“We now have a thousand, Earl Marshal.”
“Good then I want to find a place to bring them to battle. We will end it with one battle. This time I want none to escape.” It was not in my nature to be so ruthless but I knew that it would be the only way to make the High King realise that this was a war he could not win.
Over the next few days the scouts went out to find the dispositions of our foes. Twenty knights and squires arrived three days after I had returned from Athy. They were young but they were more than welcome. Forty more riders, the majority of whom were mailed, would make all the difference. My plan was simple. We had scouted out the land. If they gathered at Athy then they could not make it to Ferns in one day. The Bishop was no warrior. He assumed an army could travel at the speed of a horseman! They were on foot and it was over thirty miles. I gambled that they would stop at the tiny hamlet of Bunclody. It was on a river and would allow them to read Ferns in a few hours. I intended to wait for them five miles from Bunclody and use the King of Leinster as bait. There was a bridge over the River Clody at Ballycarney. Once I knew that they had left Athy I intended to cross the river there and ride to Bunclody. We would cross and attack their rear once they were engaged with the King of Leinster. We would stiffen their ranks with the knights of the Count of Striguil. I would lead the rest. The archers would also be behind the men of Leinster but they would be hidden.
The scouts reported, two days later, that the standard of the King was at Athy. The King of Leinster gathered his army. They prepared to march out. I did not rely entirely in the Irish scouts. I used Ralph of Wales and John to watch Athy. They would not be seen and they would be able to tell me when the army left.
James had found a helmet for Padraig to wear and a cut down hauberk. A full one was too heavy but, as he would be riding with me, I wanted him protecting. James made sure that he had a good horse too. We were able to leave our spare supplies and horses at the castle site with the servants. The foundations were almost finished and we just awaited the masons.
Early one afternoon John rode in, “Lord, the Irish have left Athy. Ralph of Wales is shadowing them. They are coming down the road to Bunclody. He has four thousand men. We were able to count them as they left the settlement. They are spread across the land as they march. There is no order to them.” The professional soldier in John was outraged.
“Good, rejoin Aelric.” I found the Count. “We will leave this afternoon and cross the Clody. We will camp tonight south of Bunclody. You know that all of this fails if the King does not do exactly what I said.”
“Do not fear. He wants it over. His eldest son is held hostage by the High King. He sees this as his chance to get him back.”
“Good then leave now. It will take the king some time to reach Clohamon. He needs to tie one flank to the river. You must be on the other flank.”
I hated leaving the Count alone with the King. The Count was reliable but not so the King. I led my two hundred knights and squires along with two hundred men at arms south west towards the river crossing. This was another place which needed a castle. We clattered across the wooden bridge and turned to follow the track which ran alongside it. There were farmers but they fled when they saw us coming. If we had frightened the army of the High King then we absolutely terrified the farmers. They saw mail clad giants on unbelievably large horses. It grew dark and we stopped to make a cold camp. I walked with Roger of Bath and James. We headed along the river until we heard the noise of the Irish camp. We travelled more than two miles before we found them. I saw the spirals of smoke from their fires. We were close enough. They would not see us and we could head away from the river before dawn. I wanted the High King to take the bait. I needed him to see a strong army of Leinster with Norman horses. He had to believe that he had enough men to defeat them.
We ate cold rations and slept close to our horses. James and Padraig were still talking as I fell asleep. I was pleased that James had someone to take under his wing. Since I had knighted my other squire, Richard, he had led a solitary life. My time was always taken up with matters of what others deemed to be of greater importance. James was left to do much on his own. My men at arms and archers had their comrades for companionship. When we fought, the next day, it would James who would be responsible for keeping Padraig safe in case we needed him to translate.
Roger of Bath shook me awake before dawn. James and Padraig were still curled up asleep. I rose and walked away from my sleeping squire, “What is it?”
“One of the sentries woke me, lord. He heard noises across the river.” I waited. Roger would not have woken me just because a noise was heard. “The Irish camp is awake, lord.”
