Poisonous Plots Page 12

  “Until the Scots and traitors came and took it from him.”

  I nodded, “We cannot do anything about those events.” Turning back to Leofric I said, “Those are the reasons. Now if you asked me if I wished to live in peace and watch my grandchildren grow; if you asked me if I wished to go hunting with Dick, Edgar, Edward and Aiden then you would have a much different answer. Do I wish to sit and talk with Alf my blacksmith? Do I want to sit in my church and remember my wife? The answer to all of those things would be yes but I have aduty. That comes first. When we have settled this border, I will go home. It will be brief, I know that. It will not be peaceful, I will be hunting a traitor, but I will be home and I will enjoy each moment for they are precious. These white hairs are a reminder that my time on this earth is coming to an end.”

  Silence fell. I was aware that the men in the camp had ceased speaking some time ago and were hanging on my every word. I stood and laughed. “And the fact that I need to make water more frequently than any other man here is also a message from my body.”

  The rest I had enjoyed meant I was up early and went, with Dick, James and Leofric to view the gate as dawn broke. The standards still flew but I noticed that there were fewer men on the walls. The sunlight glinting off helmets, spears and swords identified the numbers. Dick pointed to the shuttered slits. “They have moved some of the crossbows to the other walls. They think we can do nothing.”

  James said, “They are right, are they not? We do not have enough men to attack.”

  Dick smiled. Like me he did not enjoy indolence and idleness. Even though we were obeying orders this was not his way. “We have plenty of arrows and we have more than thirty archers. The range is about right. I think, Sir Leofric, that our men might enjoy the target practice. Now that they have removed their crossbows we can send arrows with impunity.” Time passed and we waited. We were safe. The bridges over the islands gave us security.

  “They would enjoy that.”

  And so we pulled back the men at arms and the archers took their place. Dick organised them. Griff of Gwent might be Leofric’s captain of archers but he always deferred to Dick. The men on the walls must have wondered why the archers below them began to nock arrows. They discovered why when four men, peering over the side, fell dead, each impaled by an arrow. Two more fell before they realised that my men had the range. Heads disappeared. The walls emptied. Had we wished we could have crossed the road next to the river and castle. We could have made our way to the gate and attempted entry. There appeared to be no one watching. Then Griff of Gwent saw a face appear at a shuttered slit. His arrow found the gap which was no bigger than a man’s leg and the face disappeared with a scream.

  A horn sounded inside. Padraig asked, “Do they do that because of our archers?”

  “No, Padraig, King Henry begins his attack but we have caused confusion. We know that they have but two hundred and forty fighting men in the castle. Dick and his archers have killed crossbowmen and sentries. I would guess that twelve or thirteen men, at least have perished. That will hurt the counts’ plans. Now the attacks begin. There are two gates on the other side of the castle and both will now be under attack.” I pointed to the smoke from inside the castle. “See they heat either oil or water. They will be worried.” I turned, “And they, unlike us, will be hungry. I can smell river fish cooking. Come Padraig, we will leave these archers to their target practice and we will eat.”

  As we headed back across the bridge he asked, “Why will they be hungry lord?”

  “Because King Henry gave them no opportunity to prepare for a siege. They will only have had enough supplies for a few days. They have water for there will be a well but the only source of food they have is their horses. The two counts and their men did not intend to be here as long as we have made them stay. That is why King Henry placed us here. Before the counts eat their horses, they will use them while they can.”

  “But how can they get across the bridge? The log barrier is there.”

  “They will have to sortie. If I were to look into the future and predict then I would say it will be at night.” We reached my men and were handed wooden rings cut from the trees on which were blackened river fish. “I have been in castles under siege. Once, in winter, the Empress, her ladies, her son and my squire escaped under cover of darkness across a frozen moat. That is why I will enjoy the day and be ready for an escape at night.”

  We had eaten the fish when Padraig asked his next question. “Suppose the King breaks through before night fall?”

