The Sword Brothers

by Peter Darman

  ‘You speak our language, crusader,’ said the warrior.

  ‘State your business,’ snapped Conrad, looking behind the warrior to see if he and his men were but the vanguard of an army.

  ‘I wish to see Master Berthold, commander at Wenden.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Among my people,’ said the warrior, ‘it is polite for each party to introduce themselves when they have a conversation.’

  This took Conrad aback. Until now he was used to killing Estonians rather than engaging them in discourse. For a moment he was lost for words. He cleared his throat.

  ‘My name is Conrad Wolff, knight of the Order of Sword Brothers.’

  The warrior tilted his head. ‘I am Kalju, chief of the Ungannian people and I have an offer for your master, so I would be grateful if you would escort me to him.’

  During the ride back to Wenden Kalju did not reveal the nature of his mission nor why he was riding in enemy territory with so few warriors. But Conrad did probe him about Lembit.

  ‘Have you seen him lately, lord?’ said Conrad casually.

  ‘Only a few days ago,’ replied Kalju.

  ‘At Lehola?’

  ‘At Lehola, yes. You have been there?’

  ‘Two years ago, when Lembit submitted to the bishop, accepted baptism and professed friendship to the Holy Church.’

  Kalju chuckled. ‘Warlords have no friends, boy.’

  ‘My name is Brother Conrad,’ said Conrad sternly.

  ‘I meant no insult.’

  When they arrived at Wenden Kalju and his men saw the great number of tents pitched to the south of the castle’s outer perimeter, together with stacks of lances, racks of spears and wagons corralled in fenced-off parks. Flags flew from the tops of the largest tents and soldiers milled around within the campsite. It was an impressive sight but had Kalju tarried and looked more closely he would have discovered that half the tents were empty.

  Conrad had sent a sergeant ahead to give Master Berthold prior warning of Wenden’s unexpected guest, and the castellan stood in the courtyard in front of his hall when the patrol and the Ungannians trotted onto the cobbles. Rudolf, Henke and Lukas stood behind Berthold fully armed in their mail armour while a party of crossbowmen and spearmen stood to attention either side of the master. The Ungannians looked uneasy and kept glancing back at the half-finished gatehouse, no doubt estimating whether they could get out alive if the crossbowmen began shooting. But Berthold stepped forward and opened his hands to Kalju as the chief dismounted and Conrad escorted him over to the master. The latter did not speak Estonian and so Conrad had to translate.

  ‘This is Kalju, master, lord of the Ungannian people.’

  Berthold smiled. ‘Welcome Kalju, eagle of the east.’

  The chief laughed when Conrad relayed the master’s words. Berthold offered Kalju and his men refreshments, suggesting that Lukas and Henke take the chief’s escort to the dining hall and feed them while he talked with the Ungannian leader. Berthold began to lead him away but Kalju stopped and turned round to look at Conrad.

  ‘What about you?’

  Conrad held out a hand to Rudolf. ‘Brother Rudolf speaks your language and will be able to translate.’

  ‘You can speak my words,’ said Kalju bluntly.

  Conrad informed the master of this and was told that his presence would be welcome in the hall. Kalju ordered his men to follow Henke and Lukas to the dining hall and to keep their swords close in case the Christians tried to kill them. If they succeeded he would meet them all in the afterlife for he too would be dead. Conrad looked at Rudolf who understood the words but merely smiled at Kalju.

  ‘We do not murder our guests, lord.’

  Berthold ordered food and drink brought to his hall as he made Kalju welcome in his office just off the main anteroom. The chief took off his helmet and spread himself in the high-backed chair and drank the wine offered him by a novice, Berthold sitting opposite him as more novices brought bread, smoked fish and meats and set them on the desk. Rudolf stood beside the master, Conrad beside Kalju. The latter regarded the master and his deputy with his cold blue eyes. When he had sated his thirst and hunger he spoke to the master, Rudolf translating and Conrad relaying the master’s words.

  ‘I come with an offer for the bishop,’ said Kalju. ‘I will submit to his authority if he sends soldiers to help my people.’

