Hugh Corbett 14 - The Magician's Death

by Paul Doherty

  The door to the Hall of Angels was open, a shaft of light in the darkness. Sir Edmund and his officers came hurrying down, half dressed in armour, swords drawn, helmets on their heads. Corbett glimpsed something moving out of the corner of his eye and turned, sword and dagger out. He recognised two of the chapmen he had glimpsed the other day. Now they carried no bundles; one held sword and dagger, the other, hurrying behind, was slipping a bolt into an arbalest. Corbett met the first in a clash of steel whilst Ranulf hurled himself at the bowman. A violent, vicious fight. Corbett was aware of a bearded face, glittering eyes, the foul smell of the man and the curses he muttered. He was a poor swordsman lunging with dagger; turning slightly sideways, he left his chest exposed and Corbett thrust in his sword even as Ranulf, clutching his opponent’s crossbow, shoved it against his stomach whilst driving his dagger straight into his face. His assailant collapsed, blood gushing out. Ranulf danced behind him, clawing back his head so as to slit his throat.

  Similar fights were already breaking out in the inner ward; individual duels, men rolling on the ground whilst the attackers surged through the main gate, massing in the bailey. A truly frightening force, they wore no armour but leather jerkins or long robes slit at each side. On their heads the pelts of foxes, badgers, wolves and bears. Well armed and organised, they were led by a line of crossbowmen, with fighters coming out from the flanks ready to take advantage. They had their backs to the gatehouse and were now advancing to the second drawbridge, whilst others were hastening up the steps to attack the guards and sentries on the parapet walks. As they edged forward Corbett realised that their main strength was on their right flank, and ignoring the whistles of the bolts and quarrels, he pointed towards the Hall of Angels.

  ‘They intend to take it,’ Sir Edmund, his face already cut, agreed.

  ‘I’ll defend that,’ Ranulf whispered.

  Sir Edmund was now bringing his own archers into play. A ragged line of arbalests, they did little good, being far too slow, but at least they halted the advance of the enemy. Behind this line, ignoring the hideous cries of the wounded, Sir Edmund and his officers tried to impose order. Ranulf, surrounded by a group of men-at-arms, was already protecting the steps to the Hall of Angels. Sir Edmund now drew back, sending forward more crossbowmen and, behind them, a line of men-at-arms with long oval shields and spears. At first Corbett, fighting for breath, body drenched in sweat, his ears dimmed by the raucous noise, thought Sir Edmund was acting foolishly, panic-stricken, unable to plan. However, line after line of Welsh longbowmen, marshalled by their officers, came slipping across the inner drawbridge and formed in kneeling lines with gaps between their ranks. The pirates, displaying their black and red banners and reinforced by fresh forces from outside, edged forward, ready to rush Sir Edmund’s crossbowmen and the ranks of mailed men-at-arms. The outer bailey filled with these garishly garbed mercenaries. As in all battles Corbett could make no sense of it, only the sounds of shouting, men writhing on the ground, clutching at blood-gushing wounds, a body toppled from the parapet. He became aware of the enemy bowmen trying to shoot above their heads.

  ‘Sir Hugh!’ Both he and Sir Edmund were now protected by lines of men kneeling and standing before them, their shields out against the sickening thud of crossbow bolts. ‘Sir Hugh!’ Sir Edmund gasped. ‘When I give the order you must run! You must not stop, and if you fall, God help you!’

  A similar order was passed along the ranks. The enemy lines drew closer, their archers doing terrible damage. Sir Edmund gave the sign, a shrilling trumpet blast, and the castle defenders turned and fled, Corbett retreating with the rest. He passed men in leather jerkins, small and dark, hair tied back, straining on their great bows, quivers hanging from their sides, one arrow notched, another in their mouths. Two rows were kneeling, and in between them two further ranks were standing. The smell of sweat, leather, and that strange oil used to keep their yew bows supple was all around them. Corbett hastened through, wary lest he knock against one of these archers now bringing their bows down. The enemy, taken by surprise, stopped, baffled by these stationary ranks of men, the mass of barbed arrows, the long cords pulled back. A few moments of silence, then one of the enemy, face painted, head shrouded in a sealskin, leapt forward whirling an axe.

