The Bloody Border

by Griff Hosker

  After what seemed like an age, Dick came back followed by Edward and two rangy looking dogs. They appeared to be happily following him. They had not barked. My new man had not lied to me.

  “We have found the hall lord. The sentry is dead.”

  “Good. Edward, stay by the horses with the dogs. Martin and Egbert, find the stables and fetch the horses. Archers, wait here. When we return, we may be pursued. Deter those following. Garth, lead me to the captives.”

  I let Garth lead me. Matthew and Sir James were directly behind me. The tower appeared empty for there was no shout of alarm as we passed. The night was silent save for the stream. When we came to the hall, I felt the heat from the walls and heard the sound of snoring. The sentry lay dead. The arrow had struck his throat. His tunic was covered in blood. Garth carefully lifted the bar. I entered slowly. I said, quietly, into the dark, “I am Sir William of Elsdon and I am come to rescue you. I pray you to remain silent. Come outside. Quickly, my men are outside and they will take you to safety.”

  A woman said, “Thank God!” She was louder than I had been.

  “Do so silently or you will bring the Scots from their halls!” My command silenced them and I stepped away from the door. There were more than eleven who came out. Then it struck me. The boy had given numbers only of those from Yalesham. There were other captives. I had not expected so many. The die was cast. I hoped that Martin and Egbert had found horses. If we had to ride double then they would catch us.

  I let Sir James and Garth lead the captives away and I waited with my men at arms and Matthew. We waited by the door of the hall. If danger was to come then it would be from within. The stables, from the smell which came to me, were closer to the river and some hundred or so paces away. I heard two things at the same time. I heard a cry and then the sound of hooves. “Stand to! They will be roused!”

  There were nine of us. Roger twirled his two swords. It was his way of preparing for battle. Matthew drew his sword. The hooves of the horses taken by Martin and Egbert clattered on the stone of the yard. If those inside the hall had not been roused before they would be. The door opened and a warrior with a sword in his hand and dressed only in breeks emerged. He saw us and shouted, “Alarm!” Then he slammed the door shut. Martin and Egbert each rode a horse and led seven others. They were sumpters in the main although Martin and Egbert rode palfreys. None had saddles. That was something I had not foreseen.

  As they rode by, I shouted, “Put the captives on horses with saddles. Head for Otterburn, we will follow.”

  “Aye, lord!”

  We had to wait. When the Scots emerged, they could only come one at a time. Their bravest and best would come first. We needed to bloody their noses and then flee. “Matthew, go and fetch our horses.” I slipped my dagger into my left hand.

  “Aye, lord.”

  He had barely left us when the door burst open and five men hurled themselves at us. They had small round shields and carried short swords. I was in the centre with Roger and Wilfred. We were the closest to the five men. A man ran directly at me. I blocked the scything blow from the short sword with my own sword. The Scot’s weapon was not as good as mine and I saw it buckle. I lunged with my dagger, not at his throat, for he raised his shield in anticipation but at his thigh. I ripped sideways and he fell to the ground. Roger had dealt with two of the men. He had quick hands and our weapons were better than theirs. The other two had been wounded and I heard our horses.

  Even as more men poured from the hall, I shouted, “Back to the horses!”

  I saw Sir Duncan in a mail hauberk. He pointed a sword at me and shouted, “You!”

  An arrow flew from the dark behind me and one of Sir Duncan’s men, who had stepped from the lighted doorway, fell with a red-fletched arrow in his chest. It made the Scots halt and shields were raised. It gave us the chance to run back to our horses. Garth and the archers had brought my men’s horses. Matthew held Eagle’s reins. I sheathed my weapons and pulled myself up into the saddle. The archers held their bows horizontally. We were less than a hundred paces from the hall. Their arrows would not be as accurate but if you were a Scot trying to get at the men who had raided you then it would be a deterrent.

