Warlord of the North

by Griff Hosker

  The front two ranks all moved as one. We all stepped off with our right leg and those in the front rank all thrust with their spears at the same time. It worked. The enemy could not move their arms and our spears found faces and found flesh. As they fell the second rank advanced and my rank turned and slipped through gaps to come behind them. The second rank punched their spears and the effect was the same. The enemy line was now reeling. Those in the front had been their best warriors. As the second rank slipped back behind us I drew my sword for my spear had shattered. We had room to move and they did not. The hands which my mentor Athelstan had said were the fastest he had ever seen darted in and out like a serpent's tongue. My enemies could not block my blows and soon my sword was red with Scottish blood.

  We worked together. We had fought in such a manner often enough. We had a rhythm to our movements. Our shields seem to be raised as one. The effect mesmerized our opponents. When we struck our well sharpened steel went through poorly made mail and found flesh. Our feet moved in unison so that we were able to push forward. The spears over our shoulders were used to great effect. Our enemies needed more eyes than they possessed. They had to watch for our swords and for the spears which came over towards them. In contrast to our unified attack they fought as individuals; it mattered not how brave they were. They looked for honour and glory. Fine and skilful knights stepped forward to take on either me or one of my knights and paid the price when they were easily slain. We faced an individual; they faced a band of brothers.

  The press of men before us meant that we were tiring. They were wearing us out with their men. I saw two of our men at arms fall and knew that the time had come for the second part of my plan. "Fall back! Now!" The line behind made gaps though which we stepped. We had practised this. I had read of Roman legions doing this and Erre and his Varangians had been taught the manoeuvre. We all stepped and turned as one and the movement was seamless. As the enemy charged they were hacked, stabbed and chopped by my men at arms. They were facing fresh men and they were tired.

  "Fall back!" This time we made the gap. Those in the front rank moved back and as the enemy ran to catch them we stepped to meet them. We kept moving back, interchanging warriors, until we were in our original positions. Before us was a wall of bodies. I observed that there was no longer a wall of knights and men at arms. The ranks were intertwined and there were some unarmoured men amongst those before us. It was no longer a wall of mail. It was the time to use Sir Hugh Manningham and his men. They were fresh and they were mounted. They were eager to get amongst men who were tired and had blunted weapons.

  "Hexham! Now!" This was our trickiest manoeuvre. There were no traps in the ditches next to us and we all stepped to the side as Sir Hugh Manningham led his fresh knights and his forty men at arms to charge down the road. The charge was also the signal for Ralph of Wales and his archers, hidden in the ruined farmstead, to loose arrows into the unprotected rear of the column. There the men had no armour and few had helmets. I could not see but I knew that it would be carnage.

  I could see the enemy as Sir Hugh and his horsemen battered their way through them. They reeled from the ferocious attack of fresh men on huge horses. As soon as the last horseman had passed we climbed on the horses that were brought to us. We followed Sir Hugh and his men so that we were a tidal wave rushing down the hill. Dick and his archers followed us. They would no longer operate as one but as individuals. They would target leaders and knights. I am not certain what broke them the knights or the archers in their rear. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Whatever the reason the enemy host was broken in that last charge. All that was left for us to do was to kill and to chase. To chase and to kill. We pursued as long as it was light. As darkness fell there was nothing left for us to chase. We had won.

  We camped where we had fought. Huge piles of arms, armour and helmets were gathered from the dead. We burned their bodies and the heat from the fire kept us warm that chilly night. I sat with my knights. There were wounds: William of Warkworth had a broken arm and Ralph of Morpeth had had his leg mail pierced by a spear but other than that they had survived. Our tactics and our discipline had overcome our wild and impetuous enemies.

  "Should I return to the siege, lord?"

  "No, Sir Hugh. If we close the road to the north at Morpeth then they will be cut off anyway. It will not take them long to realise that they are alone. Now that it is spring our farmers will need to see to their crops and their animals. Our markets will need to be open once more. I hope that with peace restored the merchants will use our roads again. That is what we protect."

  Riding back to Stockton the next day, Wulfric said. "You know, lord, we could rid the whole of the north of this Scottish threat. These warriors from the north are not well led."

  "You may be right, Wulfric, but I am loath to lose men I cannot replace to fight another's battle. Until the Empress returns I need to keep as many of our men alive as I can. That will be a war where we travel further afield. We have gained much in the way of arms. Let us use that to build up our armies and the gold to buy what we cannot produce."

  There was both relief and jubilation when we returned to Stockton. I sent one of Philip's archers to the Archbishop with a report of our success. Harold and Sir Tristan went back to their manors. They would make them both good and strong. It was too early for either the now knighted Sir Wilfred or Sir Hugh to return to their homes. Balliol was still ensconced behind the mighty walls of Barnard. There would be time enough to take them but we had much work to do in my town. We went back to the walls and our further work on the defences. I used some of the gold we had taken to pay William the Mason.

  "But lord the work I do is for me and my family."

  "I pay my men at arms and I pay Alf the Smith. You are a stonemason and you deserve the financial rewards too."

  As my men toiled on the walls I saw Alan of Osmotherley. I waved him to me, "Lord?"

