by Griff Hosker
"No, Baron, honour demands that we help you. There are responsibilities to power as well as rewards." He turned to his nephew. "You swore an oath to protect the Empress. You have to go with the Baron."
"What of La Cheppe?"
"We will protect that for you." He leaned forward. "I must warn you, however of the dangers you face. Lothair will do all in his power to stop you leaving. If you do manage to escape with the Empress and reach here then you will have to run the gauntlet of Louis of France and Charles of Flanders. I can only protect you within Lorraine. Beyond that…"
I smiled, "Count, you have given me hope! I feared that our journey would end somewhere in the Empire. With your nephew and his men at my side then I believe we can overcome whatever comes our way."
Edward looked unhappy about something, "Baron, we have a long way to go and then to return. We will need more horses or these will be dead on their feet before too long." He looked at the Count. "We could not take the Count's horses so where shall we get them?"
"Your man is right, Baron, but you may well be able to get horses in Worms. Unless the Emperor is dead the Empress will still have influence. I would get as many horses as you can when you reach there. You should also buy as many supplies before the Emperor is dead. Use her influence while she has it. Once the Emperor is dead then you will need to sleep with one eye open!"
I nodded, "They are both good suggestions. Thank you, Count, and we will leave first thing in the morning. I would not wish to bring any more attention to you than we have. Besides which I feel that we ought to get to Worms as quickly as possible."
"Then my sons, Geoffrey and Raymond, will escort you as far as my borders. It will deter any would be attackers."
It was a powerful force which left the Count's castle. Dick and Aiden were accompanied by some of the Count's scouts. They did not understand each others' language but they were all woodsmen and they communicated somehow. We were approaching the borders of the Count's land when they all galloped in. My men reported to me while the Count's scouts reported to Geoffrey and Raymond.
"My lord, just beyond the borders there is a force of knights awaiting us. They are the men of Flanders. I recognised the livery."
I had wondered about this. While we were protected in Lorraine by the Count of Bar's men we would be safe but once beyond the borders then we were fair game. They would wait until we were a smaller conroi and then attack. "How many are there?"
"It is hard to say. When we spied them the Count's men rode back here."
"Just a guess then, Dick."
"I saw twenty banners."
"That means at least twenty knights. Add another hundred men at arms and we are outnumbered." I stroked my beard. "Archers?"
"We saw a company of crossbowmen. I would say no more than twenty of them."
"They outnumber our archers then?"
Dick laughed, "My lord, we are archers! They will fill their breeks when our arrows rain upon them."
I nudged Scout to join the Count's sons. "It seems they know you will be returning home. Thank you for your help thus far."
Sir Geoffrey laughed, "If you think that we will turn back at our borders and let our kinsmen be slaughtered then you do not know us, Baron."
Sir Raymond nodded, "Besides our borders are notoriously badly mapped."
"You are sure?"
"Our cousin did well when he fought with you. We will take our chances."
I looked at the sky. There were about two hours until dusk. "Good then let us walk into this trap. Dick, come here, this is what I want us to do."
Once everyone knew exactly what I intended I sent Dick and the archers, along with Aiden off to the north of the road. I sent Sir Geoffrey and Sir Raymond with their men at arms to the south of the road and then I led my knights into the trap so carefully laid by the Count of Flanders.
It looked as though we were unsuspecting but we were not. Our casual gait belied the careful preparations we had made. I had Edward to my left. Behind us were our squires. They were laughing and joking as I had ordered. Then came Sir Guy and his squire. Edgar led my men at arms and those of Sir Guy. They rode in a four wide column That was deliberate. They were our largest force. They had to fight as one. The last three would guard the baggage when the trap was sprung. The rest would form a solid phalanx to come to our aid when we were attacked. It was eerily reminiscent of the ambush when we had had the Empress with us. The difference was that we had no woman to protect and we had no traitors fighting in our ranks. There was a rise ahead. The men of Flanders had hidden behind the rise. I guessed that they had a man watching to signal them for as we rode down the old Roman Road they appeared on the rise with lances and gonfanon. Dick had estimated well. There were twenty of them. I could see a second line of another twenty men at arms. Their flanks had ten crossbows protected by another twenty spears. Finally I could just see the spears of more foot soldiers behind the men at arms. This was a powerful body of warriors.
