The Warrior Princess

by K. M. Ashman

  ‘Well met,’ said the stranger. ‘Do I address the leader of the rebellion?’

  ‘You do,’ lied Robert, ‘I am Tarw, true prince of Deheubarth. Who is it that leads an armed party through our lands with such disdain?’

  ‘My name is Heinrich Bernhard of Saxony,’ said the warrior. ‘I am the leader of these men. We seek employment with the freedom fighters.’

  ‘Mercenaries?’ asked Robert.

  ‘Aye. We were in the employ of the English but that agreement has come to an end.’

  Robert tensed at the revelation but the warrior seemed quite calm and no obvious threat.

  ‘So where have you ridden from?’

  ‘The place you call the Marches,’ replied Heinrich. ‘We were stationed there and told we would be fighting against a man called Hywel ap Maredudd but that is a task now withdrawn.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Robert. ‘Have you changed loyalties?’

  ‘We fight for coin not loyalty,’ said Heinrich. ‘When the English king died, we were told there would be no contract, no fighting and no money.’

  ‘So you came here?’

  ‘We have already made enemies of this Hywel,’ said Heinrich, ‘and killed some of his men in skirmishes, so joining him was not an option. We were then told of a prince and his woman who have sent word far and wide that they are recruiting. So here we are.’

  ‘So you want to fight alongside us?’

  ‘Aye. Our price is modest and you will benefit from men already battle hardened.’

  ‘You do realise that if we do this, you could be fighting the very men who hired you in the first place?’

  ‘If that is what it means then so be it. We were hired by the king and brought here to join his army before sailing to France, but were sent to the Marches when Hywel’s threat was first realised. We have been away from our homes for six months with little pay and seek an opportunity to fill our saddlebags before returning home.’

  ‘How do I know this is not a ruse and you have been sent here by the English?’

  ‘A point well made,’ said Heinrich, ‘and one hard to prove false so I suggest you pit us against an English target of your choice and watch us do what it is we do. After that, I assure you there will be no doubt as to our frustration and ability.’

  Robert paused and stared at the big man. The opportunity to enlist such a force was very tempting but the decision lay in Tarw’s hands, not his.

  ‘You say your price is modest,’ he said. ‘What are the terms?’

  ‘Food and ale for my men, fodder for the horses and a place to camp. In addition, one silver penny for every Englishman killed by my men and a tenth share of any bounty taken from the field of battle.’

  ‘That seems reasonable,’ said Robert. ‘But there is much to consider. How long will you wait?’

  The warrior looked up at the darkening sky. ‘We will camp here tonight,’ he said, ‘and wait until the sun is at its highest on the morrow. After that we will ride on and seek employment elsewhere. Be aware that if we do, you could end up seeing us on the opposite side of a battlefield.’

  ‘Understood,’ said Robert. ‘I will withdraw and speak to the rest of my people. I will return at dawn with my decision.’

  ‘Tell your prince that if he is serious about taking on the English, he would be a foolish man to turn down my offer. I have seen their numbers and seen them fight. They are a formidable enemy.’

  ‘I told you,’ said Robert tensely, ‘I am the prince.’

  ‘You seem an honest man,’ said Heinrich, ‘but you are no prince. Like I said, he has until tomorrow.’ Without another word the warrior turned and walked back to his men, leaving Robert staring at his back.

  Several minutes later, Robert rejoined the rest of the men amongst the trees on the higher slopes. In the distance, the mercenaries could be seen making camp and Robert relayed the contents of the conversation to Tarw.

  ‘An interesting proposal,’ said Tarw, ‘yet one that could easily be a ruse to get inside our camp.’

  ‘It could be,’ said Robert, ‘but he seemed like an honest man and I think we should give it some thought.’

  ‘Agreed,’ said Tarw. ‘We’ll withdraw for the night but leave some men to watch their camp. In the morning we will return with the answer.’

  The following morning, Tarw and ten of his men rode slowly along the track towards the mercenary camp. It was still dark but the first tendrils of light were just creeping over the distant hill. They had discussed the risks through most of the night but had finally decided they were risks worth taking and the prince now headed the men to open talks with Heinrich.

