by Griff Hosker
I put my face closer to the clerk. “Sir Guy de Senonche died. Before we put an end to his suffering he told us all. He gave us your name.” It was a lie but I told it so that he would not have to endure torture. It was a white lie. “He told us that it was the King of France who paid him and,” I guessed, “you were the spy in the Archbishop’s palace. Is that not true?”
I saw, for the briefest of moments the lie flicker in his eye and then he thought better and nodded. That simple nod, that acceptance of guilt, seemed to open the flood gates and he began to chatter, “At first, when I was approached, I was told that I was doing God’s work for the Pope wished to know if the Archbishop was being a good man.” He shook his head, “I know that your grace is a good man and I thought it an easy way to make money. I would not have to lie. I could tell the truth, that you did do God’s work. Then I was asked for information which passed through these walls. At first I refused and then I was told that if I did not then my position as a spy would be revealed to your Grace.”
The Archbishop looked like a disappointed father, “They could not have told me, Abelard. They would have lost their spy. You are a foolish young man.”
“I know but by then I was used to the money. It was easy work and I was becoming rich. It seemed easy work. I opened letters and read them. Anything which concerned the Bishop of Durham or the Earl of Cleveland was of interest. It seemed harmless. They were not state secrets. It was information: where the Earl went and so forth”
“Who showed the interest?” He looked confused, “To whom did you give the information?” He hesitated. “I have just come from the King. He knows that you are a traitor. I have permission to treat you as such. Would you like to be hanged, drawn and quartered?”
He shook his head. “There is a tavern by the river, ‘The Saddle’; I took the information to the landlord there.”
“Was he the one who recruited you?”
“No, my lord. I was recruited by a Frenchman.”
“But not Sir Guy.”
“No, my lord, not Sir Guy. I knew not his name but he had fine clothes and armour.” I saw him struggling for something which would please us. “He had brown skin as though he had been in the Holy Land and he wore a white surcoat.”
I looked at the Archbishop, “A Crusader.” I wondered if it was the mysterious knight who had been dogging our shadows.
The Archbishop nodded, “And how did you get your information to the landlord and thence to France?” He hesitated, “We have been kind thus far. Do not try my patience, Abelard!”
The Archbishop had steel in him.
He dropped his head, “Brother James.”
“Brother James, the lay monk?”
“Aye, your Grace, but he knew nothing. He was just being Brother James.”
The Archbishop nodded and turned to me, “Brother James is a gentle soul. He works in the kitchen. He goes to the river each day to the quayside to buy what we do not grow.”
“Tell me Abelard, what did you tell this lay monk about the missives you supplied?”
“I said that they were letters to those with power for I hoped to better myself. He believed me. He asked, at the inn, each day if there were any more messages for me. He was always pleased when I received a letter. He is a kind man and he always hoped I would improve myself.”
“Brother James would like to be a full monk but he cannot read. He wants others who have more skills to aspire to greater things.”
This Brother James had been duped; that much was clear. “And this Crusader, describe his surcoat.”
“It was as I said, my lord, it was just white. It was plain white save for a small red griffin rampant.”
I had the connection! I nodded to the Archbishop. He left and he locked the door. “Do you know this knight then?”
“No but I know of him. He was at Berwick with the rebels and his seal was found with the assassin.”
The Archbishop waved the sentries over and we made our way up to the hall. “What to do with Abelard? It is a dilemma.”
“Nothing, your grace. Leave him in the cell. Have Brother James continue to collect letters from the landlord. Perhaps you could have the inn watched. If the landlord is engaged in treason then who knows who else might visit with him. We could learn much.”
“You are right.” He waved me to a seat, “You must be careful, my young warrior. I know you are used to war and to fighting but this is not war; this is treachery and murder. The knife in the night and the poison in the food can both end your life and we need you to defend the border. Be wary of all. I was duped by my clerk. Do not make the same mistake.”
“Fear not, your grace. Forewarned is forearmed. I will tell my men of the danger. It is not in my nature but I will treat all strangers now with suspicion.”
“And I will try to find out who is this knight with the rampant griffin.”
I headed north with much to think on. I rode ahead of my men with Wulfric and Sir Edward. They had a right to know what I had learned.
Sir Edward was not convinced that we were dealing with a living threat. “Are we certain that the two knights from the east are not one and the same? Perhaps we have killed the danger.”
Wulfric shook his head, “I do not think so, my lord. The knight I saw in Berwick was younger and he looked to be bigger than the Frenchman.”
I agreed with my man at arms. “And all of that means that the danger is still there. We have stopped one danger and one source of enemy intelligence but there may be others. Cumin in Durham is a spy. Him we know about. What of the ones who remain unknown? From now on we treat every stranger with suspicion.”
“Like the four archers we discovered in the forest?”
“No, Edward, for I invited them. They did not seek my service. The ones I suspect will be those who come to serve. We are all good judges of warriors.”
