Housecarl Read online

  Housecarl

  Book 1 in the Aelfraed series

  By

  Griff Hosker

  Published by Griff Hosker 2013

  Copyright © Sword Books Ltd First Edition

  Smashwords Edition

  The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

  Cover from Wikipaedia

  Characters and places in the book

  Fictional characters are in italics.

  Name-Explanation

  Aedgar-Earl of Mercia

  aelfe-Saxon Elf

  Aelfraed-Descendant of Alfred the Great’s son

  Aethelward-Aelfraed’s uncle

  Alfred-King of Wessex

  Branton-Osbert’s brother, an archer

  byrnie-Armoured coat

  Catherick-Catterick North Yorkshire

  Cynan Ap Iago-Welsh prince

  Danegeld-Bribe paid to Danes by English kings in the 8th -10th centuries

  Ealdgyth -Wife of Gruffyd

  Eystein Orri-The fiancé of Hadrada’s daughter

  gammer-Old woman or mother

  Gruffyd Ap Llewellyn-King of Wales until 1064

  Gruffydd Ap Cynan -The King who succeeded Gruffyd

  Gryffydd of Rhuddlan-Welsh housecarl

  Gytha-Relative of the Earl of Hereford

  Harald Hadrada-King of Norway

  Hetaireia-Imperial bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor

  leat-An open stretch of water close to a river

  Jorvik-York

  Legacaestir-Chester

  Maeresea-River Mersey

  Malcolm Canmore-King of Scotland

  Mara-Delamere forest Cheshire

  Medelai-Middleham North Yorkshire

  Osbert-Sergeant at arms of Aelfraed

  Osgar-Housecarl of the Earl

  Oswald-Priest at Topcliffe

  Persebrig-Piercebridge

  Ridley-Housecarl of the Earl

  strategos-A Byzantine general

  Sweyn-Leader of the Housecarls

  Thingman-Housecarls of the English Royal family until 1051

  Ulf-Housecarl

  Wight-Spirit

  Witenagemot -The council of England who chose the king

  Wolf-Housecarl of the Earl

  wyrd-fate

  Chapter 1

  Northumbria 1052 A.D

  I cannot remember much about my mother, Aethelgifu. It is said that I was her favourite which might explain why my brothers hated me. I was called the runt, partly because of my small size but mainly because I was born twelve years after my brother Edward. I could not understand why my brothers despised me so for my mother had died less than a year after my birth and the two events seemed to be inextricably linked but I could never understand my father’s antipathy towards me. It was never the fierce hate and violence of my three brothers but it was, at best, an indifference and, at worst, a vague disgust at my existence.

  I was largely brought up by my grandmother, Aethelfled, but I always called her Nanna. She loved me as fiercely as my brothers hated me and she protected me as much as my father ignored me. She was a lovely old lady, as round as she was high and the oldest person I knew at that time. She had a wonderful aroma about her which made me feel, somehow, both safe and loved. It seemed to me that her arms were always around me like a warm protective wall. For as long as I could remember I slept in the bed and room with the gentle old lady who would send me to sleep with stories of my ancestors for I was descended, so I was told, from the youngest son of Alfred the King of Wessex who was known as The Great. His grandson Aethelwine and his brother were killed at the battle of Brannaburg seemingly without children but Nanna told me that he had had a wife who had born him a son and we were descended from that line. My mother’s name and that of my grandmother were the names of the daughters of Alfred and I had, indeed been named after that king by my mother. That, perhaps, was another reason why my brothers and father felt the way they did about me for I was the exception. My father was Edwin, my eldest brother, Egbert, my middle brother Edgar and my third brother, Edward. I was different. I looked different and I felt different from the rest of the family. When my grandmother was not present my brothers would call me an aelfe, the son of a Wight as though some spirit had inhabited my mother and I was not of their blood. When they spoke to me that way I hoped that it was true for I felt no affiliation to the cruel brothers who tortured me so.

  Nanna taught me to read and that too was a matter of dissention for my brothers could not and they resented that I could do something which they could not. Although we were nobility it was of a rural kind. My father’s family had been awarded land when the people of Northumbria finally throw off their Danish shackles and became their own masters. They were called Thegns although before they had fought and defeated the Danish overlords they had been warriors for hire. Given the land of Medelai they were the guardians of the invasion route from the north and owed their allegiance to Count Gilpatrick. When my father had met my mother she was living at the court of Edward who became known as The Confessor when he ascended the English throne. In the years before the house of Wessex regained the throne of England Edward’s court had been the centre of all things English and my father had chosen his bride to give himself a little more credibility and a link to the English crown.

  All of this was told to me by my grandmother who made sure that I knew of my connection to the ancient royal house of Wessex. She never, for one moment, implied that I might become someone who would rule but she instilled in me a belief that I should do all in my power to support the house of Wessex. Harald Godwinson had even visited his childhood friend, my mother after she had married my father and this too afforded great honour on my family for all knew that Harald was Edward’s heir and would become king.

