I shook my head, “No, Dick, for that would take us further west and add half a day at least to our journey and, besides, we would have to cross the Tyne twice.”
“The second crossing is easy. There is an abandoned Roman fort on the north branch and as for the time,” he shook his head, “use your head William. He was taken a week since. He is either dead or, more likely a prisoner. This Scot heard your father’s name. He will seek information.”
I glowered at Dick. He spoke to me as though I was a child and yet, to him, I was a child. He had been with my father for many years. Was he right?
“I say this for your own good. You may be a target for this Mormaer. He might see an opportunity to catch you and use you against your father. It is how we lost King Stephen after Lincoln. He was exchanged for the Empress’ brother. We must avoid contact with them until then. There is a small ford on the Wansbeck north of the Tyne and that will bring us to the Coquet Valley. Between here and the Tyne there is nothing.”
I could see that he was right and I nodded, “You offer good advice. I can see that I have much to learn.”
“I am still unsure how we will recapture your friend and, more importantly, get him back. It seems to me that every Scot north of the Tyne will seek us.”
“And that is why I wished to bring only my men. I did not want to endanger my father. You and the others are his walls of steel. I am honour bound to fetch him if I can.”
“And your wife and family? What if you perish in the attempt?”
“Then my father will have a grandson and granddaughter to bring up.”
“Leaving your wife alone in a strange land. You have much to learn. I can see that God has sent this as a trial for me to see if I still have my skills when my beard sprouts white.”
I laughed, “You will never grow old. Your eyes and mind are as sharp as ever.”
“We shall see. We will camp to the south of the Wansbeck. If we ride hard we can make forty miles this day. That will give us the opportunity to approach this castle cautiously.”
“Do you know the place?”
“There was no castle there when we campaigned around Norham but there is a harbour. If he builds a castle then I know where he will build it. The river bends around a knoll. It would not require much work to throw up a castle. As your father discovered, it takes years to build a castle in stone. He has been building Stockton for the last thirty years and it is still not finished. It is more likely to be in wood.”
That gave me hope. When we had spoken with the captives we had discovered that the Scots had been systematically destroying farms and settlements. This raid was the first south of the Palatinate. As we headed north we saw the devastation of their raids. We passed burned out farms and fields full of tares. Hugh de Puiset had been too busy consolidating his position as Bishop. He should have been leading his knights against the Scots and their privations.
Masood and Aelric stopped every five miles or so. They chose a spot where we were safe. We would catch them up and they would then continue. We would rest and water our horses and allow them to graze. This was the best way to cover a long distance without killing horses.
Alf shook his head at the second stop, “Lord, this is such a cold country. Why do you choose to live here?”
“It is my home and it was the home of your father too.”
Sir Thomas laughed, “And besides, Alf, this is not even cold. For winter, this is mild.” He pointed to the west. “See how there is snow atop those hills. The further north we get the colder it will become. The ground will be harder.”
“And, Alf, remember that we go to the aid of Ralph. We owe him much.”
“You are right lord. I am learning but it is taking time.”
We saw few people. The ones we did see took cover but they were always in the distance. I guessed that they were the survivors of the English who had lived here. They were eking out an existence in the remote parts of the land. The civil war had been very expensive. King Stephen had spent the treasury which King Henry had accumulated and the Scots and the Welsh had taken the opportunity of robbing England of land and people. Instead of wasting my time in the Holy Land I should have been at home by my father’s side.
The abandoned Roman fort was really just an oblong ditch with a mound within. A few of the wooden palisades remained. It would do. The Romans always built as close to a road and water as they could. We would be able to defend it and give our horses the grazing and water they needed. While the archers cut down old brambles to make a hedge the squires and men at arms watered the horses. The movement of our feet revealed the grass beneath the hardened ground. With the grain, we had brought we would have enough food.
I stood with Dick, Brother Peter and Thomas while our men went about their business. Night would fall soon and Masood and Aelric had not yet returned. Dick was not worried, “Aelric can outwit any Scotsmen and from what Aiden said to me, Masood is his equal.”
With a fire going we cooked the food we had brought. Oats and salted meat was hardly an appetising meal but it would keep us warm and fill empty bellies. The advantage was that we could share the grain with our animals. We relied on them as much as they needed us. Masood and Aelric slipped silently across the river. They looked exhausted and they were leading a spare horse.
Aelric said, “We found a Scot. He was riding north. Before we cut his throat, we questioned him.” He jerked a thumb at Masood. “He is a real terror. The Scotsman was eager to spill all that he knew. I think he was relieved when we gave him a warrior’s death.”
“What did he say?”
“He had been sent from Warkworth by the Scottish lord. He was to go to Hartness and ask the mormaer there to keep watch for you and to detain you.”
Dick nodded, as though satisfied, “As I thought. It is you they seek. Is this Ralph worth risking not only your life but the future of the valley?”
I nodded, “And you know that my father would do the same as I.”
He laughed, “Oh yes. Then, tomorrow, Aelric I would have you and Masood scout out Warkworth. I need to know the number of men in the garrison.”