Roger of Lincoln jingled his purse, “There will be many of them, my lord. All of us who were at the tourney are now rich men. We cannot hide that wealth. Others will wish to serve you in the hope of attaining such riches.”
“Then we shall have to be even better at seeing beneath the skin of those who come to serve, eh?”
As we waited for my ferry I reflected that the one advantage we had was that our enemies did not know what had happened to their assassin. They would suspect he had been taken but they would not know. All of them were dead and all of them lay in the Thames. Fishes would feast on their dead flesh. Nor would they know of our discovery of Abelard. Until they did then we had a slight advantage but I was keen to know more of this knight from Outremer.
Dick greeted me when I stepped from the boat. He had a look of concern on his face, “The new archers you hired told us of the attack. You should have taken us with you, my lord.”
Wulfric growled, “We protected his lordship and the squires. We suffered neither wound nor hurt.”
“Peace we live and no harm came to any. Are they welcome additions, captain?”
“They are young and they have skill. I could not ask for better and I meant no offence Wulfric but I was brought up in Sherwood.”
Wulfric’s face softened, “I know.”
Our arrival was the signal for much activity. Horses had to be stabled and bags unpacked. I sat in my hall and received the reports of the events during our absence. John, my Steward, was actually pleased. “We have taken more taxes this year than ever before. Trade is good despite our charges. With the gold you have brought to our coffers then we can buy extra grain for the winter.”
“I would have the tower in the church enlarged and a dwelling built for Father Henry and we need another stable building.”
“We have little enough room in the bailey, my lord.”
“Then build it outside. It is for the sumpters and not our war horses and palfreys. Soon we will need to acquire three war horses for my squires. I intend to extend the curtain wall along the river to the east. We will build a tower there and that can be an extra defence.”
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br /> “Three war horses, a tower and a curtain wall! That is a huge expense, my lord!”
“I have more than enough from the tourney.” I held up the crown. “If money becomes short then we sell this!”
John was mollified. Even he had rarely seen such a valuable commodity. There was also the possibility of leaving it with the Jews of York. That was another way for me to raise money should I need it.
Next to speak with me was Erre who commanded my garrison. A Varangian Guard he had come with us from the east to end his days in his homeland. He and his companions were old fashioned housecarls, they were my oathsworn and would die for me and my son.
“Wulfric said you did well at the tourney my lord. Congratulations.”
I smiled, “I know it would not suit you and your brothers for we were on horses.”
“Give me the ground beneath my feet.” He lowered his voice, “I hear you have encountered Crusaders, my lord?”
“I have.”
“Then beware for they are as fanatical as the Musslemen they fight. They do not view the world as we do.”
“Have you ever heard of a knight with red griffin as his emblem?”
“No my lord, but that is an old fashioned symbol. It is like the lion of Scotland, the leopard of Normandy and your wolf. It suggests a warrior with a lineage. This unknown knight sounds like a foe to be respected.”
“Not feared?”
He laughed, “My lord, you need fear no man. Your son is even now regaling the castle with the tale of how you defeated all the other teams single handed.”
I shook my head, “You know better. My son is growing but at times he still thinks as a child.”
“He is not long beyond those years and besides he admires his father. I wish I had a son who would hold me in the same esteem.”
“Well hold yourself and your men ready. We are to visit with the King of Scotland. I will leave Roger of Lincoln and Dick to command in my absence. I think your presence might prove interesting. It seems the Scots have to fight Vikings. You and your brothers look enough like Vikings to make King David take stock.”
He brightened, “We would like that, my lord. Do you think there might be some action?”
“Let us just say that we will be travelling well armed.”
Finally Alice entered, “It is good to have you home, my lord. I have arranged to have your clothes washed.” She frowned, “There was blood on many of your garments.”
“I am a warrior. Did not your husband, Alan, have blood when he returned from war?”
Her face darkened, “The only time he went to war he died.”
“I am sorry, Alice. That was insensitive of me.”
“No my lord, God has set me trials. A good Christian rises to their challenge but I thank you for giving me this chance. I feel as though I have been born again.”
Chapter 11
The Earl’s ship arrived in the Tees ten days after I had arrived home. I had been expecting him for some days and we were ready to embark. I took all three squires but just the three Varangians and Wulfric. All four were fierce looking men. They were all a throwback to the days before the Normans had arrived. We were not going to war but I wanted King David to understand my message; if he supported the rebels then he would have me and my men to deal with and my men were not gentlemen knights. They were hardened professional warriors. We did not need horses and so loading the ship was simple.
The Earl had brought with him one of King Henry’s oldest friends and allies, Earl Geoffrey of Mandeville. He was a bluff old warrior who was even older than the King but there was not a more loyal knight in the Kingdom. They stayed the night. My squires were allowed to dine with us and the household knights the two earls had brought. Alice fussed and worried over everything but I assured her that the food was more than fine. Luckily I still had plenty of Vasconian wine; its strong taste covered a multitude of sins. When the platters had been cleared and the servants dismissed I told them of our discovery in York.
