The King Is Dead

by Griff Hosker

  I felt a huge sense of relief when I had told Alf. Even more than John I could rely on him. This was his town and he would die for it. I went to the church. My wife was buried there. When I wanted to clear my mind and feel peace I sought solace there. I took a lighted brand and placed it in the sconce. I knelt by her tomb. My daughter and Father Matthew were also buried there. I should have brought flowers. Adela had loved flowers. I had never brought her enough. I brushed away the little dust that had gathered there. Father Henry had women who came each day to sweep it but it made me feel as though I was doing my part.

  I sensed the priest's presence behind me. I stood. "There is no need to get up on my account, your lordship."

  "I have much to do Father. I must visit with the King."

  He shook his head. "When I came here I wondered if you would be like the lord of the manor where I grew up. Would you be hunting and wenching every hour of every day. A monk has more time to himself than you do, my lord."

  "Not true but it is kind of you to say so. Let us just say that I was brought up with a sense of duty. I have a duty to this town as well as my King. And Adela would wish me to work hard."

  "I never met your good lady but I have heard of nothing but good things about her."

  I took the candle and snuffed it out when we emerged into the light. "I have told Alf that I fear danger will come to our home. I am no seer and I cannot say when but I have made provision within my castle. If danger comes then all of the people will be able to shelter within its walls. I implore you and Alf to make sure they heed my wishes."

  "We will. And when do you go?"

  "This seven night."

  "Come to church on Sunday. The people will like it. I will say words for your wife. It will be a timely reminder of the service your family gives to Stockton."

  "I will do so."

  I had much to do. I rode about my land alone. That was a measure of the security I had created. I visited Norton and Baron Henry. This had been my father's manor and he and his oathsworn lay in the church. Baron Henry was dependable. It was what I wanted for my manor of Norton. "When I leave I would have you and your men at arms keep a close watch on the Hartness to Wulfestun road. That is where any danger will come from. Sir Edward can watch the river and Sir Richard the south. Sir Hugh and Sir Geoffrey have the western approach well protected but there is no castle between Durham and me. If danger threatens then do not be too proud to hide within Stockton's sturdy walls."

  "I will my lord but where do you go?"

  "I visit with the Archbishop and then I may be away with a longer journey. I am preparing my lords of the valley."

  Sir Edward was my closest friend. He had been my man at arms and was, outside of Wulfric, the most reliable man I knew. I told him all and omitted no detail. He had a good mind. "Well Edward? Do you agree with my conclusions?"

  "I am but a humble soldier however it is as plain as the nose on my face that there are plots abroad and both the Empress and the King are in danger. Would you have me with you?"

  "I would but I need you here more. You and Sir Hugh Manningham are my two rocks. You can unite and lead when I am gone. I hope that no flames will be lit while I am away but if they are then you two can quench them."

  "Aye, we can both piss away a fire!"

  "I would, however, make sure that you have men in the woods looking for outlaws and strangers. It is what they did in the north and they were unchecked. The Tees is an artery into the heart of England. If an enemy gained it then the country would be cut in two."

  "We will be vigilant. Whom do you take?"

  "My squires, seven men at arms and eight archers."

  "Dick and Wulfric?"

  "Aye."

  "Then you will be well protected. When you return you shall find your land safe or me and my men buried beneath it."

  Chapter 6

  We reached York without incident. I saw shadows now each time we stopped. I trusted only those that I knew and every stranger was a potential knife in the night. The Archbishop looked relieved to see me. I had, of course, sent no letters with the intelligence I had gathered. The Bishop and myself wanted secrecy. That did not mean that the Archbishop had not heard rumours. Once alone and with Wulfric on guard outside the prelate's door, before I spoke, I gave him the Bishop's letter. He read it.

  "Do you know what it says?"

  "I can guess. We held a full and frank discussion before I left Durham."

  "He tells me you have more to say."

