Irish War (Anarchy Book 16)

by Hosker, Griff

  Henry said, “We need to find out about the Bishop of Durham. I like not this game he plays.”

  We had reached the hall and we warmed ourselves before the fire. It was warm and it was comfortable. I felt my age. “What are your plans, majesty?”

  He looked at me and smiled, “I would go back to my wife in London. I had planned on finishing the campaign in Wales but that is not the place to be in winter. I will return to my family and then join de Clare and the others in spring. We must quash this Welsh insect!” He took the goblet of mulled wine the servant brought. “You fought him. Tell me of this, Rhys ap Gruffydd. Have we beaten him?”

  “No, majesty. He is young and he is clever. He is well read in matters military. De Clare might have had a chance of defeating him but the others would have been beaten. We can defeat him but we must do it decisively so that he does not dare to raise his head again.”

  “You are too modest. My men told me that it was you who defeated him.”

  I nodded, “But de Clare was a valuable ally. I think you should use him more.”

  He shook his head, “I accept that he is brave and not without skills but his family opposed my mother. He has yet to earn my trust. I will not allow him to have the revenues from his lands in England and in Normandy until I am certain that he can be trusted. You know that he is descended, as I am, from a Duke of Normandy?”

  I knew. “He has no ambition to be king, your majesty.” My heart sank. I knew what was coming.

  “In the spring, I would have you and your men return south to Striguil. There we will take an army and make Pembroke safe once more. Then I will go to my lands in Anjou and Normandy. Louis the Younger is flexing his muscles. I need to exert my authority in Wales while I secure Anjou. Your son can continue to be Warlord of the North. I need you closer to me!”

  Maud stroked my hand as Henry went to his chambers to change, “Poor Alfraed. It seems that your life is one of service. You gave half of your life to Matilda; will you now dedicate the other half to her son?”

  “Probably.” My heart sank. I had two sons, I was constantly torn. I smiled, “I do not mind and yet I would see my grandchildren.”

  “Then leave on the morrow! From what the king said he intends to go to London. You could be home in two or three days with a change of horses. You could be in Stockton for four months!”

  I squeezed her hand, “You are a clever woman, Maud. Of course, I shall head home.”

  I brought up my plans and told the King of them when we ate. Henry was disappointed. “I had hoped that you would come to London with me. Eleanor always likes to see you.”

  “And I her, lord, but I have not seen much of my grandchildren.” I smiled, “I am a grandfather now. There are obligations.”

  He wrinkled his nose, “They are babies! I could understand it if you were going to be able to show your grandson how to fight but you will just be saying goo, goo and baa, baa!”

  I laughed as Maud shook her head and she too laughed. The King did not understand babies. He had not been there to enjoy them yet. “Cousin, they change so much that I wager the Earl Marshal will not even recognise them when he sees them.” She put her hand on his. “Come cuz, he has earned the right.”

  Henry was not happy being counselled by Maud and he frowned, “I know he has earned the right but I have many enemies and I need the Earl Marshal to defeat them.”

  I saw the chance to gain some time with my family, “As the Countess said, your majesty, it is almost winter. There will be little fighting. “

  Defeated, he nodded, “Very well.” He drank some of his wine and then, looking up, said, “And visit with de Puiset. If he is not willing to aid us then I may appoint another Bishop of Durham!” The King could get blood from a stone!

  Maud shook her head, “He has the support of the Pope, cousin. I fear it would bring you into conflict with Rome.”

  “They say there is a new Pope. Perhaps he will like the English more. I would have someone like Becket as my bishop. He is a churchman who understands the needs of a king.”

  My men and I left before dawn. The ground was covered in hoar frost and the cold seemed to reach into my bones but I cared not. I spurred Skuld and soon the heat from my horse warmed me through. My men were also in a good humour. The new men were keen to see my home. They had all heard about it. We had plenty of horses. We had captured them from the Welsh. Some were palfreys but most were small sumpters. I had my three horses and a couple of sumpters. We would ride hard and make it home in under three days. In the end, it took four. The weather over the high passes was atrocious. We lost one of the horses. It was a small price to pay. York was a welcome refuge. We reached Stockton at the end of November.

