Knight of the Empress

by Griff Hosker

  "I have watched my father handling money every day and I would be rich."

  "Then this is not the job for you for a clerk will never be rich."

  "With respect, my lord, you will be paying me and I do not intend to waste that money. There are opportunities to use that money and to make it multiply. The story of the talents from the Bible tells us that. I will be patient and I will serve you well but I will also serve myself. A man may do that may he not?"

  I laughed, "I like you, John. You answer directly and with honesty. You may use your coin for whatever you wish so long as you work hard for me. You will have much correspondence to write for I find writing tiresome. You will also need to organise the pay for the others who work for me and you will need to keep an account of the taxes and the money. There will be other tasks I set for you but we will discuss those as time goes on. What say you?"

  "I will be happy to accept the post, my lord and I promise that I will serve you as well as any knight or man at arms."

  I nodded and took his right arm. "Then you will now be my clerk. Welcome to Stockton Castle."

  He proved as good as his word and I had more time to be with my men. I think the only one who was saddened by the appointment was Adela for we were together less often. I found that I missed our times together. It was just another sign of what I knew was inevitable. We would be wed but I had set myself a date and it was still more than half a year away. I regretted my words and, when my young couples married at the Midsummer feast I found myself looking at the lovely young woman and wishing that I had made the decision to wed.

  Being in the far north we had little news and we heard nothing from London. Europe and the court of the Emperor might as well have been on the moon. Matilda was unobtainable and she was far away. I now realised that I had been a moonstruck youth and Wulfstan had been right. I needed distance to help me to see clearer. The courts of Europe were not for me. I was a marcher lord and I was happy to rule my two manors in the far north. There was less danger from a Scottish blade than in the politics of the court and I was happy to be away from such intrigue.

  Chapter 12

  It was late summer when Robert of Caen, Earl of Gloucester, arrived with a large conroi. He arrived at the ferry. Ethelred rubbed his hands when he saw the number of men. I shook my head, "This is the King's son, Ethelred. Make wise decisions."

  He tapped his nose, "Thank you for your sage advice my lord. This may be the first of many!"

  I shook my head. He was irascible. I sought Faren. "We will have guests tonight. The King's son comes. Have we food enough?"

  She nodded, "Aiden and Dick were hunting yesterday. We have some deer. I will send to Ralph. He has some beans which might be ready."

  "Thank you Faren." She was invaluable; my father had made a wise choice in buying her and Wulfstan an ever wiser decision to marry her.

  "I fear your cellar will be much depleted when they are gone. It is fortunate we made fresh ale yesterday but as these are Normans I am thinking that only the men at arms will drink something as base as beer!"

  Adela rushed in. "Do we have company?"

  "We do and you shall be much sought after by the bachelor knights."

  She looked at me seriously, "There is only one knight for me and I only have half a year to wait for him."

  I surprised myself by the good feeling I had after her words. I returned to my gate as Robert and his household knights landed. I knew all ten of them and had fought alongside them. They were good warriors one and all. I trusted them as I would trust my own knights. Robert clasped my arm. "I am sorry to spring this upon you, Alfraed, but my father sent me when he received the news about the incursions from the north."

  "We did not suffer too badly here."

  We strolled through my gate into my inner bailey. "But we did further west. Many farms were ravaged and manors destroyed. Had it not been for Carlisle Castle and Brougham Castle things would have gone ill for us."

  "Do we know who caused the mayhem?"

  "From some prisoners we understand it was the men of Gospatric from Lothian and Northumberland."

  "Does he not have lands in Northumberland?"

  "Aye he does and his father was Earl of Northumberland until my grandfather took it from him and gave it to Siward." He leaned in, "We go north to his holdings in the borders and question him. if he is found to be guilty then I have the power to take his lands in England from him."

  We had halted in the bailey so that he could talk quietly with me. "How many men do you take?"

  "Not enough to cow him. I have my household knights and fifty men at arms." He paused, "We need your men. The ones who defeated the raiders."

  I nodded. "I will send for them but the King needs to appoint a new lord of Normanby."

  "There is one on his way from Normandy; Sir Guiscard d'Abbeville. He is a good knight and served the King well in the recent wars. We will leave when your knights arrive. I hope we will not inconvenience you."

  "Do not worry, my lord. It is good to have some company. It will take Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey a day or two to get here although Sir Richard can be here by the morrow. I will send riders now." I waved over Dick, "Send riders to Gainford, Piercebridge and Yarm. I have need of my knights and half of their men at arms and archers." After he had gone I explained, "All three are small manors and I would not leave them undefended. We still get Norse raiders in these parts."

  "Those numbers should suffice." He looked up at my keep. "This is a fine castle and well built. Who designed it?"

  "I had a mason and I just used ideas I had seen here and in the east. I know it is not large but we can extend." I pointed to the curtain wall. "I have left enough space to build towers on the town side and I can enlarge the barbican if I choose. Now come and meet my knights and my ladies."

  As I expected Adela enchanted them all but I felt secretly pleased that she only had eyes for me. Faren proved to be a hostess to match any in Constantinople and the knights and Robert were pleased with the hospitality of my castle. John would tell me the cost.

