by John Daines
As soon as they saw the towers of the Castle their mood lightened even further and they started singing, or a noise that could be construed as such.
Tania was waiting in the Bailey and rushed to him as he dismounted, Joan was there with Harold who was excited as much as they all were. Later, sitting by the fire John relaxed and recounted what had taken place in Flanders but left out details of the fight, he had also commanded the others to keep quiet regarding this episode.
“I must see the Earl as soon as possible,” he said to Tania. “He will need to know details of what we have agreed about the Wool Fair.”
“Think about that tomorrow,” replied Tania. “Now it is time to go to our bed.”
John yawned and agreed. John looked at Tania laying beside him, he touched her tummy and noticed there was just a little thickness there.
“I wonder if Harold will have a brother or sister?”
“I would like him to have a sister,” said Tania. “I expect you want another boy.”
“No, not really, I just hope you are all healthy and all goes well.”
Tania snuggled closer to him.
The next morning John went down to the forge and found his father. He told him of the fight in Bruges and what had happened when he used the sword.
“There is some power that guides this weapon. I am not sure that I like it.”
“I think the power comes from you, not the sword. You fit together and your skill is enhanced,” said Jack. John did not reply but thought to himself that there was something strange about the sword.
John worked hard making sure his garrison were well trained and able to protect his fiefdom, he made the rounds with Roderick and informed the shepherds of his visit to Flanders. They were very pleased and asked if it meant more for them and when told that it would, they shook John’s hand and said he would have the best fleece in Norfolk. Tania continued to grow and as the summer came let Joan take more charge of Harold so she could rest. John found his conjugal rights restricted but understood and remembered that it did not go on for ever. Sir Cedric visited often accompanied by Lady Ann, she seemed to like the family atmosphere at Dunston.
II
One sunny afternoon Stephen came to John to tell him that a young man was outside the Castle at the end of the drawbridge, demanding to see him. John thought it odd that he would not come into the Bailey, so he followed Stephen to the where the young man sat his horse. John noticed the man had a companion with him and they were both wearing swords. Stephen went onto the drawbridge and called to the young man. “Who are you and what do you want? Will you come forward into the Bailey where we can talk?”
“I will not step into your trap, I wish to speak to John Ivanson, is he here?”
John kept himself hidden while Stephen was talking but he had a clear view of the man and did not recognise him. The young man called back.
“My name is Nicholas Hausman and I claim revenge on John Ivanson for my father’s murder. Tell him to arm himself and meet me here in one hour and I will have the revenge I seek.”
Stephen replied. “This is the home of Sir John Ivanson, a Knight of King Edward’s and you would do well to go back to your home and remember your father was tried by a judge and jury and found guilty of his crimes. I will inform Sir John and he will decide whether to come out to you or not.”
Hausman inclined his head and the two of them rode away. Stephen came into the Bailey and John told him he had heard it all.
“Prepare Hammer in all his regalia and bring a tournament lance.”
Stephen went to prepare Hammer and John went into the Castle calling for Tristan.
“Fetch my armour and help me into it.”
John, with Tristan’s assistance donned his armour, strapped on his sword and stomped off back to the Bailey where Stephen stood holding Hammer’s reins. Hammer was resplendent in his trapper and armour as John was helped to mount he was hoping his strategy would work. Placing his helm on his head he was ready, he rode out of the Castle with the sound of a horn and Stephen at his side bearing his lance. Housman and his companion were facing him a few yards from the drawbridge.
“Who challenges me?” roared John.
Houseman raised his lance.
“I, Nicholas Hausman, for the wrong you did my father.”
“When you fall, where will you be buried?” enquired John. Taking the lance from Stephen he rode towards Housman who grasped his lance and kicked his horse into a charge. Hammer need no urging as this was what he was bred for. They sped towards each other and John used his same technique as in the Jousts and his lance struck home and lifted Nicholas clean out of his saddle. John quickly reined in and turned towards the man on the ground, who was not moving. His companion was holding up his hands shouting.
“He yields, have mercy,” as he rushed to the fallen man. John pulled Hammer to a halt and called to Stephen. “Take him in to the Castle, if he is alive, and fetch the Priest.”
He dropped his lance and let Hammer have his head, galloping off to calm both of them down. Nicholas was carried back to the Castle and put in the tower, he was certainly alive but in pain, The Priest announced he had suffered broken ribs and a broken leg. Stephen said that if John had not used a tournament lance the man would be dead. John returned and went up to see Nicholas, the man was conscious and in pain. John said he would talk to him later. He went back to the hall where he met Tania.
“His father was a villain how do I make him understand that?”
“You can’t, my love,” said Tania. “My father might and he should visit us again soon.”
John shrugged and wandered off. He had felt a certain exhilaration when he rode out in his armour, he needed a few more fights, but where? The King was still occupied in Wales and he’d had enough of that wet place. Maybe he should go on a Crusade, in the meantime there was plenty to keep him occupied at home.