Edward said, "Someone wants us dead, Baron."
"Let us try to disappoint them then."
The ambushers steadied their line and came down towards us. They came confidently keeping knee to knee. These were experienced knights who knew their business. Our squires flanked us. Sir Guy and his squire made us six deep at the front. Behind us the twenty eight men at arms rode in seven lines. I was going to use us as a battering ram to punch a hole in the enemy line.
This was not my warhorse, Star, I was riding but Scout was an intelligent horse and I intended to use intelligence to defeat these men of Flanders. I lowered my lance across my cantle as we trotted up the gentle slope towards them. I saw the crossbowmen to our left level their weapons as the spearmen protected them with an array of spears. If we were foolish enough to charge them then the battle would be over in the blink of an eye. They were not expecting the arrows which Dick rained upon them. They were taken in the flank. Neither spears nor crossbows had any shields and the first three flights of arrows ended the threat from our left. I saw the leader of the knights, with a yellow shield and rampant lion, wave his arm. The crossbows and the spears on their left flank hurried down the slope to begin to harass us. The enemy were so concerned with this column of men which advanced upon them that they did not see, until it was too late, the men at arms led by Sir Geoffrey and Sir Raymond which galloped across the hill to plunge their spears into the defenceless men. A horseman loves attacking archers or crossbows in the flank. The men of Bar needed no urging to fall like wolves on these sheep.
Their leader made the mistake of slowing down to decide what to do. It was a mistake and I took my chance, "Charge!" They should have continued to move steadily down the slope but their leader had been distracted by the appearance of our allies.
I spurred Scout and he leapt forward. I aimed my spear at the leader. He shouted "Charge!" too but it was a lifetime too late. I hunched down behind my shield and concentrated upon the cantle of his saddle. He may have heard of my technique for he tried to turn his horse away from my lance. It was another mistake. His lance went over my head and I stuck his shield square on. He began to fall away to the right. Without a cantle to stabilise him he fell off his horse and beneath the hooves of the men at arms who followed closely.
The men at arms who followed were not as tightly packed as the knights had been and when I saw the next line I had time to turn my lance to the man at arms on my right. I pulled back my arm and risked standing slightly and leaning forward as I punched. It was a manoeuvre which allowed my lance to strike him just a moment before his struck me. The head of my lance tore through his mail and he fell off. His weapon punched me on the side but his fall stopped the penetration as he fell from his horse. My lance broken I sat down and drew my sword. I pulled Scout's reins to the right and rode along the line of men at arms. As I did so I saw that Sir Raymond and Sir Geoffrey had brought their knights to attack the far end of the line of men at arms. My move had brought my knights to the nearer end of the enemy line and the r
emaining men at arms were like the nuts in a nut cracker.
They found men coming at them from both sides and they panicked. I brought my sword across the man at arms who tried to turn, very slowly, his lance to face me. He had no defence against my blade which tore through his arm and his chest. I continued my turn so that Scout and I were amongst the men at arms, many of whom still had their lances. They should have thrown them away and fought with their swords but their panic meant they clung on to the now useless weapons. I found myself behind a man at arms who was trying to turn his horse; it is not easy to shift eight feet of ash lance held before you and his slowness caused his death. I brought my sword down vertically to strike between his neck and his shoulder. The sword ripped down and almost severed the arm.
As he fell from his saddle I had a clear view to the side where Dick and his archers had wrought such death amongst the crossbows. I saw them still releasing arrows and the knights who remained had had enough and were fleeing. There were still a handful of men at arms who were not fighting and they joined the rout. I used the time to look for my men. Gille was down as was Edward but Harold, Sir Guy and his squire remained on their mounts. Sir Guy's cousins brought their weary horses next to mine.