  Towards the end of the evening the earl said, "I need to speak privately with you tomorrow without arousing suspicion amongst my knights and, I fear yours."

  He had me intrigued, "We could go hawking. I have two hawks and a competition between them is something I have planned."

  "Excellent and your falconer and codgers, you can trust them?"

  "They do not speak Norman my lord. They are safe."

  I told Aiden immediately and he kept the birds hungry. Faren insisted that the three of them be dressed in their best clothes as they were serving the son of the King. I shook my head. "But Faren we are hunting!"

  "It matters not, my lord. We do not want these people to think we are savages!"

  We rode while John carried the cadge and the hawks. Aiden scouted ahead to find us some birds to hunt. Robert turned to me as we left the castle. "This is a fine manor. I know it cannot support wheat but it has a good river and the woods seem to teem with game." He pointed to the tracks left by the deer heading down to the river.

  "I am happy enough, my lord."

  "You would not wish a grander one further south? The King favours you. If you asked for one I am sure he would grant your request. Here you are isolated."

  "It is a kind offer but I will earn something larger. I am still taking small steps. I would not wear boots which were too large for me. What of Hartness? Has the King taken it from De Brus yet?"

  "Politics, Alfraed, politics. The De Brus family is powerful and my father can use the threat of taking away the manor to gain support."

  I shook my head. "Another reason why I am happy here."

  He laughed, "I, for one, am glad. Now there are things you need to know. I have spoken with my half sister and I know that you are both loyal and trustworthy." I flashed him a look. He held up his hand. "I speak plainly for the kingdom is in a parlous state. Since my half brother died in the White Ship there is no male heir. The King's new wife do
es not bear him children. I am testament to my father's fertility." He shrugged, "It must be God's will."

  "Why cannot you be named heir? You would make a good king."

  "That is kind of you to say but I am illegitimate and such a naming would result in a civil war. Until the King has an heir or names an heir then there will be discord and plotting. Already Louis is supporting the claims of William Clito and there are others who dispute his claim to Normandy. My uncle, the Curthose, still languishes in the Tower."

  "Then what can we do?"

  "That is why I have come to speak with you. You are a Knight of the Empress." I must have looked startled for he laughed, "I know that unlike the others that means something special to you. There is a bond there beyond words." He held up his hand. "I do not judge. The Empress may be in danger and it is likely that she might be named heir. It would either be her or Adele's son, Stephen of Blois. We need to be ready to go to the aid of my sister if events force our hand."

  "How do you mean?"

  "There was another attempt on the life of the King. You and your father saved his life once and this time it was his household knights but he is in danger. The visit to Gospatric is a ruse so that I may speak with you and so that we can wield a big stick and frighten those in the region who might seek to take advantage of the King's absence. King Henry wishes you to protect the Empress. He does not ask an oath for you have already sworn one."

  We had reached Aiden.

  Robert said, quietly, "Now you see why I mentioned a manor further south."

  "Fear not, my lord. I can sail across the German sea and travel up the Rhine. It would be a speedier journey than one from London and less obvious. Is the threat to the King and the Empress, imminent?"

  "Who knows? Part of my job is to keep my eyes and ears open and yours is to be ready. My father gave you authority. Do not be afraid to use it."

  "The Bishop of Durham?"

  "Forget Durham! He is too busy plotting to become Archbishop of Canterbury and my father has that dangling before him. He will not interfere in aught that you do. Besides I will visit with him and explain the necessity of your authority. He is no fool despite what others say." He smiled, "What say you?"

  "I am the King's and the Empress' man. You can trust me."

  "Good, and now let us see these hawks of yours."

  By the time we had returned, after a successful hunt and a pleasant morning, Sir Richard and his son were there with four men at arms and four archers. I know that Richard felt badly about having so few men for he said, "I could have brought more."

  I shook my head, "And leave your wife and home undefended? I think not. We go not to war but the Earl of Gloucester has need of knights. We go to impress the knights to the north."

  He and his son now wore surcoats like my men and the men at arms all had the same coloured shield. It made for a fine display. I think he was overawed by the presence of Robert of Gloucester and he remained silent when we ate and just listened. As my father might have said, there was nothing wrong with that. A man who listened learned more than a man who never shut up.

  We prepared to leave the next morning and Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey arrived together. We had a fine array of knights who rode north. Every man at arms and archer was mounted. The Earl had been impressed by Aiden as a woodsman and concurred with my request to bring him. His keen senses were invaluable. We headed towards the New Castle on the Tyne, built by the King's brother, Robert, over forty years ago. Originally built of wood it now had a stone gate and it was where the Gospatric, the would be Earl of Northumbria lived. The Roman Bridge which crossed the Tyne was protected by the castle.

  We rode hard and reached the bridge by sunset. As we had been riding north Sir Richard had asked me if we thought we might have to fight. "I doubt it. the Earl is the son of the King. An attack on us would be tantamount to rebellion but I am not certain of the reception we shall receive."

  "Do you think that the men we fought came from here?"

