Earl

by Griff Hosker

  Normally we would have divided it into four parts; half for me and the other half for the other two knights. “You lost the men and the horse, Sir Hugh, you take half. We are satisfied.”

  He did not argue. He had had little other opportunity to make money. “I will make sure I keep armed men along the road to Carlisle then.”

  We headed east. I was making for the gap in the wall at the deserted Roman fort which lay close to the steep part of the wall. The land to the west was within twenty miles of Carlisle. I thought that would be safe from attack. Aelric and my archers formed a screen ahead of us. The land began to rise towards the wall. It became less cultivated and wilder. In places you could see the natural rock protruding through the soil. I could now see why the Romans had built their wall here. I think I began to relax. The land through which we passed was empty. No one lived here. The ground to the north was better for farming.

  The Roman road down which we rode had been abandoned for many years and was like the one we had used before. It was overgrown. It also passed through forests which had spread towards the ditch. Soon, unless it was repaired, the road would be consumed by the forest and it would be as though man had never been in this land.

  Hugh of Gainford’s men formed the rearguard and one of them, Alan of Reeth, rode up to his lord and me. “My lord, we are being followed.”

  I knew better than to ignore such things. “Aelric, send two archers to the rear. See if we are being followed.”

  “Aye my lord.”

  As the two men passed us I said, “Prepare yourselves!”

  My men at arms all adopted a closer formation. Our swords were drawn and shields pulled tighter. The road was wide enough for four abreast but Hugh and I rode together so that Ralph and John could protect William and Leofric.

  There was a shout from behind and I heard Ralph of Wales shout, “Ambush!”

  I knew that there were men to the rear of us, Ralph’s shout had told me that but if I were laying an ambush I would have men ahead of us too. I saw, ahead, the sky lightening as the forest ended and more open ground appeared. “Ride for the open but keep a tight formation!”

  Our horses leapt forward and that must have taken the enemy by surprise for they were slow to emerge from the trees to attack us. My archers could not use their bows on horseback but they had all practised with their swords. Two men galloped from the forest to my right. One was a man at arms. They had four others running behind. The danger was the man at arms. He had his shield towards me and that was my only advantage. I would have the first blow. I would need to rely on John, behind me, to despatch the second rider.

  I veered Scout towards the man who was taken aback by my aggressive move. He made the mistake of turning to his right and I swung my sword hard across his shoulders and back. His manoeuvre and the force of my blow sent him tumbling from his saddle. His head cracked into a tree and he lay still. I felt a punch in my shoulder as the next horseman thrust his spear at me. My mail held. I jerked Scout’s reins to the right and he spun around allowing me to stab at the horsemen. He had no armour and my blade pierced his chest aided by the speed of his horse. As he fell from the horse my sword was released.

  As I viewed the scene I could see that we were outnumbered. Our only chance was to make for the gap which was still some way away. “Roger, form on me. Make a shield wall.”

  It was a risky strategy. If the Scots decided to attack our horses then we would be vulnerable but our shields would be locked together and, with our armour, we should be safer. It took some moments to gather and I felt arrows striking me. I heard a cry as one of my men suffered a wound.

  Roger shouted, “Ready my lord!”

  Hugh of Gainford shouted, “I have your rear, Earl.”

  “William, draw your weapon. Today you fight!”

  I held my sword behind me as we swept towards the gap. I counted on the fact that we had horses and most of those who followed us did not. I did not worry about Aelric and the archers for they were woodsman all; they would look after themselves. We were almost at the gap when a huge warrior hurled himself forward and swung his two handed weapon at Leofric’s horse. The blade bit into the shoulder slicing through to bone and the brave steed crashed to the earth, dead. Leofric was thrown from its back and he landed heavily. The huge warrior pulled his axe from the body of the horse and raised it to slice down on the unconscious squire. To my horror William leapt from his horse and, with his sword in one hand and his buckler in the other ran to protect Leofric.

