by Griff Hosker
"Good. We will cross the river and attack from the north."
We rode down the greenways and headed north and west. It was but sixteen miles. I left a strong guard with the baggage to follow on for I was anxious to get to the castle before dark. As we approached the castle I saw that the Mandeville banner flew. That meant nothing. There were a hundred mailed men with me and, even as we approached I saw the gates open and twenty knights and men at arms gallop from the gate and head west. I had never seen this Fitz Mandeville but I recognised his surcoat as his fled this castle.
Wulfric smacked one hand into the other, "Will I cleave no heads again?"
"Ride!"
We rode hard towards the castle. As we did another forty men galloped through the gates. Wulfric and his men were desperate to get to grips with an enemy, any enemy, and they pursued them. I was more concerned with capturing the castle. As Wulfric and his men at arms hastened after the last group of men to leave we galloped over the ditch. I held my shield above my head in case there were defenders left but I entered the bailey without hurt. I was met by servants and two priests. Dismounting I approached them. The older and rather well fed priest said, "The castle is yours lord. The Baron has fled. I beg you treat us mercifully."
I nodded. There was something about this I liked not. I looked around. The walls looked sound and I could see no reason why Edward Fitz Mandeville had not defended this castle. We would have bled but it would have been taken.
"Secure the castle. We will stay here this night."
The baggage had reached us and Sir Wulfric had returned by the time my sentries reported Aiden approaching. Sir Wulfric had ten horses with him. We caught some of them but they were without mail and they fled us." He patted his war axe. "At least I got to cleave some heads."
When Aiden arrived he said, "Pickering is held by twenty men. Had I had ten of our archers we could have taken it."
I nodded. Aiden could be trusted. The reports from Philip and his uncle were that Mandeville had sixty knights and up to two hundred men at arms. We had seen nowhere near that number. I estimated that he had just six knights with him when he had fled. Where were the rest?
As my men took the weapons and supplies I had the servants and priests gathered in the Great Hall. I sat on the lord's chair. "Bring me the two priests." The one who looked well fed also appeared more confident. The younger one looked like the other's dogsbody. "Where has the Baron gone?" Neither answered. "You know who I am?"
The older priest said, "You are the Warlord of the North."
"Then you know that I would not worry about extracting information any way I could. He left you and I want to know where he fled!"
The older priest feigned ignorance and shrugged. "York?"
I knew he would not go there and when the young priest flashed a look of incredulity I knew that there was something amiss. "Gilles, Richard, bind this fat priest and watch him."
"I am a man of God."
"Be careful then that you do not upset me, priest or you will be seeing him even sooner than you might wish!" I put my arm around the young priest. "Come with me...?"
"Brother Alcuin. I am visiting here from Fountains Abbey."
"What is the name of the other priest?"
"He is the Baron's priest, Father Thaddeus."
"I wish no harm on any priest but I will not be lied to. If you do not wish to tell me where the Baron has gone then just say I refuse to tell you. Father Thaddeus did not do that and we both know that he is lying." He nodded. "Then I ask you, directly," I turned him so that I could see his eyes. "Do you know where the Baron has gone?"
He shook his head and said. "I do not know where he went."
I nodded, "You are telling the truth."
"But I know what are his intentions."
Hope sprang, "You do?"
"When your men were spotted he cried 'I have him now! The Warlord has fallen into my trap and is many miles from home.'" He paused. "I did not understand that then but you are the Warlord and so..."
"Thank you Brother, I am indebted to you."
I raced back in. "Mount. Fetch all the grain you can carry for our horses. We have to tax them this night. Sir Wulfric leave two of your men to guard the castle, the baggage and our servants. Each man at arms, knight and squire shall bring his lance or spear!"
My knights all stared at me as though I was mad. Sir Edward said, "We have ridden far. What is the rush?"
"This is a trap. The Baron knows our plan. He has drawn us here, far from our home so that he can attack the valley. That is why he has so few knights and men at arms with him. Wulfric make sure that the two men you leave know how to get information. Someone here knows something. Let Brother Alcuin go but the rest are my prisoners until I return."
Wulfric's face was black with anger. It had been his scouts who had let us down, "I will leave Hrolf the Swede and Simon the Jew. They could both get blood from a stone!"
While my men mounted I planned our action. I had no doubt that the Baron had gathered his men at Thirsk. They would have already moved towards the Great North Road and that would be their route to my castles. Yarm was a small castle and could be taken. They would give them a barrier across my river. Then they would attack Piercebridge. I had brought the bulk of my men with me. The only forces which could face Fitz Mandeville were Sir William at Yarm and the garrisons of Norton and Stockton. I led my men north towards Rievaulx Abbey. There was a green way which led through the moors. It twisted and turned and eventually brought us out at Swainby. It meant we could travel parallel to the Roman Road and yet still be hidden from view. We could then send for Sir Richard and his men and meet them on the rise close to Osmotherley.
"Sir Tristan, send your squire ahead. Tell him to fetch your father and his men. Meet us south of Harlsey. Hopefully that is where we will meet and stop this cunning Mandeville."
"Aye lord. John, ride to my father and fetch him to the road close to the priory. Do not get caught by our enemies. The Earl is counting on you."
