Warlord's War (The Anarchy Book 11)

by Griff Hosker

  I mounted Rolf. Wilfred rode up with a string of eight horses. "A good haul, lord."

  "Did we lose any?"

  He shook his head, "We surprised them and it showed. We have men who will need the healer but they can fight again soon. Young Master John is another matter. It was a blow from a mace." He pointed to a dead knight. "Sir Edward finished him off."

  I nodded, "Ride ahead with the horses and my squires. I will form a rearguard." I turned to Alan son of Alan of Osmotherley, "Collect any standards and banners that you can. Fetch them with us."

  He found four, including the one from the leader. I guessed that he was the lord from Loc-hard's by. I had thought to take their heads with me but that act could wait for a more appropriate occasion. I waved my arm and led my rearguard up the road. With my two scouts and eight men at arms we rode after the rest of my men. I did not think that the Scots would attack us but I was taking no chances. I allowed a gap of half a mile but we made it safely back to the hill overlooking Carlisle as the sun set. We had two victories. Would God grant me a third?

  Chapter 9

  Father James spent all night ministering to John and his wound. The other wounded were seen to by my men. We knew how to fix cuts and small breaks. Our scarred bodies were evidence of that. While Sir Edward watched the priest and his son I went to the brow of the ridge to look down at Carlisle. It was just a shadow on the far side of the river but the flicker of fires which could be seen as doors in the huts opened and closed gave us an idea of their location. Wulfric came with me. He pointed across the river. "A small boat left there not long after you had left this morning, lord. Aiden spied it. He has sharp eyes that one."

  I had expected this. The Scots had forces on the west coast. They protected against Irish raids as well as giving support to Carlisle. "He is sending to Dumfries for help."

  "That is what I would do. He will have a shock when the column of men you scattered does not arrive."

  I shook my head, "The men we scattered came from the north. Someone must have escaped that way too. It matters not. We watch this morning and then, at noon, I shall ride down to give him the news that his friends are scattered to the four winds."

  "Do you think they will surrender?"

  "Do not sound disappointed Wulfric. No, I do not. It is a strong castle. Had not Stephen given it to the Scots we would hold it yet. I hope to put doubts in his mind but I need to see his face. I want to see the measure of this man who challenges me. Will he allow me free rein to capture every animal in his valley? If he does we have won but I think that the people we allowed to flee the farms and villages will have filled his walls. He will have many hungry mouths to feed."

  "He might send them from his walls."

  "He might, Wulfric, and if he does then that tells me something about him."

  Wulfric jerked his thumb back at the camp, "Young Henry has the blood of his grandfather coursing through his veins. Sir Edward's men told mine that he was as close to the fighting as he could get and he did not shirk when the Scots closed. He held his sword boldly."

  "But if he falls then the hope for England is gone. I fear the Empress will never be crowned. If Henry dies then all is finished. Stephen's son, Eustace, will be king."

  "And what will you do if that happens lord?"

  I hesitated. The thoughts had flickered through my mind like something I had forgotten and then remembered. I had spoken of it to none but since I had returned to England it had been lurking there in the dark recesses I kept hidden from all. Wulfric was owed honesty, "Then we would have a new kingdom. I would take back England's losses here in the north and make my own domain between the Scottish firths and the Tees. We would have a land which went from coast to coast. If Henry does not rule then I follow no man. I will be Warlord of the North in the Kingdom of Cleveland."

  Wulfric was silent, "Could we do that?"

  "What other choice would there be?"

  "You could go back to Miklagård, lord. You have a home there and you would be welcomed. They have need of men such as you to fight for the Emperor. Erre has told me as much."

  "And if I did would I be able to take all those who have supported me? Alf, Ethelred? My knights and their families? No my friend I could not and I would not desert them. We are in this together. However, so long as Henry lives then there is hope."

  "Then I will make sure that the lad is safe in battle!"

  "If he is meant to fall and not become king then that will happen no matter what we do. We have to trust in God."

