The King Is Dead

by Griff Hosker

  Once my mail was off I lay down to sleep. Leofric covered me with cloak and surcoat. I slept the sleep of the dead. I trusted my men to keep a good watch. Leofric woke me before dawn. They all knew I wanted us to be ready to face this de Senonches when dawn broke. As John helped me on with my mail William handed me a piece of cheese and some stale bread. I had no idea where he got either but he was learning to be a forager.

  "How do we fight these men, today, lord?"

  "We stop them using this road. I chose the camp site as it controls the road and the ford. If they wish to get back to Scotland then they must knock us out of the way first."

  "But what if they continue to Otterburn?"

  "A good question. In that case we will pursue the enemy, and use our archers to whittle down his numbers. Dick and his men are the stopper in this jar. He will hold Otterburn and we will squeeze him. He has animals, captives and loot. He must move slowly or butcher them. I believe he will try to rid the land of us and then he has a choice; return home or continue to raid."

  William looked at me and I saw the question in his eyes, "But what if you are wrong?"

  "Then I will have let down my King." His mouth dropped open, "Being a lord is a serious business, my son. You do not take the responsibilities lightly and you learn to use your head."

  Ralph of Wales rode in, "My lord, they come. They have formed two battles."

  "Two?"

  "A large one which comes to fight and a smaller one which guards their captives."

  "And the larger one has the knights?"

  "Yes lord, or most of them. There are two with the captives."

  "And one of those close to the captives has a banner with what looks like a lion or a gryphon?"

  "Yes, lord, how do you know?"

  "Just a guess. To arms!"

  John brought over Badger. Today was a day for a warhorse. "John, today you ride behind me. William, you carry the standard!" His face showed me the pleasure he felt. I mounted. My knights rode over. "We will have the knights and our sergeants in the front rank. Archers on the flanks and the men at arms in one column ready to exploit any weaknesses. Watch for my commands." As we all had one warrior, a sergeant at arms, who led our men at arms we would use those most skilful of warriors to make up for our lack of knights. Our squires brought our lances and we waited just fifty paces from the ford.

  They were advancing on a broad front. I counted at least fifteen knights and fifty men at arms. I recognised the banner of Gospatric and Comyn. If we could capture Comyn then we might be able to accuse King David of breaking the peace. Crucially there were neither archers nor crossbows in the first battle. They were in the distance guarding the captives with Guy de Senonches. Behind the mounted men came men on foot. There were some men at arms while others looked to be mercenaries and galloglasses. I guessed that they must have been confident for they could see there were but four knights facing them. "Let them cross the river. We charge when they begin to climb the bank. See how muddy and slippery it is. We charge through them and get to those on foot. If we make them flee then the day will be ours!"

  My men all cheered. Success breeds confidence and we had been successful up to now.

  When they reached the far bank the line tried to maintain its formation. They had twenty mailed men in their front rank. Like us their sergeants were on the flanks of the front rank. The problems began when they reached the ford. The sergeants at arms found themselves in slightly deeper water and they began to fall back as their horses baulked. It left just fourteen men in the middle who were advancing faster than the others. The leader had a shield with a mythical creature upon it. It was a black hydra on a red background. His helmet enclosed his head. That was a mistake as it restricted his vision. He spurred his horse and shouted, "Charge!" as they reached the northern bank.

  It was what I had waited for, "Charge!"

  The French horses slipped and they lost all cohesion. We, in contrast, rode knee to knee on the more solid ground. I pulled back my lance as we closed. The knight with the black hydra was struggling to control his war horse. He tried to raise his lance to strike at me but he could not. I had all the time in the world to choose my target. My lance hit him square in the chest. His horse's legs had no purchase and as the rider fell backwards, he pulled the horse on top of him. A destrier is incredibly heavy. The knight was crushed and drowned in the muddy waters of the Kale. I pulled my lance back and struck at the man at arms who turned to meet me. His shield was smaller than mine and his spear shorter. Mine hit him under his left arm. Although the shaft broke the head was embedded in his body. I drew my sword and swung it at the man at arms on my right who was pulling his spear back to strike Sir Hugh Manningham. I severed his arm and he too fell to his death in the Kale. I was through the first two ranks of men at arms. The ones I now faced were, like me, armed with a sword. Had they had the skill of Wulfric then I might have feared them but they did not.

