The Throne

by Griff Hosker

  He was silent for he knew I was right.

  We stopped six miles from the attack on the far side of the forest. We found a deserted village. The fires still had warm ashes and so we knew that the attackers had come from the village. They had taken their food but not their kindling and we had good fires with seasoned wood. We were almost warm. We set guards and we found some earth which was soft enough to dig. We buried our dead.

  Sitting around our fire, after the priests had spoken over the dead, we were in a sombre mood. The Earl was reflective, “I will have less coin to lay out when we return to England but I would that those men we lost were alive and I had to spend it.”

  This was a new Henry Bolingbroke. He had changed. It was as though being plunged into the icy world of Lithuania had tempered his steel. “I shall choose my wars more carefully next time.”

  Sir Bengt said, “You do not regret your crusade do you, my lord?”

  “Sir William here is right, Vilnius will not fall and that means our crusade has failed.”

  “Not so, lord.” Sir Bengt pointed to Harold Four Fingers. He was seated with Magda and her son whose name we had learned was Pyotr. The three were laughing as Harold amused them with tricks. “As I recall from the Bible there is a tale of a pair of sons. One is profligate but his father is pleased when he returns. There are two souls which have been saved. Who knows how many of the others have been redeemed. This is not a war which can be measured in gold but in souls saved. Two is not a great number but I will take that as a start. When I go to meet my God, I can hold my head up and know that I did all that I could.”

  I admired his belief but I wondered at the cost. The cold and the battles had cost us more than forty men dead. Others were crippled. John of Aldgate had lost his left hand. His life had been saved by the freezing air but the sergeant at arms who had followed Sir Walter had a bleak future.

  It took three more days until we reached the fortress that was Königsberg. This was a bastion in the north of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was not as strong as Marienburg but it was a formidable copy. Concentric walls and a square keep were well built. The mighty walls and sturdy gates must have seemed like a prison to the captives. The laughter of the journey was now replaced by fearful expressions. It was as though they were entering a prison. The nuns and priests who were there to educate the captives were not prepared for them and that gave us an extra day where we had to guard them. An empty warehouse used to store wheat was given over to them. It would not delay us by much and Sir Bengt felt that our presence would make the transition easier for them. We stayed in the barracks of the knights. Being winter a large number had headed east to raid the lands that were still pagan. Ralph was pleased that we would not be leaving soon. He fretted about the animals. The extra few days would enable us to feed them up and for them to recover from the rigours of the journey.

  Two days after we had arrived, Harold Four Fingers, looking nervous and anxious, approached the Earl, Sir Bengt and I. I had rarely seen Harold anxious about anything. Despite his ancient injury, he was as confident in battle as any man. He spoke to me but his eyes glanced nervously at the Earl, “My lord, I have a boon to ask.”

  “Ask away, Harold. You are the most loyal of men. If it can be granted then I will do so.”

  “Magda and Pyotr would live with me. I wish them to come to England.” He looked at Sir Bengt, “Thanks to you, Sir Bengt, I have learned enough of her words and she wishes to live with me. At least I think she does. She spoke words I did not understand.”

  I looked at the Earl who seemed disinterested and then said, to Sir Bengt, “Perhaps, Sir Bengt, before we make a decision you could speak with the woman and ascertain the truth?”

  “Of course.”

  They left. “Earl Henry, if she does wish to come home with us, will that cause a problem?”

  “A problem?” He shook his head, “I cannot see why. She would travel on your ship and would be your responsibility when we reached England. For the life of me, I cannot see why Harold would encumber himself with a pagan and her urchin!”

  He did not understand my men. He thought their whole life was war and fighting. He did not know that they were men, as he was, with the same desires and needs. “They say, lord, that if you save a life that it becomes your responsibility. I know that my men believe that.”

  “I do not. If I save a man’s life then that man should be grateful to me. You are grateful to me for your elevation, are you not? You are happy to have a larger manor? I owe you nothing for that; in fact, you owe me!”

  It was not the same thing and I realised the futility of argument, “I am grateful, my lord, and you may be right.”

  Harold and the Swede returned and the look on Harold’s face confirmed that she did wish to come to England with him. Sir Bengt, too, was smiling, “I now understand the woman’s decision. She is of the old religion and when Harold saved her son’s life, she believed it was the work of the Norns.”

  “The Norns?”

  “In the old days, people believed that there were three sisters who wove spells. They determined our past, our present and our future. The people called it wyrd. You would call it fate. The woman believes that she cannot leave Harold for their threads, hers and her son’s are connected to his and if they are separated by the sea then the threads would be broken.”

  The Earl asked, impatiently, “So, a broken thread, what of it?”

  Sir Bengt said, “The thread, my lord, is their lives. She believes their lives would end.”

  The Earl laughed dismissively. I knew that Harold and my men all believed in fate as something which determined a man’s life. It explained otherwise inexplicable deaths on a battlefield.

  Harold shook his head and turned to me, “Well, lord?”

  “Of course, you may bring them with us but they are still pagans. That may cause problems in England.”

