Kingmaker (The Anarchy Book 12)

by Griff Hosker

  Ralph and two of my men at arms laid about them recklessly driving the Flemish back. There was a gap to the side and I ran and hurled the pot at the mainmast of the Flemish ship. As the flames suddenly leapt up the mast the men of Flanders gave a wail. The last two ropes were severed and, as the fire took hold, a gap appeared. I ran to the rudder and used my sword to despatch two whose backs were to me. I saw that the wind was bringing the second Flemish ship closer but the first one was now ablaze. Aboard the fiery ship all thoughts of aggression were gone as they tried to fight the fire. There were screams as the last of those aboard us was killed and then we were clear. William moved the rudder a little and we caught the wind. The smoke from the burning ship told us that it was now astern of us. The second ship would not catch us now. They had to sail around their consort and I did not think they would risk that. We had beaten off their attack but at a cost. I saw two of my new men at arms who were dead while others were wounded. With two of Henry's guards gone we had paid a price.

  I went to the stern and watched as the second Flemish ship went to the aid of the other. They might save her but the sail had gone on the burning vessel. While my men went around despatching the enemy wounded I went to see our wounded. Ralph was there already, binding wounds.

  "We were lucky lord. The wounds are not serious although Roger of Doncaster might well now be Roger Three Fingers. He lost two fingers from his left hand."

  "He was lucky then. He can still hold a shield."

  "Aye he can, lord."

  "Take any weapons you find. They might be poor quality but those we cannot use Alf, my blacksmith, can melt down. We waste nothing."

  "And the bodies?"

  "Feed the Flemish to the fishes. Wrap our dead in their cloaks and we will bury them in my churchyard."

  I went over to a shaken Henry. He was looking at the bodies of the two dead bodyguards. Alain of Navarre's wound had been a bad one and he had died while we fought. William of Le Havre said, "Do not mourn them, my lord. They died doing that for which they were paid. When we took this job from your father, we accepted a high price and knew that the one we would pay would be higher. It is our lot."

  I noticed them searching the bodies of their two comrades. I said nothing but they were aware of me watching them.

  William of Le Havre smiled and said, "Do not think us thieves my lord. We are not. If I lay there then they would be doing the same. The four of us have made a pact. We share all the coins that we receive and earn." He held up the purse he had taken from Alain of Navarre. "This takes me one step closer to a farm in Normandy."

  James looked wide eyed at them, "So you profit by the deaths of your comrades?"

  "Someone always profits when a warrior dies, is not that so lord?"

  "It is. The men of Flanders had little but we shall take it and we shall share it. What is the alternative? Let the fishes have it? This is a cruel world in which we live James."

  "I can see that. I suppose I must get used to it if I am to be a warrior and a knight like my father. I will have to learn to be stronger."

  William of Le Havre smiled at James, "And thank you, young squire, you are inexperienced but have courage beyond your years."

  Henry nodded, "Aye James. I would have such a squire as you when I am knighted."

  I saw the happy smile on James' face. "If James would be your squire then I will train him for you. The squire of a king is better than the squire of an earl."

  Gilles said, "With due respect to the future king of England I would rather serve you my lord!"

  Henry nodded, "As would I."

  By the time we reached the mouth of the Tees the ship had been cleared of the Flemish dead and cleaned. It took us a day and a night to do so. We then began the tortuous twisting journey upstream. It was almost dark when we saw the lights of my castle and detected the smell of tanning and iron work. We were home.

  Chapter 4

  I saw, as I disembarked, that my steward and castellan were eager to speak with me and they looked as though the news they had was not good. I needed to speak with them quickly and I sent my squires to familiarise Henry and his bodyguards with his new home. He had lived here before but we had made changes. They would also need to see the captain of the guard for the new passwords. I arrived in my hall alone and told William and Alice of our new guests and men at arms. Alice had a frown when she realised that we had royal guests. She liked a warning. Mary showed her new confidence by putting her arm around my housekeeper and saying, "Come Alice, Sir John's quarters have only recently been cleaned, it will not take us long to make them presentable for a future king. Ladies, we will help."

  I saw that Morag was not with her ladies, "Where is Morag?"

  Alice smiled, "Her husband has returned at the right time, lord. She is about to give birth."

  John of Craven and John, my steward, awaited my attention patiently. John of Craven was an old campaigner and he came directly to the point. "Lord, Sir Wulfric and Sir Tristan have reported scouts in the south. They both suspect that there is some malice afoot. These are neither brigands nor bandits. Your knights have men at arms and scouts out. They patrol the land between Chop Gate and Piercebridge and Sir Wulfric has warned the fyrd they may need to be called out."

  Sir Wulfric had shown good judgement. "Good. Have Aiden come to me." Aiden would discover the danger faster than any other scout. John of Craven left us, briefly, to send a guard for my scout and I turned my attention to my steward.

  "I took the liberty of ordering more arrow heads and spears from Alf, my lord. It seemed a judicious move."

  "You did right. How goes Ethelred's new ship?"

  "We have the keel laid my lord, why?"

  "We now have a new trading partner; Hainault. They will be sending ships soon. They trade along the Scheldt and with the Danes."

