by Griff Hosker
"She said that she and her brother plan on using the clergy a second time."
"Aye, with Stephen incarcerated our forces have the upper hand. They can go to Winchester and put pressure on Henry of Blois. He is the effective leader of the church in England."
"And that is why she could afford to allow her best general to travel to Anjou."
"I am a wounded war horse. There are others who can lead your wife's armies." We had reached his Great Hall. Servants hovered close by with wine and food.
Henry said, "Are you here to fight the rebels?"
Before I could answer Count Geoffrey said, "Little mice have big ears! Go and play with your brothers."
"But father...!"
"Go!"
He went reluctantly from the hall. The servants placed the wine and food on the table and then the Count dismissed them too. I was disappointed that Henry had been dismissed. He needed to hear our words. However here I had no rights and so I held my tongue.
Count Geoffrey poured the wine, "Help yourself to the ham and the cheese. We have better hams and cheese here than you do in England."
I did not agree but I smiled, "I like the fact that we have different foods. It makes for a more varied diet, Count."
"Ever the gentleman. I sent Henry hence for his mother spoke of him in her letters. She wishes you to take him back to England?"
"Aye, Count. The problem in England is that many people want a man as a ruler. They have nothing against the Empress Matilda but they are a conservative people."
"It would be the same here. I understand that King Louis of France is finding his wife to be hard to control. She should be a ruler."
"You are right. I have met Eleanor. She reminds me of a younger version of the Empress. She knows her own mind."
"And taking Henry to England would persuade them?"
"We have almost won the war, lord. It has been six years since King Henry was killed. We are as close now, to the crown, as we have ever been. It is like a mighty oak which you hew. It may not need the blow from a mighty axe to finally fell it but a hatchet. The Empress believes that Henry may be the crucial piece on this chess board."
"I am not certain." He sipped his wine and changed the subject to give himself time to weigh our words. "It was a good harvest last year. This wine is amongst the best we have had."
I knew why he had changed the subject so abruptly. I had known him since he had married the Empress as a callow youth of fifteen. "It is a fine wine. The wine produced on my manor was also good last year."
He nodded, absent mindedly. "I need time to deliberate on this and I would use you while you are here."
"Use me, Count?"
"I was about to head north and begin a campaign towards Vire. I already have your son at my side with you as well then I am certain we would have great success. Perhaps if we can defeat Stephen's allies here then it might be easier to persuade Queen Matilda to sue for peace."
"I cannot be away too long, Count. As much as I am flattered by your request I am needed by the Empress and by my country."
"It is now May. Give me until September and then you have my word that you can return to England."
"With Henry?"
He smiled, "You drive a hard bargain, Earl." He nodded his agreement and raised his goblet. "With Henry."
"Good."
"Although we will not tell him until closer to September. He becomes over excited. I would not have him distracted."
I thought it was sad that the Count did not want Henry to be excited. When I had been young I had enjoyed the company of the Varangian Guard. My life had been filled with excitement.
"When would you have us leave for this campaign?"
"I am meeting your son at Le Mans on Midsummer Day. It will take us a week to reach there."
"I will go directly to Le Mans then, Count. I have not seen my son for some time. We have much of which to speak."
"Stay this one night then. I am certain my household knights would like to hear an account of the Battle of the Standard and the Battle of Lincoln. All of the reports they have had have been second hand."
I would have hated the attention save that Henry was allowed to attend and drink watered wine. It made the evening easier. I did not like speaking of myself and my actions. It always struck me that it was a form of self aggrandisement. I tried to keep the accounts as factual as possible. Henry Fitz Empress was seated on the other side of the Count and he hung on to every word. The men to whom I spoke would soon be in battle; although some had fought before I could see from the young faces before me that some had not. I did not spare them nor Henry as I told them the realities of battle. Even though I had been realistic I saw that their faces showed that they wished to emulate me and my household knights.
Gilles and Richard attended and were seated to my left. Henry leaned across and asked them, "Were you two at the battle?"
They nodded. Gilles said, "I was at both and Richard was at Lincoln."
"Did you get to fight?"
Gilles smiled, he had known Henry for some time, "There is no place to hide on the field of battle, lord. At the battle of the Standard, Prince Henry brought his horsemen around to try to flank us and it was the squires in the rear who had to fight them off. I lost friends that day for it was boys fighting men. If you go to war then you must be ready to shed blood."
I nodded my approval. Gilles had said the right thing to a future king. His grandfather and great grandfather had fought in hard fought battles with quarter neither offered nor taken.
"And have you shed blood?"
They both nodded.
He leaned back and the Count said, "So, my son, now do see why we keep you away from danger. You will be the King of England one day. We cannot have you hurt or killed in a minor skirmish."
He shook his head, "Then it is right that I risk what others do. These squires fight not for themselves but for England."
I shook my head, "Actually they fight for me and I fight for you, your mother and England. It is how our system works. These two swore an oath to me, did you not?"
They nodded and Richard said, "I should have been imprisoned for my lord was slain by the Earl and there was no one to ransom me. He offered to take my sword. I owe my life to him and I would die for him."