  "Are you glad you came north with me or do you wish you had stayed in the vale?"

  He smiled, "I was meant to come here. My brother and I always wanted to be men at arms and to serve a great lord but with Sir Ralph in the Holy Land we did not want to leave our mother and father alone. We feared for their safety." He shook his head, "And yet even being there we could not save them. Had we left then Alfraed might still be alive and they would have suffered the same fate."

  "Not quite. Your mother died saving your life. She will be in heaven now, satisfied. No parent wants their child to die before them."

  When I was satisfied that the work was coming on apace I spent time with John, my steward. We had the finances of the manor and the valley to reorganise. He was surprisingly philosophical about it all. "If we do not pay taxes either to the King or the Bishop then we can choose what to do with them. You can have your wish to have a larger conroi and retinue while I have other ideas."

  "Yes?"

  "We need our own vessel. I have spoken with both Ethelred and Alf about this. They have goods they wish to sell. We could send them by road to York but that is the expensive way to do it. A ship can carry more and travel further. You have a manor in Maine my lord and the ship could transport goods from here to there. I daresay the wine you drink would be cheaper from your own estate?"

  I smiled, "One would think so."

  He nodded, "With your permission I will have the boat builders begin work on a cog. It need not be overly large. We have sailors already in the borough. All that we need is a captain who knows the seas."

  I liked the plan. "Go ahead then John and I will ask the Archbishop if there are any such captains in York."

  "I will get it started and then, my lord, there are the sessions. We have many cases waiting to be heard. Some are serious."

  "Then arrange them for this peace will be but temporary. Of that I am certain."

  March did not come in like a lion and go out like a lamb. It was a wild and windy month. It delayed work on our ship. Its hull, as it was being constructed, looked like a huge
fish skeleton. I did not see it being ready for sea before autumn. The messenger to the Archbishop had still to return and I began to worry as did Philip of Selby. "It is not like Jack. He is reliable. I pray naught has happened to him."

  "Perhaps, Philip, with the peace you and I may take your archers and ride down to visit with the Archbishop. I feel blind and deaf for I know not what goes on in the outside world. We will give your man one more day and then go."

  As I might be leaving for a while I took the opportunity to find out what, if anything, John and Alice needed from York. We produced the majority of what we needed but there were things like cloth which we could not. The two had made a long list and I was debating how many horses I needed to take when there was a shout from the walls.

  I left John and Alice and went to the river gate. There I spied, across the river, the Archbishop himself. The reason for the delay in the return of Jack was now explained. I returned to my hall. "Alice move my belongings to the west tower. Prepare my quarters for the Archbishop. We have guests. We will require a feast. John, see if Aiden has been hunting eh?"

  "Aye lord."

  Alice looked panicked. "My lord, I am not prepared!"

  "Fear not Alice, Archbishop Thurstan is a good man and he will understand. Just do your best."

  As I went across the bailey I shouted to Sir Hugh and Wulfric. "The Archbishop comes. We may have news."

  Sir Hugh followed me to the river. "Is this good or ill, my lord?"

  I shrugged, "Speculation will not get us anywhere. We have but moments to wait and then we will find out."

  I bowed as Archbishop Thurstan stepped ashore. He made the sign of the cross and then waved a hand at my castle. "I can see why the Scots do not advance south. This is almost the equal of York." I nodded. He saw the men at arms toiling on the new wall. "And I can see you make it stronger." He lowered his voice, "That may be a wise move but I will speak with you in private later."

  "I am eager to know of the outside world, your grace."

  "And I apologise for the short notice. As you will discover, later on, that decision lay not in my hands. I shall stay but one night and then be gone. However I have need of an escort from you tomorrow."

  "My men and I..."

  He stopped and shook his head, "Not you, Earl, not you."

  I was a little put out but I saw no animosity in his eyes and I nodded, "Sir Hugh here will escort you. He is a fine knight and his men are the equal of mine." I saw the young knight swell with pride at the praise. "Where do you go? Durham?"

  He shook his head and held my gaze, "No Alfraed, Carlisle. I go to meet with King David!"

  His words sounded like a platter being dropped in church; it echoed and reverberated. What did this portend? I had learned patience and I decided that the Archbishop would confide in me when the time was right. Father Henry greeted us at my gate. The Archbishop smiled, "Father Henry, I would give thanks for a safe journey. Shall we go to your church and pray together?"

  "I would be honoured for you to grace our humble church." They entered the church and I was left with Sir Hugh.

  Sir Hugh was as curious as I was. "Carlisle? The last I heard the Scots were there."

  I smiled, "As the Archbishop is to meet with King David then perhaps that explains it."

  "But have the sacrifices been in vain, lord? Will the Archbishop give up the land for which we have fought?"

  "It is as I said, Hugh, no matter what the high and mighty do I shall not yield an inch of land until the Empress Matilda is crowned and orders me to do so. The Archbishop is a friend and good man but he will not order me to do anything I do not wish to do."

  He looked relieved and then a frown appeared, "Will we be in danger?"

  "From the Scots? No. From Brigands and outlaws? Most certainly. I shall give you a dozen of my archers. They will keep you safe."