  I was forced to whirl around and break the shield wall of men and horses. I could not let my son die without trying, at least, to help him. Even as I turned I saw that he had used his head. As the Scotsman swung his deadly blade my son ducked and ran hard at the man. He held his sword before him. He must have been terrified but he ran bravely at his foe. He ran straight into the man’s middle. His momentum forced the blade into the man who screamed in pain. He used his left hand to smack my son in the side of the head and he fell, stunned, next to Leofric. I did not break stride as I swung my sword around at the man’s neck. My well sharpened blade sliced through as though the flesh was butter.

  Reining in I looked for enemies. John appeared next to me and, after handing him Scout’s reins I jumped to the ground. William opened his eyes, “Is Leofric safe?”

  “Never mind Leofric I will see to him.” I lifted him on to Scout’s back. “John I charge you with the protection of my son. Let nothing stand in your way!”

  Before I could get to Leofric four warriors or five ran at me. In a bunch they were hard to differentiate. They were eager to finish off a dismounted knight who stood alone over the body of his squire. A spear was thrust at me and I deflected it on my shield as I spun around to my left. I brought my sword across the bare back of the warrior. I cut through to the white of his backbone. I felt a blow on my helmet as a sword was smashed down upon it. I briefly saw stars and I tried to continue my spin. God smiled on me that day for the axe which would have hacked through my mail struck, instead, my shield. My move had opened up the warrior and I stabbed my sword into his unprotected middle. I pushed until the hilt hit his flesh. He spat blood and a curse at me as he died.

  Withdrawing the sword I turned quickly. There were three of them left. The rest of the skirmish seemed to be far away but perhaps that was my imagination. Suddenly a horse burst next to me and Hugh of Gainford galloped into the three men. They had concentrated so hard on me that they had failed to see the horse and knight galloping at them.

  Hugh’s horse bowled one of the men over and was trampled beneath the hooves of his mount. One of them staggered towards me and I brought my sword down diagonally across his body. It ripped it open to the ribcage. Hugh backhanded the last warrior across the back of the neck.

  Edgar and Wilfred appeared and formed a defensive half circle with Hugh. I knelt down and took off Leofric’s helmet. There was heavy bruising to his head but he was breathing.

  “Edgar, pick up Leofric and put him on your horse.” As he did so I saw him begin to come to. I looked at the scene of the ambush. There appeared to be just a couple of combats continuing and they were going the way of my men. I looked up at Wilfred. “Ride to John and guard my son.” He galloped off. Hugh’s squire appeared. “Ralph, sound your horn! We need to rally!”

  The strident notes of the horn echoed through the forest and, one by one, my men appeared. Roger of Lincoln led a horse. “My lord, Alan of York will not need his horse any longer.”

  I nodded and mounted. I saw that we had suffered grievous losses. Three of my men at arms were dead and I could see wounds on two of the others. Sir Hugh’s men had also suffered and two of his men at arms were also dead.

  Aelric rode up, “I have let you down again, my lord. I should have spotted the ambush.”

  “No, Aelric. I was complacent. Did you lose any archers?”

  “Tom the Bowyer fell.”

  I nodded. We had lost six men. Even if Dick and Wulfric had been successf
ul in their search for more men at arms we would be no better off. “Find any horses you can and bring any treasure you can find. Roger, bring our men and we will bury them.” I pointed to the open area. We will find somewhere close to there.”

  We passed Will’s son who was kneeling over a Scot. He stood. “These men were sent by Sir Walter Comyn. It was he who gave orders to the villagers at Booth’s Castle. This man was the one who rode for help.” He pointed to the horse which I recognised as one of Sir Hugh’s. He wiped his dagger on the dead man’s kyrtle. “He told me all, eventually.”

  “You have done well. Bring the horse. We have need of it.”

  John and Wilfred flanked my son who looked shaken. I put my arm around him. “You were brave, my son, but you should not have risked your life for Leofric.”

  Leofric who was behind me said, “He is right William. You should have left me. I am grateful that you tried to save me but you are more important than I am.”

  William looked confused. “But you would have done the same for me.”

  I shook my head, “Nevertheless Leofric is correct. You are my son. Perhaps I was wrong to bring you. Your mother was right. You are not yet ready to go to war. It is too dangerous.”

  I thought for a moment he was going to burst into tears but he stiffened his jaw and said, “It was not my turn to die and it was not Leofric’s! I am your son! I would do the same again.”