I laughed, "And hopefully it will not come to that for if you do then it means my standard has fallen."
"Did you bring the standard with you?"
"Yes Count."
"Then when we fight that will mean much. They say your presence and your standard is worth a hundred men on the field."
"As I do not have my men with me, Count, then we will have to hope that it is true."
"And we have your son too. You have not seen him fight for some time but take my word for it he is a copy of you."
I nodded, "Perhaps we get it from my father for he was the greatest warrior that I ever knew."
The next day we headed back to La Flèche. I had not asked Brian and Padraig to find information but I knew that they would. As we crossed the bridge over the Maine and headed along the old Roman Road I asked, "Tell me, what is the mood in the town and of the men at arms?"
They looked at each other.
"Come you know me well enough to know that whatever you say I shall neither be offended or angry."
Brian said, "They are confident my lord. They have defeated all of the lords against whom they have fought."
There was a pause, "But..."
Brian shrugged, "But there is a feeling that Count Geoffrey has every right to be Duke of Normandy. They say he has fought for the land and the Empress can have England."
"And Henry?"
"He is popular lord and they think that he will have both titles one day."
"Thank you." I turned to Gilles and Richard. "You did not hear that."
"Heard what my lord?" They had both learned to be discreet.
I now wondered about the Count's motives. He and his wife lived apart. He was far younger than she was. I had n
o doubt that he had fathered children other than with the Empress. Was he using me to become Duke of Normandy? Would he abandon his support of his wife then?
The road north was pleasant and it was warm, far warmer than in England. I was able to reflect on my position. I had to stay until September. I had given him my word and besides I had come to fetch Henry. That decided me. I wanted Henry to love England. He had to come back with me and see that it was worth fighting for. Apart from one short visit to England he had spent all of his time in Anjou. I was convinced I could make him see that being King of England was worth more than Duke of Normandy. I would help Count Geoffrey to get his title. It was all a game anyway. The important title would be Henry's and his father would help him to get it.
Chapter 2
Once back in my manor I sat with Leofric to plan for the campaign. I had changed from the heavy woollen clothes we needed in England to lighter materials. I had forgotten how warm and pleasant it could be. The wine, brought from the cooled cellar, was refreshing. We sat overlooking the river and it was pleasant. "We have a short time to equip a conroi for me to lead into battle."
"We have all ready that you would need. There are horses, mail and weapons aplenty. Alf the Smith keeps us well supplied." Sir Leofric pointed towards the north, "Would you wish me to accompany you, lord, when you go to war?" His face remained neutral but I knew that he would be having conflicting emotions.
"If you mean would I be happier with you fighting alongside me then the answer is yes but I do not wish you to come with me as I need this manor protecting. You are the castellan and difficult times may lie ahead." Brian's words about Count Geoffrey's people's ambition made me realise that, one day, there might be conflict here in this peaceful valley.
Leofric had always been clever and he asked, "Lord, is there something I should know?"
We were alone and I spoke quietly. "I fear that the Count of Anjou plans to be the Duke of Normandy."
Leofric sipped his wine. He nodded and said, "I had heard rumours but nothing more. It would not surprise me, lord for many of my neighbours see him as the rightful lord. They think King Henry deceived Count Fulk. I know not the truth in that." He shrugged, "And this manor is in the fiefdom of Anjou."
"There is no simple solution to this. It is why I wish you to stay here. You are already considered a beneficent lord who is thoughtful and fair. I wish you to continue to do so while making sure we recruit as many warriors as we can."
"Is that not something which might offend the Count, lord?"
"No for the men are for the defence of the manor. It is right that the castle be garrisoned and the town well protected. Besides it is my decision and no blame will attach itself to you. I will take the experienced archers and men at arms with me. I need a conroi of ten men at arms and ten archers. Will that constitute a problem?"
"No lord. You have twice that number already here and more are already being trained."
"Do not forget that I will be taking those who train them with me."
"I know, lord. We will manage." There was a lull in the conversation. He smiled, "I never thought the war would last this long. My son may soon be old enough to fight in it."
"True and I thought we had ended it in February at Lincoln. I was wrong."
We sipped our wine and I saw, in Leofric's eyes, memories as he thought of his former home, England. "So John is married now?"
"He is, to Alf's daughter. He has done as you did and tied himself to the manor. It seems it is meant to be."
"Your father's word, wyrd comes to mind."
"Aye, wyrd indeed." The two boys had been from poor backgrounds and yet now they were both powerful knights with manors of their own.
The 'Adela' docked two days before we were to leave for Le Mans. William of Kingston brought bad news. "My lord the clergy have refused to back the Empress' renewed claim to be crowned. Bishop Henry and she have had words. He returned to his cathedral. It is said that she and her brother are heading to Winchester to force the matter with their armies."
I was not saying it for William and Leofric's benefit but my own when I said, "A foolish move which will just antagonise the clergy and the people. Why could they not be patient? All that we have done is undone!" I could see the Earl's reckless hand in all of this. He would see his chance for glory on his own without the Warlord of the North there to take credit. He could be bullish and bullying when he wanted to be. He still resented that I had been present at our victory against the Scots and he had not.