After three days John asked Nicholas’s companion if he was fit to talk to and the man said he was. John went to the tower and found Nicholas sitting in bed with bandages round his chest and his leg bound up between two pieces of wood.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance,” said the injured man.
“You may be right but it would have been for the wrong reasons,” replied John. “Your father committed crimes here in England and he paid the price. The Earl of Wymondham will be here soon and will explain to you what happened.”
“Will you not tell me,” implored the young man. “All I have heard is that you captured him and hung him.”
“The first part is right, I did capture him, but he was tried by a court in Wymondham and sentence was carried out there. A Judge came from London and he had someone to speak for him. What am I going to do with you, you can’t travel yet so I guess you will have to be my guest until you are fit.”
He then told him the details of what had caused the demise of Henri Hausman. At the end Nicholas told John that he did not know his father very well as he was always away, mainly in France. He had been told by some of Henri’s friends that he should take revenge and kill John.
John left him to think about what he had told him and went to meet Tania. She was sitting the garden talking to Harold while Joan walked with Gavin, John saw her and said.
“When are those two getting wed, we need to know so we can arrange another companion for you?”
“There are plans afoot in that direction but you must be patient until they tell us. You are unsettled, my love, come tell me what ails you?” she replied.
“I suppose it’s this business with Hausman, I will have to make up my mind what to do with him soon.”
After Sir Cedric had visited them and spoken to Hausman there was a definite change over the young man, he pushed himself to be active and get his strength back. John found it easier to talk to him and he learnt more of life in Flanders and the cloth making industry. The time came when he was fit enough to travel and they agreed, with his companion’s help, he would leav
e the next day.
As life returned to normal John’s thoughts turned to the two Squires and he resolved to push them on, it was time they accepted the responsibilities of knighthood, he would ask the Earl on his next visit, if he would conduct their investiture. One afternoon a young knight called at the Castle, John’s first thought was that another Hausman family member had come after him, but when the man dismounted in the Bailey and removed his helm it revealed Gavin. He asked where he could find Jack and John accompanied him down to the Forge. He left Gavin with Jack and guessed the reason for his visit. On his way back into the Castle he met Joan and asked her to come with him to the Hall. Jack and Gavin came into the Hall and Jack announced that he had agreed to Gavin’s request to marry Joan, Joan leapt up and went to Gavin and stood by his side, it was difficult to embrace him in his armour. Gavin asked to be excused so that he could divest himself of his ‘tin suit’ and Joan was left hugging her father and John together. That evening he sat in his room thinking about the future and he decided to ask Gavin if he would like to live in Dunston, if so he would talk to Sir Cedric. Gavin was older than his two Squires and his experience would be an asset to the Castle, John’s plans could now start to take shape.
Talking together in Sir Cedric’s room John was able to outline some of his plans and the Earl agreed for Gavin to move over to Dunston and also for Stephen and Tristan to finish their quest for knighthood at Wymondham culminating in the investiture at the Abbey. During their discussion’s John learned that the Earl still had property in France and suggested that John might like to visit there and assess the situation. This would be the adventure that John was looking for, a journey into another country.
Spring turned to summer and the year rolled on. Tania gave birth to another son, that pleased John and Harold who was delighted that he had a brother.
John was walking in the Castle gardens when he received a message that Stephen’s and Tristan’s investitures were to take place and arrangements were made for all of them to travel to Wymondham. The occasion went well and after the two young men’s night vigil the ceremony took place in the Abbey. John was proud of the two men and what they had achieved while in his service. They were both to return to Dunston and take up positions there under John. The next big event was Gavin and Joan’s wedding which had been arranged to take place just before Lent, it was a joyous occasion and many of the Tenants came to wish them well.
Tristan walked up the stairs to John’s room, this was the first time he was to meet him since he had returned from Wymondham, he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” called John. “I am glad to see you Tristan, I want to tell you of a trip I am taking and I want you to accompany me.”
He then explained that he would be going to France and taking Alban and Chad as Squires.
“I want you to accompany me, I need a man with experience.”
“I would be pleased to accompany you Sir, after our last trip to Flanders it has given me a taste to see more of the world,” replied Tristan.
John continued by telling him he had arranged with Stephen to support Gavin here at the Castle while they were away. The next days were spent preparing for the trip, and making sure horses and weapons were in good condition. Tania was quiet during this time and John knew that she was not happy that he was going away, after speaking with her father she had accepted that John needed the excitement of new horizons and would be more settled on his return.
One evening as John walked the battlements of the Castle he looked down and saw Tristan still training his new destrier, John had acquired it from Sir Cedric and Tristan was getting used to being up on such a large animal. They were twisting and turning and Tristan put the horse to an old sack laying on the ground, the horse obediently stamped on it and snorted. All war horses were trained to shove, bite and kick opposing horses and also stamp on fallen bodies, Hammer excelled in all of these. John wondered if they would need these skills on their travels, France was an unsettled country these days.
