‘No, my Lord. What was that?’
‘Me,’ Sigurdsson answered, laughing and striking the table with his fist, ‘Me and my cunning.
‘One time I had my army camped outside the enemy’s city walls when I noticed small birds nesting in the thatch of the houses; pretty little things they were. It was watching them that inspired my brilliant idea. I had my men catch the birds and bind chips of fir, which had melted wax on them, to the legs of the little creatures. They set the chips alight then released them to fly home. Well, naturally the birds were in a panic and flew straight back to their nests and the next thing you know the city roofs are on fire. My word, you should have seen the place burn.’ Harald burst out laughing, still delighted by his own cunning, even after all the years. The whole court laughed with him.
‘There was barely anyone left alive when we entered and those who did survive wished they had died when we got through with them, ha, ha, ha,’ Sigurdsson guffawed.
‘Then there was another time when I was besieging some other town,’ said the King, waving his drinking horn around before taking a huge gulp. ‘I fell sick and took to my bed. Soon I was in a fever and having the strangest of dreams, the sort the gods impart to great men. In my vision I climbed from a coffin and took control of a town.
‘When I recovered from my fever I sent some of my men to tell the townspeople I had died and to request a Christian burial for me in one of the town’s local churches. Well, you can imagine it, can’t you; every priest for miles around wanted the honour of burying me in the hope of making a small fortune out of my men.
‘So, this procession of priests turned up at our camp, all squabbling among themselves they were, about who should do this and who would be paid that. Anyway, with my men marching behind them with my coffin, with me inside it, they went back to town. Once we’d passed through the gates my men dropped the coffin and sounded their horns. The priests were terrified. They ran this way and that, like chickens running for their lives.’ Harald was slapping his thigh in delight. ‘You should have seen their faces when I jumped out of my coffin, sword in hand, yelling like a berserker, ha, ha.’
‘It sounds like a great adventure.’
‘It was. We charged round the town attacking everyone in sight. Our raven-feeders,’ he said, waving his now empty drinking horn as though it were a sword, ‘gave their helmets a good battering and their shields were soon smashed to pieces. It wasn’t long before we chopped them up too. The women we took back to the ships and as there were no longer any priests around, we took the liberty of helping ourselves to their treasure. What a glorious day that was,’ Sigurdsson sighed and smiled to himself for a moment, as he silently reflected on a glory from his past. Then he spoke again. ‘We left the eagles and the wolves plenty to eat that day. Ah, those were the days.’
‘I see now why you are known as the greatest warrior under heaven.’
Always vulnerable to flattery, in response Sigurdsson smiled happily at Tostig.
The next day King Harald sent out a command to raise a levy of half of the men in the kingdom. While the Norwegians made their preparations, Tostig sailed to Flanders to see how Copsig had fared building up forces for the forthcoming campaign.
Normandy
‘Have you seen it?’ snapped the Duke.
Lanfranc had been called to Rouen to offer William an explanation. The Duke snapped out the question as soon as the Abbot entered court.
‘Do you mean the star?’ answered the inscrutable Lanfranc, stopping in his tracks, all the eyes of the court on him.
‘Of course I mean the star!’
‘It’s a message from God. It means you are right and Harold is wrong,’ said Lanfranc, sublimely confident in his reply, knowing it was exactly what William wanted to hear.
‘Is it miraculous?’ enquired William, anxiously.
‘Yes it is, my Lord.’
‘Well, get the word out and make sure everyone knows.’
And with that, Lanfranc left, having given William a boost to his already bursting confidence. The Pope had assured him God was on his side; now the heavens had sent him a sign to prove it.
Westminster, Easter 1066
Having reassured Edyth that his love for her was as strong as ever, Harold promised he would return and at the earliest opportunity, he left for Westminster. Thoughts of Edyth and the children played through his mind. Aldytha would sometimes find him preoccupied. Somewhere deep inside, the seed of suspicion began to grow; she needed to know.
‘Harold,’ she said, almost in a whisper, as they lay in bed together. He failed to hear her.
‘Harold,’ she said, only this time a little more loudly.
‘Yes, Aldytha.’
‘Have you seen Edyth since we were married?’
‘Since we came to London I’ve seen her just once and that was to discuss the children. Please don’t be jealous of my children, Aldytha.’
‘I’m not jealous of your children, Harold. I understand how you must feel but do you love me?’
‘Aldytha, it’s not a question of whether I love them more than you. A father’s love for his children is different from the love for his wife. You know that.’
‘Then tell me you love me.’
‘You know how I feel about you. Here, I’ll show you.’ And he took her in his arms and kissed her passionately. When they parted she was breathless but not reassured.
‘Tell me you love me.’
‘You know I love you.’
‘Then tell me.’
‘I just have.’
With that, they kissed. Aldytha embraced him and pulled him forcefully toward her. Harold found her impossible to resist and soon they were joined in the hot throes of passion. As they reached the climax he called out a name, but was it hers? Was her mind beginning to play tricks on her?
Harold was lying beside her now, dozing, his arms around her. She turned to study his face. Harold seemed so genuine, so sincere in his lovemaking.
