To Murder a King

by Griff Hosker

  “Aye lord and I would have our men fed. It will take until noon to discover all that there is to take and then we can leave in the late afternoon.”

  Sir Jocelyn said, “Why not stay here for the night? Better a comfortable bed than a night under the stars.” I noticed that he spoke to the Earl and not to me even though it had been my suggestion.

  I answered for the Earl, “Lord, this is an important town. People will visit it. We cannot move back as swiftly as we came south. The journey which took us two days will take three. Valladolid is three days away but there will be other lords who are closer. We do not want to lose any more men or treasure. Better a night or two on the ground than a battle to get home.”

  The Earl looked from me to Sir Jocelyn. “We will stay here the night and leave on the morrow before dawn. We travel in the cool of the day.”

  Sir Jocelyn smirked. He had won but I wondered if it would cost us. We would have to mount a watch on the walls. Our men would be tired. However, I was merely a captain. I nodded, “As you wish, lord. I will find my men.”

  I rode to the gate where Stephen the Tracker waited. “Gather my men. Find somewhere close to this gate where we can rest. We stay the night.”

  Stephen shook his head, “That is a mistake, Captain.”

  “I know but the Earl has decreed it so.”

  The chevauchée had been successful. I knew that if we left immediately there was a good chance we could reach Ourense without any further fighting. The Earl’s decision now placed us and our gains in jeopardy.

  Chapter 9

  We had ten wagons with treasure. There was not only gold and jewels taken from the people of El Bierzo there was their wheat and their animals. The animals would slow us to a walk. We had to use our own men to drive the wagons. We used archers. If we were attacked then they could become mobile castles. Captain Black Jack’s archers were our scouts for we were back to protecting the Earl. His torn surcoat had been a warning to him of the parlous nature of a battle.

  We camped forty miles from El Bierzo. The family of the dead lord were guarded by Sir Jocelyn and the household knights. Captain Black Jack’s men kept watch. The forty miles we had travelled had been tortuous. We had had to move at the speed of the animals we had taken. We tried to persuade the Earl to slaughter some of them. A carcass was easier to transport than an animal was to drive. He refused. I knew why. He wished to impress his father and the other lords when he drove them into Ourense.

  The Spanish horsemen found us when we were just thirty miles from Ourense. It was a mixture of knights, squires and mounted sergeants. There were two hundred of them and they looked to be armed with spears. We had parity of numbers but we had prisoners and animals to guard. Even before the Earl could react Captain Thomas of Northampton had ordered the wagons into a square with the animals in the centre. I shouted, “Archers into the wagons!”

  The Earl stared at us. Black Jack said, “Time is of the essence lord. We should charge them with our own mounted men.”

  Sir Jocelyn said, “We will be outnumbered!”

  Black Jack said, “Earl, trust your men. We can defeat these Spaniards.”

  The Earl looked at me and I nodded. When he spoke it was with authority, “I agree. Form up our knights Sir Jocelyn. Captain William and his men will protect me in the centre.”

  “But, my lord, they are sergeants!”

  I turned, “And all the better for that, Sir Jocelyn. Do not insult my men again or you and I will have words.”

  “Stop this bickering. Sir Jocelyn, I have spoken!”

  We quickly formed up. We had a hundred and twenty men. We used three lines of forty. I noticed that it was Captain Thomas and his men who were to our left and Black Jack to our right. The knights formed the third rank with the squires. We had not had time to fetch our spears but I gambled that if these horsemen had caught us they had ridden hard. Carrying a lance or a spear was tiring and the ground over which they were moving was not flat. I could tell that the Earl was worried for he kept glancing at me as the men formed. I knew that we had time. The Spanish were just under half a mile away and they were forming into a double line. They would overlap us.

  “Whenever you are ready, Earl. The men are formed.”

  The Earl raised his sword, “For the honour of Northampton!” He spurred his horse. Despite what I had said the Earl had brought a destrier. It was the one he had bought from me. It was the best horse we had and it showed for it began to outstrip us.