“Then they may move early.” He nodded. “I want everyone awake and mounted but no trumpets or horns. Do it man by man.”
“Aye lord.”
I went to James and Padraig. I woke them and told them what to do. I hurried over to Sir Raymond and woke him. Most of the knights were young and they soon roused the camp. There was noise but the strident blast of a horn or a shout would have been much louder. James returned having woken sufficient squires for the ripple of rising to continue. He began to dress me. Padraig arrived back and he helped James to dress. We had no servants with us. I found a jug with some ale left in and I drank some of that before giving it to James and Padraig. They offered me some of the dried meat they carried. I shook my head.
We saddled our horses and we three mounted. As soon as we did so it was a silent signal for the rest of the conroi to do the same. Making the sign for silence we headed away from the river so that we would not be heard from across the river. Roger and I led. We had scouted the path the previous night when we had returned from our trip up the river. I could hear, in the distance, the sound of the Irish as their camp came to light. The Count and the King might not have their own camp roused but they were in position and they would hear the Irish as they approached.
We turned and headed towards Bunclody. The first grey could be seen in the east. The noise of the enemy receded. As we neared the bridge I waved forward Roger of Bath and Harry Lightfoot. They galloped off towards the bridge. If the Irish had left any men there then we would still be able to attack but we would have lost the element of surprise. When there was no noise from the dark and they did not return then I knew that the bridge was unguarded.
By the time we crossed the bridge and entered the hamlet the sky was much lighter. Roger and Harry had still to return. We found them at the Irish camp. The High King had left servants and women there. I saw that Roger and Harry had slain the three men left to guard it. Roger came from one of the huts and held aloft a torc. “Lord, the King’s treasure is here. They left three men to guard it.”
“Sir Raymond, leave a knight and six men at arms to secure this camp and the treasure.” I lowered my voice, “A trustworthy one!”
There might have been a time when Sir Raymond would have been offended at my suggestion but he had changed since first we met. He nodded and said, “Aye lord. Old Sir Geoffrey will be perfect! “
We were now riding on what passed for a road in these parts. We were able to move faster. All of my men at arms now rode before us. They were there to warn us of the enemy. As the sun rose in the east over the Wicklow Hills, I heard the clash and clamour of battle. The High King had clashed with our men. The river and Count Striguil would mean that the High King was pressing towards the centre and I had no doubt that the Leinster line would be bowing. I could picture Aelric and his archers as they slowed the inexorable press. As we rose from the slight hollow I saw, a mile away, the rear of the Irish army. I spied the banners of the High King and his lords. They were at the rear of the army and looked to be mounted. I raised my spear and pointed first to my right and then to my left. Our line began to form. My men at arms galloped back and joined James and Padraig, behind me. I was flanked by Sir Raymond and Hugh de Lacy. Spurring Warrior, I led the line at a canter towards the distant battle.
As soon as our four hundr
ed sets of hooves struck the ground the sound travelled south. We would be heard. The sound of the battle would disguise our direction but they would feel the ground tremble and know that horsemen were coming. Each moment that delayed our discovery took us twenty paces close to them. Already the jaws of my trap were closing. I saw the river to my right and Count Striguil’s banners to my left. We were less than half a mile away. I lowered my spear and rested it on the cantle of my saddle. I spurred Warrior. He began to open his legs. The rest of the line reacted and began to move faster.
I heard a horn from the Irish. We had been seen and I watched as shields and spears turned to face us. It was too late. We had a line which was a hundred men wide and four men deep. The men on the flanks of our army were closing in. I saw the black shadow of arrows as they descended into the heart of the Irish army. They were surrounded and the mailed mounted machine was about to chew them up and spit out the remains.
