by Griff Hosker
“I am not a lord. My title is that of captain. Tell your tale, John. Sarah, refill his beaker, for he is thirsty.”
“Thank you. Robin mentioned a captain of archers, but he did not tell me your name. In truth, I barely knew him, but I knew you would need news.
“I will begin at the start of my story. I am a spearman by trade and have been for my whole life. My wife and son were taken from me by the pestilence ten years since, and I served Lord Jasper of Alberbury. Robin arrived a few weeks ago and, being an archer, was taken on immediately, for there was a need for good archers. Lord Jasper hated the Welsh and was aggrieved by the Treaty of Monmouth. Hearing that King Edward was on his way back to England, he decided to take a raiding party into Wales while he still could, for it is rumoured that King Edward will not try to regain the lands and castles his father lost.”
I was not sure about that, for the man who had left England on his crusade was not the same one who would return, but I said nothing. I wondered how close to England were the new king and queen.
Peter of Beverley shook his head. “It was a disaster, for the Welsh were waiting for us just after we crossed the bridge at Crewgreen. Your son tried to warn Lord Jasper and begged him to let him ride as a scout, but Lord Jasper, well, he was Lord Jasper and called him foolish. It was a mistake, for Lord Jasper was the first to die. He had no helmet upon his head and the Welsh arrows threw him from his horse. Most of our men were killed. I almost died.” He held up his left hand. “A Welshman with an axe hacked through my shield and almost took my arm. When the handful of us who survived were taken, they took my hand and sealed the stump with fire. I suppose I was lucky.”
Mary put her hand to her mouth. “Lucky? You poor man!”
He smiled. “I am alive, and I am free. The Welsh took the other four survivors as prisoners and they were taken to the silver mines at Llanymynech. Robin was one of them. Prince Llywelyn uses the silver to fund his ambitions. I was sent with a message for Lady Gwendoline. I was told to tell her that if there was any retribution, then Prince Llywelyn would wreak havoc in her lands.”
Jack of Lincoln said, “But there is peace! The Treaty of Monmouth!”
Peter shook his head. “And that means nothing, my friend. Who can enforce it when King Henry signed away so many rights? I returned to Lady Gwendoline and after she heard the news, she turned me out.”
Silence descended. Sarah came in with a platter of food. I saw Peter’s eyes widen in anticipation and I said, “Eat. John, have a bed made for him in the warrior hall. You shall stay the night, Peter of Beverley. Continue with your tale when your appetite is sated.”
He began to eat and the five warriors in the room exchanged looks. We knew what this meant. Life as a slave in a mine was measured in weeks, not months. But by my reckoning, Robin, even if he had been captured soon after he left us, would only have been a slave for a couple of weeks. We had a chance. He was not dead, and so long as he lived, then there was hope. I saw in Richard’s eyes that no matter what I did or said, he would seek his son.
Mary squeezed my hand. She, of all people, understood what it was to be a slave and without a word, I knew that she would wish me to rescue the young archer with whom she had been so close on the journey west.
Peter finished his food, and I saw that Richard was leaning forward in his chair as though wishing to drag information from the wounded warrior. Had I not been there, then he might have already asked questions.
As it was, he had to let me do the speaking. “The four men taken – were they hurt?”
“You mean like me?” I nodded. “They had no use for a cripple and let me go. The others had minor hurts.” He gestured with his half-empty beaker to the men in the room. “You are all warriors and know that even in victory there are hurts. Your son was whole, but they took his weapons and his horse.”
“And why come here?” There was suspicion in my voice, for there were four captives and I did not know why he had chosen to act as Robin’s herald.
“That is simple, Captain. Robin was the only one I knew to have family, and he spoke often of his father and his regret that he had left with such ill feeling. When we prayed, the night before we left Alberbury, he said that if anything happened to him and I survived, then I was to tell his father that he regretted speaking the way he did and to beg his forgiveness. He did not want to die with bad feeling.” He smiled. “And now I have done my duty, I will be on my way.”