  “Lord, rein him in!”

  “I am trying!” We just had to ride faster and that would weaken our horses. It also meant we would strike them like an arrow point and the Earl would be the tip. I remembered training him but that had been many years ago. Would he remember all that I had taught him? I had my shield held high and my sword held behind me. The Earl’s shield was a little lower than I would have liked. He was not as strong as me and my men. We had well made shields but they were heavy. I took heart from the fact that the advancing Spaniards were also more ragged than they ought to have been. They had many banners. That denoted knights. The knights were in the centre and I saw that the leader and the men around them had full face helmets. Those in the centre also had destriers.

  The Earl kept reining back and we gradually caught up with him. Once we drew next to him I knew that his horse would want to gallop ahead again. He was a war horse and a leader. We were less than sixty paces from the enemy and almost at full gallop. I saw the spears begin to lower. The ones in the centre had lances and they were, generally straight. Their leader was riding for the Earl. Roger of Chester was to the Earl’s left and I had the right. I kicked my horse hard when we were just twenty paces apart. It would be too late for the Earl’s horse to respond and I wanted to distract the leader.

  I saw the four knights in the centre pull back their arms to punch at us. I was aware of a lance coming at my right side. I did the only thing I could do. I swept my sword from behind and up. I managed, somehow, to deflect the lance in the air. Behind me David of Welshpool would have an easy strike for the lance was still in the air as the Spaniard passed me. Then the Spanish leader’s lance cracked into the Earl’s. He was saved by two things. My shield was on his side and his horse chose that moment to try to bite the Spanish horse. There was the sound of cracks all the way down the line as lances and spears hit shields and mail. The Earl brought his sword over and it hit the Spanish leader’s helmet. It was a good blow and the blade slid down and into the aventail. Roger of Chester swung his sword and the distracted Spaniard was hit in the middle. He began to tumble over the back of his horse.

  The Spanish second rank was closer to us now but these had brigandines and mail hauberks. More importantly they had long spears which they were struggling to control. I did not even have to move much as the Spanish spear came at me. His shield was on the opposite side and when my swinging sword hit his middle I cracked mail and bones. He reeled and I knew that David of Welshpool would finish him.

  We were through their lines and I shouted, “Wheel left!” I thought for a moment that the Earl’s horse was going to bite my mount as I turned quicker than the Earl. Thankfully, he did not.

  Now we held the advantage for we were riding behind men with spears. They could not defend themselves. The mail hauberk of the first sergeant at arms did not completely cover his leg. I swung hard and cut through to the bone. He screamed and, as he fell, pulled his horse over. His horse barged into the next one and confusion reigned in the disordered Spanish lines. Some of the sergeants turned right, away from us and fled. The loss of their leader had weakened their resolve.

  It became a confused mêlée. Our ranks were now intermingled. Roger of Chester and I still flanked the Earl and we protected him from any attacks from the front or side. Two horses suddenly burst through. They were riderless. Two of our men had fallen. The knights of the Earl were still close behind us. We had won. However, in that moment of victory, I saw the Earl throw his arms in the air and drop his shield. I r
eached over to grab his reins and Roger of Chester placed himself between the Earl and danger. Natty and Geoffrey of Gisburn spurred their horses to place them behind the stricken Earl who leaned over in his saddle. I saw blood. Our swords had won the battle but the Earl, somehow, was hurt. The more experienced Spaniards threw away their spears and drew their swords but in the time they took to do that many were either wounded or forced to surrender. When the Spanish horn sounded there were thirty Spanish riders on the ground. Many were dead or dying and another twenty knights had been forced to surrender. The Count of Valladolid was not one of them. When Roger of Chester had struck him, he had fallen over the back of his horse and a rider in the second rank had crushed his skull.

  I nudged my horse next to the Earl, “What is it lord? Where are you hurt?”

  He shook his head, “I know not. I felt a sharp pain in my side. Where is Richard? He should have been behind me.”

