The King Is Dead Page 2

  "And you hope our presence alone will make him think twice, my lord."

  "I am not so arrogant, Sir Harold. No, I think the presence of any lord on the border would make this Frenchman reconsider his position."

  We rode in silence until Wulfric said, "He will not hesitate, my lord."

  Wulfric rarely ventured an opinion when I spoke with my knights. "What mean you, Wulfric?"

  "Before I joined you, my lord, when I was a young hot head, I fought in France and Normandy with other bands of hired swords. I served in a conroi which included Sir Hugh's father, Sir Phillip. He was a ruthless man, my lord. Had had balls of steel that one. I do not doubt that his son is like his father."

  "You did not know him?"

  "I knew neither of them well. I served old Sir John Warenne but I knew Sir Phillip's reputation. A young man keen to become a warrior. I saw the men he had blinded, whose noses he had cut off and I passed through the villages he had slaughtered and pillaged. A ruthless man!"

  It began to make sense now. "So King Louis lets loose his mad dog here on the border far from his land. I do not doubt that he will deny any involvement in this as will King David."

  "But Earl Alfraed, we know not that he has done anything! We have the word of a monk and rumour of a father!"

  "Sir Tristan, you may well be right. If so what do we lose by this progress?"

  He smiled and said, "Nothing."

  "Just so; however by being prepared we are ready should the monk and Wulfric be correct." I smiled as Wulfric snorted. He was never wrong. I said over my shoulder, "And I hope that little mice who have big ears know to be discreet!"

  The five squires chorused, "Aye my lord!"

  Sir Hugh Manningham had built a fine castle here on the old Roman Wall. He was the rock on which any invading army would break if they invaded. Sadly, however, he could not control the whole length of the border. Luckily the Earl of Chester had made Carlisle a strong castle in the west and the Bishop of Durham was building a new castle at the Tyne. Given time we would have a border we could defend easier than at the present time.

  "Trouble coming my way, my lord?" Sir Hugh rubbed his hands.

  "Possibly."

  "Good! It has been too quiet here this past year. You are lucky, you profited from the rebellion in Normandy. We were stuck here with just brigands and bandits. They do not have mail to use nor good swords."

  I thought of Roger of Lincoln who had fallen in that rebellion. For him it was not a lucky campaign. "Well this may just be a wild goose chase but I will tell you anyway."

  After I had told him all he nodded, "Strange intelligence my lord. I, too, have heard whispers."

  "Whispers?"

  "Unsubstantiated rumours of new knights with strange names. I put it down to the fact that those who live north of us cannot tell the difference between and Englishman, a Frenchman and Norman. They all speak their own language up here."

  "Where were these strange knights?"

  "Oh far to the north of here. I heard from Baron Roger of Norham. His hunters heard the knights hunting in the forests north of the Tweed. They did not understand their words and told Sir Roger. He keeps me informed about the men who live along the border."

  "Then that is where we will start. It is only courteous that we visit the field where we fought the rebels eh?"

  Sir Hugh laughed, "And if we should stray across the river why it will merely be an innocent mistake."

  "Precisely."

  Our numbers were bolstered by sixteen more men at arms and fourteen archers. Like us Sir Hugh mounted his archers and we would be a fast moving force. He also brought his scouts, the men of the north who knew the woods like the back of their hands. As we passed up the Coquet valley we spoke to each lord of the manor and warned them that they might be called upon to serve with us. We did not call up the fyrd but I asked each of them to be ready to come to my aid should I summon them.

  The Bishop of Durham had paid to have the defences of Norham improved. It was now a strong bastion on the Tweed border. The Scottish held Berwick and that was just a few miles along the river. When we entered his bailey he could not wait to speak with me, "How did you know of the danger? Do you have second sight?"

  "Sir Hugh told me of the rumours..."

  He shook his head, "No, my lord, it is more than rumours. There is a large conroi of Frenchmen at Berwick. They came yestereve and scouted the ford. We manned the walls and they withdrew. I now have twenty men to garrison my walls. We faced them down."

