Enemy at the Gate

by Griff Hosker

  I cared not. I soon began to catch those at the rear of the line as they fled north. Their horses were tired from their charge. I let my shield hang loosely from my side and I galloped towards the rearmost knight. I brought my sword down on his back. I used all the force I had and I heard his spine as it broke. He tumbled from his mount. I kept my eye on the Prince's banner. If I could not have his father then I would have him. Some of those before me turned and recognised my livery and my device. Few wished to face King Henry's champion and some pulled to the side. I ignored them. I heard cries from behind me as my men caught up with the ones I had passed. They had escaped my wrath but not that of my men.

  I saw that we were heading north east, towards Stanwyck and the bridge over the Tees. I knew this land. Soon their horses would tire for the ground would rise and I reined Rolf in a little. Any gains the enemy made would soon be lost as their horses tired. They were riding war horses and they were powerful beasts but they tired quicker than a horse such as Rolf. Even though I had slowed a little I was still catching them. I saw William Redere. He was four knights away from me. I shifted Rolf to approach the next knight from the right. As Rolf came abreast of the knight the Scot swung his sword sideways. He made the mistake of not looking where his blow struck and it hit my shield. I stood in the stirrups and lunged forward to strike him under the arm. He fell from his horse.

  I could see both the standard bearer and the Prince. They were with a third knight of the household. The Prince turned and saw me. He shouted something and Sir William Redere drew his sword and turned to face me. He had been given his orders. He was to take on the nemesis of the Scots, me.

  I did not slow down but I gripped my shield. I would need it now. Sir William Redere was a knight I had fought before. He would know my tricks. I would need to be wary. I had, however, to despatch him quickly else the Prince, as well as the King, would escape me. As he galloped towards me I had to gamble. Would he go for my right side, and my sword, or my left? I jerked Rolf's head at the last possible moment and swung my sword at chest height. Had I swung at head height he might have ducked. He raised his shield and flailed harmlessly with his sword. My sword smashed into his shield and I saw him reel. I pulled Rolf's head to the right. I had the advantage. I pulled my arm back and swung my sword again. This time I hit the base of his spine. I hurt him but his horse was moving to the right and I did not manage to get the full effect. I followed his turn around and took a chance. I stood in my stirrups and stabbed at his back. I felt the tip slip through the mail and crack a couple of links. I pushed harder and felt it slide through his gambeson. I saw his back arch and pushed as hard as I could. His arms came up as my sword grated along his backbone and he fell from the horse twitching and dying. I reined in Rolf and looked down at his face as he died before my eyes.

  "That is the payment for treachery and deceit; a painful death and ignominy!"

  Gilles, Sir Harold and Sir Tristan joined me. The rest were still finishing off our enemies. "Come we have a prince to catch."

  The Prince and the last of his men had a head start now. Sir William had bought them time. We settled into the easy rhythm of hunters following a prey. I took a chance and rejoined the road rather than following the hoof prints. We knew the area and the Scots did not. We made better time along the road. As we passed the ancient fortress of Stanwyck I wondered if the people who had lived here all those centuries ago had had the same problems we did. It was probably ever thus. As we crested the rise above the Tees and the bridge I saw that my gamble had paid off. I could see the Prince, his standard bearer and three other as they crossed the bridge. We were less than a quarter of a mile behind them.

  Gilles said, excitedly, "We have them, lord!"

  "When they are dead or surrendered, Gilles, then we have them. Be careful for a cornered animal is always dangerous."

  The Scots disappeared from view as they rode through the huts and homes of those who lived close by. The old wooden castle which had belonged to one of my knights, William of Piercebridge was long gone. It had been destroyed years earlier in another Scottish raid. I had put off appointing a new lord of the manor and now that came back to haunt me. Had I had a castle and a lord then things might be different. They might have stopped the Scots retreat.

