Housecarl

by Griff Hosker

  I saw my brothers fawn and fuss over Tostig who appeared to enjoy the flattery. Harold, by contrast, appeared ill at ease and embarrassed by the whole thing. He turned and caught sight of my uncle.

  “Aethelward! I hoped that you were still alive.” He and my uncle embraced like old friends. A scowl appeared on the faces of Tostig and the rest of my family who appeared unhappy that the attention had moved from them to someone else.

  “No my lord, I survived, a little punctured here and there but alive nonetheless.”

  Harold laughed and turned to Tostig. “Brother why did you not tell me that this mighty warrior resided here? I would have made this visit long ago.” Tostig shrugged as though it wasn’t important and my father shepherded the Earl into the hall. Harold looked at me. “And who is this? Your son?”

  Aethelward laughed. “Not my son my lord but my nephew. This is Aethelgifu’s son, Aelfraed.”

  A strange look came over the Earl’s face; he and my uncle exchanged a knowing look and he unexpectedly embraced me. “Your mother was one of my oldest friends and I was sorry to hear of her death.” He released me and held me at arm’s length. “But I can see that she would be proud of you. You are powerfully tall. A warrior eh?”

  I blushed and grinned, “I hope to be.”

  Aethelward snorted. “That is some time off nephew.”

  “This is wyrd, old friend, for I have a task I need help with and I could not think who could perform it. Now I can see that this was not an accident. It was meant to be.”

  Both of us were intrigued but Harold shook his finger playfully and said, “After the feast we will talk and there is another old friend with whom we shall speak.”

  All the way through the feast I was reminded of Aethelward’s comments and felt sick at the sight of my father and brothers ingratiating themselves into the favour of the Earl. The final straw came when my three brothers were invited to be Housecarls in the retinue of the Earl. I did not wish to serve the Earl but I felt slighted that I had not been included. I was as big, now, as Edward and I knew that I was a better warrior. It irked me that the three of them would be the rich and well armed warriors guarding the Earl while I would have to remain on the estate. It did not seem fair but as I came to discover as I grew older, life was not fair.

  The announcement appeared to have the same effect on my uncle and Earl Harold for they both moved away from the noisy table to the door of the hall. I did not know what to do and felt foolish sat alone; Harold was a few paces away and he turned to me, “Come Aelfraed. Join us.”

  I think that was the proudest moment in my life up to that point and I eagerly followed them. When we were outside Harold walked towards the fire of the Housecarls who were still guarding their Earl. Harold halted us and then approached the group who all stood to attention. Harold waved them down and then said, “Ulf.” A huge bear of a man disengaged himself from his fellows and came towards us.

  My uncle recognised him and shouted, “Ulf you old dog! I thought you would have been with some rich widow enjoying telling lies about your prowess!”

  “And I thought you would have been chained to some Byzantine galley.”

  As Harold and Aethelward had done earlier the two men embraced and slapped each other’s backs. Aethelward looked sharply at Harold, “Wyrd? An accident? You bring one of my oldest friends here as though it is not planned. My lord I did not think you would have your brother’s slippery tongue.”

  “You do me a disservice old friend. Ulf here would have performed the task alone had I not met you but your participation would ensure that the result was a happy one.”

  “The Earl is right. I was to leave on my mission after we had returned to Jorvik.” He looked at Harold and grinning, shook his head,” This is still the same man we fought alongside in the Thingmen.”

  “I am sorry my lord. I have been around my brother in law too much. Perhaps Aelfraed should…”

  “No Aethelward, for I see a role in this for your nephew, unless you think he is not up to it.”

  “As I do not know what it is I cannot answer. Perhaps if you tell your tale I can decide.”

  Harold led us to the empty blacksmith’s hut where the glow from the fire still remained. “Four years ago Gruffyd Ap Llewellyn destroyed the garrison at Glastonbury and he has now united all of the Welsh kingdoms through conquest. They are a threat to our safety.”

  “With due respect my lord they are a threat to Wessex. Here the bigger threat is the Scots.”

  Harold laughed and looked at me. “That is what I have always liked about your uncle, his honesty. Unlike others I could name. You are right Aethelward but if we can secure our Western border then it will make it easier for us to shift troops north and face the Scots. We cannot fight both at the same time and if we move our men north then the Welsh will pour into the heartland of our country. The Dyke cannot hold them back.”

  My uncle nodded. “I must teach you chess young Aelfraed. Harold here is the best player I know. Suppose I agree with you what then? You want me to invade the Welsh with a youth?”

  Harold laughed again and it made me smile. When people ask why so many were willing to die on the forsaken hill with the erstwhile King of England I tell them it was his laugh. He had a ready smile and a laugh that made everything seem safer somehow. “No I need you to go with Ulf and young Aelfraed and spy on the Welsh.”

  “You do not ask much my lord. What makes you think that I could spy for you? A lame old scarred warrior and an untried youth.”

  I have to say that I did not like being referred to as an untried youth but I knew that my uncle meant no disrespect. He was doing as Harold said he did, he was speaking the truth.

  “And that is the perfection of the plan and why I say it is wyrd. Who would suspect you two?”

