by Griff Hosker
Men still fell to my archers' arrows and the line echeloned back. There was no obstacle to the men who now faced us. I was the corner. I had men from two sides coming at me. Three men came directly at me. There was a knight with a yellow and white surcoat and two of his men at arms. They wielded swords. Three to one were never good odds. I did not let them strike the first blow. I punched with my shield as I swung my sword at head height. They ducked and one man at arms reeled as my shield connected with his face. I felt a blade slide along the links of my mail. The knight brought his sword down to strike my head. I barely managed to block it with my shield and then I had to sweep my sword to deflect the second man at arm's sword. Out of the corner of my eye I saw an enraged man at arms with a bloodied face launch himself at me. Even as he did so the knight stabbed at me again. I brought my shield around more in hope than expectation.
Suddenly a sword darted out from my left and the bloodied man at arms looked down at the sword which was in his middle. Even as Gilles pulled it out Richard jabbed the standard at the knight's face and Henry, with just a short sword, stabbed the second man at arms in the knee. I did not hesitate. I brought my sword across the knight's neck. I put all of my effort into it. My standard had stabbed his mouth and my blade broke his neck. He fell to the ground and I backhanded my sword into the wounded man at arms. It hit his head and stunned him. Richard did not hesitate. He stabbed him in his mouth, pinning his head to the ground.
"Get Henry behind me! Now!"
Sir Stephen had just slain Guy of Angers and he lunged at Henry just as they moved. I saw the red mist. I hurled myself at the treacherous knight. He had known Henry since he had been a child and yet he had been willing to slay him. His sword was almost next to me as I smashed his hand with my shield. I was so close that I could not swing my blade properly and so I punched towards his face with the hilt of my sword. The guard tore into his eye and he screamed. I twisted as I pulled back. Gore slid down his ventail. He tore the ventail from his mouth and spat. He stepped back and a man at arms swung at my right side. I turned his blade and then using the hands which Wulfstan had called the fastest in England, brought the blade back around to slice across his throat.
Sir Stephen was trying to back away. I could see now that our archers had destroyed most of the men of Azay. Three of Sir Stephen's men were trying to extricate him. I took another step and swept my sword horizontally. They were so busy trying to protect the traitor that they didn't see it. I hit one on the side of the head and he stumbled. Robert son of Gilles darted forward to slay him. A second reeled back out of the way of my swinging blade and I brought my right leg around to kick his knee. I heard something crack and he fell to the ground. Before he could recover I had killed him.
To my left I heard Sir John roar, "Victory! We have them!"
I hefted my shield higher as I advanced towards Sir Stephen and his last knight. Sir Guillaume was brave but he was young and lacked experience. He lunged at me and I blocked it with my shield. His lunge overbalanced him and as he fell forward I brought my sword down. His coif was poorly made or I was lucky for my sword broke the mail and cracked into the back of his neck. My sword was stuck, caught in his spine.
Sir Stephen saw, through his one remaining eye, his chance. "I might have missed the whelp but you shall die!"
I could not use my sword and so I punched him in the face with my shield. His sword stabbed into my left leg as my shield smacked into his face. He fell, unconscious at my feet. As blood began to flow from my leg I dropped to one knee. Richard, Gilles and Henry ran to me. I was safe for the enemy were fleeing. We had won. It was Gilles who saved my life. "Lie him down!" As I was laid on the ground he tore a piece of material from Sir Stephen's surcoat and applied a tourniquet to my leg. "Richard find a healer. Henry, put your sword at Sir Stephen's throat and if the traitor moves, kill him!"
I felt myself becoming dizzy and I closed my eyes. It helped. Sound faded as though it was far away. I fought sleep. If I slept then I would die. As the tourniquet bit into my leg the pain made my back arc.
"Sorry lord! Where is that healer?"
Sounds became distorted. I heard Henry Fitz Empress say, "Will he die? I pray not. I have never seen such courage."
