The King Is Dead

by Griff Hosker

  "Well done! Now we wait."

  We dismounted and tethered our horses. Two archers were designated as sentries. We lay down and rested for a couple of hours until the moon set and the castle was bathed in silence.

  "It is time." We left the forest and headed for the water. Sir Guy had told us that he had visited the castle and had been taken on the water to fish for the pike which lived there. We made for the path which led to the sally port close to the water. If our plans had succeeded then Sir Guy and his men would open the gate. If not then we were lost for the plan would have been discovered.

  Dick and his archers were the vanguard with arrows knocked in case any curious sentry was awake and watching the lake. Thankfully none spied us and we reached the gate which, ominously, was shut. I drew my sword in preparation. If the door did not open then this might be a trap and we would have to fight our way out. Wulfric and Rolf stood by me. Wulfric's axe was honed and would have made a fine razor. We all wore our shields at our backs.

  Time dragged and then I caught the smell of garlic. Someone who had recently been eating was approaching the gate. I held my breath as I heard the bolt slide back and the grate of a bar being lifted. The door opened, thankfully, without a creak. I saw Sir Guy. He held his finger to his lips and then opened it wide enough for us to enter. We all knew what to do. Sir Thurstan and his men made their way to the gate. If things went awry they would give us an escape route and they would also stop Sir Guy de Senonches escaping. Ralph of Wales led half of my archers to kill any sentries and to watch the walls. William and the other squires went to the stables. The rest followed me and Sir Guy de la Cheppe for the Great Hall.

  I held my sword in two hands. It made for more powerful strokes. I would rely upon my armour to protect me. I heard a soft thud to my right. I turned and saw the shadow of a body. One of the sentries had been felled by an arrow. Dick and his men were doing what they did best. The sound had been so quiet that no one in the Great Hall would have heard.

  Sir Guy held up his hand as we neared the door. His men of arms began to run to us from the small hall they had been allocated. Another of his men at arms stood at the door to the Great Hall. He had been left as a sentry for us. He opened the door. Sir Guy rushed in, followed by me. Some of the tallow candles still sputtered their last light. There were four men slumped over the table. I ran to the nearest one and brought my sword hard across his neck. There was the sound of a piece of wood being chopped and his head rolled along the table, hung there for a moment and then dropped to the bench. The other three died equally swiftly. If all the rest died so quietly then this would be a great victory.

  There were two sets of stairs. Sir Guy pointed to one and then to me. I took one, he took the other. We split into two parties. I went first up the spiral staircase. My sword was held before me. These had been designed to suit a defender. It was another reason why I had my shield on my back. It was hard to ascend with a sword and a shield. Above me I heard a noise. I hurried for I wanted to have room to swing if I met someone. The stair was dark and I almost bumped into the door at the top. I slowly turned the latch and prayed it would not creak. Luck was on my side and it did not. It opened inwards and I pushed as I opened.

  There were burning brands in sconces along the corridor and rooms led off. Suddenly a scream pierced the night. Sir Guy and his men had been seen. I ran down to the furthest door as my men spilled out of the door behind me. A half naked man with a sword stepped out of the door. Before he even realised I was there I rammed my sword into his middle. Pulling his body to the side I stepped into the room. There were four beds in the room and, by the light from the corridor I saw three men rising in alarm as they saw me. I was vaguely aware of fine mail to my side before they grabbed their swords and ran at me. No one can defend against three men, even with a shield.

  I had room to swing and my sword flew through the air in a horizontal arc at waist height. It hacked into the side of the first man. I felt a blow to my ribs as a sword was hacked into my side; my mail held. I pulled my sword out of the dying man's body and lunged at the second. He was already slicing at my head as I rammed my blade through him. I felt another blow to my thigh and then Wulfric's axe chopped off his head. "My lord, you should have waited for us."

