Sword for Hire (Border Wars Book 1)

by Hosker, Griff

  I looked at Birger Persson, “Sir Thomas, this is your plan. You give the command.”

  I nodded and turned to the ten men with the pots. “You are big men. You are strong men. What you are not are stupid men! There are four ships out there. Two pots to a boat and then two in case any do not fire their ships.”

  They nodded.

  “Spread yourselves out. Listen for my command!”

  “Aye, lord!”

  The ships were now approaching the shore. They had seen our spears and they had moved apart to attack us along the length of the wall. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the pot throwers hurrying closer to where they thought the targets would be. I heard David giving orders to the archers. We were ready. I saw that the enemy had their shields up. They expected arrows. The four ships were just paces from the shore. Two were close to me.

  “Now!” I shouted in Swedish and the Karelians heard. They knew that something was coming and they hesitated. Hesitation can be fatal. Eight pots soared. Six ignited and the other two flew to follow the first eight. Fifteen fire arrows flew overhead. The ships were less than fifty paces from us. They all hit and another fifteen soared. We only had thirty-five fire arrows but we would not need any more. Our archers changed to man killers and they released arrow after arrow.

  The Karelian’s choices were to fight the fire, to flee or to get at us. They did not flee. Some ran at us and some tried to fight the fires. I watched twelve warriors run at us. We were spread thinly. I had eight men with which to face them and one was untried, Fótr. I held my spear so that it angled up. The wooden wall was not hard to climb. The difficulty lay in descending safely. A young warrior with a small shield and a curved short sword climbed up and stood on the top of the wall. I noticed that, as he grinned, he had no front teeth. I rammed my spear up into his groin. His grin turned to a scream and, as he fell backwards, his guts were left on my spear. I did not remove them. I just pulled my arm back and awaited the next one.

  I had time to look down the line and see that three of the ships were firmly ablaze. The one at the southern end was the one with the least damage and their sail had been furled so that it was not afire.

  More men tried to come over our wall. The next man had seen what I had done and his shield covered his middle. I stabbed him in the calf and twisted my spear. The head tore through muscle and tendon. Screaming he fell backwards. Then someone took charge and arrows began to fall. They had to release them vertically to avoid hitting their own men. I shouted, “Shields!”

  One hit my shield. I heard them rattling like hail on our shields. It allowed some men to climb over. I watched as Fótr killed his first man. He had been listening to me. He feinted at the Karelian’s middle and the warrior pulled his shield down. Fótr thrust at the unprotected neck and his spear pierced the sallow and greasy skin of the warrior.

  “Well done Fótr! Your first kill!”

  Further down the line I saw that others were not having the same success. “Robert and Hugh go to the aid of Petr.”

  “Aye lord.”

  The two gaps left by my men meant we had to expand slightly. Then the Estonians tried a new tactic. Instead of climbing the wall they began to run at the wall and two warriors held their shield so that they could spring over the walls using the bodies of their dead which lay before the wall to do so. They flew!

  “David!”

  The flying warriors were a distraction. We had to look up to watch them and that allowed others to gain purchase on the walls. I speared one as he descended. He impaled himself upon my spear but his fall and his weight took the spear from my hand. I drew my sword as Dick and the archers behind switched targets. They began to hit the Karelians as they descended.

  The damage had been done. There were half a dozen Karelians who were inside the wooden wall. They were, however, wary. They did not rush at us. They were trying to hold the wall and allow their comrades to clamber over.

  “William, Fótr! To me!”

  I ran at the knot of warriors who were trying to enlarge the toehold they had gained. With my sword held over my shield I ran at the middle of them. Some had the short, curved swords and some had short axes. William and Fótr reached me. They both had their spears. We hit the five warriors together. Our shields were larger and covered our bodies. As two axes struck my shield and a sword rang off my helmet I rammed my sword into the screaming open mouth of the nearest warrior. Knowing he would be dead I began to pull the sword out sideways and I used the edge to rip into the neck of the warrior next to him. His head turned and he spat at me. I saw the wound widen. The man was dead, he simply did not know it. My two squire’s spears pinned their men to the wall. I punched the last man in the side of the head with my shield. He was held in place by the body of the man William had pinned. My sword entered his side and he died with a soft sigh.

