Poisonous Plots Read online

  Once we had eaten there was little to do but sleep. Fire was too dangerous aboard a wooden cog and as much as I wished to read the letter Maud had sent to me it was not worth the risk. The one lantern we had was there for the captain to see his maps and charts. William had provided some wool filled pallets and we rested on those. I found the motion quite comfortable and I was soon asleep. I was woken in the night. James did not mean to wake me but the ship lurched and his hand fell on my shoulder.

  I awoke with a start. “Sorry lord, I slipped.” He nodded towards the deck, “Padraig has not got his sea legs. When the ship began to roll he went on deck. He has not returned yet. I was going to see what was amiss.”

  I had been happy to sleep but now that I was awake I needed to make water. “I will come with you.” As we passed the helmsman I saw that it was Henri the Breton and I asked him. “Where are we Henry?”

  “Passing Guedel. The wind is from the land. I would go to the leeward side if you wish to make water.” He smiled. Landsmen often made the mistake of going to the wrong side. It normally provided sailors with amusement.

  We headed towards the bow where we heard Padraig vomiting over the side. I stood a few paces closer to the bow and made water. I heard him cease retching and James said, “If you sleep on deck you may find it easier.”

  “I am sorry, James, Warlord. This is not the behaviour of a squire.”

  “There is nothing to apologise for. You cannot help it. We will stay with you for a while. How is that?”

  “Thank you, Warlord. My legs do not feel as though they belong to me and my head spins. Why is that?”

  “It is called sea sickness. The French say mal de mer. It does not make the illness any easier to bear. It will pass although I expect you feel like death.”

  “Death would be a mercy!”

  I was awake and I knew that sleep would elude me for some while and so I stayed at the bow. John, the lookout at the bow was on the steerboard side. The coast there was riddled with rocks and with shoals. He was watching for the flash of white which would tell of danger. The third member of the watch was Alain who stood by Henri. I stared at the island. A few fishermen lived there. Their home was on the western side and the eastern side of the small island lay in darkness. We were coming to the north end of the island and I knew that, as soon as we did then Henri would begin to turn the ship to take advantage of the open waters and the wind from the land. I moved closer to Padraig in case the sudden movement caught him unawares.

  I saw that Padraig had stopped retching but his head hung over the side. James’ arm was protectively over his shoulders. I looked out to sea. I saw a movement where there should not have been movement and I shifted a little closer to the bow. There was just enough light to see where the sea ended and the sky began. I saw the shape of a boat. There was no sail and it was heading east. Even as I turned I knew that it meant danger.

  “James, fetch my sword and my men. I fear we may be attacked soon.”

  He did not question me and he left a bemused Padraig to wonder what was going on. Padraig would be of little use to me if we were attacked. I hurried down the deck to Henri, “I think we are going to be attacked. There is a ship coming from the lee of Guedel and she has no sail!”

  Henri looked beyond me and nodded. “Alain, go and rouse the crew. Tell the captain that there are pirates.”

  As he left I said, “Pirates?”

  “Perhaps. A couple of the ships which left Nantes before us rode high in the water. I wondered why. Often there are Breton captains who use Nantes to watch for easy targets.” He shrugged, “I am Breton, I know these things.”

  James brought my sword and dagger. We wore no mail. That could not be helped. By now the ship could be clearly seen. Although we had the wind and speed, they had oars and were between us and the channel which led to the open sea. They could easily cut us off. As the crew emerged Henri said, “They look to have ten oars a side. That could mean forty men.”

  William reached us and he saw the ship when Henri pointed. He nodded and shouted, “Arm yourselves. Take out the reef. Let us sail full and bye!” He turned to me. “They are clever. If we try to turn away from them we lose the wind and we have little sea room. We will use the wind. I am glad we have seven armed men with us. We might have a chance.”

  I did not like to say that we had six armed men and a vomiting youth. My men appeared. They had their leather vests and helmets on. I saw that James had taken the time to don his arming hood. He handed me mine. It would give us some protection.

  Henry son of Watt pointed an accusing finger at Richard of Ely. “You brought this upon us with your talk of big waves keeping pirates away!” Men were always superstitious and when on a ship it was doubly so.

  Richard nodded apologetically, “I fear you are right. If we get through this I will make amends by buying the ale with my first pay!”

  I donned the arming hood. “They will come at us from the island side. If we can stop them boarding then we have a better chance of success.” All the while the pirate vessel was closing with us but we were moving quicker as William of Kingston let loose more sail. Even as the ship closed with us and I saw the flash of light on weapons I wondered at this attack. Was it more than just a pirate attack? Perhaps I was becoming overly suspicious seeing plots and conspiracy where there was just greed and avarice.

  Padraig had disappeared and he returned with his sword and arming hood. James said, “Just guard the Warlord’s back!”

  I saw that they were going to strike the bow. If I had brought Dick or my archers with me then the men who stood with their grappling hooks would lie dead in the bottom of the Breton boat. As it was they were able to stand with impunity and whirl the hooks above their heads. Once we were secured they would pull us towards them and swarm aboard.