  "Aye and Gilles and Richard! They are good squires. They are his best hope of survival."

  We left sentries on the ridge and returned to the camp. The priest was talking with Sir Edward. "How is young John?"

  Sir Edward said, "The priest has bled his skull. He seems to breathe easier. I fear it is in God's hands now. I have prayed." He shook his head, "His mother will blame me!"

  "It is war, Edward." Wulfric put his arm around the shoulder of his old friend, "I have no children of my own but I have watched John grow. He is tough . He has been bred in northern winters and he comes of good stock. He will come through this and be stronger for it."

  I nodded, "Rest. You have been up all night and we may be called to arms soon."

  "Do not worry, lord, I will be ready!" Sir Edward was like me. Inactivity was the worst of punishments. He wanted to do something rather than helplessly watch his son.

  I went to my squires. They had sharpened my weapons and groomed Rolf. "We will be riding to the town at noon. Richard, you will carry the captured banners. Gilles, have the names of the captured knights ready."

  "What do we do, lord?"

  I owed Henry an explanation. I was training him not just to become a knight but to become a leader. "We go to put fear in the heart of Malcolm mac Athol. Doubts are a deadly enemy. I want this Scot to be fearful before we begin our attack. His raid into England made him confident. He escaped Sir Hugh and he thought he had won. Our first victory has put doubts in his mind, We go to aggravate those doubts."

  "We attack the walls?"

  "No, Henry for I still believe he will try to shift us from our hill top perch."

  "Even with doubts?"

  "Even with doubts for I will go bareheaded and this young Scottish cockerel will see an old, tired man and, more importantly, he will see you and you will be the bait which draws him to our blades. And the other reason is that he cannot sit behind his walls with fields untilled and animals taken by us."

  One of our sentries rode back to bring us news. "Lord, a boat has just pulled in close to the castle."

  "Thank you." I turned to Wulfric. You had better have the men prepare. I want them below the ridge until I signal and then bring them forward in one line."

  "Aye lord."

  "Squires, let us go to speak with our foes. Keep your shields close. They may not honour the truce. Dick." My archer knew what I meant.

  Dick nodded and mounted. He would bring his bow but keep it from sight. I slung my shield across my back. The Scots would see two knights and a squire. Dick had more to him than most knights. When we were ready I slipped my coif from my head so that I was bareheaded and I led my men down to the river. We would not cross and I hoped that Malcolm mac Athol would see this as an opportunity to talk. If he did not then I would unleash my men to raid his land.

  I heard the horns from within the walls as we approached. My reputation preceded me. They would suspect some sort of trap or trick. We halted at the river. Here the river looped so that the five of us had water on three sides. There was a bridge some hundred paces to our right. It had no tower but crossbows and bows could cover it from the gatehouse of Carlisle Castle which stood on a manmade mound. It was a well sited castle. When we reached the river we waited.

  Dick and I chatted while we waited. I knew my squires would be nervous and an easy conversation would put them at their ease. "When we win back this castle we should not give it away so easily, lord. With my archers alone I could d
efend this against an army"

  "You are right and Stephen made a blunder when he did so. What galls me is that he did so when the Empress was in Anjou and the only danger to him were my knights."

  Dick said, "That is a measure of how much he fears you, lord."

  Henry said, "But he is king."

  Dick laughed, "That means nothing for men will follow the Warlord and that makes him a dangerous enemy."

  "My lord, they come."

  Gilles' voice brought our attention to the gate. As convention dictated five men rode from the gates. I guessed that one would be Malcolm mac Athol. They had one squire with them carrying the standard of Scotland. The fact that he did not bring his personal standard told me that he was acting on the authority of the Earl of Northumbria, Prince Henry of Scotland.

  They halted at the other side of the river. Malcolm mac Athol was of an age with my son William. He had been given a high honour at an early age. I waited. He broke the silence, "I see by the wolf your squire bears that you are the Earl of Cleveland. What brings you to Scotland?"

