by Griff Hosker
"I know not. His physicians are also confused. Would you and your men escort me to him? I would be at his bedside. Perhaps our presence might rouse him and do that which the doctors cannot."
"Of course." My plans to rest my men and animals were now in disarray. "We will leave tomorrow." I turned to Margaret, "Would you make the arrangements? I need to speak with the Empress." After we were left alone I led the Empress into a bower in the castle where we sat on the bench. "I have not heard from you for a while. Our son spent some time with me and we fought against the mercenaries from Flanders close by York. He did well."
She beamed, "That is good. I hope he will become king." Then she frowned, "My spies have told me that Stephen is urging the church to name his son Eustace as the next King of England."
"Then I will need to do something about that."
She suddenly seemed to see me for she smiled and stroked my hand. "You have given all for me and my family. When will you have a life, my lord?"
"This is my life. My men have asked me why I do not sit back in my valley and enjoy life. So long as our son is denied his inheritance I cannot rest."
She looked wistfully east, "My husband has his Dukedom. I have heard that many have heeded Louis' appeals for a Second Crusade and loyal knights now seek their fortune there. Waleran de Beaumont is one."
"Waleran? He is a good knight. With Gloucester and Fitz Count gone we are losing the leaders we need."
"There is always Chester."
"His wife I trust. The Earl? He cannot be relied upon."
"Then we must hope that my brother recovers and we are able to raise an army and finally bring Stephen and his armies to battle." She held my hand. “And you and I, lord. We had one night of joy and we now pay for it with a lonely life apart.”
I nodded, “It is fate but at least we have a son who can have a life for the both of us. None may ever know of his parentage. It would lose all that we have.”
“I know. I must have been born under a bad sign for my life seems dogged with disasters from my brother’s death to my marriage to the Emperor and then a child.”
“Life is never fair, my love. We deal with what the Fates throw our way and do our best.” I did not know it at the time but this was one of the last times when Maud and I were alone. Had I known I would have said more.
I was distracted on our journey to Bristol. Despite my best efforts we were losing the war. The Empress and her brother now controlled land which was little larger than my valley. As we approached Bristol my worst fears were confirmed. The standards were flown at half mast. Maud turned to me, tears in her eyes. "We are too late!"
We were indeed and the doctors told us that even as the Empress and I had been speaking in the bower, the Earl of Gloucester had died peacefully. He was just forty seven years old. That was only three years older than me. It sent a chill down my spine.
The Earl was buried at St. James' Priory. He had founded it. Perhaps he had done so with the intention of being interred there. It was a pitifully small gathering. His wife and children were there but there were few lords of any note. Many had taken the cross; others had died. We had not parted well but I chose to remember those days when his father had been alive and I had ridden at his side to defeat the Welsh. The Battle of Lincoln had been the single moment in time when we had had the crown in our grasp and he had let it slip. But the glory of our victories was still undiminished.
As we headed back to Devizes I asked the Empress her intentions. She was silent and I allowed the silence to remain. It hung in the air between us like an invisible wall. She had hard decisions to make and, for once, I could not help her.
As we neared the castle she said, "My lord Cleveland, I would return home to my family. No one can say that I did not try; I did. You have done your best but with the death of my brother, added to that of Mandeville last year, and the antagonism of the clergy I cannot see how my remaining here does any good at all. I will return to Rouen."
Everyone fell silent. Judith and Margaret looked resigned and even Dick looked saddened by the words. They were like the tolling of a death knell. The slow beat of my heart filled my head. My spirits sank to a new low. I would be truly alone. My son was in Normandy. My future king was in Normandy and the woman I loved would be in Normandy. I stroked Edward's mane and remained silent. My horse moved his head closer to mine. I looked at Maud and knew that I could not blame her. She had truly done her best. I could either abandon the valley and bring my army here to the south west or return home and try to keep an enclave there for her.
