Knight of the Empress

by Griff Hosker

  I did not tell them that I feared for them. They were as dear to me as my father had been and I wanted them to end their lives peacefully in their beds and fighting Scottish raiders.

  I returned to Stockton. I would leave Wulfstan to command. My fyrd would watch the walls. I had enough horses to mount all of Sir Mark and Sir Richard's men. Mobility would be our strength. Sir Richard arrived on the same day that I sent my summons. He brought, as I had told him he could, his family. His son, of course would be with him as his squire.

  It was the first time he had visited my castle and I saw the envy in his eyes. "This is fine stone. You must have a rich manor."

  Wulfstan had laughed, "He has a fine sword and sound men. Sir Alfraed here makes more from his warring than his ploughing." When Sir Richard realised that I was leaving a knight to protect his family he was relieved.

  "But where is Sir Mark?"

  "He has not arrived yet. If he has not arrived by the morrow then we will leave without him. However he will do that at his peril for I will raze his castle to the ground if he fails to heed my order."

  "Have you the power to do so?"

  I shrugged, "No one has told me I may not. If I am punished then so be it but I rule as I see fit."

  In the end Sir Mark did arrive but it was with a pathetically small force. He brought only three men at arms and five crossbows. I brought him before the other knights and squires in my hall. "Sir Mark, did you misunderstand my message?"

  "No, Sir Alfraed but I had to leave some men to protect my lands."

  "Why? The raiders can only get to your lands across my ferry. The nearest ford is at Gainford and that is protected by Sir Guy. Your lands would be safe. I fine you one silver piece per day for each warrior you failed to bring and one penny a day for each of the fyrd."

  "That is outrageous. You have no authority."

  I held up the parchment. "I have the King's authority but if you wish to ask a jury of your peers there are three of them here. Ask them if they think I am being unjust."

  He retreated a little. "They are your men," he said sulkily.

  I smiled, "And I thought you were my man or did I misread the instructions from the King?"

  "I am your man."

  It was as close to obeisance as I would get. I dismissed his behaviour from my mind. I had to focus on the task in hand. "We are a small conroi but I intend to strike at these raiders whenever we can. We strike and withdraw. I want them to go elsewhere and raid. We need them to fear this valley and our knights."

  "With five knights?" scoffed Sir Mark.

  "No with four knights for I intend to leave Sir Wulfstan to lead the fyrd in case we fail."

  "Then it matters not that I left my fyrd at home, Sir Alfraed."

  "It does because it means that Sir Wulfstan has twenty fewer warriors."

  Wulfstan snorted, "If they are all as spineless as this popinjay then it as well they are not here."

  Sir Mark coloured, "Are you questioning my honour?"

  "Of course I am you insubordinate apology for a warrior and when this is over if you wish satisfaction then seek me out I will not be hiding!"

  Sir Mark fell back.

  I held up my hands. I was a leader and had to begin to act like one and not become annoyed because I did not like Sir Mark. "Peace. We do not fight amongst ourselves. I will tell the men later but you all need to know my tactics and plans. We have only four knights but we have three squires. They are dressed as we are and may be mistaken for knights. We charge in a tight line. I shall have Sir Edward and Sir Mark next to me. My squire, Harold, shall flank Sir Mark. Sir Richard will be on Edward's left with his son and then Alan. It is a great responsibility on Alan and Harold but I know they are up to it. Wulfric is my sergeant at arms and he will command the men at arms. Dick is my captain of archers and he will command the archers and the crossbows of Sir Mark. We ride mounted. I do not believe that the enemy will be a mounted force. We will speak with the men and then we ride before dawn's early light."

  When all had retired I sought out Wulfstan. "I would have you leave Sir Richard's fyrd here and take mine to Norton. The walls of this castle will come as a surprise to any raider but Norton is still vulnerable. We have enough horses to get you back here should danger strike."

  "You are right Alfraed although I like not leaving my family."

  "Alf and Ethelred are not fyrd and they will be in Stockton. They are both sound men. They will hold Stockton with the other burghers. They have a vested interest in its survival."