  "This land is England but Scotland, for the moment, controls this castle. I came here to repay your visit to the lands around Barnard however unlike the carrion you sent we do not make war on the weak." A grizzled warrior next to him bristled and snorted. I guessed that he had led the raid. "And who would you be?" I pointed. "You, the one with the face like a bear's behind!"

  He roared, "I am the Mormaer of Bute and I will have your tongue for that insult!"

  "The only one I have insulted is the bear but if you wish satisfaction then come and try a lance or two with me. I have slain enough Scotsmen to know that it will not exert me overmuch!"

  Malcolm held out a hand, "Peace Donaldbain. Did you come here to insult my men or is there another purpose to your visit?"

  I held my hand out and Gilles and Richard threw down the standards we had captured. "I met some of your knights on the road yesterday. I have some four or five waiting for ransom but these lords will need no ransom. Perhaps you were expecting them?"

  I saw his face fall. "I was, old man, but fear not I have men enough within my walls to drive you hence."

  "Really? And yet I dine on Scottish beef and enjoy the land hereabouts. I see no one trying to shift me. Perhaps the fact that we are armed and will fight back has something to do with it. It may be that this horde you have waiting within your walls is better suited to killing women and children!"

  "Lord let me fight him!" I had annoyed this Donaldbain and that was my intent.

  "Do not be foolish Lord Bute. It is what he wants. He is a champion at tourney. You are a brave fighter but this man is a King's Champion. Your day will come!" The Mormaer subsided and Malcolm turned to me, "As will your day, Warlord. Prepare to die for we come for you."

  I turned to Gilles, "We had better take back these standards. It seems that the constable is not willing to surrender his castle, yet!"

  As we turned to ride away Henry said, "Will they not attack us?"

  "I doubt it but my shield is about my back. It shows we fear them not."

  "Were you not afraid that huge warrior would take you up on your challenge?"

  "I hoped that he would for he looks to me the sort who charges recklessly into battle. They are the easiest to defeat in single combat."

  My knights had been watching from the small ridge. "Will they fight, lord?"

  Dick laughed, "There is certainly one Scotsman who wishes to take the Earl's head. As for the rest? Probably."

  I dismounted and handed my shield to Gilles. "It will not be for some time. I am guessing that the boat brought news of reinforcements from the west. Have the men rest and make sure that the horses have enough water. For England this could be a warm day. Keep a sharp lookout, especially to the west. Aiden take your scouts and watch for the arrival of these Scots."

  I saw a large rock and I went to sit upon it. "Richard, fetch me some food and some ale. I have an appetite."

  Henry brought water for the horses while Gille took the captured standards to the rear. My men left me alone and when Richard brought me the half leg of cold mutton and ale I began to devour them. Henry sat close by, "How can you eat, lord and be so calm when we could be fighting in a short time?"

  I waved him closer and swallowed some ale to wash down the greasy cold mutton. "When you lead men, whether a few or an army, it is important that they think you are calm and in control. Inside your heart may be beating like a galloping steed but to the world you are cold and calm. When we fight this battle I will need to have eyes everywhere and to make decisions in the heat of the moment. Being calm will help me. "

  "Do you never lose your temper?"

  "Of course I do." I pointed to where Sir Edward was bathing his son's head, "Sir Edward lost his temper and his blood boiled when his son was hurt. If aught happened to my kin or my oathsworn I would be as angry. The blood might rush to my head. It happens. Harold, Tristan and John have all been my squires. Just as the three of you are special to me, so were they."

  Just then there was a shout. "Riders come!"

  I looked to the west but Sir John said, "No lord, it is from the east. It is Sir Gilles of Normanby. He is returned."

  I rose from the rock and put the half chewed bone and goblet there. I was eager to hear his news. He dismounted and dropped to one knee. "Lord I returned as soon as I could."

  "I hope you did not tax your horses overmuch, we shall need them."