  Lady Hilda and our other ladies were delighted to have such a dignitary at our table. Alice had excelled herself with the limited fare available and we were all replete. As we finished the last jug of decent wine I reflected that John had been right. I had a good source of wine in my other manor, La Flèche. The sooner my ship was finished the better.

  When the meal was over the Archbishop stood, as did everyone else. He waved them to their seats. "Pray sit and enjoy yourselves. I have matters to discuss with the Earl."

  I led him to the west tower. Leopold of Durstein stood on guard. "Let no one close with us. Our words must be private."

  "Aye my lord."

  Alice had left a jug and two goblets. A brazier burned and two seats awaited us. As we sat he said, "You have good people around you, Alfraed. I listened while we ate. They follow you as though you were a prince and your men have the look of hardened warriors. I can see why the Scots fear you so much."

  "They are the enemies of this land and I bear their enmity as a badge of honour."

  "You wonder why I speak with King David?" I nodded. "It is due to you. He sues for peace. Your victories have shown that he cannot hang to the land he has taken. I go to negotiate a peace treaty."

  "I was there with the Earl of Gloucester when we signed the last one and that was meaningless."

  "You are astute, Alfraed and you are correct. The treaty will last but a short time. It matters not. It gives the King time to build up his forces." The look I threw was a scowl. I swallowed my wine. "I know you like him not but let us be practical. In Anjou and Normandy there is civil war. Baron fights baron and the land is laid waste. Here there is peace for the country wants a hand at the helm. That hand is King Stephen." I was about to speak and he held his hand up. "Like you I wish that King Henry's wishes had been observed but they were not. Maud and her husband are destroying the duchy. Would you have them destroy this one too?"

  I had no answer to that. "Of course not but I will not accept Stephen as my liege." I poured myself more wine, aware that it was loosening my tongue. "I would rather take my people and go to La Flèche."

  The Archbishop leaned forward and put his hand on mine. "I pray you do not do that. You are the last defence in the north. I know that the treaty will not hold and if you are not here..."

  I pushed my goblet away. "Perhaps I have drunk too much for I do not understand your words. If I stay then I do not support the King. I will be, to all intents and purposes, a rebel."

  "I know and I have wrestled with this. It is why I sent Philip to you. I am on the horns of a dilemma. By my office I am bound to support the anointed King of England but I am also a man of this land and I know the strength you bring to the border. You are a modern Roman Wall. I need you, England needs you."

  "Then I will stay but I will not bow the knee to that man."

  "I know. It is the one trait I do not like."

  "A man cannot change his nature. Tell me Archbishop is my gold and treasure still safe within your palace?"

  "Of course. I gave you my word I would keep it for you. Whenever you have need of it , it is there. In return I beg you to promise to hear King Stephen before you act hastily."

  "Listen to King Stephen?"

  The Archbishop finished his wine. "I need to tell you that I do not go alone to Carlisle. I go to meet King Stephen. When the treaty is concluded he comes here to speak with you."

  Chapter 9

  I did not sleep overmuch that night and I was up before anyone else. Sir Hugh was also down early to ensure his men were ready to ride. The Archbishop was the most important man they had guarded. I drew him to one side. "A word Sir Hugh." He cocked his head to one side. "You will not be needed to escort the Archbishop back but I would have you wait until he is ready to leave."

  "Of course, my lord, but why?"

  "Stephen of Blois will be there. I need to know what his plans are so that you can return to me and let me know."

  "Does this mean war?"

  "I know not but I shall prepare."

  He nodded, "Thank you for confiding in me, lord."

  When they had departed I summoned Sir John,
Sir Tristan and Sir Harold. "Stephen of Blois is in the north. He meets with the Archbishop to discuss peace terms with the Scots. It seems our efforts have saved us from further incursions." They said nothing but I saw questions written all over their faces. "They will return here after they have been to Carlisle. I know not if that means war but we prepare as though it does. I go to speak with Sir Edward and Sir Richard. While I am gone I leave you three to prepare our castle for siege. You need not tell any what I have said. I will speak with Wulfric, Dick and John myself. The fewer who know this the better."

  Sir Harold looked at the other two. They nodded, "Know you, lord, that we have spoken of this. We stand by you even if you are called a traitor. We will be traitors too."

  "Thank you but I pray that it will not come to that."

  Gilles was hovering close by. "Gilles, get Scout saddled and your own horse. Have Aiden join us. Today we ride abroad."

  Wulfric and Dick were both wise old birds. When they saw the activity they were prepared for my words. They nodded when I told them. Wulfric shrugged, "It was ever thus, lord. You are the one who saves the land and yet others reap the benefit. We are better off on our own for some friends you cannot trust."

  There was something in his words which had hidden meaning, "Speak plainly, Wulfric."

  "I am not certain that all your lords will join this venture. That is all I can say. It is conjecture only for I have no evidence but I have heard rumours from other men at arms. When you speak with your knights, lord, I would look into their eyes for, as they say, the eyes are the windows to the soul. You have the power to see into men's hearts. We need that skill now as much as we need your sword arm."