by Smith, Skye
She did not explain further. She did not need to. Both of these men knew that after her betrothal to Eustace of Boulogne, Mary had been abducted and raped by William Mortain, the Earl of Cornwall. It was John's brotherhood who had found Mary, and Raynar who had rescued her. That she was not yet pregnant meant that there was no question that Mortain's seed had not taken.
"So what is the other news?" asked Raynar. "Why have you risked riding a horse on cobblestones when you could have simply sent for me?"
"Any excuse to be out of that palace, Raynar," she answered. "When Henry is not there, I would rather spend my time at a convent. Ever since the Treaty of Alton, I have been shunned by anyone of importance at the court, as if it were my fault that English bowmen forced Duke Robert to bow to Henry's demands." She took a sip of the fermented sheep's milk and grimaced.
"Drink it up," said John, "Nothing better for new mams and young'ns, though I admit it tastes better in cold weather."
She licked the milk foam from her lip. "The fight against Robert Belleme is not going well for Henry. Henry knew that to set a first example, he must make Belleme bow to him, but the man is so rich and so powerful and has so many treacherous friends. None of them have deigned to appear in court to answer the charges that the crown has laid against them.
The siege at Belleme's castle at Arundel has stalled, which is horrid news since that castle must fall before Henry can move any of his army away from the coast. The rest of the Montgomery clan on both sides of the Manche have rallied to Belleme's defense. His brother Arnulf has bought the support of the Welsh princes and they are now harrowing Staffordshire, and all this as a dare to entice Henry to move his troops away from Arundel and to the west counties. Belleme is building a new castle at Bridgnorth on some big river."
"The Severn," Raynar supplied the name.
"Yes," she continued, "the Severn, and another castle at Carreghofa, wherever that is."
"On the border of Powys just south of Oswestry," Raynar said quietly.
"Where ever," she continued, "meanwhile in Normandy, Duke Robert has been humiliated in his efforts to take any castles from the Montgomerys. Half of the duke's men side with Belleme against Henry, despite their hatred of the man. Henry fears that Robert has lost heart and will be of no more help."
"And?" asked Raynar.
"Henry has asked that you visit him in Arundel."
"Why me? I am too old. Besides, it was from ignoring my advice in Alton that has got him into this mess now. If it had been up to me, Mortain and Belleme would have been dead and buried nine months by now, and Mary's throat would not have that knife scar."
"Please, Raynar," she picked up his hand and gave him a long smile. "Please. My people, our people cannot afford a civil war amongst the Normans. It will be the women and children who will suffer, as they always do when men fight. They are already suffering in Staffordshire."
"Why me?" he repeated.
"Well, I have told Henry some of your stories from the conquest. He knows that you were able to defeat castles quickly, and that you speak Welsh, and that you know the Welsh princes personally. Please."
Raynar groaned. John laughed. Edith grinned and accidentally spilled her fermented milk, all of it, and reached for a drink of Raynar's ale.
* * * * *
The next morning, Raynar set out for Arundel. His horse was from the royal stables and was worth a small village. His clothing and cloak was that of a royal tax collector, and he had the badge of office as well, all issued by order of the queen to help keep him safe on the highway. It was the death penalty to harm a royal tax collector.
Hanging from his saddle was his Seljuk bow. It was a short, but powerful, recurve bow from the Holy Lands which was designed to be used from horseback. From his belt hung a light sword, but he had never really been any good with a sword, not even such a strong light blade such as this one. He was better with the belt, for it was actually a sling made to look like a belt. He been a shepherd lad while growing up, and still practiced slinging.
In his pack he had his own clothes and a warm sleeping cloak and two gifts from John. A handful of his signature arrow points, and a long staff bow of Raynar's own design from when he and John had first met. The staff had the look of a shepherd's crook but could be strung and shot like a long bow. John had even hidden a short knife blade in its foot. It was John's way to always improve on a design, and this design was from their childhood together in the Peaks Forest of Derbyshire.