Their horsemen did not ride to face us. That would have been suicide. They only had twenty and they were the High King, his sub kings, chiefs and his chieftains. Instead they placed themselves behind a wall of shields. Their bodyguards and oathsworn formed two ranks before them. That suited us. I spurred Warrior when we were just a hundred paces from them and I moved my spear so that it was pointed at the line of warriors. They had few spears. They had swords and small shields. Some had limed and spiked hair and I saw a few helmets. They were not afraid. I watched one warrior break ranks, throw away his shield and race towards us with his sword held in two hands. He ran and threw himself into the air. His sword was sweeping down to strike at Warrior’s head. My spear was on the wrong side and we were boot to boot. Sir Hugh’s spear took him in the head. His sword flew backwards and his body fell beneath our crashing hooves.
Then we struck their line. I punched with my spear and it rammed into the bare, tattooed chest of the red-haired giant who roared at me. I allowed my hand to trail back as Warrior’s hooves clattered into the shield and chest of the man behind him. He screamed as he was crushed. The red-haired giant slid from my spear and I moved it back into position. I punched again. This time it hit an Irishman in the shoulder and he was able to wrench it from my hand before falling beneath Sir Raymond’s horse’s hooves. I drew my sword and swept it around at the warrior who lunged at my leg. His sword slid along my mail chausse as my sword hacked into his skull.
We were now through the oathsworn and the chiefs and kings awaited us. They were mounted. They rode at us. These were not cowards. One rode at me, for our line was now disjointed. He had a helmet with a metal bird on the top. He had plaited, lime spiked hair and beard which made his head look twice the size of a normal man. He had a sword which was longer than mine but, he had no stirrups! He swung his sword at me and it clattered into my shield. I saw that he almost fell from his horse. His mount was smaller than Warrior and I had the advantage of height. I stood in my stirrups and brought my sword down. He raised his shield to block the blow and my sword shattered it asunder. The blade bit into his arm. I whipped Warrior’s head around as I lunged at his, now bare, chest. My sword sliced across his chest and, bleeding from two wounds, he could no longer keep his seat. He fell from his horse and was trampled by the terrified beast who backed away from Warrior’s snapping teeth.
Another warrior, a chief I guessed, lunged at me with his sword. I took it on my shield. I saw him anticipate me standing in my stirrups. He lifted his shield. I hacked across his leg. With no mail to protect him, my sword ripped through to the bone. Had he had stirrups he might have kept his seat but he slid from the horse, his life blood pumping away. There was now a gap and I urged Warrior into it. King Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair had one bodyguard with him. He was on foot and he held a two-handed axe. He had a fine helmet but was bare chested. I walked Warrior to him. I could see from his stance and the position of his axe that he intended to take Warrior’s head. A two-handed axe is a terrible weapon and can inflict great damage but once it has begun its swing then it cannot be stopped. I waited for him to swing and then I whipped Warrior’s head away from the blow and pirouetted around. The axe caught some of Warrior’s tail; it would regrow. I was swinging my sword as I came around and it sliced across the Irish bodyguard’s throat.
I reined in next to the king and pointed my sword at him, “Surrender or die!” He jabbered something at me. “James, Padraig!” My squire and my translator stopped their horses by me. I saw that they were both spattered and besmeared with blood. They had not been idle. “Padraig tell him to surrender or die!” Around us men were still fighting furiously but here, in the heart of the Irish army there was quiet for we were surrounded by a sea of dead. The king’s standard bearer was still on his horse but he had been wounded in his right arm and he clung to the standard with his left.
Padraig spoke to the king. He was answered and Padraig spoke again and swept his arm towards me. The King nodded and said something to the standard bearer. The standard was lowered and he sounded four blasts on his horn. Gradually his men stopped fighting.
“What did you say to him, Padraig, to convince him?”
“I told him that you had defeated the Vikings and you had more men coming from England. I said that they all rode horses as you did.”
I nodded, “You both did well. Search the bodies of the chiefs and kings I slew. Whatever treasure they have is yours.”