  That brought a smile to John's face, "I will go and tell him the good news. It will encourage his workers."

  John of Craven re-entered, "Aiden is out with his scouts, lord. He will be back soon."

  Left alone with John of Craven I said, "Good. We have new men at arms. Take four of them for the garrison and the rest will need mounts, mail and helmets."

  John of Craven laughed, "You waited until the steward had gone before you mentioned the expense."

  "Of course. Why spoil his good humour? This way he will be more likely to find the coin."

  After my words with the Count of Hainaut I was not surprised by the news. Queen Matilda had ever been my enemy. She was from the house of Flanders and she was a wily campaigner. The north was a thorn in her side and if I could be vanquished then that would leave the enclave in the south west as the only part of the kingdom which was free from Stephen's control. She would have instigated this movement from York. I had not arrived back a moment too soon. When John left, Gilles and my squires returned with Henry.

  "James, show our new guests their chambers. They will be using Sir John's old quarters."

  I finally had the chance to take off my cloak and drink some of the wine Alice had sent to me. I stared into the fire as though I could divine the future. Scouts from the south meant York. The Queen might have begun this but another would be leading it. Who? It would not be William of Ypres. His task was to take the lands to the south and west. It would be another and that gave me hope for the earls and lords of the north had been defeated by me on many occasions. They had seen my skill at the battle of the standard and they would be wary. Aiden would need to find out exactly who led them and their intentions. Until then I was in the dark. I saw this as a chance to begin Henry's training. I would involve him in the planning of the campaign. I doubted that Geoffrey of Anjou had done that.

  Gilles and Henry returned with my other squires. I gestured to the wine and they helped themselves. I outlined the problem and they listened. "You think it is a threat from Flanders, Earl?" Henry was learning to think.

  "After the attack on our ship and our news from Hainaut it would be prudent to assume so. If i
t is the northern barons then we have little to fear. They are neither bold nor swift. However it is all speculation until we can discover the truth. That requires Aiden’s skills." I was about to send for another jug of wine when I heard my sentries. My scout had returned.

  Aiden arrived and I took him and my squires to my solar. I smiled at the lean hunter. He was not a man who was at home within stone walls. He was a man of the woods and the animals. I smiled, "Aiden, did you have a good hunt?"

  "Aye lord. There is a fine hind for you."

  "Good but your skills will be needed for a different kind of hunt. I want you to hunt men. We have enemies to the south. Sir Tristan and Sir Wulfric's scouts have seen signs. I need you to take Edward and Edgar to discover any that they have missed and to discover the intentions of those who sent them. They will be coming from York. There may be foreigners. Watch out for warriors from Flanders."

  "Aye lord." He turned to leave and then stopped, "While you were away we found two more young lads who are good with animals. I took them on." He smiled, "John the Steward questioned their value."

  "And you, quite rightly, ignored him."

  "Of course my lord. This way we can train them and eventually you will have five scouts. None of us are getting any younger. I will leave before dawn."

  After he had left us I said, "James, go and tell Alice that we are ready for food." He nodded and left. "Gilles I want you to lead the new men at arms until we know their worth."

  "What of Edgar, your sergeant at arms?"

  "He will lead them eventually but I want you to become used to leading men. If I am to make you a knight I need to give you the experience of leading men in battle. It seems we may be testing our mettle sooner rather than later. Ralph of Nottingham impressed me. Let us see if he can impress you. I will make do with Richard and James as my squires. Richard you will give the standard to James. It might teach him caution. He was a little reckless on the ship. He is brave but you must balance that with some caution when you are young. You may go now. I will have no need of you until the morrow."

  "Aye lord."

  "And Henry, you need to warn your two bodyguards that they will be needed. Go and choose three horses for yourselves. Let us see if you are a good judge of horseflesh.”

  Gilles remained behind after Richard and Henry had gone.

  "Lord?"

  "Yes Gilles.”

  “I have thought about what you said before we left for Normandy. I would like your permission to court the maid, Mary. It might be she laughs at me and rejects my courtship but at least I will know and can get on with my life."

  "Wise. It is a sign of your increasing maturity. You have my permission. And if you would like a little advice, I would give her a gift. It should be nothing which is too valuable but something which shows that your intentions are honourable."

  He smiled, "I bought this in Antwerpen." He took out a beautifully decorated comb. It was made from ivory and was most delicate. It looked the kind of work which came from the lands of the Norse.

  "That looks expensive."

  He smiled, "I could have bought many needles, my lord, but I though this better."

  "She will love it."

  I heard one of my sentries shout, "Patrol from the west!"

  I left my hall and went to the outer bailey. The patrol would be Dick. He, Sir Tristan and Sir Harold rotated the patrols amongst them. It stopped the horses becoming fatigued and kept the men on patrol sharp.

  Dick and his archers rode in. My archers were unique. All of them were superb archers. That could have been said of many English archers. They all had a well-deserved reputation. However Dick and his archers also fought as men at arms and the only ones who were superior to them were my own. They fought in short mail shirts which did not impede their archery. They also wore helmets and carried, not the usual short sword of most archers, but a long one. They used them well.

