Return of the Knight

by Griff Hosker

  The older knight spoke, “King John was given this land when his brother died. It is you who are the traitors. Begone.”

  William had expected this. “We outnumber you and your castle is not a large one. If we invest it then there will be much slaughter. This is not a tourney. We are warriors fighting for a just cause. Think hard before you reject our offer.”

  Both men knew that there would be no surrender. The war was just beginning. When you defended walls then you expected to be able to defeat an enemy. What they did not know was that we had another thirty knights on their way. We would be reinforced. They would not.

  “I reject your offer. The next time you come then we will greet you a little more warmly.”

  As we rode back William des Roches showed why he was the commander of this army. He had his plans already. “We divide the battle into three. I will lead one group of men tomorrow at dawn. We will attack the south-west wall. You, Sir Thomas, will lead another third and attack the south-east wall. Sir Guy de Changé will have the other third as a reserve. Sir Guy, you will follow up whichever of us succeeds in gaining their walls. If we can take the gatehouse then you can use that as a means of gaining entry to the castle.” We both nodded. “I will select the knights for each of us.”

  While I waited for my knights to come and have their counsel of war with me I had my men at arms and archers collect our ladders and hurdles. I spoke first to Edward. He was my sergeant at arms, “The ditch is waterfilled. I am certain that they will have put traps in there. David of Wales, your task is to keep the walls close to us free of our enemies. You have enough arrows?”

  “We have enough arrows, lord.” We had learned in the Holy Land and in the Baltic that a good supply of arrows was essential.

  When my knights arrived, I found myself commanding the largest number of knights since the Crusade. I had thirty knights who would follow my gryphon banner. “I know not if you have attacked a castle before. I have and it is never easy. I will lead my men and Sir William of La Flèche. We will have one ladder. The rest of you will have the other eight ladders. You choose your own men to ascend. We use hurdles to cover the ditch and to cross. Have your archers and men at arms keep the heads of the defenders down. We spread the ladders out evenly. I will be taking the corner close to the gatehouse. Whoever leads up the ladder must be prepared to endure stones, rocks, arrows and, perhaps, boiling water and burning fat. When we attain the wall walk, the fighting platform, the first ones up will hold and clear to allow the rest to follow. Before we can advance we need our men up the ladders and in the castle.”

  They seemed happy enough but I was pleased when they asked questions. I answered them as well as I could.

  That night as we sat around our fire Fótr asked me of my own plan. “Will you send Ridley the Giant up first, lord? He would be strong enough to endure whatever they throw at him.”

  “No, Fótr, I lead this battle and I will be the first up the ladder.”

  Does that mean I will be second, lord?”

  I looked at my former quire, “No, William. I will have Harry Longsword and Ridley behind me. Then Godwin of Battle. You will come next.” The two squires looked at each other. “And before you ask you two will be at the rear. We need you to see how the attack is going. You will have to direct the archers and ensure that the men at arms ascend regularly. When you do join us, you will be able to tell me how many of our ladders have succeeded.”

  “Surely all of them lord.”

  “In a perfect world that would be true. Here,” I shrugged, “I know not. I believe that our ladder will achieve what I intend but I have yet to see these other knights fight. That is another reason why you two will watch. You are my eyes tomorrow. Now make sure the swords are all sharpened and that our mail is oiled.”

  The mail and weapons were all prepared but I wanted the two squires occupied. Death could be around the corner and I wanted them to be too busy to dwell on such thoughts. After I had prayed to God to bring us all through the next day I retired but I found sleep elusive. If I had been Gilbert of Gilsland I would have sortied and tried to disrupt our plans. When I woke after a short sleep I realised he had not and I had a better idea about our foe. He did not take risks and that gave us hope. My restless sleep meant I was the first up. The night guards had built up the fire to prepare some porridge. Jack son of Harold knew the value of a full stomach. Other conroi might not eat but mine would.

