Hoodsman: Queens and Widows

by Smith, Skye

  Only once the red hues had turned dark red, did Raynar lead her away from the still seated, still trancing monks. It was but a short walk to the privacy of their bungalow. She was now approaching the dream stage of the mushrooms when the visions are not external but internal. He led her to the bed and pulled off her monks robe and her boots, and made her comfortable against the wall where she could look out through the open doorway at the last of the colours. Then he just sat patiently, and occasionally gave her sips of heather ale to wet her lips.

  Eventually the monks began wandering and making strange noises as they had their own visions, and walked with their own angels, and so he closed the doors and bolted them, and lit a few candles. In the soft candle light her face was angelic. Her eyes were closed but he could see her eyes moving quickly under her eyelids and knew she was gone to another world.

  He left his own clothes on a chair, puffed up another pillow, and sat beside her on the bed. Sometimes her legs moved and sometimes her arms, and sometimes her tummy would become taught and sometimes she would go completely limp. Much later he gave her one last sip of ale, took a gulp himself and then pulled her down the bed so that she could lie close beside him while he slept, though she never really slept.

  * * * * *

  In the morning he was woken by the sound of her tinkling in the slop bucket. He tried to ignore it and fall back to sleep, but she had seen him look and refused to allow it. Her visions and dreams had lasted all night, and though her mind had never slept, her body had. She was joyous to find that he had woken with a stiff cock, as men who need to pee are wont to do, and she climbed on top of him to use it immediately. "Waste not, want not” was all she said to him and used her inner muscles to finish him quickly.

  This sex was so unlike the careful, caring, soft sex of the past week that he mentioned it to her and she looked down at him and looked into his eyes and said "I need daughters. For now Cristina is helping with my good works, but she is bored with Scotland. I will need daughters to continue it. My dreams last night showed me all."

  "Daughters, more than one. Margaron, what are you saying. Your husband will never let us live together. This was a one time gift from him to you.” His pet Greek name for her was so appropriate because her skin, having been touched by the sun all over, was pearly pink..

  "You are a ships captain, and a trader," she whispered softly. "You live in both Flanders and England to run the trade in both places. Make it three places. Run trade ships to Scotland and live in three places.” As she said these words she squeezed her pelvic muscles and rubbed her breasts in is face. "I want to make a daughter today, and in a year make another."

  They spent the rest of that day pleasuring each other, to the point where they were sure the monks must complain about the animal noises they were making. She had to pull a pillow over her mouth when he showed her how Frisian women fulfilled each other's lust when their husbands were away too long, and even the pillow did not smother all of her moans.

  Afterwards she lay panting beside him and said, "This is most disrespectful of these holy men. If we want to continue in this way we must return to the hunting lodge at Loch Fitty."

  She was probably more right than she knew because when they announced that they were leaving the next morning, the prior looked completely relieved. "Prior,” she said as she stepped into the boat. "Did your brethren come to a decision?"

  "Yes, when we are forced to choose, will ask the Benedictines to absorb and protect our order and allow us to follow the hermit teachings of Saint Augustine."

  "Do not wait too long to approach the Benedictines, prior,” she warned. "You have my protection, but only so long as I rule in the palace. Only the fates know how long that will be."

  The prior looked long into her, er, his eyes, as if he were deciding on whether to say something more, but then he shrugged and told her, "Many of the monks had seer visions on the holy night. We have not recorded all of them yet, but many had the same one. We have a dozen years here still,” then he shook his head and said. "No, they were seeing the future of a mother, and you are but a lad. Enough said."

  Raynar gave him a cruel stare, and the prior bowed his head in apology for being so unkind as to tell a person how long they had left on this earth.

  * * * * *

  * * * * *

  The Hoodsman - Queens and Widows by Skye Smith

  Chapter 14 - Judith's steward visits Northumbria in June 1079

  "She is with child,” said Raynar to Malcolm.

  "She is thinner and healthier now than she has been for years,” Malcolm replied, "It does not show, it will not show for months. How do you know?"