  "How do you know they were French?"

  "After my hunters reported strange speech north of the river I had the ford guarded by my Sergeant at Arms, Gilles. He is Norman and he knew the difference. He and the scouts stayed hidden but they heard their speech. They were French."

  "And how many in the conroi?"

  "That is hard to say, my lord. Gilles counted three knights and twenty men at arms but they were the scouts."

  "Then we had best prepare for action again."

  He smiled, "I learned my lesson the last time, my lord, I began laying in stores of food when Gilles returned. I have sent my riders to warn the farmers that they may need to come into Norham."

  "Good."

  "And the ditches have been cleaned and deepened. I have, however, little room in my hall for your men at arms and archers."

  "They can camp without. The weather is clement. I will send Sir Hugh's scouts along with Dick to scout out these Frenchmen."

  I left Sir Hugh and Sir Roger to organise the knights and squires. I went with Dick and the northern scouts to the river. "Dick, take five of my archers. Ten of you should be able to hide in the forests hereabouts."

  "If we cannot, my lord, then it is time to hang up our bows, cease hunting and begin to grow vegetables!"

  I nodded, "I doubt not that you have the skill but I need us hidden from this conroi. I have to have the rumour confirmed. Find where they are and their numbers. Spy out Berwick. If there is a camp close by then let me know."

  They slipped over the river and disappeared into the forest. They were like wraiths. As I rode back to Norham I wondered if I should send to Morpeth and Rothbury for their men. I decided not to. If they had scouted the crossing then they knew the castle was defended. They could cross and strike anywhere. I would leave my lords defending their castles. They would slow down any rebellious incursion.

  That evening Sir Roger held a feast for us. Sir Harold's hunters had crossed the river and hunted some Scottish deer. Poached deer always tasted sweeter. We all ate well. Sir Roger gave us the gossip and rumour from the border. Those who farmed on both sides of the rivers engaged in both trade and conversation. They were neighbours. It was from those that Sir Roger had learned of the arrival of armed men. Those north of the border found themselves with less food as the lords and knights commandeered what they had. It all confirmed that Sir Roger had been right to be concerned. The question was what were they planning?

  It was noon the next day when Dick and the scouts returned. Their horses were lathered and they looked as though they had not slept.

  Dick threw himself from his horse, "My lord. There is a conroi and they have both French and Norman knights."

  "How many?"

  "Twenty knights and over a hundred men at arms, archers and crossbows."

  "And they are at Berwick?"

  "No, my lord, they are heading south and west they go to Wark on the Tweed."

  My shoulders slumped. If they crossed the Tweed there then they could reach north of Otterburn. There they would find the old Roman Road which led into the heart of the north. I had been duped.

  Chapter 2

  I had no time to waste. I summoned my knights. "Sir Roger, they are heading for Wark. You must guard this crossing." He nodded. "I am gambling that they will be heading for Otterburn. The road leads into the heart of fine farmland and they can threaten Durham. We will try to cut them off. Sir Hugh, have some of your riders ride to the Coquet and warn the lords there
that there may be a large number of raiders heading into their valley."

  "Aye my lord but you are still gambling are you not? They may be intending to attack Norham from the west."

  "Then we will not find them and Sir Roger will have to hold them off until we can return to him." Sir Roger had a crude map on the table. I jabbed my finger at Jedburgh Abbey. "King David has an abbey here. It is less than twenty years old. There are powerful lords close by there and it is but ten miles from the border. This Frenchman is cunning. He has their support should he need it. He can raid Rothbury, Elsdon and Otterburn. If we send a large force then he withdraws to Jedburgh and escapes our wrath. I want to cut him off from his retreat. We follow him south and close with him. Our castles will have to hold him up until we reach them." I was angry. I did not like having to explain myself.

  As we hurried to our horses I sought out Dick. "You and the others need rest. Leave for Otterburn in a few hours. Reinforce the garrison there. Aelric can command the archers in your absence."

