The Welsh Marches (The Anarchy 1120-1180 Book 15)

by Hosker, Griff

  Chapter 2

  Alf was a changed man after that day. He was no longer looking over his shoulder. He did not fear his past and his future was now assured. More importantly, he had a sword which was the equal of any knight’s. He had come to me a little rough and ready. He had not been schooled in the art of being a knight. He had natural abilities with weapons. I had no doubt he had inherited those but it had taken years to train him to be able to ride as well as Sir Thomas and we were still knocking the rough edges off him when it came to spear work. However, what he lacked in finesse, he made up in raw courage. My men treated him like a favourite little brother. Even the new men soon took to him.

  As we headed west, towards the Pillars of Hercules, Sir Thomas and Henri worked with him on his sword skills. We were making the most of the clement weather and calm seas. Once we crossed into the western sea then we expected rougher weather. The pitching deck was a good training ground for you learned to keep your balance. It was the same as fighting from the back of a horse.

  The port of Cadiz was in sight when Henri stopped to allow Sir Thomas to continue with the tuition. Phillippe and Guy appeared from below decks and the three of them presented themselves to me, “Lord, we have something to ask.”

  Their joint appearance did not surprise me. I had been expecting it. They, along with Robert, had been with me from the very beginning. Now Sir Robert was a lord in the Holy Land close by Jericho and I knew what they would say. For the whole voyage, the three had spent more time with each other than with the newer men. They had done their duty but something had been nagging at them and I had deduced what it was.

  “We have served you since the time of the war against Normandy, lord. We have ever been your oathsworn.”

  I nodded, “And now you wish to leave my service.” They all looked shocked and I smiled. “I have sensed this for some time. It is the right time.”

  They nodded. Guy spoke for them, “We are rich beyond our wildest dreams and expectations. This is down to you, lord. The war in England is almost over and you have other men at arms who can serve you well. Had we any doubts then we would not ask to be released. We would go to the Loire and become fat old warriors who breed children and tell tales of war.”

  I nodded, “Then go with my blessing. I will call in at Angers and trade. My father’s castellan, Sir Leofric of La Flèche, may know of properties you might buy.” I saw relief on their faces. “It is good that you have returned with limbs intact. Others did not fare as well, Roger of Hauteville, Pierre of Cherbourg, Alain Azay, the list is long.”

  “And we will remember them. We intend to live close by each other. We have wives to find and then we can beget children. We would have them grow up together. We were not made knights but our sons will have every chance of doing so.”

  “And when they are old enough send them to England. We always need squires.”

  It seemed appropriate, as we sailed from the azure blue of the Mediterranean into the dark blue of the Atlantic, that there would be a change. Almost all the men who had first served with me were now either dead or had left my service. I was taking back, with the exception of Sir Thomas, new men who had joined in the Holy Land. It would be a new start for us all.

  The last time I had been in Angers the civil war in England was in full swing but we had begun to retake the lands of Normandy. In those days Anjou had been the breadbasket for Henry and his mother, the Empress. Henry’s success could be seen quite clearly. As we had passed along the Loire I had seen the extensive work being carried out on the city of Angers. Now that Henry ruled, through his wife, the Dukedom of Aquitaine, the city of Angers was even more important.

  When we docked, we were something of an attraction. Most ships returning from the Holy Land had already offloaded their cargo and returning warriors. Although I had a new livery the warriors who would be leaving me were recognised. A rider galloped down from the castle as my men were having their chests, arms and treasures unloaded. The necessity of four ships became obvious as their chests and war bags piled up on the quay.

  The rider dismounted and bowed, “My lord, are you William of Ouistreham, the son of the Warlord?”

  I smiled at my old title, “I was and William of Ouistreham and the Earl of Cleveland is my father.”

  “The king’s brother resides in the castle. He would have you visit with him.”

  “William FitzEmpress is here?”

  “Aye lord.”

  That had me intrigued. “I have my family with me and it will take some time to prepare. We will be there when we can.”

  “Aye lord.” He smiled, “You will not remember me lord but I was there when you, your father and the king defeated the Franks. That was a great day.”

  “Aye. What is your name?”

  “Richard le Breton. I am one of the Count’s warriors. I will tell him.”

  I remembered him vaguely. He had been a squire then. It was his name which was familiar and not his face. It set me thinking of all the warriors alongside whom I had fought. How many had survived the civil war?

  Before I went aboard to prepare my family I turned to Guy. “This may be a propitious meeting. The king’s brother is here. It may be that I can help you to acquire land. Leave word with John of Chester where you stay.”

  “Aye lord but you have already done much for us.”

  “You cannot do enough for those who have stood shield to shield.”

  As I went aboard I told Sir Thomas that I would be ashore. “See if you can trade some of the cargo. It may be we get a better price here than we might further north.”

  He smiled, “It is good to be home, lord. I know this is not England but it feels closer to our land. I now yearn to see my father.” He paused, “If he still lives.”

  “He will still be alive and I, too, look forward to the day when I can see my father and Stockton.”

  My wife was flustered when I told her of the visit. She had heard of the insults thrown at her by the Lombards and worried that her race might cause her problems.