  We reached Norton while it was still dark. Dawn would break in an hour or so. We did not enter but I summoned Aiden. "Come Aiden and bring your dogs. You will be our eyes and ears. Go to the north and find the enemy."

  Dick knew the worth of Aiden and he, like me was happy to have the youth and his dogs ranging far ahead. Dick, as captain, had to delegate the scouting duties to others and Aelric led the four archers who were behind Aiden, watching for our foes. I had spoken with Dick before we had left the castle to warn him to treat the crossbows with respect. Our numbers were too few to disregard these weapons and the men who used them.

  By the time the sun was warming the earth Aiden was back. He pointed to the west. "My lord they reached the fork in the road from Hartness and they headed west."

  I had been outwitted. My arrogance had led me to believe that an enemy would raid me first. Of course I was wrong. By sweeping west these raiders had the soft underbelly of the valley to ravage. They had avoided Durham and could raid the fertile lands as far as the stone castle at Barnard. The land was well tilled and teemed with animals now that spring was finally here.

  "How many?"

  "It was hard to tell but they have a mixture of horses and foot. I would estimate a large warband."

  "Take my archers, find them and follow!"

  We spurred our horses west. We spied the still burning houses of Seggesfield. It was a small community. I suspected the raiders would be disappointed. They made pots there and other objects from clay. The few animals they had would not be what they sought. That was confirmed when Atheling returned.

  "They have killed the men, eaten the animals and taken the families as slaves my lord." He shook his head, "They smashed their pots!"

  I had been right. That was not what they came for. That was mindless destruction borne out of the frustration of not finding what they sought. "Which way have they gone?"

  "They are heading south west, towards the river. Aiden and the others are closing with them."

  I sent him to rejoin the other scouts. Spurring my mount on I began to berate myself. They could be heading for my castle which was held by a handful of men from Yarm. In stripping it of Wulfstan and my fyrd I had laid it open to attack. Sir Mark seemed to read my thoughts. "If we head back to Stockton, Sir Alfraed, then we could be there before the enemy."

  "True Sir Mark, but they could just as easily head towards the bridge over the Tees at Piercebridge. Until we know where they are going we have to follow but we can, at least, follow quickly."

  We rode hard to catch up with them. Each step to the south west took them further away from Stockton but I was surprised at their speed. They were travelling at least as fast as we. It was past noon when Atheling returned. "We have found them, my lord. They are heading for Piercebridge. Aiden and Aelric are watching them. They have started to raid the farms."

  For the first time that morning I allowed myself a smile. Sir Geoffrey would have collected in all of his farmers and animals. By raiding Seggesfield first they had allowed Sir Geoffrey to save his people. They would come away with little to show for their raid.

  We saw the smoke from the farms some two miles from the river. That both saddened and angered me. They were just destroying for the sake of it. There was nothing to be gained save alerting Sir Geoffrey. Perhaps that was their intent, to draw Sir Geoffrey on to their blades. Even Sir Mark hurried to follow me as I led my men towards the sound of the screams. Not all of the farmers and their
families had heeded Sir Geoffrey's warning. Aelric and his archers awaited me.

  "My lord the force has split into two. One half raided the farm just over there the other half headed towards the river. Aiden has followed them."

  "How many are there?"

  "There are forty or more here. They have but two knights and most of them look like the wild men of the north. They fight with long swords and axes."

  "They shun shields then?"

  He grinned, "Aye my lord."

  "Dick, take the archers and go with Aelric to the north. When you are in position then rain death upon these wild men. We will wait. I will ambush them when they flee towards the river and the rest of the warband."

  I kicked Scout on and we rode just four hundred paces to the south. There were many open fields surrounded by ditches. This land had been farmed since the times of the Romans and was fertile. We crossed the ditch and waited in one long line. I could see the farm on the other side of the small copse of trees. I saw the arrows as they soared in the air. Men who do not wear armour and have no shields are vulnerable to arrows and the hidden archers caused mayhem. The raiders burst from the trees. They were led by three mounted knights and eight men at arms. I guessed that the rest would be on foot. We charged obliquely across the field.