  I looked around and saw that we were mounted, “Ride!” We whipped our horse’s heads around. I had gone barely twenty paces when I felt something thump into my wooden cantle and the next moment strike me in the back. I had never experienced it but I knew what it was; I had been struck by a pair of crossbow bolts. It was confirmed when I felt blood trickling down my buttocks. I could do nothing about it. I would have to endure it.

  Despite my command, Sir James was waiting with the captives at the small huddle of huts through which we had passed earlier. “Why do you wait! They will follow!”

  Sir James was too old for this. He did not think quickly enough, “We thought to wait for you.”

  Just then I heard, behind us, the sound of hooves. I knew, as soon as Martin and Egbert had brought but two palfreys that the Scots had good horses and they would follow with the ones my men had not managed to bring. “Sir James, Martin, Egbert, ride to Otterburn and do not stop! We will try to slow them.”

  Realisation dawned and Sir James turned and spurred his horse. “Come, my people! Sir William commands this day!”

  “Archers, dismount. Roger, have the men hold the archer’s horses. I want three flights of arrows to discourage them. Release as soon as you see them! Then mount and we run.” The warm blood, which was seeping down to my breeks, was just a trickle. I would have to pray that it was not mortal. I drew my sword.

  My archers stood before their horses. I heard the creak as the war bows were pulled back. The horses and riders appeared just one hundred paces from us. The snap of bowstrings was followed a heartbeat later by cries from men and horses as they were struck. My archers were fast for the Scots had obliged us by riding down the road. They made an easier target. I saw at least two horses struck. The other riders tried to whirl away and when one fell in the road it blocked it. My archers leapt onto their horses. “Ride!” I whipped Eagle’s head around and spurred him. I led my men on the road to the border.

  As we rode, I saw ahead of me the faint glow of dawn. I began to plan. We had to hold them. The best place would be the Roman fort. By then our horses would be tired, as would theirs. I guessed we would arrive there at about dawn. It would be a grey dawn but if we waited there then it would give Sir James more chance to reach Otterburn.

  I shouted, “Garth, take your archers. Ride ahead and prepare an ambush at the fort. We will follow!”

  “Aye lord.”

  They galloped past us. Without mail, they were faster. I now just had Matthew and a handful of men at arms. John was obeying orders and helping Sir James with the captives. I could hear the hooves behind us. The pursuit continued. I reined in a little. I needed Garth and my archers to set themselves for their ambush. If the Scots had sense they would be wary, having been ambushed there once before already, but I counted on their anger. We had taken their captives and we had hurt their horses. Men had died. I saw as the sun began to light the sky, the deserted village of Byrness. I wondered if the other captives came from there. We were close now. I risked turning to look behind me. It was a mistake. The bolt was still sticking in me and pain coursed through my body as the bolt caught on the cantle of my saddle. I saw that the Scots were less than four hundred paces behind me. I did not get enough of a look to identify numbers but there looked to be more than we had.

  I spied the fort. I knew my archers were there but I could not see them. That meant the Scots would not see them either. “When we reach the fort ride through the north gate. Then we turn and fight them.”

  “Aye, lord.”

  Roger Two Swords had dropped behind me, “Lord, you are wounded!”

  “It is nothing. Let us send these Scots hence and then we can deal with it.” I sounded braver than I was. I had bled too much to be confident that I could survive a lengthy fight. I did not
dare to turn around but the thundering of the hooves told me that they were close behind me.

  I saw the gate. I headed for it. I heard Roger shout, “Matthew, be ready to grab the reins of Sir William’s horse.”

  Galloping through, I saw Garth and my archers with arrows ready to fly. As soon as Wilfred had galloped beyond the shattered gates, I heard Garth shout, “Release!”

  I wheeled Eagle. Matthew grabbed my reins and I drew my sword. I felt more blood trickling down my back. I watched the third flights from my archers strike the Scots. Two men fell. They knew the folly of attacking archers behind a wall. They withdrew beyond the range of my archers.

  Roger Two Swords ran up to me. “Come, my lord. Let us see to your wound. Master Matthew fetch bandages, the vinegar and honey. The rest of you get to the gate. Block it with your bodies if you have to. Garth Red Arrow, our lord has been struck by a bolt.”