  “It takes time for a ram to break down a gate. This is a strongly made castle. King Henry will not waste men. He will weaken the gate and the resolve of the defenders.”

  I was proved right. The long day ended and, although my men at arms watched at night, there was no sortie. However, King Henry kept up the attack during the night. We heard the cracks of the two rams as they pounded at the gates. To those inside it would have sounded like a drum of doom. To the great disappointment of my archers there were no targets for them during the day. The defenders and the sentries restricted themselves to quick peeks over the top. Even so Henry Warbow managed to crack an arrow off a helmet. It was greeted with an enormous cheer from my archers.

  I gathered my men at arms around us as the archers continued to watch. “Tonight, half of you will sleep and the other half will watch. You will sleep in mail. They may not sortie tonight but it will either be tonight or tomorrow night. Men will leave the castle under cover of darkness and come to slit throats and to capture the bridge. We will hold them and discourage their attack.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I then went to Dick. “Pull back half of your archers and rest them. When darkness falls I would have them conceal themselves as close to the walls as they can. I will be with them. If they sortie tonight I intend to capture the gate while they try to capture the bridge.”

  “It is risky. I will be with the archers.”

  I nodded. “I will not be alone. I will have six of my men at arms with me.”

  I returned to the island and took James and Leofric to one side to tell them of my plans.”

  “But what if they do not do as you expect, Warlord?”

  “Then, James, I will have lost a night of sleep. You two will command the bridge. You need to engage whoever they send. Our men must be alert. They will send the best men that they have and they will use night’s cloak.”

  “Do not worry about us, lord. You have the harder task.”

  “Perhaps. We shall see.”

  My men were quite happy to be part of my plan. We rested during the day and ate as darkness fell. I had no doubt that, if they were to make an attempt to open the bridge then they would wait until the middle watch when men were tired. They would be greasing the doors to make certain that they could open them silently. Like us they would be blackening any skin which might be seen. None of us would be wearing helmets. Our mail hoods and arming caps would suffice. I contemplated leaving my shield on the island but then realised that would be a mistake. They would have horses.

  When darkness fell the fifteen archers, Dick and my six men at arms slipped unseen over the parapet to hide beneath the bank. I had with me: Roger of Bath, Arne Arneson, Alain of Auxerre, Günter of Swabia, Peter Strong Arm and John of Norton. I had experience and I had strength. Most importantly I had men who had fought alongside me the longest. Dick and his archers slithered up the bank first. They moved like shadows. If they were seen we would know for they would have crossbows aimed at the bridge. There was some cover not far from the twisting road which led to the bridge over the ditch. There were scrubby bushes. They would disguise our shapes. The foot of the castle was above us. Dick spread his men out to the left of the path. That way, if things went wrong, then they could hasten back to the river. When no crossbows cracked I led my six men and we lay on the ground behind the archers. We used our cloaks to cover us. If we did not move then we would be invisible.

  We waited. My archers were a
ll hunters and they knew patience. My men at arms and myself were less comfortable. I allowed doubts to assail my mind. I ran through all the different outcomes as I lay there. What if they did not come? Perhaps there was a relief force waiting to cross behind us? What if the King of France chose this moment to support his ally? I think I must have dozed for I heard a sudden noise. I was alert in an instant, cursing my age. I heard nothing. I lifted my head slightly and saw, at first, nothing. Then I spied a shadow. The shadow moved. Having seen the movement, I saw the others. Men at arms and knights were slipping silently down the road which led to the bridge. Numbers were impossible to ascertain. We had to remain still. We had to allow the attack on the bridge to begin. I consoled myself with the fact that I had been right and James and Leofric knew that the enemy were coming. It would be a hard fight but they would be ready.

  The fight, when it began, almost startled me. There was a cry and then a shout of, “Blois and Champagne.”