  We walked to just beyond crossbow range. My men at arms would use the hurdles like giant shields to get us close to the ditch. Once there we would use just two of them as a bridge and the other four would be propped as defences for our archers. An arrow does not need a flat trajectory; a crossbow does. My archers could send arrows over the hurdles and into the men standing on the fighting platform. That was how I knew that we would succeed when the others might fail.

  When we were assembled William des Roches raised his standard along with that of Prince Arthur and we marched in a long narrow column behind the six hurdles. We marched obliquely so that our shields on our left arms protected us. Slingshot and crossbow bolts thudded into the willow hurdles but none of us were hurt. The ladder was carried in the middle. I was taking a risk just using one but sometimes risks paid off. When we reached the ditch, we allowed the archers to get behind the hurdles and then they began to nock, draw and release.

  There were thirteen archers. Many people thought that an unlucky number. It was, for the defenders! David of Wales and my other archers were well trained. They knew exactly how far they could send an arrow. While we had negotiated they had been estimating distances. The result was that their first five flights caused deaths amongst the most irreplaceable of defenders, crossbowmen. They had been ready to send bolts at us when we could be seen. My archers did not need to see the target to kill. Harry and his men ran out with the hurdles and dropped them into the ditch. They returned to the safety of the hurdle wall.

  I made certain that my helmet was on tightly. I might have to endure blows from above. I said, “Are we ready?”

  They all roared, “Aye lord.”

  We made a shield wall with three of us at the front and the rest behind us. The ladder was carried by the men on the right. Once again, we approached obliquely so that our shields faced the walls and protected all but our legs. When we reached the ditch, we would have to break formation. This was the most hazardous part of it. I moved to the right and took the ladder, Harry and Ridley also held it.

  “Ready?”

  “Aye lord.”

  I stepped out with my shield held before me. Immediately a bolt thudded into it and a heartbeat later I head a scream and then a double thud. I jumped down on to the hurdle. Although it lurched it held. Harry dropped on to it as I was nearing the other side. I had just stepped on to the slippery, grassy bank when Ridley landed on the hurdle. I heard it creak and crack ominously but it held. As I ran to the wall, still holding the ladder, stones hit my shield. I saw the crossbow and the crossbowman lying before me on the grass close to the wall. He had an arrow in his head. We began to lift the ladder into place. I risked looking up. There were two men standing there and they were trying to push the ladder away. Three arrows ended their efforts and I quickly stepped on to it. I would not need my sword until I reached the top.

  I held my shield over my helmet and climbed. I used my right hand for support. Stones, both large and small, crashed down on me but I had archers who were protecting me. I was tempted to see how the other ladders fared but that would have been foolish. I had to concentrate on my job. I knew I was getting close as I looked at the ground below me. It took all of my willpower to resist grabbing my sword. I had to hang on until I saw the crenulations. Only then would I be able to draw my sword.

  As soon as I saw the stones standing proud I drew my sword. When I did so my shield was rocked by a defender with an axe. The shield cracked alarmingly. An arrow whizzed over my shoulder and I heard a cry. It was my chance. I quickly clambered up the last two s
teps and pushed my shield between the crenulations. One of my archers had cleared the way for me.

  As I stepped down I sensed, rather than saw the spear man lunge at me. He was on my right and so I used my sword to flick the head away. It scraped along my surcoat making a tear. Keeping my shield behind me I did that which he did not expect. Keeping the wall to my right I ran at him. The wall walk was two paces wide but the spearman’s lunge had unbalanced him and I used the side of my sword to push him from the wall walk. He tumbled, screaming, to the outer ward. I turned and saw two men with raised axes. Harry Longsword was there. I just ran at them. Once again, their raised arms unbalanced them and I knocked them to the ground. I swung my left leg between the legs of one of them and then, as I lunged forward, I skewered the other one.

  Behind me I heard, “Thank you, lord! I have your back.”

  I did not reply. I brought down the edge of my shield across the throat of the second man at arms and he lay still. I left the two bodies there. They would be a barrier until my other men arrived. When Ridley the Giant stepped behind me I shouted, “You two clear that side. Sir William and I will deal with this side.”

