The Dunston Blade

by John Daines

  “We miss you sir, it’s not been the same as when you and the lord were here. Are you coming back?”

  “No, I am not returning. I have just come down to collect two horses that have been left to me by my father, do you know which they are?”

  “Aye sir they be these,” said the man and led out a fine stallion and a mare.

  “Are you sure these are the ones?” asked Roger.

  “Oh yes sir, I saddled them with your own tack and it fitted like a glove, so they must be yours,” said the stable lad, with a wink. “The two horses you arrived with I’ve turned into pack horses ready for your journey.”

  Roger quickly brought down his baggages and he and Laila were ready to depart before Ralf had risen. Avice came to a window and waved as they rode away heading towards the village.

  They could see the forge was busy as they approached, the glow from the fire lit up the entrance and the sound of hammering drowned the chorus of the birds. They dismounted and went to the cottage meeting Matilda as she came out bearing bread and ale which she almost dropped.

  “Mercy, it’s young Roger,” she cried in amazement. “Go into the house, I’ll be back directly after I’ve given this to Jack and the boys.”

  Roger stepped across the threshold and there was Joan sitting at the table writing in a big book.

  “Hello Joan,” said Roger. Joan looked at him in amazement and was even more stuck for words as Laila came in and stood next to Roger. Joan rose from her chair and came to the couple.

  “Hello Roger,” she said and turned to Laila.

  “This is my wife, Laila, we came down to see what has been happening at the Castle,” explained Roger.

  Joan looked at them both and her eyes flicked down to Laila’s left hand, no ring she thought, has Roger been up to his old tricks. They sat down at the table just as Jack came hurrying in wiping his hands on a piece of rag.

  “This is certainly a surprise,” said Jack. “Have you seen John, is he coming this way soon?”

  Roger gave them as much news as he could about John and told them how good he was at the Tournament. He told them that John had gone to London with Sir Cedric and he hoped to see him when he returned. Roger questioned Jack on what was happening to the village under Ralf’s time as lord of the Castle. Jack’s reply was what Roger feared.

  “He has no idea of what the farmers do to maintain their business, whether it is arable or the sheep, he put’s ’taxes’, as he calls them, up so high the farmers can’t pay. Then he is trying to take their land. He has tried it on with me and I wont have it, he needs a Smith for his own work so he has held off from pushing me, but I fear it will come to a fight when he tries to get more money from me. His father was tough but fair where Ralf has no idea how to get the best from people. If it carries on like this there will be trouble as we hear the men at arms are also beginning to leave.”

  Roger listened to this with a sinking feeling, all his father had worked for was being thrown away. Roger thought to himself that it would have been better to have left the estate to him, but he had no experience either, their father had never trained them in how to manage the land. After sharing the midday meal with Jack and his family, Roger and Laila started their journey back to Stamford.

  Jack had not been back to the forge for very long when Ralf and half a dozen men at arms reined in at the front of the cottage.

  “Jack Smith come out!” called Ralf.

  Jack came and stood in front of Ralf.

  “Politeness dictates that you dismount before any conversation, sir,” said Jack looking at Ralf who backed up and still sat on his horse. “I cannot see to your horse if you are still sitting on him,” continued Jack.

  This statement got through to Ralf and he realised that there was no other blacksmith in the area. Ralf dismounted and approached Jack. “Under the present economic climate I have to increase the rent on the Smithy, the unrest in England has forced this upon me,” he said.

  Jack looked him in the eye and replied. “You increased our rent only one month ago and that made it higher than in Norwich, what is this new figure you propose?”

  Ralf quoted a figure and Jack said that was unfair and did he want the Smithy to close.

  “I have to pay my lads and have enough to feed my family and to buy wood and charcoal, I might as well pack up and become a soldier again.” Jack said.

  Ralf mounted his horse and shouted to Jack that he wanted the increase by quarter day, which was in four days time. Jack called the two lads in from the forge and they sat round the cottage table with Matilda and Joan to discuss what had just happened.

  “I must get word to John, he might be able to get Sir Cedric to help,” said Jack.

  “I could go,” volunteered William.

  “Or me,” joined in Thomas.

  “I think William should go, Thomas and I can manage most of the work at the moment. Go at first light it should not take you long.” said Jack.

  II

  Sir Cedric called John to his room and told him that the funeral of the King was the next day and immediately it was over he wanted him, with Sam, to ride as quickly as possible back to Wymondham taking four men at arms with them. There were crowds at the funeral and as soon as the service was over John and Sam slipped away and joined the men at arms at the house. An hour later they were away making good speed to home.