  Steel clashed on steel. I heard a horse neigh and I began to rise as I saw Dick and his archers rise also. I led my six men behind the archers. I crept towards the ditch. Dick and his archers would not send a single arrow until they saw that we were in position. They would, however, be targeting the men that they would slay. I reached the ditch and I drew my sword and swung my shield around. I walked past Tom the Fletcher. He was the last archer in the line and, as we passed him, he drew back on his bow. The bridge into the castle was just twenty paces from us. Below I could hear the battle raging fiercely. At the gate I saw men standing with horses. Their attention was on the bridge. There was a temptation to run but that would have attracted attention. Slow and steady was the order of the day. I saw the bridge just two paces from me. My blackened face and the cowl of my hood made me a shadow but, as I neared the bridge I was seen.

  The squire holding the horse’s reins in the gate way shouted, “To arms!”

  It was his last act for Dick’s arrow struck him. I ran across the bridge with my six men behind me. My archers slew the men holding the horses. As I passed one of the horses I slapped it on the rump and it galloped down towards the bridge. It would confuse the men attacking Leofric and James. Arrows flew alarmingly close to our heads. I saw a knight mount his horse and ride towards me. He was just five paces from me and his horse was barely walking. Cobbles were not the best surface on which to gallop. I punched my shield at his horse’s head. It reared and turned. As it did so I swung my sword and hacked into the knight’s leg. My men sent other horses down towards the bridge. They could not hurt our men who were safely behind a barrier but they could injure the men of Blois and Champagne.

  Roger of Bath slew another of the men at arms. All the rest of my men were engaged. I spied the Count of Blois. He and his brother were mounted. He shouted, “Enemy in the castle! To arms!”

  Dick and my archers were pouring through the gate into the outer bailey. I watched Peter Strong Arm grab the reins of the Count of Champagne’s horse and jerk the head to the side and towards the ground. He was not named Strong Arm without good cause. The sudden movement made the Count fall from his horse and, as he tried to rise, Alain of Auxerre had a sword at his throat, “Yield or die!”

  Arrows flew past us and into the men who were rushing to get to us. They would soon outnumber us. I ran at Theobald, Count of Blois. He swung his sword at me and I blocked it on my shield. Stepping close to his horse I lifted my sword beneath his shield and rested it on his throat, “Surrender the castle or by God you shall die! I have killed enough men of Blois in my time and one more will not upset me!”

  He looked and saw that his brother was a prisoner. Dick sent an arrow to almost graze his head and he took off his helmet and shouted, “We yield. Lay down your weapons!” My men cheered. He glared at me. “My father tried to have you poisoned, Warlord! Would that he had for you are the Bane of Blois. I curse you!”

  I nodded, “If the curses of my enemies had any effect, Count, I would have been dead these many years. Perhaps God is on my side and not yours!”

  Part Two

  The Hunt for a Traitor

  Chapter 9

  The peace took longer to make than I would have liked. The Pope himself became involved. The pontiff tried to extend the peace talks to include Thomas Becket! The result was that it took three months for us to return to Rouen. Even then it was just my men who left. The King stayed. My men and I were all richer but I begrudged the time away from my family. In addition, Sir Richard de Vernon had more time to hide. Scotland was a big place and he would have found some rat hole in which to hide. Besides I did not like to dwell on the mischief he could be up to. Perhaps God intended for me to be delayed. Had I left when the siege was over then I would not have been in Rouen on midsummer’s day. The King was still in Fréteval discussing the Archbishop with the Pope.

  As we neared the castle I sent James to see if my ship was in the harbour or if Captain William had tired of waiting for me. I knew that something was amiss as I rode through the gates. We had had a great victory and yet the faces we saw were as black as thunder. As my men stabled the horses Margaret rushed to me, “Warlord, thank God you have come. The Empress is dying! The priests have heard her confession. I beg you run!” As we hurried she said, “When William died it tore the heart from her, lord. She has stayed alive only for your return. Each day she has asked if her knight had returned. Thank God you have come before it is too late!”