It must have been my name he called, she thought.
On Easter Monday, the fleet, with Eadric in command, would sail to the Isle of Wight. Harold, Gyrth and Haakon would take their housecarls to the south coast, leaving Leofric to guard London and the Thames estuary. At the Easter Witan it had been decided that the fyrd would be called out only if absolutely necessary; there was too much to do on the land. At the summer’s end the navy would lay up in London, at the time of the autumn equinox. Naturally, if William tried to invade before then, the fyrd and navy would stand down as soon as he had been dealt with.
But it wasn’t strategy that was playing on Harold’s mind. It was the star; each night it grew bigger and brighter. Everyone was talking about it. Each night little groups of people would gather and stare skyward at the fearsome sight. Speculation was rife. Did the star presage an invasion, as in days gone by, or was it a sign of God’s anger and if so, who was God angry with? As a safeguard, special prayers were offered in churches across the land. The star was seen as a sword and each night Harold prayed that it was the hilt that was being offered to him and the point directed at William. But for now, he would concern himself with observing Easter and celebrating the Resurrection.
May
On a bright early morning in the beginning of May, Harold lay in bed with Aldytha draped around him. Her head lay on his chest and he could smell the sweet scent of her hair. He enjoyed being with her more each day but he was astute enough to know that what he found most alluring about her was the physical. Nevertheless he found her witty, interesting and generous in many ways.
Harold had not seen Edyth since his visit to Waltham just after marrying Aldytha, although messages were being smuggled to and fro. By the time he and the Queen had dressed, news arrived that Tostig was raiding the Isle of Wight, demanding money and provisions. It was Leofwine who broke the news.
‘He has about twenty ships and he’s forced some people from his old estates to go along with him. He hasn’t had much of a welcome by all ac
counts.’
‘Has anyone seen Duke William?’
‘No. It’s just Tostig, apparently.’
‘Do you think this is just a diversionary raid?’
‘I doubt it. William won’t have had enough time to gather men and ships just yet.’
‘We’d better call out the fyrd, though. Tostig could raid anywhere along the coast, so we need to be ready for him, wherever he goes. In the meantime, get your housecarls together and we’ll go and pay him a visit.’
‘What about Gyrth?’
‘He can go up to East Anglia and prevent Tostig doing any damage there.’
‘And there’s something else you need to know about.’
‘What is it, Leo?’
‘A Norwegian emissary has arrived at court to see you. I suspect he’s here to discuss Sigurdsson’s claim to the throne. The Gota River Agreement. Remember?’
‘Oh, bloody hell. Not that again.’
‘Shall I tell him you’ll see him?’
‘Yes. In the meantime can you make sure everything is prepared for me to leave in a couple of hours?’
‘Of course.’
Tostig, now sailing off the coast of Kent, was making his way north pursued by the English navy. Having no wish to engage with Harold’s much stronger forces, he set sail for Northumbria, raiding as he went. Discovering there was very little support for him anywhere in his homeland, he became more and more disillusioned. Finally he made his way to Scotland in the hope of persuading King Malcolm to join forces with himself and Sigurdsson.
After sending a message to Morcar and Edwin, Harold arrived in Sandwich to discover Tostig had left it ravaged but far from ruined. Leaving some of his men to guard the port, he turned westward along the south coast. At every likely landing spot, housecarls were left behind; they would be joined by the fyrd later in the month.
When he reached Bosham, Harold established his temporary headquarters at his home. Edyth had travelled down and brought Ulf and young Gytha with her. Having Ulf for company made Harold’s stay more pleasant. Thorkell was still training as a housecarl and would ready for initiation very soon. Having Haakon at Bosham was of more benefit than Harold could have hoped for. He and Ulf got along famously, unlike their fathers in the past. And for Edyth, having young Gytha with her now that she was a young woman made the days more interesting.
The comet had disappeared from the night sky and so Harold felt a little less tense, but still a restless spirit haunted him. Now, after months of separation, he was back with Edyth and at least some of his family. He had thought he would be happy again. But just as when he had been with Aldytha he had thought of Edyth, now he was with Edyth he found himself thinking of Aldytha. But he told himself it was the freshness and excitement of a new affair he missed. Occasionally he would catch himself looking at Edyth with a critical eye. It was unfair, he knew; she was still a fine looking woman and besides, in his heart he knew they were meant for each other.
As the summer wore on, Ulf and Haakon accompanied Harold as he toured the coast, inspecting his soldiers and the defences. If William was spotted, arrangements had been made to take Ulf to a place of safety. Haakon would fight alongside Harold. On the Isle of Wight they met Eadric and inspected the navy. The ships had been hauled ashore on rollers and the crews were clustered round cooking fires, making their meals for the evening. From the top of the white cliffs, Harold could see the same scene all over the little island. Scores of vessels lay in rows on the beaches and at night, from the mainland shore, the light of innumerable campfires mixed with the stars.
Over the next few weeks, the number of men awaiting the arrival of Harold’s Norman nemesis swelled. They all found places to stay on the mainland. Some stayed with thanes in their halls, some with farmers, some in tents or makeshift shelters, but all close to the shore, where every day they would gather, quite a few of them enjoying the novelty of setting eyes on the sea for the very first time. There was a general air of excitement; every man thought that within days he would be called upon to risk his life in defence of his king.
