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

by Hosker, Griff

  King Henry was a little worried. Perhaps it was the sudden attack in the forest which had unsettled him. I saw him glancing nervously behind as though we had not brought enough men. I leaned over and said, quietly, “If they do not surrender we have lost nothing. We have had a ride in the woods and a little excitement. The death of your new squire was unfortunate but if they say no then we head to the next castle and try there.” I could see that he was not convinced, “What else would we do? Watch men build onagers and rams?”

  “You are right. I fear I am worrying about Scotland and Wales.”

  “My son will deal with Scotland and Wales… when this is over we can give those wild men our complete attention.”

  “How can you remain so calm, Warlord?”

  “I do not worry about those events over which I have no influence.”

  Sir Leofric rode back. “They will talk. They will allow my squire and me, your majesty and the Warlord.” He smiled at me, “The castellan knows you, lord. It is William son of Richard d’Avranches.”

  I turned to the King, “His father was one of your grandfather’s inner circle of knights and advisers. What is he doing supporting a rebel?”

  The walls were lined with men but there were no weapons aimed at us. We had removed our helmets before we approached. William son of Richard d’Avranches did not follow the dictates of such meetings and he spoke directly with me. “You are still alive, Warlord. I thought they were just rumours!”

  I could not remember the man. He must have been a squire when I had known him but I did not want to upset him. I would use whatever means I could to capture the castle. “There are always rumours. I have learned to trust my own eyes and nothing else.” He nodded in agreement. “But would your father approve of this, lord? Here is the rightful Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou.”

  He shrugged, “I was told by your brother, majesty, that his father had promised his County to him.”

  “And like my death that was just a rumour. If you wish, Sir William, I can bring priests with the Duke’s will…”

  I saw him shake his head, “No, I can see now that it was a lie. The Warlord would not support a usurper.” He looked at Henry, “But if I surrender, your majesty, what happens to me? What becomes of my people?”

  Henry showed me that day the maturity that was growing in him. “You were misled. Open your gates and I promise that I will forgive you.”

  The constable looked directly at me. I saw the King colour but he said nothing. I nodded. The constable said, “Open the gate and admit the Duke of Normandy!”

  We were feted and there was no animosity. The constable had had nothing to do with the death of the squire, that much was obvious. As we ate King Henry bluntly asked about the constable of Mirebeau. “Ah, he is a different matter. He is Charles of Alençon and…”

  King Henry nodded, “We know the man. He has not been duped. In fact, he may well have instigated this whole rebellion.” Looking at me he said, “He will not surrender for he knows the death sentence will be upon him.”

  “Then we take the knights from Loudon with us. We tell him that Loudon has fallen and imply that Chinon has too.”

  “We lie?”

  “No, your majesty. We let our devious foe fill in the gaps between our words. Men who lie often see lies in half truths.”

  “How can we do that?”

  “Leave that to me majesty. I have dealt with men like Charles of Alençon before. They do not speak truly themselves and they are always looking for mistruth in others. The men in the castle will be the ones who will decide. Their Constable will be alone.”

  “How do you know?”

  “We fought a civil war here in Anjou, Maine and Normandy. We fought one in England. Men are sick of internal strife. When they see the rightful king, duke and count they will come to their senses. Besides it will be as it is here. There must be men who fought for your father or your mother. This cannot sit well with them.”

  We had scouts and outriders before us as we headed south and east. We had almost doubled our number with the men we had brought from Loudon. This time we all halted four hundred paces from the castle. Like Loudon it was smaller than Chinon. The difference was that this one would be defended.

  “If I might suggest, majesty, we have the men deploy into a three-deep line. Let us intimidate them with our numbers. They will see and count the banners. This time I will ride with Sir Leofric and his squire. Perhaps my banner, carried by James, might make them fear my archers.”

  “But they are in England!”

  I smiled, “They do not know that.”

  “You are an old fox, Alfraed, but be careful. This castle means nothing. It is Chinon which we must break.”

