by Griff Hosker
“Sorry uncle. I forget myself sometimes and speak when I shouldn’t.”
He put his arm around me and led me inside. “These are dangerous times Aelfraed. I know you trust your people, as I do, but we are not playing for small stakes. This is a kingdom for which we chance.”
Once inside he shut the doors so that the room was only lit by the fire which seemed very attractive at that moment. “Do we know…?”
“Nephew, you have still to learn to listen more and speak less. I will tell you all that I know.” Aethelward had that look which parents have with young children and I suddenly felt like a child again. “The Queen has brought the twins north for she has nothing left for her in London and Winchester.” I opened my mouth to speak. “William has confiscated all the land of Harold and his brothers. Her brothers and the Aetheling are heading south even as we speak. The Queen thinks that they intend to submit to Duke William.”
He stared into the fire and I could see the signs of anger; the fierce flaming eyes and the clenched jaw. I was still young enough to have more questions and there was information I needed. “Will he be crowned King?” He was King, for he had killed Harold but, until he was anointed, then this was not a rebellion but a war against an invader.
“Now that is a good question. The answer is, probably. The Witenagemot is now purged of those who would oppose him and ruled by our old friend the Archbishop of Canterbury.” We had had a run in with the wily and belligerent churchman in Winchester. Both of us believed that he was involved in an assassination attempt on King Edward’s life. “I would expect him crowned by Christmas time.”
“But that is less than three weeks away!”
“I know.”
“Is there no good news?”
“Not really. The Queen fears that Edith will try to have her sons killed to enhance the likelihood of the Aetheling being crowned. Unlikely in my view but…” I suddenly realised that Gytha and my unborn child were in danger for I had recently discovered that I was the eldest child of Harold Godwinson and the King’s consort for many years, Edith, the mother of the Aetheling, knew this. “I think, for the moment you and your family are safe although if the Duke discovers that information then things may change.” He saw my downcast face. “Things are not all black Aelfraed. There are signs that there is trouble for William in Hereford and Exeter and you are fortunate in that you have one of the strongest retinues. Osbert and your men at arms can protect you and your family.”
I had much to think on. I had thought I was a marginal player in this game but as I reflected on Aethelward’s words I could see that I was not. Most of the northern support of Harold had died at Stamford Bridge and all of the Wessex support had perished at Senlac Hill. Morcar and Edwin, the Earls of Northumbria and Mercia as well as being Gytha’s brothers had become very much self serving and poor Edgar the Aetheling was still a child. “I will leave Osbert to protect Gytha, she cannot travel and I will take Branton and his archers.”
“Good. I also think we need to make plans for the future.”
I looked puzzled. “I thought that was what we are doing. “
“The immediate future, yes, but what about a future with William as King?”
“Then we would fight him.”
“With your forty men.”
“And Ridley’s.”
He laughed. “Heroic, noble and doomed to failure. You need more men and an escape route. If you fight William then you will have to find somewhere for your wife and child where they can be safe. Remember that the best of Harold’s warriors fell at Stamford and Senlac. You and Ridley are the last of the Housecarls. And what of the monies and coin you have accrued? What of them?”
I knew that Aethelward had money and he had been careful to hoard it over the years. “What do you suggest uncle?”
“When we go to Jorvik we will seek out the Jews. We will arrange for them to watch your money.”
I was shocked. “Christ killers?”
He laughed. “No, the money lenders. Since when did you become so Christian? You can have money anywhere if they watch over it for you and you do not have to carry it around. You need to plan and plan carefully.”
When I told Gytha that the Queen was in Jorvik, she wanted to visit immediately. “No my love, for I want you and our unborn child safe here. I will be gone but a day and I will try to get her to visit us.” When she protested I explained to her most of what Aethelward had said. She too had only recently known of my real father and the thought that our child might be hurt made her see sense. “I will tell Osbert and Thomas to keep a close watch.”
By the time Ridley arrived we were ready and I had told Osbert of the danger to my lady and impressed upon him the need to increase our warriors. He seemed quite happy about the whole thing. Looking back I suppose it was because that was his world, the world of war.
Compared with a few weeks ago, Jorvik was like a ghost town. The military presence of the Earl was no longer there and many families had lost brothers, husbands, sons and fathers in the two battles fought within a few miles of the city walls. There were few guards but they smiled as we passed as the three of us were famous, not only in Jorvik but the whole of the north. The Queen had taken over the chambers of the Earl and I was pleased that she had retained some twenty warriors as her guards. It seemed a pitiful number when compared with the armies the King, her husband, had commanded and it showed me the difference between victory and defeat.