  I nodded and saw that both Wilfred and John smiled their approval. Inside I was proud of his courage and his skill. Wilfred handed him the Scotsman’s axe. ”Keep this as a reminder of how close you came to death.”

  I almost laughed out loud when my son tried to hold the axe. It was a heavy weapon. The blade and the decorated handles showed it to be a fearsome weapon. The blood of Leofric’s horse still stained its edge. We buried our men and covered their graves with rocks. I said words over their bodies for there was no priest but they had died as warriors. They would soon be in heaven with Athelstan and the other dead oathsworn. It was getting on towards dark but I did not want to risk another ambush and so we headed for Carlisle. My original plan lay in tatters amidst the ambush on the road. We reached there before the sun set and my banner was recognised. We were admitted.

  Sir Gilbert de Bois was the castellan. He was not there permanently. He had been charged by the King to oversee the completion of the castle. I had met him once and he was a dour, unimaginative man. He would defend the castle well but he could not think of the wider picture.

  “What were you doing north of the wall? That is full of Scotsmen.”

  I sighed, “It is still part of the King’s lands and I was charged to show myself.”

  He grunted, “I do not know why anyone would want that land. There is little there of value.”

  “There are people, Sir Gilbert de Bois, for they were there before they were driven hence by the Scots. I would have you send patrols north of the river just to show the Scots that they are not forgotten.”

  I was an Earl and he could not gainsay me. He nodded.

  That evening after he had quaffed a fair amount of wine he loosened up a little. I was somewhat distracted for I was concerned about the blows to the head which both Leofric and William had suffered. Although Sir Gilbert’s healer had looked at them I was anxious to have Father Matthew look at them.

  “You are well known in these parts, Earl.”

  “Hmn?”

  The Scots use your name to terrify their children. They call you the Wolf from the Wall.” He laughed and I realised he was a little drunk. “It is your standard of course.” He leaned in. “I have heard that Gospatric has put a price on your head.”

  “It is a sad man who cannot defend his own honour. Gospatric is a bloated carcass who has others do his killing for him.”

  “You are probably right. I do not know the man. I will be glad to get to a warmer clime where the wine is drinkable.”

  “You are from Normandy then?”

  “Aye. My elder brother has the estate.” He laughed, “And he has not yet had the good grace to die. He has no children and so the manor would be mine. Still this is not a difficult task I have been given.”

  “No, I expect it is not.” A thought came to me. I had had an itch in the back of my mind which I could not scratch. Perhaps, in his cups, Sir Gilbert de Bois might give me the answer I sought. “Do you see much of Sir Barnard de Balliol?”

  “He has passed through here once or twice. He has a cousin in Scotland. He likes to hunt there.”

  “A cousin?”

  “Yes, one of the Comyns, William I think.”

  I became more attentive. “He is in Dumfries then?”

  “They have land all over Scotland but I believe that Sir Barnard does visit Dumfries regularly. To be honest, Earl, I would have thought you would have had regular contact with him. After all he is a near neighbour of yours.”

  I smiled, “I have much to occupy me, Sir Gilbert. I have recently returned from a Welsh campaign and then this foray into Scotland. I shall be pleased to get home and enjoy my manor.”

  As we headed east, the next day I confided in Hugh. I trusted him and I worried for him. “I have heard disturbing news of Sir Barnard de Balliol. It may be nothing but he is a friend of William Comyn.”

  “Is he the brother of Walter, the one who tried to ambush us?”

  “I do not know but I am guessing that he is. I would like you to keep watch on him, surreptitiously of course. But you need to be careful around him. Watch your words and keep your ears open.”

  “Why do we not tell the King or the Earl of your suspicions?”

  “Because they are just that, suspicions. I am learning that we have to play a game. We know not who our enemies are and who our friends are. I know whom I trust and you are one of those. You are young but I am confident that you will make the correct choices.” He nodded and looked thoughtfully to the north. “I am sorry that you lost those men at arms. I know that they are hard to replace.”

  “I have their armour and their weapons. You said that Sir Gilbert de Bois said that your name is becoming known. It works for us. We have many soldiers of fortune who cross the Tees and seek employment. I will hire more.”