  Taking off my helmet and mittens we rode towards the battlements which were lined with armed men. This time weapons were aimed at us. Was I being arrogant and gambling with other men’s lives? I did not think I was. In my mind, I was trying to save lives. We rode slowly. It was more intimidating that way and showed that we were not afraid. When a crossbow bolt slammed into the ground a pace in front of Sword I did not slow down. We reined in three hundred paces from the walls.

  I shouted, “Do none of you understand that we come to talk? I hope that the fool who let his crossbow release a bolt will be punished.”

  It was Charles of Alençon who spoke to me, “We did not invite you to talk! Speak and then leave. Nothing that you say can make us change our minds.”

  I nodded and gestured behind me, “Loudon has fallen. There are many lords who realise that they were duped by Geoffrey Fitz Empress.” I took from my saddlebag one of my maps. It was rolled like a parchment. “I have here a document which is the truth about the heir to Anjou. This is proof, if proof were needed that Geoffrey Fitz Empress was promised nothing.” I let that sink in. “King Henry of England has only recently taken the throne. He has yet to decide what titles and lands will be awarded. There are many who defended Chinon who will be given lands and titles. The King is a fair man.” I pointed the parchment at Charles of Alençon. I was guessing but I had a feeling he had something to do with the ambush and I tested the waters. “Your leader, Charles of Alençon has conspired with the King of France to have the King murdered on the way here. His brother would not support that. Are you willing to support such a traitor!”

  I heard the murmur of dissent. I saw men turning towards each other. I watched as Charles of Alençon tried to regain order. Suddenly he bent down and picked up a crossbow. It was already loaded and the bolt flew towards me. I know not how I did it but, jerking Sword to the left I blindly batted with the parchment. I was lucky. The bolt had had three hundred paces to travel and Charles of Alençon was no expert. Even so it came close to me. It tore the parchment from my hand.

  From behind me came a roar of anger from our men. I held up my hand, “I am unharmed! Do not move!”

  As I looked back towards the walls I saw that Charles of Alençon had disappeared. Behind me I heard the hooves of the knights and men at arms as King Henry brought the army up to me. There was no more movement from the walls. What was happening? Was the traitor planning some other trick?

  The King reined in next to me and shook his head. “You could have been killed!”

  “But I was not and look! The ruse succeeded.” Ahead of us the gates swung open. The banner of Charles of Alençon was lowered. We had taken the second castle. The question remained, where was the traitor?

  Chapter 13

  Still wary of a trick from the traitor, we donned our helmets and I sent men at arms ahead to secure the gate and to ensure that the King would be safe. The words I had overheard in London still echoed inside my head. ‘The County first and then… who knows. Trust me, lord, to guide your path .’

  It was, however, safe. As we rode through the gates I saw that weapons were sheathed and heads were bare and bowed. I recognised a knight from the wars, Sir Alain of Tours. I rode up to him, “Sir Alain, where is Charles of Alençon?”

&nb
sp; He looked up with an apologetic expression upon his face, “I am sorry lord, he and his men fled through the rear gate. When he left, we opened the gates for you.” He handed me the traitor’s banner.

  I turned to the King, “Do we pursue?”

  He shook his head, “There will time for him to pay for his sins.” He looked down from his horse. “You, Alain of Tours, you hold the castle for me?”

  He bowed, “I do, your majesty.”

  “Then all of you swear allegiance to me.” He was learning.

  After they were sworn we took half the men and headed back up the road to Chinon. We had doubled our force and it had cost us nothing. Our one casualty had been the squire and that was nothing to do with the rebellion. That had been an attempt at assassination. I had already spoken with William and Phillip, the King’s bodyguards. We would have extra security around his tent while we were in Anjou. My son had told me of the assassins in the Holy Land. I did not think they had them here but the audacity of the attack in the forest had worried me.

  The machines were still incomplete when we arrived back. While the new men were allocated camps I sat with the King and his brother. King Henry was keen to make an assault. He wanted the rebellion snuffed out quickly. “How much longer for the machines, brother?”

