Earl

by Griff Hosker

  Different or not I suspected that Hugh’s neighbour was straddling the border with a foot in each camp. “Can your family afford the ransom?”

  “We are not poor, they will pay!”

  “I doubt it not but perhaps next time you will only challenge someone whom you can defeat.”

  I saw in his face that he was embarrassed that he had lost, “Sir Tristan looked young.”

  “He is but he has fought with me for many years.”

  “They say that you are the most dangerous knight in the north of England.”

  There was no answer to that, “Any knight can be dangerous as you discovered with Sir Tristan. Take my advice young man and become the best knight that you can be before you challenge others.”

  He reflected on that and a couple of days later, when the ransom arrived, he thanked me for my advice. “One day, my lord, I will be ready to meet you lance to lance and then you should watch out.”

  “I will, my fiery young friend. You may be an enemy but I admire your spirit.”

  With the castle almost finished and the border quiet we took Sir Tristan’s ransom and began our journey home. We had been away for longer than I would have hoped but not as long as we might have. I looked forward to seeing my land burgeoning with new crops, animals and people. I stayed with Sir Hugh to break up the journey and left the next day with just Sir Tristan and Sir Harold for company. I did not cross the river at my ferry but at Yarm where Sir Richard had constructed a wooden bridge. The river was narrow and so long as only two riders crossed at the same time it was safe. If trouble came it would not require much work to demolish it.

  When we reached Yarm I knew that there was trouble ahead. Lady Anne had a troubled look upon her face. Sir Richard thought the problem lay with his manor. “What has happened?”

  She came to me. “We had a message ten days since that the pestilence had come to Stockton. Your good wife sent a message that we were not to come close until it had been eliminated.”

  “And have you had word since?”

  “No, we obeyed her and to be truthful we feared the worst.”

  “You were correct to listen to her. She is a wise woman. We will go home and find out the situation. Sir Richard I leave William in your care.”

  “I want to come with you! It is my mother and sister!”

  “And I am not only your father but also your master. You will obey me.”

  Lady Anne smiled, “Your mother will be happier knowing that you are here, young William. Come.”

  Lady Anne was a close friend of my wife and was almost as an aunt to William. He did as he was commanded. “I will send word Sir Richard.”

  “It will turn out for the best.”

  I shrugged, “We are in God’s hands now.”

  Those last few miles were torture. Neither Harold nor Tristan could offer me comfort. They were too young. My mind was filled with pictures of our people dying of the awful disease. It could come in many forms. Sometimes it was red pustules which covered the bodies. At others it was a heavy fever. It seemed like a punishment from God in whatever form it came. The contagion could spread like wildfire. I prayed that my wife had locked herself in the tower and sat it out. I knew that she would not. She was too kind.

  I said goodbye to my knights some three miles from home and led my men towards the western gate. The land seemed empty. Where were they all? I saw that my banner still fluttered from the south west tower. That meant nothing. The gates of the town were open.

  “Aiden, come with me. Wulfric take charge and keep the rest of the men out here.” He looked to argue. “If the pestilence and the plague are still within then you have to protect us.” He nodded. As Aiden and I rode forward I turned and said, “I bring you for you are the swiftest rider. If there is trouble then obey my commands.”

  I was relieved when I saw that smoke still came from the huts. Alf came from his hut. He looked pale but he walked. He held his hand up when he was twenty paces from me. “Thank God you have come, my lord. We have the plague.”

  “And yet you live.”

  “That was by the will of Lady Adela. When the plague came it was in the castle. She blocked the doors and told us to stay until she emerged. She charged me with sending a message to the other manors. I sent my son and told him not to return. We all became ill but few have died in the town. Had an enemy come then we would all have been taken for we could not fight both the disease and an enemy. Father Matthews insisted upon going into the castle.”

  “And have you heard from the castle?”

  “There are still people alive within the walls but we have seen none on the battlements.”

  “I needs must enter. You say there is no disease here any longer?”

  “No, my lord. We were sick and none ate for days. The tanner’s daughter died over ten days ago and none have died since. Some did not even get the disease. They cared for the ones who did. I had the men clear the poisoned matter we produced from the town and pour it into the river beyond the town walls. The river will take it to the sea. It is only in the last three days that we have eaten.”

  “There were no deaths here then?”

  “Only the old and the babies. That was to be expected. Death always comes to those first. Oh and one young girl, Alice the daughter of James the Tanner. We did not bury them but burned their bodies. We wanted to rid the land of the disease.” He frowned. “We smelled burning bodies in the castle, my lord. I know not who they were.”

  “Aiden, fetch Wulfric. Tell him to care for the town. Alf I need a ladder.”

  “You would enter even though there is disease there?”

  “If it were your family Alf….”

  “Then I would go too. I pray you wrap something around your mouth my lord.”

  “Fetch the ladder. If I am fated to die then a piece of cloth will do nothing for me will it?”

  He fetched the ladder. I took off my helmet and my cloak. I turned as Wulfric and my men rode in. Alf held the ladder and I climbed it to mount the walls. I felt like an attacker yet my sword would not help me against this enemy. It was a disease and was invisible.

