by Griff Hosker
They chorused, “Aye lord.”
I knew they had taken strings from the Welsh we had slain when we had campaigned. There was an irony in the fact that we would be using the strings taken from rebels to slay potential rebels.
I gave the Bishop enough information to prepare him for a potential rebellion in the spring. He must have realised my danger for he offered me an escort south to the Tees. I declined for I did not wish to alert the Percy family to the fact that the Bishop was an ally of the King. We were nearing the bridge at Piercebridge when Simon the Traveller said, “Lord we are followed.”
I nodded, “We were picked up as we left Durham. There are two of them and they are good.”
Simon laughed, “Why am I not surprised that our lord is as good a tracker as Stephen the Tracker.”
“Let us say I learned to acquire such senses when I was barely able to walk. They have kept me alive. When we have crossed the Tees, I want the four of you to ambush them where the road divides. I want them to think that we take the York road.”
“If we ambush them then they will be dead.”
“I think that Percy has sent his best men. Your ambush may hurt them but I do not think that it will end the threat. I just want them confused and to lose us, albeit briefly.”
Oliver the Bastard nodded, “Aye lord, for once we are south of York there is but one road home and that will be where they spring the real ambush.”
The road rose after Piercebridge and twisted through trees. It was Roman but they had had to cope with a steep ascent and the road twisted and turned. As we reached a bend where we would be unseen, I waved to my archers and they disappeared. We clip-clopped south towards the fork in the road. I was relying upon the skill of my archers and I was justified. We reached the crossroads and waited. It was some half an hour later that I heard hooves. I turned when I saw them riding down the road. They had a horse with a body slung over its back.
Simon reined in, “You were right, lord, they were good and there were three of them. One has an arrow in his leg and the other will be thanking his weaponsmith for the arrow was stopped by his mail. We recovered the body and the horse.”
I nodded. “Ride down the York Road and bury his body a mile down that thoroughfare. Make the grave easy to see and then join us at Middleham. You can come across the fields and through the woods. I am counting on the fact that if they find the body then they will assume that we carried on to York.”
We separated. The road to Richmond and Middleham undulated, twisted and turned. It was easy for us to see if we were followed. I had a man at arms wait at each bend to watch for those pursuing us and when a suitable time had elapsed, he rejoined us. It slowed us down but it kept us secure and we did not end up with a crick in the neck. It was late when we rode into the farm. Our archers were already there and enjoying Mary’s ale.
“We were not followed, lord. Your ruse may have worked.”
“And that merely buys us time. Mistress Mary, I will go to the castle to speak with Sir William. Harry and I will not be long.”
“The food will be ready when you return, my lord. I have made a rabbit pie!”
We walked to the castle. It was not far and Hart had done me great service already. I was recognised and admitted, “This is late for you to call, Baron William. Is there trouble?”
“If I could speak with you in private?”
“Of course.”
Once we were in a small room which acted as a guard chamber for the Great Hall and with our squires guarding the door, I told him of my mission. “Your uncle will know of the King’s letter. All of the land must know it now but he will not know my suspicions that Hotspur will act in collusion with Douglas and, perhaps, even Glendower. As Sir George Dunbarre is Douglas’ enemy then that means any attack or danger from the north will come through Westmoreland.”
“Do you think it is likely?”
“Not soon, for winter will be upon us and the battle that was fought took place at the end of September. Men and horses will need to recover but, come the new grass, I would advise your uncle to be alert.” I spread my hands, “I am just a humble knight and my advice can be ignored. I do this for the kindnesses you have shown Mistress Mary and for your uncle’s loyalty to the King.”
“And that is reciprocated. Will you be safe?”
I laughed, “I doubt it but I am prepared and any who wishes me harm will have to get up early in the morning to do so.”
Although we had arrived at the farm late, we left before dawn. I wished to steal a march on the men who would attack us. They would search York for us. Archbishop Scrope would be complicit in that search and then they would take the road south. I wanted them on the wrong foot and following rather than waiting for us. Our first stop was Wetherby. It had been a Templar manor but a raid by the Scots in the wake of the battle of Bannockburn had left the town devastated. There was an inn and we stayed there. Many Tyne men had joined the Scots after Bannockburn and the residents were suspicious of any who had a northern accent. It was one reason why I chose the town as a place to rest. The landlord confirmed that we were the first visitors for some time. We slept well.
The danger would come after Doncaster where the York Road met the road from the north. We reached Doncaster after dark. I had hoped to reach it in daylight and spy out any enemies but our horses had gone as far as they could. We stayed, not in the castle but at an inn. After unstringing the archers’ bows and seeing to the horses we dined together. The unusual occurrence that a lord would eat with common warriors raised eyebrows. I did not mind such curiosity. However, that attention also brought us intelligence. Tom Davison had been a sword for hire. I had come across him when I was a gentleman with just Stoney Stratford to my name. He had fought under the banner of the Constable of Lincoln and was a King’s man. He had been lamed in one of the battles fought for King Richard and he recognised me.