“Our horses are tired.” It was not a complaint. My father’s men did not complain. It was an observation. If they had to then they would run. If they could not run they would walk and if that failed they would crawl. They were tough men.
“I know.”
We kept a good watch but there was no danger. We were in a remote spot and there had been no sign of any horsemen. I had asked Aelric if the Scottish scout had spoken of men being sent south but he said the scout had not mentioned it and that was all that he knew. I wondered about that. If they planned to take me when I arrived back then they would need more than the men who were at Hartness. There was no castle there and the wall could be easily breached. What the Scots would have there was ships.
Masood and Aelric moved out while it was still dark. With such short days, we needed every moment of daylight that we could find. We left before dawn had broken too. We crossed the stream which barely came to our horses’ bellies. There was a village to the west of us called Hartburn and, to the east, Morpeth. Ralph of Morpeth had held that for us in my father’s time. He was now dead and that was a strongly held stone built castle. Perhaps the lord there was not as eager to beard the Warlord as the Mormaer of Warkworth. We forded the icy Wansbeck river and headed towards Longhorsley. We needed to cross the Coquet at the small, rickety bridge at Wheldon. Dick remembered it from the campaigns in the north. There was a castle further east at Felton. I was still annoyed at having to take such a long route east but I understood the reasons.
It was just before we crossed the Coquet that we were almost discovered. Masood and Aelric were close by Warkworth. We had told them to watch the castle. We had Long Tom and Rafe scouting ahead of us. The road we were on was not Roman. It was a greenway. Trees arched overhead. It was not well used and we had to bend our heads beneath the trees. The galloping hooves made us stop and draw our swords. Rafe
said not a word. He swept his hand to the side as did Long Tom. Danger was heading our way. He held up his right hand five times with his fingers spread. There were at least twenty-five men heading our way. Although the trees arched over us and formed a canopy there was space between them. Every warrior headed into them.
Dick and his archers were able to use their bows from the backs of their horses at the close range that we would be. I did not bother with my shield. If there was danger and we had to fight then it would be fast and furious. A shield was handy when facing a spear but the back of a mailed mitten could be just as effective. We waited. I turned and saw that Alf flanked me on one side and John of Chester on the other. My wild man, Henry son of Will was on the other side of Alf. That gave me comfort. When Henry drank he was unpredictable but in combat he was a rock. None would get close to Alf’s right!
I heard hooves. It was tempting to head back to the greenway and see where they were and how they were armed. That would be a mistake. In the murk and gloom of a January day we were safer hidden, motionless in the trees and undergrowth. We were ten paces from the greenway. With our ventails and cloaks were as close to hidden as we would get. I had time to speculate that these men might actually be from Felton. The question was, what were they doing on such a quiet greenway? The answer to that question would have to come after the skirmish for I knew that there would be one. It was one thing to remain hidden for a short time but their horses would detect us. Dick and his archers were at the southern end of the road while I was at the north. I would attack when the last of the men passed us. Of course, if we were discovered then we would attack as soon as the alarm was given.
I heard their voices as they approached. There were three knights and squires who passed us. They were walking rather than trotting. As with many Scots they wore armour and bore shields much as had been worn at Hastings. Their helmets hung from their saddles. I had donned my full-face helmet. I preferred the open one but I had worked out that it hid my darkened skin. I wished to remain anonymous. My gryphon shield and standard were unknown in England. After the squires came men at arms. Unlike ours the ten who followed wore only metal studded leather jerkins and round helmets. I saw why they were walking for twelve men on foot trotted behind. These wore no armour at all and carried long spears with their shields around their backs. Their helmets hung from their spears.
One of the knight’s horses, closer to Dick than us gave a neigh of alarm and reared. I yelled, “For the Warlord!” I spurred Alciades and we leapt from hiding. I swung the sword sideways at the spearman who tried to swipe his spear around at the same time as he swung his shield from his back. Hampered by the helmet hanging from the end of his spear he managed neither. My sword hacked across his chest. As he fell back the next man was knocked to the ground and trampled by Alciades. I heard Henry son of Will give his war cry as he laid about him. Henry loved nothing better than a battle. Alf had used his spear and I saw that he had skewered one Scot so hard that his spear had struck a second in the thigh. Our ambush had been almost perfect. We had weapons drawn and they did not. With archers ready to grab riderless horses I wanted our attack to be hidden from all.
The men on foot were slaughtered without striking a blow. My archer, Jack, however, was unlucky. He had released two arrows to hit two mounted men at arms when a third appeared from nowhere and speared him. Brother Peter was the closest to Jack and he, giving a roar, fell ferociously upon the Scot with his sword. The death of one of my men spurred my men and John of Chester and Henry son of Will fell upon the men at arms with such ferocity that they were all butchered. One knight and two squires surrendered. Before sheathing my sword, I glanced up and down the greenway to make sure that there were no more Scots and that we had lost no more men.
I saw Brother Peter speaking over Jack’s body. This would hit my men hard. It had been a long time since we had lost a man in combat. I heard Dick ordering his men to capture the horses. “And put their shields on their horses with the weapons. They may come in handy.”