The day of their departure came and as they rode away from the Castle John turned and saw Tania standing with Harold and the baby and felt a pang of regret.
They rode on towards Yarmouth where they would spend the night and find a ship that would take them across the Channel. William Fisher was pleased to see John again and offered hospitality to John and Tristan with their Squires accommodated above the stables. Early in the morning John, accompanied by Fisher, went down to the harbour. The Mayor said that a ship had come in the previous day and would be returning to Caen in two days time. They found the vessel and called for the Captain, he came on deck and invited them aboard, in his cabin John explained that he needed passage for his group and they agreed a price for the voyage. In the interval before they departed John decided to ride over to Lowestoft and meet the Mayor whom he found in good health and the town thriving. As soon as he returned to Yarmouth they boarded the ship and prepared to sail. The voyage was uneventful and standing on the harbour of Caen John realised they had no friendly place to call on.
“We will set off south into Normandy,” he said. “We can make camp at the day’s end and discuss our plans.” As they made camp that evening John looked at the information that Sir Cedric had given him, the first place to make for was the town of Villedieu les Poeles where they would find a guide to take them on. When they arrived at the town they found it was a centre for making copper articles and it was full of the sounds of the coppersmiths at work. They stopped in the town square under the inquisitive stares of several towns people, John asked if anyone knew Monsieur Garrond, the name that Sir Cedric had given him. This was answered with stoney silence and cold stares.
“There’s an Inn,” said Tristan. “I will go and ask there.”
“Take Chad with you,” said John. “He does not speak French but two are better than one in a strange place.” Tristan returned with the news Monsieur Garrond had been arrested by the King’s men. He was asked if they were going to visit their English friends. John was puzzled as the Earl had said the Chateau was looked after by a French family, who also tended the vineyards. They moved on and headed towards Brittany and the town of Rennes where John hoped to find out more. As they travelled on they became aware of a distinct antagonism towards them and heard that Brittany was under attack from the King of France, this made them avoid the main towns and move on as fast as they could. They eventually came to the region north of Rennes and looked for the small town of Guipel where they hoped to find the Chateau. The place was more of a village than town and as strangers they were initially viewed with suspicion. John visited the church and met the resident Priest. He asked if he knew where the Chateau Vent was.
“Yes, my son, it is but two leagues north from this church. Have you come to visit your English friends?” John looked at him.
“I have come at the request of the owner Sir Cedric of Wymondham and he told me the estate is being looked after by Monsieur Trouville, I know there are many English families here but not on this estate.”
“We have not seen the Earl for a long time and then two men came with instructions to take over the Chateau. They say they are his men but they do not act like the Earl. He was always generous and kind and a good employer as most of the villagers rely on the Chateau for work. We have not seen Monsieur Trouville since these men arrived.”
John explained to the Priest that Sir Cedric did not send these men, whoever they are, and he was here to find out what was gong on. That evening as they sat in their camp John discussed the situation with the others. “In the morning we will go to the Chateau in full apparel and give off as much authority as we can even though we are only four.”
Out of the evening gloom a voice hailed the camp and two men appeared. John stood to greet them.
“Good evening sirs, welcome to our camp, how can we be of service?”
“We have spoken to our Priest and he has told us of your mission. There are several of us who used to work for Monsieur Trouville at the C
hateau and in his vineyards and we would want to help the Earl recover his property, if you needed us,” said one of the men. “My name is Gerard Vigneron and there are about fifty of us.”
John asked him and his friend to sit and join them. He said his intention was to call at the Chateau in the morning and if he, and his friends would like to gather at the gates he could use their help, if needed. Gerard said.
“They have about twenty men they have recruited from the local riffraff and are not looking after the vines, this has been worrying us as it is our livelihood.”
After a few glasses of wine and conversation the men left.
“Who the hell are these men,” said Tristan. “I know Sir Cedric has not been here for a while but as far as we are concerned it is his property.”
They halted about five hundred yards from the gates in the morning and could see there was a gate guard. The group of villagers met them with an assortment of weapons, swords, scythes, axes and a few with bows. John and Tristan were in armour and so were their horses, they told the villagers to wait while they approached the gate. They rode up to the gate and said to the guard to open it as they had the authority of the owner. The man looked confused and said he would have to speak to his master.
John put Hammer at the gate and the great horse pushed the gate down with ease.
“Tell him Sir John Ivanson is here to take over this property.”
The man ran up to the Chateau and very soon John saw two figures running towards the stables. John and Tristan charged over to where they had disappeared and found the two men frantically trying to mount horses. They charged into them and the two men fell to the ground, some of the villagers had caught up with them and pinned the men to the ground. John and Tristan dismounted and looked at the prisoners. John exclaimed.
“We know these two!”
The villagers forced the two men to their feet and John removed his helm.
“Thatcher and Carpenter, what are you doing here? Find somewhere they can be locked up securely while we go to the Chateau.”