  "On!" I saw that my archers had whittled down those at the flanks so that there was just one more line of men at arms before me. Rather than risking the muddy bank I waited with Badger's withers in the river. Two came for me at once. I took a blow on my shield while I brought my own sword down hard on the sword of the second man at arms. Badger bit and spat at the palfrey which tried to whirl away. As the man at arms struggled to keep his balance I swung sideways at his sword. He was slow to raise it and I hacked into his hand and his thigh. He fell into the water.

  I whipped Badger's head around and found myself behind the first man at arms. I brought my sword around in an arc and hit him in the middle of his back. His mail held but not his back; I heard it crack and he fell into the water. Turning Badger for the southern bank I heard his scream as my destrier trampled him. We had won the skirmish at the ford and the horsemen were turning. The men on foot stood there ready to fight us but the horsemen cut huge swathes through them as they fell back.

  "Charge!" We could not move as fast as I would have liked for the ground was muddy but we had the element of surprise. They had thought to attack us and now we attacked them. The tables had turned.

  The men on foot were brave but they did not have the advantage of a solid line. No matter how many times you are told a horse will not deliberately run at you it is hard to believe and Badger, with his flaring nostrils, savage looking teeth and huge hooves looked like a monster even to my men. I leaned forward. The spearman pulled back his spear to stab me. I brought my shield over horizontally. The spear shattered upon it and I rammed my sword through his neck. And then I was facing the backs of the men who fled the wall of steel which flooded towards them. It was not sport it was butchery. However as they had more men remaining than we did we had to level the numbers. My sword hacked backs, necks and helmets. Not all died but none would fight again for some time. I saw that Sir Guy de Senonches had brought his crossbows in a line before him. I yelled, "Halt! William. Signal stop!"

  The men I led did as I commanded but two of Sir Hugh Manningham's men at arms rode too close to the crossbows. They and their mounts were brought down by a flurry of bolts. I saw Sir Guy shout something to his crossbowmen. They were wasting valuable bolts which they would need. My men halted. Horses and men were exhausted. The enemy gathered around their banners. Sir Hugh rode next to me. "Sorry about Alan and Robert, they were always a little too much like Viking berserkers. They have paid the price."

  "Amen to that."

  "Now what?"

  "I don't know. We have parity of numbers but they can't move unless we let them. Perhaps we will talk."

  "Talk? Why not fight?"

  "Because even though we might win many of those captives would die. I have a responsibility to save their lives. If we have to then we fight. If I can I will talk a solution." I turned to Leofric, "Have our wounded men taken to the priests. They need to be healed."

  "Aye my lord." Leofric was the most organised of my squires and the most reliable. John would be the better warrior but Leofric would make the better kn
ight. His Norman was as good as William's and he could write. He was becoming as invaluable to me as Wulfric.

  I looked around and saw that we had lost neither knights nor squires. That was a relief and Wulfric rode at my side still. Now that I was closer I could see that they had captured many people on their drive south. From the bodies we had found I had expected it to be fewer. I had no doubt that we could defeat them. My archers alone could pick them off at range but they were now using them as a human shield. I could not be that ruthless. I took off my helmet and handed it to John.

  Turning to Aelric I said, "Have your men watch for treachery."

  "Aye Lord."

  I mounted Scout and allowed John to take Badger away. "Come William, let us go and speak with this Frenchman."

  I held my hands out before me as I walked my horse towards them. I knew, without looking, that Aelric and my archers had their arrows aimed at the crossbowmen. At the first sign of a raised crossbow they would release. I heard a French voice, "Do not use your crossbows! We talk!"

