by Griff Hosker
Garth spoke for all of my archers, “Lord, we want vengeance for the slaughter at David Ben Samuel’s home. We were friends with his men. We enjoyed their company. It matters not when we catch them just so we catch them. They are close to the land of Egypt. If we delay then we may lose them.”
Robert said, “I agree. If we rest our horses for a couple of hours we can still catch them while they sleep. Garth and his archers can dismount and they can still kill many.”
I looked at their faces. It was obvious they all agreed, “Then let us do this. Garth, you and the archers will leave first and go with Masood. You will conceal yourselves within bow range to the south of their camp. That way we can charge in without fear of hurting you and you and the archers can slay any who flee.”
Garth grinned, “That, my lord, is a good plan!”
I took Edward and Stephen to one side. “I had hoped to give you more training before putting you into combat. I do not have that luxury. When we go into battle I want you to guard your lords’ right side. Stay close by their horses’ rump. Watch for danger. Do not leave them. These are vicious and dangerous men. If you have to fight then fight to kill.”
“We will lord.”
“Aye, lord, and we will not let you down!”
“I know Edward. What I fear is letting you down! You have a life to lead and I do not wish it to be ended here. De Waller is not worth it.”
I fed and watered Remus myself. I had taken his saddle off and laid out his saddle cloth to let it cool. Our horses had ridden further than we ought to have ridden them. No matter what happened the next day we would have to take it easy on the return home. It would take four days, at least, to retrace our steps. I took out my whetstone and sharpened my sword and dagger. I put an edge on my spear. I hoped that we would catch them without mail but they could sleep in it. We could not afford to make assumptions. I knew that they would have sentries. They would hear us when we charged. That was why I was sending Garth and the archers to cut off their retreat. Garth would let none pass.
We mounted. Masood waved as he led Garth and my archers south. They would have further to ride and would be approaching the enemy camp from the south. Their horses were not carrying mailed riders. They would be able to make the journey. My archers would be fighting on foot. I had twelve men at arms, three knights and three squires. We were going up against forty ruthless killers. I had some untried boys and warriors who had been abandoned. This would not be easy.
We did not have Masood with us and so I had to rely on my own nose and my own estimation of time and distance. When I thought we were about a mile away, we halted and dismounted. I wanted us to lead our horses until we were within charging distance. It would rest the horses and we would be harder to see. My new helmet hung from the cantle of my saddle. My spear was still strapped to the saddle. Neither would take much time to reach.
I knew we were close. In the air, I could smell their fires. Even better I could smell their camels. As we drew closer to the hidden camp I could hear the camels and horses. De Waller’s horses had not been trained with camels and they did not like each other. I smiled. They would not have had a good night’s sleep since they had taken the beasts. When first we had escorted camels, we had had to spend time allowing our horses to walk close to the spitting camels.
I held up my hand for I saw a shadow standing on a rock some two hundred paces from us. I was patient and, eventually the shadow moved confirming that it was a sentry. We would be able to walk no more. I signalled for my men to don helmets and to ready their weapons. Once I was seated on my horse with my spear in my hand I grabbed my shield. We would be fighting sergeants and knights. These were neither bandits nor Turks as Harold Longsword had discovered to his cost. We would be attacking in one long line. This time the warriors at the two ends were Pierre of Cherbourg and Christophe of Chinon. They were new men but I needed my better warriors in the middle. Tom and Robert flanked me. Alf rode behind me with my gonfanon and a spare spear. Henry son of Will and John of Chester rode next to Tom and Guy and Louis rode next to Stephen. We were not riding boot to boot. There was a gap between horses and men. We needed the enemy to think there were more of us than there actually was.
I waved my lance forward and we began to canter towards the camp. As I expected the noise of our hooves on the compacted desert alerted the sentry. I heard his voice in the night as he roused his comrades, “Stand to! Alarum!”
Suddenly he was pitched from his rock. My archers were close enough to use their bows but that strike had to be Garth. He had seen the shadow and heard the shout. I could not see their camp yet but I could picture what would be happening. Men would be grabbing weapons and donning helmets. Those without mail would have to forego it. Men who normally fought together would be locking shields for self-protection. The sound of our hooves would tell them they were about to be struck by mounted men.
We reached a rise and I saw, in the hollow, their fires and their animals. Some of the men were using the animals for protection. They were sheltering behind camels. The huge beasts were like mobile walls. I heard the voices of command as knights organised their sergeants. I lowered my spear. I saw three men sheltering behind a camel. I wheeled Remus to the left of the beast and thrust down with my spear. The sharpened head penetrated the mail and drove into the sergeant’s shoulder. I twisted the head to the side gouging a hole as large as my fist. The other two men would be dealt with. From the far side of the camp I heard cries as my archers began to rain arrows, blindly into the camp. Once they saw our horses they would move closer and choose their targets.
Forty feet from me a knight and four sergeants had made a wall with their shields. I saw that, behind them was a banner and another knot of warriors. That would be de Waller. As I might have expected he was making a barrier of men before him. I rode at the centre of the wall. I heard Robert yell, “Edward and Stephen join Alf!” He and Tom urged their horses next to mine.
