Crusader (Anarchy Book 14)

by Griff Hosker

  “And how long will that take, your majesty?”

  “It will not be quick and could take years. That gives us time to build up our own armies but they depend upon the finances of the Kingdom being in a healthy state. That is where you come in. By protecting the caravans, you make us stronger.”

  We were feted for some time and our role was discussed. The Templars new castle meant that they no longer had the forces at Ramelah to ensure that travellers were safe. I was happy about the arrangement for it meant I could be at home more and I could get to know Rebekah. After we had finished Robert and Tom went to make their own purchases while I went to visit Simon. I knew that he had David Ben Samuel’s gold and I wished to ensure that Rebekah could have access to it, whenever she needed it.

  “Of course, lord, and we are so indebted to you that my fellow bankers and I will not be charging you the interest we charge others. Whenever you need your money it will be there and you can have it anywhere you wish.” He paused and gave me a meaningful look, “Even England.”

  “I am happy at Aqua Bella.”

  “That is good but things may change and you are now a rich man. The monies you have would rival the fortunes of some kings.”

  “I do not need money.”

  “Then you have found the true secret of life, lord. I envy you.”

  We hired another six men. Our success meant that there were many who wished to serve us. We chose the best. We had mail, horses and weapons for them. All that I had to do was have more surcoats made. The gryphon was now seen as a lucky omen. My men told me that others would ask just to touch the gryphon to see if they could benefit from the luck it brought.

  We reached home before sunset and I was able to tell Rebekah all of my good news. It was a happy time. As winter began she gave me more good news. She was with child. My world was complete. I had lost a wife and I had a new one. I had lost my children and now I would have more. She had been worried that de Waller had robbed us of the chance to have any more children. I now prayed, with Brother Peter, that my child would be born and, this time, Rebekah’s child would survive.

  The road patrols were easier now for we had teams of riders we could send out. I did but one patrol a month. My knights were happy to bear the burden of riding. As Rebekah grew larger so I stayed at Aqua Bella more than I left. My world grew smaller and yet was more fulfilled.

  My son, Samuel William, was born on midsummer day. It was an anxious time for us all. It was hot and Rebekah was in pain. We had women around her but, against all conventions, I stayed with her and held her hand. She wished it so. Even when he was born and the cord was cut she still had a terrified look upon her face. He was smaller than she would have liked and she did not smile until he sucked from her nipple. He was so small I could almost have held him in one hand. Even then she watched him closely for she feared she would lose another child. By the time the weather became a little cooler she was happier. Our son would live.

  I made sure that this son would see his father. I had been missing more than I had been present with my first family. I had tried to emulate Geoffrey of Anjou. Now that I had a second chance I did not intend to waste it. Each day I revelled in the changes. It seemed that while he slept he both grew and changed. He became larger. His little fingers began to move and to grab. There was wonder in all that he did.

  I had a perfect world until the raids began. It was after Christmas when a messenger arrived from Theobald, “Lord, there are Turks. They are attacking the settlements to the north of Jerusalem. Lord Theobald wishes you to bring your knights and sergeants to help bring order to the land.”

  It was a dilemma. Rebekah, however, showed her new found strength, “You have to go, my love. This is our land and if the Turk gets a foothold then we will all suffer. We are safe behind our walls.”

  I left with half of my men. I would not risk my home. Over the last year, we had recruited more men and we had sufficient to leave a very healthy garrison at Aqua Bella. We could now talk with Masood and my scout rode with us as we headed to Jerusalem. Our orders were simple. We were to join the other knights and seek out the raiders. The horse archers made sudden attacks, destroyed farms, carried off captives and fled. We had to hurt them.