  I nodded and he listened while I gave him my interpretation of the events. He was a churchman but he knew the world and its treacherous ways. When I had finished and told him my conclusions he folded his fingers together and looked deep into my eyes. It was as though he was reading my mind.

  "I agree with your conclusions in fact I had come to much the same before you arrived. The King needs money. His barons in Normandy are restless. They are fuelled no doubt by the French and the Empire. He must buy friends. I have some chests of treasure for him. I would have you and your men act as escorts. I have a large cog waiting to sail. She has been waiting for me to arrange warriors to guard her. There are pirates out there. Your visit seems to have been ordained by God. You are the miracle I sought."

  "I can do as you ask but if we are to defend ourselves from other ships then I would beg some more archers. I have but eight."

  "Not crossbows?"

  "I would not wish to upset my captain of archers."

  "I have twelve who are good and true. Phillip, their captain, is my cousin's son. He is a good archer. You can trust them."

  "Then their numbers do not worry me. If you have vouchsafed them then I will sleep easy. When should I sail?"

  "On the morning tide."

  "Then I had best start. It will take some time to load our horses and equipment." In addition to my men I had brought six loyal servants who could look after the horses and tend to our needs.

  As I opened the door Wulfric said, "I'll get the lads down to the river." He had ears as sharp as any.

  There was no way to avoid being seen carrying the large chests down to the river. Had I been the Archbishop I might have had them in a warehouse close by the water but I suppose he would have attracted attention by the guards he would need. He came with us having summoned his archers. It took ten servants to carry the five heavy chests through the streets of York to the river. While it was in York I did not worry about it. I fretted more about our horses. I had brought Hunter as well as Scout. Hunter travelled better than Badger and I had bought him in France anyway. It seemed appropriate to take him back to the land where he was born.

  I did not worry about loading the chests but I made sure that my two horses were led gently on board. They waited, with the other horses, patiently while the chests were packed in the hold with them The gold and the horses were the only cargo. The deck was placed above them and we prepared to sail.

  I left Wulfric to organise the sleeping arrangements and the stowage of armour and weapons. My squires were harried and hurried by his savage tongue. I stood with the Archbishop on the quayside. I saw small ships heading down stream as the river rose. "I wonder how many of those are legitimate seafarers and how many work for pirates?" I looked at Thurstan, Archbishop of York. "You know we will be attacked?"

  He nodded, "I have been waiting for some time to send this cargo. God has sent you at the right time."

  I laughed, "Then God works in mysterious ways, your grace."

  Making the sign of the cross he said, "God speed, Alfraed, and I will have my knights watch over your lands and people. They will not suffer because you serve the King. We will say prayers for you each day."

  I stepped aboard as the captain gave orders for us to cast off. The powerful river took us down stream before the sail had even been hoisted. The 'Maid of Whitby' was keen to be on her way. I was less happy about the journey. I had hoped to ride through the land and endure a short sea crossing. Now we would be at sea for many days and would
be subject to the attention of every pirate on the east coast.

  The captain, a small bald man with a full white beard, came from the small fishing port of Whitby and he knew the east coast well. I stood by the stern rail with him.

  "Well Captain, we have seen many small vessels heading to sea. How many do you think are relaying news to the pirates?"

  He laughed, "Probably half of them but you needn't worry about the English pirates. None of them have ships big enough to take us; not with all the archers and men at arms you carry. My crew are handy too. No our danger lies in the pirates of Denmark or the Low Countries, Flanders and the like. They have big ships there, drekar, and they know their business. We shall stick close to this coast for as long as we dare. With this wind I think that we are safe until tomorrow afternoon. Then we will need to head for the French coast."

  I nodded. There were two castles on the cog. "How many archers can they hold?"

  "Four archers and two men at arms. Six archers can't use their bows, you see." He pointed to the top of his mainmast. "Mind you if your men have a head for heights, you can get three in there."

  "I'll have a word with my captains."

  I found Dick and Wulfric getting to know the Archbishop's man, Phillip. He bowed, "You are the Archbishop's great nephew I believe?"