  I turned and went back to the corridor. The Great Hall and the castle were filled with the sound of battle. There were cries and the ringing of steel on steel. I limped down the corridor. The blow to my thigh had not penetrated my mail but it had hurt. The bone was not broken else I would not have been able to move. I heard a shout, "Alfraed, to the Great Hall!" It was the voice of Rolf.

  I went back down the stairs. With the door open there was more light and we went down swiftly. This time the Great Hall was filled with warriors. I saw Rolf and the last of his Swabians backed into a corner. Sir Guy de Senonches and ten of his men had surrounded the three of them.

  "De Senonches! You will die this night!"

  The challenge made him and some of his men turn. Wulfric, Edgar and I ran at them. I saw that De Senonches wore mail. This would be a fair fight.

  He snarled, "I should have known that was a trick of yours! Your damned archers never miss!"

  He ran at me, swinging his sword two handed. I swung mine to block his blow. Our swords rang together. They were both well made and sparks flew from them along with pieces of metal. I used my quick hands to bring my sword around to his side. He was not slow but he barely managed to block the strike. I pulled back and stabbed forward so quickly that he could not bring his sword around in time. He hurriedly stepped back towards safety.

  I stepped forward and brought the sword over me to strike at his unprotected head. This time he did block but he was off balance and he stumbled backwards. I was too impetuous and I stabbed down too quickly. He rolled out of the way and sprang to his feet. We were both tiring but he was tiring more. He stood panting and facing me. Around us similar combats were taking place as my men hunted out his rats.

  I think he was buying time in an attempt to catch me unawares for he said, "It matters not what happens here this night; your king will still die!"

  "We all die, De Senonches as you will soon find out!"

  He laughed, "King Henry will die before his time!"

  He lunged at me as he said it. I had been expecting it. I swung my sword up and deflected it and continued my swing around in a circle so that my sword struck his exposed back. When he had fled my castle there had been arrows which had struck him. Although they had not pierced his gambeson they had broken mail links. God guided my hand that night and my sword found the weakness. They severed the mail as though it was not there and hacked across his shoulders to bite into flesh and grind against his spine. His back arced and he fell to the floor, his dying body twitching in it its death throes.

  I turned, but as I did so a wounded warrior lying on the floor swung his sword and it smashed into my leg. I heard the crack as the bone broke and then felt a wave of pain run up my leg. Wulfric's axe took the man at arms' head. "Sorry, my lord!"

  I stood for a moment and then, as I tried to move I found I could not and I crumpled to the floor. My men stood in a protective circle around me. "Get me light!" Edgar took charge. A candle was lit and brought over. My foot was at an unnatural angle. "This is broken my lord. I must set it."

  I nodded. "Wulfric, find the treasure and the taxes. We leave at dawn. We are still in France."

  "My lord it is almost dawn already."

  "Then hurry."

  Edgar had removed the legging from the broken leg. I glanced down and saw blood and a shard of bone sticking out. "Fetch some vinegar now!" He poured some of the wine from an unbroken jug to wash away the blood. He turned to Leopold. "Find me a dagger." As Leopold left he took out his own sword and plunged it into the glowing fire. He returned. "My lord I must set the leg and seal the wound. I have to put the broken ends of the bones together as soon as I can but I have to clean them first."

  I smiled, "Do your best and I
will try not to cry like a baby."

  "Cry all you like, my lord. This will be painful."

  Just then William burst into the room and ran to my side. "What is it, father?"

  "A broken leg."

  "Aye young sir, you will need to hold your father now. Lie down, my lord. Young William put your weight on his shoulders. Here my lord, a stick to stop you biting your tongue off."

  With the wood between my teeth I could say nothing. I saw the pain in William's eyes. Other men were wounded; not the Earl of Cleveland. I felt something cool washing over my leg. That would be the vinegar. Its acid smell drifted up to me. I could see nothing but I could hear, smell and feel. I smelled the heat from the sword and I felt the pain as Edgar moved the two edges together. There was a blinding light as I felt pain such as I had never felt before. I tried to rise but William held me down. Then I felt heat as the heated sword approached. There was a smell of burning hair and flesh and then a second shock of pain. Mercifully all went black.