  “Then why send Ulf? He is no lame warrior and he is certainly tried. Would the Welsh not suspect him?”

  “They would and he will remain in hiding. It is you two who will go into the settlements. Ulf is there for your protection.”

  “And if you had not discovered us?”

  Ulf spoke for the first time, his deep languid voice evoking sadness even with cheerful words. “Then I would have gone alone and I would probably have died amongst the sheep shaggers and my lord would not have discovered the intent of this King of the Welsh.”

  “You make it hard to say no, knowing that I owe this man a life.”

  “As I owe you a life, Aethelward, and I will make good my debt. As for your debt consider that it is paid with your agreement.”

  “And Aelfraed?”

  “He need not go.”

  “But I want to!” The words burst out of me. I would not be left behind. I was no longer afraid of my brothers but I was afraid of not having the chance to be a warrior.

  “It seems he is going.”

  “And Ridley?”

  Harold looked nonplussed for the first time. Later, as we travelled south Ulf and my uncle told me of the complex mind that was Harold Godwinson. He liked to plan to the most minute detail and he had not considered that anyone would add to his ideas. “Ridley?”

  “Aelfraed’s training partner. He is a sound warrior and would be handy in a fight. It would give us two protectors.”

  Harold clasped Aethelward’s arm. “Then he goes.” He looked seriously at me. “It goes without saying son of Aethelgifu, that this stays between us here.”

  “I swear.” I put my hands on my testicles to show that I meant it.

  Harold looked wryly at my uncle. “I will take your word that there is something there to swear on.” The three men laughed at my blushes. “I am only teasing Aelfraed. You are your father’s son and you will not let me down.”

  I wondered at the look which Aethelward flashed at the Earl but thought no more about it. I was going to be a warrior. “We will leave when your party has left tomorrow.”

  Harold nodded. It will take some months to find this out. When you have discovered his plans then you will
come to the King’s court. Secrecy will no longer be needed at that point.” He drew me close to him and I saw, for the first time, how tall he was. He leaned close to me. “When you return we will see what we can do for you. You would be a warrior?”

  I nodded vigorously. “It is all that I wish.”

  “You will continue to train with Ulf and your Uncle when you are on the road and then I will make you part of my plans for I can see that you are sharp as well as courageous.” He looked over to my uncle. “If that is what you wish old friend?”

  “Aye it is.” Aethelward looked almost relieved. “Had this not come along then I would have had to take him to the Irish to get some experience.”

  “I thank God that you did not have to go down that route for the Irish are as unpredictable as the weather.”

  And so the next day as my brothers left with Earl Tostig, their superior looks telling all the world of their honour and my disgrace I smiled to myself. Uncle had been right it was not what the world knew that was important it was what a man carried in his heart that counted. Ridley was delighted to be included with us and his father, the Steward, somewhat relieved to have his son taken away by Aethelward for a trip to the capital. My father was the most relieved man for in one fell swoop he was rid of the son he hated and the brother in law who flouted his rule with every breath he took. He gladly gave the three of us horses, no doubt anticipating a profit from his other sons who would be the highly paid Housecarls of the voracious and greedy Tostig. It was said that he could get taxes from the very stones he walked upon.

  As we rode down the old Roman road which led south I suddenly realised that I had spent my whole life on the farm, never leaving the valley and now I was going to a different country. I thanked God again for the message my Nanna had sent to my uncle. I hated to think what my life would have been like had he not returned.

  Ulf had a spare horse with him for his armour and he rode, as we did, in just a leather byrnie. Ridley looked ridiculously large on his horse and his feet almost touched the ground. That, in itself, suited Ridley who was not the most confident of riders. I too preferred the ground beneath my feet but we all knew that we had to make all possible speed to accomplish our task. I was just excited to be part of something bigger than the life on a busy farm. I had no idea what we would see or what we would have to do but I trusted in my uncle. I did not know Ulf yet but the dour man seemed dependable and, most importantly, my uncle trusted him.

  Ridley and I followed the two men who discussed their plans ahead of us. I was desperate to be a part of the discussion but Aethelward’s words, ‘untried youth’ kept ringing in my ears and I remained stubbornly silent. I could feel Ridley’s glances towards me as we rode and knew that he was desperate to speak. Eventually, as we left Ripon and began climbing the road across the back of the country, I regretted my silence, which was in any case unnatural and turned to speak to my companion. “Well Ridley how does it feel to be away from our valley?”

  The relief of speech caused his words to pour out in a torrent. “Well master I am excited but nervous too. This place we are going to , Wales. I have heard that they have dragons there.”

  I had heard of Welsh dragons but assumed that it was just a story. I scoffed at Ridley’s naivety. “I don’t think there are dragons in Wales Ridley. That sounds like a story to me.”

  My uncle turned. “Do not mock what you do not know nephew. There are stories that the dragons were imprisoned in the mountains through which we will be travelling and the flag of the Welsh king, Gruffyd, is a red dragon.”

  Ridley’s face beamed with a smile. “See master. I was right.” The smile left his face as the import of the words sank in. “Are they still buried?”

  Ulf laughed, “They are lad and that is good although it would be good to be a Beowulf and fight one. Then men would tell the tale of Ulf and the Red Dragon around their fires.”

