Warlord of the North

by Griff Hosker

  The other scout took longer. "I have seen the castle, lord, and it is strong. It is in the bend of the river. There are no bridges across the river."

  I nodded, "It protects the road to Rouen from the east. We go to these forests to the east of the town. I would observe the castle myself."

  It was a short ride but the forests were dense and they teemed with game. We moved down the hunter's trails. It was a risk, especially if the knights were out hunting but I relied on the fact that we were looking for danger and they were looking for game. I saw the castle in the distance. There was no natural hill and they had used the river to afford some protection and built up the bailey so that it stood up from the land. The road which led from the castle went to Lisieux. That was also held by rebels.

  "We will go through the forest and head west. Let us see if we can cut this road and tempt Sir Hugo from behind his walls."

  The breeze was in our faces as we headed west. It brought smells and it brought noise. The scout who led us, Edward, held up his hand and we halted. Suddenly a stag came hurtling down the trail. It veered to one side as soon as it saw the line of men. We drew our swords. The stag was being hunted. There were six hunters and they were as surprised as the deer when they burst into our midst. William, Rolf and myself spurred our horses forward to engage them. If they were hunters then they came with Baron Hugo's permission and they would be knights.

  The leading hunter thrust his spear at me. I deflected it and used my powerful mount to force his small horse to the side. He fought to control his animal and I stabbed at him with my sword. He was agile, despite the fact that he looked to be a little older than me. Even so he could not avoid the edge of my sword and, as he was not wearing mail, it sliced deeply across his right arm. He tumbled from his horse.

  A second man, I took him to be the knight's squire, came bravely at me. He jabbed his spear at my face. It was an easy blow to avoid and I ducked. Holding my sword out the squire impaled himself upon my blade.

  And then it was over. Two men had died and four were captured. I returned to the knight whose arm I had slashed. He was making his own tourniquet. I dismounted and said, "Yield!"

  He laughed, "There is little else I can do although I fear I shall bleed to death before you receive ransom! I yield."

  I sheathed my sword and tore a piece of cloth from the dead squire's garment. I tied it tightly around the knight's arm.

  "Thank you Earl."

  "You recognise me?"

  "I fought alongside you when we fought the rebels. I saw the wolf and knew that we were in danger. I am Baron Charles de Touville." He shook his head. "We thought you in Honfleur. Sir Hugo will be annoyed that you are loose in his lands."

  "He will be more than annoyed when we are finished here. Did you know what he has done with the villages along the river?"

  "They are his lands. Each of us rules in a different way."

  "And yet you accept his hospitality."

  "The winds have changed, Earl. King Henry is dead and Stephen has claimed the English throne. There are many who vie for the Dukedom. Baron Hugo would make a strong Duke."

  "There is the Empress Matilda and her son."

  He shook his head, "She is a fine lady but she is just that, a lady and her son is a child. As for her husband... I fought Count Fulk too many times to accept his son as even the consort of a Duchess."

  "William, have these men sent to Honfleur and we will ask for ransom. They have all yielded?"

  "Aye father."

  I helped the wounded knight to his horse, "Think what King Henry would have wanted Sir Charles. Would he be happy with Sir Hugo as Duke? King Henry was a hard man but he was just and he was fair."

  "I will think on your words for I know you to be an honourable man. But your lands are in England and you will leave." He leaned forward and spoke quietly, "The French are already eyeing this land. King Louis has sent emissaries already to discuss alliances. I look to my own land, Earl."

  They put their two dead on the back of their horses and William's six men at arms headed back to Honfleur.

  After they had gone I reflected on the words of the knight. He seemed a reasonable man and what he said was probably the view of many. I knew that Count Geoffrey was not the same man as his father but his actions until I had arrived must have seemed like a child trying to achieve what his parent could not.

  "We continue west." We had smaller numbers now. There were just thirteen men at arms until William's men returned.