  “Fear not, Roger Two Swords. The only ones who pass through the gate will be dead men.” As I dismounted, I saw my captain of archers send an arrow towards the waiting Scots. I thought it beyond his range but it hit a horse. The horse reared and then galloped down the road dragging the man along the road by the boot caught in a stirrup.

  I heard the relief in Roger’s voice, “You are lucky, lord. The bolt caught in your mail and the gambeson has prevented worse bleeding but it will hurt when I pull it from you and the blood will flow.”

  “Just do it.”

  “Hurry Master Matthew.” He took off my mail coif and arming cap as we waited. Matthew arrived. “When I pull out the bolt pull the hauberk over Sir William’s head. I will try to staunch the bleeding.” He leaned in. “Ready lord?”

  “Ready!” He pulled and the pain was so bad that I thought I would pass out. I heard him hiss, “Bastards! A barb!” Matthew lifted the hauberk. He was strong and did what many squires could not have done. Even so, the raising of my arms made the blood flow. Then I felt coolness as the vinegar soaked bandage was applied. That was quickly followed a sharp pain as Roger wiped the wound clean with vinegar. “Lord this is a deep wound. I will need fire. Matthew light a fire! Garth we will need to use fire to seal the wound. We will need time.”

  Garth shouted back, “I have an idea!” I was able to see the fighting platform. He clambered up the remains of the gatehouse tower and clung precariously to it. He began to wave. He shouted, “Everyone wave and cheer. Make the Scots think Sir James brings his men!”

  They all did so and Idraf of Towyn shouted, “It works! They are leaving! The two lords are unhappy, my lord. They shake their fists at us.”

  I nodded. I had hoped to raid and leave them in doubt as to the perpetrators. I had been seen. They would know who had done this. I had begun a war with my neighbours. This would not involve kings. It would be between the Scots from across the border and my men. What had I begun?

  Chapter 10

  We did not leave the fort until noon. Roger insisted that once the wound was sealed and treated with honey that I eat, drink and then rest. He sent Matthew ahead to Otterburn to have Sir James prepare a bed for me. I would have argued with him had I not passed out once the red-hot blade was applied to my skin. I awoke to the smell of burnt hair and flesh. We rode slowly down the road. My archers were the rear guard. Wilfred and Roger flanked me for they feared I might fall.

  “You were lucky, lord, but the mail will need to be repaired.”

  Wilfred said, “The Earl, your father, has a leather hauberk beneath his mail one. Matthew could easily make you one. It would afford more protection.”

  “I know he wears one but I would find it too restrictive.” Even as I spoke the words, I realised that it would be necessary. My archers had arrowheads which could pierce mail. Crossbow bolts were equally deadly. I was now lord of the manor. I would have to learn to fight differently.

  When we reached Otterburn it was the middle of the afternoon. I saw John watching anxiously from the top of the tower. I heard his shout from half a mile up the valley. By the time we reached it Sir James and his priest, Brother Abelard, were there, “We were worried about you. You were wounded?”

  “I was but my men healed me. They sealed the wound with fire, Brother Abelard, and treated it with vinegar and honey.”

  The priest looked relieved. “Nonetheless, my lord, I will give you a draught this night to help you sleep. In my experience, while fire stops an injury becoming worse it makes it more painful than had it been stitched.”

  I nodded, “The captives, Sir James?”

  “They are well. Mary, the mother of Dick, is anxious to thank you.”

  “Who were the other captives?”

  “They were the ones left from Byrness.” He shook his head, “A sorry business which can be laid at my door.”

  “Do not berate yourself. I fear that I have begun something which will make this border run with blood.”

  “No, you did not. We never took captives from the Scots. They are the ones who began it. I shall be vigilant. I have written to my nephew to ask him again if he will come to the manor. I fear that his silence is eloquent. This is a harsh duty and the New Castle will be an easier place for him and his wife.”

  I nodded, “I shall go and speak with the captives before I dine.”