  At the top I looked down into my bailey. It was eerily empty. I descended to the gate of the keep. There were no horses within the stables for we had them all. I wondered about my falcons and the falconers. I almost struck myself. Why was I thinking of hawks when my family was in danger? I saw the ash from the bonfires they had used to burn the bodies. It seemed a pathetically small amount; perhaps few had died. As I walked across the silent bailey I wondered where everyone was.

  “Hello! Adela!”

  I heard a thin voice from the servant’s quarters. It was next to the bottom floor of my keep. I opened the door and was struck by the smell of disease. Father Matthew was attempting to rise from a chair by the table. “Stay, Father.”

  “The Lord has answered my prayers and you have returned. I must speak with you for my time is short and I have not long to live.”

  “Where is everyone? Where is my family?”

  “The ones who live yet are in the Great Hall. Most of those who died are burned.” It was maddening that he did not tell me what I wish to know and yet I could not rush him. He had the smell of death about him. “It was your new men at arms who brought the disease; the ones who came from the lands of Muslim. Your daughter played with them and she became ill first and then the first of them, Will’s Son, went into a deep sleep from which he never recovered. Your daughter died the same night.” I felt my heart sink to my boots. My daughter was dead. He pointed to a small pot. “Her ashes lie in there. They should be placed in the church. There are niches at the side of the altar for urns such as this.”

  “You planned well for your church, Father.”

  “Aye and I hoped to see it filled with you and your family. Now it will just contain our ashes.” He shook his head as thought to clear it. “The Lady Adela knew that drastic measures had to be taken. She closed the gates and forbade all from leaving. I joined her.
Others began to show symptoms. It was the new warriors and some of Erre’s men who succumbed first. They had lived close by each other. Your falconers and some of the slaves were the next to die. One threw herself into the river rather than suffer. Your wife and I tended to them. I knew of a potion which made them sleep. We gave it to them all save your wife and me. None died after we gave it to them. I think God was able to care for them while they slept.”

  I did not think that God had done anything of the sort. It was my wife and the priest who had saved them. God had stood idly by and done nothing to save my daughter. My innocent daughter had died and yet those evil men like Stephen of Blois lived. There was no justice.

  “Where is my wife?”

  He hesitated, “She died three days since. I gave her the last rites and she is in heaven as is your daughter. She lies on your bed. I could not carry her down to burn here. I had no strength in my arms. It has taken me all my time to minister to the sick and to keep them asleep.” He shook his head, “They will be waking soon.”

  I wanted to scream and to rant against God but the Earl in me made me ask other questions. “And the disease; will I now get it?”

  He shook his head. “That is how I know I am to die. It took some days for the disease to take the men who had not been to the Muslim lands. Those in the town who became ill only had the briefest of contact with the warriors. I do not think I will spread the disease but you must burn our bodies and our clothes to be safe. If you want to be certain then do not go out of here for ten days. I became ill ten days ago.”

  “And yet you continued to help those who were sick.”

  “It was God’s will. I have served the town and I have served you. God used me as his tool. I am content.”

  “But I am not for he took my wife and my child.”

  “Do not berate God. Your wife knew she was dying. There is a letter for you. It is in her hands.”

  His breathing became laboured. He grabbed hold of his cross.

  “Can I do anything for you, Father?”

  “You can pray for my soul for…”

  He pitched forward and died. He was a good man. I am not certain I could have done what he had done. Could I have ministered to those with this pestilence? He had entered a castle filled with a deadly disease. He could have stayed outside the wall and lived. As much as I wanted to see my wife I knew I had a duty to the living. It was with a heavy heart that I went to the Great Hall. It lay just below my chambers and I could almost feel the presence of my wife.

  My household, warriors, servants, Steward and slaves all lay on straw laid out on the floor. Some were asleep but I saw Erre prop himself up on one arm and try to rise. “Stay on the floor, Erre, I command you. You are still weak.”

  He shook his head, “I am sorry, my lord. This is my fault. If I had not brought those new warriors into the castle then none of this would have happened.”

  He was right, of course, but it was not his fault. He had only done what I asked of him. “It is not your fault. Father Matthews has just died. I will get you all some food but then those who can, will need to help me. We have to remain isolated for ten days.” He nodded. “Keep everyone here until I return.”

  I went up the stairs with a heavy heart. I knew what I would find. It would not be a surprise but it would hurt me. I knew that with each step I took. I opened the door of my chamber and saw that she lay with her arms folded and her letter on her chest. The room smelled of death. Her body had lain here for some time. I took the letter and put it in my surcoat. I would read that letter later. I leaned over and kissed her cold dead lips. “Farewell my wife. I am sorry I was not a better husband. You were the best wife a man could ever have had. Look after our child, Hilda, in heaven and I swear that William will be loved twice as much.” It was the silence and her cold hands which made me break down and burst into tears. It was not manly nor was it knightly but I was a man and I had loved Adela. I had left her for war so many times and she had never complained and now she lay dead.

  I stood and beat the walls with my fists until they bled, “Why did you take her! There is evil in the world and she was pure and innocent! You are not a just God you are worse than the Devil! He does not give hope only to dash it away! From this day I renounce you!”