I restrained him. “And where will you go?”
His face became sad. “I know not. Where do cripples such as me end up? The gutter. Perhaps I—”
Mary suddenly burst out, “You will not leave my home! God has sent you here for a purpose. Husband, we can find a place for this man! There are jobs he can do.” Her eyes pleaded with me and I saw them welling with tears.
I nodded. “Of course you shall stay, for, Peter of Beverley, there is more we need to know. Richard, take Peter and help him to wash. John, you are good with wounds. Clean up his hand and give him some clean clothes from the slop chest.” We had a war chest and a slop chest; one with weapons and one with clothes.
“Thank you, Captain, and I will work. I know not what at, but I will do all that I can.” He shook his head. “I served Lord Jasper and his father for fifteen years and this was my reward.”
Left with Jack and my wife, I could speak openly. “Richard will want to find his son.”
Jack said, “All of the men will wish that, Captain. Robin was popular and he sought forgiveness. Isn’t there a story in the Bible about a prodigal son? Mistress Mary is right; God has sent this man for a purpose.”
“But it is not as simple as that, Jack. Firstly, we know not how many men we face and, secondly, probably more importantly, we risk the ire of King Edward, for if we go then we invite retribution from the Welsh and censure from the king!”
There was silence, but I knew that even if I did not agree to it, my men would head north and west to rescue the prodigal son.
Mary said, “Queen Eleanor would wish you to rescue him.”
I smiled. “Aye she would, but Lord Edward, the king? He can be a cold and ruthless man. All of my service to him might have been as nothing if I disobeyed him. I need to ask more questions and to sleep on this. Llanymynech, if memory serves, is less than fifty miles from here. That is just two days of hard riding, and we cannot leave tonight, for we have not all the information we need.”
Richard and John came back with a much cleaner looking spearman. His bandage was no longer blood-soaked. Richard gave me a sad smile. “We had to clean the wound with vinegar and apply more honey. It does not smell bad, but I shall find some maggots in case it turns out to be so.”
I nodded. We had learned that if you put maggots in an infected wound, they eat the dead and infected flesh and leave the healthy. When they die the wound is clean.
“So, Peter, tell me about the others who were taken and why you did not visit with their families.”
“Stephen de Frankton is a man at arms, and he comes from Shropshire but hates the Welsh like no man I have ever met, for they slew his whole family – mother, father and young brothers – who lived on the border. He only survived as he was fighting in Gascony when his family fell. He returned not long before Robin arrived and sought, like he, to fight, but in his case, it was not an accident that he served Sir Jasper. Stephen wanted to fight the Welsh. He and your son, Richard of Culcheth, are close. The other two, Jacques and Henry, are Breton crossbowmen. I would not even know how to get in touch with their families.” He gave me a sad smile. “Robin did not get on with them!”
“He is an archer and they are crossbowmen! My son would spit on their shadow!”
“I have heard of Llanymynech, but I know not what to expect,” I said. I saw Richard’s eyes widen and the hint of a smile appear on his lips. “Aye, Richard, we know you wish to rescue him, but we do not do so like the wild men from north of the wall. Do you understand? If we do this then I command, and you obey.�
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“Yes, Captain!”
“So, what can I expect?”
“It is a silver mine, Captain Warbow. They have a hall for the twenty or so warriors who guard the miners and the silver. There is a slave hall. The slaves are shackled with fetters around their ankles. When they are marched to the mine, they are chained one to another.”
“And the guards? Mailed?”
“There are three men at arms who wear brigandines and looked to be handy. The rest are just hired swords and archers. They looked to me more like bandits than warriors.”
Jack said suddenly, “When did this capture happen?”
“Three weeks since. I was held there for a couple of days and it took me a week to get back to Alberbury. The rest of the time I was heading south. People are not as kind as I remember.”