  "I have been trained as a healer. I know. She is with child."

  "Then it would be polite of you to leave the court but to stay close, just in case. Perhaps it is time that you introduced yourself as steward to Countess Judith's tenants in Northumbria. I could use your help with negotiating with that blasted bishop-prince Walcher."

  "Walcher, I though he was the man who ordered your assassination?” Raynar pointed to the mans mid section. "I cannot believe you would negotiate with him. Why not just kill him?"

  "My spies tell me that it was not Walcher who sent the assassin,” replied Malcolm, "but his knight commander Gilbert. Gilbert's violence against Walcher's folk is out of control. He is collecting everything of value in the name of taxes, and the knight priest who rides with him, Leobwin, is burning every midwife that they catch. I do not believe that Walcher approves of what they are doing, but he is a cleric not a general."

  "So what do you want from Walcher?"

  "Northumbria is a mess. Before the Norman's harrowed it, it was wealthy, but now it is poor. It needs peace, which means there must be peace along my border. Walcher holds two earldoms, Bamburgh and Dun Holm. He bought them from William when Waltheof was imprisoned. He is trying to get the lands of Dun Holm producing again, but he is ignoring the lands of Bamburgh. From the River Tweed to the River Tyne is still a wasteland. Here in Scotland there are many exiles and refugees from there, who I welcomed...."

  "Ugh,” Raynar tried to interrupt. Malcolm's so called 'welcome' of the English who had been fleeing the Normans had meant their bondage to the Scots. He was about to say as much but instead said, "never mind, continue."

  "Those that took refuge in Scotland,” Malcolm continued, "have been slowly drifting back to their lands and over the past few years they have been trying to rebuild their villages. It is almost impossible. Between Sir Gilbert and his collectors, and the hill people like the Nesbit clan, their animals and harvests are always at risk. What I have suggested to Walcher is that I buy the earldom of Bamburgh from him and bring peace to those lands, and he use the payment to rebuild the earldom of Dun Holm."

  "But can he do that without William's blessing?"

  "So long as William gets his cut, he will bless it,” explained Malcolm. "William needs the coin. He needs peace here so that the lands earn again and pay taxes."

  "But that would move the border of your kingdom from the River Tweed to the River Tyne. He will never agree."

  "I would hold the land as an earl, not a king,” replied Malcolm, "or perhaps William and I could choose a good man to be earl who would please us both. Meanwhile time is wasting. It is planting season and nothing is being planted. It is lambing season and the herds have been scattered or stolen."

  "Meanwhile you have an army sitting on the border. Is this plan of yours the truth, or just a ruse to give you the excuse to take Bamburgh by force?"

  "If need be I will take it by force,” admitted Malcolm, "but for now my army is there to make Sir Gilbert stay far away from the Tyne so that the returning Daneglish farmers feel secure enough to plant."

  "So, assuming I believe all this, what would you have me do?"

  "The two main Daneglish lords who Walcher most depends upon are Eadulf Rus and Ligulf of Lumley. Eadulf used to be Cospatrick's man. Ligulf used to be Waltheof's man. They both want Gilbert stopp
ed and the hill raids stopped so their folk can make their livings. Go and convince them that there will be no peace until I am the earl in Bamburgh. Let them take that message to Walcher."

  "So you want me to threaten them with a Scottish invasion if Walcher does not agree to sell you Bamburgh?” asked Raynar.

  "No, I want you to...” Malcolm grasped at his next words. "I suppose that is what I am saying, but think of a better way of saying it."

  "I cannot go alone. I came to this kingdom in a cart and almost ready for the grave."

  "There are exiles enough with my army that some are bound to be tenants of your countess. Take them with you. If you find that you do not need them, leave them in their villages and tell them to get planting."

  They were both silent for a long time.