  As I approached I watched as the knight called de Senonches took off his helmet. I saw that he was younger than I was but he had a cruel look to him. He seemed to sneer. I took in the fact that he had good mail and a well made helmet. This was a warrior. It made me wonder why he had not led the attack. I scanned his lines as we slowly approached. Although we now had roughly equal numbers I saw that his men at arms did not all have mail. It might explain why he had not committed all of his men to the charge.

  We stopped twenty paces from him. I spoke bluntly, "Do you wish to surrender?"

  He laughed. I could see that he had not expected such a question. "No, I thought you came here to negotiate for the captives."

  "Why should I do that? You cannot go back to France north and south of here the road is blocked."

  He gave the slightest of frowns and then smiled. "You have no men south of us."

  "Haven't I?" I gestured with my hand, "You have the road, use it and we will follow. When you reach Otterburn you will see if I lie or not."

  He nodded slowly, "It is right what they say about you, son of a serf, you have a mind. However it does not change things. If you give us gold we will return your captives and go back to Scotland."

  "We pay no ransom. These are our people and they are in England. We do not buy back from thieves and vagabonds."

  "I like not your words!"

  "I am Alfraed Earl of Stockton charged by King Henry to guard these lands. I care not what a Frenchman far from home thinks."

  He smiled, "Robert, show the Earl that we mean business."

  A huge man at arms walked over to the captives and grabbed an old woman by the hair. He dragged her screaming towards us. He took out his dagger and began to move it towards her throat. I stared at Sir Guy de Senonches. He was testing my resolve. He shrugged and nodded to his man. As soon as the man's hand moved there was a double thud as two arrows struck him. One hit his face and the other his chest. He fell dead.

  I smiled. "Arrows are much better than crossbows, Frenchman. They can find targets hidden from your crossbows. So? You were saying?" He stared malevolently at me. I sighed, "My archers can pick you all off one by one. Your captives will be a hindrance. If you wish honour then let the captives go and we will fight again, to the death this time. Whatever your decision the captives will not be harmed."

  I could see that he was beaten. "Let the captives go."

  He spoke in French and none understood him. I doubted that they would understand Norman either. I spoke in Saxon. "You can go. Head up the road towards my men." They looked fearfully at their former captors. "Go, you have my word they will not harm you."

  The old woman turned, "Come! We are safe." As she passed me she said, "Thank you, my lord!"

  "Thank my archers. They have the keen eyes and hands."

  They hurried north. Sir Guy said, "And now what? We have done as you asked. Let us go home."

  I shook my head, "I came here for your surrender."

  He laughed, "You will get no ransom for us. Let us do as you say and fight to the death."

  I nodded, "A good idea. Shall we say first thing in the morning?"

  His eyes narrowed, "You have something planned?" He glanced to the south. "You were not trying to deceive me; you do have men approaching from the south and you hope to trap us!"

  I said nothing. I watched as he wrestled with his options. So far I had tricked him into believing that I had more men than I had. I could not afford a battle with them. We might well win but we would lose many men.

  "We will pay no ransom. What is the solution?"

  "Leave your warhorses and crossbows here. We will escort you and your Frenchmen to Jedburgh and you swear not to make war in my lands again."

  He nodded, "That would seem reasonable. You said Frenchmen?"

  "Aye," I pointed to three knights who were off to the side. "They are traitors or foresworn for the two rebels there swore an oath to King Henry and the Scotsman has broken the peace. They come with me to Durham!"

  The three of them looked startled. Sir Richard De Vere shouted, "You cannot do this Sir Guy!"

  "It is out of my hands!"

  In answer they jerked their horse's heads around and galloped south. Their squires and three men at arms followed them. The rest realised they were better off staying where they were. That way they would live. I shook my head, "Foolish! Had they come with me they might have lived. They would have paid ransom but they would have lived." I turned to William, "Signal Sir Hugh and Wulfric!"

  Sir Guy nudged his horse closer, "You realise, of course, that this is not over. We will meet again; perhaps on the field of battle perhaps somewhere else but we are now enemies."