  Two more men approached me. I was now better placed to fight. I held my shield before me. The wall protected my left. They had spears which they held two handed. They had no shields. Both lunged at the same time. They were veterans. They hoped that one would break my defence. I raised my shield and flicked with my sword at the same time. I had been taught the trick by my father. At the same time, I placed my foot on one of the bodies and, bringing my head back, butted the defender to my right. He had a bascinet helmet and my full-face helmet smashed his face to a pulp. I grabbed his shoulder and threw him over the wall walk. I brought my sword around and it hacked across the upper arm of the second spearman. It cut through to the bone. He grabbed his left arm with his right and I ended his life.

  Behind me I felt a shield in my back. “It is William, lord!”

  “Take the wall side. We will head for the gatehouse. Harry and Ridley hold here and send the rest behind us. We take the gatehouse!”

  Already knights were pouring from the gatehouse to deal with this incursion. Numbers did not matter. The wall walk would only allow two men at a time to fight. If they wished to risk pushing then so be it. The one advantage they had was that their shields protected one of their sides and the wall the other. I was also worried about my shield. The blow from the axe had done it no good whatsoever.

  William knew me well. He knew my strokes and he knew my pace. We walked together in perfect time towards the two knights. We were equally matched and the victor would be the most cunning or the one who wanted it the most. I raised my sword above my head. That way the knight did not know which stroke I would use. Would I swing from the side? Would I make a backhand strike or simply bring it down from above? Neither of us could see the other’s eyes. He was watching my sword hand and so, when I punched with weakened shield, he was taken by surprise. He had on a great helm. It gives good protection but it limits the view. He did not see the shield and he began to topple backwards. That was when I brought my sword over. I caught his helmet square on. He lay prone. I put my sword at his throat and simply leaned in. Blood spurted.

  The blow had all but destroyed my shield and so I threw it at the knight fighting William and picked up the dead knight’s shield. The flying shield distracted the knight and William ended his life. Our steps had taken us closer to the gatehouse which was now just four paces away. Behind me I heard the voices of my men as they joined us.

  “On my shout we charge!”

  “Aye lord!” It was not simply shouted, it was roared.

  I felt a shield in my back and with a new, solid shield before me I shouted, “Charge!” There was neither skill nor subtlety in our attack. William and I just led half a dozen warriors in mail. The defenders should have retired to the gatehouse and barred the door. They did not. The two knights who stood there backed by their squires and a crossbowman thought they could beat us. We did not give the crossbow the opportunity to release. We hit them hard. The crossbowman, the squires and one knight were bundled backwards through the door and into the gate house. The other knight lost his balance and fell to the outer ward.

  The gatehouse was dark. There was a stair which led to the fighting platform above us and one which led down to the gate itself. There were two other crossbowmen at the slits. All were surprised. The knight and the two squires shouted, “Ransom!”

  “Lower your swords.”

  Fótr and Johann ran in through the door. We looked to see who it was. The crossbowmen made the mistake of lifting their crossbows. Edward son of Edgar and Jack son of Harold were upon them and slew them before the machines were half way up. I heard the rattle of swords being dropped.

  “Sir William, take Johann and two men at arms. Clear the fighting platform above. Fótr, bar the door to the other wall walk and stay here with Jack. Guard our prisoners. The rest of you, we will descend to the gate when I have seen how the day goes.”

  Fótr said, “Not well, lord. Sir Robert de Rumilly and his men have made the wall walk but that was because they were next to the breach made by Ridley and Harry.”

  I opened the door and went back outside. I saw that Ridley and Harry were supported by James and John, two of my recently recruited men at arms. They had proved their loyalty. The four of them were fighting to reach the beleaguered men to Sir Robert. I leaned over the wall and shouted, “David of Wales, bring the archers up the ladder. Tell the other knights to use this way in. We have the gatehouse!” He waved his arm in acknowledgement. As I turned I saw a movement and I instinctively raised my shield. A crossbowman on the fighting platform of the gatehouse had seen his opportunity. The bolt’s tip came through the shield. I lowered it in time to see the crossbow tumble as Johann rammed his sword into the man’s back.