  "If I do this for you, and carry your message,” Raynar finally said, "I will need assurances that I can pass on to Eadulf and Ligulf. Assurances that if you do invade Bamburgh, that you will tread lightly on their kinsmen and on my countess's tenants, and instead concentrate on this Gilbert, and his priest Leobwin, and any lands run by Walcher's foreigners."

  "You have them. It goes without saying. Then I can count on you?"

  "You can count on this. I will go and survey Judith's lands in Northumbria. This will be with Walcher's permission, and I will ask him for the help of Eadulf and of Ligulf. Afterwards I will catch a ship to Huntingdon and discuss my findings with Judith. That brings up another issue."

  "And that would be...” said Malcolm leaning back in his seat and pursing his lips.

  "I want assured landing for any ship from the Wash to trade with Scotland, and once you extend your border, then the same assurance for Bamburgh as well."

  "But we welcome all trading ships."

  "I am not talking about an empty welcome, I am talking about protection. I want your assurance that my ships will be protected as if they were yours."

  "So be it.” agreed Malcolm, "May I say that you have a strange method of negotiating, very unlike my usual dealings with nobles and landlords and commanders."

  "That is because I do not seek to own and I do not seek to command. I seek work for my men, and earnings for our pockets, and above all else, peace. The way to earn the most is to have a lasting peace, and the way to keep the peace is to make sure that everyone, every one, profits by it."

  Malcolm's face softened and he laughed. "In-common wealth. Spoken like a true clansman. If only I could get the clans to stop stealing from each other. And how does your countess feel about your ideas of in-common wealth?"

  "As you said a month ago, she is the richest widow in England. But she is wise enough to know that there is little sense in owning land that is not productive."

  * * * * *

  It took Raynar three days to travel to the River Tweed and find the Scottish army, and then another two days to recruit a dozen English exiles who were willing to escort him beyond the Tweed and risk a return to their villages. It then took almost a week to travel by horse to Dun Holm. Each day he grew weaker and rode a shorter distance and each day he felt the pains growing in his lower back.

  In Dun Holm, which he remembered quite well, he presented his documents as Judith's steward and was received amiably by the prince-bishop. At his request, Walcher sent for both Eadulf and Ligulf and meanwhile offered him a room in the group of large houses that he called his palace. Walcher was eager for news and though Raynar did not wish to speak of Malcolm until he had met with the two Daneglish ealders, he did speak at length of the courts of Paris and Brugge, and of the Countess Judith.

  Eadulf was curt with him, which was to be expected as he had been Cospatrick’s man, but Ligulf guided him on a week long tour of the countess's estates around Dun Holm. The estates had never truly recovered from the great harrowing. The roofs were still gone from most buildings and the years of northern rains were washing the wattle walls down to become earth again. Those folk that still lived on the land hid from them, and hid their animals too, when and if they had enough warning of their coming.

  He was told many times that these were the best of the estates. That on the estates north of the River Tyne the land had gone back to bush because of the lack of even sheep to keep it cleared. They did pass by estates that looked very prosperous, and when he asked, the landlords were always either Walcher or one of his knights. Sir Gilbert's name was mentioned frequently.

  "Most of the folk working the land,” Ligulf told him, "work under Norman bond agreements that are called serve bonds. Supposedly the serve folk can work their own lands as well, but in reality they are too tired to, or they serve on lands far away from their own villages."

  "Malcolm of Scotland wishes to be Earl of Bamburgh,” Raynar said quietly, "He has offered to buy it from Walcher. He says that will create peace north of the Tyne and folk will be able to return to their villages. Do you believe it?"

  "I would not trust Malcolm out of my sight,” Ligulf replied quickly. "Too often he has promised to help us and too often he has robbed us instead, or worse, left us to the mercy of Normans. The only mercy a Norman knows is a quick death. Well, I suppose things could not be worse. A promise of peace is better than no promise of peace. Even if it stops Sir Gilbert from raiding us, and stops the reivers from doing the same, we would have a chance of keeping enough food for the winters."

  "You are not surprised by this?"

  "We have all heard the offer before,” Ligulf replied, "Eadulf and I many times."