  My son and my knights were still in Northumbria but the messages he had sent Rebekah were hopeful. He had subdued the land as far north as Bamburgh. I did not envy him that task. Samuel was glad to see me and he remembered me. He raced at me when I took off my cloak. Throwing his arms around me he laughed, “You smell of horses!”

  “That is because we have ridden hard to be here.” Ruth was shier and clung on to her mother’s hand.

  Rebekah shook her head, “I am sorry, father. He cannot control his tongue! He spends too long with Aiden and Masood! He needs to learn how to behave.”

  “I do not mind. I am just pleased to see their smiling faces.”

  She put her hand on my cheek, “You should be able to sit in your home and enjoy a quiet time. You have done more than enough for this land.”

  “I will be here until spring. By then you will be pleased to see the back of me!”

  “This is your home! I would you were here all of the time. Samuel speaks of you often.”

  Shaking my head, I said, “It was my home but now it is yours and William’s. So long as there is always a bed for me then I am happy.”

  I was touched by the fuss everyone made of me. Alice beamed when she saw me. She flushed when she curtsied. “I will tell cook you are home. I am sure the mistress will not mind if we could cook some of your favourites.”

  “Of course, Alice, whatever you think the Warlord would like!”

  William, my steward, was also happy to see me. “Your son has sent back treasure from the raids. The manor and the town both profit. While other towns bemoan their fortune, we do not. Why, Ethelred and Alf have made so much money that they are having a church built for your chapel is too small for the town.”

  I nodded, “That is good. As I have to visit with Bishop Puiset, I will ask for a priest.”

  “You need not. Father Michael says that Brother Peter can be priest in your chapel and he will be priest at St. John’s.”

  “St. John’s?”

  He nodded, “It will be built close to the well. There is a higher piece of ground there and the whole town will be able to see the tower as they go about their business. Ethelred is already acquiring the stone so that work can begin in spring.”

  “And does my son approve?”

  Rebekah said, “It was his idea. He felt sorry that so many people had to hear the services from outside and, besides, he says that one day you will need a tomb next to your wife.”

  I laughed, “I hope he does not plan for me to use it soon.”

  She put her hand to her mouth, “I am sorry, I did not...”

  “I jest. It is good that my son plans. All men die and he is right. One day I will meet an enemy who is faster, younger or simply better. I would like to spend eternity next to Adela.”

  My home was changing. It was all good. The site they had chosen for the church was a good one. I just worried that it might be vulnerable to raids. However, it would take some years to build. I would be long dead before it was finished. Speaking of the church made me wish to visit my chapel.

  “Is there water for me to wash and clothes for me to wear, Alice?”

  “Aye lord. When we saw you on the southern bank I had the servants prepare everything.”

  “Then I will change and visit Adela.
”

  When I came downstairs Samuel was waiting for me. “Could I come with you, grandfather?”

  “Of course. Put on your cloak for it is cold.”

  Taking his hand, we walked across the bailey and through the gate to the chapel. I had paid for candles to burn all day and night. There had been a time when William the Steward had objected at the expense. It was many years since he had done so. My chapel had the most wonderfully peaceful atmosphere. I would be happy to spend eternity here. I needed no tomb but I knew that William would build one.

  I knelt next to the tomb and prayed silently for a moment then I reached around Samuel’s shoulder and edged him forward, “Adela this is your grandson, Samuel. I know that William will have told you of him but William will not know how much Samuel is like William was as a child. If you were alive then you would see the likeness. Samuel and his sister are good children. I am just sad that you are not alive to see how wonderful they are. You would have been so proud and you would have adored looking after them. I am sorry, my love, that you were taken too soon.”

  Just thinking of that made tears spring into my eyes. They were silent tears but Samuel noticed them coursing down my cheeks, “Grandfather, what ails you?”