  Captain William had much experience and he suddenly put the steering board over to take us towards the Breton ship. The captain of that ship tried to mirror our turn so that we would be alongside each other then William of Kingston put the steering board the other way and a gap appeared. My men cheered. William had gained us time but the oars in the Breton meant it was inexorably catching us.

  I saw the first hook arc towards us. It fell short but then another six flew over and four held. Tom the Badger leapt forward and brought a boarding axe across the rope. As it severed the Bretons fell in a heap. Two more hooks caught. My men ran to try to cut them but I saw men climbing the ropes. They used the side of our ship to walk up. Geoffrey FitzMaurice grabbed a boarding pike. As Padraig hacked at the ropes he swept the pike in an arc. The climbers dared not progress for fear of being struck by the blade. Holding the rope those climbing could not defend themselves. Two were wounded and two more chose a fall into the sea but still others climbed. As the first two made the deck James and I ran at them. I shouted, “You five stop the others from boarding. We will deal with these.”

  We stood together. James had fought with me for years and we knew each other’s styles. As the two men hurried towards us we waited. The deck was still pitching for the increased area of sail made our movement more violent. It caught one out and as he stumbled James brought his sword down upon the back of his head. His demise allowed me to swing in the space his body had occupied and my sword bit into the side of the other who fell bleeding to the deck. Then we stepped forward. I could hear cries from the side as my men hacked at those climbing and cut the ropes.

  Two more men tumbled over the side and a hand appeared. This time we were closer to the gunwale and the two men had little time to set themselves. I lunged with my sword which tore through the neck of one of them while James blocked the sword blow from the second and rammed his dagger into his side. Both men tumbled back over the side of the ship. I brought down my sword on the arm which gripped the gunwale and the man fell screaming to the sea. There was a cheer from my men as they severed the last ropes and there just remained the two close to us.

  “James, cut the ropes!”

&nbs
p; I leaned over the side and swung my sword at the heads of the two men who were climbing. They pushed themselves away from the side and I did them no harm. Richard of Ely joined James in hacking through the ropes. Suddenly both ropes gave way and the men climbing fell to the sea or the deck of their ship. Freed from what had been, in effect, a sea anchor, the ‘Adela’ leapt away and the whole crew cheered.

  The two men we had fought lay in pools of blood, dead. Richard of Ely and Tom the Badger went to pick up the bodies and pitch them over the side. “Hold. We will examine them when it is daylight. I would learn more.”

  William of Kingston had joined us. “You think this was more than pirates?”

  I turned one of the men we had killed over with my foot. “This is a man at arms. You can see the lines at the side of his face where has worn a mail hood. If he was a pirate his face would be tanned all over. Since when have men at arms joined pirates? There is more to this than an unlucky accident. They came for us.” I shook my head, “They came for me.”

  As dawn broke William of Kingston had his crew clean up the blood from his deck. We had removed the two bodies so that we could examine them. Both had purses with coins. One just had a leather jerkin but the other had a surcoat. Upon it was the mark of a lord. James said, “I have seen this before, lord. It is the sign of the Count of Rennes. I remember he was at Le Mans when we passed through.”

  “Why does the Count of Rennes wish harm to me?” It was a puzzle. “Take their arms, purses and tokens. I will examine them as we sail north. Throw their bodies to the fishes.” As my men at arms did so I said, “And how is the stomach now Padraig?”

  He grinned, “I have never felt better!”

  As we sailed north and I stared at the coast of Brittany to the east I worked out the reasons for the attack. Conan, the Duke of Brittany, had been appointed by King Henry. His lords, however, ruled the land and Conan was but a figurehead. To remove him they would have to go to war with King Henry and I was a threat. I had fought either alongside or against his counts and earls. They knew my ability. I was a danger they wished to eliminate before going to war. If they removed me then they had a better chance of defeating Henry.

  The last two days were the hardest as we wound our way up the river to the White Tower. King Henry was improving it. His grandfather had done a little work but otherwise it was much as William had built it. King Henry had repaired the royal lodgings in the bailey and was now overseeing the building of a tower to protect the entrance. There was a dock at the Tower and we disembarked there.

  “William when you have sold your cargo I would have you sail to Stockton. I need my archers and some men at arms. You need not bring horses; we can buy them when we reach Normandy.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I turned to James and handed him a purse, “Go with the others and purchase ten horses; seven palfreys and three sumpters.”

  “Do we need servants, lord?”

  “No, we do not have far to go.”

  Alone, I walked to the King who was with his builders. He heard me approach and turned, “What do you think Warlord? This will stop an attack on my gate and I have more plans to put into place. I will make this castle as strong as Chateau Galliard.” He stopped. He had remembered where I had been. “How is my mother?”

  “She is not well, your majesty, her ladies fear for her health. She was, however, happy about the proposed marriage.”

  The King turned to the builders and those around us, “Leave us. I would speak alone with the Earl Marshal.” He put his arm around my shoulders. He was now bigger than I was. “I am afraid that the marriage will not take place.”

  “The lady has changed her mind?”

  “No, they are both in love.” He shook his head, “My brother is luckier than me. Mine was arranged.”

  I did not say that he had been quite happy to marry the richest woman in Europe. “Then what is the problem?”

