“Who are they Warlord?”
I shook my head. “I know not.” I dismounted and picked up one of the black shields. “They are trying to hide their identity. I do not recognise the surcoats. They were chosen to help them hide in the woods. It was a sizeable ambush.”
“Then they are not bandits or brigands?”
“Bandits and brigands do not wear mail and they would not be foolish enough to attack the King and the Warlord this close to his home.
“Scots perhaps?”
“Perhaps. We need a prisoner.”
Just then the first of the knights and men at arms began to canter back towards us. They came in ones and twos from both sides of the road. Some led their horses. Other horses stood forlornly in the eaves. Some were the enemy horses but some were ours. We had lost men in the attack. That was not a surprise.
“If we ride to the logs we can remove them. We are not far from Yarm. I would hasten there with all speed.”
The women were weeping and wailing, Eleanor turned, “You are not hurt, not even close to being harmed. Compose yourselves.”
Henry said, “The dagger was propitious, my love.”
“After your brother tried to abduct us I thought it a handy weapon to bring.”
Henry suddenly turned to me, “Could this be the handiwork of Geoffrey?”
“If so lord, it is a bold move and a dangerous one.” I shrugged. There was nothing to be gained by wondering. A prisoner would tell us more. “There is little point in idle speculation.”
When we reached the logs and as the men at arms collected the loose horses, I had the wooden barrier removed by the servants. I remembered the young knight I had knocked from his horse. I waved forward Sir Richard Osbourne. He had served Henry a long time and was a reliable knight, “Come with me, Richard, there is a prisoner we can question.”
“Aye lord. They were tough men. We lost four men at arms in the chase.”
“How many were there, do you think?”
“I counted at least eight archers and twenty men at arms. I did not see many knights. I was in the western side of the woods.” He pointed to the archers I had slain. If we add these then the number rises. They had no livery and are not men of honour.”
The knight’s horse had not strayed far from the fallen knight and its movement guided me to it. The knight still lay on the ground. I thought him dead but, as we dismounted, he opened his eyes. He did not try to move.
“Who are you? Who sent you to ambush us?”
He closed his eyes and I was not certain he had heard me, “I had heard that the Warlord was old. I saw the chance for glory. I would be the knight who slew King Henry’s Champion. I would end the life of King Stephen’s bane.”
“Who sent you?”
“You have killed me, lord. My back is broken. I cannot feel my legs and already I see death at my shoulder. I will tell you nothing. If you are the honourable knight all men speak of you will put my dagger to my lips so that I may kiss the cross before I die.”
“It is a mortal sin to kill a king.” I dismounted.
He gave a thin laugh, “Thanks to you, lord, we did not commit that sin and we did not try to murder. I will go to heaven for I am no traitor.”
I slid his dagger from his scabbard and placed it on his lips. “I could tell your family where you are buried.”
“I have lost my family, lord. My name dies with me and my lips are …” His eyes glazed over. He died and he retained his honour. But his death left us with a question. Who had sent him.
“He was brave, lord.”
“He was and we know one thing. He is neither Scots nor English. He is Angevin. I think I know who was behind this.”
Chapter 9
Sir Tristan was not in his castle. It was dark when we arrived. Although we were not far from my castle I did not want to risk running into the survivors of the ambush. His seneschal, Ralph of Wiske was pleased to see us as his wife hurried to clear chambers for the King and Queen. “Your son is returned, lord. He, and his family, recently arrived back in England. He visited all of your knights to tell them and he invited them to a feast, some days since.”
“Good.” My voice was calm but inside my heart was beating quickly. I would see my son. He had a family! All that I wanted to do was to ride through the dark to my home. I could not do so for I had a duty to the King. We had lost men.
“Ralph, we were ambushed. In the woods close by Craythorne there are dead men. Tomorrow have the mail collected and their bodies buried. You had best check to see if the charcoal burners were slain or merely hid.”
“Aye lord. Had Sir Tristan not been away he might have ridden a patrol. I have failed in my duty.”
“You were not to know and besides you might have lost more men that way for this was a sizeable force.”
That evening the King and Queen dined with me on plain fare. The small castle was overcrowded but we had managed to find a corner where we could eat alone. I told them what I had worked out. “He was Angevin lord. I think that your brother and his friend Charles have a hand in this. They were not Scots and I do not think that they were Stephen’s warriors. Besides he gifted the crown to you. Your enemies lie closer to your home. They knew where we were going. Your brother had to have told them that for Charles could not have known.”
Henry still did not like to believe his brother was a traitor. “We travelled slowly. Our enemies would know where we were heading by our progress.”
I saw Henry was worried. Eleanor looked to me, “You are my husband’s most senior knight. What do you suggest, lord?”
I was torn. There was an answer I ought to give and one I wanted to give. “You need to go to Anjou and end the threat. You could take ship from Stockton and be in Anjou within the week. Word will take longer to reach those who ordered this. The survivors will be hunted down. I will set Sir Tristan and Sir Richard to find them.”
“And the Scots?”
I sighed, “My son is returned. He can be trusted, I think.”
“You have not seen him for some years, Warlord.”