“Do not slay the prisoners!”
Sir Thomas said, “There are only five, lord, and one of those looks as though he needs Brother Peter.”
Brother Peter heard him and, after laying a cloak over Jack he stood and went to the wounded men. I dismounted and handed my reins to Alf. I took off my helmet and walked to the knight and two squires. The knight looked stunned. He was younger than Sir Thomas and he stared at a body of his squire, a boy who looked to be just eleven or so summers old.
He pointed a finger at me, “This was unprovoked and broke the peace!”
“I did not sign a peace with your king. I have broken no treaty!” That was not true of Dick but the young knight did not need to know that. “You surrendered your sword?” He looked at the blade which was stuck in the ground. I saw thoughts racing across his face. Could he grab it and slay me? I still had my sword unsheathed. I said, quietly, “If you have not surrendered than fight me. Otherwise give me your word that you will not try to escape.”
I saw conflict in his eyes and then he nodded, “I surrender. Padraig and Angus, surrender too. These are butchers.” They both nodded.
I heard Henry son of Will say, “I would slit their throats, my lord! They seem a little insolent to me!”
John of Chester laughed, “I can see England is good for you, Henry. You are learning new words.”
“No one will have their throats cut. Who are you and who is your lord?”
“I am Sir Malcolm of Dunblane and I serve the mormaer, Sir Alexander of Warkworth.”
One of the squires could not contain himself, “And when he and the rest of our men find you I will laugh as he slays you!”
“Padraig!”
“Sorry, lord.”
They were hiding something. I had not time to find out what it was but, when we stopped I would try to discover whatever it was. I turned to Brother Peter. He had just finishing tending to the one surviving man at arms. He said, “When we stop I will have to take his hand and burn it with the fire. The tendons have been severed. I have stemmed the bleeding.”
“Then you, Henry son of Will and John of Chester can watch the knight, squires and wounded man at arms. They should give you no trouble but if they do then you have my permission to kill them, Henry.”
“With pleasure lord.”
Dick rode up to me, “It could have turned out worse.”
“I still lost a man. You take your archers and meet with Aelric and Masood. We will bury Jack then follow.”
He nodded, “Do not berate yourself so much. We will lose more before we have rescued this one man. I hope that he is worth it.”
As Brother Peter spoke over Jack’s grave I pondered Dick’s words. Was Ralph of Bowness more important than Jack? When we headed north Robin Hawkeye who acted as my leader of archers for he was the best nudged his horse behind me. He had been close to Jack. “Lord Jack was unlucky. Any of us could die. We serve you and we fight for you. Jack is in heaven now, is that not right, Brother Peter?”
There was a slight hesitation and then my warrior monk said, “He is with God, that is for certain.”
“There, lord. You have it from a priest.”
As Robin headed beyond us to act as scout I said to Brother Peter, “You cannot fool me so easily. He did not confess.”
“He was a good man with no sins that I knew of. He will be in a better place.”
That brought back memories of another priest who had tried to console me. It had not worked then either. “And that is what I was told when my wife and children died from the plague.”
I spurred Alciades and found a space ahead of my men. I needed to think. We headed towards the ford which crossed the Coquet again. From what Dick remembered that would be the best approach to the newly built castle.
Chapter 5
By the time we reached Dick and my two scouts my mind had been cleared. I decided I had two choices: turn around and leave Ralph of Bowness to his fate or carry on and accept tha
t more of my men would die. I chose the latter for to do the former would waste Jack’s sacrifice.
“Good news, lord.”
Aelric’s voice brought me hope, “And we are desperate for such news.”
“Two columns of men left the castle. One headed down the Felton road.”
Dick said, “I think that was the one we met. We can ask our prisoners. It should be easy to confirm.”
“And the other?”
“It headed for Morpeth. It was led by a knight with a banner. The same banner which flies from the castle. There were thirty men in the conroi.”
It was dark and I could not see the castle. It was hidden by the trees “How many men are left inside?”
Aelric shrugged, “I would not know, lord. I know how many left but as I do not know how many remain I cannot answer.”
I smiled. My father’s men were nothing if not honest. “Fetch one of the squires. Keep the others apart.” Turning to Brother Peter I said, “If you need a fire to heal the man’s hand take some of my men and go back about a mile so that you are hidden by the woods.”
“Aye lord, you are a Christian.”
“Aelric see if there are any houses in that direction. We passed none but I know the main road south to Amble and Hauxley lie in that direction.”
“There were some, lord, but they are burned out. There are fishermen in Amble and a couple of huts at the harbour but none where the priest goes.”
“Good.” They had brought the one called Angus. He had seemed the least belligerent of the three and I knew that Brother Peter would frown on interrogating a wounded man. I smiled at the boy. “This is your castle?”
He nodded. “I come from Hauxley, lord, my father was given a farm there by the mormaer for services against…” his voice faltered.
I smiled, “The Warlord?”
“Yes lord.”
The Welsh Marches (The Anarchy 1120-1180 Book 15) Page 6