  I stepped back to survey the scene. We had held. Further down Jarl Birger Persson and his men were despatching the ones who remained on our side of the wall and I saw the last Estonian smoking, but afloat, as she began to edge away. The surviving Karelians were hurling themselves into the sea. Their shields and weapons lay on the beach where they had discarded them. It was soon clear that the only ones who remained were the dead and the dying. Even the wounded had tried to flee.

  “Despatch those who remain.”

  “Aye lord.”

  “Edward, come with me.”

  Using some of the bodies as stepping stones we climbed to the top of the wall and jumped down. The three ships had burned to the water line and lay in the shallows with smoking, blackened hulls. A Karelian, his middle laid open, had crawled closer to the water and he groaned as we passed him and Edward slid his sword across the man’s throat to end his suffering. There had to be thirty or forty bodies on the sea side of the wall. I knew that there had to be at least fifty on the wall or on our side. Jarl Birger Persson had hurt the Karelians. If nothing else the building of the stone walls of Kastelholm would discourage the heathens from raiding this coastline further.

  Having ensured that none were feigning death we returned inside our walls. The two priests were seeing to the wounded. Already Birger Persson was having the Karelian dead stripped of anything we could use. I said, “If we put their bodies on the beach we can burn them. The island is free from vermin. Let us keep it that way.”

  He nodded. “And we will make a cemetery on the mainland.” We had already decided that would be where the church would be. There were no farmers nor families here yet. No fishermen used the anchorage. Up until now it had been too dangerous. There were simply too many raiders. The jarl intended to encourage families to come but they would have to use the Kastelholm in times of war.

  Riders arrived from Stock Holm. They were not needed and we sent them back, escorting our wounded.

  In the days following the attack here was a renewed effort on the part of everyone. Even the slaves worked harder. They were The Jarl Birger Brosa’s slaves and Stock Holm was safer than the wild frontier that was Kastelholm. If the Karelians had won they would not have had freedom. They would have exchanged one master for another and the Karelians were known to be cruel to their slaves. The weather became more benign and that allowed the building to proceed faster.

  The two priests began to build the church. Now that we had the cemetery its position was decided. Bishop Albert would have to consecrate the ground but if the church was erected then it would be a marker. Ships sailing these waters would know that it was Christian.

  By Midsummer Day, when there was almost no night, we had the curtain wall in place and the gatehouse. The first floor of the keep was built and the tread mill crane creaked and groaned as it lifted stones. Settlers arrived. We had sent a constant stream of messengers back to Stock Holm so that The Jarl Birger Brosa and Bishop Albert knew of our progress. Bishop Albert came with the settlers. These were the ones who had lived at Sigtuna. Their new home would be further east but they would have security. The ceremony of consecration was a symbolic
act. For the new farmers and fishermen, it was confirmation that God was on their side and for Bishop Albert and the jarl it was a sign that this part of the coast was now secure.

  Birger Persson also chose that moment to have his brother knighted. Petr had shown that he was a good knight and I had spoken to Birger many times about his status. He did not see himself as the castellan at Kastelholm, he wanted to join Bishop Albert on the crusade which would bring Christianity to the Baltic. Petr was knighted and his title confirmed by Bishop Albert. There was a real sense of relief for Birger Persson. His young brother would rule this part of the coast. He would find a wife and marry. The family name would continue.

  In the months that followed I thought of my own future. I was the last of a noble line. It went back to before the time of the Conquest. If I had no offspring I would be letting them down. I could not, however, marry while England was in the hands of Prince John. I would have to wait until King Richard returned.