  Somewhat startled, Berthold sat and listened as Kalju informed him of the Russian incursion into Ungannia and Lembit’s unwillingness to assist him.

  ‘He is no friend of Ungannia and so I am no friend of his,’ declared Kalju.

  ‘If you become the bishop’s friend,’ Berthold warned him, ‘you will earn the enmity of Lembit and the other Estonian chiefs.’

  Kalju laughed. ‘Nigul is dead, Alva wails like an old woman after the bishop raided his lands and Edvin is busy fighting the Russians.’

  Berthold raised an eyebrow at this. ‘The Russians?’

  ‘Novgorod sent raiders into Wierland as well as Ungannia. The bear stirs and covets lands in the west just as your bishop desires his own conquests.’

  ‘And what price does Ungannia place upon the bishop’s friendship?’ said Berthold.

  ‘That my people remain free and Ungannia becomes an ally of Livonia, not a slave.’

  ‘I cannot speak for the bishop,’ said Berthold, ‘but I am certain that he will welcome the hand of friendship that you have extended to him.’

  ‘But will he send soldiers to aid me?’ queried Kalju.

  ‘I am sure he will,’ said Berthold in a non-committal way.

  Kalju looked around at the austere room. ‘Lembit believes that Wenden will march against Lehola.’

  Berthold nodded. ‘The bishop will finish affairs with him, of that you can be certain. In his impudence he tried to assault this castle.’ He pointed at Conrad. ‘He failed and Brother Conrad scarred his face as a permanent reminder of his folly.’

  Kalju looked up at Conrad. ‘You did that?’

  ‘Yes, lord.’

  ‘Can I take him back with me to Odenpah?’ he said to Berthold.

  A courier pigeon was sent to Riga and a message came back with a another bird the next morning stating that the bishop was indeed interested in Ungannia’s friendship but that Kalju would have to submit hostages as surety against treachery. These hostages were to be Kalju’s sons and the sons of his chief elders. In exchange, the bishop promised to send soldiers to Ungannia to reinforce the chief’s own warriors.

  Kalju spent four days at Wenden, during which Conrad accompanied him at all times as his interpreter. He found the chief amiable, intelligent and concerned about the fate of his people. It was the latter consideration that was uppermost in his mind when he talked again with Berthold and Rudolf before he and his men departed the castle.

  ‘Odenpah must be held at all costs,’ he said. ‘For five hundred years it has been the physical and spiritual home of my people. The Russians have tried to take it once; they will do so again.’

  *****

  The bishop sat with Stefan in the withdrawing chamber of his palace, tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair while he waited for the grand master to appear. He had always been a serious man but Lembit’s betrayal had seemingly banished any light heartedness that may have resided within him. His chiselled features had become darker, more severe and he had become more determined than ever to subdue Estonia and rid the world of Lembit.

  Volquin arrived at last to allow the meeting to start.

  ‘What do you make of this Kalju?’ said the bishop. ‘Are we to accept his offer, to put our faith in the word of an Estonian after another of their race betrayed me so basely?’

  ‘I would say no, lord bishop,’ said Stefan. ‘The Estonians, like all pagans, are untrustworthy.’

  ‘I would not dismiss Kalju’s offer,’ said Volquin. ‘He rode to Wenden of his own volition whereas Lembit was facing certain defeat when he submitted to Bishop Albert.’

 
; ‘What is the difference?’ asked Stefan.

  ‘Lembit did what he did to save his own skin,’ answered Volquin. ‘Kalju is trying to preserve his people.’

  ‘If we send soldiers to this fort what is to stop the pagans slaughtering them?’ said Stefan.

  ‘Nothing,’ admitted Volquin, ‘though what would that avail him? By doing so he would create enemies of the lord bishop as well as Lembit and the Russians.’

  The bishop looked at Volquin. ‘Your advice would be to send soldiers to this fort?’

  Volquin nodded. ‘To Odenpah? Yes, lord bishop.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘We know that forces from Pskov have raided Ungannia. Indeed, years ago they raided Livonia before it became strong. If they conquer Kalju’s kingdom then their soldiers will be on our border and I would rather have Ungannia as an ally than a hostile Novgorod bearing down on us.’