  Arriving at Wymondham John spoke to Gavin and told him of the events in London, he said Sir Cedric would be returning in the next few days. At the evening meal Tania joined them and it was obvious that she was pleased to see John back, after the meal John sat by her and related the trip to her.

  “It was a shame we could not have seen London together, Sam was no substitute, and I think he is trying to grow a beard which would put anyone off.”

  There was a general feeling of goodwill that they were all together, apart from the Earl. When the hour was late John suggested that they all retired to bed, as he said it he wished it was him retiring to Tania’s. John woke in the early hours and paced the room, what would he have to do to prove he was worthy of a knighthood and able to claim Tania. As daylight pushed night away and birds began their chorus John decided to assume the position Sir Cedric had given him. If he was senior Squire here he would make sure the Castle was in tip top condition for Sir Cedric’s return. He called Gavin and Carac and put the proposal to them, they did not seem surprised.

  “You know more than us because you study longer and you fight better than us, in most things, and you were here before us so I have no problem, as long as you don’t start shouting at us,” said Gavin and Carac agreed. So the three of them set about improving the Castle. Cleaning up was an easy task but John wanted to repair walls and improve security and this required persuading the Castle mason to fall in with their plans. Eventually the Castle was a hive of activity and one day when Tania was returning from Wymondham she had difficulty in getting in through the second gate.

  “Sorry about that,” said John. “We wanted to make the arrow slits like a cross so the archers can fire sideways easier.”

  Tania laughed and she and her maid went on to the Keep. Everyone was in their respective homes, eating their evening meal when a Page entered the great hall where John and the others were dining, and approached the top table where Tania was occupying the chair next to the Earl’s empty one.

  “My Lady there is a man without who wishes to see the Earl, I told that he was not available, as I did not wish to say he was not here,” said the Page.

  John rose and said, “I will go to see what is so urgent, if you so wish.” Tania nodded her head and John followed the Page to the Bailey where he saw William standing by his horse. John felt a feeling of foreboding as he hurried over and asked.

  “What is the problem William, is my family all right?”

  “Yes sir, everyone was well when I left but your father asked me to bring some news.”

  John led William into the Castle and into an anteroom where William e
xplained the threat that had been issued by Ralf. John felt his anger rising and questioned William on whether other farms had been dealt with the same way. William said that it was normally the Steward from the Castle that went out to the other tenants, Ralf did not stir himself only to hunt, he had come to the Smithy himself expecting that Boorman would get nowhere with Jack. John sent William into the Hall to join in the meal while he thought about the news he had brought. There was no way to discuss it with Sir Cedric as he was probably on route home, so he must make decisions himself. He was pacing the room when the door opened and Tania, with her ever present maid, walked in.

  “What is it John, is there trouble?”

  John explained what William had told him and Tania was horrified.

  “Why can’t landlords run their affairs the same as we do, we have no major troubles with our tenants.”

  John said he would think about the problem for an hour or so and then if he came up with a plan he would call her to discuss it. It was only half an hour Later when John knocked on Tania’s door.

  “I must go and protect my father but I must also try and protect the village too so the best way is to go to Ralf and show him that my father is not alone and this is not the way to behave. I intend to depose him and take the Castle. I am sure Sir Cedric will understand but I must take action now. I will go and rest in the forest near Dunston so that we are in position at first light, I will take Carac and 100 men at arms. I know Ralf has only a few fighting men as they went with his father and not many came back. If I meet resistance from Ralf to my proposal that he should surrender the Castle to me I shall take it by force.”

  “This is a bold move,” said a shocked Tania. “What will my father say, you are his Squire so whatever you do will reflect on him?”

  “I also know he would not want to see villages treated this way, it is the route to another rebellion. Dunston is near enough for us to administer and I am sure once we hold it the men in Westminster will grant it to us, and maybe more. If anyone at Norwich tries to argue against it they will remember where they stood in the last conflict!” replied John.

  He kissed her, in spite of the squeal from her maid and strode out to find Carac.

  The force assembled outside the Castle and John explained what he intended and received a supportive cheer when he finished. They rode off with John riding Anvil with Carac at his side, just behind came Sam with Hammer. They skirted Wymondham so as not to arouse the town and reached the forest and quietly camped with no fires. John lay down feeling nervous, he was sure of his plan but not so sure of Sir Cedric’s attitude. In the morning as the group began to ready themselves, John dressed in ordinary doublet and hose as his plan was to first call on Ralf to establish what had taken place. He mounted Anvil and with Sam in attendance rode out to the Castle. His force was well hidden and as John approached the main gate everywhere looked calm and serene. A loan sentry challenged him at the gate and when John said he wanted to see Ralf he was told the master had gone to Saxlingham the day before on a rent collection tour and was not expected back until later that day. John turned back to the forest somewhat deflated, he told the men and sent them further into the forest so they could light fires and make a meal. John called Carac to him and told him he would visit his father to tell him what was happening. Within half an hour John was in front of his family explaining that he had come to reason with Ralf, he neglected to include that he had an armed escort. Jack listened carefully.