  King John of England

  Chapter 14

  Stock Holm 1199

  My men and I had lived at the new castle built by The Jarl Birger Brosa for well over a year. After we had made sure that Kastelholm was almost finished and Petr and his new bride happy, Jarl Birger Persson and I headed south. The old queen had died and The Jarl Birger Brosa’s daughter, Ingegerd was now Queen of Sweden. The Jarl Birger Brosa now had almost total power in Sweden. Bishop Albert had almost gathered his army to invade the lands of the heathen. It was no surprise to me that Bishop Albert used Stock Holm as the place from which he would launch his invasion. Stock Holm had changed dramatically since I had first arrived. Now with strong walls and a healthy garrison, it was the strongest city in the whole of the Kingdom.

  We had seen changes too. William was courting the daughter of one of the knights who now served The Jarl Birger Brosa. Margarite was younger than William but they seemed well suited. We were just waiting for an opportunity to knight my squire. William had money. We all did. Our raids and attacks on the Karelians and Estonians over the years had yielded more than one might have thought. All of my men had fine armour, helmets and weapons. Three of them had married local girls. All of us wished to return to England.

  Skuld had produced a mare from Gonfanon. I had named her Skuldsdotter in the manner of the Swedes. It seemed to suit. Already as big as her mother, when full-grown she would be three hands taller and I would have a war horse I could use. Gonfanon had been busy. He would never ride to war again but his colts and fillies would. His offspring brought me more money than all of the raids and battles fought thus far.

  We were in a state of limbo for we were waiting for news of the invasion of the eastern Baltic. Bishop Albert had an alliance with Philip of Swabia as well as the new Pope Innocent. Our religious leader had told me that when he had a church built there then my penance would be over. The winter had been a hard one. As we waited for the first ship to come from England I sat with my men at arms watching the young horses being schooled.

  “This is a good country, lord, and I have enjoyed my time here but I long for an English winter. You know, lord, snow that lasts a month at most and rivers which rarely freeze.”

  I nodded, “I know what you mean, Edward.”

  Fótr had become as English as any of my men. “Aye lord and William wishes to be back in England so that he can be knighted, wed and lord of a manor.”

  My other men laughed at William’s discomfort. William had grown considerably and he turned the conversation back to me, “And what of you lord? What of a bride for you?”

  “You were lucky with Margarite. She is well suited to you. I will continue to look for one. In truth, I seek an English bride and they are rarer than hen’s teeth in these parts.”

  “And this crusade lord, when do we leave?” David of Wales had never had as much coin and yet he too yearned for home.

  “Bishop Albert has twenty-three ships ready to sail. When last I spoke with him he had more than six hundred crusaders ready to sail.” I pointed to the snow which could still be seen in places. “I have never seen the land to which we sail but I have heard that the snow lies there longer. It will be summer when we sail. I fear that we will have a harsh winter of campaigning but as soon as a church has been built then we sail home with Bishop Albert’s blessing.”

  Will son of Robin said, “And when I get home then I shall be married and have children. My father waited a long time.” He waved an arm down his body, “And as you can see I was worth it!”

  Jack son of Harold laughed, “Not from where I am looking. No, I will buy an inn and marry an ale wife. My father’s dream was to be an innkeeper. I will fulfil his dream.”

  His words made my other men think of their own fathers. Most had come from Stockton. Their fathers had fought for my great grandfather and grandfather. They would never have thought that their families would be exiled from England. Surely King Richard would return soon and see the disaster that his young brother had wrought on the land.

  I saw Lady Brigida and some of her ladies coming toward us. She was like my aunt. She surrounded herself with the widows of dead warriors. They were a convent without the religious restrictions. She looked serious as she approached. I wondered if something had happened to her son. He was fighting for King Sverre, Lady Brigida’s brother and the King of Norway. He was an earl and a doughty warrior. Inevitably that meant he would be in constant danger.

