Housecarl

by Griff Hosker

  She leaned up and kissed me on my lips, “And Aelfraed, I have loved you since the day I first saw you.”

  Thus I was married and the next year was the happiest of my life.

  Chapter 11

  Maiden Bower 1065

  When we returned to Topcliffe, accompanied by my uncle, Thomas and his good wife were delighted to have a lady of the manor. I was, of course, given looks of disapproval for not having warned them so that they could prepare the house. I have to admit that it showed it had been created by a man and was both martial and functional in nature. There was no natural light save for an arrow slit in each of the walls. Fortunately that was easily remedied as the upper walls were wooden and we soon had more light. Gytha, for her part, was delighted. For the past few years she had moved around the country, first with Edith and latterly with Ealdgyth and to have such rough clay with which to work made her clap her hands in glee. When I mumbled my apologies for the Spartan nature of the room she hugged me. “No husband! I would not have it any other way for the home is my domain and I can do with it as I like.”

  As a high born lady and a relative of the Earl we had been given a substantial dowry and the first thing we did was to send Thomas’ wife, Sarah, with Gytha and an escort of men at arms to purchase all that she needed to make the house a home. Aethelward and I toured my lands and he made many comments about possible improvements. As we neared my boundary which ran along the Roman road he looked into the distance.

  “Let us visit Medelai.”

  I had often thought, myself, that I might like to visit it now that my family was no longer there. “If you want to uncle.”

  He looked into the distance and spoke without turning as we rode. “It is the Earl’s wish for now that the family has fled and been declared traitors, it becomes the property of the crown. It has been given to me.”

  I was delighted for Medelai was a neighbour, not as close as Coxold but to have Aethelward as close as that… “Will you live there?”

  He shook his head. “I am no farmer. I am a strategos and I would have refused it but for the memory of your mother. It will, in some way, repay the pain she suffered at your… at Edwin’s hands. No I go to see Ridley’s father and arrange the business side of the estate.” He glanced at me. “If you remain in the area then I would appreciate your keeping an eye on it for me.”

  “Of course.” There was an underlying message in his words. “You say if I remain in the area. Why should I not?”

  Even though we were out in the open he lowered his voice. “I told you that war is coming and that may well be in the south if Duke William comes to claim that which he believes he was promised by the king.” King Edward’s sojourn in Normandy had made him lean towards all things Norman and now it was coming back to haunt him. “You are too valuable a warrior to waste your time kicking your heels in the north. If war comes you and your men will be needed at the Earl’s side, at my side.”

  We rode in silence. I had not thought of myself as a valuable warrior. I was not yet ready to hang up my axe for I had not even reached my prime but having taken a wife I was ready to play the dutiful husband. When war did come I had assumed it would be the Scots from the north and I would be defending my land. I would have to rethink my position and discuss it with Gytha.

  The estate had a forlorn feel to it. My father had rarely been there before but at least Oswin had kept it looking well. There were few workers in the fields as we rode up to the gates of the hall. Osbert bowed to Aethelward who came straight to the point, “the king has decided that for his rebellion against him your master and his family have forfeited this estate which now belongs to me.” He flourished the legal document before Oswin but did not allow him to read it. He looked around at the yard. “Things do not look good Oswin. Do I need a new Steward?”

  Oswin paled. He had a comfortable home and lifestyle. If he were to be thrown off the land he would have nowhere to go. “No my lord but when the master left many of the men went with him and…”

  “And you could not be bothered to hire new ones.” He leaned down from his horse to put his face close to the Steward’s. “I am going back to Winchester but I am leaving the Thegn of Topcliffe to watch out for my affairs. It is not far and you will visit him once a week with a report on the estate and any profits which have accrued.”

  He looked puzzled. “I do not know the Thegn of Topcliffe my lord how…”

  I had been waiting for this moment, “Oh but you do Oswin for I am he and should I be absent when you call then travel down to Coxold and report to the Thegn of Coxold for you know him also.” I paused dramatically, enjoying the tension and the cruelty of my next statement, “for he is Ridley, your son.”

  I thought I had gone too far and the Steward’s heart would stop and he would drop down dead at our feet but he recovered himself. “Congratulations my lord.” He turned to Aethelward. “It shall be as you command my lord.”

  “I will take the estate accounts with me to read at my nephew’s demesne. They will be returned to you when I have scrutinised them.”

  Whilst Oswin was not happy about losing the documents he had no recourse. I suspected he would have preferred to have some time to adjust them but this way Aethelward would see them, warts and all. This was confirmed as we rode back to Maiden Bower. “I am not a man for figures and roods and the like. Is your man sound?”

  “Thomas? He is everything Oswin should be but is not.”

  “Good then I will let him look at them and give me a report. I am not a man to read columns of figures,” He grinned. “I was just trying to put the wind up the old bastard anyway. I never liked the way he treated Ridley and you.”

  I laughed. “Will you be advising the Earl then?”

