by Griff Hosker
I did not stop to worry about who they might be. I immediately began to plan how to defeat them. I held up my hand, “Ambush ahead. Prince Arthur, you and your household knights stay here.” I turned to William, “Ride back to the rear-guard. I fear there will be more men who are approaching from that direction.”
“Yes, lord and you?”
“I will clear the road.”
“But you know not whom you face.”
“It matters not. They stand between me and my home. Change your horse for your warhorse. Fótr, fetch Dragon.”
Prince Arthur rode up to me, “Ambush? Who dares to do this?”
“Who would not dare, my lord?” He looked shocked by my effrontery. I dismounted, “Until you surround yourself with warriors rather than these preening popinjays then you will always be in danger.”
One of his knights, Sir Hugo bridled, “My lord that is too much!”
“Silence! Until your sword is notched and bloodied then hold your tongue! I have man’s work to do. Prince Arthur, continue up the road but be ready to fight. My men at arms will no longer flank you. Sir William will guard your rear but draw your weapons and be prepared to defend yourselves.” Fótr returned with Dragon and I changed horses. He handed me a spear. “You stay with Sir William and the horses. He may need you.”
“But I am your squire!”
I waved my hand at Edward and the others who were heading to me. They had changed horses and taken a spear. They knew we had to fight. “And I have these. Whoever these ambushers are they are in for a shock.”
I had thirteen archers and twelve men at arms. It would have to do. I rode to the slight rise where David and my archers waited. They had dismounted and their bows were strung. He pointed to the riders five hundred paces from us. “There are thirty-four of them, lord; I counted them. Almost all look to be mailed.”
That was not enough to take us. There would be even more at the rear. “Gruffyd son of Tomas, take your brother and two others. Go support Sir William with the baggage. You will be attacked.”
“Aye lord.”
The fact that the enemy had not attacked us told me that they were waiting for the attack at the rear to distract us which gave me time to assess the situation. I peered south. “David, you have better eyes than me, who are they?”
“They wear the liveries of the men we slew and captured at Ballon lord but they are led by the knight you said was a Templar.”
“How can you tell? They wear full-face helmets.”
“The palfreys they ride. All three have a white star blaze on their heads. I saw them at Ballon. They have just taken shields and surcoats from those we defeated.”
That told me all that I needed to know. It was King Philip. I do not think he wished harm to Prince Arthur but he needed him at his side so that he could control him. I turned to the men at arms, “We have the advantage of fresh horses. These have ridden hard to be ahead of us. Thanks to the knights of the Prince we are fresher than they are.” They laughed. “They outnumber us. David, take your archers and flank them. Use your arrows to thin them out for us. We ride in a wedge. The ones with the white blaze are Templars. Do not underestimate them. They may be treacherous but they are all good warriors.”
The men formed up behind me. David divided his archers into four archers and five. They rode south. I could see that our action had spurred the ambushers. They formed two lines. They intended to charge us. I had no banner above me but Fótr had brought me a spear with a gonfanon. That would have to do as the rallying point. We began to move down the road. The Templars were as experienced as I was. They kept together and did not gallop. I guessed that half of their men were knights. They would be French knights. They knew that I had just Sir William. Like me they would have dismissed the household knights. They had fought in tourneys and jousts. For this you needed men who could kill. They would underestimate my men at arms. That was my secret weapon.
I was aiming at the three Templars. They had lances. They would have practised every day since they had been young men. They would hit us and hit us hard. I would have three lances aimed at me. I would not be able to stop them all. I would be hit. I spurred Dragon a little. I was riding a warhorse. They had to be riding palfreys for David had identified three of them. My horse was bigger. They would be striking upwards. I would have one chance to hit the knight in the centre. I knew that he would be the night called Valery. I had learned that his name was Sir Valery of Lyon. He was Burgundian. The three Templars showed their experience by resting their lances on the cantles of their saddles. When they hit, they would strike where they aimed.
We were now closing rapidly. I heard a couple of cries and shouts from the flanks. I smiled without looking. David and the archers were thinning the numbers and weakening the resolve of the men we attacked. I saw that we were just twenty paces from them. I lowered my spear and pulled it back slightly. I pulled my shield up and leaned forward in the saddle. I had the top of my helmet towards the enemy. I was flanked by Harry Longsword and Edward son of Edgar. Both knew how to use a spear. They would both have a free strike as three lances would try to unhorse or kill me.
Sir Valery’s lance struck my shield. He punched hard. Had I not been riding a warhorse I might have been unhorsed but Dragon did not miss a step. The second lance hit my helmet and made my head ring. Even as I rammed my spear at the cantle of Sir Valery’s horse I felt the lance tear through the mail covering my arm. It drew blood. Dragon did what every good warhorse did. He lunged and bit at one of the horses. As luck would have it that was the horse to my right; the one whose rider had lanced me. As my spear struck flesh I twisted and then felt the ash shaft shatter. Sir Valery tried to keep his saddle but he had a metal head and an arm’s length of spear in his guts. He fell.