  She smiled sadly, “I am here with news of your land. I would give it to Sir Thomas, alone, but I know that he is close to you all and he would tell you himself.” She sighed, “King Richard has been killed in Normandy. He was struck by the bolt from a crossbow.” I saw the look on my archers’ faces. They hated all crossbows with a vengeance. This had just fuelled their hatred. “Prince John has been crowned king.” She knew what that meant. I had no secrets from the jarl and his wife. “I am sorry, Sir Thomas. I fear you will be trapped here for a little while longer.”

  They left us and our faces were a sea of despair. Although King Richard had shown no sign of wishing to return home, while he had been alive it had been a hope. What use was the money, the horses and the armour if we had no home to return to? All of our dreams were gone. Our hopes were shattered. If we returned then we were outlaws and everyman’s hand would be turned against us.

  I was their leader and it was time that I acted as one. I stood, “William, marry Margarite. I will speak with Jarl Birger Persson. I will see if we cannot get you a manor here. Will, son of Robin, the rest of you, do not wait to take a wife who is English. There are comely lasses here who would take any one of you as a husband. You speak their language. I say this for when we sail to war we all know that not all of us may return.”

  Edward stood. He was the unofficial leader of the men. It had been David of Wales who still led the archers but even David deferred to Edward. “His lordship is right but I say that we make a covenant this day. If any of us fall in battle then their goods and coin are divided between the ones who are unmarried.”

  Jack son of Harold said, “No, Edward for those who are married need their families caring for. The coin and the goods of those who fall will be shared by all of the survivors equally; including the families. His lordship is right. Gertha, who serves ale by the port, has flashed her eyes at me often enough. I would marry her if she will have me.” He shrugged, “Perhaps someone will tire of the new king and kill him. He has enemies enough but I would live and not wait for a life.”

  “What say you Edward son of Edgar?”

  “I like the proposal.”

  Fótr said, “Would you like me to draw up an agreement for you to sign?”

  Jack son of Harold shook his head, “We are brothers in arms. We are like our lord. None of us would be foresworn. If we swear it then it will be so. We need no cleric to scratch marks on a piece of parchment. Let us do so now. Will is right. Today we begin to live. We waited long enough for a king who disappointed us.”

  And so they swore. A month later, as
we were preparing our equipment, for the fleet had arrived, Henry sailed in from England. We almost did not recognise him for he had a new ship. At its prow was a swan and I saw, after she had tied up, her name, ‘Swan of Stockton’ . He had a letter for me. I handed him mine.

  “I see you have a new ship.”

  He nodded, “Aye lord. I have made much in this trade and the old one had the worm.”

  “A little like England then. A pity we cannot build a new king as easily as a ship!”

  He said, “I take it, Sir Thomas that you have heard the news?”

  “King John?” He nodded. “I have. What is the mood in England?”

  “There is talk of rebellion. However, the king is clever. He has the land preparing for war in Normandy. He talks of it as a crusade to recover the lands stolen by the King of France. The Earl of Pembroke is seen as the only hope for England.”

  “What of Arthur, Geoffrey of Anjou’s son?”

  “He is backed by the King of France, Phillip. It is he who leads the rebellion in Normandy and Anjou.”

  I knew that my grandfather had never been happy with the actions of Geoffrey of Anjou. Now that brother was, once again, dividing England.

  “Thank you, Henry. We sail on crusade. It may be some time before I see you again.”

  “Will you not return home, lord? There are many in the north who would support you if you fought King John.”

  “And who would we put on the throne? I would not and could not support Arthur. I am afraid that, until God shows me the way, I will have to stay here and serve him and my men.”

  I went somewhere quiet to read the letter from home.

  ‘ Y ou know who you are and I hope you know that I think of you every day! Each night you are in my prayers.

  I am afraid that the first news I must deliver is not the best. King Richard is dead and King John is now ruling our land. We hear that there has been an outbreak in banditry close to the castles of Bolsover and Nottingham. Some knights have left England to join with the Duke of Brittany. The country is split and divided once more. I am pleased that you are not here for I fear your life would be at risk. However, I do miss you. I wonder if I will ever see you again.