by Griff Hosker
The King was excited as my men brought out the ten missiles we had made. They were smaller stones than we usually used and they had been covered in material which would burn and bound with rope. They were soaked in oil and pig fat. He stood close to the machine. Padraig turned, “I would step back a little further, my lord. I would not have your whiskers singed.”
The Archbishop was with us and I heard the intake of breath at the familiarity. Henry knew Padraig and he stepped back. Will Red Leg lit the soaked rope and even as it flamed Padraig sent it towards the castle. It struck the gap. There was an explosion of sparks and then flames. The second one was loaded and that arced its fiery way towards the wall. There was a scream when it hit. I guessed that a defender must have been trying to douse the flames of the first missile. Not all the fiery stones hit the same place but enough did to set fire to the timbers. The defenders might douse the flames but the timbers would be so damaged that our stones would breach them. I began to prepare my men for the assault.
Dawn brought a welcoming sight. There was a breach. The air was filled with the smell of smoke and tendrils still rose from the walls. I summoned David of Wales and Ridley the Giant. There was a tower to the right of the breach. That would cause us problems when we attacked.
“Aye lord?”
“Ridley have the bridge we built brought up. David, I intend to make life unpleasant for those in the tower. Keep their heads down while we do so.”
“Aye lord.”
I had Padraig and Will realign their war machines. “I would have you aim for the tower. You have a bigger target and you know your machines. I want the fighting platform a charnel house. You do not need to bring this one down just make it impossible for them to use.”
“Aye lord.”
I gathered my knights and squires. “We have to protect Ridley and the men with the bridge. Find the pavise and we will act as shield bearers.”
Sir Jocelyn said, “For men at arms?”
Sir Edward turned and growled, “For brothers in arms!” Sir Jocelyn recoiled from the ferocious gaze of Sir Edward.
Ridley had half of the men carrying the bridge. The other half were with Will Red Leg. David of Wales’ men sent arrows towards the tower. William handed me a pavise. They were heavier than a shield because they were larger but they were manageable. I went with Edward, Alfred and Peter to the front. The squires stood on the right-hand side and the other knights on the left. They would have the easiest task but they would have to carry the pavise on their left. It would be harder. I heard the crack of the mangonel.
Ridley said, “Lift!” There was the creak of wood and then he said, “Ready, my lord!”
I said, “March!” I lifted the pavise with two hands. It allowed me to see the ground for I did not want to walk into the moat. The bridge was awkward to carry and we did not hurry. Our journey was punctuated with the sound of the two war machines and arrows striking the battlements. Then the crossbows began to hit the pavise. In many ways it was a reassuring noise for it told us that the pavise were protecting the men and that they were well made for no bolts came through.
I was almost taken by surprise when the moat loomed before my feet before I was expecting it. I barely managed to stop and cry, “Halt!” It was harder for those carrying the bridge and the front smacked into our calves. It hurt.
“Sorry, lord!”
“It was my fault.”
I heard the crack of stones on stone. The mangonel and trebuchet were doing their job and we had almost finished ours. The next part would be the most dangerous. Edward, Alfred and Peter along with myself would have to shuffle right to allow the bridge to be lowered and then pushed across the moat. Sir Peter was on the right. “Petr move right!” As he shuffled we followed and when we reached the squires raised our pavise to form a roof. It was a relief for the squires’ pavise were resting on the ground and took the weight. We were also safer. I watched the bridge as it was slid across the moat. Bolts thudded into the pavise.
“Done, lord!”
We now had to get back. “Men at arms, behind the pavise and we walk backwards.” Roger of Hauxley joined me and he held the pavise with me. It was easier now for although we had to walk backwards there were two of us carrying the wooden board and we could move faster. We all reached the war machines without incident. Roger took away the pavise and I surveyed the tower. While there was little apparent damage I could not see any helmets there. The two machines could continue their assault while we attacked. The breach was a good thirty paces from the tower.
I turned, “Ridley have the men fed. We will attack at dusk. William, find the King and tell them that we have a breach and we are ready to attack.” I knew that there were other breaches and the men who had broken through would also be ready to assault.
We returned to our tents and Egbert had ale and food ready for us. Sir Jocelyn asked, “How do we assault, Earl?”
“We use a formation favoured by the Romans. We make a column of knights and men at arms protected by our shields. It will be a smaller version of the one we just used. Once we reach the breach then the large warriors protect the smaller ones who can climb the rubble and then ascend to the fighting platform. The rest of us will follow.”
“And that is it?”
“All that we will hold will be one small part of the wall. We then have to take the tower and that is never easy.” I pointed to the wall and towers to the east of the breach. “Those men there will have to try to get back to the inner ward. David of Wales and our archers will follow us into the breach and when on the walls they can thin the numbers of those who flee.”
William came rushing back. “Father, the King is with the men of Northampton. They have breached the east wall and they are attacking!”
“Fools! Dusk helps us. Is the breach a wide one?”
“Not as wide as this. It is but the width of a man and it is close to the eastern barbican!”