  “I think you have reacted a bit too soon John, you should have waited for the Earl to come back.”

  “Who knows when that will be, they are too busy ruling the country between them, now the King is dead and the Prince still away, Ralf could be here with his men any day,” responded John.

  “Well, don’t go too far, I would like to come with you but I must think of your mother and sister as well as keeping the forge going,” said Jack.

  John went back to his men in the forest and found them roasting a couple of pigs.

  “I hope they were paid for,” said John. Carac told him that a smallholder with several animals had offered them, Carac had found out he used to be farmer but had been turned off his land by Ralf for not paying the new rent. As they were cleaning up the remains of their lunch a lookout came hurrying to John to tell him that Ralf and his men had returned. John mounted Anvil and with Carac set out for the Castle. The guard saw them coming and sent someone in to warn Ralf who had not yet dismounted. Ralf appeared at the gate and waited for John to reach him.

  “Ah, the blacksmith’s son returns then, are you not happy cleaning a Knights boots?”

  “More happier than you will ever know,” replied John. “I come today to tell you not to intimidate my family or try to extort money from them.”

  “Oh and by what authority do you say such to me?”

  “I need no more authority than to protect my family, and to offer it to anyone else who wants it, from your tyrannical yoke.” By this time several people had gathered nearby and several shouted out in agreement. Ralf went red in the face and glared at John, some of Ralf’s men had begun to come through the gate and see what all the fuss was about, emboldened by this Ralf called them to arrest John but no one moved as at the forest edge they had spotted John’s men slowly advancing. He gave a signal for them to stand just behind him. Ralf again shouted for his men to arrest John and one or two began to move forward. John warned Ralf to call them back as he would not be arrested. Ralf was now consumed with anger and started to go with his men towards John who gave a signal and his men charged in a compact group towards Ralph. The men at the gate tried to go back but were met by men trying to come out to see what was happening in the melee that ensued Ralf’s horse reared and unseated him. As he struggled with the animal and tried to get up into his saddle, unsuccessfully, John rode up to him and looked down.

  “Will you yield to me and surrender your Castle or shall I take it, and you, by force?”

  As he said this John unsheathed his sword and had it at Ralf’s throat, Carac’s force drove at the gateway and stopped any chance of the gates being closed. Most of Ralf’s men had run back into the Bailey with just a few standing by him with swords lowered. Ralf dropped the reins of his horse and stood looking up at John, still with the sword inches from his throat.

  “You will never get away with this, I will have your life for this outrage.” Ralf spat out the words.

  Calmly John spoke to him again. “I ask you again,do you yield?”

  Ralf looked at John then at his sword and the men around him and being the coward he was, offered his sword to John.

  “In the face of these odds I yield.”

  John lifted his sword from Ralf’s throat and raised it aloft. “I take this Castle and all its entitlements in the name of Sir Cedric of Wymondham, as surrendered to me by Ralf de Brehalle.”

  There broke out loud cheering not only from John’s men but also many villagers and farmers who had suddenly appeared. John told Carac to see there was no looting and to put guards on the gate also to see any of Ralf’s men were rounded up and put in the dungeons, Boorman suggested Ralf and the officers be sent to the West tower where there was only one entrance. John agreed and then rode into the Bailey and dismounted. Boorman stood in front of him and bowed.

  “I would like to remain in service here sir, I am willing to pledge allegiance to whoever takes control of the Castle.”

  “Thank you Boorman, I will need you as you know the Castle and I do not. Sam stable my horses, find Carac and meet me in the main hall.”

  John’s adrenalin was still flowing high as he stomped into the Main Hall and sat himself down at the large table there. Sam and Carac came in and John issued orders that the Castle should be made secure, guards posted, battlements manned and a courier brought to him.

  “A lot to do for our small force,” said Carac.

  “We must send for reinforcements from Wymondham,” responded John. “We can clear out the Castle of Ralf’s men,
that will help.”

  After John had sent the courier off to Wymondham they started to close the Castle down for the night.

  John found an empty bed and tried to get some sleep but the thought of what he had done kept churning around in his mind keeping away that pleasant blankness that sleep can bring. The morning brought no relief and he entered the Hall with some trepidation. A place had been set for him and Carac and food was on the table.

  “Have the prisoners been fed?”