  I was angry but at that moment I meant what I said and my life entered a dark and lonely period when I was not the man who had married Adela. I became something else. I became something I did not like.

  I went down to the kitchen again. I moved Father Matthew from the chair and laid him in the passage outside. His body was already stiffening. I found the potion which Father Matthew had used and I found some vegetables. I chopped them and put them in a pot with water from the well. The fire was still glowing and I relit it. When the kindling caught I added more logs and put the pot over it. I emptied some of the potion into it. I had not been told the dose- I guessed. When it was bubbling away I took out the letter.

  Dearest Alfraed,

  If you are reading this letter then I am dead. I am sorry.

  Our daughter is dead. God must have wanted her badly to take such a precious angel. I tried to save her but I failed. I hope that some of our people survive. I did my best and Father Matthew has been a saint. He could so easily have stayed without but if any are saved then it is due to his skill and care.

  I know you will be angry with me but I believe that it is God’s will that kept me here. If I had left then the disease might have spread. I believe that Stockton will be safe and it will just be those in the castle who die.

  I pray that you and William will return safely from the wars. I know you will for you are the finest knight in Christendom and I was honoured to be your wife. I hope that when I am in heaven I can meet your father, Faren and Athelstan for I yearn to tell them of your glory. Our daughter and unborn child will watch with me from on high and we will wait for you.

  Farewell my husband,

  I will love you in death as I did in life,

  Adela

  I read it four times. My tears made some of the letters run but I knew it by heart by then. There was a movement behind me and I whipped my head around. It was Erre. “What are you doing here?”

  “I am well, my lord. I came to help.”

  I nodded, “You are right. I have made some soup. We will take it to those who are awake. Then we must burn Father Matthew and then my wife.”

  His face fell, “Lady Adela is dead?” I nodded, “I am so sorry my lord. I have caused more trouble than enough. I should leave.”

  “No Erre. You must stay for Lady Adela gave her life so that you and the others should all live.”

  I had but three of my Varangians left: Erre, Olaf Leather Neck and Sven the Rus. All my efforts to make us stronger had had the opposite effect. We were now weaker. I knew that I had to speak with Wulfric; he would be worrying. I was trapped in a charnel house but I was still Earl of Cleveland and I still had responsibilities.

  “Watch over the others whilst I go to the gate.”

  I reached the gatehouse and saw Wulfric and Dick speaking with Alf and Ethelred in the town. There was visible relief on their faces when they saw me. Alf said, “Is all well within, my lord?”

  Shaking my head I said, “No but the worst appears over.” I hesitated for saying my next words would set them in stone. I would not wake from this nightmare. “Father Matthew and Lady Adela are both dead. The next fire you see will be consuming their flesh. Send to Norton and ask Father Peter to come. We have need of him. I want riders to go to Sir Edward and Sir Richard to inform them of this disaster.”

  Wulfric cocked his head to one side, “And you my lord, what of you?”

  “Father Matthew said that in ten days I will either be dead or the plague will have died out. Until then I stay here. There are many still alive within these walls and that is due entirely to Father Matthew and my wife.”

  Alf nodded, “We will say prayers of thanks in the church.” He pointed to the newly finished church. Fat
her Matthew had not even managed to hold an Easter service in it.

  “We are short of food. Bring baskets and put them before the gate. Erre and I will hoist them up.”

  Wulfric smiled, “Erre lives?”

  “He does but only Olaf and Sven remain. The new men brought this plague from the land of the Muslim.”

  I saw all four of them cross themselves. Ethelred said, “Then I know how the plague came to the town. One of the new men lay with the daughter of the Tanner. I think they survived because of their work. That concoction to tan the leather would kill any disease.”

  “Then I will return to my Hall. Wulfric, Command in my absence.” I saw Aiden. “Your falconers are dead but the hawks live.”

  His face fell. “They were good men. I would be grateful if you would care for them until I can tend to them. I will put food for them in the basket.”

  As I returned to my Hall I wondered if I could ever be happy here again. Erre came towards me, “They have all been fed my lord. Although they are weak they wish to help.”

  “Then they can prepare the funeral pyre.”

  “Aye my lord.” I turned and went to the stables. The hay had all been taken for bedding and just the two hawks remained. I could see that they had been fed and watered. That had to be Father Matthew. He had been a kind man. He loved all creatures. I saw that he had left two dead mice for the birds. The two birds looked agitated and so I spoke softly to them as I had seen Aiden do. “There, there my beauties. Fear not the night is almost over and soon Aiden will be with you.” I held the mice out and they took them with their beaks and then held them in their talons so that they could tear the flesh from them. It did not take long. When I had watered them I stroked them on the back of the head as I had seen the falconers do. They seemed calmer.

  As I left I understood Aiden a little better for I felt more at peace. The two birds were survivors. They would be stronger. Erre and the others would be stronger and closer too. The pyre was built and the bailey empty. They had worked quickly. I went to speak with them. As I entered my hall everyone stood and bowed. I looked at their drawn pale faces. These were my people. I could not give up. Adela would not have wanted it so.