The eastern barbican was the main entrance to the castle and was the strongest defence apart from the keep. “Did you tell the King?”
William nodded glumly, “Aye, lord and he said to attack now!”
I looked over and saw that Ridley and his men had eaten. That was one positive thing. I was unhappy but we had little choice. The King commanded. Perhaps the Earl of Northampton thought to impress the King. “Sir Edward, have the men ready to attack.”
“Aye lord. This will be bloody!”
I nodded. I went to the war machines. “Padraig, I need you and Will Red Leg to continue the attack right until we reach the breach. Then you can join us. Join me and my sons. Padraig fetch an axe with you. Will I will need your men for the attack. You help Padraig.”
“Aye lord.”
The crack of the war machines attacking the eastern wall had stopped. I had a feeling that they had forgotten the barbican. If so they would pay a terrible price. I reached my knights. “Sir Edward you take most of the knights and half of the men. Take and hold the tower. Sir Alfred and Sir Jocelyn, gather every spare man that you can. You will come with me and we will go to the aid of the men of Northampton.” They nodded.
There was a corner tower at the junction of the north and east walls. We could not reach the barbican but we could reach the tower and, perhaps, alleviate some of the pressure on the men of Northampton. Even as we formed into a column I heard the sound of the assault on the east wall. Men would be dying. We were five men wide and twenty men deep. Not all were my men. There were some men at arms I did not know. I had Sam and Robert just behind me. We were a big target. Padraig would be bringing another ten to join us once they left their machines.
“Ready!”
“Aye lord!” Their roaring words gave me confidence.
“We run and we sing!”
I began banging my shield and I started the chant which would help us stay together.
Men of Stockton
March from the north
Men of Stockton
Show what we are worth
Fear no foes
Men of Stockton
Add to your woes
The words themselves did not matter. It was the rhythm which we needed.
“March!”
Men of Stockton
March from the north
Men of Stockton
Show what we are worth
Men of Stockton
Fear no foes
Men of Stockton
Add to your woes
Crossbow bolts cracked into our shields. The stones from the trebuchet continued to smack into the battlements. I heard a cry from the rear of the column as a bolt found a leg. If it was one of my men at arms he would continue to march until we reached the wall. We all knew that if a man fell out then all were compromised.
We reached the bridge and began to tramp across. It vibrated. I remembered too late that we should not keep in step over the bridge and then I was across. We had been lucky. I saw, through the eye holes of my helmet the rubble on the ground ahead of us. We were less than fifteen paces from the breach. I waited until the last men had left the bridge and then shouted, “Halt!” Bolts continued to hit us and I could hear the battle at the east wall. “Sir Fótr, lead your men!”
“Vanguard! With me!”
There was readjustment as men left the column. We closed ranks as Sir Fótr and his ten lithe warriors scurried across the rubble. I heard a cry as one was hit by a bolt and then I heard the rattle of arrows on the wall. I counted to ten and then shouted, “Now! Charge!” I did not have my sword drawn for I would need my right hand to help me clamber over the stones.
Alfred was to my side as we passed Ralph of Thorpe. He sheltered beneath his shield and I saw the bolt in his leg. “Give them hell, my lord!”
I heard, to my right, the clash of metal on metal as Sir Fótr and his men fought with those defending the base of the tower. Sir Edward and the rest of my men would soon be with him. As I slithered and fell down the blackened timbers and fallen masonry I looked to the stairs which led to the north wall. Amazingly no one was sending bolts our way. Those in the corner tower were too busy with the men of Northampton and the tower closest to us was under a ferocious attack from Sir Edward. I raced up the steps. Alfred and William were hard behind me and then the other squires. There were ten or so men at arms with us. Only Padraig, Will Red Leg, Sam and Robert were from my retinue. Sir Jocelyn brought up the rear.
The door to the north east tower was closed. I had expected that. When the assault had begun the defenders had cleared the fighting platform. We reached the door and I turned, “Padraig!”
Padraig and Will Red Leg both had axes. They ran to the door and began to hack furiously at it. “Shields!”
We held our shields up not a moment too soon. Stones and darts were hurled down from the fighting platform of the tower. Our shields held. My men at arms were strong and they knew where to strike. Padraig shouted, “It is ready to go, lord!”
“Stand clear!” I held my shield before me and Alfred and I ran at the door. The two men at arms had done well and the door fell inwards. The man at arms who had been behind it was thrown to the ground and Alfred’s blade ended his life. The inside of the tower was dark. Sam and Robert tumbled beyond me to hack at the defenders who were barely visible. The only light came from the broken door and the hatch to the fighting platform. It was a confused maelstrom of men and blades. I hacked and sliced at the men before me. I heard Padraig roar as he led his men up to the fighting platform. Will Red Leg would follow him. I had a sudden, excruciating pain in my back. I had been stabbed. I continued to hack and stab at those before me. Suddenly there were no more enemies. They had fled.
“To the fighting platform!”