  I smiled, "That would ever be the case for you are French and King Louis is my enemy. So long as there are Frenchmen then I will fight them. The difference is I will not sneak over the border and murder men women and children. I will fight on a battlefield." I shrugged, "Of course that is because I am English and you are merely French!" My men had ridden behind me, "Sir Hugh, escort these Frenchmen to Jedburgh. The warhorses stay here; they are our reward for victory. Aelric, destroy the crossbows. Wulfric, we will follow these traitors."

  Sir Hugh said, "With pleasure, my lord."

  I turned to Sir Guy, "And now Sir Guy, your oath." I pointed to his sword. "On your blade."

  There was hatred etched across his face but he took out his sword. He held it before him like a huge cross, "I swear that I will not raid these lands again!"

  I had no doubt that he would try to hurt me but he had sworn before his men. He would not come to the north of England again. "Leofric, take the warhorses back to Sir Harold and Sir Tristan. They can escort the captives home and then wait for us at Norham. Come Wulfric, we have traitors to hunt."

  Chapter 3

  "Where will they head, lord?"

  "This road leads to Otterburn. Dick and my archers are there. They will not get any further."

  William showed that he was now becoming more thoughtful, "But they are rebels and Scots. Their lands are to the north."

  "And they will try to take the road west, to Hawick. That is in Scotland."

  "Will they not try to go across country?"

  Aelric laughed, "I wish they would, young lord, their heavy horses would struggle and my archers would have fine sport hunting them." He was right. The moors and high grounds did not suit mailed men on heavy horses. They would have to stay on the roads.

  My men were riding fresher horses. We had not charged very far while the enemy had charged twice. They would tire sooner. Scout was eager to ride and we made good time on the twisting road south. There were places they could turn off but each one was held by a garrison. Otterburn had no lord of the manor and just a tower. That was their best chance of escape. I had ten men at arms and ten archers with me. The nine men we pursued would be caught. Sir Richard I knew. He had rebelled before. The other two I did not although I recognised their liveries. One was
a Balliol and the other a de Vexin. I hoped to capture them. They were worth more to us alive than dead for we could ransom them and I also wanted information.

  "My lord could we not ride ahead? Our horses are fresh and it will worry our prey."

  "Aye Aelric, that is a good idea but be careful. You are more valuable to me than these rebels."

  Their horses took off like greyhounds. I had no doubt that they would spy them before too long. The land began to rise to the pass which would allow us to spy out the land ahead and around. I saw a knot of riders ahead. They were too far away to identify but John's sharp eyes saw that they had helmets. It was the men we sought. The dead ground ahead hid our archers from us but I had no doubt that the riders saw them. They sealed their own fate when they took off west. Hawick was just fifteen miles away but it would be across country. They were going to risk the high moors on tired horses. Aelric would be rubbing his hands.

  "Wulfric we head west to cut them off." Although our horses would also struggle on the rough ground we could cut the traitors off. Their eyes would be on Aelric and his archers. I did not worry about my archers. When they reached arrow range they would stop and loose arrows at the fleeing men. They would wear them down.

  There were paths and tracks across the moors; animals and hunters made them. They were not always straight but if you had the time to watch for them then they made easier going than the tussocks, rocks and hidden holes which would trap the unwary. Our enemies were fleeing. They would not look for safe paths. We lost sight of the nine as they dropped into a lower piece of ground. When they emerged, sometime later, I saw that there were but seven of them. Two were missing. The seven survivors disappeared again and we focussed on negotiating the trail. When they reappeared I saw that they were just a mile away and we were converging.

  Wulfric shouted, "I can see Aelric. He has their backs covered. We have them."

  They must have realised so too for they stopped and waited for us. As we approached they dismounted and I saw that one of the horses was lame. Even as we drew close its rider cut its throat. No horseman wanted his mount to suffer. I saw that the seven who awaited us were the knights and squires. Only one man at arms remained. I saw Aelric and his archers leading two horses. I knew the fate of the two men at arms.