  I urged Scout on for I wanted a wedge formation. We outnumbered their horsemen and I wanted them despatched before the wild men with the axes came. Because of our oblique attack we struck them like a hammer on their shield side. They had no lances to counter our attack and two knights were hurled to the ground. The third was far enough away to avoid our lances and he took off west like a startled deer. The other riders had suffered equally. I caught sight of Richard's son, Tristan, as he struck his first enemy in battle. His lance was held high and it speared the Scot in the throat, throwing the lifeless body to the ground and breaking the lance.

  "Draw your sword boy!" I heard the father's voice, filled with pride as he looked to his son.

  The wild men with the axes, hammers and long swords were finally free from the bites of the arrows and they fell upon my men and horses like demons. One of Sir Mark's men had his leg severed and his horse gutted like a fish by a Scot wielding a two handed Danish axe. Edgar ended his life by spearing him with his lance.

  "Do not let them get too close! Use your lances and wait for the archers!"

  I had too few men to risk losing them to wild men from the north. The main warband was still ahead of us. It was only my men at arms who had brought lances and spears. When the arrows and bolts fell amongst the survivors, they fled to the south. I waved the men at arms on. "Pursue them!"

  This time Sir Mark and Sir Richard's men could engage the wild men for they had their backs to them. Our horses had carried greater weight and we needed to rest them.

  "Dick, take the archers and crossbows. Find the main band!"

  We had not escaped unscathed. I saw that at least one of my archers and a crossbowman had fallen. I knew that others would have wounds too. The two Scottish knights lay where they had fallen. Their horses had remained by the bodies. These were not destrier but palfreys. They would come in handy. Three Scottish men at arms lay dead and eight of the half naked wild men. I dismounted to examine the bodies. They were heavily tattooed and their hair was limed so that it formed a hard cap. It did not replace armour but it made them look fearsome.

  I saw the three squires talking. "You squires did well. Especially you, Tristan. Next time aim for the body. It is a bigger target and punch as you strike."

  Sir Mark seemed more confident now that he had emerged unscathed. "They were easy enough to defeat."

  I shook my head, "We surprised them and it was not the main band. Wait until they are all despatched before you begin crowing. Come we had better see to the people of the farmstead, if any remain alive."

  We found three women and six children who emerged from the woods. Their men lay dead. I dismounted and went to the elder of the women. "I am sorry that we came too late mother."

  I think my Saxon surprised her. She fell to her knees, "Thank you for coming my lord. Sir Geoffrey offered us sanctuary but my husband was a stubborn man. He has paid the price with his life."

  "Will you stay?"

  She adopted a defiant pose. "A few barbarians will not stop us. Thanks to you they did not have time to steal our animals. We can begin again."

  I nodded. These were my father's people and they had iron for bones; especially the women. "My castle is at Stockton. If you need aught then go there and ask for help. King Henry has charged me with defending this valley and I take that seriously."

  "I thought that the King cared little for us."

  "He has many enemies but he cares. Trust me."

  My men at arms returned. I saw that we had four of our men who were wounded. "The wounded men stay here and help these people. Collect the Scottish weapons and wait for us."

  Conan the Irishman and William of Deal were among the wounded. "What will you do my lord?"

  "We will follow them and finish them off. Take command William until I return and help them to repair their defences."

  Although our numbers were depleted by leaving such good men there I knew it was a risk to have them fighting in a weakened condition.

  It was late afternoon when Dick found us again. "Aiden followed them and found them at Sir Geoffrey's castle. The Scots have learned that they cannot attack such a well defended castle. They have moved west towards Gainford."

  "Then we have a chance."

  We hurried to the castle where Sir Geoffrey greeted us with a grin. "We showed those Scottish bastards that we have a backbone. My men did well."

  I pointed north. "You lost two farms. We managed to save the women and children at the closer of the two but not the other."