  We were given the road north of Jericho to watch. The rest of the knights and sergeants appeared to want to react to an attack and then chase the raiders back over the border. I thought that was a waste of horses, men and, most import of all, time. I wanted to be at home with my wife and son. Samuel now recognized me. His eyes lit up and he giggled when his fingers touched my beard. I resented every minute I was away from the smiles, giggles and every strange noise and gurgle he made. I would send Masood to find the trails which the Turks used. They rode horses which were bred for the mountains. They did not bother with roads. The one weakness they had was that they had to come close to roads when they attacked farms.

  We arrived after dark and I spoke with the leaders of the community of Jericho. The lord had died in the retreat from Damascus. His widow, Lady Sarah, and son, Henry, lived in their manor but they had just ten sergeants. They would not be able to do much. She was happy for us to stay in their fortified manor which lay at the north end of Jericho. It guarded the entrance. With just one tower it would not be able to hold off a determined attack but the walls of the town were strong.

  We could now speak with Masood. Increasingly he used our language but there were some Hebrew words which could not be translated. We based ourselves in Jericho at the manor of Sir Richard. We did not show ourselves. The next morning, I sent Masood to find the trail while we found the farms which had not been attacked. John of Chester had become a leader amongst the men since he had joined us. “Lord I would say that the farm we passed just south of Jericho last night would be a likely target.”

  I had learned not to dismiss his ideas. “How so?”

  “When we passed through I saw that the people there thought themselves safe. The wall they have could be jumped by a rider on a horse. They have a gate but it would not stop someone determined to get in. They think that because they are south of the town the Turks will not come.” He pointed to the hills to the north east. “See how this is a natural bowl. They can come down from there. They would not need to use the road.”

  “Perhaps. We will see when Masood returns.” We spent our first day familiarising ourselves with the terrain. We walked our horses through the streets of Jericho and then headed south. If anyone was watching they would think we were passing through.

  That evening when he joined us he pointed to the north. “There are many tracks there, lord. That is the way they ride to attack.”

  “Is there anywhere we could wait for them? Could we ambush them?”

  “Your big horses would struggle but there are rocks where archers could wait.” He and Garth got on well for Masood was a skilled archer too.

  “Then take Garth and his men and make a camp there.”

  Garth nodded, “Do we ambush them when they come south?”

  “No, when they go north. We will wait here and keep a close watch on them. If John of Chester is right then they will attack the farm in the bowl. If not then they will attack the town.”

  “The walls are strong, lord.”

  “True, Sir Robert, but they may have grown bold. We have not stopped them. So far, they have sent bands of forty or fifty warriors only. Suppose they sent hundreds?” He nodded. “Sir Thomas, after dark, take your men and wait at the farm. Hide. Have a fire lit and if they attack then light it and we shall come.”

  Garth asked, “How long do we wait to ambush them, lord?”

  “As long as it takes but they have not raided here for six days. They are due. We will wait at the manor.” My two groups of warriors left after dark. They would not be seen. Masood and Garth were masters at hiding and Tom had learned skills from his father, Aelric the archer.

  Lady Sarah was not old. She was younger than me and her son was just five. He had barely known his father before
he had died. King Baldwin had not replaced the lord of the manor as Sir Richard had been one of the few knights to stay by the standard during the retreat. She was apologetic about the accommodation. “I am sorry, lord. My husband was not a wealthy knight as you can see from the furnishings. The Turks raid us too often for the people to prosper.”

  “Do not apologise, lady. Sir Robert and I have endured far worse, have we not, Sir Robert?”

  “Indeed. If you like, Lady Sarah, we can use my men to improve the defences.”

  I shook my head. “Not yet Sir Robert. I wish to draw the enemy in. Let us keep hidden. If John is right then they may attack the farm in the bowl but if not then I think they may come here.” I pointed to the nearest farm which lay deserted and forlorn. “They have been working their way down the valley. It may be that John is right. Sir Thomas and his men can give them some protection. We have the chance here to strike a mighty blow.” I turned to Lady Sarah. Are the numbers of your men well known?”