  “Yes but I think he will soon be king for Edward is not well and speaks to his priest more than his advisers.”

  As we rode east towards my land I could see that the summer was over and the first signs of autumn were upon the land. If Edward was ill now then the winter would surely finish him off as it did with many old folk during the harsh winters of Britain. “When the king dies I want you to bring your men down to London. The Earl will need your support.”

  “And Gytha?”

  “She too, nephew, for the Earl’s lady is fond of her and she will be safe there.”

  “What of my lands?”

  “Remember Aelfraed that the lands were given to you by the crown, besides, Ridley could watch them for you could he not?”

  It had never occurred to me that I might be fighting without Ridley by my side. How different from a couple of years ago when we tramped around Wales and only thought about surviving the next combat and now we had estates and people to worry about. I began to envy Osgar and Wolf who still enjoyed their lives as Housecarls. “Of course, I trust Ridley with my life.

  Aethelward stayed for a week before a messenger arrived to say that the Earl was returning south. Gytha had made a great fuss of my uncle; she had had more contact with him at court and she knew him to be a true and honourable warrior. As she said to me one night as we cuddled beneath the linen she had bought, “I have seen many deceivers and flatterers but you and your uncle are not among them. In these troubled times it is good to have a rock on which to rely.”

  She threw her first feast on my uncle’s last night at Maiden Bower. She invited Ridley and Osbert. I think Branton was a little put out but the room we used was not large. Already my lady was making plans to have a bigger hall built. It felt strange to be sat at the head of the table facing my wife with my three guests arrayed down the side. Sadly it was one of the few times we were able to do that at Maiden Bower. My three friends made a great fuss over Gytha who loved every minute of it. At court she had been ignored as the more powerful ladies, Edith and Ealdgyth were the nectar for the butterflies. Ridley seemed as much in love with my wife as I was and he watched her every move.

  Towards the end of the evening, when the toasts and thanks had been made, my uncle rose unsteadily
to his feet. He had drunk more than I had ever seen him drink and I take that as a compliment that with us, his family, he did not need to be guarded. “I would like to thank my nephew Aelfraed and his lovely wife Gytha. This,” he waved an unsteady arm around the hall, ”feels like home. And Aelfraed, if I have not told you before I am as proud of you as any man could be.”

  Osbert and Ridley gave a, “Hear! Hear!” and banged the table with their hands. Gytha looked on proudly.

  “I know that I will be seeing you soon, both of you when you come to London.” Gytha looked at me in surprise and I shook my head as much as to say ‘we will talk later’. “When you do then I will show you my hospitality.” His speech over he slumped into his seat.

  Later after Ridley and I had put him to bed and Gytha and I were alone she pouted and asked, “When were you going to tell me that we were going to London? Am I not your wife? Do you not consider my feelings?”

  Osgar had warned me that women were not as men. They expected to be talked to. It was not that way with men and certainly not warriors. “My love it is not certain. Aethelward said that the king is not well and if he died then we should go to London to help the Earl be crowned. That is all. The king still lives. My uncle was talking about some time in the future.”

  She immediately regretted her words, I could see that in her crestfallen face. “I am sorry. I thought he meant sooner rather than later.” She began to cry and I held her in my arm.

  “What is the matter? I am not upset.”

  “No, but I was cross with you, and I should have trusted you.” She paused and dabbed her eyes. “There is something I should say,” she took a deep breath, “ I am with child. You are to be a father.”

  Suddenly her tears were explained and I hugged her tightly. “That is wonderful news. When?”

  “In the spring.”

  “That is the perfect end to a perfect day.”

  And so my life changed again. Gone was the carefree Housecarl; now I was a landowner, a husband and about to be a father. I wondered if I would ever have those days of freedom again. I didn’t regret the marriage but I now looked back on my time as a Housecarl and thought it short. Now, as I look back on my life I can see that it was those happy days which were short for just after St Andrews day I received a message from Aethelward. We were to go to London. I had two frenetic and hectic days as I arranged everything. Ridley happily took over the management of my estate and promised that his men at arms would protect mine in the event of any Scots’ raids. He now had a sizeable retinue for the steward had husbanded my resources well and without Tostig’s taxes we were all more profitable. Thomas and his wife were sad to see Gytha go for she had brought a breath of fresh feminine air into our masculine world.

  I now had twelve men at arms and eight archers. Not a huge army but one of which I was proud. The men at arms all had a shield with my red horse painted upon it. Six of them had mail shirts while the rest had leather armour. All had helmets with nasals, a spear and a sword. As soon as I could I determined to get an axe for Osbert, my sergeant at arms for he was a handy man with the weapon. Branton and his archers had leather armour, a short sword and a buckler. They also sported leather helmets; I remembered when that was all that I had had and how it had helped to protect me. I now had a magnificent helmet made by Ralph. It was simply constructed with a steel crown and a nasal but he had worked brass and copper around the rim to give added strength and to make it look even finer. My men were well trained and I was loath to lose them so I have given them the best that I could.