She reached out to touch my hand, "You are silent, Alfraed. Have my words distressed you?"
I turned and smiled. There could be no deceit between us. "Of course but I understand your decision. It is the right one. I just wonder at the efforts of the last ten years. Have they all been in vain?"
"We have to believe that right will prevail. You have already begun to make our son king. I beg you to escort me to Rouen and be reunited with him. He will listen to you and you are wise."
But your husband..."
"My husband is a good man but he is no Earl of Cleveland. My father recognised that as did my brother. You had your falling out but he never failed to see the hope that you brought."
"Then we will take ship. Your men still hold Portsmouth?"
She shook her head, "No."
"In that case we must return to Bristol and find vessels. I fear we will need to hire at least three ships for I have horses and men as do you."
"We have money to pay for them.” She brightened, “Let us look on the good in all of this. At least I shall not be excommunicated."
My three men had returned from Gloucester and I gathered them and the others together in the warrior hall. "We are going to escort the Empress back to Rouen. I will not risk sending men back to the valley. We dare not lose any more men. We will all take ship. We sail for Normandy."
They seemed undaunted by the prospect of a difficult voyage across the Bay of Biscay. My men were now my hope. I would build up an army so that when Henry returned to take the throne I would have warriors to back his claim.
It took time for us to procure the ships and to pack them with the Empress and her people's goods. They were leaving England for the last time. They had the detritus of a lifetime. If Henry was crowned they might return but that was a distant hope and, I felt, an unlikely event. Margaret and Judith shed tears as we boarded the four ships in Bristol. They were no longer young and the death of the Earl had made us all realise our own mortality. We had expected him to die in battle but there were many ways for a man to die. My wife had died of the plague and others succumbed to illnesses the physicians did not understand. Judith and Margaret knew they would never see the land of their birth again.
I travelled with the Empress and her ladies along with Richard, Edgar and four of my men at arms in one ship. My servants and my horses travelled with me too. The autumn storms had begun and each dawn we woke to see our little fleet scattered. It took time to close with each other and that all added to the journey. When we saw the Seine the Empress' priest, Father Jocelyn led us all in prayers of gratitude. Maud remembered that the whole civil war had begun when her elder brother drowned aboard the White Ship making this exact voyage.
We sailed all the way to Rouen. Our tortuous voyage up the river meant that we were expected and Geoffrey of Anjou and Henry FitzEmpress awaited us on the quay. I had not expected to see Henry again so soon but perhaps this was meant to be. I had begun the work of making him king and his mother had given it her blessing. We would winter in Normandy and I would continue to work with the king in waiting.
Even as we approached the quay I noticed that many ships were being loaded. It was not cargo but knights and their horses. I quickly deduced that this was the beginning of the race to the Holy Land. The Second Crusade had begun. The war in Normandy was won but there was another in the east and there, profits could be even greater. Geoffrey of Anjou's father had won a kingdom!
Geoffrey briefly embraced his wife and then turned to clasp my arm as Henry gave a more loving welcome to his mother.
"My son has told me of your great deeds. The Count of Flanders thinks his arm has grown long. You have bloodied his nose and made him think again. It is said he now seeks his fortune in the Holy Land with this crusade of the King of France."
I nodded, "Did Henry tell you of the offer from the house of Hainaut?"
"He did and I can see him grown much already. The Count's son came here and hired some of the men at arms. The knights did not choose to go. There is more glory and reward fighting Islam."
"Your wife's uncle is dead, lord."
His face showed that he did not know. "It is a black day for our cause. I shall have the priests say a mass for him. Was it combat?"
I shook my head, "The doctors said it was an unknown illness. They thought that perhaps his heart gave out but he was but forty and seven."
"He was not murdered as his father was he?"
"There were no signs and his end was peaceful. It was God's will."
"So now we have lost England."
"Perhaps not. I will return to my home in the spring and we still hold out. So long as I draw breath I will fight for the Empress and her son."
