El Campeador

by Griff Hosker

“No, in fact, the whole crusade failed because the Aragonese and Navarrese left and after the blood bath the Normans, Aquitanians, Burgundians and Frenchmen went home taking great booty with them. The Emir is now rebuilding the town.”

  It put a damper on our victory especially after we had fought for the Moors at Graus. We had healed the division and now the Normans had ripped open the wound once more. Certainly, Rodrigo underwent a change when he heard the news. I already knew from our conversations while training and on campaign that he saw a united Spain in which Muslim and Christian would be treated equally and, indeed, play an equal part. It was also the view of King Ferdinand and Prince Sancho although they saw a united Spain ruled by them. I think that if it were not so then he would have left their service. Now he was mistrustful of Frenchmen and any who did not live in Spain. Despite my Norse and Norman blood, I agreed with him.

  When we finally reached home, in September, we travelled for part of the way with Don Luis of Sangalhos and his men. We had grown quite close to him and his men. He had with him a nephew, Jorge Nunes. The nephew was the illegitimate son of his dead brother and had been raised by Don Luis in lieu of his own dead family. I think that Don Luis had been searching for a solution to the problem of raising him when there was no prospect of knighthood. When he heard that I was beginning to train young warriors he asked if Jorge Nunes could be our first warrior. I made the decision instantly for I liked the lad. He was young, he had seen just fifteen summers, and whilst that was a little late to begin training properly, he was keen, and he was also strong. I agreed and he became the first of many young warriors, although, in all truth, not as many as I planned. That was not my fault for war came to Spain. I get ahead of myself again; that is the problem with age for your memory dances around like an enraged wasp. As we rode back from Coimbra, we thought that we had years before I would need to bring a large contingent to war and so I was selective and only chose those who asked. I did not actively recruit.

  We had four of the captured horses from our raid and so Jorge was able to ride with us and I gave Juan the task of assessing his strengths and weaknesses as we rode home. We all rode together as far as León. The reason I had set Juan to watching Jorge was that Rodrigo wished to speak with me. He questioned me at length about many things and, at the time, I did not understand them. Later his motives became crystal clear. I did not mind the questions for I liked speaking with Rodrigo as he had educated me as much as I had trained him. It always seemed to me that we each gave the other something that the other needed. I was hungry for knowledge and Rodrigo was a fount of it. By the time we parted, at León, he told me that he would visit my estate at Briviesca when he had put his own affairs in order. He, too, was now a landowner and, as such, had responsibilities. He was never a committed landowner for first and foremost El Campeador was a warrior, but Prince Sancho would not be going to war and Rodrigo needed occupation.

  Briviesca was warm and welcoming when we returned. The months we had been away had seen the animals prosper and Maria had not been idle. I had let her know that Briviesca was hers as much as it was mine and she had imposed her will upon it. She had been born a servant and lived her whole life in the homes of lords and ladies. Now she had the chance to choose tapestries, drapes, furniture, even those things which had no interest whatsoever to me, pots and platters, goblets and cutlery! Maria revelled in them and the fact that I was well off and could afford it gave her the freedom to indulge herself.

  I was coming home richer too, although there would be expenses. Jorge had come with a sword and little else; Don Luis had given him the sword and I would have to provide the rest. It would take some time for the investment to begin to pay me back for Jorge would not be ready for war for, perhaps, four years. He would earn his keep when we did go to war by acting as a servant to the four of us. When we fought, he would hold the horses along with Geoffrey, but I now had six warriors who would follow me on the road to conflict and that was reassuring. My father had never had more than ten, or so Alfonso had told me.

  Life at Briviesca after Coimbra took on a more organised routine. Maria insisted upon a morning meeting so that she could tell me what she was doing with the land. She had been a quick learner. Pablo had been the caretaker, but Maria saw in him someone who could do more for he had been born on the estate and knew it well. She had made him the steward and he immediately added to the value of my land by advising Maria on the animals which would prosper. I agreed to everything which Maria suggested! Like the previous owner, I had no interest whatsoever in agriculture and I listened intently and asked sufficient questions to show her that I had been listening.