Gilles' voice sounded thick with emotion as he replied, "I have many times; too many times. His mail is rent in so many places his leg might not be the only wound. Where is that healer?"
"Richard comes with a priest!"
I opened my eyes and saw that Sir John of Nantes was there. He saw my eyes open and said. "We have won, lord. The Count and your son are finishing off those who sortied."
I tried to speak but no words came out. "Out of the way! Quickly!" The priest's body bent over me. He released the tourniquet and I felt such a rush of pain that I must have blacked out.
As I came to I heard my son say, "Where is he? Where is my father?"
Henry shouted, "Here!"
As I opened my eyes the priest's face filled the sky. "Open your mouth, lord. This will help you sleep. We need to move you."
I did not want to sleep and as I opened my mouth to tell him so I felt a warm bitter liquid in my mouth. I had swallowed it before I knew. I saw William, Henry and Gilles above me but soon they faded as I fell asleep.
I heard the voices and knew that I lived. "Lord, he stirs!"
I opened my eyes as I heard Gilles' voice. It was dark and we were in my tent. A candle threw shadows on the canvas. My son looked worried. He came over to me, "You had me worried, father. The wound in your back had burst." I nodded. "And yet you fought on."
"If I had stopped fighting so would my men. How are they?"
His head dropped. Henry's face appeared, "Your men at arms were all slain. They protected your side until the end but all are dead."
I looked up at William. I could see the pain on his face, "Brian and Padraig?"
"They died together and were the last to fall. Even as you fought that traitor and his brood they held off the rest of the conroi. They saw you fall and fought on. They died of their wounds. The healer could not save them." I tried to rise. "And you will be going nowhere for a while! The healer has said that there will be no fighting for a month at least."
I lay back and closed my eyes, "We will see. I will decide when I am fit to rise." I opened my eyes, "The Count?"
Henry said, "My father lives. He is questioning the traitor. I think they are torturing him."
"For his treachery and dishonour it is just. To change sides during a battle is the most dishonourable thing a man can do." I smiled, "I forgot to thank you for disobeying my orders and saving my life."
He grinned, "My mother would never have forgiven me if I had allowed her champion to be killed. Besides Gilles and Richard did more."
"And they shall be rewarded." I looked up at my son, "The castle?"
"No one can leave and the castellan died in the fighting. I slew him."
"Then tomorrow we go and ask for their surrender."
"You shall lie here."
"No I will not. Do you not see that I have to be there? I have no doubt someone will have seen me fall and reported that to the garrison. They will say that the Warlord is dead. When they see me it will as though I have risen from the grave. Use me, my son. Use my name. You say they fear the wolf then let them think that the wolf cannot be killed. We know it is not true but it is what they believe which is important."
"Come Henry, we will leave them." He turned, "We have sent for the ransom for Richard d'Eveque. He is the knight you captured. His father is rich."
I nodded, "But the gold cannot buy me oathsworn can it?" I thought I would be alone when they left but Gilles and Richard entered. "Thank you for what you did on the battlefield. You behaved well and acquitted yourselves as future knights. Our conroi is becoming smaller, is it not?"
Richard said, in an awed voice. "Brian and Padraig were cut so much I know not how they fought on."
Gilles added, "And you, my lord had three bad wounds. You to
o had many wounds, lord. The one you received near Oxford is still the worst. The healer had to use fire."
"I cannot feel it."
"He put something into a flask of wine and your son poured it down your throat. It dulls the pain. He said it was a very mild dose of leopard's bane. The priest said it would hurt on the morrow as would your knee."
"See if you can find a smith to repair my mail. I would not like to go abroad without it."
I felt worse when I awoke for the pain was there. It was the paroxysms which wracked my body that had woken me for it was still night. It was a constant throbbing in both my back and my leg. I knew that both would ease eventually but I would not be able to get much sleep for the next few days. As I forced myself up, Gilles and Richard who had flanked me while I slept, leapt to their feet. "Lord, you were told to rest."