  The road headed north and west and passed through some trees. The day was still hot and it was gone noon. The trees would give us some shade. Even a brief respite would help. I contemplated stopping to give the horses some water but knew that I could not afford to lose touch with our enemies. Their horses would give out before ours did. Rolf's nose gave us warning of the ambush. He twitched and I reined back a little thinking he had spotted a hole in the road. Instead, three Scots burst from the trees to our left. The standard bearer was using the Prince's standard as a lance. It punched into my shield and almost unhorsed me. I swung Rolf around and, drawing my sword went for the standard bearer.

  I heard the clash of steel on steel behind me as I brought my sword over. The Scot brought the standard up to block the blow. The staff was shattered in two. As the standard bearer tried to reach for his sword I punched him hard with my shield and he tumbled backwards over the cantle of his saddle. He screamed as he fell. When I turned Rolf around I saw that he was impaled upon the severed branch of a lightning struck tree. His body twitched and then was still. I turned and saw that the other two attackers had been slain.

  The Prince and the other rider were long gone. "Water the horses. Gilles, fetch the standard. I fear it is all that we will have of this Prince. It seems he has fortune on his side."

  "Will we not follow, my lord?"

  I shook my head." His men have bought him time. He will be long gone now. I should have brought archers, Gilles, but their horses were stampeded by the Prince. There will be another day. Besides this day has been a great victory." I pointed to the three Scottish bodies. "These are knights. The Scottish nobles and the English north of the border have filled the land with their blood. We have the chance now to end this war and regain all that Stephen the Usurper gave away."

  We loaded the hauberks and arms on the backs of the three horses and headed back to the battle. We found Sir William's body and added his hauberk too. Close by we found Sir Edward and the rest of my men with the Scottish knights and men at arms who had survived. There was a pile of booty with them. When the enemy saw the banner of their Prince their shoulders slumped.

  Sir Edward asked, "Did you catch the Prince?"

  "No, he is as slippery as an eel but he only escaped with one man. Tomorrow I take my men and we head for Carlisle. If the Archbishop gives me the men we can catch him there and, perhaps, his father too."

  It was late afternoon when we reached the site of the battle. There were great piles of Scottish dead and the prisoners had been gathered to stand forlornly together. I saw that Dick had adhered to my orders and he and Philip of Selby guarded our share of the spoils of war. I dismounted. "Gilles, feed and water Rolf, he has done well."

  I walked over to the Archbishop who was with the other leaders. Despite the battle I could see that I was still an intruder. They resented me. The Archbishop, in contrast beamed. He threw his thin and blue veined arms around me, "My son, a great victory! England and King Stephen owe you much."

  "Thank you, your Grace but it is not over yet. Let us take the army and follow the Prince to Carlisle. Mayhap his father has gone there too. We can recapture that castle and the north will be safe from the Scots once more."

  Walter Espec shook his head, "We have just spoken of our plans. We have won a great victory and secured Yorkshire. That was our avowed intent. King Stephen will be told of the victory and he can make the peace. That is not for us to take upon ourselves."

  I rounded on him and the others, "You are all spineless jellyfish! I might have expected this of cowards like De Brus and Balliol but I expected more of the High Sheriff of Yorkshire!"

  Their hands went to their swords and Walter Espec said, "I resent that! Take back the
words."

  I laughed, "Or what? You will face me sword to sword? Good. Let us end it here and now. I will fight each of you one to one. Who will be first? You De Brus? Balliol? Ferrers?" They all stepped back. None would dare face me in single combat. I shook my head, "It is as I expected. You are cowards and dissemblers all. There is not an ounce of honour amongst you."

  I turned to the Archbishop, "You have courage, your Grace, but I cannot stay here longer. I will go to Carlisle with my men. Our brief truce is over. If any of Stephen the Usurper's cronies and chancers come near my land," I turned to face them, "they will receive the same treatment as the Scots. I do not discriminate. Rebellion is in the south and I am the spark in the north. I stand for Matilda and Henry. The Tees is my river. Stay away from it if you wish to live!"