  ‘Now!’ Sir Edmund shouted.

  ‘Loose!’ a master bowman in the rear rank shouted. Corbett heard a sound something like the strings of a thousand harps being plucked, followed by a whirr as if some giant bird was fluttering its heavy wings. A black shower of shafts hung for a second against the lightening sky. The sight took Corbett back to a mist-shrouded valley in Wales and English men-at-arms in their red and gold livery falling like ripening corn under a deadly hail of barbed shafts. It was the same here. The first wave of attackers seemed to disappear, stagger back and fall; the rest, disconcerted, halted, presenting even easier targets for the second shower of arrows which fell thick and fast. The inner bailey became full of men staggering away clutching at arrows in the face, neck and chest; others lay still on the freezing ice. Corbett had witnessed the deadly effect of the massed ranks of longbowmen, yet he was still amazed at the speed and violence of such an assault.

  The archers were now turning under the direction of their officers, moving into a horseshoe formation to sweep the entire bailey with their volleys. The speed of their arrows, their accuracy and the closeness of their foe wreaked a telling, devastating effect. The ground became carpeted with dead and dying. The attackers had no choice but to retreat. The Welsh archers advanced to shouts of ‘Walk! Loose!’ followed by that ominous thrumming. The pirates became disorganised. Some of their leaders were killed. Even as they retreated, the deadly hail continued. Panic set in, and the ranks broke and fled, desperate to reach the main gate. A few of the archers strung their bows and followed, a mistake as the enemy turned with sword and club. The archers were no match for these desperate men and their skill in hand-to-hand conflict. Sir Edmund summoned them back. Trumpets and hunting horns sounded through the air as the Constable called for the horses to be brought out and saddled for the chase.

  Corbett stood back. He felt exhausted and wearied and had no desire to engage in the pursuit. The yard became full of horses milling about. Sir Edmund and his officers mounted, shouting at the men-at-arms to gather round them. The horn sounded again and Sir Edmund led the cavalcade across the outer bailey, archers running behind them. The rest of the castle folk now emerged from their hiding places armed with whatever weapon they could find. They moved amongst the dead, cutting the throats of the enemy, searching for loved ones. Lady Catherine and her daughter came out of the Hall of Angels, accompanied by Ranulf and a group of men-at-arms. Lady Catherine imposed order. The killing of the wounded stopped. Scullions and servants were ordered to light fires, boil water and bring sheets from the stores. Simon the leech was already busy, and behind him, Father Andrew, a stole round his neck, moved amongst the dead, now and again crouching to talk to a fallen man.

  Corbett leaned against the wall struggling to control the nausea in his stomach. He tried to breathe in, clearing his throat, fearful lest he be sick. Ranulf and Bolingbroke hurried across. Both clerks had donned stiffened leather breastplates. Ranulf had his war belt slung over his shoulder and his sword and dagger were drenched in blood. Corbett turned away and retched. The dreadful silence which always followed a battle was shattered as the wounded cried in agony, or some woman finding her man began to wail. If Lady Catherine hadn’t been present, accompanied by men-at-arms, a second massacre would have taken place. She insisted that the castle wounded be moved to the keep, the dead to the chapel, and those enemy prisoners able to walk quickly manacled and taken down to the castle dungeons. Corbett gestured with his hand for Bolingbroke to go and help her.

  ‘Ranulf, I am finished here.’

  With his henchmen helping him, Corbett returned to his chamber, trying not to look at the corpses sprawled in their dark puddles of blood. He reached the tower, opened the door and pause
d at the sound on the stairs above. Ranulf pushed him aside and went ahead; Corbett climbed the steps slowly. The door to his chamber hung open. He paused.

  ‘I’m sure I locked it,’ he whispered. ‘I’m sure I did.’

  He went inside the chamber. By the faint stains on the floor he could tell someone had been here; they had also removed a leather jerkin lying on the great chest. He crouched down and examined the locks.

  ‘Where was de Craon during the attack?’

  Ranulf resheathed his sword, wiping the sweat from his face.

  ‘Hiding in the Hall of Angels, I believe.’