Edward took advantage of Dragon’s bite and his spear hit the second Templar in the chest. He tumbled backwards over the back of his horse. As I drew my sword I could not see how Harry fared but I knew that two of my most dangerous enemies were down. I felt the blood pouring down my arm. I prayed that it was a clean wound and that there were no wooden splinters embedded there.
I was the first to reach their second line. I saw that the riders had no mail. They were protected by metal studded leather. They were armed with spears. I brought my shield over to protect my chest and held my sword out horizontally. Edward was just behind me. As the spear shattered on my shield the rider rode into my outstretched arm. The blade tore through the surcoat and into the leather. He fell backwards over his horse’s rump. I heard the crack and the scream as Edward’s horse crushed his chest.
There were none before us and I whipped Dragon around. I saw that Harry Longsword lay dead. The Templar who had killed him was galloping towards the Prince. He had eight riders left with him. Some of my men were still engaged with the survivors of the ambush.
“Edward! With me!”
I saw that the protectors of the Prince were showing their inexperience. They did not form a line. They charged, recklessly and without order towards the Templar and his eight men. I glanced to my right and saw that David and his archers were turning to send their arrows after the Templar and his men. They had to check for they were thwarted; the Prince’s retinue had met the enemy and my archers had no clear target. Four of the Prince’s knights and two men at arms fell as the nine riders galloped through. Their deaths allowed David and his men to send their arrows at the enemy and four fell from their horses.
The deaths of the knights had not been in vain. It takes time to kill a man and they had had to stop their horses to despatch them. Edward and I were gaining. The Prince was just sitting on his horse. He was not moving. To the north I saw Sir William, Johann and Ridley the Giant galloping to the Prince’s aid. They would not make it in time. I spurred Dragon and, in leaping forward, he brought me close to the rearmost warrior. Blood was seeping from my wound but I still had enough strength to swing my blade hard into the spine of the knight I chased. The blade came away bloody and his sl
ipped from the saddle. His death grip pulled his horse with him. The Templar had just three men with him and as Edward brought his sword down to split the spine of another one then he was down to two. It was then that the Prince reacted. He ran. Luckily, he ran back down the road towards Sir William. It was the best thing he could have done.
As Edward and I brought our swords into the backs of the two men at arms following the Templar. Ridley and Sir William hit the Templar from two sides. Ridley the Giant had a long broad sword. While Sir William’s sword hacked through the Templar’s arm, Ridley’s sliced through his body, cutting him in two.
“Johann, fetch back the Prince, by force if needs be!” I reined in Dragon and dismounted. I trusted the judgement of David of Wales but I needed confirmation. I took off the helmet of the dead knight. It was one of the Templars. I took off my own helmet and looked up at William. “How was it at the rear?”
“The archers saw them off. When they realised we were ready they fled north but Alf Smiths'son fell.”
I nodded, “Well done Ridley. The horse and this knight’s bounty is yours.”
“Thank you lord but I would change it for Alf alive and laughing once more.”
“I know. Have the rest of the enemy horses and war gear collected. Leave their corpses where they lie. They fought under false colours.”
As I mounted Johann rode back with the Prince. Prince Arthur looked at me, “You were right, my lord. My men were naïve. I will listen to you in the future.”
“These men were sent by Philip of France. Do you still put your faith in him?”
“They may have acted alone. You cannot know.”
I shook my head, “If you will not listen to my advice my lord then I have done with you. I will take you to Angers and let your mother act as adviser. I hope she has more luck that I have had.”
Fótr shouted, “Lord. You are wounded!”
I had forgotten. The blood flowed freely. Ridley looked up and tore a long piece of cloth from the dead Templar he had been stripping. He tied it above the wound and tightened it. The blood stopped and he nodded his satisfaction. “That should hold until we reach our castle, lord.”
Sir William said, “You and Fótr ride. We will clear the field!”
I shook my head, “I will wait.”
Sir William shook his head and said, forcefully, “Lord, do you not trust me and your men? Take the archers and the remains of the household knights. We will fetch the wagons and the horses. If you ride hard then you can be there before the blood needs letting.”
Edward son of Edgar put his hands together to help me to mount, “Come along my lord, there’s a good fellow, do as young Sir William says! If you lose your arm we will have to face the wrath of Lady Margaret!” He said it with a smile and I nodded.
“Come Prince Arthur, we will ride!”
David of Wales and my archers were clearing up the bodies at the ambush site. Fótr said, “My lord is wounded, David of Wales, you will escort us. Godwin of Battle, have the men at arms help Sir William?”
Both men ginned and knuckled their forehead, “Aye my lord!”
I knew Ridley had been right as we headed south. I felt slightly dizzy. It was the same feeling I had had when I had been wounded in my leg. As we closed to within a mile or two of my castle Fótr put his heels in his horse’s flanks. “I will have all prepared, my lord!”
David was on one side of me and he laughed, “That one is growing, lord. Soon you will be able to knight him!”
I nodded, “He has become a man overnight, it seems.”
Prince Arthur was on my other side. He had been silent since the ambush but now he spoke, “Better than some knights, it seems.”
One of the knights who had survived heard him, “We will strive to do better, Your Grace.”