  We followed the road but saw no one using it. The land appeared devoid of people. Perhaps that was understandable. This was forest and if Sir Hugo wanted that for the game and the timber then there was little point in living close by. As evening approached we went into the forest and found a clearing close to water where we made camp. Rolf and William were both much like me. We could sleep under the greenwood. Three of Rolf's men went to hunt our supper while we got a fire going. I doubted that there would be any danger during the night but, in the morning, Sir Hugo would seek out the missing three knights and their squires who had not returned from the hunt.

  We still had sentries set but we were relaxed as we sat around the fire. Rolf was silent and I saw his face was troubled. "What ails you brother?"

  He shook his head and forced a smile, "I am sorry Alfraed but when I see you and your son together it reminds me of what I do not have. So long as Karl and Godfrey rode by my side then I had a family with me constantly. Since they were killed I have been alone. I have no family and I am no longer needed as Knight of The Empress. What is my purpose in life? Why do I fight? The ransom we collect I will spend on ale and horses."

  I understood his thoughts. They were the dark ones I had experienced after the death of my wife. He was right, William was my future, as well as my dark secret, Henry. My son, however, was young and he did not see the problem.

  "Sir Rolf you are not too old to take a wife. Count Geoffrey would grant you a manor as he did me."

  "I know, young William, but I am a grizzled old war horse. Any woman who took me on would need the patience of a saint. I would not inflict that on any."

  "You are the last of the Empress' Swabians. Karl, Godfrey, the others, they would have wanted families had they lived would they not?"

  "Karl, certainly."

  "Then you owe it to them to do what they cannot."

  He nodded, "You always were the wise one amongst us. I will give it some thought." He lay back and laughed, "Just so long as some rebel sword does not end my thoughts and my plans eh?"

  He was soon asleep and William and I talked a little longer. "You should think as Rolf, William. I married your mother when I was but a little older than you. Think about how quickly your mother was taken from me and now I have but one son. The King and the Queen had but two children. One died at sea and look at the problems the Empress has. Find a wife and father children!"

  He nodded, "You wish to be a grandfather! I will do my best!"

  "I did not say that. I said, marry. The rest will follow naturally."

  We were up before dawn for we were in the land of our enemies. We headed back to the road. William pointed west. "If the river is closed then they will have to send goods along the roads. Lisieux is their front line."

  Rolf had awoken more energised than the night before. "Then they will have to come from Rouen. We could find somewhere to ambush on this road."

  "A good plan Sir Rolf. The men I sent to Honfleur will join us here and then we will have sufficient numbers again."

  "Good. We ride east until we find a good site to ambush."

  We had travelled further through the forest the night before than I had realised. The road was some way from the eaves of the forest and we found no suitable ambush site in the next mile. Half a mile later however we did find danger. We came upon a conroi. There was a bend in the road and as we came around we suddenly saw, a hundred paces from us, five knights with their squires and ten men at arms. At such times a knight has to make deci
sions quickly. We could run or we could charge. Perhaps I was arrogant or I thought we were better knights. Whatever the reason I shouted, "Charge!"

  William and Rolf naturally rode on my flanks and we drew our swords as one. My quick decision meant that we were moving more swiftly than they. I heard the leading knight shout, "Charge!" They spurred their horses on but we were already closing. We had reacted quicker. We had swung our shields around from our backs and our swords were in our hands. They were still trying to get their weapons out.

  There was enough space for them to form a line. They would slightly outnumber us and there was a chance that they would outflank us but our speedy charge allowed us to close with them quicker. The knight who led had a yellow surcoat with a black boar. I went for him. The horse I had taken from Baron Thierry was a powerful horse. He was closer to a destrier than a palfrey and this was the first time I had had occasion to use him in real battle. He did not let me down. As we closed I veered towards the leading knight and brought my shield to protect my front. The knight in the yellow surcoat was still trying to bring his mount up to speed. He was distracted.