  I stood and, picking him up, held him close to me. “It is nothing. I just ache for the grandmother you never knew. You would have adored her and it pains me that I can do nothing about it.”

  He nuzzled his head into my neck, “You are the only grandfather I have. Do not die, grandfather!”

  I found that words would not come. I forced myself to breathe. When I had control I said, huskily, “I will do my best.”

  Taking his hand, I re-entered the bailey and I headed for the warrior hall, “Come Samuel, we will see if my men have settled in here. A good lord always makes sure that his men are well looked after. They defend him and he has a responsibility to watch over them.”

  Roger of Bath had organised the men. I saw Ralph of Bowness helping to allocate beds. Some of the men I had left in Stockton when I followed Henry to Anjou and Wales were now married men. They lived outside the castle. Many lords did not allow that but I knew it made for happier men and it did no harm. They were never late for their duties and their wives ensured that they were well presented. It meant we had spare beds.

  They all stopped and bowed as we entered. “Are you comfortable?” They beamed. It was partly the joy of being home but also Samuel’s smile which could light up a room. He loved being around the warriors.

  “Aye lord and Mistress Alice has promised us some proper food.”

  “Good. Ralph of Bowness, we will be here until after Michaelmas. My men at arms and archers can stand a watch.”

  “We have no need, lord, we have plenty of men in the garrison.”

  “None the less we will do as I command. I want every man at arms and archer to feel part of one company. My son and I have yet to fight alongside each other but that day will come. Let us start to make the bonds which tie us together now.”

  “As you wish, lord.”

  As we left Samuel said, “I like your men at arms, grandfather. They look so fierce and yet they are so gentle and kind.”

  I nodded, “I know. I am lucky. When you are lord of Stockton, surround yourself with such men.”

  “How will I know them?”

  “That is a good question. You look into their eyes. You will see there if they are true or not. If they look you not in the eye then do not trust them. Treat them as men and not as objects to be used. You have your father’s blood, my blood and the blood of a housecarl in your veins. I know that you will choose wisely. You could not do other.”

  The cook had outdone herself. The food was plentiful and made up of the dishes I adored. Alice knew me well. When I campaigned, I ate what was there but here, in my home, it was my food and my wine from my vineyards in Anjou. I confess that, for the first time in a long time, I drank too much. I waited until Samuel and Ruth were in bed to indulge myself but James and Ralph of Bowness had to help me up the stairs to my bed.

  I heard them speak just before oblivion took me, “He needed this Ralph. He carries too much on his shoulders.”

  “As does his son. I did right to follow him from the east.”

  “And I, to have found a father to replace the one that I lost!”

  When I awoke I just had a mouth that tasted stale. I had neither headache nor queasy stomach. The food and the wine had been good. I only suffered bad heads and stomachs when the food or the wine was questionable. I was up before any other and I went to the stables. My horses were all there. Aiden was up too. He was grooming Skuld.

  “What do you think of her?”

  “She reminds me of Scout. She is not as big or as powerful as your other two and she is no warhorse but there is something about her. She is more like a person than an animal. Have you thought to breed from her, lord?”

  “I confess that I had. I thought about Storm Bringer.”

  He shook his head, “Warrior will be better. They get on well and the colour of their colt would be more like Scout.”

  “Is she in season yet?”

  He looked at her and shook his head, “You are here for three or four months. In that time she will be in season. When the time is right I will pair them. Of course, lord, it means that when you leave she will have to stay here.”

  “I know. I have other horses and the Welsh mountains are dangerous places. I would not lose my Skuld.”

  We left the stables and went into the outer ward. Aiden sniffed the air, “It will be a good day for hunting, lord.”

  I nodded, “Where?”

  “The woods at the far side of Hartburn, lord. The woods to the south of Lonesome House. There are deer there. I have yet to cull them. We had good, strong stags born two years since. Old King lost an antler. I fear he will fall soon. They have been rutting for a month or so. He is a tough old animal and he will not go quietly. It would be a better end for him if we hunted him and would make the herd stronger.”