The Prince shook his head, “But for a young knight and a man at arms I would now be dead! It is a little late to say you will do better.”
He relapsed into silence. The attack had unnerved him. Hitherto he had seen death and violence from a distance. His sword had remained sheathed. The last Templar had been within two blade strokes from ending his life.
As we rode through the gates I saw that Margaret had her women ready along with the steward, Geoffrey, and Father Michel. The Prince and his men were some way behind my archers. While the other women, Marguerite apart, looked tearful, my wife looked stoic. She saw me riding and therein lay hope. I smiled at her, “Did Fótr, tell you that Prince Arthur comes to stay the night?”
“He did and the rooms are being readied. Now let us look to you, my husband. I understand that you have two wounds.”
“One is almost healed.”
“Then you remain at home until both are. You cannot save the Dukedom with one arm!” There was the hint of a smile in her eye. She was mocking me!
I dismounted, grateful that my right leg was whole and I would not wince when I placed my foot on the ground. Father Michel supported me, “Come lord, I have all that we need to sew you back together although I fear I can do nothing about your mail.” I saw the torn links. It would be an expensive repair. I hoped they had a good smith here. My wife came in with me. I saw Lady Marguerite throw her arms around William and then whisper in his ear. He shouted loudly. That was unlike him.
When we reached the door to the chapel my wife kissed me, “I shall be a good hostess. Tell me, what ails the Prince? He looks out of sorts.”
“He has been duped and betrayed and he is finding it hard to handle. He thought he was ready to rule and he is not. I feel sorry for him but he has many people depending upon him.”
Father Michel was a good healer and he was thorough. He had Fótr strip me completely. As soon as the improvised bandage came off the blood began to flow again. Although the flow was not as quick as before Father Michel had to be quick with the cloth to staunch the bleeding. It took some time to stop the blood from pouring. He used honey and lemon to smear into the wound. It stung but I knew that it would prevent my arm from putrefying. Then he stitched it. I noticed he had hands like a woman. His fingers were long and delicate. He did a good job. Then he looked at the wound on my leg.
“Not a bad job although I would have stitched. Who used the fire?”
“A priest.”
“A lazy priest then but the wound is healing well, but the scar…” he shook his head. “I will speak with the cook and have a special diet for you. It will make you stronger and replace the blood you have lost.”
“Replace the blood?”
He laughed, “You knights know how to spill the blood but not how it is made. The body makes blood. However, it is possible to help the body to make it quicker. We will do that. Fótr, you can help him to dress. I would suggest you take it easy but I have spoken with Lady Margaret and know that is not in your nature. You must wear a sling!”
I felt foolish but I knew that he was right. Fótr helped me into my gambeson and surcoat. Father Michel adjusted the sling and helped me to the hall.
“Fótr, take the mail to the blacksmith. Ask him to repair it or, if he cannot, then he can make me a new one.”
Father Michel left me at the door to the hall and went back to the chapel to clean up the blood. He was a fastidious man. The hall was empty for my wife was showing our guests to their rooms. This was one of the first times I had been alone in the Great Hall. It was large but not as large as the one at Stockton. This would do but I still had the dream of a home in England. This was an exile only.
I went to my chambers. I barely knew the servants but they were in the room already. My chests were being unpacked. Both wounds were aching and I waved them away. I slumped on to the bed. Margaret came in and, sitting next to me, began to comb my hair. I found it soothing.
“I am sorry I was so long, my husband, but I was speaking with the Prince. He is like a little boy. He told me you had abandoned him.” I nodded. “You cannot do that. He never knew his father. When he was born his father was already dead. He has been brought up by his m
other. She is a troubled woman. Her husbands were chosen for her. They were forced marriages. None were happy. His sister will be like a prize cow to be married off. You owe it to them both to try to help them.” She laid down the comb and took out a clean kyrtle. “The Earl of Cleveland spent his life looking after the Empress Matilda and her son Henry. You can do no less.”
I knew why my wife felt this way. She had almost been forced into marriage for her fortune. She had lost that fortune. On the voyage south, she said that I was more valuable than the fortune she had lost. She was, however, correct, I was honour bound to help the three of them. I knew it was a lost cause but I was a knight and a knight of England. I had been dubbed by a king.
“You are right. What did I do to deserve you?”
“Come, stand and I will bathe and then dress you. Your arm will take some time to heal. At least that means you will not be involved in this war for a while.”
As she washed me she told me the news of the manor. She detailed all the improvements she had made and whom she had seen. She was impressed with Geoffrey the Steward and could find no fault with the servants. Sir Philip and his predecessors had chosen well. Suddenly she stopped, “I am a featherbrain! I have forgotten to tell you the most important news. Sir William and Marguerite are to be parents. She is with child!”
Now I understood the shouts and the excitement. I was pleased for them.
That evening the Prince and his knights were subdued which was in direct contrast to Sir William, Fótr and Johann who were full of high spirits. My wife said, as the cheese and ham were brought in with some fresh bread, “Husband, sit with the Prince. Build bridges.”
“Yes, my love.”
I swapped seats with my wife. It went against all protocol but this was my castle and I would make the rules. “What is amiss, Prince Arthur?”