  “They are being cared for in the church. Even the Scots would baulk at the sacrilege of attacking a church and the captives feel safe there. They wish to thank you, Sir William.”

  I went with Matthew and John. I think both felt guilt that they had not managed to stop me from being wounded. Sir James had had straw brought for bedding as well as blankets and furs. I smelled food as I entered. What greeted me shocked me. In the heat of battle and in the dark I had just been aware of a larger number than I had expected. Now I saw that there were ten children and twelve women. All were thin, as was Dick. There were three young women of perhaps twelve or thirteen summers who clung to an older woman. The older woman stood when I entered and ran to me. She dropped to her knees and grabbed my hand. She began to kiss it.

  “Sir William, you are our saviour. Your men told me that you saved the life of my son. He would have died had you not cared for him. I am in your debt.”

  “Rise, dear lady! You are in no one’s debt. I did what any Christian would do.”

  She stood and swept a hand around her. She rested it on the head of one of the girls who looked up at me, “All of us are grateful lord but we have a boon to ask.” I nodded, “No offence to Sir James but we would not live here. The Scots will come for us. You have a castle and we would be safe within its walls.”

  Here was a dilemma. I was honour bound to care for them. It was my duty and yet the last thing my manor needed was more mouths to feed. I needed families who had men to work the empty farms. I needed warriors who could man my walls and repel those who would attack us. I smiled, “You are all welcome but I have to say that we are not a rich manor.”

  The one called Mary, Dick’s mother, shook her head, “There you are wrong, my lord, for you are rich in charity and God rewards those who are pure in heart. We can work and we can toil. Just so long as we are safe then we will be happy.”

  When I left them, I went to speak to my men. To my surprise, Edward of Yarum still had the two huge hounds. I looked at him and he shrugged, “They seem to like me, lord. From what the women told me they were mistreated as much as the women were.”

  “I just came to thank you for your endeavours. The women are grateful and so am I. We are taking them back to Elsdon. I fear your work is not yet done. We will have to build homes for them in the lower bailey.”

  Roger Two Swords had been cleaning and sharpening his swords with a whetstone. He was smiling, “And that is no hardship, lord. How is the wound?”

  “I am indebted to you, Roger. It is well and Brother Abelard is pleased with your efforts. I will see if we can manage to borrow a wagon from Sir James. It will make our journey home easier.”

  I was glad that Sir James was liberal with his wine and that Brother A
belard gave me a draught else I would not have slept. I awoke before dawn and I was stiff. I knew that I must have had a disturbed night’s sleep for John and Matthew asked after me when we woke.

  “I almost went for the priest, lord, for you cried out in your sleep.”

  I laughed it off, “It was probably the wine. Do not worry. I am fine.” They did not know me well enough to hear the lie in my voice.

  Before we left, I spoke with Sir James. “They will come. They will seek vengeance and they will ride with hatred in their hearts. You need to take care. Send to me if you suspect any danger. I will bring my men.”

  “Do not concern yourself. We have been defending my tower for many years. I may occasionally take my eye from my manor but Otterburn is safe so long as I breathe. Perhaps my nephew will respond to my last letter.”

  I took a deep breath, “I hope you do not think that this is underhand but I spoke to the Bishop about the problem. If your nephew will not come then the Bishop might have other knights upon whom he can call.”

  He shook his head, “No, for I see no deceit in you. If I were in your position then I too might wish for a younger lord who could fight these child stealers.”

  The old knight had given us a wagon. As he said, they were his people we had saved. The least he could do was to give us a wagon. We hitched four of the sumpters we had captured to the wagon and headed home. The rains had made the roads worse and although it had not rained for a couple of days the water had run off the fields to the roads. Mud covered the cobbles and the wheels slipped. I sent two riders to warn Alan of Bellingham of our arrival and the need for accommodation for the captives. Sir James had found some clothes for the captives but not enough. The ones they had were inadequate. We had much to do. The ransom I had received would soon be eaten away. It took much longer to reach Elsdon with a slow wagon and slippery roads.