"Amen to that, my lord!"
Henry joined us. "I hear, Warlord, that the Count of Hainaut is losing his war against Flanders." I nodded, noncommittally."Now that you are here, with your warriors at the heart of our force we could join him."
Geoffrey of Anjou appraised his son, "You are the young cockerel now, eh? You wish to go to war."
It was my turn to smile, "I remember a young Count of Anjou who was little older than Henry when he went to war against Blois."
The Duke laughed, "I did, didn't I? The acorn does not fall far from the tree it seems. But the Earl has just arrived. Give him time for his men and horses to get their legs once more. Besides I would take him hunting. The last time we had no such opportunity."
"And I would like to see my son."
"I fear he has returned to his home in Ouistreham. He received news that there was sickness."
A chill ran down my spine. "When was this?"
"A month since. We have had no word yet."
"Then when my men are rested I shall ride there." I cursed myself. I could have stopped at the port on my way here. Perhaps my son was ill too!
Although we were feted and feasted I could not enjoy myself for I was anxious about my family. The death of the Earl and Bryan Fitz Count had shown me that war and the plague were not the only killers which stalked our land. The Empress saw my concern and, leaning over, said quietly, "Perhaps no news is good news. If there was aught to be told then he would have sent word. You have a dutiful son."
I was not so sure but I hoped she was right. One thing was certain, the horses, after their stormy crossing, were in no condition to ride the seventy miles to the small port. The next day I went to the quay and asked when my ship was due to arrive.
The harbour master knew us well and William of Kingston had given him enough gifts to ensure that he had good berths. "Your captain thought to make one more voyage before the autumn storms, lord. I expect him sooner rather than later, my lord. He came with another ship last time. I think she is slower than the 'Adela'."
I returned to the castle disappointed. I had hoped I could save my horses and leave sooner. The ships the Empress had hired to bring us had now gone for there was much trade to the Holy Land and captains made money when they could. Richard waited for me by our chambers. "The Duke asked if we were going hunting this morning."
I was not in the mood but my host would be offended if I declined his offer. "Come, we will see if we can have some diversion. What is it we hunt?"
"Deer, my lord, with spears."
That meant we would be mounted. I disliked hunting on borrowed horses. However I would just be cautious. There were a large number of knights who were hunting. It did feel good to be out of my mail. Unlike the Norman and Angevin knights I did not bother with a cloak. It was far warmer here than in my valley and the weather, compared with northern England, was clement. I also shunned a hood. I preferred to be able to hear the smallest of noises. Richard copied me. I would have preferred hunting deer on foot. It was always more of a challenge. However it was our host's choice and we did as he did.
As I did not know the horse I rode the one the stable master had given me towards the back of the pack of hunters. He seemed a little lively. There were twenty knights and squires. There were more knights than squires. Geoffrey led and was closely followed by Sir John of Nantes one of his oldest friends. Unlike when we hunted this was slightly more staged. His beaters had been out since before dawn and they would drive the deer towards us. Tired already, when they saw us they would flee and we would easily catch our prey. There was little joy in it. I went on the hunt to stop me worrying about my son.
The horse they had given me was a little frisky. I took that as a compliment. The stable master must have assumed that I was a good rider. Consequently the others left Richard and me behind a little as they hurried through the trees. I spent time mastering my wild beast. The forest had been thinned to enable hunting. This was not the forest by Preston at home. There you needed your wits about you. You used your knees as much as your hands as you wove your way through thick undergrowth and trees. This was almost a park in comparison.
"My lord, we are losing them!"
"I think, Richard, that we shall be able to find them. They are like a gaggle of geese the noise that they make."
"But they will get all the biggest deer!"
I laughed, "Come then, let us catch them."