  As we closed I pulled my arm back and swung hard at the black boar on my enemy's shield. My horse leaned to the right as I did so. He had been trained well. My sword smashed into the shield with all the force I could muster. The knight lost his balance and he tumbled to the ground. My sword was still before me when the man at arms jabbed his spear at me. He should have aimed at my face but he did not; he went for my shield. His own shield was on the left and he had no protection. My sword struck him in the throat. The blade ripped through his ventail and he fell backwards over the cantle.

  I wheeled my horse around and came upon a surprised man at arms who was racing to aid the four knights who remained. I jerked back on the reins and my new horse lifted his mighty hooves and struck the horse and the man at arms. Both beast and man crashed into the forest. I pulled the reins around and rode after the knights. I saw one knight, in addition to the leader, was down. William was fighting two. I spurred my mount and yelled, "Stockton!"

  One of the knights turned to face me. Our swords clashed and sparks flew. I had power in my arm I knew not that I possessed. I was fighting for my son's life. It was an unequal battle. I used my knees and my left hand to pull around my horse's head. It snapped and bit at the knight's mount. His mount tried to pull away and as it did so exposed the knight's left side. I lunged at a gap I saw between the shield and the sword. It sliced through the leather strap holding the shield and the reins. As the shield fell the reinless horse pulled its head around. I swung back handed and hit the already unbalanced knight in the chest. He fell from the horse and cracked his head against a tree. He lay still.

  I turned. I saw that the leader had managed to mount a horse brought by his squire but he had but one knight remaining. then, looking west, I saw the seven men at arms from William's conroi returning. Our enemy fled.

  We had not escaped unscathed. William's squire lay dead and three men at arms would never follow our banner again. Two knights, including one I had knocked into the forest, lay dead. The last knight began to stir. We had a prisoner.

  I dismounted and went to him. I saw that he too had a yellow surcoat but his boar was a much smaller one. I held my sword to his throat as he opened his eyes. "Yield!"

  He nodded and said, "I yield."

  I sheathed my sword, "What is your name?"

  "I am Geoffrey d'Elbeuf and you have made a grave mistake for I am the younger brother of the next Duke of Normandy, Sir Hugo d'Elbeuf!"

  Chapter 14

  My men at arms ensured that knights and the survivors of our attack had headed back to their castle. We had two knights, a squire and four men at arms as prisoners. As well as our dead four of the men at arms were wounded. Rolf said, "As much as I would wish to press on, Alfraed, I feel that we should return to Honfleur."

  He was right, of course. We had succeeded beyond our wildest dreams. We had cut the road for Sir Hugo would not dare risk supplies being sent along the road while we prowled. Our reinforcements would have made him think we were a larger conroi. "I agree. We will resupply and return in a day or two."

  Geoffrey d'Elbeuf laughed, "The next you come, knight of the wolf, my brother will have assembled all of the knights who are allied to him and you will be swept aside."

  William smiled, "Strong words for a man who will have to wait to be ransomed. Curb your tongue."

  William was changing. He was becoming a man. He had flown the nest and was now a hunting bird himself. I felt satisfied. I could return to England confident that son needed me no longer.

  We reached Honfleur in the early afternoon. We had had to skirt the castles still held by those loyal to D'Elbeuf. My original plan had long since disappeared. We had had just two encounters but they had yielded more than we could have hoped. The other two conroi were still raiding. The keep at Honfleur still reeked of smoke and the upper floors were uninhabitable but the ground floor had been cleared a new door replaced the burned one. We secured our prisoners there and sent a man at arms back to Elbeuf and Touville with demands for ransoms. We sought more than we would have in England for we needed to break this rebellion and if we hurt their finances it would end it more quickly.

  Gilles had been quiet on the way back and I took him to one side. "Your father?"

  He nodded, "He was a good man and deserved to end his days in peace."

  I shook my head, remembering my father and his oathsworn. "He died with a sword in his hand, Gilles. Your father was a warrior. He went too early but the alternative would have been like old Henry the swineherd. He would have lived alone. The coughing sickness or some other plague would visit him and he would have died with none and no purpose to his life. His death had some value for you now know what you wish, do you not?"

