by Griff Hosker
Peter said, “That could be true. Your eyes do not lie and you are no coward. I wondered at the sheriff sending one so young. His killers are older men.” He sheathed his dagger. “You need more archers?”
“We do.”
“Then we may be able to help you, but not here in Nottingham. The sheriff has his spies. If you say you head home tomorrow, where would home be?”
“The prince’s army musters at Windsor, so it would be south.”
“Then we will meet you on the road to Leicester.”
I took two coins from my purse. “Then here is the metal to seal the agreement.”
“We could run and never see you again.”
“Then I would have lost a couple of coins, and you would have lost the chance for a new life, free and clear.”
Jack nodded. “Until the morrow.”
We headed back to the alehouse, where we had said we would meet the others. “Two is not fifteen, Captain.”
“No, and I do not think that we will find the number we need on the morrow. We will have to seek the rest elsewhere. It is a start. If we are heading for the land of the Clwyd and the Conway, then we might get some from there.”
“The prince wants them now, Captain.”
“Then he should have given us longer.”
The others had had no success. I said, quietly, “There are spies of the sheriff watching us. See if you can see them, and do not talk of our quest until we are in our room.”
John answered me straight away. “There were two men by the door. I saw them yesterday. They drink little and they watch everyone. When you and Robin entered, then one left. Do you want us to do anything about them?”
“No. It will not serve us. Let them watch. We leave in the morning.”
David the Welshman cocked an eye. “When we are in the room, then all will be revealed.”
John of Nottingham nodded. “We spent the day enjoying the delights of Nottingham. David here must have a woman he has an eye on. He bought some lace in the town. He paid a pretty price too!”
Nottingham was famous for its lace, but it was not cheap.
David shook his head. “You are a fool, John of Nottingham, it is for a woman, but it is for my mother.”
Stephen Green Feathers remarked, “Your mother!”
“You say ‘mother’ like you think I was hatched from beneath a rock! Of course I have a mother, and if we going to the land around Conway, then we will be passing close by Wrechcessham. My mother lives there.”
“Wrechcessham is in Powys. We lost that land twenty years since.”
“Unless Prince Edward plans on a longer march north into the land around Nantwich, then he will have to pass by Wrechcessham. I have not seen her this twenty years.”
Stephen said, quietly, voicing what we all thought, “Then she may be dead.”
Equally quietly Stephen said, “Then I will leave the lace upon her grave.”
We left the alehouse after some more of their food, with its dubious meat. Once in the room I told them all about our latest recruits.
John of Nottingham said, “This Jack of Lincoln, did he have a split nose?”
“Aye, he did.”
“I know of him. I never met him, but it is said he led the outlaws for a time.” John shrugged at our questioning looks. “I told you, I ran with outlaws for a while. We were not the same band, but he was said to be a fine archer. He had his nose split by the Constable of Lincoln when he was but seven summers old. He had poached rabbits to feed his family. When they died he joined the outlaws. If he is considering leaving the forest then these must be desperate times.”
I felt more hopeful. We paid our bill and saddled our horses. I had Robin buy plenty of food for the journey and we made sure that our ale skins were full. We headed out of town, using the south gate. I knew that we would be followed by the sheriff’s men. I did not wish to alarm our would-be archers, and so I had David the Welshman leave us at the first crossroads. We made an act of saying farewell. We rode another half mile and then stopped at a small wood. The road had bent around the wood, and we were able to shelter in its eaves. We heard the hooves of the sheriff’s men’s horses as they hurried to catch us. With arrows nocked, the four of us stepped out. We took them by surprise. One tumbled from his horse and the other tried to whip his horse’s head around to make his escape. David the Welshman had his sword at his throat before he had travelled twenty paces.
“Whom do you work for, and why do you follow us?” They were silent. I looked up and down the empty road, exaggerating my movements as I did so. “This is an empty road. You have two horses and, I have no doubt, fat purses. What is to stop us cutting your throats and taking what you have?”
To emphasise my point David pricked the skin of one of them and blood dripped down. It had the desired effect.
“We are the sheriff’s men and if you kill us you will be hunted. He knows that Prince Edward’s men were in the town.”
I realised then that this was something bigger than just curiosity. “Answer this question, and we will let you live.” They both nodded. “Were the Earl of Leicester’s men in Nottingham in the last month?”
The one with the pricked neck said, “Aye, the earl himself led them! How did you know?”
I tapped my nose. “Get you back and tell the sheriff that treachery comes at a price. Now turn and ride back. If you follow us then you will die.”
They needed no urging and they left. John asked, “What was that about, Captain?”
“There is a plot here. The Earl of Leicester returns to England at the same time as the prince. He has had a falling out with the prince. It is known that the Earl of Leicester is no friend to King Henry. I see a conspiracy. This is de Montfort land. We must tread carefully. We will avoid Leicester. We were seen heading north to Nottingham. Wilfred of Melton will be waiting for us.”
The outlaws were good. We neither saw nor smelled them. They just seemed to materialise from the scrubby, overgrown hedgerow by the dilapidated hut. There were ten of them. Jack of Lincoln was the oldest. There were some who were younger than I was. One looked to be barely fourteen summers but he already had an archer’s chest. Five bows were aimed at us.