"I will not let you down."
"Aiden, make sure the way is clear."
It was less than eighteen miles but it took some hours to reach the track which led down from the moors to the vale below. Even in the dark we saw the high mound of Whorlton to our right. It was the sign that we had to head west. We reached the road well before dawn and I had all the men dismount and feed and water their horses. With the grain we had brought from Helmsley the horses were well fed. We led them down to the Wiske River and they drank too. Some of my men ate the rations they had with them but my knights and captains gathered around me.
"We will wait here for the enemy. I am guessing that they will use this Roman Road for it is both wide and well made." I pointed to the high ground to the north us. The road rose a little and there was some dead ground behind. "The bulk of the men at arms will wait there. The knights and the squires with my oathsworn will form the front line. I wish him to see us and our banners. We will draw him on. Dick I want you to divide the archers." I pointed to the west of the road just ahead of us. It dropped sharply down to the Wiske and there was ample cover. Put half your archers there." I pointed to the land to the east. It began to rise and led to the escarpment of the moors just half a mile away. "The rest can go on the other side of the road. There is little enough cover there but use what there is and embed some stakes."
Dick asked, "You care not if the enemy see us?"
"He is no fool. He proved that with his cunning plan. He knows we have archers. Better that he sees you in a prepared position rather than looking for the others."
He nodded, "Then I will be with the archers to the east."
"Have as many men rest as they can."
They nodded as they headed back to their men. Aiden, Edward and Edgar waited nearby. Aiden said, "I am sorry, Lord. I have let you down. I should have known."
"No, Aiden, the scouts who were sent by my other knights let us down and I have learned a lesson as have they." Out of the corne
r of my eye I saw Wulfric berating his scouts. I hoped he would not inflict actual harm on them. They had made a mistake; that was all.
"We will find the enemy for you."
"Are you certain; are your horses not tired?"
"Fear not lord. We know this land well. There is cover to the east up on the escarpment. We will not need to travel far. It will be a clear day and our vision will be unimpaired." I nodded and they rode off.
He was right. The May on the hawthorn and the cow parsley gave all the hedges a stripe of white blossom. Summer was upon us. The cold weather of a month ago had given way to what promised to be a fruitful summer. If I could not stop Fitz Mandeville then the bounty of the summer would go to our enemies.
Richard brought me a water skin, "Do not forget to drink, lord."
"Thank you for the admonishment! You are becoming the complete squire." He smiled at the compliment. "Today, Gilles will command you. Obey him as you would me. This will be hard for our enemies may well outnumber us."
"But Sir Richard will join us."
"John of Elton has to reach him and then they have to arm and ride. It is a twenty mile journey. I am content knowing that they will reach us some time this morning. Now rest. Today will be a test of all of us."
I then went to speak with my other captains and knights. I needed them to know precisely what my instructions were. That done I sat down beneath a lone apple tree. It was a gnarled crab apple. The blossom upon it promised a good harvest. How many of my men would be alive to see the fruit? I knew that the day would be bloody. It was mid morning when my scouts rode in.
"They come my lord!"
"Good. What could you see of our lines?"
"Had I not known that there were others on the other side of the road I would have just seen the archers and the twenty five of you."
"Then let us hope they think we have the death wish. You three choose your own place to fight." They nodded and I shouted, "To arms!"
I mounted Rolf but I left my shield hanging from my cantle and held my helmet in my hand. I needed to see and be seen. "Richard, unfurl the standard. Let them know who they fight." As the banner flapped in the gentle breeze I watched the road south. There was the slightest of bends and then the road rose to a second high point to the south of us. I saw their banners appear. We were less than a mile from them. Would they turn and flee? If so then I would have to pursue them. They kept coming. They rode in a wide column which filled the road. They were not boot to boot but there were many of them.
The richly mailed knights led and were followed by the men at arms. Ahead of these were a handful of scouts. They halted half a mile from us. By the time the rear of the column had come into sight I guessed that there were over two hundred men. There might be as many as two hundred and fifty. Only the first one hundred, however, were mailed. Their regular lines made counting easy. The rest were in a looser formation. Some had helmets and all had a shield but that was all that I could see.
Aelric commanded the archers on the right. I could barely see them but I shouted, "Aelric, wait for my command before you loose your arrows."
"I will, lord."
I wanted the focus of the attack to be on our left. They would see the stakes and the archers. They would have to turn or else their shields would be of no use.
The enemy halted beyond bow range. My archers had a well deserved reputation for both range and accuracy. A knot of riders took off their helmets and rode to a spot halfway between us. They wished to speak. Sir Edward asked, "Do we all ride to them, lord?"
"Let us wait until they move and then we shall. I want to plant fear in their minds. I wish them to wonder why we wait." Sure enough the five knights began to look around them. They suspected an ambush or a trap. They held a conference and then edged their horses on. "Let us speak with them now."
I ignored the conventions and took all of my knights. We halted two hundred paces from our squires. The squires and men at arms prevented our enemy from seeing the bulk of our warriors behind.