  Everyone knew the tale of Beowulf and Grendel but this was the first time I had even thought that we might meet one. “And we pass through the burial place of the dragons?”

  “Aye. Dinas Emrys is the mountain which covers them and we are heading for a pilgrimage site which is hard by.”

  “Pilgrimage?”

  “Yes we are heading for the monastery of St Asaph. It is a holy place and will explain why we are travelling. When we next pass a stand of ash trees we will cut a stave each to add to the illusion.”

  Ulf nodded. “We can then travel south east through Wales and people will think that we are heading home rather than spying on our enemies.”

  “Is this not a lie uncle. For you said that warriors do not lie.”

  “True nephew. Warriors do not lie to warriors and we will visit the holy place and we will not be lying. When we leave we will be heading home for our new home will be with Earl Godwin.”

  “You mean we are not going back to Medelai?”

  “No Ridley. We may visit again but Master Aelfraed is to be a warrior and will be part of the Earl’s army. The two of you will have to train to be part of the shield wall.”

  Ridley and I exchanged the excited look of young men who have dreamt of such training. We were almost men in terms of our bodies but our minds were still innocent and like that of a child. At that time we believed that the shield wall was noble and showed the honour of warriors. We had to learn that to stand in that killing ground had little honour and even less nobility. It was a savage place where only the fittest and most ruthless would survive, but that was in the future. As we climbed the high road we just talked of standing shoulder to shoulder with other warriors defending the honour of our liege lord.

  The road we took was a lonely and empty one; built by the Romans it was in need of repair but it was the swiftest way to cross the high country. Although we had plenty of dried meat and there was enough streams for water we all pined for the eggs and fresh foods of the farm. Ridley enjoyed his food and he longed to go hunting to catch a rabbit or two. Aethelward shook his head as Ridley begged for the opportunity to hunt. “This is not a game Ridley. This is what a warrior does. Not for him the life at court with fine food and ale. He goes without. Ulf and I have stood in a shield wall for the better part of a day before now with neither food nor drink.”

  “Aye I remember that day. Those Danes were hard men but they left before we did.”

  “You are right Ulf. We showed that we were the better warriors. Remember this nephew we are different from the Danes because we fight for our lord and our country. The Danes fight for a leader and for plunder. When you fight the Danes you kill the leader and then they flee.”

  “And the Welsh?”

  “Ah now they are different. They are cunning. Their land is rocky and does not suit the shield wall. They like to use arrows and let you waste your strength in useless attacks. This is why Earl Harold needs to know their plans and their strength so that we can attack them at places which suit us.”

  Ulf snorted. “The whole country is one big rock. I doubt that there is anywhere which suits us.”

  My uncle shrugged. “That is why we have been sent. To discover that which we do not yet know.”

  Ulf inclined his head towards Aethelward. “And that is why the Earl sent your uncle for he is the cleverest warrior I ever knew. You would do well to copy him.”

  My uncle laughed. “You need not worry about Aelfraed, Ulf, for he is already capable of out thinking me.”

  Ridley looked at me in awe as I blushed with the compliment. I did not know that I was held in such regard. I now understood why my uncle had taught me chess and played each night. I had thought it was a pastime, now I knew that he was both training and assessing me and my skills.

  The walled town of Frodsham was the last safe place we travelled through. It seemed solid and safe and the town watch looked to be alert and wary. It was a frontier town and enemy land lay ahead of us. When we finally crossed the Maeresea we could see, in the misty distance, the mountains rising high into the sky. We would not seer the top
s for they were wreathed in threatening clouds. Ridley leaned over to me. “That looks like dragon fire to me.”

  I did not want to appear as gullible as Ridley and I shook my head. “No that looks like cloud to me.”

  “Do we have to climb those mountains?”

  Ulf answered over his shoulder. “No the monastery is at the foot of the hills. We only have a short distance to travel. Once we have passed Wat’s Dyke we will be in Wales.”

  My uncle reined in his horse. “Be on your guard for after we have travelled through the forest ahead we will be in dangerous country. Both of you are doughty fighters but up to now it has been play. The next time you draw your weapons you will be drawing blood. Think on that. Keep you swords handy and, Ridley, place your bow on the pommel horn ready to string should it be needed.”

  Ridley looked to be pleased to have something to do and he took out his bow from its case and notched the string around one end. I held his reins as he fiddled with his quiver and slung it over his shoulder. I was glad that we had brought my friend for he was a reliable archer and I had the feeling that we would need him.

  The Forest of Mara loomed ahead of us stretching east and west as far as the eye could see. It appeared to be a solid barrier, a wall marking the end of England and the start of Wales. I saw Ulf and my uncle don their leather helmets. They had not ordered us to do the same but Ridley and I were still learning our trade and we quickly put ours on too. I wished that mine looked as well used as those of Ulf and Aethelward but those we wore were newly made. Stronger, no doubt, than the older ones worn by the two warriors but they marked us out as apprentices as did our shiny leather byrnies. We had long left the Roman roads and were now on cart tracks. The grass on our present road and lack of tracks showed that it was not a well used way.