She greeted Aethelward first and tears flowed freely from her eyes for Aethelward had been Harold’s truest friend. My uncle had shed his tears in private but his face showed the emotion he felt. She whispered words in his ear and, pulling away, he nodded. She seemed to see me for the first time. Her face lit up when she did so and I remembered that we had always been close. Now I knew the reason; her husband must have told her I was his son and that made her see me differently. “Ah Aelfraed. Your father was so proud of you and yet he never had the chance to tell you.” She grabbed me and began sobbing. “What must you think of me? Blubbering and carrying on, I am the Queen and I should behave accordingly.” She stepped back. “Not that I look like one.”
I dropped to my knee and held her hand. “You will always be a Queen to me.”
“Rise faithful Aelfraed of Topcliffe and thank you. And now we must talk.” She looked at Ridley who stood, embarrassed behind us.
Aethelward closed the door and said, “We can trust Ridley but I fear that the only ones we can trust are in this room.”
The Queen had more personality than any woman I have ever known, including Gytha and she glided across the floor to touch Ridley’s arm. “Of course I can trust you Ridley and how could I forget you after you were so kind to me on my journey from Wales.” Ridley blushed his thanks and she gestured for us to sit at the table in the middle of the sparsely furnished room. “We are all in danger; Edith Duck-legs,” Ridley and I smiled for she always referred to Harold’s previous consort, Edith Swanneck in such disparaging terms and we no longer bothered to correct her, “is trying to do all she can to protect her son and increase his chances of becoming King. She has told William that Harold had a bastard.” She looked at me. It was the first time I had realised that was what I was. “Do not take offence Aelfraed for William is a bastard himself. She hates me and wished ill to come to my children.”
Despite my uncle’s previous admonition I could not help myself, “But your majesty, your brothers what of them?”
“I fear my brothers are too busy watching their own backs and seeing what they can get out of Duke William. And you Aethelward, you have many enemies at the new court for all your friends died at Senlac and Stamford.”
He shrugged, “Having enemies does not worry me. What does worry me is your precarious state for you have few guards should anyone attempt harm on your babies.”
There was a silence as we all wrestled with the problem. When Ridley spoke, and came up with the solution we all stared at him. He was the quiet one, the warrior but t
hat day he showed us his innate wisdom. “Your majesty should go to Topcliffe. It is safer than here and there you will be amongst trusted friends.”
For Ridley this was his proudest moment for Aethelward clapped him on his broad back. “I have underestimated you Ridley and I thank you for the best solution.”
The Queen did not look convinced. “Topcliffe?”
“My castle, majesty. A little rough around the edges but secure and we could defend against a large army. It would give us breathing space to decide what to do.”
“And this is not a safe haven. Your brothers will both have spies here and Edith knows it well.”
“Mentioning that witch’s name has decided me. We will leave for your home tomorrow.” She leaned over and touched my arm. “And I will get to see your lovely wife again. Now I am hungry, let us eat.” She went to the door and asked her guard to tell the cook to serve the food.
Other books by
Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one by the author?
The Sword of Cartimandua Series (Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2 The Horse Warriors
Book 3 Invasion Caledonia
Book 4 Roman Retreat
Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6 Druid’s Gold
Book 7 Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8 The Last Frontier
Book 9 Hero of Rome
Book 10 Roman Hawk
Book 11Roman Treachery
They are all available in the Kindle format.
The Aelfraed Series (Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D.- 1085 A.D.
Book 1 Housecarl
Book 2 Outlaw
Book 3 Varangian
These are available in the Kindle format.
The Wolf Warrior series (Britain in the late 6th Century)
Book 1 Saxon Dawn
Book 2 Saxon Revenge
Book 3 Saxon England
Book 4 Saxon Blood
Book 5 Saxon Slayer
Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds, Great Granny’s Ghost
Carnage at Cannes is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format.
Travel
Adventure at 63-Backpacking to Istanbul
The Lucky Jack American Civil War series
Rebel Raiders
Confederate Rangers
The Napoleonic Horseman Series
Chasseur a Cheval
For more information on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at http://www.griffhosker.com where there is a link to contact him.
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Table of Contents
Book 1 in the Aelfraed series
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 1