He waited until the inn was filled to capacity and we were finishing our meal before he sidled over to us. He leaned over, “Sir William, do you remember me, Tom Davison?”
I smiled and wondered if he sought an ale from an old comrade. “Aye, Tom, I do. You are faring well?”
He nodded, “My lord, might I have a word in your ear?”
He sounded serious, “Of course. Harry, go and buy Tom an ale and give him your seat.”
Tom sat next to me, “Lord, there were men in town this day and they were seeking the Baron of Weedon. They said he travelled with nine men. None had seen you and so they left.”
“How many were there?”
“I saw four but there were others for when I reached my home, my son, who knows that I served with you, described other men asking for you at the bakery where he works. When I heard that you had ridden through the gates, I came to speak with you and warn you.”
“And for that I thank you. Are they still in the town?”
“If they are then they are stuck here for the gates are closed now and none will be allowed in or out until daylight.”
The ale arrived. “Stephen, take the archers and see if you can find these men. Seek their horses.”
“Why do they seek you, lord?”
“Let us say, Tom, that I am still on the King’s business and these men are the King’s enemies.” I took five silver pennies and slid them across the table to him.
“No, lord, I could not take them for you are on the King’s service.”
“Take them or I will be offended.”
He stayed with us until my archers returned. “They have left, lord. There were ten of them and they took the road south.”
I nodded, “They know that we have not reached here. They will seek to ambush us further south. Tom, where would you ambush riders on the road?”
He drank his ale and considered my question, “A few miles south of here is Old Edlington. It is a handful of houses. After you leave the village the road climbs and enters a wood. Many men walk their horses up the slope for it is steep. After that there are many othe
r places where you can be ambushed for the forest becomes increasingly close to the road but that is the first place of danger and they would wait there.”
“Then we prepare for an ambush there!”
Chapter 15
Knowing the site of the ambush and thwarting it were two entirely different matters. We rose and ate well, leaving later in the day. There was a temptation to use the road when it was busy with other travellers upon it but I decided against that they were innocent people and did not deserve to be embroiled in our problems. I also decided against dividing our forces. I needed all of us to be together. We still passed travellers heading north and passed others who were heading south but the main traffic had already used the road by the time we were upon it. The men who would be ambushing us would have to be quick because it was a busy road and they would not wish to be observed. If we were quicker, we would win.
Simon the Traveller took charge of the archers, “We use bodkins; one of the bastards escaped because he had mail!”
Stephen of Morpeth had organised the four sergeants so that he rode next to me, Richard son of Richard next to Harry and the other two had the two spare horses next to them. As we neared the village, my archers each nocked an arrow. Loosing from the back of a horse was never accurate and the bows in their hands would tell an ambusher that we were wary, but my archers would be our first response and any time they might buy for us could make the difference. The six of us rode with swords drawn.
We reached Old Edlington shortly after noon when the villagers were going about their business. They looked up in surprise at the armed men riding through. One greybeard saw our swords and said, “Get the bairns, indoors!” He must have been the head man for all obeyed. They would await the sounds of combat. If none came then they would emerge. Places like Old Edlington were filled with cautious men!
I saw the spot Tom had told us of just up the road. It was a perfect place for an ambush with cover on both sides of the road and a slope which began gently and then became steeper as it twisted and turned. We had taken it steadily since Doncaster and our horses were not yet tired and I decided we would ride up. I sought signs of men in the woods. These attackers would be good but there were signs to look for. Simon had told me that they wore mail. I looked for reflections from metal in the greens and browns of the woods. The men were good but my eyes were still sharp and something glinted four hundred paces ahead.
Harry Fletcher said, “Have you seen it, lord?”
“Aye, I have. Simon, be ready!”
I spurred Hart a little for when the action began the sooner I could reach those trying to harm us the better were the chances of our survival and I did not wish to move Hart from a standing start. My archers won the battle of being the first to draw their bows. Two of the ambushers were hit but the waiting warriors also had crossbows and a bolt slammed into Gurth Garthson’s leg, pinning it to his saddle. I was already peeling off to the left to hit those in the woods there. Stephen of Morpeth rode right. A bolt smashed into my chest. My plate held although it was dented and the bolt hurt. That told me how close the crossbowman was to me. In fighting such as this you needed quick reactions and hesitation could kill. I knew that all before me were enemies and when I saw flesh I swung. A spear hit the plate on my leg and slid up. Potentially it might have hurt me but my blind swing had hacked across the man’s face. He dropped his spear and held his hands to his damaged face.