  “The rams will be ready on the morrow. The onagers? The day after.”

  “Then we have two days.”

  “Use them wisely, majesty.”

  “Use them, Warlord? How? Prepare for battle?”

  “No, speak with your brother. Your voice has worked twice and now you have even more power to persuade him.” I handed him the banner of Charles of Alençon. “Tell him that we have his other two castles and that he is alone.”

  “He will not surrender for he will fear death to be the punishment.”

  William said, “Then do not threaten death, brother. Keep him close. The Warlord told me how he fled the last time. Choose men to be gaolers who you can trust.”

  The King smiled, “Little brother you have grown. I will think on that. After a good sleep, I will consider. If I do ride to him I will be flanked by you two. I think you are both counters he will respect in this game.”

  After the King had retired I said, “Keep a good watch about yourself, William. The King of France plays a dangerous game. The King needs you here in France, especially as he will be fighting in Wales soon. Guard yourself and surround yourself with good men.”

  “And yet you walk around alone, lord.”

  I laughed, “I was important once but no longer. Your brother is kind to keep an old warrior like me around but I do not think that any will try to kill me here in camp.”

  He looked over my shoulder and smiled, “And your men are there to ensure that any attempt will fail.”

  I turned and saw, in the shadows, James, Robert of Derby and Griff of Gwent. “What are you doing?”

  Robert of Derby grinned, “We were just taking a stroll in the night air, lord and thought to escort you back to your tent.”

  “I do not need to be escorted. Here I am safe.”

  Robert knew me well. I had fought alongside him many times before he had joined Sir Leofric, “Aye sir, it is us poor little sheep who need your protection!”

  I shook my head, “You are incorrigible!”

  He was not put out by the comment, “If I knew what that meant, lord, I would probably agree!”

  My tent was close to that of Sir Leofric. His archers had been hunting and there were venison haunches being cooked as we arrived. Wilfred handed me a platter, “Here lord, the haunch will take some cooking but we sliced the heart and cooked it. Tasty!”

  “Thank you, Wilfred.”

  “Osbert is fetching the wine, lord.”

  Unlike many lords, Sir Leofric and I were quite happy in the company of men at arms. We fought together. We ate and drank together. The most senior of Sir Leofric’s company were seated around the fire. We were easy in the presence of one another. We both knew that a good man at arms was the equal of most knights and the superior of many. The heart was well cooked and just what I needed. They made good wine around Chinon. It was rich, red and heavy. It complimented the heart well. When I had first come from the east, several lifetimes ago, I would have baulked at eating heart and red wine. I had been used to finely cooked and spice delicacies in the east. The wine I had enjoyed had been white and chilled. How I had changed. The sliced heart was delicious and just what I needed.

  “You are pensive, lord.”

  “Just thinking back, Leofric. We have had a long journey since we began in Stockton.”

  He nodded, “When John and I were your squires, in England, I thought that I would end my days on the Tees. I was content. Yet here I am, an Angevin now, with a wife and family. I doubt that I shall ever return to England. Is that wrong?”

  “No, I was just thinking of myself, a young arrogant man who left Constantinople and was resentful to be dragged to a cold inhospitable place like Stockton. Life is a journey and none of us can know where we will travel or who we shall meet. It is better to accept what comes your way and to make the best of it.”

  Brian came over to me and topped up my wine.

  After he had gone I said, “Brian there is a good example. He lost his eye and was disfigured. He has told me that no woman can bear to look on his face. It would have been all too easy for him to succumb to drink and feel sorry for himself but he did not. He is a man and accepts what fate has dealt him. That is how a man should be measured; not in titles and armour, not by money or power but how he deals with hardship and adversity.”

  Sir Leofric raised his goblet, “Amen to that lord.” He drank deeply.

  Platters were brought with the first slices of the venison. A little charred they had been thinly sliced. My servants were all experienced soldiers. Venison took a lot of cooking on an open fire, thin and charred was better than thick and tough.