I looked at Henry, “I know my son. He has my blood in his veins. He came home and that means he has atoned. Why else would he return to England?”
Eleanor put her hand on mine, “And we will be taking you away from him before you can spend time with him. You are making sacrifices even when we have the crown.”
I forced a smile, “I swore an oath, my lady. I keep my word. Besides I do not think that these would-be rebels will give us too many problems. Your husband is a skilful general. Geoffrey and his friend have spent more time plotting than fighting. They are not his equal. There will be time.”
I felt safer when we left the tiny wooden walls of Yarm to head along the south bank of the Tees to the ferry. We could have risked the river at Yarm. However, Eleanor’s ladies had proved already that they were not as hardy as the queen. The greenway along the river was not pleasant at this time of year. The frosts and snows had not come and made the ground hard for it was wet and without frosts. With the warmth had come rain and, in places, the track was a muddy morass. Our horses were besmirched and bespattered. I had tired of travelling long ago. The journey home had taken far longer than I would have liked. I yearned for the familiarity of my castle and my people.
I could have gone to Thornaby Castle to speak with Sir Wulfric but as soon as I saw the standard flying over my castle I knew that I would cross the river first. I was becoming selfish as I grew older. Sir Wulfric would have understood. As we waited for the ferry I realised that there were no ships tied up at the quay. We had a couple of ships we used. Where were they, I wondered?
It was Harry who brought the ferry. He was the youngest of Ethelred’s sons. He would have to make two journeys. The King, Queen and her ladies boarded first along with me. As we were pulled across the chilly Tees I said, “Is my son at home? I am anxious to see him.”
“No, lord. Scots raided Fissebourne. He took your knights and half of the garri
son to recapture the animals and slaves the Scots took.”
I looked at Henry, “I told you, your majesty, that the Scots are still a threat.”
Henry frowned, “So it seems. And there are no ships to take us to Anjou. It looks as though we will have an enforced stay here then, Alfraed.”
Eleanor said, quietly, “It is not the earl’s fault, husband. This looks a comfortable castle. What difference can a few days make? Your people have been taken. The earl’s son has acted well.” He nodded but I could see that he was distracted by the events which had occurred since his coronation.
My steward greeted us as we stepped ashore, “You have heard, lord, of the raid?”
I nodded, “William, have my chambers made ready for the King and Queen. We need room for the Queen’s ladies.”
“Lord we have the wives of some of your knights. The castle is crowded.”
Eleanor put her hand on Henry’s, “Then we shall have a convivial time, will we not?”
William said, before turning and scurrying up to the castle, “I will tell Alice and the Lady Rebekah.”
Eleanor linked Henry as we walked towards the river gate. I saw Henry casting a military eye over the walls, “This is a stoutly built castle, Alfraed. You have improved it since I was last here.”
“As this last raid has proven we need stout defences against the Scots. They still hold much English land.”
We entered the gate, “And yet I have a rebellion in Anjou to quash. I had thought that the crown upon my head secured all.”
“Keeping the crown and the throne are never easy. Your mother thought she had both after Lincoln.”
“You are right. A lesson for us all. Until we have strong borders and more knights like you guarding them we cannot rest easy.”
We stepped into my hall and I saw William’s wife and his children for the first time. His first wife had been a beauty but that was eclipsed by Rebekah. She was exotic. Her deep-set eyes exuded calmness. The two children were both hale and hearty. I saw the boy staring at me. I had not had much to do with William’s first children. I would make sure I got to know these two grandchildren.
She bowed, “Your majesty, my lord, I am Lady Rebekah, the wife of Sir William. This is your grandson, lord, Samuel and your granddaughter, Ruth.” She put a hand behind each one to move them forward.
The girl, Ruth, spun around and hid behind her mother. Samuel, however, boldly stepped forward. He stared at me, “Are you the Warlord? Can I see the scars from your battles?”
I laughed and swept him up into my arms. I felt joy then such as I had not known for many years, “Aye, I am the Warlord and your grandfather! As for the wounds, we shall see.” I held him close and just took in the realisation that I had a family again. I closed my eyes for I felt them filling and that was not seemly.
I heard Eleanor say, “Come husband, let us leave the earl to greet his family.”
I opened my eyes and saw Alice bowing, “If you come with me your majesties, I will take you to your chambers. I have some mulled, spiced wine to take the chill from your bones.”
“You are kind.” Eleanor turned and smiled, “Enjoy your family, Alfraed.”
Still holding Samuel, I held out my hand for Rebekah, “Come, I shall show you my secret place where we can be alone and talk for I have much to ask and you have much to tell me.”
Samuel gasped, “You have a secret place?”
“I have. Only I go there but I shall let you, your sister and your mother share it with me.”
Rebekah squeezed my fingers and said quietly, “You are just as your son said you would be. I can see now why he wishes to be just as you.”
I led them up the stairs to my solar. I closed the door behind us. I knew that Alice would know where I was and that she would bring refreshments for us. It was cold for there was no fire there. I sat in my chair and put my cloak around Samuel. Ruth sat on her mother’s knee.
“Now tell me all.”