  We made it to Gainford before dark and I stayed with Sir Hugh. Although I was eager to get home it would have been rude of me to leave quickly. Sir Hugh had shown himself to be a calm and confident leader. He had demonstrated loyalty and I would reward that loyalty.

  When I reached Stockton my wife was surprised. Wulfric and the others had not returned from their expedition and she had thought I would have been away longer. When I told her of the ambush I expected a different reaction but she was unexpectedly calm. “Our son has survived and he looks to have come out of the ordeal well. But I pray that both of you are more careful on your next campaign.”

  Both my son and I were relieved.

  After a fine meal and a pleasant evening I felt replete. I was home in my castle. It was not as strong as some but it was certainly better than most. I had seen that on my travels. My family were safe within its walls. I felt full of energy the next day and relished the prospect of being a lord of the manor for the next few months. I sent for John my steward and my clerk.

  “John, I need to write a letter to the Earl.” It did not take long to dictate the missive. Neither the Earl nor I went in for flowery phrases. I gave him the bare bones of the events. When I had finished John said, “Sir, if I may speak without offending you?”

  “Of course.”

  He sighed and laid down his scribe. “It is just that the treasury is shrinking. You have many expenses and with new men to equip and to pay I am not sure that we have enough. You have brought cattle and treasure to the manor but we have more mouths to feed. Your work on the castle and the church are not cheap.” He held up his hand, “I know they are necessary, my lord, but they are expensive.”

  I smiled. I had chastised him for holding the purse strings too tightly. I could hear, in his voice, that
he did not wish to upset me further. “What do you suggest, John, son of Leofric?”

  “Taxes, my lord.” I cocked my head quizzically. “I know that the King has his taxes but we only get a small part of those. You provide protection for the people and they prosper. We need to tax that prosperity.”

  “But I do not wish to lose their support. They are vital to us.”

  He nodded, “The tax I propose is not going to be a burden. A penny a month for each house which is within the walls of the town and one halfpenny a month for those with a mile of the walls.”

  “Can the people afford that?”

  “Look at the homes of some of the burgers, my lord and how they dress. They can afford it.”

  “Even so that will not bring in a fortune.”

  “No but we now have many visitors. We tax Ethelred for every person who uses his ferry and tax them if they stay in the town or castle.”

  “I hope that would not deter visitors.”

  “I do not think so and it is the reason I stopped short of taxing ships any more than we do. They are vital.”

  “Is that the limit to the taxes?”

  “Well sir I did think that we could use the farmers to supply the food for the men at arms and archers. If each contributed a little then our bills would shrink.” He saw me frown. “I promise you sir, that once we have the finances under control we can cease the taxes. You will be going on campaign again, will you not?” I nodded. “And hopefully that will bring in more treasure than the recent one to Wales.” He shook his head, “The Welsh are too poor. We need a campaign in Normandy. That is where the real money can be made.”

  He was irrepressible. “Very well but the Lady Adela knows the mood of the people. If she tells me that they are unhappy then we will revoke the taxes.”

  “Believe me sir I have spoken with many in the town and they appreciate that they are safe. It is over a year since we were raided. They prosper.”

  After he had gone I decided to take a walk around the town. Adela and I had done so many times in the past but we had got out of the habit. Adela was keeping a close watch on William. She did not let him accompany me. I went alone. I wanted the opportunity to view my manor closely and without unnecessary questions. The gate house which led to the town was almost complete. The double gates were a solid barrier. I patted the stone approvingly as I passed through them; nodding to the sentries. Alf and the other burghers had made stone walkways through the town. They gave a sort of structure and order to what, in many places, was a random huddle of huts. The homes within the wooden palisades varied from Ethelred’s magnificent hall to wattle and daub dwellings. Ethelred’s hall acted as a home and a warehouse. I did not mind its ostentation. It could hold most of the town if danger came. The majority of the homes were the huts which had been around since before the Romans. They were round and made of wattle and daub. Some had stone bases but they were all just one room. The exception was Alf who had an oblong building. Half was his home and the open half was his workshop and smithy.