"And I need to make water." Richard held out a bowl. "If you think I shall use that then you had better find another master." I swung my legs off the cot and tried to stand.
"Your leg cannot carry the weight lord. Put your arms around us."
Gilles was the stronger and he took my left side. I hopped using the two of them as a crutch. It was a cold night and the chill air hit me. They helped me to a secluded part of the camp and I relieved myself. As we hopped back two figures rose from the ground.
"You are alive lord. Your son would not let us disturb you."
"I am just pleased that two of my men, at least, live." It was Griff of Gwent and James the Stout.
Griff nodded, "All of our archers live but the men at arms.... They died with their swords in their hands. It was the old way. I knew them as well as any and I know that they would be happy. I think the last few years were too comfortable for them. We spoke before the battle and they were looking forward to the fray. They took many enemies with them."
"And I am grateful to you and the archers. Had you not done as you did then I might have joined them."
"You had too few men, lord. You needed your whole retinue. You are the Earl of Cleveland. You should have men to protect you."
"I came here not to fight. It is just the way things turned out."
I sat on a log by the fire and waited until dawn. I talked to my squires and my archers. It distracted me from my pain. I did not want to lie down for I knew I would have to get up and that was not a pleasant prospect.
The dawn brought sun and my son and the Count. I was not certain that they had had much sleep. The Count gave me a wan smile. "I am sorry you were left with a traitor at your back. You suspected did you not?"
"I did, Count, but until they turned I could not have sworn who the traitor was."
"All these years that viper has been trusted by me."
"Did we find his master?"
"He was working for Eustace of Boulogne and King Louis. It was Eustace who brought the army."
"But he is a boy!"
"He has ambitions and he was angry with you. He knows that it was you who captured his father at Lincoln. King Louis promised him Blois."
"Louis is a clever man. Blois belongs to Theobald and is not yet captured."
"And that is how it worked. With us gone they could surround Blois and force Theobald to give up his lands. Are you still determined to speak to the garrison?"
"Let us end this now. I have the 'Adela' coming to Ouistreham. I am anxious for news from England."
Count Geoffrey gave me a sharp look. "You gave your word that you would be here until September! It is not yet August."
"I will give my word but I would like to see my son's wife and my grandchildren. Yesterday showed me that I am not immortal. Gilles, fetch a horse. I cannot walk but I can ride."
We reached the walls some hours after dawn. Raymond of Chinon carried Sir Stephen of Azay's head. He held it by the hair. We brought the whole army. Our dead had been taken away but the bodies of the garrison lay where they had fallen and our horses picked their way between them. The Count nodded to Raymond who rode forward and threw the head on to the bridge over the moat. It thudded upon it and rolled so that the one eye stared up, lifelessly, at the gatehouse.
A head appeared and then another. Banners were raised to show that the garrison still fought. The Count shouted, "There is the traitor that was bought. Your castellan lies dead with more than half of your men. The relief army has fled. Surrender!"
"I am Philippe of Arras. I command here now. I was charged by Sir John with holding the walls and I will continue to do so."
I turned, "Griff of Gwent, come forward with me."
My archer obeyed and I rode towards the bridge. I wore no mail but I had my surcoat and my shield hung from my saddle.
"Know you who I am?"
Philippe of Arras nodded, "You are the Earl of Cleveland, the Champion of the Empress and the Queen. They call you the wolf. I have heard of you but you are far from home, my lord."
"They call me a warlord at home. That is what I do, I make war and I never lose. I have the finest men at arms and archers at my command." I turned and said to Griff, "The standard split it!" In one motion he raised his bow and released an arrow. It sped towards the largest standard. It was only a hundred and fifty paces away. His arrow split it in twain and the standard fluttered slowly to the ground. All but Philippe of Arras ducked. He was a brave man.