“So we need to watch for this knight with a red griffin?” I nodded. “Have you seen such a device Mandeville?”
He had a long memory and if anyone knew of it he would. “I recall a red griffin but it was on a blue background. There was a family of knights in Normandy who lived close to the border with Flanders but the name escapes me. It was from my youth; many battles and wars ago.”
“It matters not for we shall all keep an eye out for him.” The Earl of Gloucester nodded to me, “You did the right thing to leave the inn keeper in place. Set a sprat to catch a mackerel eh?”
“What if the King of Scotland takes offence at our demands?”
“A good question, Alfraed; I can understand why you ask it. If he should decide that he is insulted then you would bear the brunt of any invasion.”
“My worry is that we may tip him to side with the rebels. At the moment it is just tacit support he is giving. There were clearly not many Scottish knights with the rebels we fought. Of course they could have been in the isles and Moray.”
“He has become estranged from England since his wife, Maud, died. He has forgotten that he was supported by our Royal House.”
“He is, however, fighting to capture the north and west of his lands. He fights Vikings and the wild men of that region. Could he afford a war on two fronts?”
“We shall see, Alfraed. We had best retire. My captain wants to sail at first light. There are more twists and turns in this river of yours than in a lawyer’s argument!”
“It serves us, my lord.”
My men were below decks when the two earls and their retinue rose. Wulfric made sure that my mail and weapons were well stored. He would not trust them to the sailors. We had just passed Thornaby when the four of them came back on deck. The Earl of Gloucester burst out laughing, “You are a clever fellow, Cleveland. These four look like Vikings. King David will not be certain if we are allied with his enemies.”
“I just thought to set him thinking, my lord. Besides I did not wish to bring huge numbers of men and these four can do the work of a conroi!”
I had to confess that the journey north, even though autumn was approaching, was easier on a ship than riding north. It was pleasant to see the land I defended from the seaward side. For William and my squires it was like seeing a whole new world. As we approached Berwick they took even more interest. They had fought there and we had held the rebels. From that point on we left England.
We entered the Forth and headed for the port of Leith, close to Holyrood Abbey. We would remain on board the ship until the priests we had with us had made contact with King David. For all we knew he could be with his army in Moray in the north west. I had no idea what we would do if we had to wait months. We knew that word of our arrival would reach the King’s stronghold long before we arrived in Leith. There were towers along the coast and we spotted riders heading west heralding our arrival.
As we edged into the quayside I wondered how I would be greeted. When I had invaded Scotland, on the secret orders of King Henry, I had aroused the ire and wrath of King David. I had had to journey to Constantinople to assuage his anger. I had recently trounced his men from Berwick. Why had the king insisted upon my participation in this embassy? Was he trying to intimidate the King with my presence? He played a game I did not understand.
We tied up and the Earl sent a man ashore to hire two horses for the priests. It was not a long journey to the castle, we could see it from our mooring, but he wanted the priests to have some dignity. We had all dressed in our mail and surcoats when we had sighted the Forth. We were ready for King David or whoever he sent to speak with us.
We had but one night on the ship before the priests and the King’s representatives returned to the ship. It was the Earl of Strathclyde. He was a warrior. His armour and his weapons demonstrated that as did his steely, martial gaze. Perhaps he had been sent to intimidate us. He nodded rather than bowed. It could have been taken as an insult for the Earl of Gloucester was representing h
is father, but Robert of Gloucester was too clever to fall into that trap.
“King David of Scotland welcomes you to his kingdom. If you would like to come with me; I have horses for twenty.”
That was another insult. We would have to leave some men behind. The Earl of Gloucester smiled. He turned to me and Geoffrey of Mandeville. “We each bring five men.” He nodded to Wulfric, “Bring your doughty warriors with you Earl.”
“Leofric, you will come with me. William and John you stay aboard.”
I saw the disappointment in my son’s face but I needed Leofric’s quick wits. He might be able to pick up on something when the high and the mighty debated. The horses they had provided were poor. I think they were sumpters. It could have been construed as another insult. The Earl of Strathclyde was making life difficult for us. The Earl of Gloucester made out that this was just a pleasant ride in the country.
“A fine aspect for a castle. That lump of rock looks like God placed it there with the sole intention of making an impregnable castle.”
“Aye. It is the best site in the whole of Scotland. King David will have it as our capital. Soon it will rival London.”
The ice was broken and we chatted as we completed the short journey to the mighty fortress of Edinburgh. I agreed with the Earl I would not like to take this castle. Hopefully we would not have to. Passing through the huge gates I saw the King waiting for us on the steps to his keep. Erre and his Varangians had not been happy with the thought of riding but the sumpters were little more than large ponies. When they stepped off them they were as tall as when they had been on them. The four of them dwarfed Leofric as they flanked me. The effect was all that I had hoped. I saw the King of Scotland frown. It looked like a Viking horde was about to assault his keep. The Earl of Gloucester hid his smile.