  She nodded, “Everyone is aware of how few men we have. The merchants of Jericho are kind. They often send over their camel guards when they are not needed for the caravans.”

  “Then the enemy will know. Sir Robert, have the horses kept in the stables with their saddles close by. Have someone with good eyes in the tower. It may be that no one attacks. But we are prepared.”

  Leaving Sir Robert with Lady Sarah I put on my cloak. I left my helmet in the house. If anyone was watching they would notice that. I would just look like a lone visitor. I walked the walls. I spoke to the sentries as I passed them. They were devoted to Lady Sarah. The Captain of them had come from England with Sir Richard. “Sir Richard was a fine knight sir. He left us ten here because we were the best of his men. His words, lord and not mine, and he took the younger ones with him. Twenty men he had and they were either killed or captured. A crying shame. She is young, lord. She needs a husband.”

  “There are many young knights who would woo her.”

  He shook his head, “Begging your pardon, lord, but they seek the manor and not the lady. That is not right, sir.”

  He was right of course. Just then a flash of light caught my eye. “Did you see that Wilfred?”

  “See what, lord?”

  “Slowly look around and scan the hills to the west.” I leaned forward as though I was looking over to the north.

  “Yes, Sir William. I saw a flash. Sunlight on metal.”

  I glanced up at the sun. It would be dark in a couple of hours. That would be enough time for whoever was there to reach the manor. I had divided my forces. Half of my men were either in the hills or at the farm. I would have to make do with what I had.

  “I think they will attack and after dark too. Go around and warn the men.”

  “How do we fight them lord?”

  “We let them in, of course. We know they are coming. When we are certain that they will attack then I want the gates unbarring and you and your men to defend the south wall.”

  “You want to let them in, lord?”

  “We have too few men to risk being slaughtered on the walls. They have horse archers. They can ride around and pick us off one by one. We let them in and then I will charge them with my horsemen. These horse archers are all well and good in the open. Here we can trap them so that they cannot run. As soon as we attack them you and your men race to the gate and use your javelins.”

  He smiled, “That might work, sir. Just so long as they take the bait. I hope they do not wonder why we leave a gate unbarred.”

  “That is the beauty of this, if they do not then they do not attack and we lose no men.”

  Leaving him I went to tell Lady Sarah and Sir Robert what I had planned. I could tell that Sir Robert was not pleased but Lady Sarah seemed happy enough. “We will go to the top floor of the donjon. It is reached by a ladder. My people will be safe there Sir Robert but I thank you for your concern.”

  Once they were ensconced in the donjon we saddled our horses and my men waited. Carrying my helmet, I went back to the gate where Wilfred waited for me. “Where are the men?”

  “They have taken shelter, lord. I made sure they were fed and knew what we are doing.”

  “Then let us watch, listen and smell.”

  “Smell lord?”

  “The wind is blowing from the north and west. We will smell them. The Turks smell differently to us and we will smell their horses. If they are clever then they will muffle them.”

  “When do we unbar the gate, lord?”

  I had thought about that. Sir Robert was right, an unbarred gate would make them suspicious. “Let them climb the walls and open it for themselves.”

  “I hope you know what you are doing, lord.”

  “So do I, Wilfred, so do I.”

  The sun had been set for some time when I heard the hoof slip on the stone. It was a small enough sound but it was enough. I sniffed the air and I could smell Turkish horses. I peered into the dark and saw shadows. “They come. To your places.”

  I hurried to the stables. I left the stable doors open. None could see us in the dark but the white walls outlined the gate. We would see them when they entered. Donning my helmet, I mounted Remus. We had our spears at the ready. I saw a shadow descend, like a spider, down the stairs of the gate wall. They had taken the bait. The dark gates loomed open and a flurry of archers galloped in. I could not see their faces but I knew that they were looking at the walls to see where our sentries were. I spurred Remus and we poured out through the stable door.