  Corbett poured himself and Ranulf a goblet of wine. He drank greedily then lay on the bed. He felt as if he had hardly closed his eyes when he was shaken awake by Sir Edmund, his hair matted, face lined with sweat and dirt. The Constable looked furious.

  ‘Sir Hugh, I need you now!’

  Corbett struggled awake and sat on the edge of the bed. Sir Edmund unloosened his sword belt, slumped in a chair and rubbed his face with his hands.

  ‘There were three hundred in all,’ he began. ‘We must have killed two thirds of them. We have forty prisoners.’

  ‘What will you do with them?’ Corbett asked.

  ‘They’re pirates,’ the Constable replied. ‘They carry no letters of patent, warrants or commissions. You know the law, Sir Hugh. Such men taken in arms are judged guilty and forfeit all right to life and limb.’

  ‘You mean to try them?’

  ‘Within the hour, Sir Hugh. You are a King’s justice, I need your help. There’s no other way. Ranulf here will act as your clerk, three justices under the law.’

  ‘Wait, wait.’ Corbett held his hands up. ‘Have you questioned them? Why did they attack Corfe?’

  ‘Their leaders have either fled or been killed,’ the Constable replied. ‘The captain of the fleet managed to escape. Those we’ve captured know nothing except that they were to attack the castle, ransack it, kill as many people as possible and withdraw to their ships beached along the estuary.’

  Corbett accepted the goblet of wine Ranulf thrust into his hands.

  ‘Sir Edmund, you seem to be in a temper. The attack was beaten off, you have achieved a great victory.’

  ‘Have I? Have I?’ The Constable took off a gauntlet and sucked at a cut on his wrist. ‘I nearly lost my castle, my life, not to mention the lives of my wife and daughter. I risked your life, Sir Hugh. If you had been killed the King would have had my head. God knows what the Flemings would have done with the French envoys.’

  ‘But they hired them,’ Corbett mused.

  ‘Did they?’ Sir Edmund retorted. ‘Monsieur de Craon sheltered in his chamber and came out all afluster.’ The Constable forced a smile. ‘He claims he is not safe here and wishes to leave for Dover. In fact he has ordered his retainers to pack and leave as swiftly as possible. He’s demanding a heavy escort for the journey.’

  ‘I’m sure he is,’ Corbett remarked. ‘I can just imagine your French guest throwing his hands in the air, eyes rolling, shouting that this place should be safer, that his person is sacred, and that he can’t leave quick enough.’

  Corbett toasted the Constable with his cup. ‘Come, Sir Edmund, see the funny side. De Craon wishes to put as much distance between himself and Corfe as possible because he’s failed, the attack was beaten off.’

  ‘And yet, Sir Hugh,’ the smile faded from Sir Edmund’s face, ‘we lost thirty-five men. I made a mistake. Apparently the pedlars and chapmen we admitted attacked the guard at the main gateway, cut their throats and lowered the drawbridge. I should have been more careful. The pirates were hiding in the dark; they brought in a cart, forced the gate, and the rest you know.’

  ‘They were nearby all the time?’ Corbett asked.

  ‘Yes, yes. Now I’ll come to the cruel part. The pirates landed in the estuary and moved inland. From what I gather, they swept into the forest, killing the charcoal burners and woodmen. They slaughtered and raped. Those who knew the paths were taken prisoner and forced to show them the way. They reached St Peter’s in the Wood and used the church for shelter, as well as the priest’s house. They threatened Father Matthew, telling him that unless he cooperated, pretended to be ill and drove away all visitors, they would cut his throat and burn their hostages alive. They then moved on to the Tavern in the Forest. Apparently those Castilian wool merchants were part of the plot; they were the ones who lit the fire. They forced the taverner to cooperate. They planned to use his cart and that of Mistress Feyner. They thought they would catch us unawares, seize the drawbridges and ransack the castle to their hearts’ content.’

  ‘That’s why that bastard held his banquet,’ Ranulf interrupted. ‘He hoped we would all be fuddled with wine, deeply asleep. Sir Hugh, isn’t there anything we can do?’

  Corbett run a thumbnail around his lips. ‘Continue, Sir Edmund.’

  ‘They also cleared the forest.’ The Constable joined his hands together. ‘Poor Horehound and his coven were massacred. I sent riders into the trees. The pirates killed indiscriminately: Horehound and his group, foresters, charcoal burners. Good God, Sir Hugh, it’ll be summer before we find all their corpses.’