  Once the meeting was over, I would join my six men at the gyrus. Although Jorge was the first of the new men who would follow me to war, Geoffrey also wished to become a warrior and he joined us to improve his skills. Abu was a warrior. He had only one arm but he did not wish to stay at home and watch the walls. He joined us too. Juan had recognised on the ride back from Coimbra that Jorge, although he could keep in the saddle, was no rider and so he trained him to ride as well as the rest of my men. After a few practice bouts in the gyrus we saw that while he had strength in his arms, he had neither coordination nor skill. We were happy with that for he was the raw clay and could be improved. Iago taught him swordplay and I helped when it was needed.

  As winter came to us so the work on the estate changed and, with the animals kept closer to the hall the six men who worked for Maria and Pablo had less to do. The time they could have wasted sitting around a fire and gambling was given over to working with my warriors and the result was that I had a well-trained warband of men. The warrior training was something we continued long after the six were competent warriors for, thanks to Pablo and Maria, the estate prospered and, over the next few years we took on another twelve men. All became warriors. However, as with all tales, I get ahead of myself. The life of El Campeador and the legend that would become El Cid were barely begun and the taifa state which would be forever linked with the name El Cid had yet to be visited by the great man.

  That changed just before Christmas. Towards dusk as the men were clearing the gyrus a lone, mailed rider approached the hall and Fernando, who was the sentry on the wall, called out to me to warn me. Mailed riders were rare for we were off the main road and none came by accident. I had drilled into my men the need for vigilance as there were still Navarrese cattle thieves although I believed that the reputation of my men, not to mention my own, would keep all but the most reckless in less dangerous pastures.

  It was the horse I recognised. It was Rodrigo for the horse was his second horse, Felix, a black courser. The fact that he had a jet-black horse and an almost pure white one seemed to sum up Rodrigo. I turned and shouted, “Iago, you had better tell Maria we have a guest! It is Rodrigo!”

  Fernando’s eyes widened, “El Campeador? He comes here?”

  I was so used to Rodrigo that I sometimes forgot the effect on those who had never met him but had heard his name. “He is just a man, Fernando, a very great man but he eats, drinks and makes water just like you.”

  Fernando’s face told me that he did not believe my words.

  I was in the courtyard to greet him when he arrived. He looked chilled to the bone. The mountains were always cold, even in summer and although we had had no snow the temperature had been below freezing at night. I held Felix while he dismounted, “Is this urgent or did you just wish to partake of our Christmas feast?”

  He looked surprised, “Christmas? Is it Christmas already? I had forgotten. No Will, I come to consult with you and your men and I have a commission from King Ferdinand.” Maria approached and he said, “We will speak privately! Maria, you grow more beautiful each time I see you!”

  “My lord, do not try flattery for I know that I have more lines upon my face than a quern stone. You should have warned us for the guest room is not aired!”

  There was a reprimand in her voice but Rodrigo laughed, “Will here trained me to endure any c
onditions and we have camped in hovels before now, so I am certain that whatever quarters you provide will be luxurious compared with what I had on the way here.”

  Maria took his arm and led him inside. Iago, Juan and Pedro had joined me. I waved Geoffrey and Jorge over, “Take care of El Campeador’s horse and treat him well.”

  “Aye, lord, come, Jorge, you can lead the horse for this is a warhorse and not the sumpter on which you practise!” I saw Jorge’s eyes widen. He was going to be tending to the horse of the legend of Graus.

  Iago rubbed his chin, “What do you think this means, Will?”

  “I think it will involve us, Iago, so I would enjoy your cuddles with Anna while you may!”

  He nodded, “Aye, for until we came here, I did not know the pleasures of nestling beneath the covers on a cold winter’s night.”

  “You should marry her.”

  He nodded, “And I may.” He gave a sheepish smile. “I may have fathered bastards in Vivar but this one will have a father who married the mother!”

  I grinned, “She is with child?”

  “We think so.”

  My voice became commanding even though Iago was much older than I was, “Then see the priest in the village and make the arrangements. Does Maria know?”

