Northern Knight

by Griff Hosker

  The messengers returned from Tom the Fletcher with more arrows and Tristan and Harold returned with the stipend from the Bishop and a holy relic. The Bishop was so pleased with our work that he had sent one of St. Cuthbert's fingers in a silver pendant which was encased in a casket and a priest to watch over it. Father Richard was an earnest young man. He was keen to use God to fight the Scots and he asked if he could bear the Bishop's banner. That suited me for I needed all of my knights and squires now to fight.

  For half a month we had peace and then the scouts found a trail. It was a trail from the north and it told us that the Scots had returned. The scouts saw the animal dung. They had horses. There were also the tracks of a single cart. They had come for war and not a raid. We prepared to do battle once more.

  Chapter 10

  The Scots had learned. With the long days of summer drawing closer they could move through the forests more easily. Aiden deduced that they rode palfreys and not destrier and that the men they brought were more lightly armed for the tracks they left were not as deep. Most importantly they were heading for the gaps in the wall the Romans had built. There were no manors to the west of Hexham and no lords there with castles to guard the border. The castles were further south and the Scots had slipped by us without us knowing.

  We left our servants with the supplies and the spare horses. Two men at arms were all that we could spare to guard our home. I asked Ralph to call out the fyrd. It was high summer and there would be men to spare. We had to use a precious palfrey for our priest who insisted upon accompanying us, swearing that St. Cuthbert would bring success to our venture. I would take any help I could get. There was a certain amount of guesswork involved in our route. If they carried on due south from their crossing points then they would hit high ground with few animals to steal. It would not be worth their while. They would have to swing to the south of Chollerford and strike at the Tyne and Wear valleys. The animals born a few months ago were now almost ready for market and it would be a perfect time to raid them. The farmers would be busy in their fields with the cereal crops they needed to tend and weed.

  We headed south too with my scouts spread out in a large half circle as we sought to catch them on the march. The rest we had enjoyed since our last battle had prepared us better than I could have hoped. We had eaten well, trained hard and we knew that our enemies could be beaten. Our scouts had told us that we would be outnumbered but we had been at a disadvantage the last time and still won. Confidence was worth a hundred men.

  We found their trail not far from Corbridge. They had had to use the Roman Road for part of their journey and the droppings of their horses marked their trail. I sent Edward and half of our force to the east. They rode along the old Roman Road which led to the New Castle and they rode hard. They would wait close to the castle of Prudhoe. By riding hard and fast they could reach it before the slower moving Scots. This was another castle where the lord of the manor was in Scotland but I hoped that Edward could hold it as a bastion against the Scots. I guessed that they had chosen this route because they knew that they would be unopposed. Edward, his four knights and his men at arms might prove to be a shock to them. I retained the archers. I would need them.

  Aiden came galloping back. "Baron, they are two miles ahead and approaching Prudhoe."

  "How many are there?"

  "I estimate two hundred. They are mainly lightly armed horsemen and foot soldiers. I only counted ten knights and eight squires."

  Aiden had become more proficient of late and knew the difference between knights and squires. The squires tended to wear their hair shorter. There were more knights than we had expected.

  "Will they push on to Prudhoe do you think?"

  He hesitated for his answer was crucial. "Aye, my lord."

  It all depended upon Edward now and the speed with which he had ridden. "We ride hard!"

  I threw caution to the wind. If they could make Prudhoe then they could capture a base and we were too few to assault a castle. We could hold one but not take one. We would need an army to rid the land of Scots holding a castle. Dick rode back to me. "They are but half a mile away!"

  "Ride to their southern flank and harass them. Do not endanger your men but we need them halted so that Edward has the opportunity to reach Prudhoe."

  "Aye my lord."

  With my archers committed we moved east. There was little point in using lances for we would be fighting in woodland and so I sent the men with the lances to the rear. I halted my line. "Form a line of attack with knights to the fore." There were seven knights in the front rank. The squires, banners and the priest were in the second and then fourteen men at arms made up the third and fourth ranks. It was not a huge force but I relied on surprise.