I spread my hands. “We are here, Jack of Lincoln. There is no need to aim arrows at us unless your intention is to rob us.”
“Just being careful, Gerald War Bow.”
A man appeared behind us; eleven. He shouted, “No one following, Jack.” His voice was heavy with suspicion. It was as though he did not believe us.
“How did you get out without the sheriff’s men following you?” Jack asked.
“They did follow us,” I smiled. “We discouraged them.” He nodded and waved his hands so that the bows were lowered. “Have you thought about our offer?”
“The ones you see here are willing to think about it, Captain, but not all are convinced. For myself, I am getting too old to sleep on soggy leaves. I have joints which now ache in the cold. I will swear on your Bible. As for the others, they are here. They will listen.”
I slipped from my saddle and took out the Bible. I handed it to John, who nodded. I turned to the others. “It is simple, lads. If you will swear on the Bible to give up your brigandage, then I will give you a coin, and you will join my company of archers. We fight for two things: Prince Edward and for ourselves. Whatever we take from the battlefield we share equally. If one of us dies then the others share his coin. It is no more complicated than that. Prince Edward will clothe you, feed you, house you and I will pay you.” I spread my arms. “Decide now. If you wish to follow, then welcome, and if not, then fare ye well.”
They looked at each other. I heard Jack of Lincoln as he swore.
Turning to my men, I said, “Let us take off our livery and don cloaks. I fear that the next part of the journey may be hazardous.”
They dismounted and did as I did, slipping off my surcoat and rolling it up. With just our old cloaks we would be anonymous.
Jack of
Lincoln laughed and pointed at the others. “You wait? Where is another offer? Peter of Wakefield, you spoke with this captain. Did he strike you as dishonest?”
The suspicious man we had met shook his head and nodded. “I will swear. Like Jack of Lincoln, I have had enough of a life without bread.”
It was like a dam being broken. The others all joined him. I pointed to the sumpter. “I thank you Jack of Lincoln. You can ride the sumpter.”
He laughed. “You think me old and I will slow you down.”
“I will not lie; that was my thinking.”
“You may be right. Tell me, Captain. How did you become a captain when so young? I mean no offence.”
“And none is taken. I saved the life of Prince Edward. My companion, who was also an outlaw, died. The men who follow me were chosen by me.”
He gave me a shrewd look. “And if we do not meet your standards?”
“Those who are not made of the right wood will be paid off. They will have more money than they do now.”
“That is reasonable. And our route?”
“We will head south and west to avoid Leicester. Such a large body of men will be noticed on the Great Road. We will head through the back roads south of the Trent. It is quieter there and the roads frequented less.”
“Six days then.”
“To get to Windsor?” He nodded. “With men walking, aye.”
John of Nottingham said, “They are all sworn, Captain.”
“Then give them all some food, for our journey is a long one. Stephen Green Feathers, take us down the road to Ashby. David, ride a mile behind us.”
Jack had a hunk of bread in his hand and a piece of cheese. “You are a careful man.”
“I am.”
We made good time and travelled almost thirty miles. We camped in the woods north of the small town of Hinckley. We were still deep in the heart of de Montfort country, and we made a defensive camp in a dell, deep in the wood. There was a stream and enough wild brambles for us to cut and make a barrier which would warn us of any danger.
I watched my new and old men get to know one another. John spoke at length with Jack of Lincoln. Jack did not remember him, but they had acquaintances in common. This was how bonds between warriors were made. We had done the same with the men at arms when we had been aboard the ship. When we fought, it would be fighting for more than the lions upon our chests. We would fight for the men with whom we had shared ale and bread.
I set sentries; I would have the middle shift. I was about to roll into my blanket when Jack of Lincoln came over. “You did not tell us the whole truth, Captain.”
“I did not lie.”
“No, but you did not tell us the scale of your deeds. Your youth made me doubt you, but I can see now that your fresh beard hides more than a youthful face. The men I brought will not let you down. Even Dick, son of Robin, the youngest of our band, is a reliable warrior.”
I nodded. “I never doubted it, but as we both know, Jack of Lincoln, the proof will come not on a ride through England but when we face men on horses who try to kill us.”
He nodded. “Good night, Captain.”
Trouble found us the next day. John of Nottingham and Ralph, son of Richard, were the scouts. They hurried back to us when we were north of the village of Rocheberie. I had been contemplating buying food there, for we were short on supplies. The arrival of my scouts drove that thought from me.
“Captain, there are men waiting for us. Some are in the village and others hide in the woods along the trail we would take if we wished to avoid the village.”
“Are they hiding in the village?”
“No, Captain, the six men there are openly walking about. The ten in the woods are hiding. They have an ambush prepared. I saw, beneath the cloak of one of them, the livery of de Montfort.”
We had a dilemma. If we turned back or tried to head east we risked running into more of them. If the sheriff had been one of de Montfort’s men, he would have sent a message to his master. The captain of archers already knew of us. My reputation and my name had brought us into danger.