  He shook his head, "Richard of Headlam was like his father. He was headstrong and believed he and his family could see off raiders."

  "I left men with them. The raiders have headed to Sir Guy's castle."

  "That is not good for it is not as strong as mine. It is further from the river." He patted his gate. "We have stone which the Romans left."

  "Then we will rest now and leave well before dawn. Leave your fyrd to watch your castle. We know where they are and we can surprise them at camp."

  He nodded. "I am sorry that my hall cannot accommodate all of your men at arms."

  I laughed, "We are warriors. We will cope."

  Sir Mark huddled with his own warriors. He was still unhappy about having to serve with us. The lack of any coins amongst the dead Scots had done nothing to make him any happier. Edward and I lay with our backs to the wall of the hall and talked with Sir Richard.

  "It was good to see my son blooded today but I was fearful for him. Those warriors were savage fighters. They went for the horses!"

  "My father was one of Harold Godwinson's housecarls and he told me that they did the same thing. The Danish axe is a fearsome weapon and can take the head from a horse. It renders the rider vulnerable."

  Sir Richard nodded, "And that is why you stood off from them."

  Edward nodded in my direction, "You will learn, Sir Richard, that our leader is a careful warrior. We are never reckless but we survive and that is important. There are too few of us to waste lives."

  "But we have taken little in the way of horses and treasure."

  "That will come. We have some horses. They are not the best but we have learned that a mounted conroi has more chance of success than one which is afoot."

  "And tomorrow? What will that bring?"

  "I know not who commands this band of raiders but I would assume that they did not leave their best warriors to take that little farm. Whoever we meet tomorrow will be stronger than they were but we are no longer alone. We have Sir Geoffrey's men and I hope that Sir Guy will have others to help us."

  Suddenly Aiden and his dogs materialised from nowhere. Sir Richard actually jumped, "Is your scout a ghost that he can appear from nowhere?"
/>
  "He is good. What have you found?"

  "The Scots have camped at a farm a mile or so from the castle. It was empty. They have a band of twenty watching to see that no one comes to the aid of the castle or leaves."

  "You think they are waiting for the morning?"

  He nodded, "They have cut down a mighty oak and are hardening the end in a fire. They will attempt to breach the walls at first light."

  "How many are there?"

  He shrugged, "I counted fires only for it was dark but there must be a hundred or more men. They have eaten well this night. They slaughtered one of the cattle they had collected and there were screams from the women."

  He said no more but it became clear that we had to get there as early as we could. I did not expect that we could surprise these. The ones who had escaped would have warned them of our presence. This time they would be ready.

  Chapter 11

  It was pitch black when we left. The difference with our previous long march was this was less than a few miles and we had a better force. We had nine more archers and seven more men at arms. Sir Geoffrey brought his squire and, like, Sir Richard it was his son. With five knights and four squires we were more of a force to be reckoned with. Before we left I gave them my instructions. "This time we use four lines. The first line will be the knights. The squires, the second. The men at arms the third and the archers will be the reserve. They can release their arrows over the heads of the knights."

  Sir Mark pouted, "My crossbows cannot."

  "And that is why we have archers. Your crossbowmen can guard the archers' horses." Sir Mark was getting a lesson in warfare. He should have known the limitations of crossbows. They were best suited to defending walls and not being used on a battlefield.

  The land was a patchwork of fields surrounded by ditches. Here and there were woods which had yet to be felled. The motte and bailey castle was a hundred paces from the river on a small rise in the land. Around it I could see the burnt out houses of the small settlement which had surrounded it. The wooden walls of the castle were scorched and blackened where the Scots had attempted to fire it. However the banner of Sir Guy still flew about the gatehouse. I did not know any of my knights well enough yet to know how they would react in a given situation. I hoped that he would sally forth and attack the host which now faced us in the flank. For their leader had chosen a piece of land which rose gently and was free from trees on either flank. The only places of concealment were the few folds and hollows. I would not be able to hide my archers. We drew up just above the road which led north. There were two drainage ditches running alongside. They would be an obstacle to the unwary.