"Know you that I can clear your walls as easily as I felled your standard but if I do so and enter this town I will give no quarter. I will slaughter all within these walls. Would you have that on your conscience?"
"And what of your conscience, my lord?"
"My conscience is clear for I did not break my word to my liege lord, Henry Duke of Normandy and King of England. You did! I am not foresworn, you are! I will not rot in hell. You will!"
I had built up my shouts and the last one seemed to echo around the castle. The air was filled with silence.
"And if we surrender?"
"Then you may march out with your weapons but not your horses."
It took a heartbeat for him to say, "We surrender. Mortain is yours."
We had won. But my men had paid the ultimate price. They had paid the price of the oathsworn. They had thought me dead and they had died protecting my body. They were faithful to the grave. Such men were irreplaceable. I had my squires and my archers bury them with their weapons and mail. They would sleep together until the ending of time.
Chapter 5
We spent a week at the castle. My son and the healers made sure that I moved as little as possible. My squires let me know what was going on outside the castle walls. Other knights had been captured, apart from the one I had taken, and we had to wait for the ransoms. Although I was anxious to get to William's home it allowed my wounds to heal and for the smith to repair my mail. The Count placed a strong garrison in Mortain and I left with William for Ouistreham. Henry returned to Angers with his father. That ensured that I would not be able to leave for England on the 'Adela'. I think that the Count knew I would if given the opportunity. It did not take long to travel north to the port my son called home. Despite the fact that we travelled across enemy territory the journey was peaceful. Our victory had made the rebels hide in their castles. They were safe. Campaigning had ended with the capture of the key stronghold. The next year would see the end of the war in Normandy.
On the journey my son treated me like an invalid. To be honest the wound in my back and side did not bother me much. It had been worse before the battle. My knee ached and I had a feeling that it would be even more painful in wet weather. Wulfric and Erre, both old soldiers, had told me as much. I was both excited and nervous. I would be meeting my son's wife, Eliane, and my grandchildren. After what my son had said I had a feeling that this might be my only opportunity to see them. It was obvious to me now that he would not come to England. There was only one country in which I wished to live.
William and his men rode in a protective ring around me and my squires. They were taking no chances. After the battle of Mortain the Count had made it quite cle
ar that my life was as important as his. The fact that he had been deceived for so many years had unnerved him. I think I was the only one who was not surprised by such deception. Ranulf of Chester was still a straw which blew in the breeze. I had been betrayed by the first knight I had taken on. He had almost killed me not far from here on the road to Caen. He had died at my hands. Since then I had been wary of all.
We gave Caen and its huge and formidable keep, a wide berth. The Empress had given my son Ouistreham for it guarded the river which led to Caen. The city of the Conqueror was now cut off from England. It could be taken easily but there was little point for it served no purpose save as the place William The Bastard was buried. The manor of Ouistreham was not a large one. It relied more on the sea than the land but it was prosperous. When the war ended it would become even more prosperous. As we rode west William told me of his plans. Farms would be built behind sea defences and he would build roads. He had a vision. He reminded me of myself. It was what my father and I had done with the manors of Norton, Stockton and Hartburn when we had first come. I could barely remember those days of peace so many years ago.
He only had a wooden walled castle but it was bigger than a simple motte and bailey. The builder had used the sea and the river to defend two sides. The square keep was made of stone and it looked to be a hard place to take. It would be harder than was Mortain for here it could be supplied by sea. As we neared it I saw the masts of three or four ships bobbing up and down in the gentle swell. I hoped that one was my ship. I was anxious for news.
As we neared the gate I spied 'Adela'. She was at anchor in the river. I would have news. That news was delayed for I was welcomed warmly by a family I had never seen. William and Gilles helped me dismount. The wound in my leg sent paroxysms of pain shooting up my body. I gritted my teeth. I would have to bear it. The pain would pass.
"Are you in pain, father? We have a draught from the priest."