We raced up the steps to the top of the tower. I could feel the blood on my back. How had a blade penetrated my mail and gambeson? Padraig and his men had killed the crossbowmen on the tower. I looked to the breach which was being attacked by the Earl of Northampton and his men. There were many men lying dead within it and the men of Northampton had not yet gained the inner bailey. “Use the crossbows against the barbican!” We overlooked the barbican. They would be exposed. While my men at arms loaded the cumbersome weapons, I looked to the outer bailey. The survivors from the tower were flooding towards the keep. As soon as the bolts began to clear the barbican then it was as though the flood gates had been opened. The defenders left the barbican and raced across the inner bailey. The men of Northampton found that they could enter the castle and they ran after those who had been causing them so much grief.
We had done our part. I sheathed my sword. “Are any wounded?” I would keep my wound to myself until we reached our camp. The blood was flowing freely. How had someone managed to inflict such a deep wound? Was my mail damaged?
“No, lord, a few grazes for my lads.”
I turned to speak to my men. They all looked hale. The ones who had accompanied us were also without wounds. “You did well, Padraig.”
“Aye lord but we were better led than those poor sods from Northampton.” He pointed down and I saw dead knights and more than eighty dead men at arms and men of the fyrd.
It had been a costly breach. We could have saved many of those men had the Earl of Northampton waited until dark. I felt the blood seeping down my back. “Sir Jocelyn, ask the men of Northampton to take over this tower. We need to get back to our men.”
“Aye, lord.” He and his squire shouted commands to the men we had brought with us and they hurried through the gate to the breach.
Alfred was behind me and, as we neared the breach he said, “Father, you are wounded. There is blood.”
“I know but I need to see that Sir Edward and the others are well.”
My son snapped, “William, you, Sam and Robert take him to the doctor. There is much blood.”
In truth I felt a little weak and when Sam and Robert supported me I did not resist. They were both big men and they whisked me across the bridge to our camp. Egbert had seen my approach and the doctor was already at my tent. William took off my bloody surcoat and Sam and Robert my mail. The doctor, a small man said, “Earl, roll over.”
William said, “Sam, Robert, guard the tent. Only my brother enters!”
“Aye Master William!”
“You have been stabbed, father, yet your mail is whole!”
“I felt something when we entered the tower. I thought it was a blow from one of the men at the door!”
I heard the doctor give a sharp intake of breath. “This is a long and deep wound. I have seen it before. The bandits of Lombardy use a weapon. It is a long narrow blade. They call it a stiletto. It is more of a spike than a knife. It can penetrate a mail link without breaking it. This could be a serious wound. I dare not seal it yet in case there is some organ which is damaged within.”
Alfred arrived. William said, “He was stabbed in the attack in the back. It was one of our men.”
“Impossible!”
“Lie still, Earl.”
William told Alfred what the doctor and I had said. “Sam and Robert were not behind him. Your squire and I were behind you brother. The rest were the men we led from the camp.”
“And Sir Jocelyn and his squire.”
Alfred nodded, “Aye. They were the only ones save our men and I trust all of our men as well as Sir Jocelyn and his squire. We must question the men who followed us.”
William showed how much he had grown. “There is a killer out there. He may not be alone. From now on we keep our father here where he is safe.”
“But the siege!” I felt myself weakening but I was still in command.
“We have taken the outer bailey. It will need machines inside the bailey to take the inner ward. You will not be needed for a day or two. I will go and speak with the King. William you stay here and guard our father.”
He left and the doctor said, “I fear you will not be able to move for at least three days. You are losing blood, lord.” He hesitated, “Some Lombard b
andits use poison. Your life hangs in the balance. Master William I think we need a priest too.”
I was about to protest when I suddenly felt incredibly sleepy. We had a killer loose in my camp. Despite the King’s words he was in as much danger as I was. A sudden thought came to me before I entered a black and bottomless world. Was I dying?
Chapter 17
Assassin’s Blade
I found myself swirling in the bottom of a black lake and my mail was dragging me down. I felt as though my life was being sucked from me. Then I felt a heat I had never felt before. Was I drowning in a volcano? I looked up and saw my wife, her pale, long fingered hand touched me and began to pull me to the surface.
“He is coming to!”
I opened my eyes. The doctor, my son and the King were there. All, especially the doctor, looked relieved. Alfred forced a smile, “We thought we had lost you. It has been three days.”
“Three days?” It came out as a croak and the doctor said, “Give him some ale and do not crowd him so.”
The King said, acidly, “You have a reprieve, leech. Let us hope he makes a full recovery or I shall make good on my promise.” I saw Alfred shrug. I would discover the meaning of that later on.
William brought some ale and he cradled my head while I drank it. It tasted better than any ale I had ever drunk. “How goes the siege?”
Alfred shook his head, “The siege is unimportant. You nearly died. Tell him doctor.”
“The blade severed a blood vessel in your back. We had to enlarge the wound and cauterize the vessel or you would have bled to death. You were lucky it was such a narrow blade. We did not need to damage too much else. There is no putrefaction and the wound smells good. You should make a full recovery.” He glanced nervously at the King, “But it will take another ten days to be certain of that.”