  We heard the shouts and alarm from the south. Dick had attracted their attention. I hoped that whoever led them would assume this was their main opposition. I wanted their attention to the south. I drew my sword and led the wedge of warriors. We trotted through the woods. The trees meant we could not ride knee to knee and it was a looser formation. We came upon the first body some two hundred paces into the woods. It was a Scot who had an arrow sticking through his neck. We found another three in the next sixty paces. Dick was drawing them south, away from the castle. I knew what he would be doing. Half of his men would be loosing arrows whilst the other half held the reins of their mounts. I saw the flash of colour in the woods; it was the Scottish knights riding behind a mass of men at arms as they drove towards the archers who were whittling them down. My archers could not possibly hope to defeat them but they could irritate them and draw them on.

  We had our opportunity for the knights were so busy trying to get at the archers that they did not see us. The woods through which we travelled muffled the sound of our approach. As soon as we galloped they would know where we were. We did not need to ride hard; we were not using lances and we did not need a weight of warrior and horse to break a line; there was no line. We were less than a hundred paces from them when one of the Scottish squires turned and saw us. He shouted the alarm and faces turned towards us.

  "On! There is no need for caution now!"

  I spurred Scout and he leapt forward. I leaned out over his head. I wanted to strike the first blow. The Scottish line had turned to face us but they were still drawing swords when we struck. I brought my sword around in a wide arc to strike a red and black shield with a yellow griffin. The knight reeled but kept his seat. We needed the knights eliminating and I jerked on Scout's reins to bring his head around. As the knight swung at my shield I stood in my stirrups to bring my sword down on his helmet. It stunned him and my blade continued down his helmet and hacked through his mail and into his neck. He fell from his horse.

  I felt a sharp pain in my side. I turned and saw a spear held by a man at arms. He saw the blood on the end and was laughing when Leofric jammed my banner into his neck. He died with a surprised look on his face. Nodding my thanks I turned Scout to head towards the Scots who were now rushing to meet us. We had lost our organised ranks but I hoped that I still led mounted men. That way we could escape to Prudhoe if things went awry. The trees aided us for they hid our numbers. I knew that they outnumbered us but they had no idea how many they faced.

  I saw men on foot. A sergeant at arms was trying to organise them into a shield wall. Suddenly an arrow came from the woods to my right and he fell dead. As the warriors looked to their left I swung my sword and hit one in the shoulder. He fell and Wulfric smashed his war axe into the head of another. The other five ran. I was about to order my men to charge once more when Wulfric said, "We are almost surrounded my lord, look."

  I had been so keen to get at them that I had not seen that we were being drawn into a circle of swords. Ahead of us there was a continuous line of spears and shields with horses behind. They had learned and they had tried to trap us. The only thing which saved us was the band of archers led by Dick.

  "Fall back!"

  As I turned Scout I saw that the Scot
s were trying to close the neck on this net of steel. The large number of foot aided them. Dick and his hidden archers carefully picked off the men who were trying to close the gap. Wulfric and I were the last ones through and we had to smash our way through with our swords. The blows that were struck hit our mail and not our horses. We would be battered and bruised but we managed to escape. We kept going until we made the road. There were empty horses and I knew that we had lost men. The Bishop's priest was already seeing to the wounded. Harold and Sir Geoffrey had been wounded.

  Leofric rode next to me. "Baron! You are wounded."

  I remembered the blow. Shaking my head I said, "We have no time for that. Ride for Prudhoe. We can rest there."

  Now that Leofric had mentioned it I felt the dull ache in my leg. Then I felt the blood as it trickled down the inside of my armour. I found that we were but a mile or two from the motte and bailey castle of Prudhoe. There were just six men guarding it. There was no banner flying. The lord of the manor was not at home. The Bishop's banner gained us admittance. The Sergeant at Arms was an old, grey haired warrior. He bowed as I reined in, "Sir Marmaduke has taken the cross, my lord. He is in the Holy Land but you are welcome to spend the night here."