Rebekah began with her first meeting with my son. We were briefly interrupted by Alice and the servants who brought mulled wine and lit the fire. Alice had brought a fur for Rebekah and it was cosy. I sat silently as Rebekah, often interrupted by Samuel, told me of my son. There were some things I was not told. I could hear that in her voice and in the silences in the story. Her eyes begged no questions when she glossed over some of the events in their life. That was to be expected. She did not want to upset her children. I would not pry. Either she or William would tell me in due course. They had questions for me. Samuel was fascinated by the fact that I had been at the coronation. He wanted to know everything about the knights and lords there.
There was a knock on the door and Alice peered in, “Lord, I have prepared food for the King and the Queen.”
I smiled, “And I have indulged myself long enough, “Thank you, Alice. Where would I be without you. Let us join our liege, eh Samuel?”
The meal was a merry one but tinged with unanswered questions. The ladies of my knights knew not the fate of their husbands. I saw the worry on Rebekah’s face as Henry questioned William and the ladies about the raid. It was Eleanor who reined in her younger husband, “Your majesty it is better to ask these questions of your knights when they return. For myself I would know more about these delightful children.” I knew why she asked. Her eldest child, William had died the previous year and she had left her young son, Henry, in London. She had not wished to risk losing a second child in infancy. I suspected that she was with child again for she had been putting on more weight but not eating more. I had not asked for that was a private matter. The look on her face as she spoke with each child told me that she had children and babies in her thoughts.
As she spoke with them I took the opportunity of asking Rebekah about my son. I did not wish to know about his martial accomplishments; she had told me that already. I wished to know how life in the Holy Land had changed him.
She looked thoughtful. “I did not see much of a change. The man I married was the man I first met when he brought me from my aunt’s. But after the renegade de Waller slew my family he hardened a little. He did not change when in the company of his people or his family but he became more ruthless on the battlefield. His men told me that. They were not criticising him for he did what he had to. If I was to answer you honestly, lord, it would be to say that he has become stronger. He will be a good leader.” She stared into my eyes, “That is what you are really asking me, is it not? Has he changed from the wild youth who caroused and, what is the word? Wenched.”
“He told you?”
She had a beautiful smile, “Lord, there are no secrets between us. I tell him all and he does the same.”
My son had changed and become the man I always wanted him to be. I nodded, “You are an intelligent woman and my son has chosen well. I could not have chosen better for him. Thank you.” I did not say but I thought that both my sons had chosen well. If I had had to choose a bride for them then it would have been Eleanor and Rebekah who would have been my choices.
I slept in my solar. The castle was crowded and I did not mind. I had been on enough campaigns to be able to sleep anywhere. Besides it meant that, when I awoke, I was able to see my river. This was my valley. I had not been born here but it was now in my blood. I awoke before dawn and went up to the river gate. I met with John of Craven.
“You are up early, lord. Was the bed not comfortable?”
“It is this raid which concerns me. Why are they not back? Fissebourne is not far away.”
“You did not question the survivors did you, lord?” I shook my head. “They said that the Scots took a great number of captives and animals. I would not have expected them back yet. They will return soon.”
“Thank you, John. You have comforted me.” I saw a pained expression on his face. “Something ails you?”
He smiled, “Just old age. I have seen sixty summers, lord.”
I realised that I had seen fifty-three. I did not think of my age much. John looked o
ld. Did I? “You would like to have an easier life?”
There was the slightest hesitation which told me that his answer was not entirely the truth. “It is just the winter, lord. When the new grass comes then I will have less ague and aches!”
Although we both smiled I determined to find another seneschal for my castle. John deserved to enjoy a quiet end to his life. My father’s followers had not had that luxury. They had been slain by the Scots. That would not happen to John or any of my other retainers.
It was in the early afternoon that the sentry on the north wall shouted that our men were returning. Henry, also eager to speak with them, joined me at the gatehouse. My knights led. Even at a distance of a mile Sir Wulfric could be identified. As they drew closer I identified the others. I realised that two were missing, Dick and my son. What had happened. I wondered why they had not sent Aiden, Edgar or Edward back with news. Then it came to me, my son and Wulfric had taken all the knights. He had not known that we would be there. They would now for my banner and that of the King fluttered from our battlements.
Henry pointed at the captives and the animals, “It seems your knights have reclaimed what was ours but I cannot see your son.”
King Henry had been my squire and knew my men as well as I did. I nodded, “He and Dick may well have another errand. Wulfric will tell all.”
We descended. The animals would be taken to the pens we had close by the town walls. The nearby well of St. John would supply them with water and there was grazing there for there was no frost. The captives would have to be housed in the town. William, my Steward, was at the bottom of the steps, “William go and ask Alf to have the captives housed with the townsfolk until we can make better arrangements.”
He smiled, “I have already done so, see lord.” I looked and saw Alf waiting with the women of the town to greet and care for the captives. We had done this before. I knew that some would return to Fissebourne but many would stay in the town. Some would marry single men at arms and archers. Others would marry the young men of the town. Alf and Ethelred were successful and had many sons. The women might have lost husbands and fathers but life would go on and they would be cared for. That was what my people did.
The Welsh Marches (The Anarchy 1120-1180 Book 15) Page 11