I pulled back my arm. Robert and Tom had fought enough times with me to know what we needed to do. As we closed with the men we all wheeled left to allow us to strike at the same time. My spear found flesh as I thrust it over the top of the wall. A spear scored a line along my cantle. I heard a squeal of pain behind and, as we wheeled right to come behind the wall I saw Robert’s mount stumble. It had been wounded. Edward bravely leapt from his horse and held the reins for Robert. Tom and I were behind the wall and as the two survivors turned to face us the integrity of their shield wall disintegrated I thrust my spear into the chest of the knight. It was an easy strike for his arms were open as he turned. As he fell the spear was torn from my hands. I saw that Robert had mounted and Edward rode behind Stephen.
All around us was the sound of confused fighting. It was dark of night and a body had fallen on the fire making it even darker. I would smell the burning flesh. However, even in the ark I saw the standard of de Waller as it fluttered overhead. Remus was struggling. We had ridden hard. As I slowed up I saw that de Waller and the last of his men had formed a small shield wall. He stood within the circle. There were eighteen of them left.
I shouted, “Dismount!” Even as we dismounted de Waller’s men were dying as Garth and my archers closed in. They were as deadly in the dark as assassins. They needed no poison nor hashish. I hefted my shield high and shouted, “Surrender and we will take you back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the king!”
De Waller snarled, “And be hanged? You think me a fool? We will take our chances here!”
“Is that why you cower behind your men? I offered you challenge twice before and you refused. Save your men’s lives and fight me now!”
There was silence and I knew that we had won. How can a man fight for a lord who refuses a challenge? I raised my sword and we marched towards them. I did not look around for my men to see who followed me. Whoever it was I would trust with my life. We had swords and some of those we faced had spears. Mounted, I would choose a spear. On foot, it would be a sword every time. I deflect
ed the first spear thrust with my shield. The shield was strapped to my arm but my left hand was free. I pulled the edge of the sergeant’s shield towards me and, before he could react, I had thrust my sword into the gap and his throat. The shield wall was broken. Tom and Robert had despatched the knight and sergeant who had flanked the man I had killed and we were inside. One of the two sergeants who were in front of de Waller ran at me with an axe raised. He suddenly had a surprised expression on his face as an arrow head blossomed from his chest. Tom and Robert advanced on the other man.
I saw that the knight next to de Waller had the same device on his surcoat as the Spaniard I had killed. When he spoke, it was confirmed, “You killed my brother and now I will kill you!” His brother had been skilled and I had no doubt that this younger version would be as skilled.
He feinted with his sword to make me fend off the blow with my own. I did not fall for it. I saw cunning in his eyes. He made the same move but this time it was not a feint. Instead of raising my sword I dropped to my knee so that the sweep went over my head. I hacked sideways into his knee. He was quick and he almost danced out of the way but I struck bone and my blade was bloody.
“Trickster!”
“Your brother would have called it skill.” He was now weakened on his left side. His knee would give him pain but, more importantly, it would be leaking blood. I went on the offensive. I feinted with my sword and then punched with my shield as he raised his arm to deflect the strike. He had to step back quickly to avoid overbalancing. My shield connected with his sword hand. He held on to the blade but his hand would be numb. His eyes closed with the pain of putting weight on a weakened knee. I swung my sword at head height as he was off balance. His shield came up to block it but the blow had all my weight and power behind it. He reeled and as he did so I thrust at his middle. His numbed hand could not react fast enough and my sword slide through his mail and I angled it up into his heart. His body collapsed.
Behind me the first rays of the new day were peering over the mountains to the east. They lit up de Waller. He was the last man standing. I saw Masood, Garth and my archers leading their horses towards us.
“So, after all your refusals to fight me you are now forced to do so. Think how many men’s lives might have been saved had you done so. And now there is nowhere to run. My regret is that I did not kill you before you attacked an innocent family.”
“Innocent? They were Jews!” he laughed, “Why am I talking to you? You are a Jew lover! You would bed with the animals in the field!”
He was trying to anger me and that gave me even more confidence. I stepped forward and brought my sword over my head. I held my shield before me. De Waller tried to block the blow with his shield. The shield shivered and shook. I heard a crack. In this land, you oiled the wood of your shield else the heat desiccated it and made it fragile. He had not looked after his shield. As he reeled I swung again and hit exactly the same place. The shield split in two and my sword sliced and bit into his left arm. I raised my sword again and he lifted his sword to block the blow. I punched with my shield and hit his hand. This time he had to take three or four steps back. It was his standard which stopped him. I took three strides and swung my sword at waist height. I hacked through his side. My sword was stopped by his spine and his standard. There was a crack and the top half of the standard fell to cover his body with his device. De Waller was dead.
I looked around and counted the cost. Roger of Hauteville, Pierre of Cherbourg, Christophe of Chinon and Alan Azay lay dead. Gregor of Basle, Guy Gurth son of Garth had wounds but we had won. We buried our dead. I went to de Waller and, using the axe from the dead sergeant, I took his head. Putting it in a hessian sack it would be taken back to the king. The enemy dead were stripped of their mail and weapons. All of them had coins and treasure about them. I found the jewels from Ruth and Mary. I put them in my leather satchel. My wife would have them returned. It would not bring back her mother and sister but it would help her to remember them. We led the horses and camels and we headed back across the barren land. Only the wounded rode. Our horses were weak. It took us seven days to reach Aqua Bella although word reached my wife sooner than that. Masood left the day of our victory. She knew that we were safe.