  “You take the children. I will stay aboard.”

  “William is a fine boy. I have known him for a long time. He is like his mother and he will not judge. Besides when we get to England you will have to meet his brother, the king. Regard this as a practice.”

  She nodded but she took more care over her appearance and that of the children than I had ever seen before. When we left, we took no warriors with us. We would not need them and that felt strange. Even in Genoa and Amalfi we had not felt confident enough to walk abroad without armed guards. I was recognised. There were old soldiers in the town and Sir Leofric and my father were well known.

  Samuel was intrigued by the whispers as we walked along. “Who is the knight of the Empress and the Warlord, father? I have heard their names as we walk along.”

  “They are one and the same person. They are two of the names of your grandfather. He is well known here. He fought for the Empress and was then made the Warlord of the North.”

  “Will we see him soon?”

  “I pray God that we do.”

  I did not school Samuel as we walked up to the gatehouse. It would do little good. He was Samuel and William would have to take him as he found him. I need not have worried. The youngest brother of the king had not changed. Now aged eighteen he was a man. He had not yet fully filled out but he had the same looks as his father, Geoffrey of Anjou. Henry did not take after his father. I did not know whom he took after; perhaps his mother, the Empress.

  “William!” He embraced me in a warrior’s hug. “You are back from your travels! It is good to see you.”

  “And you, lord. This is my wife, Rebekah and my children Samuel and Ruth.”

  William kissed the hand of Rebekah, “And you are a beauty too, my lady. My friend is a lucky man. Come to my hall. I have food prepared and I must hear all that has happened to you.”

  What I liked about William was his honesty. His brother, Geoffrey, was totally unlike him. I had he
ard, in Constantinople, that he had even tried to abduct Henry’s bride. Neither my father nor I trusted him but William was different. He felt more like a little brother. As we walked I discovered that Geoffrey was in London at Henry’s coronation.

  “And not you, lord?”

  He had shrugged, as we sat down, “Geoffrey insisted that as the elder of us he would go and I was given the task of watching the river. The Duke of Brittany is flexing his muscles again and Theobald, Count of Blois is also trying to enlarge his county. Last year the king had to have a castle destroyed to recover Geoffrey.”

  “I am thinking that he did not enjoy that.”

  William laughed, “When time allows Theobald will rue his actions but, until the crown is on his head, my brother stays in England. It took your father too long to regain the crown for my brother to lose it quickly.”

  “My father would be the first to tell you that it was not he alone.”

  “I know but without him? Who knows? Now tell me your tale.”

  While we ate I regaled him with our adventures in the Holy Land. I sanitized the deaths of Rebekah’s family for Samuel and Ruth were listening but when William saw the pain in Rebekah’s face he put his hand on hers and said, “I am sorry for your loss, lady. I hope that England can recompense you for the loss of your family.”

  I told him of our encounter with the Count of Provence and he laughed, “What kind of fools are these Lombards? Surely they know that you and your father are the two greatest living knights.” I shrugged. “Now you must stay the night. I know you wish to travel home but you cannot sail until the morning tide now. Besides this will be more comfortable than the cog in which you came.”

  And so we stayed. It proved to be the right decision. William used his power to give manors to my three men at arms. They were small ones but they were close to Sir Leofric. It seemed right. I also learned of Henry’s plans or the plans he had spoken of to his brother at any rate. The Scots still clung on to land they had stolen during the war and the Welsh were rattling their swords too. Before coming back to Anjou and Normandy the king intended to secure his borders. There would be work for me!

  During the meal, the doors opened and there stood Sir Leofric. He had been my father’s squire and he was the most loyal of knights. “William!” Five years older than me I had grown up with him and Sir John, another of my father’s squires. There were tears in his eyes as he grasped my arm, “I received your letter and told your father. I prayed that you would survive the journey.” He embraced me and then, stepping back he suddenly saw William FitzEmpress. “I am sorry lord but…”

  William laughed, “Had you done other I would have been surprised! Come and sit for you are as worthy as any to join us. Your manor is a bastion against our enemies.”

  The evening was perfect for I learned that my father was well and that he prospered. Even better was the fact that my family took to Sir Leofric. He was open and he was honest. He too was a father and he knew the right way to speak to my son and daughter. The next morning, as we left the river, I felt sad to be leaving William FitzEmpress and Sir Leofric. They were both part of my past and I knew that they would be part of my future. It had been a good preparation for my family. They were now eager to be in England and see others like the king’s brother and my father’s knight.

  The voyage from the mouth of the Loire north was not a pleasant one. It was bad around the Breton coast to Herosfloth. The seas were violent and the weather dire. There we traded for this was a popular port. Now that Dorestad had disappeared into the mud and silt it was a handy place to trade. We also made minor repairs to the four ships. The weather had been benign up to the Loire but now there were winter storms. I realised that it was December. The seasons did not mean the same in the Holy Land and in the Mediterranean but, here, in the northern waters, they could be an enemy! We were tossed and turned. From Herosfloth north we encountered gales with the winds from the west and north. We lost rigging and sails had to be repaired. At one point, we were split up and woke to find ourselves alone in a grey sea. It took a whole day for us to be reunited. We could not make London or any of the east ports of Suffolk and Norfolk and we had to fight our way up along the Frisian and Danish coasts. When the winds changed we headed west. Eventually, I spied Whitby Abbey on top of the cliffs and knew that we were close to the mouth of our river.