  ‘Perhaps we should wait here,’ said one of the men. ‘To ride unannounced into a camp of experienced fighters invites trouble.’

  ‘There will be no surprises,’ said Tarw. ‘Look.’

  His men stared forward and in the gloom they could see a group of heavily armed warriors standing across the path. On the slopes to either side, more could be seen standing amongst the rocks, ready to sweep down to engage the Welshmen should the need arise.

  ‘It looks like they were expecting us,’ said Robert quietly.

  ‘Come, let’s get this done,’ said Tarw. He urged his horse forward again and when they were only a few dozen paces from the impressive warriors, he and Robert dismounted to walk towards them.

  ‘You must be Heinrich,’ said Tarw, looking at the mountain of a man.

  ‘I am,’ said Heinrich, ‘and you are the prince I have heard so much about.’

  ‘I am,’ said Tarw, ‘and my second here has told me about your offer. I assume it still stands?’

  ‘Aye,’ said Heinrich, ‘but only until noon. After that we will be on our way.’

  ‘Understood,’ said Tarw. He looked around at the silent men spread out across the landscape. ‘It looks like you were expecting us.’

  ‘You make enough noise to wake the dead,’ said Heinrich, ‘but my scouts reported to me when you left your camp. You cannot blame a man for taking precautions, especially in a strange country.’

  ‘You had someone watching our camp?’ asked Tarw.

  ‘I did. They followed you back and watched through the night. A precautionary measure only.’

  ‘I had men on guard all night,’ said Robert. ‘Nobody reported anything suspicious.’

  ‘Perhaps they fell asleep,’ said Tarw, ‘and if so I will whip them myself.’

  ‘Blame not your men,’ said Heinrich. ‘They did what they were tasked to do. My scouts are as silent as the night itself and well versed in such things. A thousand men would not have seen them.’

  ‘That’s quite a boast,’ said Tarw.

  ‘It is no boast,’ said Heinrich simply. ‘But we waste time. What is your answer?’

  ‘I am inclined to do business with you, Heinrich, but you must understand my concerns,’ said Tarw. ‘Even with your offer of proving your skills in battle, I cannot be certain that it is not some ruse to aid the English.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘Perhaps you are still under contract and wait for the opportunity to kill us in our sleep.’

  ‘That is not the case,’ said Heinrich.

  ‘I know that is what you claim, but how do we know for certain?’

  ‘Because if that was my wish, you would already be dead.’

  Tarw’s eyes narrowed and he met Heinrich’s stare. ‘Again you make bold statements,’ he said, ‘but perhaps you only stay your hand because you don’t know how many bows are aimed at your men as we speak.’

  ‘You have ten bowmen,’ said Heinrich, ‘no more. You also have another twenty or so men-at-arms including those at your back – most poorly armed. The rest are deployed amongst the trees on the southern slope. Your horses are beyond the hill.’

  Tarw swallowed hard. The giant warrior seemed to know everything about them.

  ‘Enough talking,’ said Heinrich. ‘I will offer you one more thing as proof that I do not seek your death. After that, thi
s conversation is done.’

  Tarw nodded, unsure what proof the strange warrior could possibly have that would ease his mind. ‘Go ahead,’ he said.

  Heinrich turned to the bearded man at his side. The grizzled warrior reached beneath his heavy cloak and produced a knife, stepping forward to offer it to the prince.

  Tarw took the knife and stared at the blade for an age before looking back up at Heinrich. ‘I accept your terms,’ he said simply, ‘and you will be welcome at the Cantref Mawr. Pack your camp and I will leave men here to guide you in.’

  Heinrich nodded and turned away, followed by the rest of his mercenaries.

  ‘My lord, are you sure about this?’ said Robert as they walked away.

  ‘Aye,’ said Tarw, staring at the receding Germanic warriors. ‘They will be a great asset.’

  ‘Why?’ continued Robert. ‘All he did was give you a knife.’