Along with the fyrdmen there followed a great variety of people. From all over Wessex, farmers arrived with supplies, as did peddlers and purveyors of beer and cider. Musicians turned up, as did magicians and women who had innumerable ways to entertain a lonely young man. But no matter how attractive the distraction, each day, all day and every day, anxious eyes would scan the horizon in search of enemy ships.
May grew hotter and still no ships were seen. Days turned into weeks and still the finest summer that anyone could remember blazed on and the men grew accustomed to their new way of life. To keep them fit for the forthcoming fight, housecarls drilled the men daily in the arts of war and when they were not training, they were kept busy with competitions, running, archery, spear throwing and anything the professional soldiers could do to keep their comrades from the fyrd ready for battle. May gave way to June and still no fleet was sighted. But for Ulf this was a time he always remembered with great happiness. He made a great friend in his cousin Haakon and best of all, Thorkell had returned from training and was now a fully-fledged housecarl. The three spent most of their spare time together.
It was a good summer for other young men. Some had made friends with the local girls and the summer life was easy. For some, these were the days they wished would never end. For others, as June turned to July, feelings turned from ease to anxiety. Thoughts turned to the harvest and the winter that lay beyond. Grumbling fyrdmen counted the days now until their service was up. Their fears were allayed when gradually the new fyrdmen arrived to take the place of those who had turned up earlier in the year. As each man finished his two months’ service, another arrived to replace him. The word spread quickly along the coast; yes, it had been difficult without them but work was being done and the harvest would be safe. Once more there was a holiday atmosphere along the coast as fresh fyrdmen arrived to complete their service.
At the heart of the army was Bosham, where Harold had his headquarters. From his window he could see the harbour he knew so well. The people here he knew as well as the place; some he had known all his life. Bosham was where he had caught his first fish, flown his first falcon. There was the church where Tostig and Judith had been married, the same church where just under two years ago he had prayed before he embarked on his fateful voyage to Normandy.
Harold’s thoughts turned to Edyth and what he would do without her, he didn’t know. He wondered if things would ever be the same. All the little things lovers share were still there, the way they slipped their hands into each other’s. He still enjoyed the simple pleasure of the smell of her hair and skin, the feel of her next to him. Harold noticed, too, she always had a smile for him if they should unexpectedly meet in a room, a hall or a courtyard. Harold was wise enough to know that these little things, deemed insignificant by others, in fact were the essence of love. He relished them.
Looking through the window, the smell of salt air and the sound of birdcalls all around him, reclaiming the adventures he had had as a boy, he almost forgot the world and its troubles. Here in Bosham with Edyth, Ulf and Gytha, for just that moment life had become idyllic, a time to relax, a place to just simply be at peace under the hot summer sun, and to enjoy the cool, refreshing breezes blowing in off the harbour.
‘Wouldn’t it be marvellous if it were like this all the time?’ was the thought going through Harold’s head when he was disturbed by a knock on the door.
‘Come in.’
A servant entered.
‘A messenger for you, my Lord, won’t tell me what it’s about. Says to tell you it’s Osred.’
Someone looking like a fisherman sheepishly entered the room. Unable to make eye contact with his king, he looked most shamefaced.
‘What’s happened, Osred?’
‘I was discovered, my Lord.’
‘Sit down and tell me all about it.’
Osred took a seat at the table and Harold sat across from him, studying him
carefully.
‘I’m not sure how they caught on, but they dragged me off to see Duke William and I thought that was it, a few hours’ torture to entertain them before they got bored and chopped off my head, but Duke William couldn’t have been kinder. He invited me to join him at his table for the evening meal with him and some of his friends. They didn’t say much to me, just ignored me most of the time. When they’d all finished I was shown to a tent and slept there for the night. In the morning I was taken to Duke William again and I thought, this time I really am for it.’
‘And?’
‘And he said, ‘‘Give Earl Harold two messages from me. Tell him this; firstly, that it’s pointless wasting money sending spies because I’ll be in England before the year is out so he’ll see for himself the strength of the Norman army’’.’
‘The second?’
‘The second message is that Duke William has promised to give away all of your property and possessions. He says he knows you’ve made no promises to give away any of his things because you’re too weak ever to do so and you know it.’
‘How does he know what promises I have or haven’t been making?’
The spy’s expression changed imperceptibly. ‘He must have his own spies here.’
‘Just what I was thinking.
‘Did you discover anything of his plans before you were captured?’
‘Well, he doesn’t have anywhere near enough experienced crew for his ships, so he intends to sail across the Channel at the front of a procession that will follow on behind. Because hardly any of them know how to sail, they’re having lessons around the harbour at Dives. It’s the Duke’s intention to wait for the wind to come from due south and cross then.’
‘So if he ever comes, he’ll end up somewhere round the Pevensey-Hastings area?’
‘No idea, my Lord. If I was him I’d stick to the coast for as long as I could, then cross at the narrowest point.’
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