  “Lord, we came to Lithuania to save souls. Perhaps God has given me these two to save. I will make her my wife so that Pyotr has a father and I will strive to help them to come to God. I know that I am not a godly man but perhaps this is my chance to become one. I am content.”

  When we left, to head to Danczik, there were tears from Magda, for she was leaving her friends. I also saw that some of the women looked enviously at Magda and her son. The two had a future. For the rest, they would be little better than slaves. The best that they could hope for was to be taken on as servants in someone’s home.

  The one hundred and fifty miles to Danczik were relatively safe. We were in the heartland of the lands of the Teutonic Knights. More, we were travelling along the coast and the sea had yet to freeze. The air was milder. It was wet but not as cold. The men who did not own one had bought seal skins capes when we had been in Königsberg. We were all drier. There were even patches where we could graze the horses along the way. Ralph was happy.

  We were a day away from Danczik when John of Aldgate rode up to me. He was with Natty Longjack. Natty had been wounded and when we had been in the camp at Vilnius they had been tended by the same priest. A friendship had grown. Natty spoke, “Lord, John of Aldgate has lost his master and lost his hand.” He gestured to the head of the column where the Earl and his household knights rode. “John has spoken with Sir Walter’s squire and the Earl. He was told that he is of no use to them and when they land in England, he will receive his pay and that is all.” He shook his head, “That is not right, lord.”

  “There is no compunction for either the Earl nor Sir Walter’s family to provide for a crippled soldier.” I knew my words were harsh but so was the world, and the sooner John of Aldgate realised that the sooner he could get on with his life.

  John of Aldgate nodded, “I seek no charity, my lord. I lost my left hand. That does not mean I cannot do my job.” I cocked an eye at him. He smiled, “Strap a shield to my stump and I can protect myself.”

  “And hold the reins of a horse at the same time?”

  His face fell, “No, lord.”r />
  Natty looked pleadingly at me. I knew what they wanted. I thought of the men I had known as a child. The ones who had not survived whole had gone back to England to become beggars. There was little sympathy for wounded warriors. “John of Aldgate, what is it that you wish?”

  “I wish to be a warrior still, but you are right, my lord, I cannot ride and fight.”

  I nodded, “But if you do not have to ride you could defend a wall or my home, could you not?”

  They both brightened, “Aye, lord, I could.”

  “Then, John of Aldgate, if you wish to join my company then there is a place for you. You will be the sergeant at arms of my new hall at Weedon.”

  “Thank you, lord!”

  I knew that the Earl would think me sentimental, foolish even, but I cared not. I felt good about myself. I had done two Christian acts. For me, the crusade had been worthwhile.

  Part Two

  Irish War

  Chapter 10

  The Komtur of Danczik was pleased to see us. He made us more than welcome. As we dined in his castle he said, “God, it seems, smiles on you, Earl Henry. There are English ships in the harbour. You may not need to commandeer ships. They came to pick up Baltic timber but there is none to be had. A French fleet arrived a month since. The English ships have been waiting for a week in the hope that more timber would arrive. I told them that none hew timber in winter.”

  The Earl’s face lit up. He sent Edward, now fully recovered, and Geoffrey to arrange the passage. “That means we will be home a month early. We might have missed Christmas by a month but we will be home.”

  The Komtur said, “If you had waited another month then the harbour might well have been frozen over. You could have been trapped here until spring.”

  “Then God has truly smiled upon us.”

  ‘The Maid of Hart’ was one of the ships in the harbour. Her size meant that the Earl did not want her and so we were reunited with Captain Peter. I left it to Roger of Chester and Ralph to see to the loading of the horses. The Earl had allowed John of Aldgate to keep the sumpter he had ridden across Lithuania. It took all day to load the ships and I took the opportunity of visiting the market with Sir Bengt. We had grown close in the months we had been here. The Earl had increasingly closeted himself with his knights. The loss of Sir Walter had had an effect on them. I went to buy items we could not get at home and I sought presents for Eleanor. She prized practicality and so I bought well-made pieces of furniture. Sir Bengt ensured that I was not robbed.

  “I should have liked to visit England, Sir William. My family’s connection with England is strong.”

  “Visit any time you like, Sir Bengt, I will make you welcome.”

  “I fear that I have given my life to the order now. My life will end here, in Lithuania.”

  I shook my head, “I see that there is still some pagan in you.”

  “No, William, it is just that I have seen divisions between the Order and the Polish King. He has only recently converted to Christianity. I fear that we will end up fighting over the corpse that is Lithuania.”

  “Then leave the Order. Go home to Sweden. Marry.”

  “I am the youngest son. The land has gone to my brother. I could not hire my sword. I have committed to God and I will die in his service,” I was sad. Sir Bengt meant what he said. He would die without wife and issue. He would fight for the Order. My life was better. I had a wife and children. On the journey home I would think long and hard about that conversation. It filled me with sadness. Sir Bengt was but a little younger than I but he had given up all freedom of choice. It made me more determined than ever to be the master of my own destiny.