  I smiled, "It may be more than a night sergeant," I pointed behind me. "There are Scottish raiders in the valley."

  His face fell, "We have few supplies laid in store, my lord."

  "Do not worry about that. It is shelter we need." I went to dismount and I had forgotten about my wound. As I put my injured leg on the ground it gave way and I collapsed in a heap. Leofric and Wulfric ran to my side.

  "He was stabbed in the leg by a spear, sergeant."

  Wulfric took off his mittens and put his hand beneath my surcoat. It came away bloody. "Get him inside." He stood and yelled, "Sir Edward, the Baron is wounded."

  "I will take command. Put him in the hall. The Scots are approaching. Every man who can wield a spear, get to the ramparts!"

  Just then Edward and the rest of my men arrived. I could see from the angry look on Edward's face that he was not happy to have let me down. I did not mind. It meant we had numbers once more and we could face our foes. As I was manhandled towards the steps of the keep I knew that, in my present state, I could not stand on the walls. I would do more damage than good. Edward knew how to hold a castle. I was laid down on a pallet in the small hall. Sir Marmaduke was not a rich knight. I knew now why he had taken the cross. He needed the rewards. "Get to the walls. I will be fine."

  Wulfric came in with his pouch of needles and cat gut. Leofric followed. "Leofric, take my banner to the walls. Make the Scots think I am there still." He looked at Wulfric who nodded. Father Richard came in with four men at arms carrying Sir Geoffrey and Harold. "Wulfric we have a priest now. You will do more good on the walls. Go."

  He was torn but he obeyed, "Aye my lord."

  I looked in concern at Harold who appeared not to be moving. Father Richard saw my concern. "He received a blow to the head. He is breathing and he should recover. I have placed the saint's finger close to the wound. God will heal him."

  Sir Geoffrey had a nasty looking cut to his left upper arm. I saw that his mail had been torn and an edged weapon had scored a line along the muscle. When he saw the priest threading the needle he said, nervously, "Perhaps the relic will work for me."

  The serious priest said, "No Sir Geoffrey, you and the Baron need repairs; the young knight is the one who needs the intercession of the saint."

  His needle was finer than that used by Wulfric and, despite is serious demeanour he had a gentle touch. I was reassured when I saw his skill at stitching Sir Geoffrey. He had to remove my mail leggings to get at my leg. I saw that the spear had struck the muscled part of my leg and missed the bone. I had also been fortunate that it had not struck an artery; if it had then I would have been dead. He cleaned up the wound and examined it carefully. "You have been lucky. It is a clean wound and nothing has been driven into the flesh. This will heal." He took some herbs from his pouch and moistened them with water. He put them to one side while he stitched. It was a sharp needle and I winced at the first stitch. "Close your eyes, my lord, and pray. The pain will subside."

  It did not but closing my eyes helped. I opened them as he packed the moistened herbs around the wound and then bandaged it. All the time he had been working I had been aware of the clamour from outside. "Help me up, Father Richard."

  "You need to rest your leg."

  "Help me up. I do not intend to fight but I need to see how this goes. I promise I will return here as soon as I know." Reluctantly he helped me up. I saw the Bishop's banner propped in the corner. "This should be on our battlements. It will make a good support, eh Father?"

  I used the staff of the banner to take the weight of my injured leg. When I reached the door I breathed a sigh of relief. My men stood on the walls still. I could see that Edward had spread the archers out and that each knight stood with his own men on the walls. It was what I would have done. Leofric spotted me and spoke to Edward. He turned and I saw him shake his head. He said something to Leofric who, leaving my banner on the wall clambered down the ladder and ran to me.