  "Aye, my lord."

  Dick might only have a handful of archers but they were the best we had. Behind the walls of Otterburn Tower they might make all the difference.

  When we reached Wark we found clear evidence that the band had crossed. The ford was muddy and showed signs of the hooves of many horses. Worse, the tiny hamlet lay burned and destroyed. Nothing lived there to report the passage of this enemy. As we passed I noted the small hill. It needed a castle. Perhaps I was closing the stable door after the horse had gone but the Bishop needed a castle to be built and plug this hole. The corpses had to be left but they acted as a spur for my men. As we hurried south I realised that we had gained on the enemy. The slaughter and the burning took time. We were gaining, inexorably upon them. It was fifty miles to Otterburn. They could not reach it in one march. I waved over Sir Hugh. "Where is the best place for our foe to camp?"

  "Linton Loch and Morebattle would give them water and some shelter. It has a river running by and could be defended."

  "How far is it from Otterburn?"

  "It is half way twixt Norham and Otterburn."

  "Then let us press on to there. Aelric, send scouts to find our enemy."

  Mindrum and Yethole both showed the passing of the raiders. Nothing lived in either of them. The smoke had warned us before we even passed through them. Sadly I took the destruction as a sign that we would catch them. Each attack and act of wanton destruction took time. We would be too late for them but there would be others that we would save as a result. It was getting on for dusk when we found them. Robert son of Alan was the scout who brought us the news that they had found the enemy camp.

  "My lord, they have camped close to the Loch. They have erected a fence of thorns and branches around their horses and tents. They are just four miles hence."

  "Have they destroyed the houses yet?"

  "No, my lord."

  I breathed a sigh of relief. "Are they on yonder side of the river, this River Kale?"

  "Yes my lord. Half a mile or so. The others are watching from the ford which is just along the road."

  I summoned my knights. "We will camp north of the River Kale. They have erected defences. I will not risk a night time attack with our knights. Instead I will use our archers to rain death upon them. I want to deprive them of sleep and wonder how many we are."

  We had thirty archers, the rest were with Dick. I guessed that the raiders would have camp fires and they would illuminate our targets.

  "Wulfric, have six men at arms go with the archers and act as horse holders."

  "Aye," From his growl I knew he was not happy about the order. He would rather his men be attacking than being servants for archers.

  We spied the fires as we closed with the enemy. We dismounted and led our horses for I did not want to attract attention. They were over a mile away and we could hear their noise. I guessed it would mask ours. The road crossed the river just a mile from the small hamlet. I went with my knights to inspect it. The muddied, slippery banks showed where they had crossed. The river was just six or seven paces wide but it would protect our front. There were trees behind us on the slope of the small rise. "We camp there. Sir Hugh, take charge."

  While they returned up the slope I waved Aelric and his men forward. "I want you to take no risks. Have your men slay as many as they can. If they try to attack you then withdraw across the river. If they do not then keep up a steady rain during the night."

  "You would have us use all our arrows my lord?"

  "No. You have more with the sumpters do you not?"

  "Aye, my lord."

  "Then when your quivers are empty withdraw across the river."

  The archers and their guards slipped away. I stayed by the ford watching the fires. It was hard to ascertain numbers but there were many fires. If I assumed there would be between six and ten men to a fire then there looked to be well over a hundred men before us. It would be just the common men who would be at the fires. The lords would have tents. I watched knowing I would not be able to see my men. If I did then it would mean the enemy could too. William and Leofric appeared at my side. They had brought some food and wine.

  "Sir Harold said you might be hungry."

  "I am." I began to devour the fowl with my bare hands.

  "Why do you wait and watch, my lord?"

  "Because, William, I have sent my men into danger, the least I can do is watch."