  I walked away. I heard Walter Espec shout, "What of the spoils of war?"

  Without turning I shouted, "What we took, we keep!" I saw my men waiting, "Get our men and our booty. We ride home. I will not breathe the same air as these cowards! I will be happier when my gates slam shut behind me and we are safe once more."

  Chapter 9

  Only one knight had fallen on our side. He had been with Walter Espec on the flank. I had never known such an unequal battle. All the way north the young squires had been speaking of the battle as though that was the way they always ended. Gruff, plain speaking Wulfric put them straight, "Let me tell you young gentlemen that we won so easily today for two reasons. The Earl has the sharpest mind since Alexander the Great and the Scots could not have fought worse if they had tried. Who in his right mind sends wild men with neither armour nor helmet across open ground? Madness! And if you have that many men you surround your enemies. You do not attack the centre held by mailed men. I will not say we were lucky but you will rarely fight such a battle again. Enjoy the moment."

  Thus chastened they took to regaling each other with their feats. Gilles still had the greatest prize; the standard of the Prince of Cumberland. Any honour the young prince might have garnered had been lost when he fled and lost his standard. He had sacrificed his men to make it to safety. I would not worry about such a foe.

  We reached our homes before dark. Early August still meant long days and short nights. Soon, however, that would change. Our victory, whilst not complete, would ensure a better winter for us. The captured knights were all placed in my castle and messages sent for ransom. The hauberks and arms were distributed equally. We now had many more horses as well as supplies we had captured. More importantly our people had been able to continue to farm and to see to our crops. Harvest time was approaching and we would reap the rewards.

  I left the next day with my men at arms and my archers. We would head for Carlisle. Sir Edward and my knights attempted to dissuade me. I would not listen, "If we allow King David the opportunity he will form another army. His Islanders, Moravians and men of Lothian will be heading home. We killed ten thousand and more but there are still thousands more we did not kill. They will rise again. I must go to save this land from future incursions."

  We went cautiously. I halted, briefly, at Sir Hugh's castle where I told him what had happened at Northallerton. He was relieved. After we had crossed the Tees west we rode with Aiden, Edgar and Edward far ahead of us to warn us of danger. It was fortunate that we did so for, on the far side of Brough, we came upon a company of Islanders marching with their Mormaer. There were sixty of them. I saw no point in risking a battle. They were too small a number to do any harm in my valley and they were heading home. The sound of our horses clattering along the cobbles of the Roman Road were enough to disperse them. We saw them, high in the rocks and the trees, watching us as we rode by. Dick and his archers had strung bows ready in case of treachery but conflict was avoided.

  I turned to Wulfric, "When we return we will scour the forests from Barnard eastwards. I fear there will be others but they may not choose to return home."

  "Many will see this as an opportunity to become bandits and take from a land riven with discord and conflict. The sooner the Empress reaches us the better."

  I agreed with Wulfric but I knew that there was a war to be won in Normandy too.

  We reached Carlisle Castle as the sun was dipping in the west. We halted and camped a mile to the east of the formidable fortress. We used a bend in the river which we could defend although Aiden and his scouts reported that there was no one between us and the castle. It was summer and it was warm. We ate well from the deer my men hunted but we were up before dawn. I wanted to be at the castle before they opened the gates. Wulfric had already asked me what I hoped to achieve. Before I had left Stockton I was not sure but the further west we went the clearer were my aims. I could do nothing about Durham and Northumbria. I did not have enough men to retake them and to hold them. What I did want was a guarantee for the security of the Tees and my valley.

  "Gilles, unfurl the banner and let them see who we are!"

  We rode down the road along which the Roman legions had marched. The flag of Scotland flew from the tower of the castle and the walls were manned. I heard the trumpets sound the alarm as we approached. We halted beyond crossbow range and I removed my helmet. "Dick have your archers string their bows. You know what to do."

  "Aye lord."