  I ran through the keep so quickly that my feet barely touched the Conqueror’s stones. The priests and Judith were still gathered around her bed. When they heard my feet they looked up and, seeing me, parted. Margaret said, “The Earl needs to be alone with the Empress!” She leaned over and kissed the Empress, “Farewell my lady!”

  Judith squeezed the Empress’ hand. She stood and walked past me. Her face was covered in tears. I had thrown off my gauntlets as I had run through the castle. My hood was down and I knelt next to the bed. I took her hand in mine. It felt cold. Her eyes were closed. She was dead. I had come too late and my love had passed away while I was climbing the stairs. She was so thin and her skin was almost translucent yet she looked at peace.

  Suddenly her eyes opened and she saw me. I felt her hand squeeze my fingers. When she spoke, I could barely hear her. “I thought that I dreamt that you had come. It is good that you are here.”

  “Maud, do not die. I have so much that I must say to you.”

  “My love we have never needed words. I know your heart as you know mine. Our love was never meant to be. We were servants and we both served England and Normandy well. We paid for the security they enjoy with the pain of our separation.” She winced. “I do not have long. I have but one son left yet and he is yours. I know that you will watch over him. I am sorry that you have not had happiness in your life. I would that I could have given it to you but that was not meant to be. I pray that God smiles on us so that we may be finally joined in Heaven. I have confessed my sin and go to God with a clear conscience.”

  “We have nothing to confess, my love. You were used by kings and emperors, bishops and counts. I loved you from the moment I saw you and I will love you until the day I die.”

  “Kiss me, Alfraed.”

  I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. I heard a soft sigh and Matilda, Empress of the Empire, Queen Mother and my lover, died. I bowed my head and I wept. Margaret and Judith came to me and lifted my head, “Do not be sad, lord, she saw you at the end and you spoke. That is more than she did with her sons and her husband.” Margaret pointed upwards. “She will be waiting for you but I pray do not rush to be with her. This land needs you yet.”

  I sat there for some time, unable to move until the Empress’ priest, Brother John came to me. He spoke quietly, “My lord. The lady confessed all. She is at peace and you should be too. Why do you grieve for someone who is in heaven?”

  I stood and turned, “I grieve for I will never get to speak with her again.”

  “Then you have heaven to look forward to. Celebr
ate the life that was and the… friendship which you had.” He had a knowing look on his face. She had truly confessed all.

  All the joyful anticipation of my journey home evaporated like morning mist. My squire was wary of me. James’ squire did not know me well and I saw fear in his eyes. Only Dick showed understanding. He had lost those close to him and he knew that anger was part of a warrior’s grief. But even he looked askance at my face. When I looked in the polished metal that passed for a mirror I saw why. My face was drawn and my eyes angry. I forced a smile as I looked at the young squire, “Fear not Robert. It is ill humour. It will pass. Has your lord returned yet with news of my ship?”

  Dick answered, “He sent a message back that the ship was at the quay and that Captain William was still unloading.” He shrugged, “I am guessing there is a tale to tell here. I will have our war gear taken to the ship.”

  As he left Padraig said, “Will you not stay for the funeral, lord?”

  “I said my goodbye in her chamber. King Henry will summon the great and the good for this funeral will be attended by every crowned head. The Empress Matilda was the most important woman of her age. There will be kings and counts, princes and dukes. Many of them were my enemies. My absence will make life easier for the King. If I am here they will see the Warlord. In King Henry they will see a grieving son.”

  “But, lord, the lady…”

  “The lady would have understood better than any. She and I made sacrifices which you cannot even begin to comprehend. Now let me grieve for a while alone.”

  I walked to the battlements and stared out across Normandy. I knew that we would all die but, somehow, I thought that our love would keep us both alive and allow us to die together. It had been a foolish thought. Later that night after I had picked at the food which had been cooked in my honour I headed for my chamber. Margaret met me. “My lord, I beg a word.”