I had heard of this Edward Fitz Mandeville but never met him. He was a big man. He could wear Wulfric's armour. However unlike Wulfric he had some fat upon his face. His jowls looked heavy. His mail was black as was his surcoat. It reminded me of one I had seen at Durham. He was slightly younger than I was with a neatly trimmed beard. I guessed he thought himself a striking figure. I had no time for such nonsense.
I let him speak first. He had approached us. "I come to offer you the chance to surrender. Earl, you are a traitor. If you and you men lay down your arms I promise that you will be treated fairly. We will forego execution. We will take your lands but allow you and your families to go to Normandy." He smiled as though he had made a most generous offer.
"Who are you?"
My question threw him.
"I am the Baron Fitz Mandeville and my cousin is the Earl of Essex!"
"Then you should know enough to realise that you address me as, lord!" He looked stunned as my words. I continued. "We missed you at both Malton and Helmsley. I may rebuild Malton one day but Helmsley looks like a castle in which I could live. Now I will offer you terms. If you and your men surrender then I will execute you for your crimes and ransom your knights." I smiled, "That is as fair an offer as you made to me, is it not?"
Instead of being outraged he smiled. "I am pleased that you spurned my offer. When your body lies trampled beneath the hooves of my horses I will take your castles and the Tees will be mine. I shall be Earl of Cleveland."
I heard Wulfric snort and I put my hand up to silence any retort. We needed none. I smiled, "Then get back to your men. We are waiting for you."
He jabbed an arm to the east. "I see your archers there but if this handful of armed men are all that you have then this will be a short days work!"
"Do not wear my armour until you have taken it." I spurred Rolf and he leapt forward. The five were so frightened that one fell from his horse and my men all laughed.
"We came here in peace!"
"Can I help it if my horse is keen for combat? I shall look for you Mandeville. Make sure you are in the vanguard and not hiding amongst your men." My words were deliberately insulting. I wanted his knights to hear them. He would have to lead the charge now.
I rode back to my men. I saw John of Elton galloping down the road. He reined in and I saw that his horse was lathered. "Sir Richard comes. He has forty men."
"Forty?"
"Aye lord. He raised the fyrd. They come with their bows. They will be here within the hour. They were at Crathorne when I left them."
"Your horse is tired. Go and take shelter with Dick and the archers. Your sword and shield may prove useful there."
I turned my attention back to the enemy. As much as I would have liked to charge them I knew that our horses, despite the water and the grain, were tired. We would charge but only at the last minute. I saw the enemy horse form into a wedge formation. The ditch which ran alongside the road would be an obstacle. It was why I had chosen this site. He had enough men who were lightly armed who could outflank us but I gambled that he would not. He had weight of numbers and I hoped he would try to use them.
His vanguard had forty knights. They were ten abreast. Behind them came forty men at arms also ten abreast. The other twenty were a reserve. The mass of men, many of whom were on foot, were in a swirling mass with the reserve. As the column came towards us, at the trot, they walked behind. When they were four hundred paces from us I saw the black standard of Edward Fitz Mandeville rise and fall. It was a signal but what did it portend? I soon had my answer. The last twenty men at arms detached themselves and headed obliquely to their right to charge Dick and his archers. At the same time the knights and the rest of the men at arms began to increase speed. The slope made it necessary. They were not coming at us any faster but it was taking more effort to do so.
I donned my helmet and slung my shield over my shoulder and arm. I held my spear in my right hand. I preferred a spear. It was just as long as a
lance but easier to wield. "Steady and wait for my command!"
Dick and his archers were under no such order and they began to loose as soon as the twenty men at arms, who charged them, were in range. With Aiden and his men alongside them they were a formidable force. I knew I could ignore that flank. I had to put my plan into operation. When they were a hundred paces from us and galloping, although in truth they laboured up the bank, I shouted, "Charge! For God, England and the Empress!"
My men cheered and we charged. We had a narrower front. Eight knights faced ten but my archers, under Dick's command, had struck enough of those attacking them to direct their missiles at the main column. They were loosing from the enemies' right and they had no shields to protect them.
We did not have enough time to get to full speed but the slope and the laboured gait of our enemy meant that we were travelling at the same speed and we had the slope with us. I saw Edward Fitz Mandeville before me. He was a big target. As his lance came towards me I lifted my shield while, at the same time, I used the spear overhand to stab down at him. I hit his shoulder and he tumbled from the back of his horse. His standard bearer, in the second rank, brought the standard down to smash into my spear before I could withdraw it. I had plunged it deep into Fitz Mandeville's shoulder. I had felt the head strike bone. My sword flashed from my scabbard. The standard bearer was brave. He had no shield. Having used his standard as a weapon he was trying to regain control of his horse when I brought my sword diagonally across his neck. My blade clanged off his helmet and bit into his coif. It was sharp and my arm was strong. It knocked him from his saddle. My blade came away bloody.
We had forced our way into the heart of the enemy and now it was time for the second part of my plan. "Fall back!" I heard Gilles command the squires to do as I had ordered. I played my part and swayed in my saddle as though I had been struck. My men threw their spears at the enemy. We turned and galloped back up the road. We went in two lines and, as we neared the top we dropped into the ditch. I had scouted it out before and found no obstacles.