  ‘And Master Reginald?’

  ‘They forced him to drive the cart this morning. He was killed just by the gateway, whether by design or accident I cannot say.’

  ‘And Father Matthew?’

  ‘Ah, we expected to find him dead. However, our priest has more nimble wits than they thought. He and the hostages managed to escape to the church and barred themselves in, just as the outlaws began to mass for their attack on the castle. Obviously the pirates hoped to deal with us first. The priest is shaken and nervous but he and the poor forest folk were found safe enough.’

  ‘And the tavern?’ Ranulf asked.

  ‘Ransacked and looted. Most of the servants managed to escape into the forest.’

  ‘And the Castilians?’

  ‘From what one of the grooms said, one escaped, the rest were killed. They made a final stand just between the tavern and the church. I have brought the rebels’ bodies back so that my people can see. They are laid out in a line, just within the inner bailey. I want everyone here to see that justice was done.’

  ‘And the rest?’ Ranulf asked.

  ‘They will be hanging within the hour, but Ranulf is correct! Sir Hugh, what can we do about de Craon?’

  Corbett rose, washed his face and hands and prepared himself carefully. ‘Tell de Craon I wish to see him here.’ He turned the high-backed chair to face the door. ‘I want to see him here, by himself. You can be my witnesses.’

  A short while later de Craon, booted and spurred, body shrouded in a thick woollen cloak, swaggered into the room. Bogo de Baiocis followed like a shadow.

  ‘Sir Hugh, I’m glad to see you are safe.’ De Craon looked around for a chair; Corbett didn’t offer one. Ranulf lounged on a stool whilst Sir Edmund leaned against the wall, still picking at the cut on his wrist.

  ‘Tell your servant to stand outside.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’

  ‘Tell your servant to stand outside. This castle is the King of England’s, I am his commissioner, I decide to whom I speak.’ Corbett rubbed his hands together. ‘Now, he can leave of his own accord or I can have the tocsin sounded.’

  De Craon lifted a gloved hand, waggling his fingers. Ranulf hastened to open the door and mockingly bowed as the henchman strode out, then slammed the door shut, drawing the bolts across. De Craon became alarmed.

  ‘Sir Hugh, you seem in a temper. I truly object, as will my master, to the hideous attack launched on this castle,’ de Craon gabbled. ‘Perhaps, Sir Hugh, our two kings can meet and discuss the dangers posed by these marauders. At the same time I must remind you that I am an accredited envoy. I no longer feel safe here. I wish—’

  ‘Oh shut up!’ Corbett sipped from his wine cup. ‘Monsieur de Craon, why don’t you just keep quiet? Do you know, sir,’ he continued, ‘if I could prove
who hired those pirates I would build a special scaffold outside the gate and watch him hang. However, I have no such proof.’

  ‘Are you saying they were hired?’ De Craon’s eyes rounded in surprise. ‘Sir Hugh, you have proof of this?’

  ‘I said if,’ Corbett retorted. ‘The man who hired them is a murderer and assassin. He has the blood of innocent men and women on his hands. I call him a misbegotten knave, a cruel-hearted bastard who is not even worthy to wipe the arse of one of Sir Edmund’s dogs.’ Malevolence and anger began to seethe in the Frenchman’s eyes. ‘However, monsieur, you have made a very good point. Well, three, to be precise. First, we must gather as much information about this attack as possible, and you were witness to it. Secondly, you are an accredited envoy, and the King of England is personally responsible for your safety. Thirdly, there are still outstanding matters between us. So, to cut to the chase, I think it will be very unsafe, even with a heavy escort, to journey to Dover. These pirates may still be hiding along the roads.’

  Corbett sipped from his cup, watching de Craon over its rim.

  ‘Who knows, they may even launch another assault. Your person, Monsieur de Craon, is very special, I mean, very sacred to me. I must keep you close and safe.’

  De Craon flushed as Ranulf sniggered.

  ‘By the power given to me,’ Corbett raised his left hand, ‘I must insist that you be kept safe here at Corfe, given every comfort until we are assured that this danger is past.’