  "Wulfric, Gilles, take off your helmets and come with me."

  We headed towards the eastern gate. Halting a hundred and fifty paces from the castle I waited. Prince Henry took off his helmet and peered over the ramparts. "If you have come to take the castle, Earl, then you need more men."

  "If I had wanted to take it there are many men who would have wished to join me."

  Just then we saw banners as more knights crested the rise to the northeast.

  "Is this treachery Earl? Have you brought more men?"

  "I was going to ask you the same. These are naught to do with me."

  Then one of the men on the ramparts shouted, "'Tis the King! It is your father, Prince!"

  Wulfric growled, "Do we fight our way out, lord?"

  "We will wait and see. I spy banners but few riders. We have Dick and his archers as our guardian angels."

  We waited until the King and his twenty riders stopped less than fifty paces from us. He took off his helmet and urged his horse forward. "Earl; you have ridden quickly to reach here, as has my son. What is your purpose at this place? Do you come to give battle?"

  "You have been soundly beaten, your Majesty. The dead of Scotland lie over the north of this land. We have great numbers of knights to be ransomed."

  "I know all of that but what is your purpose?"

  "I would have your word that the lands of Cleveland, the lands of the Tees will be free from your raids and your warriors."

  "I told you before, Earl, that my aim was to defeat King Stephen. I support my niece!"

  "And yet you attacked my castle and I am a known knight of the Empress and her son. You can see my confusion."

  He smiled, "I can." He looked up at the walls and shouted, "Come and join us, my son."

  As we waited I saw the device of the Redere amongst the men who accompanied the King. The knight glared at me. I made a note of the men around him. I guessed that he was a relative of the knight I had slain. Prince Henry rode over to us. It would not do for him to have to look up at a mere earl.

  The King waited until he was present and said, "I have sent word that I wish to assemble another army, here at Carlisle."

  "We lost but one knight. Do not worry, King David, what we did once we can repeat."

  Prince Henry did not look happy. "Next time we would be stronger Earl."

  "So the knights we slew were not your best? I find that hard to believe. The men we hold for ransom seem to be men of substance. The arms and armour we hold are of the highest quality. I do not question your word but Scotland must, indeed, be a rich country if you can lose as many knights as you did and still have better to fill their ranks."

  "My son, do not underestimate this man. He has a sound military mind
and the Empress is lucky to have him and her brother as her generals. I said we were raising another army, my lord, in case you had designs on Carlisle."

  I smiled, "Of course I wish Carlisle, Copeland, Clitheroe, Skipton and Craven all returned to England but I am no fool. Until the Empress lands with her full force and we defeat Stephen the Usurper then we will have to live with this part of England under Scottish rule but it will not last. One day, your majesty, I will come and retake this land. You have my word on that."

  "They say that you are too honest for your own good, Earl and I can see that now. You have more honour than sense too. I thought, coming from the East, that you would be able to be more pliant and amenable."

  "I was brought up by a housecarl of King Harold Godwinson. Accepting Norman rule is as pliant as I get."

  A thin smile played upon his lips. "Well Aelfraed Earl of Cleveland and self styled Warlord of the North you have my word and that of my son that we will not attack your lands. From Barnard to Normanby, Norton to Yarm, you are safe from Scottish attack."

  I looked at Prince Henry. His father nodded and he said, through pursed lips, "You have my word too, Warlord."

  The King said, "However I believe there are some of my countrymen who may take issue with you. Eustace Redere here, for example, is less than happy that you killed his brother."

  I smiled, "Did I not do him a favour? Did he not inherit the title and the land without the need for ransom?" I saw the knight redden. "However, Baron Redere, should you wish satisfaction then let us test our blades on the field of honour. How say you?"

  King David said, "There has been enough bloodshed and I would not have another of my knights slain by you, Earl!"

  "In which case I have no further reason to stay. Enjoy your sojourn in the castle. I will come for it one day. You have my solemn oath on that!"