  "Aye lord, but how did you know?"

  "I saw it on the road there where you were eager to close with our enemies and you fought with a wild look in your eyes. You wish to be a knight."

  "I do."

  "Then we must train you. My son has lost his squire. You can tend to us both until he finds a new one and he can teach you how to fight better."

  "Why not you, lord?"

  "He was recently my squire and learned the lessons from me. Besides I have much to do here to further the cause of the Empress."

  Over the next four days, while we waited for the return of the Count and the Earl, Gilles trained hard each day with William. There were no suitable candidates for squires in Honfleur and William was happy to develop the skills inherent in Gilles. I wrote letters. With Honfleur and Harfleur in our hands we could send ships anywhere we chose. I wrote to the Archbishop. I could not risk sending a ship to my river but I trusted the Archbishop. I used our code and told him of the French conspiracy. I knew that the message would get to Stephen. He had diplomatic routes not available to me. He could appeal to the Pope and to other allies.

  The Earl and the Count were able to use their own castles at Argentan and Caen as well as the recently liberated Falaise to raid into rebel territory. On the fifth day after our return they arrived in Honfleur.

  We had all been successful to varying degrees but Sir Charles' news about the French was disquieting. I think the old man regretted what he had said but in his heart he was still King Henry's man and sometimes the truth will out even if you do not wish it so.

  The ransom arrived the same day and that surprised me. Perhaps we had not asked for enough or perhaps Sir Geoffrey was important to his brother. I knew that the ransom would have impoverished Sir Charles' family but if it had not affected Sir Hugo then how much did he have?

  After our hostages had left and while Rolf and William divided the ransom equitably the Earl of Gloucester and the Count of Anjou held a counsel of war to which I was invited. We had a crude map on the table. I jabbed my finger at Lisieux. "See we have the rebels penned back all the way along this line save for Lisieux. It holds out still. Sir Hugo was on his way
thither when we met him. If we can isolate it then we have a chance to gain all the land to the Seine."

  "We cannot assault it. The castle is well made."

  "I know, Count. We cut the road to the east. Argentan and your wife hold the road to the south and Honfleur guards the road to the north. They will have to relieve it."

  The Earl nodded, "And when they do we meet them in the field." He looked at the map. "Here at Thiberville the ground begins to rise after the road passes the town. We could spy our foes from some way away and meet them there."

  The Count was dubious, "If they come that way."

  "It is the main road. It is D'Elbeuf land and he will feel confident about the roads close to his manor. It is a pity we do not have more archers. If we had then we could end this rebellion there in one fell swoop."

  "We have doughty knights and men at arms, Earl. That will have to suffice. This is not England."

  "Archers, as the Earl and I know, give us an advantage. This is not a game to see who can win the tourney, Count. We fight for your son's birthright. For that reason we make sure that we are as strong as we can be and when we fight we do so to win and not just to gain glory."

  "Alfraed is right, brother. We need to prosecute this war ruthlessly."

  Whilst the Earl of Gloucester did not posses as many archers in Normandy as we would have liked he did have excellent scouts. Twenty of them ranged far to the east and the Seine. They reported back regularly. Our preparations were also sound. The Count and I went to Thiberville where we had cut the road and established a camp. We had enough men to stop a sortie from Lisieux but not enough to fight Sir Hugo if he stirred. We relied upon our scouts for advance warning. The Earl of Gloucester meanwhile, was raising an army to join us. We hoped that by midsummer's day we would be in a position to fight Sir Hugo on ground which we had chosen. A week before midsummer we heard news from our scouts. Sir Hugh, too, had mustered an army and they were preparing to move to relieve Lisieux. We had to change our own plans. Riders were sent to Caen to summon the Earl. We would have to fight with the army which was available to us and not the one we might have chosen.