  ‘If we did decide to aid the Ungannians,’ said the bishop, ‘what resources are available to us?’

  Volquin frowned. ‘In truth very few, lord bishop. The garrisons along the Dvina must be reinforced to prevent any more Lithuanian incursions.’ He looked at Stefan. ‘I don’t suppose the garrison of Riga would be able to spare any soldiers?’

  Stefan shook his head vigorously. ‘Out of the question, grand master. We barely escaped with our lives when the Oeselian pirates attacked the city.’

  Volquin remembered it differently and recollected the garrison and its engines seeing off the enemy raiders relatively easily. But he said nothing.

  ‘Riga needs all the soldiers it can lay its hands on.’

  ‘That just leaves the garrisons along the Gauja and the additional troops at Wenden, then,’ said Volquin.

  ‘The crusaders that came with me from Germany can reinforce those castles in the absence of their garrisons,’ said Bishop Albert.

  ‘Then I take it you are accepting Kalju’s offer, lord bishop?’ said Volquin.

  The bishop nodded.

  Volquin smiled triumphantly at Stefan. ‘Excellent, lord bishop. You will not regret it. With your permission I will make the arrangements immediately.’

  He went to rise from his chair but the bishop stopped him.

  ‘There is another matter I wish to speak to you about, grand master.’

  Volquin sat back down.

  ‘It has been brought to my attention that the garrisons of the Sword Brothers along the Dvina have been intercepting merchant vessels and imposing dues upon them before they reach Riga.’

  Volquin looked at Stefan who had a smug expression on his face.

  ‘This activity must cease,’ ordered the bishop.

  ‘With respect, lord bishop,’ said Volquin, ‘the Sword Brothers were forced into such drastic action by the reluctance of the treasury in Riga to furnish them with weapons and equipment with which to carry out your orders.’

  Stefan raised an eyebrow at this but remained silent.

  ‘The Sword Brothers will have whatever they need,’ said the bishop, ‘but the merchants must have confidence that their vessels can sail the Dvina unmolested.’

  ‘Then can I take it that the ship that docked at Riga yesterday filled with weapons and armour will be made available to the Sword Brothers?’ enquired Volquin.

  ‘Those supplies have been purchased for the needs of the garrison of Riga,’ said Stefan.

  Volquin tried hard to maintain his composure. ‘Why does the garrison need two hundred new crossbows, archdeacon, seeing as its armouries in the castle and city are already full?’

  ‘The office of the grand master seems to know a great deal about the personal business of the Governor of Riga,’ remarked Stefan.

  ‘Would that the Governor of Riga knew a great deal about the needs of the Sword Brothers,’ Volquin shot back.

  ‘How dare you,’ said Stefan.

  The bishop, tired and irritable, had no time for such bickering. ‘Enough! Grand master, you will order your masters to desist interrupting trade along the Dvina and in return you will draw up an inventory of your order’s needs and I will sign it. Archdeacon Stefan, when I have authorised the grand master’s requirements you will ensure that the armouries in Riga furnish him with everything that is on the list.’

  Volquin smiled smugly at Stefan who glared at the grand master. The bishop saw the expressions.

  ‘We are all here to undertake God’s holy work. I find this constant bickering and political intrigue tiresome and unworthy of the Order of Sword Brothers and the office of Governor of Riga. Every year I see such boorish behaviour in the courts and castles of northern Germany and have no wish to see Livonia become infected with it.’

  Volquin and Stefan mumbled their apologies and were dismissed by the bishop, who the grand master thought looked pale and drawn and not at all well. Albert had almost single-handedly created Livonia by his determination and religious fervour, and had for years travelled to Germany and back to enlist men to his cause. Everyone hoped that he would live to see the completion of the cathedral that was being constructed in his honour, the foundation stones of which had been laid the previous year, but Volquin feared that the burden of being the man who carried the weight of Livonia upon his shoulders would prove too great He would make an effort to reduce that burden, even if it meant trying to be more friendly to the toad-like governor of the city. But first he had much work to do assembling a force to be sent to Odenpah.