  My wife was on deck with our children. Since Herosfloth they had rarely dared to venture on deck. Now she stood shivering despite the furs she wore. “Is it always this cold?”

  I smiled, “Believe it or not this is mild. The weather might be wild but it does get colder.”

  “I cannot believe that you have brought me all the way here from the warmth of my homeland. Our children will freeze.”

  “They will adapt and besides we both know that the Turks will retake the land. They will try to convert all to Islam. Would you have that?”

  “No, but here I cannot worship my God as I might wish: with others of the same faith.”

  I had no answer to that and I felt guilt as we edged around the mud flats of the south bank of the Tees towards the twists and turns which would take us to Stockton. “I should warn you, Captain, that it will take half a day to sail the few miles to my home.”

  “At least the river is benign. Will we be able to repair our ships there, lord?”

  “Aye for there is a shipyard.”

  The last time I had spoken with Sir Thomas he had been excited about meeting his own father again. He could not wait to tell him that he had been knighted. Oswald was a humble archer. It would have seemed an impossible dream before he had joined my father’s archers. I had the same excitement about meeting my father but it was also tinged with apprehension. Would he be glad to see me?

  Chapter 3

  The familiar towers of Stockton were a welcoming sight. The afternoon was coming to an end and the long night which accompanied winter was rapidly approaching. Had we had a delay then we would have had the most difficult task of negotiating the river at night. The journey up the Tees was not easy for any sailor, let alone one who was used to the Holy Land. I stood on the steer board side, towards the prow. I had my arm around Rebekah and held Samuel’s hand. Ruth clung to her mother. Rebekah looked up at me and I saw the relief on her face. She had no idea what kind of home she was coming to. Its solid stone walls, however, looming up around the next long loop of the river reassured her.

  I pointed to the northern shore. There were two seals swimming back out to sea having fed in the rich waters of the Tees. “Look Samuel, a pair of seals!”

  He had never seen the like and his fingers tightened. “Are they monsters father? What are they? Has a wizard turned a man into a beast which swims?”

  I laughed, “They are not a fish and they will crawl ashore and lie in the sun, when the sun shines.”

  Rebekah shook her head and shivered, “Does the sun ever shine here? I have seen no sign of it.”

  “This is winter, my love. When it is summer here there is almost no night!”

  As we turned the last loop of the river Stockton was revealed. Smoke tumbled from the fires of the forges of Alf the smith and spiralled from the tanners. I saw fishermen emptying their nets and I saw the sentries on the wall. Our four ships would not be familiar to them. They would have summoned John of Craven, my father’s castellan and he would have archers and men at arms standing to in case we were a threat.

  As we drew nearer I saw Father Henry leave his church and head down to the quay to greet us. The fact that there was no standard flying from the tower told me that my father was not at home. I was disappointed although not entirely surprised. I turned and saw my men leaning over the side to stare at their ne and unfamiliar home. Only Sir Thomas, on the next ship astern of us, knew the castle. For all of them it was like a foreign country.

  Ethelred’s men were ready to catch our morning lines as they were thrown. Father Henry recognised me and I saw him shout something to the sentry. His face beamed as he
shouted, “Lord, this is a wonderful day! You have returned! God be praised!”

  I nodded. I did not want to engage in a shouting match for I knew there would be many questions and so I waved and led my family to the main mast where the gangplank would be lowered.

  “Alf, I want you to see that my family’s chests are brought ashore first. Then have the men bring them and their chests up to the castle.”

  “Aye lord. Is this our new home, lord?”

  I hoped that it would be but I did not know. Would my father wish his prodigal son and family to share his castle? “We shall see. However, we shall certainly spend some time here.”

  Once the gangplank was lowered I picked up Ruth to carry her while Rebekah led Samuel. Father Henry smiled broadly. “I almost didn’t recognise you lord. Your face has been darkened by the sun. You look like a Moor!”

  Before he could accidentally insult my wife, I said, “Father Henry, this is my family: my wife Rebekah, son, Samuel and daughter, Ruth.” I laid Ruth down and Rebekah took her hand.

  I saw his quick mind take in their names and recognise that they were not of Norman origin. “Welcome, welcome, welcome! Let us get into the warmth of the castle. I am certain that after the heat of the Holy Land the damp river will not be good for your health. I have asked Alice to prepare food.”

  Rebekah had recognised the priest’s raiment. “Thank you, father, you are kind.”

  Just then I heard Brother Peter’s footsteps as he came down the gangplank. He was not a small man! “And this is Brother Peter. He is a warrior priest.”

  “And you are welcome, brother. I can see that we will have tales to fill us with wonder.”

  I saw that my father’s men had lined the walls to view us. I recognised many of them. That was reassuring. Sir Thomas hurried along behind me. “You too, will be eager to speak with your father eh Thomas?”