  “I think that this will be over by the end of the month and then I will be returning to Wales with the King. Have you any men at arms and archers who might wish to travel with me?”

  Sir Leofric trained both men at arms and archers for us. Griff of Gwent and Robert of Derby chose prospective candidates and assessed their ability. When they had completed training in Anjou then those who wished to go to England were sent on the ‘Adela’ . Since the end of the civil war there had appeared no need to send more men. The war in Wales and William’s campaign in the north now meant that we did.

  Sir Leofric looked over to his two senior warriors. They both nodded. Robert of Derby said, “Aye lord. I have five or six lads who would return to the land in which they were born.”

  “They are not Norman? Angevin?”

  Shaking his head, he said, “There were many who came here from England with lords to fight in the wars. Some lords are not as Sir Leofric. When the war ended they severed their ties with their men and went home thinking to live like princes. With no civil war why keep expensive men at arms? With respect Warlord, you and your knights are an exception. You have never changed.” He nodded towards James, “I remember Master James’ father when he was a man at arms and you knighted him. None of us could believe that. Aye sir, Roger, James, John, Harry, Arne and Wilson have all told me that they would return home. I will speak with them.”

  “Thank you. And archers?”

  Griff of Gwent wiped his mouth, “They are rarer than hen’s teeth lord but I have four who would do. Tom the Fletcher, Robert of Sheffield, Will Green Leg and Rhodri of Ruthin.”

  I looked up from my venison, “A Welshman?”

  He laughed, “Aye lord but he is a northerner. They are a funny lot of there in those mountains. All mystic like; full of bards and druids those hills are. But he is a good archer. There are few men the equal of Dick but Rhodri is. He is like a barrel. Powerful arms, lord.”

  “Then ask them to see me when the siege is over. I would not distract them before then.”

  I was woken by the sound of hamme
ring as the men building the siege engines were chivvied and chased to complete their work. King Henry was up and about. I was pleased to see that his two bodyguards were within arm’s reach of him the whole time. I had broken fast well and, with James in attendance, strode up to the two brothers.

  “Well, majesty, have you decided?”

  “There is nothing to be lost by speaking with my brother and if we can sow the seeds of doubt in his men’s mind then that cannot hurt either. I have sent a man to ask for a truce so that we may speak.”

  The messenger came back agreeing that we could speak with Geoffrey. He would not leave his walls but he would speak from the barbican at the top of the ramp.

  I shook my head, “Your brother has made a bad mistake for that will also allow us to see their defences. If your brother had more courage and more sense then he would meet us between the castle and our lines.”

  King Henry laughed, “He was not trained by the Warlord. My father and I were!”

  I rode with King Henry and his brother. We had no helmets but King Henry wore his crown. The ramp which led to the gate passed a wall which was lined with embrasures and men. Without protection, it would be a death trap. There were slits though which crossbows could send their bolts at point blank range. However, I noted that the slits had a narrow angle. There were places that the crossbows could not cover. The ramp was cunningly constructed so that it twisted. I noted that. Whoever was in the ram would need to be aware of that particular problem.

  The barbican had a pair of double towers. They were not huge but the tour de Moulin which was nearby gave elevation and would be an obstacle for the men there could add to the rain of missiles on the ram. There was no moat. The castle was built on solid rock and that eliminated a problem I had envisaged. As we rounded the curve in the wall I saw that the gate had metal studs in it. It would not yield to an axe. Back at our camp the men were fire hardening the stake in the ram. We had a couple of spares too. There were crossbow men and men at arms on the walls of the barbican and in the towers but no stone throwers. I looked for and found the holes through which they could pour oil, pig fat or boiling water. The tell-tale column of smoke which accompanied such devices was missing. That did not mean they would not have them but Geoffrey struck me as someone who was ill prepared. His lieutenant Charles of Alençon was not with him. As the King had said, Geoffrey had not been trained by me.