  He laughed, "From the wrong side of the bed sheets. My mother was a servant. It is why I am a captain of archers and not a knight." Dick looked offended, "Do not get me wrong, my friend, I am quite happy to be an archer, especially a captain of archers but my half brothers have great estates and more money than I will see in a lifetime."

  I liked him and his honesty. "The captain says we can get four archers in each tower and for those with a head for heights, three on top of the mast."

  They all looked at the three positions. Wulfric stroked his beard, "And will we be attacked, my lord?"

  "Let us say that it is more likely that we will be attacked than we will not."

  Dick said, "I suggest I have four of my men in the aft castle and Phillip here four in the forecastle. We ask if any archers feel like ascending the heights. The rest we have close to the bow and to the stern."

  "And I will have Wulfric, the men at arms and the squires in the well of the deck."

  Phillip asked, "You sound experienced. Have you fought aboard ship before, my lord?"

  "Aye, including fighting Barbary Pirates. The sea is not my favourite place to fight. Tell your archers to keep their feet wide apart and their weight low down."

  Wulfric said, "That will be good advice for your three squires too, my lord."

  We slept while we could. The river part of the journey was gentle and winding. The one down the coast could be anything but. It was cramped on the cog. Although larger than the ones we normally used my squires and I were still jammed into a small space under the fore castle. I slept although I was not certain that they slept as well as I did.

  It was William who woke me. He was writhing around trying to get comfortable. From the movement of the ship I gathered that we had reached the sea. I stood. "Is it time to get up, father?"

  "It is not yet dawn. Get what rest you can. You shall need it later."

  I moved aside the hessian curtain and stepped out. As I had expected it was still dark but, to the east, was a faint glow in the sky. I walked aft, passing the sleeping archers huddled in the well of the ship. Captain Jack was leaning on the tiller with two young seaman next to him.

  "Couldn't sleep, my lord?"

  "No, I slept well but my squires were restless. I have had enough." I looked west. I could see nothing. "Where are we?"

  "We left the river not long since. That is the land close to Lincoln and soon we pass the marshy East Anglia. By dawn we will be passing the Thames."

  I looked east then north and finally west again. "No sign of danger?"

  "There are pirates to the north of us. Staithes, Mulgrave, Boggle; all of those coves harbour pirates but they are small and they are north of us. I lived close by them. When I was a young sailor I had many a run in with them."

  "Perhaps the Archbishop should rid his land of them."

  "He has enough to do with the outlaws and the brigands. Besides most captains know the risk. We hire sailors who are handy in a fight. What the little rats might do is sail across the German sea and fetch a larger one. They are far faster than we are. In Denmark there are still Vikings. They would be hard pressed to catch us but, for the treasure the Archbishop loaded, the risk might be worth it." He turned to the young sailor, "Carl, fetch the Earl some bread and some ale."

  The young man hurried off. I noticed that like the other sailors he had short sword and hatchet in his belt. Both would be useful tools on a ship but they could also be used as weapons too.

  "Here it comes, Captain."

  It was the other sailor who spoke. He pointed to the east where the glow was now visible.

  "Best rouse the watch, Edward." As the sailor hurried off the captain looked up at the sail. He moved the tiller over a little. "Wind is changing a little."

  "Is that good or bad?"

  "It comes more from the north east so that could be bad. You never know." The roused crew began to emerge as Carl handed me a jug of beer and some bread. I had not expected fine food on the cog. I was not disappointed. "Right, Carl, up you go."

  Carl leapt up the ropes which held the mast and he clambered quickly to the top. He sat on the yard with his legs wrapped around the mainmast. He scanned the horizon. "All clear, Captain."

  "Good. That is a relief. There is nothing worse than dawn breaking and discovering a longship close by."

  "Are they still a threat?"

  "Not really. When King Harold defeated Tostig just down the river from York most of the dangerous Vikings were slaughtered. Most sailed west to the Ice Lands. There are rumours that many of them found somewhere beyond the western sea, Vinland."