  "Should I speak of it to Walcher?"

  "Can't hurt to try, though if Gilbert is in the room wear mail to bed."

  Raynar lifted his clothes and showed Ligulf the last of the bruises around his waist. "Have you ever seen bruises like these before."

  "Shite man, you're fates have protected you. Yes, I have seen the like before. Usually on dead men. It is the injury a man takes from a saddle horn when a horse rolls on him. It's a bad way to die."

  "This was done by an assassin, trying to make it look like an accident."

  "Bastards,” Ligulf looked more closely, "Norman assassin?"

  "Yes, and Malcolm has the same marks. He says the assassin was Gilbert's man."

  "Then tell Malcolm that he is most welcome to come and gut Gilbert. We will not protect the bastard."

  * * * * *

  Back in Dun Holm, Walcher refused to talk of Malcolm's offer for the earldom with Raynar, and at the mention of it became hostile to his continued presence. Ligulf had told him that few ships ever visit the coast, for there was no surplus to trade, and no coin for passage, so Raynar changed his own plans of going immediately south by ship to discuss this all with Judith, and instead made his way slowly back to Dunfermline by horse.

  He had a warm welcome at Dunfermline, even by Malcolm who saw his return with his news as an act of loyalty, not contriteness. Margaret was showing her growing tummy proudly though it was still hardly noticeable. Cristina was not there. She was in negotiations with a religious order of Culdees at a place not far away called Kirkcaldy, which he assumed meant Church of the Culdee.

  Malcolm was not surprised that Raynar could not find passage on a ship from Dun Holm. "There is only the occasional Norman ship from the Humber,” he said. "for there is nothing to trade along that coast. Any local ship sails south in the summer to where they can earn. I have five supply ships leaving for the Tweed and then the Tyne. If you wish, you may go with them to the Tyne, and I will arrange with the captains for one of them to take you as far as the Humber."

  * * * * *

  At the end of July, two weeks after he arrived back at the palace and reported to Malcolm, the Scottish army crossed the River Tweed, and then split into two. One quarter besieged the fortress at Bamburgh to keep the garrison at that fortress trapped and helpless. The rest of the army, including the highlander irregulars and huge numbers of Daneglish refugees and exiles, poured into Northumbria.

  The regular army swept down as far as Dun Holm and collected treasure and horses from Walc
her's churches and estates. Malcolm then withdrew his army back to camp on the north bank of the River Tyne where they could control the critical ford at Blaydon, and the wooden cart bridge at Gateshead.

  The refugees and exiles tried to find their old villages, tried to find their families, and took vengeance against any Normans they found. All of them searched for the knight called Gilbert, for Malcolm had promised a hundred marks for his capture.

  Eventually Walcher came to Gateshead to discuss terms with Malcolm. He was not surprised to see Raynar there also, and greeted him warmly. "I should have listened to you, Frisian,” he said. Raynar had never corrected the man about his heritage.

  Walcher refused to hand over his kinsman, Sir Gilbert or Gilbert's pet priest to Malcolm. He refused to sell Bamburgh until he had an answer back to his dispatches to Regent Bishop Odo, the Conqueror's evil half brother, in Winchester.

  Walcher did agree to allow the returning exiles and refugees to remain north of the Tyne without hindrance from his men, so long as the Scottish army withdrew to the Tweed. In other words he stalled for time in hopes that politics, harvest season, or winter would intervene.

  Malcolm's reaction was anger. The prince-bishop had been stalling since spring and now it was mid August and nearing harvest time. When the exiles heard that Malcolm was taking the Scots home for their own harvest, many of them followed him. There was nothing to harvest in Northumbria, but a huge harvest expected in the Lothian valleys just north of the Tweed.

  Malcolm decamped and marched for Scotland carrying much treasure, and leading many captured foreigners as bond slaves against possible ransoms, and a host of exiles who were again refugees in their own lands. Raynar sailed for the Humber, and from there caught a passage on one of Klaes's ships to the Wash.