"A fine victory Baron Alfraed. Had I not witnessed it then I would have thought the story of such a rout the work of a troubadour."
Sir Guy said, "I told you he is like a terrier. He goes for the bull and cannot be shaken from its neck." He saw Sir Edward's empty saddle. "Edward!"
We rode to the fallen knight and his squire. I could see blood. Edward had been hit and wounded. I dismounted and after taking off my helmet pushed back my coif. We had no Wulfric to heal them this time. I was relieved when he opened his eyes. "It is my shoulder, Baron. But how is the boy?"
"I will tend to him in a moment. Harold! See to Gille!"
We took off Edward's helmet and his surcoat. I could see that the head of the lance had entered his left shoulder. The force had torn through his mail and broken the links. It had continued through his gambeson and into the flesh of his shoulder. The head had broken off and its shattered end stuck out. I looked up at Sir Guy, "Do you have a healer?"
He shook his head, "My uncle has a priest who has skill but…"
I nodded, "Then it will have to be me. Have my archers build a fire and fetch water."
Harold appeared with a white faced Gille, "He was stunned when he was knocked from his horse. He will live."
"How is Sir Edward? He took the blow when I was knocked to the ground."
Edward opened his eyes. He smiled weakly, "I am happy that you have survived." He winced as he tried to move.
"Lie still! I am no healer and not as gentle as Wulfric." I took out my dagger. I knew that Wulfric would put the blade in a fire but my men were still gathering dried wood and kindling. I had to risk it. Blood was still coming from the wound. Harold and Gill, hold his arms so that he does not move."
I took off my mailed gloves and wiped away some of the blood with the edge of the surcoat. I saw the edge of the wooden lance. I put the tip of the dagger between the flesh and the wood. I heard a grunt from Edward but that was all. I had to work quickly. I began to pull the wood out with the dagger. At first it would not move. I put my finger and thumb around one of the jagged edges and tried to pull. The first time it was too slippery. I tried again and gripped even harder. Suddenly the end popped out with a spurt of blood. Harold was quick thinking and he jammed the surcoat over the wound.
Dick had got the fire going and his short sword was already in the flames as he began to heat it. I had no cat gut to sew the wound together. We would have to use fire. "Gille, remove some of the links so that we can see the whole wound. Harold, keep up the pressure." I stood for my hands were shaking.
Sir Guy put his arm around my shoulder. "That was well done, Baron. Wulfric could not have done better."
I shook my head, "Wait until I have staunched the bleeding before you heap praise upon my head."
Sir Raymond and Sir Geoffrey had taken their men at arms off when I had begun work and they now returned. "They have fled. They left four dead knights and eight men at arms. Your archers slew all of the men with crossbows."
"If you wish those weapons for your father then I would get them before my archers. They use them for firewood."
Sir Geoffrey shook his head. "I do not understand you English and your hatred of the crossbow."
"It is not hatred. It is scorn. Look what my handful of archers did. I would take five bowmen over a company of crossbows any day."
Dick came over with his sword. "It is red hot sir."
"Hold Sir Edward and keep his body still."
As my men pressed down on him I put the flat of the red hot sword against the flesh. This time Edward did call out just before he passed out. There was a smell of burning flesh and hair. I held it for a few moments and lifted it. I handed it to Dick to return to the fire. Sir Guy handed me some water which my men had brought from the stream. As I poured it the flesh hissed and steamed. We looked and I was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped. I had done all that I could. Edward would have an ugly wound but he would live.
"We will camp here tonight and leave for Worms on the morrow." I stood and clasped the arm of Sir Geoffrey. "I thank you and your brother. We could not have beaten them else."
He laughed, "I thought we were going to charge to our deaths!"
"No, my friend; they were bought men with no conviction. Men who fight for a price have no heart. We fight for something different; we fight for each other and the Empress. God favours such men."