  As I had discovered when I had first come to this land the Seljuq horse archer does not wear mail. He does not have a helmet. He has a bow and a fast horse. They would run away. However, we were so close that the sixteen of us were on them before they even knew. My spear struck an archer in the throat and threw him from his horse. I pulled my arm back and rammed it into the back of a second who was trying to turn his horse. I heard footsteps on the fighting platform. Wilfred and his men were doing as I had asked. We had them. It was too dark and they were too close for their bows to be of any use and they turned and headed for the gate. Wilfred and his guards threw javelins as fast as they could. Some archers escaped, just five of them. The rest were slain.

  Even before we could celebrate I heard a cry from the walls.

  “Sir William, there is a fire to the south and east of the town. I think it is a beacon!”

  It was Tom. They were under attack. “Wilfred close the gates when we are gone and finish off any Turks. We ride to the aid of our men. Sir Robert, on me!”

  My men just obeyed but, as we galloped Alf asked, “Lord, where do we go?”

  “John of Chester was right; the Turks have attacked the farm. I pray we are not too late.” My former squire had to hold on and defend the farm until we could cover the two miles to the farm. I thanked Wilfred’s sharp eyes. If we could reach my men then Wilfred would have been the one responsible for saving them. The beacon seemed to draw us like moths to a flame. As we neared it I could hear the sounds of battle. Unlike us Tom and his men would be defending a building. They would not be mounted. I still held my spear and for that I was grateful. A spear could break on mail but was less likely to be damaged fighting a horse archer.

  The glow from the fire showed us the horse archers. They were not standing still to release their arrows. They were making themselves difficult targets by galloping around in circles. It helped us for they did not hear our thundering hooves. The gate of the farm had been torn down and we poured through. We took them completely by surprise. Once again, my spear took one archer in the back. As a second turned and levelled his bow at me I stood in my stirrups and rammed it into his neck. I threw his body from my spear and urged Remus to the next warrior. He must have been a leader for he shouted something. My spear struck him in the side.

  Just then the doors of the farm opened and Tom led his men and the workers from the farm to fall upon the Turks. Horse archers are clever and wily. They knew they did not have the advantage. They fled.
The difference was that they could just jump the wall. More of them would escape. The skilful archers leapt the small wall which surrounded the farm. We would have to flee through the gate. They would have a lead over us.

  “Tom, mount your men. We must pursue.”

  “Aye, lord.”

  It took time for their horses to be saddled but at least it allowed our mounts to be rested. We knew where they were going and I just hoped that Masood and Garth were in position. We rode in a column of twos. The trail was marked for us by the body of one warrior who had succumbed to his wounds and, later, a lame horse. They were taking the trail. Soon we would have to go slowly for it became twisted and narrow. The last thing we needed was to lose a warrior over the side. We knew we were on the right trail when we found another lame horse. I was grateful when the sun began to rise and the trail gained definition.

  Masood had told us where the ambush would be but we had no idea exactly where that was. My Hebrew was still rather basic and his English was even more rudimentary. The trail twisted and turned so much that it was hard to guess where our wily scout had chosen.

  There were sudden cries ahead and the neighing of horses. It was the ambush. Garth and Masood had done as I asked. I did not want to leave them exposed. It was time to hurry. I led my men. I still had my spear but I was not certain how much of an edge it had. It had not had to pierce mail but bone blunted metal just as much as iron.

  There was a sudden movement ahead. Two Seljuq archers fled towards me. I barely had time to pull up my shield and stab, almost blindly at the archer who tried to raise his bow. I struck one in the chest and Remus snapped his jaws at the other making the horse swerve. There was a rocky drop and horse and rider tumbled down the slope. I urged Remus to the sounds of combat. As we turned the corner of the trail I saw that Masood and Garth had created the perfect ambush. The trail rose and climbed over a col. The riders had to go in single file and I saw twelve bodies there and horses milling around. The men behind me effectively trapped the Seljuqs and this was a killing ground for my archers.