"And there is more, lord. Queen Matilda has another army and is said to be leaving for Winchester to go to the aid of her brother in law."
I had heard the phrase horns of a dilemma and now I truly understood it. I had given my word to Geoffrey Count of Anjou to stay until September but my absence might result in disaster. The Earl sometimes made rash battlefield decisions. On the other hand even if I set sail now there was no guarantee that I would reach England before the matter was resolved one way or another.
"My lord?"
"I am sorry William! I must be getting old and rude. I have messages for you. I would have you go first to Stockton and thence to Gloucester. It will be a long voyage but I need to know that my land is aware of the problems we might face. Then I wish you to return to Ouistreham. I know it is surrounded by enemies and rebels but it is a shorter voyage than coming here and I can get there. I need to know the outcome of this confrontation."
"Very well lord."
"And we need both manors to keep in touch with each other. I want your holds full when you return home and then when you return here, after leaving me word in Ouistreham. I want my castle well provisioned and Sir Leofric needs all the weapons which Alf can produce. I will write your letters now."
This was where I missed John my steward. He would have penned the letters far quicker than I could have managed. I wrote one to Sir Harold and one to the Empress. William was at his ship loading it when I had finished. Both letters had my wolf seal upon them.
"These must be delivered personally by you. If you show the Empress' guards my seal then you will be admitted but, just in case use this to gain you admittance." I handed him my seal of Liedeberge. It was the manor the Empress had given me. Sir William of Liedeberge was my castellan there. I could trust him too. "If you are attacked then throw the letters into the sea. No one other than Sir Harold and the Empress must read them."
"You can trust me, my lord."
"I know but the number I can trust is getting fewer by the day."
As the ship sailed, later in the day, I hoped that my messages would reach Sir Harold and the Empress in time. I wanted Sir Harold to be prepared for treachery and I wanted the Empress to know of her husband's plans and to advise caution with the clergy.
As we headed for Le Mans with my small conroi we used caution ourselves. Griff of Gwent and James the Short had lived in this land long enough to be able to scout out the safest route. This was supposed to be Angevin territory but as I had learned to my cost, there could be traitors and enemies anywhere.
It was just over thirty miles to Le Mans. It was a key stronghold and the walls and towers were formidable. I was glad when we reached it. It meant I would soon see my son. The castellan recognised me as we rode into the outer bailey. "Your son is hunting lord. He will be back before dark."
"We will be here for some days. The Count comes with an army."
"We had word, lord. It may be crowded."
"We are warriors, Sir Raymond. We do not mind a little hardship."
Our quarters were well apportioned. My squires had wool stuffed mattresses and would sleep across my door. I went to the gatehouse to watch for his return. I spied them coming from the east. There were six of them. I guessed his squire would be with him but I did not know the other four. Three of them led sumpters with deer upon them. I deduced that they would be archers or men at arms.
I descended to greet them. My son had been a mere stripling the last time I had seen him. Now he had
filled out and was as tall and as broad as I was. He was clean shaven and the hot sun of this region had made his face a nutty brown. His mother would have been proud of the way he had turned out. He was always her favourite. As soon as he saw me he leapt from his horse in one bound and rushed up to me to embrace me. "I did not know you were with the Count! This is great news. Our enemies will be shaking with fear when they hear the two of us come!"
I laughed, "You, perhaps, but these are grey hairs in my beard."
He put his arm around my shoulder and led me to the hall. "You could be a white beard and still be the greatest knight in England or the Empire for that matter! It is a pity I did not know you were coming. We could have visited my wife and children. You will like her father!"
"I know but is it not dangerous between here and Ouistreham?"
He nodded, "Certainly the barons who support Stephen keep a close watch but since Theobald decided to pull back and guard his lands from Louis the Younger, if you have enough men you are safe on the roads. I have enough men and my banner is well known. Men take us on at their peril."
I looked at his squire who followed us. The archers had disappeared with the deer. "Is your squire to be trusted?"
He stopped and stared at me, "I could be offended at such a remark. Do you know me so little that you do not remember it was you who trained me? Robert may be young but I trust him with my life and that of my family."
"You are right and I apologise. It happens each time I reach this land. I see conspiracies and plots behind every smile. I fought the Count's father here as well as Stephen of Blois."
"And you would be right to do so but my men are like yours. You can trust them."
"In that case I have some disturbing news." I told him of the Empress' dilemma in England. When I had finished he nodded as he considered the information. We had reached the hall and servants fetched us wine.
William said, "Robert, guard the door and make sure that we are not disturbed." When the huge doors slammed shut he said, "And there is something else. Is there something you are afraid to bring up?"
He was my son and he had grown up watching me talk to the great and the mighty. He knew me. I had been reluctant to speak of the Count's ambitions because of my son's close relationship with him. It was at that moment I realised that if I could not trust my son then all was lost. I nodded, "I fear that the Count has ambitions to be Duke of Normandy."