  He smiled as he dismounted, "Back from your travels, my lord! And not before time."

  "The south?" He nodded. "And I have news that Flanders is become involved too."

  "They are mercenaries without honour. We do not fear them."

  "No but they can cause mischief. Did you see aught on your travels?"

  "We hung a few brigands and cattle thieves close by Piercebridge. Sir Phillip had had trouble with brigands too but he and Sir Hugh scoured the land of them."

  "But no Scots?"

  He shook his head, "No Scots. I believe that King David has finally decided that we are too big a mouthful."

  "He is supposed to be an ally of the Empress but I have seen precious little evidence of that. We had better be ready to ride at short notice. I have brought more men at arms from Anjou. The garrison will be bigger."

  "And we have six more trained archers. It has taken since the Battle of the Standards to do so but it is worth it. They have fitted in immediately. God willing there will be another six next year."

  "You still use the ones training as horse holders?"

  Nodding he said, "It works. They see how the archers fight and they can copy them. The fact that they are desperate to join them helps too."

  We walked back towards my hall. Dick knew me almost as well as any. "How is your son?"

  I felt a pain in my chest as he spoke the words. I had lost my son. I knew that. "He is well thought of and he is a leader at the court."

  "But he does not come home?"

  "No, Dick, I fear that he is now Norman. He will never sit in my castle." I shrugged, "It was not mean to be."

  "I have no children." He chuckled, "At least none whom I remember but if I did I would want to see them. I would want my grandchildren to know me. You are a mighty noble. You have the ear of kings, queens and empresses yet you do not have your family around you." He put his hand out to touch my shoulder. He was one of the few who knew me well enough for such an intimate gesture. "I share your pain, Warlord."

  His words made me realise what I did not have. I had no family and I was alone. His words did not bring comfort. That was not his fault but his simple statement brought my isolation into focus. We walked into my hall in silence for no words were necessary. That was the beauty of old friends. They could say what they felt and not worry about the ramifications.

  That night as we ate I felt as though I had lost one family but gained another. Mary, my squires, Henry, Dick and John of Craven were a disparate group but they all got on. I could not help notice that Mary and Gilles' heads were together for much of the evening. I had no idea if he had given her the comb yet but their bobbing heads spoke volumes. James and Richard were busy talking to Henry which allowed me and John of Craven and Dick to talk of military matters. It was in our blood and as natural as talking about the weather.

  "The new men are excellent, Earl. They are well trained and prepared for work. We could do with more like that." John of Craven was an old soldier and an excellent judge of men.

  "Sir Leofric will get them for us but he is careful to choose those who are trustworthy. There are many out there who are not."

  "Your wisdom in acquiring good breeding stock has paid off, lord. The fields of Hartburn are filled with colts and fillies. Sir Harold is becoming a good horse master."

  I nodded as I sipped the new wine from Anjou. It was rich and heavy, just the way I liked it. "With Alf producing such good mail the world would be perfect but for the fact that Stephen is King of England!"

  Dick leaned back and smiled, "I think the tide is turning, lord. It may not seem it to you but Normandy is just the beginning. If Stephen does not have the revenue from his manors in Normandy he cannot be so generous to his men in England. Some of the brigands we hanged told us that they had fled from masters who could no longer keep them. They had lost the patronage of the King. It will cause unrest."

  John of Craven nodded, "It is true lord. I came from the west of the land. There the lords like to live well and keep the people poor. You do not do that. When first I came here I found it hard to comprehen
d. When times are good you share with your people and when times are hard they do not suffer. If the wolf was at the gates then the people would stand behind you. Each time I walk through Stockton I am welcomed. Why? Because I serve you and protect them." He sat up in his seat, "I hope I am not speaking out of turn, lord, but we worry about you. You seem to bear so much on your shoulders."

  "I do not complain. My father taught me to take responsibility. I try to do that."

  "But what of you, lord? Where is your gain? Your treasure?"

  I looked at Dick. "My family!"

  He nodded and lifted his goblet, "And that brings me back to our earlier words. Warlord I admire you more than you can know. Warlord!"

  John toasted me too. The others had been busy in their own conversations but they heard the toast and all of them stood and said, "Warlord!"

  For some reason, that simple act brought tears to my eyes. I felt foolish and I left my hall. I was the Earl of Cleveland! I should be above such emotion. I went to my solar and stared out across the Tees. I could never have the Empress. I could never acknowledge Henry as my son. My legitimate son would never live in England again. What was I fighting for? Why did I go on? I ascended to the tower and the crenulated battlements. I looked out over the dark waters of the Tees. My life was not the one I had hoped for. However it was the one I had been given. I leaned over to look down at the glowing brazier of Ethelred's ferrymen. They would not have a life but for me. It was a small thing but it gave me hope.

  There was a movement behind me. The warrior in me made me whirl and I saw Mary. She looked fearful. "I am sorry, lord. My father told me never to approach a warrior unawares."

  I smiled, "I am sorry child. Forgive an old soldier."

  She came over and took my hand. Her fingers were soft and gentle. "I am sorry that we upset you, lord."