I now had the feel of my feisty mount and I dug my heels in. Sometimes our actions are directed by other forces. As he leapt forward an arrow flew behind my back. It had come from my left. None of our hunters was using a bow. I wheeled left shouting, "Richard! 'Ware left! Treachery!" I heard a cry and saw Richard's horse fall with two arrows embedded in its head.
As I turned another pair of hurried arrows sped towards me. I lay my head against my horse’s mane. It could do no good if I tried to aid Richard. I would just be making two targets easier to hit. I attacked. It was the movement of the three archers which aided me. Two were running for a better ambush site as the third aimed at me. If I had been riding Rolf or Edward I would have had more confidence in the manoeuvre I was about to try. I was wheeling left and I pulled his head to that side as though I was going to flee. As the archer's hand came back I jerked to the right and spurred him. He was fast and the arrow was released, hurriedly, when I was twenty paces from him. I felt the goose feathers scrape my cheek. I pulled back my spear and hurled it at him. It struck him in the middle of his body. I drew my sword and took off after the other two. They had split up to make pursuit harder.
Although the trees were thinner, by riding obliquely at the archer to my left I gave him no chance to have a clean sight of me. The archer kept tracking me and anticipating my movements. I slowed a little and then kicked hard. It worked for an arrow flew ahead of me. While he was pulling another arrow I wheeled right and went directly for him.
"On! On!" I urged my borrowed horse and he responded well. It was a race. Would the assassin release the arrow before my sword struck him? In the end it was neither. He panicked and tried to run. My horse's front hooves clattered into him, knocking him to the ground. His rear hooves caved in his skull. The last assassin released a hasty arrow. It stuck in my shin. My boot prevented deep penetration. As I clattered past a branch the arrow was broken. The pain raced through my body but I ignored it. I watched the archer as he ran this way and that trying to avoid me. There was no escape. I turned my sword so that the flat of the blade was towards the man. As he jinked to the side I brought the flat of the blade against the side of his head. He went down as though struck with a poleaxe. I reined in.
I dismounted and tied the reins of my horse to a tree and went to him. I disarme
d him. He had bindings on his breeks and I cut them and used them to bind his hands and his feet. I hefted him on to the back of my horse. I slung his bow and his quiver from the cantle. I headed back to where I had seen Richard's horse fall. My squire met me half way there. Blood trickled from a head wound and he limped slightly. "Lord! Where are the others?"
"Dead! Are you hurt?"
"I bruised my knee and banged my head but you are wounded!"
The bleeding has slowed. I wiped my hand across it and said, "Come we will return to your horse and wait for us to be missed."
When we reached the dead horse I tipped the archer from the saddle. He landed heavily. I cared not. When I had questioned him he would die anyway. That was the price assassins paid. I took off my boot. It was filled with blood. The arrow head was still embedded in my leg but there was enough of the barb showing to tell me that it would not tear a larger hole it if was removed. I grabbed a handful of moss from the nearest tree.
"Richard, take your dagger and widen the wound. Do not worry if there is blood. Then pull out the arrow’s head. Pull it quickly."
He nodded. He had seen my men do this before. He dried his hands and then used his knife to prise the flesh away from the wood and the metal. It sent shivers of pain racing up my leg. It would pass. He began to pull. He was helped by the fact that the arrow head was touching the bone. It had not broken the bone but the smoothness of it meant he only had resistance on one side. He pulled and it popped out. Blood flowed and I reached up for the wineskin. I poured some over the wound. Then I jammed the moss in the hole the arrow had made.
"Tear some cloth from the archer's kyrtle and tie it tightly."
While he tied it I drank a little from the wine skin. I handed it to Richard and he drank some too. "Search him. Look for coins."
We found not just silver coins but three gold pieces. I knew that if we searched the others we would find the same. They were freshly minted and bore the image of Count Thierry. It was all the evidence I needed. Then Richard pulled out another purse. This one was hidden inside his kyrtle. This one contained freshly minted coins but these bore the face of Stephen and they were English. Here was a puzzle which needed unravelling.