  ‘I know,’ said Tarw. ‘But this is the blade I keep beside my sleeping furs in my tent. Someone was close enough last night to steal this without awakening me. If they wanted me dead, Robert, I would already be cold. Summon the rest of the men – we are heading back to the Cantref Mawr.’

  The Cantref Mawr

  January 10th, AD 1136

  Gwenllian stood outside the campaign tent looking down at the activity below. Since acquiring the carts from the docks at Pembroke ten days earlier, the numbers at the camp had increased threefold. Word had obviously started to spread and there wasn’t a day that went by when dozens of men, both in groups and alone, found their way onto the forest roads to be picked up by the rebel guards and shown into the camp. All were eager to join the rebels, many were young and fit but few were experienced in the way of warfare.

  In addition, several families had also turned up at the camp, frustrated at the harshness of life under the English. Some brought handcarts containing the few possessions they owned while others came unburdened, owning nothing but the clothes they stood up in.

  The contents of the stolen carts had already gone a long way to help feed the rebels, especially the many sacks of salted pork and dried oats. There were also fifty heavy-duty tents in the haul, a very welcome addition to the camp, though the fact that the English had deemed it necessary to procure such quantities suggested to Gwenllian that they must be planning some sort of campaign, possibly when the weather broke in the spring. Other bounty included gambesons and cloaks, and baskets of geese, a valuable source of eggs and meat, but to her disappointment, there had been no weapons.

  ‘Impressive,’ said Taliesin, joining her outside the tent.

  ‘I have to admit it is happening quicker than I thought,’ said Gwenllian. ‘The numbers are growing but many are new to this life and it will take time to train them. Even then, skill at arms is no match for battle experience. This may be the last chance we get so we need to ensure our victories are certain, no matter how small. Success begets success, and with every skirmish won, these men will get better.’

  Taliesin nodded and they both watched the bustling activity in the camp below for a few moments before returning to the campaign tent. Upon the table lay a large piece of white linen marked with the positions of every known road, village, castle or town throughout Deheubarth. In addition, the trees were clearly marked, as were the rivers and mountains. The map had been Gwenllian’s idea and though at first Taliesin had been sceptical, preferring to rely on local knowledge, he had soon seen the merits as it had developed and become more detailed.

  ‘So what’s the situation so far?’ she asked, walking over to the map. ‘Are there any updates?’

  Taliesin picked up a small carving of a horse and looked at it closely. They had found several such figurines in a velvet sack amongst the wagons.

  ‘It’s a playing piece from a game called chess,’ said Gwenllian. ‘A pastime popular with Henry. Obviously he had sent it as a gift to someone in the castle.’

  ‘Children’s games for grown men,’ said Taliesin. ‘A strange concept.’

  ‘On the contrary,’ said Gwenllian. ‘It is based on the tactics of battle and enjoyed by all the barons of the court. Would you like me to teach you?’

  Taliesin looked up and sneered. ‘I have no time for such nonsense. The only tactics I need to know are the ones that result in real men dying, not wooden representatives.’ He reached over and placed the horse on a junction of two roads between Pembroke and the cathedral of Saint David. ‘My men are camped amongst the forests here,’ he said. ‘We have heard there may be a payment of tax being sent to Pembroke over the next few days. If our information is right, they will seek to relieve them of the money.’

  ‘How many did you send?’ asked Gwenllian.

  ‘Twenty.’

  ‘Twenty? I thought you had fifty at your disposal.’

  ‘I do, but they are spread out around the Cantref Mawr guarding the approach roads. It was all I could spare.’

  ‘Twenty is not enough,’ said Gwenllian. ‘If the money is a substantial amount there will be at least that many English riders guarding the caravan and your men are not yet equipped to face such a foe.’

  ‘Then what do you suggest?’ asked Taliesin tensely. ‘You saw for yourself, those new to our cause are not yet ready and you are reluctant to use the mercenaries recruited by your husband. What is the point of them being engaged if we are not using them?’

  ‘I want their first target to be one worth taking,’ said Gwenllian. ‘If we reveal them against smaller targets then the English will increase the strength of their defences accordingly and we will not have the luxury of surprise.’