  Chapter 21

  When I awoke I looked up and saw a blue sky. I was lying down and swaying. I glanced to my right and saw William. He smiled, "You are awake, good. Edgar said you would wake before too long." He handed me down a water skin. "He said you should drink."

  I tried to speak and could not. My throat was too dry. I took a long swig from the water skin. I tried again, "Where are we?"

  "We have just passed L'Aigle and are heading north to Rouen."

  I tried to rise and Rolf's voice came from the others side of me. "Lie still. You are an invalid. That is an order!"

  "But we should go back to the Loir. The treasure!"

  "Dick and the archers have gone back to Sir Leofric. Sir Thurstan and his men escorted them. When you are well you can return there. Sir Leofric will see to the taxes. Rouen is closer. Edgar wishes you to see the King's healer and we all agreed. If you wish to argue then take it up with Wulfric. He has been like a bear with a sore head since you were wounded. He blames himself."

  I closed my eyes, "And Sir Guy de la Cheppe?"

  "He returned to his manor. He has fulfilled his oath."

  They told me of the fight in the castle; how the archers had slain every one of the men who tried to flee. There had been much treasure hidden in the hall and Sir Guy had taken his share already. By the time they had finished telling me all and with the swaying of the litter I was soon asleep again. I awoke in the castle of Le Neubourg. There we were feted as heroes. The word of our defence against such odds and in defence of the castle was now widespread. I hated being carried everywhere by litter but Rolf and Wulfric had taken charge and there was little point in arguing.

  It took three days to reach Rouen. The King had been warned of our arrival and we were greeted by the King himself. He shook his head, "I had begun to think you were like Achilles and could not be hurt."

  "It is just a broken leg, your majesty."

  "I have quarters for you, your son and Sir Rolf. Your men can go into the warrior hall. My personal physician awaits you."

  To my chagrin I was carried to my new quarters which were close to the King's. There were three beds within. It was cosy. I was laid on the bed and a small man appeared. He was Greek. All of the best doctors were Greek. I spoke to him in his own language, "It is just a broken leg. It will heal."

  He smiled, "Ah nectar for my ears, a beautiful language. You speak Greek! They told me you had lived in the greatest city in the world." He pointed to the leg. "It is for me to decide if it will heal. Who set it?"

  "Edgar, one of my men. He cleaned it with wine and then vinegar. He put the bones together and he cauterized the wound."

  He nodded, "That is far better than I hoped. This will hurt for I have to take the splint away." I heard him chuckling. There was a sudden sharp pain. He said, "Sorry." He held up the dagger Edgar had used as a splint. "You have a good healer. This is so much better than wood. It stays straight. I begin to hope for good things. Lie still for a moment and move nothing."

  William and Rolf entered, "We are to sleep in here."

  The Greek said, without looking up. "And that will be later when I have finished."

  I smiled and said, "Go and explore the castle. I would speak with the two of you and Wulfric later."

  The Greek came over to me and cradled my head so that it was raised from the bed, "Here drink this. It will numb the pain while I examine the wound."

  "What is your name, physician?"

  "Leonidas."

  "Good, now that I know your name I will drink."

  The potion had a slightly bitter taste. I detected wormwood but it warmed as it went down. He laid my head down. I felt sleepy but I fought it. I had been asleep enough of late."

  Little spasms of pain sent shock waves through my body. I knew he was being as gentle as he could but it hurt me right through to my teeth! He said, "I am attaching two metal rods on either side of the break. It is what your healer did but better. They will be attacked to a piece of wood beneath your foot."

  "Thank you. That helps."

  "And do not fight the sleep. It is nature's way of healing you. You are in safe hands here."

  "I know." I tried to keep my head up but failed and I was soon asleep.