He needed to say no more; I could picture his journey. Eating from the hedgerow and drinking water from streams used by animals and humans as a toilet was not conducive to a fast pace.
Mary took Peter’s good hand. “Well, now, Peter of Beverley, you have a home, and you shall be fed. When you are healed,” she tapped his head gently, “here as well as your hand, we will find work that you can do.”
I had married well, for there was no kinder woman than Mary.
Later, Peter, along with Richard and Mags, were invited to dine with us. It was Mary who invited Mags, and I knew why. Since Robin had left us there had been an unhappy atmosphere in the home Mags and Richard shared. Mary hated discord. It was cleverly done, for Peter’s sad story – and the more we heard of his tale the sadder it became – seemed to draw Mags and Richard closer.
“Who will you take, Captain?”
Richard waited until we had finished the dessert, which was a concoction of stewed early summer fruits topped with oats and rye, mixed with a little honey.
I wiped my mouth. “I will not take all of my men, Richard, for I now have a family here.” He nodded. “John and Jack would come as they are both experienced, but they have families of their own. You will be the one with experience. It goes without saying that I will take David the Welshman. Robin of Barnsley regretted my decision not to take him on crusade and he was close to your son. Martin; William of Matlac; Tom, John’s son and Will Yew Tree will be sufficient.”
Mary looked at me and her mouth dropped open.
Peter looked at her and said, “Captain, did you not hear me? There are three good warriors and seventeen others!”
“From what you told me, the seventeen will be like bandits and we have fought such men before. It seems to me that night-time is the best time to attack them. Were all twenty on watch, all night?”
“No, Captain. While I was there one of the better warriors would watch at night with three others. There were twenty miners, but they do not live long. Four guards at a time can manage them.”
“Then we have enough men to deal with four warriors, even if one of them does wear a brigandine. As soon as the miners are freed, then we shall have twenty-seven men and they will have just sixteen. Those odds I like.”
Peter nodded. “It is still a risk, for you have seven miles yet to go to reach the border.”
“We both know that there is no border there. Shrewsbury is England and that is almost thirty miles away. We shall manage!” I turned to my wife and touched the back of her hand. “When you have travelled leagues through the land of the Turk, this does not seem such a bad journey to have to make!”
“And we leave tomorrow?”
I shook my head. “No, Richard, for I have to go to Wigmore and tell Baron Mortimer what we intend.”
Richard had been happy, but his face fell at my words. “You cannot, Captain, for he will forbid you to go!”
I watched Mags squeeze his hand. “Dick, the captain knows his business and he commands. Bend your stiff neck, for it has brought us to this place!”
I nodded. “Listen to Mags, for I know my mind on this. I will not risk this manor, for it is not just me who will be affected. Think of the others. The king has not returned yet and I believe that I can persuade Sir Roger. You may come with me if you wish but it will be my decision!”
Defeated, he nodded.
That night, as my wife lay in my arms, we discussed all the events of the afternoon and evening. I was happy we did so, for we were of one mind and that pleased me.
I was lucky, for the baron was at home when we reached Wigmore the next day. He could have been hunting or visiting one of his many homes. Lady Maud and her ladies were sewing a tapestry of Evesham. I knew without looking at it that it would be graphically gruesome!
The baron took us to his solar. “How is your wife? I heard she is with child!”
“She is, my lord, and she is well.”
“Good. You are lucky to find us here. We had a letter from Sir Robert Burnell. The king will be back in England by August and he will be crowned at Westminster. Lady Maud and I are invited to the coronation.”
“Finally, he is back!”
“I would not use such words when you meet him, Warbow, for they sound critical to me!”
“I meant no offence, my lord; it is just that before he heard the news of the death of his father, he was keen to return home.”
Mollified, he nodded. “You may be right, and certainly we need a strong King of England once more. Prince Llywelyn has grown bolder in the absence of a king. Earl Gilbert de Clare did not sail with Lord Edward on crusade, because Llywelyn had destroyed his new castle. Although de Clare has recovered his lost lands and almost completed Caerphilly castle, it shows what Llywelyn is capable of.”