  “That damned viper Becket! He has turned against me! When he was Lord Chancellor he was my friend. I thought he would continue to be my friend but since he was appointed and returned from Rome he has blocked my every decision. William cannot marry without the Church’s permission. Becket has denied it. I cannot fathom the reason.”

  “Does William know?”

  “Not yet. I was waiting for your return. He looks up to you and I thought he would take the news better from you.”

  It was a task the King did not relish and it was being delegated. “Have you tried to persuade Becket to change his mind, your majesty?”

  “I will not demean myself. I have done with him.”

  “Do you mind if I try?”

  “If you wish to be humiliated then do so but you do not speak for me.”

  “No, I go for William.” I was about to go when a thought struck me. “When the Archbishop went to Rome did he go by sea?”

  “Of course not. He took the short route through Paris and then...” he suddenly looked at me, “You do not think…?”

  I shrugged, “It is a possibility. There must be ways of discovering if this is a French plot.” He nodded. What had seemed vindictiveness now took on more serious overtones; treachery. Anointed by the Pope King Henry could do nothing about his own Archbishop. If he had been suborned then England had a snake at the heart of government. “There is one thing other, your majesty. My ship was attacked when I left Nantes by the men of the Count of Rennes.”

  He listened to what I had to say and then nodded. “I had heard of this insidious insurrection against Conan. I believed that Conan would be a strong ruler like his father. It seems that I was mistaken. I have also heard rumours of alliances and plots involving the French King. When I have finished here we go to Normandy. It is time that these rebellions lords were brought to heel.” He nodded as though just by speaking the words it would be so. “Hurry to my brother and, if you must, speak with Becket but I wish to leave as soon as we can.”

  His land was all and he had little sentiment for his brother’s feelings. Perhaps Geoffrey Plantagenet had influenced him more than I when he had been developing into a leader. He had a ruthless side to him.

  Chapter 2

  The journey to Canterbury was the same distance as that to Maldon. Although I knew that William would be anxiously awaiting the news, I had to speak with Becket and try to persuade him to change his mind before I gave the bad news to William. Henry, in battle, was no coward but, when it came to his family, he often hid behind others. This was one such time. I did not mind for Henry was my son and William FitzEmpress like a son. Of Matilda’s three sons it had only been Geoffrey I had not liked.

  We rode the old Roman Road. There were inns on the way and we were comfortable. For my new men the ride was a joy for they were all back in England. They could not help speaking to all that they met. It would have amused me had I not been thinking of the Becket problem. I knew the man. I had been impressed by his efficiency. England had never been as prosperous and the King’s army had been well provided for. What had made him change?

  When we reached the cathedral, I had my men take lodgings while I went to speak with the highest-ranking churchman in the kingdom. My title of Earl Marshal gained me immediate entry. I bowed and kissed the ring on the Archbishop’s hand.

  “Earl Marshal, it has been some time since I spoke with you. The years have been kind to you.”

  I raised my head and spread my hand, “And to you, your grace. You have attained a high rank.”

  He smiled, “But not the highest.”

  His words told me he had ambitions to be Pope. Suddenly the visit to France made sense. If he had the support of the King of France then he might achieve his ambition.

  Then his eyes narrowed, “And what brings you here, Earl Marshal?” He held up his hand, “Let me guess, the King has sent you here to persuade me to change my judgement in the matter of his brother’s marriage.”

  “No, your grace, my decision to come here was my own. I like William and know that he and the lady are in
love. Other royal cousins have married. I cannot understand your opposition.”

  “You do not need to, Earl Marshal, for I do not answer to any temporal lord. I answer to God and the Pope. I am happy with my decision and will not rescind it.” The look on his face was one of victory. He was almost purring at the fact that he had humiliated the King, hurt William FitzEmpress, and humbled me.

  “You are Archbishop of Canterbury. You should be answerable to the King who appointed you.” I stood. “I warn you Archbishop that I care not for treachery in any shape or form. An Archbishop’s robes will not save you if I discover that you are an agent of one of England’s enemies.”

  I expected him to threaten me with excommunication or to order me hence but instead he recoiled and looked afraid, “I am above countries and kings. I am Archbishop of Canterbury!”

  “And as such sworn to uphold the laws of England. I have spoken, Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Know you that I am never foresworn. Be careful which path you tread for the path to treachery is a dangerous one. I will now go to speak with William. I hope you can live with the decision you have made. God alone knows if it has been made from true judgement or some vindictive part of a cruel plot.” I turned and left. As I made my way back to my men I wondered at this sudden change in the clerk who had risen so highly. He had been Lord Chancellor of England. Why had he changed?

  That evening as we ate in the inn I was largely silent. I had had confirmation of the Archbishop’s treachery. I wondered what I should do about it? I had little actual evidence. The Archbishop would deny any accusation. My close relationship with the whole family would make me seem biased.

  My men chatted. They were full of England and the joy of returning home. Even so they were mindful of their duties and Richard of Ely went out to check on the horses. He seemed to be away a long time and, when he returned he looked concerned. He spoke quietly, “Lord, there are many armed men in the streets hereabouts. I have seen the like before. They are swords for hire.”