“We need to set off this trap. Jack of Lincoln, remember that of which we spoke last night?”
“Aye, Captain.”
“These men know not of you. They are waiting for five archers and six horses. We will give them that. I wish you and your men to get ahead of us and ambush the ambushers.”
“You trust us to save you?”
“When we fight in the wars, Jack of Lincoln, we will do that each time we fight. Our lives are in your hands.”
He dismounted. “We will not let you down. Give us to the count of two hundred, Captain.”
As they trotted off, I said, “We will use swords. Ride in twos. Stephen, drop the sumpter when we are attacked.”
As we set off I slipped my sword in and out of its scabbard. It was sharp. John pointed at the trail and we left the road and entered the wood. It was a mixture of elm, rowan and oak. There were hawthorn, elder and blackberry bushes. It was perfect ambush country. The trail twisted and turned. If these were archers we faced then that helped us. They would have to wait until a straight part of the trail before they could attack. The trail was barely wide enough for two horses. That meant John and I were a big target. The waiting made me nervous. I was waiting for the sound of a twang which would tell me I was about to die. When the twang came it just told me where they were. Twenty paces from me one of my men cried out and fell to the ground with an arrow in his back. I dug my heels in and jerked my reins. I went to the right of the trail and John the left.
My sudden movement took one of the ambushers who was armed with a sword and shield by surprise. He looked at his comrade for help. I swept the sword from behind me. I was not a skilled swordsman. I did not need to be. With my powerful arms and the speed of my horse, I smashed the shield into the air and the edge of my sword tore through the man’s face. I wheeled left and rode at the archer who was trying to aim at me. Behind me, I heard John’s horse and then the cry of the man I had wounded as Robin despatched him. The archer released but it was hurried, and I was already jinking to the side. He had no shield and I brought my sword down on his unprotected head. My arm jarred as I split his skull.
In the distance I heard the sound of men fleeing. I whirled around, but all I could hear around me were the moans of dying men. I reined in. “Is anyone hurt?”
My archers, old and new, called out their names. We had caught them by surprise. Already the bodies were being stripped. David and Stephen led four horses. “We have their mounts.”
I nodded. A plan was forming in my mind. “Dick, son of Robin, head towards the village and watch for the rest of de Montfort’s men. David, take the five spare horses down the trail. Do not worry about making noise. I do not need you to be hidden. Halt when you reach the edge of the woods.”
They looked at me quizzically but they did not argue. I dismounted and picked up the body of the archer I had slain. My men had already taken his arrows, dagger and coins. I saw that he had de Montfort’s livery beneath his cloak. I lifted him up and draped his arms through the branches of the elder before me. I put his bow in his hands.
“Put the other bodies like this one and then hide. I want them to attack their own dead when they come.”
Peter of Wakefield said, “You think they will come?”
John of Nottingham laughed. “Do as he says. You will learn to trust his senses.”
There were six bodies, laid in the trees by the trail. Dick, son of Robin, ran in. “They are coming. Four horsemen and the rest on foot.”
I slapped my horse and it galloped off behind me. It was a good horse, and when its reins fell, it would stop. I drew my sword and stood behind the body of the archer I had killed. The men of Leicester were loud as they hurtled through the woods. They still thought there were but five of us. An arrow thudded into the body before me. It must have touched the bow the corpse held, for the weapon fell to the ground.
A voice shou
ted, “They are waiting here! No quarter!”
A rider galloped towards what he thought was a corpse. It was, but it was a corpse with a sword behind it. As the rider rode past the dead archer, I stepped out and swung my sword two-handed into the rider’s back. He had no mail and my sword hacked through to his spine. Arrows flew, and two other riders fell from their horses. A figure suddenly leapt into the air and knocked the last rider from his horse. Peter of Wakefield drew his dagger and slit the horseman’s throat. With the riders dead, the rest fled. This time they would not stop running until they reached Leicester, and that would be after dark.
I lifted the cloak of the rider. He was one of de Montfort’s men. He had a healthy purse, and his leather boots suggested that this was a sergeant at arms. I took his dagger and his sword. Jack of Lincoln approached. I threw him the sword and the belt. “Here, I am guessing you know how to use this.”
“Aye, Captain. That was as neat an ambush as I have ever seen. You know the greenwood.”
I nodded. “I do.”
We quickly recovered our horses. We now had nine. With men riding double we could make better time. David the Welshman was waiting at the edge of the road. The road from the village passed nearby.
“Come, let us ride. I want as much distance as we can twixt us and Leicester. If we ride the road our trail will go cold.”
Chapter 10
We reached Windsor three days later. Riding the horses along the road had helped, and then we had taken to the trails through the woods. I had sent John of Nottingham into Aylesbury to buy food. We had fewer than forty miles to go but we needed nourishment. It was dark when we entered the lower ward. We knew the guards. They had been on the ship with us from Bayonne.
Tall Alan cocked his head to one side. He took in the new men and the horses. “I can see there will be a tale over the table this night, Captain.”
“There will indeed.” I turned to John of Nottingham. “Take the horses to the stables and then the men to the guard room. I will go and inform the prince that we have more men.”