife would burn the wood and make the letters stand out. That done, I planted the cross at the head of the grave, and then I spoke to my dead father.
“Forgive me father, for I was not here to protect you. Had I been here, then you might still be alive. I swear that your death will be avenged. I cannot serve a man like Sir Henry. I fear I must become an outlaw. Do not be ashamed of me in the hereafter. There is honour involved. When I leave here, I will no longer be Gruffyd, son of Gerald. I will be Gerald the Archer. I will take the name Gerald War Bow and begin my life anew. Perhaps that is what you meant when last you spoke with me.”
I sat before the fire and stared into the flames. There were so many things I wished I had asked him before he had died. It was too late now. When I had done what had to be done, then I would head east. Perhaps it was not too late to find Harry. He might not wish an outlaw with him. Then I remembered that he, too, was an outlaw.
I did not sleep well. I was not haunted by the dead. My mind was filled with plans. I knew what I had to do but I did not wish to die. After some time of tossing and turning I rose and watched dawn break. I searched the discarded detritus of my father’s world. He had little in his life, but there were items of value. I found his bow. It was a good one and would be my spare. I found his bowstrings. I found the spare food he had buried underground to keep it from scavengers. There was a salted leg of venison. It was not a large one, but it would do. One of his most valued possessions was the bag of salt. I took that. I also dug up the arrows he had stored. I had but eight remaining. He had fifty. They were good arrows. Half of them were hunting arrows with a barbed tip, but the other half were knight killers. They had needlepoint bodkins at the end. He had dyed the feathers green. It was an affectation so that he would know who or what he had killed. I used red. I took his water skin. A spare was always handy. That was all that remained. It was not much to show for a life.
After packing the pony with my arrows I mounted the palfrey and rode towards the castle. I left the pony tied to an elder tree in the forest, two miles from the castle. When I left I would be in a hurry.
This time,
as I approached the castle, I took careful note of all that I saw. It was Alf and John who were the sentries. This was their duty now, to watch the gate. They were both old and slow. They would not be an obstacle.
“You are up early, young Gruffyd.” They were smiling. They did not know what had happened to my father. I wondered if others knew.
“I promised Hugh I would return, and I am a man of my word. If I say I will do something then I will.”
Once inside the inner bailey, I tied my horse next to the water trough to allow him to drink. I strung my bow and held two green fletched arrows next to it.
There were horses with beaters holding them, ready for the knights to ride forth and go hunting. There were no dogs. I smiled grimly. His lordship was going hunting. I saw Hugh of Rhuddlan speaking with Ralph. I walked over to them. Ralph frowned when he saw the stringed bow. He was an archer and knew that an archer did not do that. He said nothing. My face must have shown what was in my heart, for Hugh of Rhuddlan said, “What ails you, Gruffyd? Did you have words with your father?”
They did not know. “That would have been difficult, Captain. My father was blinded and hanged by Sir Henry. I buried him last night.”
Hugh said, “I am sorry for your loss, but I am certain Sir Henry had good reason. Had your father been poaching?”
Hugh was clutching at straws. I forced a smile. “I will ask him that.”
“Be careful, Gruffyd. Do not upset his lordship.”
I nodded. Luckily, I did not have to say more, for Sir Henry, his squire and two other knights emerged. He saw me and shouted, “You, archer! Hugh of Rhuddlan overstepped himself when he allowed you to spend a night away from the castle. You will forego your monthly day off.”
I nodded. “Tell me, my lord, why did you hang my father?”
He took ten steps towards me so that he was but five paces from me. “You insolent wretch! I answer not to you. I will have you whipped for that. Hugh of Rhuddlan, bind him!”