The two men with him were also bowmen. They were members of the recently formed Royal Archers, and they were returning to duty after their first leave in their home villages. Each had arrived at the same alehouse at about the same time and over an ale and some mutton stew the had discovered that all were journeying to Arundel.
Raynar welcomed the company, especially the company of such capable young men. The highways of the kingdom always became more dangerous when there were armies on the move. Besides it gave him an audience for his stories, and he did enjoy telling his stories.
"My grandfather told me he was expecting a revolt of the Earls," the younger of the men was saying. "He says that once a new king gets his footing and begins replacing the favourites of the old king with his own men, there is always a revolt. Same thing happened after Rufus was crowned."
"Aye, he's right," Raynar replied. "The same thing happened back in '75 to old King William." He whispered a curse on the name and spat into the sawdust on the floor. The other men took his lead and spit their own curses.
"Are you that old?" asked the other man in wonder. This man dressed in robes of the treasury still seemed trim and muscular. "Oops, no offense, sir. It's just that. Well, ugh, do you remember it yourself, or from the telling of elders?"
"I was in Flanders when I heard of the actual revolt," replied Raynar.
"Flanders, that is over the North Sea somewhere."
"Yes, to the North of France and to the South of Holland. You would like it. The folk have never been serfs so they are proud and free. The main city, Brugge, is much smaller than London, but richer. They control much of the trade from the Germanies and have grown wealthy from it. And the women...." Raynar noticed the young men sit up and grin at the mention of women. Better save that story line until bed time.
"Anyway, I was in Flanders, and we all knew that there was trouble brewing in England, yet again, because Eustace of Boulogne was recruiting arbalesters to ship as a mercenary force to Norfolk to help Ralph the Breton, who was one of the Earls in revolt."
He noticed the blank looks, and told them, "Oh, um, Boulogne and Calais are across the Manche from Dover. They are between Flanders and France and men of both cultures live there so they get pulled into many wars. Many of the French speaking men were flocking to Eustace's call for mercenaries because life was hard for them after they backed the wrong side against Count Robert the Frisian who won Flanders at the battle of Cassel."
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The Hoodsman - Revolt of the Earls by Skye Smith
Chapter 2 - Beatrice buys a home in Brugge in April 1075
"It is a lovely home, Beatrice," said young Raynar as he swung the countess around in the hall, "and I have always told you that you need homes in both Spalding and Brugge because of your trading business. So why do you seem to be embarrassed to be showing it to me?"
"Oh," she was flustered. Luckily, she was always at her prettiest when she was flustered. "Because it did not come about because you advised it, but because there may be big trouble in the Fens again." She winced slightly in expectation of a flurry of angry questions.
"Waltheof?" he asked.
"You knew?"
"I was there when Ralph invited you to the wedding, remember. Did you attend? Was it a grand affair? Did you match more of your Frisian maidens to young men with good prospects?"
"Oh don't jest," she scolded, "this is serious."
"Weddings are always serious to young maidens. Were the young women dressed in c
olored silk, or in cloister wool?"
"Stop it," she grabbed him and tickled him until he could not resist taking her into his arms and feeling her softness, just for a moment though, for Klaes's footsteps were sounding on the stairs. Her husband, Thorold did not mind their physical closeness, but it made Klaes jealous.
"These Flemish houses are a wonder," Klaes said as he ducked his head so he would not smash his forehead on the floor beam above the last step. "So many rooms, so many windows, so much glazing, so much brick, so many steps, and those thingy's too, ugh, chimneys. Don't tell me what it cost. I will find out when I buy my own."
"You too, Klaes?" Raynar asked, "you are buying in Brugge too?"
"Beatrice hasn't told you of the trouble, then. What has she been doing all this time?"
"Telling me what the women wore at the wedding," Raynar replied, "or she was until you interrupted."
"Women, life and death events happening around them and all they talk about is what other women wore" Klaes gave Beatrice's bottom a pat as he walked by them. "I am going down to have a look at the cellar."