I heard shouts and cries as my archers duelled with theirs and I urged Hart on. Two warriors stepped out with axes as I heard a scream from behind as Harry slew the half-blinded man. I slowed my horse for I needed help to take on two axemen. Hart had no mail, not even a caparison. It was Oliver the Bastard who forced his horse next to mine. The two axemen shouted to someone and I saw two men running towards us. They had obviously had a longer line of men to ambush us and we had set it off prematurely. Suddenly one of the axemen fell with a bodkin tipped arrow sticking from his chest. As the second swung his axe at me Oliver the Bastard hacked off the man’s arm and I jumped the body of the man slain by the arrow. The two men who had been summoned were now at a disadvantage. They were running and they were not steady. My horse would reach them quicker than they anticipated. One thrust his spear at my left side. Fearful that the spearhead might catch Hart, I jinked the reins to the left and the spear slid down Hart’s right side and struck my leg. I ignored the pain as I leaned forward and slid my sword into the man’s throat. Harry made his horse rear as the second spearman tried to stick his spear in Hart’s side. The attacker’s head was smashed open.
I looked around for more danger. There was none for any survivors had fled.
“Is anyone hurt?”
“Gurth has a bad wound to the leg, lord. I am dealing with him.” That upset me for the only married man I had brought had been Gurth. He knew the north well and that was why I had chosen him. That we had not needed that knowledge now came back to haunt me.
Stephen of Morpeth appeared from the other side. “There are four dead on the other side of the road, lord. I think seven of them escaped.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Oliver, that was a timely blow. You had better see to the man.”
“He is dead, lord. He has bled to death.”
I saw that the man had tried to staunch the bleeding and failed. “We had better search the bodies. The King will want evidence of who has sent them.”
“Do we bury them, father?”
I shook my head, “We need to put as much space between us and the north as we can. The survivors may go to York and we know that the Archbishop is an ally of the Percy family. Put them in the ditches by the side of the road.
The bolt had nicked Gurth’s bone. He would walk with a limp for the rest of his life and his recovery would be slow but he would be able to draw a bow. In the time it took to tend to his wound we had found all that the men had. The coins told us nothing except that there were two French coins and five Welsh ones amongst them. What was more telling were the three adornments we found on the horses. They were the Percy lion. They were evidence enough of Percy’s involvement. We had three more horses as booty and we hurried south. We rode hard and reached Nottingham which was a royal castle. My warrant gained us chambers and a healer for Gurth. The Constable was keen to know what had caused the wound. Although it was a royal castle, as we had discovered at Chester, that did not mean there were not spies there. I told him that we had been ambushed by bandits.
“In the present clime of rebellion and unrest, my lord, I would be more likely to believe that they were sent by the King’s enemies. You are known to be close to the King and all the land knew that you had been sent on an errand dear to his heart.” The very public announcement of my mission had almost cost us our lives.
We rode hard the next day and reached Weedon after dark. Poor Gurth was in a bad way and I felt guilty for having forced the ride upon him. My wife and my daughter were pleased to see us. Harry was still young and his mother feared for him. I saw her examining him for wounds.
I smiled, “Only Gurth was wounded and it will heal. We were lucky for we were attacked but your son is a warrior. I did not worry about him!”
I saw the pride in my son’s eyes. “And do we ride to Northampton tomorrow, father?”
“We do. It will mean I can discharge my duty to the King and come back to the bosom of my family!”
As I lay in bed with my wife, she asked me about the journey. “You were in danger the whole time, were you not?”
I would not lie to her and I said, “For most of the journey home, aye.”
“The King is wrong to put you in such danger.”
“Some would argue that he is the King and can do no wrong.”
She laughed, “And you of all people know that is not true. You served poor King Richard and saw his flaws and weaknesses.” I said nothing. “Will there be war?”
“I fear so.”
“And that means that Richard, Thomas and Harry will be in danger.”
“They are warriors.”
“I know but for me, I would that you try to keep them out of it.”
“I will try but Richard and Thomas are the King’s men and if he calls them to arms then they cannot refuse.”
“And you will ride to the aid of Prince Henry in Spring.”
“I will for he asked me to go and, to be truthful, wife, I see hope for England when his hands are on the reins of the realm. His father plots too much!”
She snorted, “That I know and he sees you as a chess piece! You are the knight he uses to dazzle his enemies. I know enough of the game to warn you that you may be the knight sacrifice.”
“I will try to avoid that. When I return from Northampton, I will have a better idea of my position. I hope that the King will have no need of me for some time.”
I used my best mount, Hawk, and dressed well for the visit. I took only Harry but my wife had sent me with a list of things she needed. This year we would not have a ceremony of knighthood and we could enjoy Christmas. She sent me for spices and aqua vitae. Thomas and Mary would share our celebration and my wife intended it to be joyful. She also sent me to buy some lace for Alice’s child would be born in the next days and once she knew the sex, she would have a garment made for the christening.
We arrived early but the King was out hunting. I used his absence to buy that which I needed. He did not return until after noon. By then I was waiting in the antechamber to the Great Hall. “Had I known you had returned I would have cut short the hunt! What news?”
I gestured to the Great Hall, “Perhaps, King Henry, we could speak in there. The fire is warming and this may take some time.”
“I am duly chastised. You are right.” We went inside where he sat and then waved me to a seat. He had advisers and lords with him but an imperious wave of his arm moved them out of earshot. “Tell me all. Begin with his reaction.”