  I looked and saw Richard’s horse wandering riderless. “Natty, find Master Richard!” I kicked my horse and led the destrier back to our wagons. “We must get your wound seen to. Roger, find Captain Thomas and tell him to take command,” I looked around and saw that none of the household knights were close. Had this been an attempt at murder? As we rode back I saw blood trickling down the cuisse of the Earl’s armour. I now regretted not bringing a healer with us. As we neared the wagons I saw horses and sergeants at arms littering the ground. Some had tried to attack the wagons and our archers had slaughtered them. It explained why we had been able to defeat a superior number.

  As we entered the square of wagons I shouted for Peter and Henry. I helped the Earl from his horse and then they reached me. “The Earl is wounded. Get the healer’s satchel. Find Geoffrey, his page.” My men and I knew how to deal with wounds. The nobles had doctors and monks. We relied on ourselves. Peter the Priest had taught me much. I wasted no time, after I had shed my gauntlets, in taking off the armour of the Earl. His squire Edward rode in. He had a wound over his head. “Edward, help me. Your lord is wounded.”

  As we undressed him he said, quietly, “This was treachery, Captain. Richard and I were knocked from our saddles.”

  Geoffrey ran up. “Get your lord something to drink.” The Earl had not spoken since we had returned. I hoped he was not dying. When we took off his under shirt I saw the wound. Geoffrey poured some wine in the Earl’s mouth and Peter handed me the satchel. I nodded towards the Earl’s mail. “Look at the mail for me.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  The wound was bloody. I poured some water on it and saw that the puncture mark was very narrow. “A rondel blade!”

  Peter said, “Aye, Captain. I can see the links which were forced apart.”

  “Say nothing. Light a fire. We will seal the wound. Henry, hold onto this cloth and press it against the wound.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  I leaned into the Earl. His eyes were open. “One of your men tried to kill you. You were stabbed in the left side by a rondel blade. Had you not had such good mail then it might have been fatal.”

  “But who?”

  “Perhaps we can work it out from the words of Edward and, if he lives, Richard. But for now let me try to heal you.” We looked up as there was a huge cheer when the Spanish prisoners were brought in. “Earl, say nothing. We want the assassin to be off his guard. I have narrowed it down to four knights. When I speak with your squires we might get closer to his identity.”

  “His?”

  “My mistake, lord, it might be more than one. “Edward, Peter, stay close to the Earl. Geoffrey go and watch the fire.” I handed him by ballock dagger. “Put this in the fire when it is hot.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  I shouted, “Stephen, we need room here. Keep all from us, no matter who. We trust none save our own.”

  “Aye Captain. It was a fine victory.”

  “Only if the Earl survives.” The Earl looked up at me. I saw fear in his eyes. “I will not speak false to you, lord. A rondel dagger has a long and round point. I am no doctor and I do not know what lies beneath your flesh. I am guessing, and hoping, that there is nothing vital but I know not. I will seal the wound and when we reach Ourense seek help from a doctor. If they have one then an Arab might be the best. They may be infidels but they know their medicine.”

  I heard Stephen say, “I am sorry, lord, but the Captain and the Earl are busy.”

  “And I am Sir Jocelyn! I do not answer to the scum of the forest.”

  I heard a scuffle and a thud. “I care not if you are the King of England. If my Captain says you stand clear then you do so. Come at me again like that and it will be more than a clout I fetch you.”

  I saw the Earl smile. He said weakly, “Your men are stalwart. Give me a thousand like that and I can defeat any army sent to me.”

  “Aye, lord. They are good.”

  “Captain, it is ready.”

  “Peter and Edward, hold his shoulders. This will hurt, lord. There will be no shame in crying out. Curse me if it will help.”

  He nodded. Geoffrey gingerly handed me the hilt of the knife. I could smell the heat. “When I say, Henry, lift the cloth.”

  “Aye Captain.” I knew my squire was worried. He had done nothing like this, ever.

  “Now!”