  I had no time to waste. With just two ladders that we could use the attack was in danger of stalling. I ran into the gatehouse. I led my men down the stone staircase. As I turned the corner a spear was thrust up at me. It ripped through my chausses and sliced into my calf. I ignored the pain and the blood which seeped down to my feet. If the spearman was close enough to thrust then I was close enough to attack. I jumped. The man was not expecting that and I landed on him. I heard ribs crack. I barely had time to regain my own feet when two men at arms ran at me. They had swords. Both were short swords. I blocked one with my shield and used my longer weapon to riposte and disarm the other. I lunged and my sword ripped across his neck. I heard a cry as Michael of Anjou ended the life of the man with the broken ribs. My men at arms quickly despatched the other men who were guarding the gate.

  “Get it open, Michael. The rest of you with me.” I heard the bar being lifted. I went to the gate which led to the outer ward and opened it. I saw more men running from the keep towards the stairs which led to the walls. Behind me the gate was opened and the gloomy gatehouse was suddenly brighter. “Right, men, let us get amongst them!”

  I threw open the door and we ran through. I could feel the blood in my left chausse. I knew that I would become weaker.

  “Lord, you are leaving a trail of blood.”

  “I know Edward.”

  I looked around and saw that our sudden arrival had caused panic. Some of those who had been racing to the walls now stopped, wondering what to do. As David of Wales and my archers, now on the wall walk began to slay them with arrows that indecision turned to panic. The door to the keep remained invitingly open.

  “To the keep!”

  I had twelve men with me. My archers could see what we intended and arrows cleared our path. Those inside the keep had yet to see the danger. Gilbert of Gilsland was still trying to clear his walls of the men who had gained entry. There was a roar as Sir Guy de Changé led over thirty knights and squires supported by forty men at arms through the recently opened gate. They burst into the outer ward. As we neared the door I saw a knight appear. It was Sir Ranulf Avenel. I levell
ed my sword at him, “Treacherous knight!”

  He should have turned and entered the keep. They had lost the outer ward but the keep was a different matter. I think that he was swayed by the fact that I was bloody and carrying another’s shield. He saw both as weakness. He regarded my men at arms as a rag tag mob who were beneath contempt. Both judgements were misguided. He came towards me.

  Aware that I was weakening I took the offensive. I gritted my teeth and stepped onto my stronger, right leg. He had not fought that day. He had a sharp sword and he was fresh and he was a battle-hardened warrior. He made the predictable strike at my head. I did two things at the same time. I blocked the blow with my shield and then hacked at his knee with my sword. I had space to swing and I put all of the power at my disposal into the blow. I saw him buckle. I pulled back my arm and punched with my shield. The bolt was still embedded in the shield and the feathered flights went through the eye hole and into his eye. He began to tumble over.

  “Yield!” His helmet nodded and I shouted, “Edward! Take the keep!”

  “Aye lord! Come on lads.”

  In that moment of distraction Sir Ranulf raised his sword to swipe at me. Peter, son of Richard, shouted, “Watch out, my lord.”

  I glanced down and saw the sword swinging towards my right leg. I stabbed down with my sword and it went through the treacherous knight’s throat before the blade could reach me. I contemplated following my men into the keep but as Sir Guy de Changé led his knights towards me I decided to let them have the glory of taking the keep.

  “Are you all right, lord?”

  “Just a slight wound, Sir Guy. I will wait for my squire.”

  He nodded and led his men into the keep. We had slain enough men already to make the capture of the keep a certainty. I sheathed my sword and knelt next to the body of Sir Ranulf. I took off his helmet. As I did so I noticed a chain around his neck. I pulled it out. I recognised it immediately. It was the seal of Templar. Two knights riding one horse on one side and the cupola of the dome of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. I had not known he was a Templar. His skin was not burned by the sun. He had not been on Crusade. I did not like this. The Templars were a law unto themselves. I slipped the seal into my tunic.