  “Aye, she has been at me to marry since Anna told her.”

  “Good. We could do with a wedding and it will be good to have a child on the estate.”

  The women who had followed Maria from Vivar were very fond of Rodrigo and I did not get to see much of him until after we had eaten. Iago and Anna had slipped away to be together and Pedro and Juan had diplomatically given Rodrigo and me the chance to be alone. Maria came to kiss me on the forehead before retiring. She cocked her head to one side, “Did you advise Iago to wed?” I nodded and she beamed, “I raised you right. We can have the wedding in three weeks. The bairn is growing within Anna and we cannot delay.”

  “Then there is no problem.”

  Maria went off happily and I wondered what sort of wedding gift I ought to give. Although my title was honorific, I was the titular Lord of Briviesca, and Iago was one of my oathsworn. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I failed to notice the silence and the frown on Rodrigo’s face. When I did notice I also saw that his goblet was empty and as I refilled it I said, “There is something on your mind, my lord, I would have you speak your thoughts for there are no secrets between us.”

  “You know about Barbastro?”

  “I know and it is regrettable for I also know that it upset you.”

  He nodded, “The situation has taken a turn for the worse. The Emir of Zaragoza has finally rid his land of all Frenchmen and Normans.”

  “That is good.”

  He shook his head, “No, it is not good, he has sent a letter to the King. In it he says Christians broke the accord and the King did not go to his aid. He no longer considers himself a vassal of King Ferdinand which means that there will be no tribute.”

  “But I thought that the Emir understood that the King was in an impossible position.”

  “Sadly, that was an interpretation given to the King by ill-informed advisers.”

  “Aah.”

  He sipped his wine as though he was buying time and then he said, “King Ferdinand and Prince Sancho have charged me with a diplomatic mission. I am to go to Zaragoza and try to remedy the situation.”

  I was no longer the naïve young peasant who had first begun to train this great lord. I had changed and I had learned. Rodrigo had come alone which meant that he would either carry on to Zaragoza alone or we were to be his guards. “And you wish me to accompany you?”

  “And I know that you need to be here for the marriage of Iago. I am sorry to put you in this situation.”

  I smiled, “Our lives are intertwined, Rodrigo. Of course I shall come but Iago will not. Maria will not be happy about the situation but what we do will save men’s lives. She will understand.”

  “She cannot know! This is a secret meeting. There are men on both sides of the border between Christian and Moorish Spain who are happy for this rift to remain. King Garcia and the Emir of Toledo are two such men. We have to cross through Zaragoza and if we were ambushed then who knows who the attackers might be. You must tell her that the King has need of you.”

  I nodded for what he said made sense. “But I shall tell Iago. He is oathsworn and he will understand!”

  He smiled, “Aye, you are right.”

  I refilled our goblets, “And the King chose you and, no doubt, me because he knows the high regard the Emir has for you.”

  “Exactly. If we fail, then there will be another war come summer.”

  “And that is why you go alone. You left Diego at home?”

  He nodded, “He is young and reckless as he showed at Coimbra. I need reliable men and there are none more reliable than Will Redbeard and his warriors.”

  I rose early for I had much on my mind. Iago was unused to spending all night with a woman and he was up too. I found him in the kitchen nibbling on some ham and cheese. He grinned, “Maria wants us to be wed in three weeks.”

  I was surprised, “She told you the date?”

  He laughed, “Aye, she came last night and tapped on the door. I am pleased for the look on Anna’s face was filled with joy.”

  “And I am happy too but I have to tell you that neither your shield brothers nor I will be at your wedding.” His face fell as though I had slapped him, and I felt unhappier than I could ever remember. I explained to him why.

  “Then I shall postpone the wedding.”

  “No, you shall not. I will tell Maria an untruth, that I hope to be back in time for the wedding, but I doubt that I shall. You will insist on the wedding.”

  I saw understanding on his face but not acceptance, “I am not happy about this, Will Redbeard.”