Chapter 21
When we reached Aqua Bella the whole of the estate turned out to greet us. Rebekah threw her arms around me, “I am glad that you are safe.” She saw the blackened hessian sack hanging from my saddle. “Is that…?”
I nodded, “I will take it with me to Jerusalem when I speak with the king.” I pointed to the camels and the goods de Waller had taken from Rebekah’s father. “What shall I do with those?”
“We will not need them. Sell them, my husband. I would say give the money to the families of those who worked for my father but all are now dead. Give some to Masood and some to the men who worked for him in Jerusalem.”
“I will. We will leave in the morning.”
“Is it over?”
“There are none left alive. He may have relatives in Normandy but I doubt that they will bother us. It is over.”
“Then we can begin our life here.”
We celebrated and, that night, I enjoyed my wife’s company. She was as a different woman. She had been a fey and frightened girl. Since we had shared a bed she had become a woman. She laughed more and no longer shied away from my touch. I had seen this with nervous horses. With a woman, it was even more complicated.
All of my men were now richer. I had allowed them to plunder de Waller’s dead and so they all wished to come with us to Jerusalem. I also took Masood. He had asked to serve me and he would need to buy goods for his home which he would build on the estate. All eyes were upon us as we entered the gates of Jerusalem. Our quest had been no secret. Other merchants knew what de Waller had done. Ben Samuel had been a popular man and a leader of the Jewish community.
We were applauded as we led the camels to the market. I saw Simeon Ben Levi there. He greeted me warmly, “I see that my friend has been avenged. They are all dead now?”
“His enemies’ bodies lie where they fell.” I pointed to the sack. “I will ask permission to put the head on the gate.”
“That’s is good. The people need to know that he is dead. And the camels and donkeys?”
“I am here to see them. Some of the money will go to Masood, some to the men who worked for him here and the rest to his daughter.”
“If you will trust me I shall sell them for you. It is the least I can do for my friend.”
“Thank you. We will be in the city all day. My men have money to spend and I need to speak with the king.” I knew that I could trust Garth to watch over my men and I went with Robert and Tom to speak with the king.
Theobald had heard our entry to the city and he was waiting for us at the palace gate. I held up the sack, “The head of de Waller.”
He nodded and said to the Captain of the Guard, “Have it placed on a spike over the south gate. I wish all who enter to see the folly of defying the king.”
“Aye lord.”
“Come, the King is at home and we have much to say to you.” We walked, “Where did you find him?”
“He was close to the border with Egypt. I think he was heading there to join our enemies.”
The court was in session but, as we entered silence fell. King Baldwin began to clap and the others joined in, “William of the Gryphon has returned from a quest to destroy our enemies. Jerusalem is grateful to you, lord!”
I knew the game he played. He wished the other knights who were present to take heed of what I had done and now, what I would say. “I serve my king and it is an honour to defeat those who bring terror to this land.”
That was the right response. Theobald said, “And we have displayed the traitor’s head on the gate as a warning to others. The lord of Aqua Bella has a long reach. De Waller thought he could hide in the desert. Let all know that there is nowhere to hide from the gryphon’s claws.”
I looked at The
obald as the room burst into spontaneous applause. He shrugged and said, quietly, “You are a legend. The Queen thinks it is a good idea to build on that legend. Come we will go to see her. The King will join us soon.”
The Queen put aside convention to embrace me. I knew that it was a signal honour. “I knew that the faith we had in you was not misplaced, lord.” I nodded, “And how is your wife coping with the loss of her family?”
“She has a new one and she is strong, your majesty. She is happy at Aqua Bella although she mourns.”
“And the death of her abuser will put her mind at rest too.” The Queen was an astute woman.
King Baldwin arrived. He had now grown into his role. He had filled out a little and, with a neatly trimmed beard, he looked every inch a king. He grasped my arm. “The words I spoke in court were not empty rhetoric, William. I meant them.” He grasped Robert’s arm and then Tom, “And you are no less heroes in our eyes. Sit. We need to talk.”
As we sat he looked at Theobald, who nodded and then spoke, “Geoffrey of Azdud took your advice Sir William. He used the boat you suggested he find and he used it to burn one of the new towers on the seaward side.”
“I did not expect him to do that. I would have returned. I made a promise.”
Theobald shook his head, “But your promise to Ben Samuel was more important. What you have done has made the merchants of Jerusalem have more confidence in the king. You are seen as the protector of all. They talk of you as another El Cid but one who protects Jews as well as Gentiles.”
King Baldwin said, “For that reason we wish you to continue to watch the Jaffa road. The confidence it inspires and the fear it instils in our enemies is worth more than your work at Ascalon. The Templars are busy building their defences at Gaza City. When that is complete we will have Ascalon encircled and we can assault the Egyptians.”