I suddenly spied hope. “And have you heard of Lord Jasper of Alberbury’s fate, my lord?”
He nodded. “A foolish man. His widow has left for the south and that castle is now deserted!”
“Llywelyn took captives, my lord, and one of them is Richard of Culcheth’s son.”
It was as though the baron saw Richard for the first time. “I am sorry, Richard! The king will put things right.”
“My lord, by the time the king returns, then my son might be dead!”
“Richard! Curb your tongue! I am sorry, Baron. However, Richard is right in his urgency, and I intend to go to Wales and rescue my man.”
“You risk the king’s displeasure.”
“From what you have told me, Gilbert de Clare did just as I intend and took back what was his.”
“He is an earl!”
“King Edward and Queen Eleanor are both fond of Robin. If they were here, then I believe they would allow me to do this. I will not be taking an army. There will be but eight of us and we will wear no livery.” I paused. “No one will know that you are our lord. We will just be eight archers rescuing a friend and a son.”
“It is tempting, and I do hate the Welsh so.” He smiled. “Thank you for telling me that you will visit with Robin, son of Richard. When I return from London and the king is crowned, you may speak to me about seeking reparation for his abduction.”
As we rode back to Yarpole, Richard asked, “I am confused; does that mean we have his permission or not?”
“He is pretending not to have understood our intention. That way he can deny all, should the king be angry, and I alone will be punished. The baron is a friend of the king, but he will not risk his anger.”
As I lay in my bed, the night before we left, Mary squeezed me tightly. “I know that you have to go and do this, for Richard cannot let his son stay a slave, but remember, husband, that you have a wife and child. Do not be reckless and throw your life away.”
I could not see her face, but I smiled and kissed her. “I am never reckless. You should know that I am good at what I do. We have time to assess the situation and to plan for a successful rescue. Do not fret if we are away longer than you expect. It just means that we are being careful.”
She sighed, kissed me and then nestled into me to sleep. I had meant what I said. Life was too precious to throw away. I had changed once I found Mary, and my life had
a different purpose now. There was a family, and I would do all that I could to make my home safe. But I was still Gerald Warbow, and there was a bond with my men. I would go to Wales; the Welsh would learn to fear me!
Chapter 3
For some of my men, this was their first action in a long time. The last time I had seen Richard of Culcheth draw a bow in anger had been in the Holy Land, and for Robin of Barnsley, before I went on crusade. It was another reason why I had not brought John or Jack; an archer’s reactions had to be swift, for hesitation could cost us dearly.
At the fore, I had William of Matlac and Will Yew Tree. They were both experienced and, having survived the Holy Land, were as sharp as any. Robin of Barnsley and Richard led the two horses. They objected but I cared not. I would do this my way. Tom and Martin brought up the rear and I rode with David the Welshman.
As we rode David said quietly, “I am pleased that you have taken me, Captain, for I felt I had fallen out of favour with you.”
I turned, surprised, for I valued none higher than David. “Of course not. What makes you say that?”
“You did not take me on crusade with you and this will be the first time I have gone to war… for a long time.”
I shook my head. “I left you behind along with John and Jack, for I wanted my home and my people protected. You did that, and I wanted my young men to have the opportunity to gain experience.”
He looked relieved. “Then I am happy.”
“Do you know this place to which we travel?”
He shook his head. “I have heard of it, but my service was further south. I know the Conwy Valley and I have served in Aberystwyth, but the silver mine? No. What I do know is that, along with the gold mines close to Dolgellau, it is where the Welsh rulers find their money. Anglesey gives them wheat and that feeds the people, but Wales is a poor country. Their towns are like large villages and they cannot be taxed like the English. A ruler has to dig for his money. The guards will be good, Captain, and this will need skill and cunning as well as courage.”