We had been lucky. We had wounds but the archers had won the day. The enemy had relied on their crossbows. They had not scouted well enough and, despite superior numbers, had been soundly beaten.
Dick approached me with a green substance. "Wulfric uses this, my lord. It is a moss. I have gathered it for him before."
"What does he do with it?"
Edgar had joined him, "He puts it on the wound. It must be magic or something for it stops a wound going bad." He shrugged. "It worked with you, my lord."
"Then we shall try it." We put the green moss on the cauterised wound and wrapped a bandage around it. Gille and Harold had removed the armour. When we reached Worms we would need a smith to repair it.
When Edward woke the next day and stood we were all relieved. He looked pale but he was a hard man. He insisted upon mounting. We bade farewell to the sons of the Count and we headed east. We had let the Count's sons have the crossbows and all else had been divided. My archers and men at arms had reached the bodies of the enemy dead first and all were richer. The hired swords had brought their thirty pieces of silver with them. My men deserved it. The four horses we had captured included two war horses. I was satisfied.
Sir Guy and I flanked Sir Edward, "You will not do Gille any good if you die protecting him, Edward. You cannot bring Alan back by sacrificing yourself for Gille."
"But he lay on the ground. He could have been killed!"
"As could you! Think on that!"
I think that the attack on us had been carefully planned. We had been half way to Worms and it was an isolated spot. The Count of Flanders must have assumed the larger numbers of knights and the crossbows he had sent would have guaranteed success. He would not be happy when they returned empty handed. The last week of our journey was uneventful. It was a slow journey because of Edward's wounds. Although others had suffered cuts and injuries his had been the most life threatening. It seemed I had a future as a healer should I fail as a knight.
We reached Worms two weeks later and we found that the Emperor still lived. His banners flew above his palace. The three of us wore our Empress medallions as we rode through the gates. It gained us easier access than had we arrived as Normans. Normans were viewed with deep suspicion. The success in England and Italy had made other leaders wary of letting in a handful of knights. I was not certain where we would stay. We left the men under the care of Edg
ar and they gathered in the main square. There they could use some of the coins they had taken from the men of Flanders and buy beer and wine. The three of us and our squires headed for the palace. We were granted entry through the main gate but warned that we would not be able to visit with the Emperor, nor the Empress as she was with him and his physicians.
Leaving our squires in the inner bailey we headed for the Great Hall. We knew that his lords would be there. As soon as we walked in we saw the Counts of Aachen and Stuttgart with another knight. They stared at us when we entered. The Count of Aachen's face darkened and he, rudely, pointed a finger at us. The strange knight nodded. Having been thus identified I would not back down from a confrontation and I strolled across to them.
I smiled at the Count whom I had defeated in a tourney. "Ah Count, I hope you have recovered from our little bout. You are lucky that it was you who picked up the lance with the arrow in the tip. Had it been me you might have been dead and that would have been a tragedy." Of course he had prepared the lance himself and we both knew it. I was letting him know that I knew of his perfidy.
His face became even redder and his companion said, in an attempt to calm things down, "This is a sad time for us all. The Emperor clings to life by a thread." He smiled, "This is Count Lothair of Supplinburg. He has come to ensure that prayers are said for the life of the Emperor."
I nodded, "Aye, we all pray for that." I looked at the man who would become Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He had a cold and calculating face. He reminded me of a hawk. He did not smile but then I had seen few real smiles amongst the knights I had met. Rolf and his Swabians were the exception.
The Count did not smile but said, "And what brings two Norman knights all the way from Caen? Surely you can have no interest in the life and death of the Emperor."
"But we do. The Emperor rewarded all three of us when we last visited and we hoped that our prayers and our presence might help the priests and physicians. Every prayer, no matter how small, may be of use. However the three of us are also here to give comfort to the Empress. You must remember that the Empress made us members of her order of knights. It is only natural that we should visit and give her our support and," I stared at Lothair to let him know I was speaking with him, "our help should she need it. For her life means more to us than our own and we will defend it with all the power available to us."