  “Neither am I and Rodrigo also wishes that there was another way but once we began to follow his banner then we knew that we had no choice of its direction. We go where El Campeador leads.”

  “You will tell the others?”

  “Once we are on the road. We leave this afternoon.”

  “Maria will be unhappy!”

  “I know!”

  We drank the rest of the jug of wine and Rodrigo came down. I told him what I had told Iago and he nodded. “Congratulations, Iago. Will here gives good advice on all matters both military and domestic!” Suddenly Rodrigo said, “Your advice was also heeded by another, William.”

  “Another?” I was still thinking about the face I would use when I told the lie to Maria.

  “Don Raoul. He told me that you advised him to take a wife when you were at Graus. He took your advice and courted a woman. His wound spurred him to seek her hand in marriage. She accepted and now he is wed. He apologised for the fact that you were not invited.”

  I shook my head, “I would not have expected that.” I smiled, “Maria would be happy if I took a wife.” I sighed, “I fear she will take this news of my imminent departure, badly.”

  In the event, she took the news better than I had expected but as I had lied to her, I did not feel good about the response. My men were quite happy to follow Rodrigo and Jorge was positively bubbling with excitement. It would not be unusual for a party such as ours to ride forth mailed and prepared for war; winter was a dangerous time on the roads of northern Spain. Jorge had no mail but he had a metal-studded leather vest and a helmet. I rode Berber for he was a Moorish horse and his nose might help us.

  When we left there were smiles but I knew that when we did not return for the wedding there would be frowns and tears and I would have to endure a storm when we returned. The road to Zaragoza followed the road to Burgos for part of the way so that none would know we headed east until we left the main road. We were on that main road when I told my men our purpose. The prospect of adventure outweighed the disappointment of attending a shield brother’s wedding and when we turned to head to Zaragoza there was just the bubble of excitement rather
than hangdog faces.

  We had just twenty miles to travel to the small town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada where we would spend the night. We were still in Christian lands and the name of El Campeador brought us good food, accommodation and security for our animals. Rodrigo and I discussed what we might achieve. “King Ferdinand has already planned on spending the tribute he was due to receive this year and I need to ensure that the Emir knows that the King will go to war unless he becomes a vassal once more.” I nodded for I had seen when we had passed through the capital of Castile, the new buildings being erected on the strength of Moorish gold. “And, of course, Toledo might well follow suit.”

  “What of Valencia?”

  He laughed, “Your mind is becoming sharper, William. Aye, that is in my mind too. Emir Abd al-Malik is unknown to me. We know that the Emirs of Toledo and Badajoz are belligerent and while they have paid us retribution, they are still enemies. I had thought that the Emir of Zaragoza, after Graus, was different. Perhaps Valencia has played a part in this.”

  “Or it could be that the Emir of Zaragoza is just unhappy with the King and not Prince Sancho.” Realisation suddenly dawned and my mouth dropped open, “That is why you were sent and not another for you are close to Prince Sancho and seen as a hero by the Zaragozans!”

  “Now you see why I had to come without any knights, including Álvar. He wished to come and was hurt when I left him but there must be no threat unless we have to speak plainly. I hope to dissuade the Emir through means other than a threat of violence. We go because the Emir has sympathy for us and we have done him service before. This will be a test of that friendship.”

  As we headed towards Zaragoza, we kept hearing the name, El Cid, and discovered that the people of Zaragoza called him that. It was many years before it became widespread but in Zaragoza, it began. The Zaragozans knew of Graus and, as a result, Rodrigo was feted like a local hero in each and every town through which we passed. Where I had expected danger and ambush, we were given the best accommodation and fine food. Occasionally we even managed wine and beer. Abu kept us informed about the true feelings of the locals and he confirmed that Rodrigo was a hero but the apparent abandonment of Barbastro by King Ferdinand was seen as unforgivable and there was antipathy towards Christians. It helped to inform Rodrigo and he was well prepared for our audience with the Emir. Muhammad ibn Hassan, the leader of the Emir’s bodyguard, greeted us. It could have been intimidating but there was mutual respect between Rodrigo and the Moorish warrior.