  "The knights and men at arms did. They had weapons and armour such as ours. They spoke Norman did they not?" He nodded. "However they did not fight under a banner and can deny everything. I think that the use of the Scots was deliberate to throw us off the scent. It will be an interesting meeting."

  We were not delayed at the bridge and we clattered over the stone structure. The Royal Standard with the Norman lions assured our safety. We were in the second rank of knights. There were just six of us but I felt proud that three of us all wore the same livery. The gates were opened and a younger knight than I was expecting came to speak with the earl. After a few moments the Earl dismounted.

  When he turned to us his face was angry, "The castle is, apparently, too small to accommodate our horses. Tell the men at arms to camp over yonder on the high ground to the west of the castle. He will speak with us inside."

  We sent the squires and the horses with Wulfric and Dick. I knew that our sergeant at arms would gain a good campsite and dry feet. We followed the household knights and Robert of Gloucester into the Great Hall. I saw that whoever we were meeting had his own knights prepared and there were fifteen knights in armour on the other side of the table. The atmosphere was tense. I wondered if they would be foolish enough to attempt bloodshed. Suddenly I recognised one of the knights who had fled from Gainford. I said, quietly to Edward, "Isn't that one of the knights we fought?"

  He nodded, "Aye it is. Shall I tell the earl?"

  "No we shall wait for a judicious moment." I saw that we were recognised too. I wondered if swords would be drawn. I now knew that these men had raided the valley. It would not do to pre-empt the diplomatic discussions which were about to take place.

  "So where is your father, William of Morpeth?" I remembered that the knight who had died had said, 'William' before he died. Was this the same William?

  The man who had greeted the Earl spread his hands and gave a smile such as a carpet seller from the bazaar in Constantinople might give, "He is on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He has been gone these five months."

  "And you command in his stead?"

  "He has left his sons to run his lands."

  The answer was evasive and, without even seeing his face, I knew that Robert of Gloucester was not happy. "Then whom do I ask about the men from this land who raided the border recently. The ones who killed the men, raped the women, took animals and enslaved women and children." He said it quietly but there were threatening murmurs from the knights who faced us. One or two laid their hands on their swords. The household knights of the earl close by began to draw theirs. The Earl's voice barked, "Keep your swords sheathed. The first man to draw one answers to me!" Weapons were returned to scabbards and the Earl continued, as quietly as before, "Who ordered the raids? Who is answerable?"

  The smiling snake continued to smile, "I know nothing about raids."

  The Earl was clever and he changed tack. "You were not raided here?"

  William of Morpeth fell into the trap set by the Earl, "No, my lord. We have enjoyed a peaceful summer."

  "Then explain how almost five hundred men could have travelled from north of here and raided as far as Carlisle in the west and Piercebridge in the east and every manor in between."

  For the first time the mask fell away and he looked discomfited. "I cannot explain but I can swear that none of my father's knights participated in the raid."

  I moved towards the earl and said, quietly in his ear, "My lord we have recognised one of the knights we fought and who fled."

  The earl kept his face impassive and continued to stare at William of Morpeth. He said equally quietly to me, "And he is here?"

  "He is the knight standing behind William of Morpeth. The one trying to move away even now."

  "You have done well." He smiled at the knights who faced him. "So none of you raided the Tees or the Eden? None of you attacked the castle at Barnard?" They shook their heads, "Do you swear?" This time there were no nods. "I can fetch a Holy Book if your wish or we can do it
the old Saxon way."

  William stood up and began to bluster, "I give you my word. There is no need to impugn the honour of these men. You must be satisfied with our answers, my lord. We will not be made scapegoats because other lords cannot defend their lands.

  Robert of Caen, Earl of Gloucester, now stood. You could see the royal blood of the Conqueror coursed through his veins. William of Morpeth had underestimated this warlord. "You speak of honour but there is at least one man behind you who I know has no honour." He jabbed his finger, like a sword. "You there! The knight trying to slink away like a dog in the night! Stand fast!"

  The man had no choice and he stood glowering at me. "I did not raid." His voice was flat. "Who says that I was there?"

  The Earl stood aside and I stepped forward. "I, Alfraed, Baron of Norton, say that you were there at Gainford."

  He was about to say something when Edward stepped forwards, "And I Edward of Stockton saw you."

  "He is your household knight. He lies as you do."

  Before I could say anything Sir Richard, Sir Guy and Sir Geoffrey all said, "And I saw you."

  I took off my mail glove and held it in my hand. "Take back your words or eat them!"

  He leaned across the table, "You lie!"

  I whipped the mail glove across his face. The metal links ripped open his cheek and blood was spilled. Before a battle could ensue the Earl said, "There is but one way to settle this. Trial by combat!"

  William of Morpeth had regained his smile, "I should warn you, my lord, that Odo of Hexham has never lost in single combat yet. Have your headstrong young knight apologise and we will forget this."

  It was my turn to smile, "Fear not my lord, I have crossed swords with liars before and in my experience a liar is normally a poor warrior. I expect Odo to live up to his name!"

  The knight's face contorted into a snarl as he tried to get at me. William of Morpeth shook his head. "There is a piece of open ground close to where your men have camped. We meet there in an hour."