I saw Count Striguil and King Diarmait Mac Murchada heading towards me. The Bishop of Ferns was with the King as well as the chiefs who rode with the King of Leinster. He was beaming. “Thank you, Earl. You have repaid my trust a thousand-fold.” He turned to King Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair and began berating him.
I could leave the rest to the King and Count Striguil. James and Padraig had gold and silver bangles and amulets they had taken from the dead and remounted. “James, sound for my men. We will head back to Ferns. Our work here is done.”
We rode south and had to pick our way through waves of Irish dead. I saw that almost half had been slain by arrows. Aelric and his archers joined my men at arms. “We do not stay, lord?”
“You like the smell of death, Ralph of Wales? I assume you have taken what you wish from the battlefield?”
Aelric nodded, “They were poor pickings.”
Roger of Bath said, “Then we will share with you for we fought the chiefs and they carry their treasure with them.”
My men fought as one. You could not buy loyalty like that. We reached Ferns as the sun began to set. We would have a good and safe night’s sleep free from the smell of dead flesh and the sound of carrion feasting.
Chapter 14
We were wise to ride back early. The rest of the army did not arrive for a week. There were hostages to be recovered and hostages taken. Oaths were sworn and peace was made. During that week the masons arrived. I used some of the treasure we had taken from the Irish camp to pay them and they began work on the castle which would become the home of Count Striguil.
Sir Raymond and his men reached us the day before the King and the bulk of the army. He took me to one side, “We need to speak, lord.”
I found a quiet part of the camp and said, “Go ahead.”
“The King is grown greedy. He wishes us to take more of Meath now.”
“And the Count?”
“He is in agreement.”
“But you think that I will disapprove.”
“You are a man of honour, Earl Marshal. King Henry asked you to come and help the King of Leinster regain his kingdom. He has done so.”
“You are right. I need to return to speak with King Henry.” Sir Raymond was not telling me all. “Speak in confidence, Sir Raymond. Do not hide your thoughts from me.”
“There is one part of the kingdom which is not yet recovered. Dyflin now has a Viking king, Ascall mac Ragnaill meic Torcaill. Count Striguil has promised that we will take it with our men.”
“King Diarmait Mac Murchada wishes us to bleed for his town.”
“It was his son’s idea.”
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br /> “His son?”
“Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada was one of the hostages held by the High King. When he returned to his father it was as a conquering hero. He and his brother Conchobar fell out. That continued when he met the Count, the first night after his return. The Prince said that just because the Count had married his sister did not mean that he would inherit the kingdom when his father died.”
“What did the King say?”
“He was not there. He and the Bishop were praying. It was the next day that Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada made the suggestion to his father. He said it would prove that the Count truly cared for King Diarmait.”
“Clever. It means that the Count could not refuse. If he did then it would appear as though he was disloyal. I thank you for telling me. Then we shall take Dyflin and then I will return to speak with King Henry. It means a long sea voyage for he is in Anjou but…”
He smiled, “You are the King’s man. I know.”
The foundations to the castle had been laid by the time the army returned. The king was surprised at the progress we had made and Count Striguil was delighted. It would give him a secure base should the Irish try to take back Leinster. When the bulk of the knights returned to England he would have to use the castle as a base with which to hold the land. The only one who appeared unhappy was Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada. I think he saw it as a means of making the Count’s claim to Leinster a little more solid. It was the first time I had met the king’s son and I did not like him. He was a huge beast of a man but he was sulky and petulant. He had been a hostage for a long time and it showed. He had run to fat. Instead of keeping himself as fit as he should, he had brooded and now it showed. His father was getting on in years. Domhnall Caemanach mac Murchada saw himself as king.
When we feasted, two days later, it was Domhnall who brought up the plan to attack Dyflin. He spoke not to me but his words were intended for my ears, “So brother Richard, when do you begin your attack on the Vikings, who have claimed my father’s land?”
Irish War (Anarchy Book 16) Page 20