  The protection afforded to me by my grandmother was only available within the confines of the wooden hall in which we lived. Father spent much of his time down the road at Jorvik and the court of Northumbria where he could plot and plan with the other Thegns. The farm was managed by Oswin, the family steward but he walked warily around my brothers, huge warriors who strutted around armed to the teeth whenever father was away; which was most of the time. Once I was outside I was fair game for my brothers. Egbert and Edgar were warriors and, fortunately rarely around but Edward, just twelve years older more than made up for that. He took great delight in hurting me whenever he could; this was frequently in the form of violence but, perhaps, even worse it was his words which hurt me the most for I grew to shrug off the blows and smacks but the words drove themselves insidiously into my soul. He called me a child of the underworld whose spirit had bewitched and enchanted our mother. Despite my grandmother’s assurances that this was nonsense my dreams were haunted by black and evil spirits which woke me with the shrieks and cries which filled my head. I always suffered powerful dreams throughout my life. While Nanna was alive I was comforted by her gentle touch and cooing words but once she died my nightmares terrified me.

  One day Edward found me outside where I was playing at being a warrior with a stick. Seeing that I was alone he stalked me and then attacked me from behind. His punches rained into my side and bloodied my nose. When I crawled, tearfully, back to my grandmother I saw from her shocked expression how mu
ch he had hurt me. For her this was the last straw. It was many years later that I found out that my grandmother had then sent for her son, my mother’s brother, Aethelward, to be a protector for me. I did not know that she had seen her own imminent death and had done the only thing she could, find someone to look after me as she had, through the love of my mother.

  I can still remember the day Aethelward limped into the yard at the farm. I was coming up to seven years old and filling out. My uncle had the world weary look of someone who has seen life and suffered but who could face any adversity the fates threw at him. He dragged a left leg and used a spear as a walking stick. The round shield at his back and the sword hanging from his side marked him as a warrior and even my brother Edward was impressed by his scars. His face showed that he had been wounded in places other than his leg. The scar running from his mouth to his chin gave him a strange lopsided grin. In another man it might have given him the look of a fool but the green eyes, which were the same colour as mine and my grandmother’s glared out to defy anyone to comment adversely. It was his eyes which made me love him for my eyes were the same colour whilst my father’s and brothers were blue; it was another of the many differences between us and had been a cause of many comments. I had begun to fear that Edward was right and I was fey, for Edward had told me that green eyes were the mark of the devil. As soon as I saw my uncle I knew that this was a lie and that was the beginning of my escape from the tyranny of my brothers.

  “This is the boy then? This is Aethelgifu’s son?”

  “Aye and he needs you.”

  I was too young then to understand the nuances and subtleties of looks and gestures but I saw a look exchanged between the two of them that I did not recognise. He held me so that he could see my face. He stared intently at me and his eyes widened as he looked beyond my face to my grandmother. She must have made some sort of sign for he nodded, not at me, but her. “Now I am here we will make a man of you. I will make a warrior that will make my sister proud. Aelfraed, you go and play outside.” He must have seen the look of terror on my face for any place away from Nanna was a place of danger; Edward and my brothers were about. It was not just those who were the problem now for the servants felt they could treat me with impunity. The only ones who did not bother me were the women and the slaves. For the rest I was fair game and amusement.

  “He feels safe close to me.” I did not see my grandmother’s face but she must have made a gesture for my uncle left without a word. “You will be safe now Aelfraed. Your uncle is a mighty warrior who fought for the king. He was a Thingman and singers have written songs about him.”

  “Why does he walk funny?”

  She smiled and held me close to her. “He was wounded and nearly died, my son, but now he is here to look after you.”

  The footsteps behind me told me that my uncle had returned. “You can play outside now Aelfraed. No one will harm you and I will not be long. I just need to talk to your grandmother.”

  Despite his reassuring words when I emerged into the sun I felt as frightened as though I was stepping into an enchanted forest at midnight. The first thing I noticed was that Edward a red and flustered look. Although he was seventeen, his beard was slow to grow. When it did it would hide the red marks which I now saw. He took one look at me and then fled into the woods. The others who were around made themselves scarce leaving me with the yard to myself. It felt glorious. For the first time in my life I was unafraid and I had all the buildings to explore.

  It was when I was in the stable that I first spoke to Ridley. He was younger than I was and the son of Oswin the Steward. I had seen him before but never had the chance to speak with him. He was the closest in age to myself and the only one with whom I thought I could play. I had never had the chance before but now I boldly approached him. “Do you want to play?”

  He shrank back in fear. “You are an aelfe! Do not hurt me!”

  “Who told you that? It is a lie!” I impulsively reached down to touch his arm and he recoiled in horror. “See, nothing has happened to you. I am just a boy.”

  When his hand did not burn and he did not turn into a frog he looked a little closer at me. “You have green eyes.”