As soon as Klaes left the room, she was pressing against him again and this time wanting a kiss, but he held her at arms length and in a moment Klaes came back as he expected.
"The bloody cellar is a boat house." Klaes looked at Raynar's smirk, "You knew, ya bastard, I mean you dog. Now I have a wet boot."
"It's your own fault Klaes," laughed Raynar, "You never once have offered to help dig the foundation of the new abbey in Oudenburg, else you would know that you can barely spade the topsoil away before you strike water in this county. That is why these Flems are forever digging canals to take the water away. And you a Fen's man."
"The cellar and the shop are both on the ground floor with the hall," Beatrice explained. "The living quarters are above, and there is an attic under the roof for more storage."
"Not much space for storage, then" Klaes wrinkled his nose.
"Only the most valuable cargos will be stored here. The rest will be in the warehouse by the docks or even in Oudenburg where land and space is cheaper," Beatrice brushed some dust from her bodice thinking that was what Klaes was staring at. Then she remembered the deep cleavage she was showing. She wore the latest Brugge fashion and she was still getting used to the leers of men down the alehouse neckline.
"Well, perhaps I will leave it to you to find me a house then, love," Klaes beamed. "Otherwise I suppose I will end up owning a long house near Oudenburg where I will have land enough to raise horses."
"Klaes, I think you would be much happier in Oudenburg," Raynar said. "Talk to Hereward. He has been granted more than enough land for all of us, and for all our horses, though admittedly the driest grazing land is an hours ride inland from the burg. Inland there are even some dry patches where you can dig a cellar."
"Right then," Klaes ducked as he went outside on the canal side of the building, and then quickly returned and went out on the street side. "I'll be over watching the lads load the ship. Do you need passage back to Oudenburg, Ray?"
"No thanks," replied Raynar with a wave, "Beatrice will need an escort at the palace tonight, and some help arranging for basic furniture and linens. It will be a welcome change for me after the heaving decks of ships, and the company of rough men."
"The actual wedding," Beatrice began after the door closed behind Klaes, "turned into a family only event in Norwich, but everyone attended the bride-ale. It was a grand feast at Exning which was more convenient to all streets that lead from Cambridge to Norwich. I had a wonderful time, thank you, as did all the women. The men, of course got drunk and stupid and clumsy. Now, what else did you ask. Only two, and the bride wore a gown of colored silk but the rest of us wore fine wool with colored silk scarves."
"Two what?"
"Two Frisian maidens promised," she replied, "The two that were with me in Huntingdon helping Judith."
"Neither are virgins, you know." he winked. He knew.
"Fool, there is no such thing as a Frisian virgin, not of beddable age anyway. Everyone knows that. It is enough that they have never been with child."
"Is Klaes moving his entire village to Flanders?" he asked.
"Half the women. The young ones that risk becoming sex slaves if they are ever captured by armies. The men will not move. They are already living in both places for the running of the ships."
"Then it is serious trouble," he said softly.
"Much less serious than the harrowing, or the Ely rebellion, but this time we know enough to take precautions. We can run our trading from here just as easily as from the Fens. Hopefully there will never again be trouble in both places at the same time."
"What is the trouble this time?" he asked.
"Well, the groom, Earl Ralph of Norfolk has long been complaining about the bishop-regents who King William left in charge of the kingdom, especially Odo. Ralph is a Breton, and Bretagne has been invaded by the Normans, so of course he was upset.
At the bride-ale, he and Earl Roger of Hereford, the brides father, were recruiting other nobles to make a stand against the regents. Waltheof was speaking boldly, drunk as usual. They were all drunk. Thorold was there, but just to listen. A lot of very stupid things were said, or at least it was stupid to say them publicly, and many actually took an oath to support Ralph and Roger against the regents, including Waltheof."
"It sounds like alehouse talk," he said. "Most likely nothing will come of it."