  ‘But how long do we wait? News of any likely targets is scarce at the best of times and even when our spies manage to find anything out, it is often wrong and we waste time chasing shadows.’

  ‘I know,’ said Gwenllian, ‘but worry not. That is about to change.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I cannot say yet,’ said Gwenllian. ‘But trust me, if what I have planned comes to pass, we will have all the targets you want within the month.’

  Back in Pembroke, Nesta’s maid walked through the graveyard on the outskirts of the town, her cloak tied tightly against the January air. The murdered girl from the castle had been her niece and, as there was no other living family, Emma had decided to pay her respects as soon as circumstances had allowed. Her feet crunched through the brittle grass as she negotiated the many wooden crosses and headed to the far wall. She stopped before a freshly filled grave and knelt in the frost to say a prayer. When she was done, she placed a simple decoration of entwined twigs and pine cones at the base of the cross before getting to her feet and gazing down at the last resting place of the murdered girl.

  ‘Oh, Catrin,’ she said quietly, ‘what has this world done to you? You had so much to live for and it has been taken away by the devil himself. I pray you are now walking the fields of heaven alongside your mother.’

  She crossed herself before turning away but cried out in fright when she almost walked into a man standing directly behind her.

  ‘Who are you?’ she gasped, stepping backwards onto the grave. ‘Get away from me.’

  ‘Calm yourself, woman,’ said the man. ‘I mean you no harm.’

  ‘Then what do you want?’ she said again, her heart racing with fear. ‘I have nothing of value and if you touch me I swear I will scream like all the demons of hell.’

  The man laughed. ‘I may not have enjoyed the company of a woman for many months, old hag,’ he said, ‘but trust me, not even I am tempted by what you may have to offer beneath that cloak.’

  ‘Save your insults, stranger,’ said Emma, ‘and be gone before I call for help.’

  ‘Listen to me,’ said the man, holding up his hand. ‘I apologise for my foul mouth but please listen. I am looking for the lady’s maid known as Emma. Are you she?’

  ‘Who wants to know?’ asked Emma.

  ‘Please, indulge me,’ said the man. ‘I was told she was going to be here today by a friend of he
rs and I just want to talk to her. So I ask again, are you she?’

  Emma paused and stared at the man. Her heart was still beating fit to burst and she knew it would be better if she just said no and left for the safety of the castle but she was intrigued as to why this man wanted to speak to her. Finally, she nodded and confirmed his suspicions. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I am Emma.’

  ‘And you work at the castle as maid to the wife of the castellan?’

  ‘Aye, I do but please afford me the courtesy of knowing whom I am addressing.’

  ‘Alas, I cannot tell you my name,’ said the man, ‘but I have an urgent message for your mistress and I want you to take it to her.’

  ‘I will do no such thing,’ said Emma, ‘for it is a dangerous occupation in these troubling times. Secret messages suggest illegal activities and the constable is a cruel and suspicious man. If I was found to have such a thing I could be on the scaffold by morning.’

  ‘I offer no parchment,’ said the man, ‘just a simple message to be passed from my lips to her ears.’

  Emma stared at the man again. ‘Speak it,’ she said. ‘But be quick for I have to return.’

  ‘All I want you to do is tell your mistress her calf will be in the usual stall on the last day of the month.’

  Emma’s face screwed up in misunderstanding. ‘That makes no sense,’ she said. ‘My lady has no dealings with livestock. What sort of message is this?’

  ‘Please,’ said the man, ‘ask no more questions for it is too dangerous for all of us. Suffice to say, your mistress will understand. Can you do this for me?’

  ‘But why?’ asked Emma. ‘Is there a reason for this?’

  ‘Oh yes, Emma, a reason far greater than you or I. So, will you do it?’

  ‘Aye,’ she said with a sigh. ‘If I remember. I have a lot to do so can’t promise anything.’

  ‘That’s all I can ask,’ said the man. ‘Now be gone and here is a penny for your trouble.’

  Emma looked down at the coin in his hand and then back up into his face. ‘Keep your money, stranger,’ she said. ‘I came here to pay respects to my niece, not barter like a marketplace whore.’