  "Sir Edward says that all his well and he has everything under control. He wishes you to return to your bed."

  I smiled, "I am thinking that he used stronger words than that." He nodded. "And how goes it?"

  "They have no archers, my lord, and they are wasting their spears to try to get at our men. They have no ladders and each time they try to scale the walls they are driven away. They have not attacked for some minutes."

  "Good. Then I will return inside but let me know if anything changes. Here take this to the battlements. It may frighten the Scots." I handed him the Bishop's banner. As I limped back inside, I felt the pain as I put weight on my leg. I barely made it back to my pallet. Father Richard shook his head but said nothing as he continued to finish bandaging Sir Geoffrey.

  "They are not closing in on us Sir Geoffrey. Sir Edward has driven them off. I believe we are safe."

  "Good. I hate being in here while my men fight."

  Harold stirred and opened his eyes, "Where am I, Baron?"

  "We are in Prudhoe Castle and St Cuthbert has saved you." I pointed to the relic. He tried to rise, "We are in Father Richard's hands now. We rest. Sir Edward commands and all is well."

  By nightfall the Scots had disappeared. We licked our wounds and counted the cost. Two men at arms and two archers had been killed when we had been surrounded. It did not make it any easier knowing that we had killed far more of them and their bodies littered the forest to the west of Prudhoe.

  I ventured out to speak with Sir Edward. "I am sorry, Baron, I was late."

  "It matters not." I paused. He wished to tell me the reason. "What delayed you?"

  "I was careless and had no scouts out. They must have sent some lightly armed men along the Roman Road and we were ambushed. It cost me two men and we pursued them. I was angry at my loss. I am sorry."

  "We did not suffer as a result but it shows that we must never let down our guard for an instant."

  That night our sentries spotted the flames of burning buildings towards the east. The Scots were raiding. I held a council of war with my knights. "We will need to pursue them tomorrow and as early as possible. We have failed to do as the Bishop wanted and his people will suffer as a result. We cannot allow that to continue. We must scour the land of the Scots."

  Sir Edward pointed to my leg, "You and Sir Geoffrey are both wounded and Harold is hurt."

  "I can ride can I not, Father Richard?"

  I could see him torn between the truth and what he wanted to tell me. Truth won out. "You can ride but you should not. You will delay the healing process."

  "There and Sir Geoffrey need not fight. He can carry the banner and Leofric can use a sword." I saw my squire almost leap to his feet. "And Harold is recovered. He can fight. I know that we are fewer in number but so are the Scots and they will think that they
have bested us. They have not." I waved over the castellan. "Has Sir Marmaduke lances here?"

  "No, my lord but we have long spears."

  "Then they will do. I want the conroi ready to ride an hour before dawn. We know where they will be heading; it will be south and east but I will send Aiden out now to be certain."

  After Aiden had left us Leofric came over. "Did you mean it, my lord? I can fight?"

  "You will have a sword and a shield and you will watch my right side as Harold used to. You will have your weapon and you will use it but I want no reckless heroics. If we were not desperately short of men then you would just carry my banner. I cannot afford to lose you." He grinned, "It takes too long to train up a new squire!"

  Although chastened by my words he nodded, "I will do my best, my lord. I have worked hard with Harold and I am ready to face our enemies."

  When I awoke I was stiff and I regretted my decision to ride. Leofric helped me with my armour. My mail legging had been temporarily repaired but I could not risk any further damage. I would have to use skill and experience. The wound had only been stitched. Another blow would open it up. I had just mounted when Aiden arrived. "They are close to Gateshead. Their camp is a few miles from there. They have camped at a small swale by a stream. They have cattle, sheep and slaves. They have been busy since they fled."

  "And if they reach the bridge at the New Castle then they can hold the north to ransom. It is fortunate they did not push further east else they would hold the bridge already. Where are they camped?"

  "They are on the sloping ground close to the bend in the river by the small stream and they have set sentries."