  He had done a good job but blood began to ooze. Even as I pressed the flat of the blade against it I hoped that there was not a deeper wound. If I sealed it and the wound still bled he would die. There was a hiss and then the smell of burning hair and flesh. He cried out. I heard men murmur behind me.

  Stephen said, “Peace, lords. It is just a wound being sealed.”

  I held it for a moment or two and then pulled it away. The Earl had passed out. I looked at the wound. Nothing seeped from it. I risked, while he was unconscious, pressing on the sides of the wound. No blood came from it. I handed a bandage to Edward. “I will apply a salve. When that is done I would have you wrap the bandage as tightly as you can.”

  “Aye Captain.”

  I stood. I saw Sir Jocelyn and Sir Humphrey. They were off to the side casting evil looks in my direction. Black Jack and Thomas stood with Stephen the Tracker. “It is sealed but I know not if it is healed.”

  “It is good that you have the skill.”

  “I served with a priest and he taught me a few tricks.”

  Captain Thomas gestured at the hostages. “So much for them. We would have been better without them.”

  Black Jack shrugged, “We demand more ransom!”

  I nodded towards the two knights. “They could cause trouble.”

  “There are fewer of the Earl’s knights, Captain. Another four were wounded. Only one looks likely to live. Their squires are with them.”

  “We will put the wounded in one wagon and the Earl in a separate one. I will have his squires with him. Where is Natty?”

  I looked up and saw Natty leading a horse with Richard slumped over it. Was he dead? “How is he, Natty?”

  “His coxcomb is bloody that is all. He has a tale Captain.”

  “Put him next to the Earl and I will look at him. Stephen, have a bed made in your wagon. If we have to get rid of treasure we will do so.”

  “You take charge, Captain.” I looked at Black Jack. He smiled, “It was not a question. We need someone to take command. I would not trust the ten knights who are left to command a sumpter! You know this land better than any and you are the Earl’s man. Command and we will obey.”

  “Then we leave now. I would have us get as close to Ourense before dark. I will send two riders to Ourense to tell the Earl’s father the news.” I gestured for the two captains to come closer. “The Earl was stabbed by one of his men, it had to be a knight or a squire. When I have spoken with Edward and Richard I might have an idea who.”

  “You are sure? It is a serious allegation.”

  “It could have been no one else. It was not a mêlée at the moment he was struck and it was a rondel dagger in the back. I cannot see a Spaniard being
able to do that and besides the Spanish were all to our fore. No, there is a killer and I will find him.”

  We buried our own dead. There were few in number and the wounded were all loaded in the wagons. We took the decision to make the hostages ride the newly captured horses along with the captured knights. While we were doing that I spoke with the two squires. They were still somewhat shocked by the events. The Earl slept and Geoffrey tended him.

  “Who was behind you? I know that the two of you flanked the rear of the Earl’s horse. Tell me of your battle.”

  “Roger of Chester, yourself and Natty Longjack managed to keep all danger from us, Captain. We kept our swords ready and our shields were there to protect the Earl. The biggest danger we had was of our horses tripping over the dead. Behind us were eight of the Earl’s household knights.”

  “I need you to be specific. I need names. I also need you to tell me who was immediately behind you and then work out.”

  “Sir Jocelyn and his squire, Sir Humphrey and his squire, Sir Richard Laidlaw and his squire.”

  I held up my hand. “I will assume their squires were with them.”

  Edward nodded, “Sir John Fitzcreke, Sir Robert Hatherley, Sir James Fotheringhay, Sir Gilbert de Bois and Sir Ralph of Helmsley.”

  “Good. And did you see who struck you? Either of you?”

  “No, Captain. We feared no danger to the rear but Natty said that I was struck by a mace.” He showed me his helmet. There was a distinctive indentation. That narrowed it down even more. Few young knights use the mace. I picked up Edward’s helmet. He also had the marks of a mace. I could see now that two knights had ridden between them and swung their maces at the same time. It explained how the two had fallen instantaneously.