"They are gathering their warriors," she laid her head on his chest and dropped her voice to a whisper, "buying weapons, storing food, sending messages to possible allies, making offers to mercenaries."
"And do the bishop-regents know any of this yet?"
"They must." she replied. "They have those foul spies they call priests in every church. Waltheof's Judith was there and it was you who warned me about her being a spy for her uncle. William must know it all by now because he has already refused to sanction the union of the couple."
"So are they wed and consummated, or was it delayed."
"They are wed." she replied.
"And the church approved?"
"The church married them. There were no grounds not to. They share no blood, and neither have living spouses, and no one spoke against it, except now, too late, the king."
"And where is your husband in all of this."
"Thor has always been the crown's man, for four kings now if you include William. He was Shirereeve of Lincolnshire for that long, you see. But he is no fool to think that his long service will protect him, or his kinsmen. That is why he sent me with Klaes to buy this house, and to take most of our treasure to Hereward for safe keeping. Right now Thor should be south of Cambridge selling this years harvest and animals to the London traders before the rush to sell begins."
"And what of you?"
"That is why I have my children with me. We are not to return to Spalding until after the trouble blows over. I suppose I will stay here to greet all the families that surely will be fleeing here for safety," she said and then, "Raynar, he wants you to come to the Fens in case he needs to raise the wolfpacks to protect the folk."
"Fuck," he slammed his hand against the wall, "what if I just kill Waltheof instead? Then his earldoms in Huntingdon, Northampton and Northumbria will be left out of it."
She pushed away from him and had a hand in front of her mouth to hide her open mouthed shock at the suggestion. "Raynar, you wouldn't. He is the last English earl."
"And what if thousands die because of his drunken ravings. The Greeks have the word 'dilemma' for when all choices are bad. The only thing to do is to choose the least bad." He calmed himself and pulled her into his arms again. "When does Thorold want me in Spalding?"
"He won't be back in Spalding for at least a week," she whispered.
"Excellent, then would you allow me to escort you to the palace?" he asked. "There is no need for you to stay in Oudenburg while you create a home here, not when there is a sure welcome at the court
of Countess Gertrude."
"Roas is expecting me in Oudenburg. I have been staying with her."
"Bah, Roas can live with you in the palace until this house is ready for you. You will need the company of a woman, and who would you rather have nearby than Roas. Besides, she is bored in Oudenburg. It is a muddy place of seafarers and alehouses."
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The Hoodsman - Revolt of the Earls by Skye Smith
Chapter 3 - With the Anske on the way to Spalding in April 1075
One of young Raynar's other cogs was just sailing out of the Wash, so he changed course to intercept her and to hear any news that she may be carrying. The other cog glided close to the Anske, and then both crews shipped oars and threw rafting lines. The captain of the other ship clambered over the gunnels and stepped lightly up to the tiny stern castle of the Anske. "Raynar, well met, how can I help you."
"Is Thorold in Spalding?" asked Raynar.
"Haven't seen him for weeks. Word is he is in the south, but don't worry. He has his wolfpack with him so he will be safe enough."
"Then enjoy the crossing to Flanders," said Raynar, "That is all I needed to know." He leant an arm to steady the captain as he scrambled back to his ship. Both crews loosed the lines and moments later they were under way again.
"Make for Lynn," Raynar yelled to the tillerman, and got a wave back to confirm the change of course.
Raynar did not often come to the Fens any more because he was still outlawed, and the Norman Abbot in Peterburgh had posted a rich price on his head. The last time he had crossed from Flanders, he had disguised himself as a monk, and had traveled in secret to visit Waltheof and Judith in Huntingdon.
This time Raynar did not hide on the boat at the dock at Lynn, and he did not hide in monk's robes. This time he stepped onto the dock dressed as a wolveshead in his armoured brynja and with a strung longbow across his shoulders. This time he did not scurry up the Great Ouse past Ely in a poor punt, but in the cog Anske with a raiding sized crew.