  When I awoke it was dark, for candles were lit. Leonidas had gone. Rolf said, "The Greek will call again in the morning. How do you feel?"

  "I am not certain. He gave me something."

  "You are lucky Alfraed. I have known men who lost a leg when they had a break such as yours."

  "Do not tempt fate I have yet to survive."

  William said, eagerly, "He said that you will survive. He was impressed with Edgar and his work."

  "Tomorrow, Wulfric, take the men, you had best leave Edgar here, back to Sir Leofric. Escort our share of the treasure here. Leave half for Sir Leofric and the townspeople. They will need it to rebuild their homes. Give Sir Thurstan a fifth and return here with the rest. I have plans."

  "Aye my lord."

  "And I shall depart tomorrow too, Alfraed."

  I was disappointed. I had looked forward to talking with my old friend. "I go back to Swabia. I have Karl and Godfrey's weapons, mail and treasure. It should go to their families.. I would give them to their families. And death has been ever at my shoulder of late. I will see my own family too. My nephews and nieces will be fully grown now. It is time they saw Uncle Rolf and I can give them gold now rather than when I am gone."

  "That is depressing!"

  "No, it is realistic. I have come close to death and that gives a man perspective does it not?"

  "Aye it does but promise you will return here."

  "I will."

  The next morning there was just William and myself left in the castle. "Go and make friends here in the castle. I am bed bound but you are not. There may come a time when you have to fight alongside these men."

  "Are you certain?"

  "I am, now send Edgar to me."

  Edgar arrived shortly before the physician. "This, Leonidas, is my healer, Edgar."

  "You did well. Where did you learn your skills?"

  "I watched the priests and most of it is common sense."

  "You do yourself a disservice. I would teach you more if you would allow me."

  Edgar's face lit into a smile. "I would be honoured." He looked at me for approval.

  "It is fine by me. I dare say I will be stuck here for a week or two."

  Leonidas burst out laughing. "Make that two or three months and you will be more accurate." My face fell. "However we can make it sooner if Edgar here makes you some crutches. I will show him how but first let us look at your leg."

  I was almost ignored as Leonidas first showed Edgar how to mix the potion and give it to me and then to dress the wound. When they left I felt like a useless piece of furniture. I knew that the King would not deign to come visit me. He had more important people to see and I had sent William off. I lay back and stared at the ceiling.

  When the servant brought me foo
d and wine at noon Leonidas and Edgar reappeared with the crutches. "Good so I can get out of here. I feel I am climbing the walls."

  "No, Earl, it will take a week of hobbling around the room before we dare risk venturing further. Here, Edgar, help your master up. Earl, do not even think about putting weight on your injured leg."

  Edgar stood next to my injured right leg and put his arm around my back. I put my right hand behind his back.

  "Now move your left leg to the floor and put weight upon it. Edgar, keep him upright." Leonidas came and slipped one crutch under my left arm. "Now lean on that. " The ground felt as though it was moving but I stood. Albeit on one leg. Leonidas then came around to the other side and put the other crutch under my right arm. "Now, Earl, slowly put your weight on your right leg and bend your knee so that your right foot is well off the ground. Edgar be ready to catch him."

  This was not as easy as I had thought. I gritted my teeth and I managed it. "Now what?"

  "Now we teach you to walk again!"

  It took all afternoon to teach me to move the crutches and then my good leg. By the time I had managed to cross the room to the door and back I was bathed in sweat.

  Leonidas was pleased, "A couple of days more and we might let you walk to the King's hall. He is keen to speak with you."

  I had been too overconfident. It took another three days to master the crutches. By the fourth day Leonidas and Edgar deemed that I was ready to visit with the King in his hall. I had seen little of William. He had been out each day with either the King or the young bloods and they had been hunting and hawking. He came back each evening full of excitement at what he had done and who had said what. I suppose I must have been like that back in Constantinople. That was a lifetime ago.