  "No lord, we used remounts from Sir Hugh's castle." He pointed east. "We had a skirmish with a conroi heading towards Carlisle. We might have pursued them but I came here instead. Did I do right?"

  "You did. Your news is welcome." I pointed to Sir Edward, "Your former lord may need you Gilles. His new squire has been wounded."

  "Not John!" He turned and ran to the squire he had helped train.

  I took in his news. He had not defeated the conroi and that meant there were reinforcements from the east or possibly the south. I looked up at the sky. If there were men coming from the east and from the west then the battle would take place either in the late afternoon or early in the morning. I strode to the ridge and peered down at the bridge. The Constable would not wish to have to cross the bridge with his whole army. We could make it a bridge of death. When the forces came from the west he would emerge. It would be this afternoon. That way his reinforcements could hold the bridgehead and deny it to us. I did not want it. Now that I had made my guess I knew what to do.

  "Gilles, summon my knights, not Sir Edward, he can stay with his son for a while."

  When my knights were gathered Wulfric rubbed his hands, "You are ready eh lord?"

  "I am. I have made my guess. If I am wrong then so be it but a battle will be fought here. Malcolm will cross the bridge when his reinforcements arrive from the west. They will use men on foot to charge us and knock us from the hill. He thinks he has counted our forces but he did not see Sir Gilles' men nor Sir Edward's. However he will still outnumber us. Sir Richard your archers will cut stakes and make a barrier on the west side of the ridge. Sir Philip you will do the same but it will be further back. I wish you hidden. He knows we use archers. I want him to see Dick and not Sir Philip. Sir John and Sir Harold I will attack whoever comes at us with our three companies." I saw the disappointment on Sir Wulfric's face. "You know me better than that, Sir Wulfric. I wish you and the rest of my men to form a shield wall at the top of the ridge. I intend to break their attack with the sixty of us and then do as Henry's great grandfather did at Hastings. We will fall back. I would draw them on to our arrows and your blades. We will pass through your lines. Sir Gilles you and your horsemen will wait behind the lines. When we pass through you will join me and we will make a flank attack on their left while Sir Harold and Sir Tristan do the same from the east. Sir Wulfric and the archers hold them and we round them up."

  Their nods and smiles told me that they thought it a good plan. We would now have to wait for Aiden to bring us news. I walked over t
o Sir Edward. I saw that Father James was praying. Sir Edward looked up. He suddenly looked old beyond his years. "We have made our plan of attack. You and your men will stand in a shield wall on the ridge."

  He nodded, "I will be there."

  "Your son is strong and God will not let you lose him. The Father here is a good healer."

  Father James said, "He grows no weaker and that is a good sign. His breathing is regular and his colour is better. I have been feeding him soup made from mutton bones. It will aid him."

  Sir Edward smiled, "I have faith in God and the priest. I will be ready to fight and I will not let you down."

  "I never doubted it for an instant."

  In the middle of the afternoon my three scouts rode in. "Lord there are a hundred warriors marching along the river and two boats with more men in them."

  "Horsemen?"

  Aiden shook his head, "They are led by a horseman. He has a standard with a lion upon it. There look to be ten mounted knights and the rest are men on foot." He shook his head, "Some are farmers with bill hooks and hunting bows."

  "You have done well. Choose your own place to kill."

  He looked around and spied Dick behind his stakes, "Sir Richard and his men will do us, lord."

  I walked to Rolf and mounted him. "Sir Hugh, I want to make sure that our enemy makes mistakes. Take your men at arms and as soon as you spy the men coming from the west make them believe that you are going to attack the bridge. I want them to sally forth. Do not risk any of your men and when you ride then do so loosely as though you have little control over your men."

  He grinned, "I will lord. This will be a grand jest."

  He gathered his men and rode to the edge of the ridge. It was a gentle slope and there would be little danger of the horses being injured in their descent. I hoped that we could spark a charge by some of the wilder Scots.

  "They come!"

  We saw their banners as they marched along the river. They were a tight formation for they knew the threat our horses posed.