  “So have my grandmother and my uncle and my mother!”

  He considered this information and I could see the thought processes at work. Ridley always had that habit, even as a man, it was as though you could see him thinking. His brothers and sisters had died young and Oswin did not bother much with him. He stood and walked towards me. He reached up and touched my head running his hand gently down my face. “You seem real but why did your brother tell me you were a Wight?”

  I shrugged. “He hates me and I know not why. Can we not be friends and play? I have no friends yet.”

  He seemed to like that idea. “Can we play chasing? I cannot catch the others but I might catch you.” I had never played that game, it was not one of Nanna’s but I had seen the other children running around the yard and knew the general idea. “I nodded and touched him. He immediately reached for me but I had leapt away and was screaming into the yard with the squealing Ridley in hot pursuit.

  That first game did something to both Ridley and me, it bonded us together. We were evenly matched, for he was the same size as me and, and we both had something we had never had before, a companion. It was the beginning of a friendship which lasted beyond that fateful day at the bridge and the dark days which followed. We soon began to play a whole variety of games as my life changed for the better.

  The whole family always ate together in the hall but that first day when the limping warrior returned, the atmosphere changed. The chair at the head of the table, my father’s place was left empty as usual but the seat at the other end, the one my mother had used but latterly had been occupied by Nanna was claimed by Aethelward. Egbert and Edgar had returned from hunting and been in congress with Edward so that by the time they arrived for the food the three of us were seated at one end of the table.

  Egbert was a brute of a man. He worked on his sword play each day and his arms were like the branches of a tree. He glowered at Aethelward who was picking at one of the two partridge he had taken.

  “You! My brother tells me you have warned him to leave the Runt alone. What gives you the right?” Aethelward ignored him and Nanna leaned over to encourage me to eat. As I looked at her she winked. I was somewhat taken aback and picked at my food but kept a surreptitious eye on the proceedings. I could sense violence in the air. “I am talking to you!” In anger Egbert smashed the pommel of his sword on the table.”

  Aethelward calmly wiped his hands on his breeks and then looked at the glaring, angry face. His voice was measured and yet threatening at the same time. “Boy! Did my sister and her husband teach you no manners? Have you forgotten the laws of hospitality? Not to mention the sin of bringing and holding a weapon during a meal.”

  Egbert was taken aback but he suddenly looked foolish with a sword in his hand in his own home. He reluctantly put the sword back in its scabbard and on the adjacent table. He quickly turned around. “It still doesn’t answer my question old man. What gives you the right…”

  My uncle was on his feet in a moment and his hand gripped the throat of my brother. His eyes were narrow and angry and his voice was filled with anger as he pressed his face close to Egbert’s. “Firstly boy I am Thegn Aethelward of the Thingmen and I am your uncle so do not talk to me about rights. Your father is not here which makes me the senior Thegn and whilst I have overlooked your rudeness before I will tell you this, the next time you raise your voice to me will be your last breath on this earth. That is my right. Is that clear?”

  My terrified brother nodded and he was dropped to the floor by my uncle who sat down. He turned to his mother. “I am sorry for my outburst mother. You certainly brought me up better than that but some people needed a lesson in manners. I can see that I have come back just in time.”

  Edgar sat up as though poked with a stick.

  “You a
re staying?”

  “Of course I am staying.” He smiled a wolfish smile. “Why nephew am I not welcome?”

  “Well no but…” his answer tailed off and I saw Edward and his brothers all pale. It was now obvious that they had thought they would go back to their cruel ways once he had left but now they were faced with the unpleasant prospect of a guardian angel watching over and protecting their victim. Suddenly the food before me tasted much better and I began to eat heartily. I did not notice the smile exchanged between mother and son but I did feel Nanna’s hand pat me gently on the head.

  “When your father returns I will make a proposal to him,” he leaned forward. “Make no mistake I am here to stay and, “he glanced down at me, “there will be a change in the way this family lives.”

  That night as I snuggled next to Nanna, Aethelward sat with us. “Nanna has told me of your suffering young Aelfraed and as you heard that will change but your life will change as well. Soon there will be just the two of us.”

  I looked up at my grandmother, my eyes filling with tears as the import of his words sank in. “No! You cannot leave!”

  “I am going nowhere my child but I will be leaving. It is the way of all of us and I will be with your mother soon. I want to tell her that her favourite son is well.”

  “I was her favourite?” It was the first time that I had been told but I had picked up the idea that I was in some way special. My brother’s hatred of me confirmed the fact.

  “You were and now that her big brother is here to watch over you and to train you then I can depart happy.”

  Aethelward put his arm around his mother. “Had I known I would have returned sooner.”

  “It is wyrd. You are here now.”

  He looked at me again. I begin to train you on the morrow, we will make a warrior of you.”

  I looked up at him. “But men are warriors, Edward is not even old enough to be a warrior yet and he is much older than me.”