  Gytha was a good rider. I offered her a wagon but she laughed it away.”When I am bigger then I will travel like an old lady.” She was more than competent on a horse and it meant that we travelled quite quickly. With our own mounts and some I borrowed from Ridley we were able to ride down the Roman road south. The inns and taverns were well protected and we now had enough money to pay for us all to be comfortable. We reached London within a week. We could have travelled quicker but I was aware that my wife was with child and I wanted to do nought to jeopardise that.

  Ealdgyth insisted that we stay with them in their magnificent home and my men at arms were accommodated with Harold’s Housecarls in the warrior hall. After the quiet of Maiden Bower London seemed to be filled with noise and bustle; more importantly it was filled with intrigue and politics. I could see why the Earl was in London and not in his homeland of Winchester. The dying king was surrounded by Norman churchmen all trying to get him to nominate Duke William as his heir. His last announcement before he slipped into an uneasy sleep was that Earl Harold was to be the next king. For many that would have been enough but the Archbishop of Canterbury had not given up on persuading Edward to change his mind. Earl Harold always kept one of his trusted men close to the King’s chamber so that when he woke and needed to take sustenance they could ensure that the Normans did not influence the sick man. There was something macabre about those of us who waited outside the door for, when I was assigned that duty, I felt like a carrion bird ready to pick over the corpse.

  I was grateful for the sanctuary which was Earl Harold’s home. Ealdgyth was with child and she and Gytha were like two broody hens, not that I would have dreamt of saying that to either of them. Marriage had taught me that silence from a man was always preferable to the witty comment his fellows would enjoy. Fortunately I was able to spend a good deal of my time with the Housecarls and I trained with them. My men at arms were used as a rank behind the rear rank. As Sweyn said, now much greyer since his time as a prisoner, “We need men who can stand and fight whether they be Housecarls or warriors for the working day.” Osbert loved his time with my comrades. He confided in me that he had always aspired to be a Housecarl but events had got in his way. I wondered if I would ever have enough money to be able to afford Housecarls of my own.

  It was when we were training that news came in of Tostig and my brothers. Malcolm Canmore had declined to support an invasion of Northumbria. He was as they say up there, ‘ a canny Scot’. He had enough spies in the English and Norman courts to know that those two behemoths would fight to the death for the rich land of England and at the end of that fight he might just be able to walk in and take it painlessly. Why risk his men in an attack against the two Earls, Edwin and Morcar, both of whom were worthy opponents? More worrying was that Tostig and his Thegns had taken ship for Norway where, it was said, they were trying to persuade Harald Hadrada to claim the English throne for himself.

  As we rested and ate bread and cheese my uncle told us of Hadrada. “I fought under him in Constantinople. He was a good warrior and very brave. He is no longer young but he was a strategos and understood how to win at war.” He looked at each of us in turn. “If you face him do not underestimate him. He is like a good chess player, or even a magician, he has you looking one way and then strikes where you least expect it. The only saving grace is that he would be fighting alongside Tostig.”

  Osbert was new to this level of discussion. “Why is that an advantage my lord. I thought he was Earl Harold’s brother?”

  Ulf grunted, “Half brother. The half they normally throw away!”

  “We have fought with him and he is not reliable. He is always looking for the easy victory and the gold at the end of the rainbow. We could have saved many men’s lives in Wales had he pursued Gryffydd more closely.”

  “When he sent my brother Edward to fight us I knew then that he was not a good leader. Do you remember Osbert?”

  “Aye, he was not a good leader but how does that reflect upon the Earl.”

  “The Earl knew that neither Edward nor his brothers could be relied upon. They showed that when we met them in Jorvik and yet he still appointed him and gave him men. Aedgart, you fought under him that day what is your opinion of him?”

  “Who Edward or the Earl?”

  I liked Aedgart for he was a plain speaker and always spoke the truth no matter how unpleasant to the listener. “Both.”

  “The Earl talked a good t
alk but he was always behind the front rank. Edward just copied him. A real leader would have got off his horse and led us in a wedge, or at least fought alongside us.”

  Osbert smiled, he enjoyed banter with his friend. “But you would still have lost.”

  Aedgart smiled and shrugged. This point had been debated and argued amongst our men often but the feeling was that the right side won because of leadership. “So Osbert, it is not Tostig we fear but Hadrada.”

  “Well he is getting old, perhaps he will stay in his hall and at least we know he will not try the icy Norwegian waters before late spring.”

  Ulf threw an indigestible crust into the river which flowed nearby. “Which just leaves us with Duke William. Lord Sweyn, you were at the Norman court and saw their army. What do you say?”

  Sweyn had had a hard time in Normandy and had not enjoyed the experience. He and the Earl had fought for William and earned his praise but Sweyn was still bitter for he had been the butt of many unpleasant comments. “Well he won’t come until late spring but when he does then watch out. If he can get his horses across the channel then we will be in trouble and he has crossbowmen. The bolts can go through mail.”