  *****

  It took two months to organise the expedition to Odenpah, during which time the weather got cooler and wetter as autumn set in. Wenden was the mustering point for the force that Grand Master Volquin gathered to aid Kalju. The latter, expecting an assault from Pskov at any time, sent riders to Wenden requesting clarification concerning the apparent delay in the arrival of the Sword Brothers at his stronghold. Master Berthold sent them back after explaining that it took time to organise an expedition but that it would be at Odenpah before the end of the year. To guard against an attack by Lembit at Lehola, Berthold decided to retain a significant garrison at Wenden. He was in the happy circumstances of having a full garrison and a superfluous number of brother knights. Since the acceptance into the order of Conrad, Hans, Anton and Johann he had four additional brother knights who ordinarily would be sent to other garrisons. However, the expedition to Odenpah put paid to that, at least for the present. He decided to send eight of his brother knights to Kalju – Rudolf, Henke, Lukas, Walter, Conrad, Hans, Anton and Johann – leaving seven others and himself to man Wenden. Accompanying them would be thirty sergeants, a score of crossbowmen and the same number of spearmen. Volquin sent Master Bertram from Segewold to join Berthold, who brought with him eleven brother knights, a score of sergeants, a score of crossbowmen and an equal number of spearmen. From Kremon came Master Mathias with eleven brother knights, twenty sergeants, thirty crossbowmen and the same number of spearmen.

  When they heard of the march to Odenpah, even they had no idea where it was, all the crusaders who had spent the summer at Wenden in idle activity begged Berthold to be allowed to join it. The master tactfully informed them that Wenden was still in danger and only a percentage of their number would be able to join the Sword Brother expedition, otherwise Lembit might assault and overrun the castle. The crusaders were most unhappy but reluctantly acquiesced in the master’s decision. Berthold told them they were going to defend a stronghold and so it would be better to leave their warhorses behind, though they did use them in a jousting competition that was held to decide which among them would go to Odenpah. In the end fifty knights were selected, plus their squires, and fifty crossbowmen that the lords had brought with them from Germany.

  Curiously, their elected leader was a non-German, an Englishman by the name of Sir Richard Bruffingham. Taller than most, he had shaved his head and beard in an act of penitence before he had left England to crusade in Livonia. The eldest son of a powerful northern lord, Bruffingham had had the misfortune to fall in love with the woman who was to wed his best friend. His affe
ctions had turned into infatuation and he had pursued the poor woman until, beside herself with worry, she had taken her own life. This had cast Sir Richard into the pit of despair, his misery and guilt made worse when his best friend also killed himself rather than face a lifetime without his true love. Overcome with remorse, he had decided to go on crusade in an effort to seek God’s forgiveness for his sins. He brought with him his squire, a man not much younger than himself whose vocation had been executioner before Sir Richard persuaded him that serving as his squire was more noble than stretching necks, torturing people and cutting off their heads. Tough, able to use a sword and ride a horse, squire Paul was a useful man to have in a tight spot.

  The final component of the army that numbered just under four hundred men was Master Thaddeus, his engineers and the six mangonels that had been dismantled and packed onto wagons for the journey north. More wagons carried their ammunition and yet more spare weapons, armour, clothes, food, fodder and thousands of crossbow bolts. Each wagon had waterproof covers for autumn in Livonia was above all wet. There were actually more horses and draught animals than men when the army finally left Wenden on a wet, windy morning; the track north soon turning to mud as dozens of heavy wheels churned up the ground. The spearmen and crossbowmen marched beside the wagons, after a few hours piling their shields and weapons on them as the rain got heavier, the ground wetter and men had to haul the wagons out of the mud. The army covered a grand total of five miles that first day.

  Joint command had been awarded to Sir Richard and masters Bertram and Mathias, though during the twenty days that it took the army to crawl through the rolling hills and forests of southern Estonia they followed the directions of the Ungannian guides sent to them by Kalju. Conrad often rode with the three leaders on account of his knowledge of the Estonian tongue, allowing them to liaise with the guides.

  ‘You are a friend of this pagan chief?’ Sir Richard asked him in flawless German.

  ‘No, lord,’ said Conrad. ‘I was on patrol when he came to Wenden and was the first person he came across.’