  "Do you believe them?"

  He laughed, "Of course not. If they went west and made through the unending sea they would have fallen off the edge of the world. No, King Harold did us a favour that day although it unleashed the Normans on us." He seemed to remember to whom he spoke. "Sorry, my lord, no offence meant."

  "I am not Norman. My father fought with Harold that day. He was a housecarl." I touched the blue stone on my sword. "This stone fell from Harold's sword that day."

  Captain Jack's eyes widened. He tentatively held his hand out and then withdrew it.

  "Touch it captain. I do, often." As the captain caressed the stone I smiled. "It is like touching the past, is it not?"

  "Aye my lord." He grinned, "And I feel it will bring us good fortune. We have the stone from the last King of the Saxons. It was Alfred who defeated the Danes. This is a sign."

  I shook my head. I had heard such superstitions before. They made men complacent instead of alert. Finishing my bread I wandered back to the well. "Dick, best get the lads up. It is dawn!"

  "Aye, my lord."

  My men at arms were in the aft castle and I went to wake them too. "Wulfric, it is morning. This is the danger time."

  "Aye, my lord."

  Finally I went to the squires. They rose, red eyed and sour faced. I laughed, "I can see that you are not cut out to be sailors!"

  John shook his head, "How did you sleep, my lord? The creaking of the ship and the hard deck stopped me getting any rest at all."

  I remembered then that on the previous voyages they had slept either with the horses or on the spare sails. There they had a softer bed. "I slept the sleep of the righteous John. Perhaps your sins were on your mind."

  He looked suddenly guilty and said, "What sins, my lord?"

  William laughed, "My father is teasing, John. It shows he is in good humour."

  "No matter what my humour I want you to eat, drink and then arm yourselves. This may not be a peaceful voyage. You are squires yet."

  That prompted them to movement. I began to don my mail. I was usually aided but I could do it alo
ne. It took longer but I had plenty of time. By the time my squires had made water, eaten and drunk I was dressed. "Arm yourselves and then go on deck. We watch for sails."

  "But we are at sea. We will see sails."

  "And, William, we will watch them until the Captain determines if they are friend or foe."

  I looked up at the pennant on the masthead. It showed the wind had not shifted. I climbed to the aft tower and peered to the north and east. The morning passed. Captain Jack had been for a short sleep and his son, Jack son of John took over. He looked up at me. "Wind shifting slightly my lord."

  I knew not the effect that would result and so I just nodded. He put the tiller over a little and our motion became easier. He shouted orders and his men adjusted the trim of the sail. The noise must have woken the Captain for he returned. Wulfric joined me. "This is easier than riding is it not my lord. I could get used to this." He paused, "For half a day or so and then I would be bored beyond belief."

  I laughed, "If we hit a storm then you will not be bored."

  "Aye. You are probably right."

  I looked up at the sun. It was almost at its zenith. "It will soon be noon."

  "Sail Ho!"

  "Where away?"

  "East by north east."

  I looked to where Carl pointed and I saw a single red and white striped sail on the horizon. "Best arm the men and have the archers in the castles, Wulfric."

  "Why, my lord?"

  "Because that is a Viking!"

  I descended and went to Captain Jack. "It has striped sails."

  He nodded, "A Viking!"

  "Is there any chance that he may have peaceful intentions?"

  "I doubt it but we will know soon enough. If they have shields on the side then they are pirates."

  I watched the archers scurrying into the castles. I saw Griff of Gwent with his bow slung lead James the Short up the mast to join the lookout. Rafe clambered up the shorter mast and sail close to the stern. There he would have a more secure perch than the other two. I picked up my shield and slung it over my shoulder. I left my helmet with my chest. My coif and ventail would have to suffice. I needed my eyes and ears. My squires hurried over to me. "Do not run on the deck. Walk everywhere and when you fight do not over swing. Keep a firm footing and a wide stance."