  We bade farewell and left on the morning tide. The Earl was heading for London but we would travel in convoy until we reached Hart-le-pool. He took me aside before we sailed, “You have served me well again. I will send the coin I owe to your home in Stony Stratford. With it will be the deeds to Weedon. If you stay close to me, William Strongstaff, then who knows how high your star may rise.”

  I was not certain if he was trying to suborn me. He knew of my oath to the King and that I would never betray him. I decided that ignorance was best. “I will always be loyal, my lord. I owe you much.”

  He seemed satisfied and he boarded his ship.

  This time there would be no short cuts. We would not risk the pirates. We sailed in convoy and our ship, as the smallest, was relegated to the rear. I did not mind. I had much to occupy my mind. Our three new friends were made welcome. My men took advantage of the warmth of the horses below decks and did not venture on the deck where icy winds blew. The close confinement meant that Magda and Pyotr had lessons in English while John of Aldgate came to know his new shield brothers. I was alone with John, playing chess with the new set I had bought in the market. They were made of bone and were Viking figures. They were well carved. One set was stained red.

  “Well, John, that was an experience.”

  “Aye, lord. I have been on crusade. I need not go on another.”

  “You did not approve?”

  “Those women we took captive should have been allowed to live the lives they wished.”

  “But they will be converted.”

  He shrugged, “A man’s beliefs are his own. If they choose not to go to heaven then that is their choice. How many men who died Christians will not go to heaven for they did not confess before they died?” He lowered his voice, “Does that sound as though I am blaspheming?”

  I shook my head, “No, and I agree that there are some parts of our belief that I do not understand. I have to believe that our God is kinder than the priests make out. If you do good then I believe it matters not if you have not confessed; God will take you.”

  He brightened, “Truly?”

  “As you said, John, a man’s beliefs are his own. We all look deep within ourselves. I believe that I have not yet committed an act of which I am ashamed, not of my own volition anyway. I did not enjoy massacring the men in Ukmergė but I was obeying my lawful lord. If that was a sin then there is no hope for any of us. We all obey our liege lords!”

  We sat in silence. I said, “Checkmate!”

  We set the board up again. John fingered the white king, “And King Richard, lord, what of him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He is our ruler. What if he commands us to commit an act which makes us sin?”

  “The King and the Queen are happy in Eltham Palace. He has shown no desire to order us to do anything of which I might be ashamed.”

  “But you were his bodyguard.”

  “And protecting a King is a sacred office. I never had to commit any sin while I watched him.”

  “And now you serve him and you serve the Earl.” He moved his pawn. “One has the throne and the other desires it.”

  I did not answer for a while. I picked up my knight and moved it. The Earl’s words as we had parted were still dancing around inside my head, “We cross that bridge when and if it comes. I, for one, hope it does not for that knot is too hard for me to untangle.”

  It was as we neared the Scottish coast that the weather improved. It did not become any warmer but the wetness went from the air and my men at arms and archers ventured forth from the hold. I saw that Harold had his arm around Magda and that Pyotr held his good hand. It was meant to be. It was as we passed the mouth of the Tyne that the Earl left us. They headed away from the course we had chosen to take a more southerly course. We headed south and west towards the mouth of the Tees and the harbour of Hart-le-pool.

  I stood with the captain as we passed the harbour of Seaham. “You have been well paid, Captain?”

  “Aye, Sir William. You need not fret. I have the coin from the Earl. We found no timber but this cargo will suit me.”

  “Yet your men will have to clean the hold again!”

  He tapped his nose, “It is winter, lord. The straw, hay and dung are worth coin to the farmers. It is like gold. It is an extra piece of profit.”
/>   I liked the captain. He had learned to make the best of what came his way. The attack by the pirates had shown me how parlous was the life of a sailor.

  As we landed the horses, I spoke with Ralph. “And the horses? When can they travel?”

  He smiled for he had become far more confident. Physically he had grown but I saw the makings of a man within. “I have thought of that, lord. If we walk for one day that will allow all of us to get used to the land. We need not rest them.”

  I nodded, “And there is a ferry at Stockton. If we walk there it is but twelve or so miles. It will cost us to cross but that matters not. We will save thirty miles.”

  And so we walked. There was a road. It was maintained by the Bishop of Durham. I knew not who was lord of the manor of Stockton but if we could not be accommodated then a night camping would not hurt. In the event, Sir Richard of Stockton proved to be a most hospitable host. He was a grandfather with grey hair. His wife, Anne, was too. His son was lord of Norton and Sir Richard enjoyed an easy life. The castle looked big enough to house a large garrison but there were just eight men to guard the walls. He was happy to accommodate crusaders.

  As we ate that night, he said, “Times are easier now than in the time of my forebears. In the time of the Warlord, this castle was oft times attacked. Now, thanks to the effort of the Percys and the Nevilles, the Scots are limited to cattle raids along the Tyne valley.”

  “Then you have a good life here?”

  “Aye, we do. We have a good market, the best for miles around. But what of you? Did I not hear that Sir William Strongstaff was once the bodyguard to the King?”

  “I was, but that seems like another life now.”

  “And you have come from crusade? Two truly noble enterprises.”

  “Yes, my lord, I served with the Earl of Northampton in the Baltic.”