  He nodded. I threw the carcass into the river and wiped my hands on Scout's rump. I drank sparingly of the wine. I needed a clear head. Suddenly I heard a scream. I could see nothing. Was that one of my men or an enemy? Then there was the sound of men dying and confusion as arrows struck in the dark. Some hit metal and I heard their clatter but many must have struck men for there were many shouts. Then there was the sound of a horn as the alarm was sounded. It was followed by the sound of orders being shouted. I could not make them out but I could guess that the leader of the conroi was seeking these men who had disturbed their sleep.

  "Mount and ready your weapons."

  "Are we in danger?"

  Leofric answered William for me. "We may be. If our archers flee then some will use this crossing and may well be pursued. It would be best to be prepared."

  I drew my sword and lifted up my shield. I heard the sound of hooves. To my right I heard splashing. That would be my archers obeying my orders. Aelric, Griff of Gwent and Ralph of Wales suddenly appeared before me. I could see their teeth as they grinned in the dark. "Stirred them up good and proper my lord! Brian, Wilfred and Edgar are right behind us."

  "Good. Take up a position above us. We will bloody their noses." As they moved up I said, "You two be ready."

  "Aye, my lord."

  We edged our horses back up the bank to firmer ground. My three men at arms splashed through the river. They needed no orders. They rode behind us and took up position on our flank. The men who chased them were not knights. They were the light horsemen who were favoured by the French. Riding small horses they used a helmet and shield but their bodies were just protected by leather jerkins covered by a surcoat. They appeared on the other side of the river with spears in their hands and they plunged through the water. As they began to climb the bank two things happened; they saw us and their horses' hooves slipped and slid on the muddy bank.

  "Now!"

  I spurred Scout. I leaned forward with my sword to stab the leading warrior in the chest. Scout barged into his small mount and it fell in the river. Their spears were at a disadvantage as they tried to control their horses and their spears wobbled and flailed uselessly. We, on the other hand, had swords and we used them well. I sliced sideways and my sword hacked through the upper arm of a horsemen who fell screaming into the water. My archers released their missiles at the other light horsemen on the other bank. I felt a spear jab into my mail and I swung blindly. I felt it bite into flesh. The Frenchman grew another mouth beneath his chin. They decided they had had enough and they fell back in disarray.
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  "Grab the spare horses!"

  I reached down to pull the loose reins of the man I had just slain. I led the horse back up the bank. I saw that the man's foot was still in the stirrup. When I reached firm ground I dismounted and took his foot from the stirrup. I turned him over. He was wearing a surcoat. It had a rampant gryphon or lion with red tongue and claws. Had it been yellow I would have taken it for the Scottish lion but it was not. I stored the knowledge. Was this the sign of this Guy de Senonches? Perhaps Wulfric had seen the symbol before. I took the man's purse. Sometimes you could learn much from the coins a man carried. They told the tale of his journey. It was too dark on the river bank. I would examine them at the camp.

  "Come we will return to the camp."

  "Do we not leave guards here, my lord?"

  "No Leofric. We will have guards at the edge of our camp. Let them worry about us. We have done what I wished. They know we are here and it should stop them attacking Otterburn. They will have to rid themselves of us first. The last thing they want is a terrier snapping at their heels."

  Sir Harold and Sir Tristan had their men standing to when we reached the camp. "We heard fighting and worried about you."

  "We just gave their light horsemen a bloody nose!" I saw Wulfric wandering over. "Wulfric, this de Senonches, what was his livery?"

  I saw him stroke his beard. "Some sort of mythical creature, could have been half lion half something else but it had a red tongue, I remember that."

  "Then it is he who leads this band. We had better keep the sentries on their guard tonight."

  "Don't you worry, my lord, I will chase them up. You get some rest now, my lord. I reckon tomorrow will be a busy day."

  I smiled, "Right, mother!"

  I had not bothered with a tent but William and my squires had made an arbour using branches and twigs whilst there were blankets on the ground. John stooped ready to help me off with my armour. When he saw his two fellows cleaning the blood from their swords he shook his head, "Next time I shall bring the food and they can make the camp!"