  “Good. I will fetch James. Should we take Masood?”

  He laughed, “You try and keep him here, lord. He loves hunting in the forest. He cannot get over the changes in the landscape here. He thinks he has died and gone to heaven although he is a heathen and I think his heaven is different to ours.”

  “Spears or bows?”

  “We had best take both. He is a powerful stag even with just one antler.”

  I returned indoors to change into hunting clothes. I had a leather jerkin and some soft, leather boots. I took my bow, arrows and my spears. I would not need my sword. James was keen to hunt too. The last time he had hunted his father, Sir Edward, had been alive. He needed to exorcise that ghost. The castle was awake as we descended.

  Samuel shouted, “Are you going riding, grandfather? Can I come?” He turned to his mother. “Can I?”

  Rebekah had not realised I was going hunting. “If you wrap up warm and do as your grandfather says.”

  Samuel cheered. I felt awful as I said, “I go hunting.”

  Samuel squealed even louder, “Hunting!”

  Poor Rebekah’s face fell but both of us knew that we could not say no to him now. She gripped is arm. “Go and wrap up warm. Put your good boots on.” Rebekah and Alice led him away.

  I turned to James, “You will have to watch over him, James.”

  “I will lord. I will treat him as though he was my own son.”

  Rebekah looked fearfully into my eyes. “I swear, daughter, that no harm will come to my grandson.” I smiled reassuringly, “And I am never foresworn.” She gave me a wan smile. She was worried.

  Masood and Aiden were less worried about the presence of my young grandson. “It is good, lord. The sooner he faces danger the stronger he will be. There are four of us to watch out for him. If we cannot do so then we are poor excuses for men.”

  Aiden was confident but he had no children of his own. He and Masood, however, had taken him hunting and they had taught him to r
ide. Perhaps they were better judges than I. I felt proud as he came out clutching his bow and quiver. Aiden had made him the bow as well as the arrows. He would not need either, nor the dagger he carried as a sword but he looked the part and he strode proudly towards his pony.

  “This is your first time hunting. You will obey every instruction James gives you and you will be silent.”

  “Aye grandfather. Aiden and Masood have told me.” He sounded so serious I could have hugged him but that would have ruined the moment.

  The ground was hard and the air was cold. My greatest fear was that Samuel might fall from his pony and would have to suffer a hard landing. He would not have far to fall. James rode on one side and I rode on the other. As we headed south, towards the Ox Bridge, I watched him ride. He was confident in the small saddle. He stroked his pony’s mane and spoke to him. All of that was good.

  Once we had passed the Oxbridge and the pig farms there, we started to climb. Some of the land had been cleared. Tom and Agnes lived with their children at the Ox Bridge farm which looked down on the becks. Then the woods closed in again and we dropped slightly towards Lonesome House. It was empty now. It had been farmed by Peter Barley, so called because that was what he had farmed. His family had been wiped out during the raid when Sir Edward had been killed. Peter had been in Stockton selling barley. He became maddened with rage. His body had been found in the woods close to his house a year later. None knew how he had died. Some thought he had taken his own life others that the Scots had killed him. I had had him buried in the cemetery. He deserved that. No one else had been willing to farm the land and it lay overgrown. Perhaps that was why the woods close by had so much game. As nature had reclaimed the land and ivy crept over the house it became a paradise for all sorts of creatures. Brambles and elder colonised what had been the vegetable plot close to the house.

  Aiden skirted the wood. There was little breeze, but what there was came from Hartburn. He was taking us to enter the woods from higher ground where the wind would be in our faces. In places, we might have been able to ride our animals between the trees but it was always better to stick to the tracks. We began to climb again and Aiden halted at the edge of the woods. Here elder, hawthorn and blackthorn grew. Few had used the path and Aiden took out his short sword and hacked away the entanglement of wild blackberry bushes which encroached upon the entrance. I smiled. Had we not had Samuel with us he would not have bothered but he would not risk Samuel returning with torn clothes. He would not face the wrath of Alice!