Earl Marshal Read online

  He nodded, “Aye lord. A good toast.”

  “I am leaving Stockton, Alf and I do not think to return.”

  He nodded, “Even if you do then I fear I will not be here. I pee blood these days.” He shook his head. “Still I have had a good life.”

  “You have indeed and I am grateful for all that you have done for my family and for me. The mail, helmets and swords you have made for us have saved us many times.”

  “Aye I did good work but you saved us too, lord. I believe we were lucky to have you as a lord.”

  “Perhaps.”

  We spoke of the early days and my father. We talked of Wulfstan and the other Varangians. His daughter refilled our goblets three times. I only left when I saw that Alf was in some discomfort. I am sorry lord but…”

  “Do not apologise old friend.” I helped him to his feet and embraced him. He patted my back with his one good arm. I strolled slowly back to my castle soaking in every stone and cobble on the streets. I examined every face and listened to every voice. All were precious to me.

  We left a week later. Sir James de Puiset also came with us. He was the nearest we had to a household knight. I had four knights along with their squires. My four men at arms and four archers were augmented by another twenty men at arms and twenty archers. That was more than enough for what we had to do. We headed for Fissebourne for I wished to take my leave of Sir John. He had also been unwell of late. Too many wounds and a hard life meant he would not stir from his castle again.

  Riding north I took a last look around the land which had come to be my home. Thorpe had seen many battles with the Scots and as we headed up through Wulfestun I could not help but glance east, that was where I had rescued Adela and I had slain Tancred de Mamers, the killer of my father. That was more than a lifetime ago. Sir Harold saw my look and said, “When we rode abroad in those days you had your palfrey Scout and I knew nothing about being a knight! I was still an outlaw who had been plucked from the forest by a young knight. We have both travelled a long road.”

  I smiled, “You read my mind. We have come far. You have grandchildren now and your son is a knight.”

  “And it is all thanks to you. If you had not come through the forest then Dick and I would have been hanged for poaching.”

  I studied Harold. He was now grey. He had had few wounds in his life. He was lucky. He had been a good archer but he had become a better knight. With Sir Leofric and Sir John he was one of the first knights who had served me. “And now I take you and your son away from your family.”

  “Fear not, my wife has William, my youngest son, and he is a mighty handful!”

  His son, Sir Richard, said, “He should be here helping my squire John or my brother, Walther but he is irresponsible.”

  Walther was a good squire and he would be knighted soon. I remembered my own son, William. He had been wild for a time but the crusades had changed him. “Do not worry. Young men have wild phases. They grow out of them.”

  Sir James asked, “Do you visit with my uncle, lord?”

  I shook my head, “The less I see the Bishop of Durham the better. You must have all the good blood in your family for that man is a snake and I know not how he still has his head.” The Bishop of Durham had been involved in a plot against the King and I had been convinced that he would be punished but the wily Bishop had managed to convince the King that he could help to intervene in the matter of Thomas Becket. He had been forgiven.

  Sir James laughed, “He thinks just as highly of you, lord!”

  My knights laughed. Sir James had burned the bridges with his uncle. He served me and was a loyal bachelor knight. We rode to Fissebourne and stayed the night. I was too old to camp and I had planned our progress using the castles of the north.

  Sir John was the knight closest to the Scots although he was still fifty miles from the border. He acted as a look out for us. “The Scots will not recover, lord, not in my lifetime anyway. The merchants who pass south speak of the reparations the Scots have to pay. With English garrisons in the five largest castles I think we have finished fighting the Scots.”

  I was relieved. When I left the north to head south my land would be secure. Samuel and my knights could control it.

  Sir James had been a knight of Durham. He was also well travelled and understood the politics of court. He was the one who raised the other issue, “And rebels? What of those who support the young Henry? King Henry has crowned his son joint king. What if other lords support him?”

  The Bishop’s nephew was right. Henry, Richard and Geoffrey all sought the crown. I think that was why the King kept his youngest son, John, with him. I sipped the wine, “We remain vigilant. Luckily the knights of the north are loyal.”

  He was like a dog with a bone. “That is because you are here, lord. When you go…?”

  He was right but I put on a brave face, “Until my son returns then you support Sir Samuel. He will be lord of the north until the Earl returns.”

  “That is a great responsibility, grandfather.”

  Sir Harold said, “The Earl had such responsibility when he was your age. You have good men around you. Do as you grandfather did and trust them.”

  When we left to head north I began to worry, not about the situation in the north, but further south. With the King in France along with my son those lords and barons who supported Richard and Young Henry might well seek to make mischief. We rode as far as the Bishop’s castle at Berwick and we found the land safe and secure. We were greeted like conquering heroes by the farmers and burghers of the towns. That was the best way to measure peace. They felt safe and secure. We passed the bastion of Norham. Although it was the castle of the Bishop of Durham the constable was a good man. It had fallen before and we had improved it so that it was as impregnable as any castle in England. We called in at Rothbury and then headed over to Brougham Castle and finally Carlisle. There the Constable confirmed the peace and the subjugated nature of the Scots. It was when we reached Carlisle that the letter sent from the King finally found me. Edward and Edgar had cut across country to deliver it. It came from the King and it asked me to go to Chester to deal with a problem in that area. I did not divulge the contents of the letter to the others. I would wait until I had seen the problem first hand. They also handed me another letter from Sir Leofric. That one I kept even closer to my breast.

  We headed south to Chester. I considered letting most of my men return home but, as we headed south down the fertile Lancashire plain, it became obvious that Samuel and the others had no intention of abandoning me.

  Chester was problematic. The Earl of Chester, Hugh of Cyfeiliog, had joined the rebellion against the King. Captured with his mercenaries he was now held prisoner by King Henry. I did not care what happened to the Earl; he was a rebel. His absence, however, might encourage the Welsh and they were ever eager to eat into English land. The seal around my neck gave me, as Earl Marshal, total power. I wondered if I would have to use it. My hope was that Maud, the widow of the fourth Earl of Chester was still in the castle. The daughter of Robert of Gloucester she was an old friend. If she was there then I had an opportunity to do that which the King had ordered. Edward had also brought me a letter from Sir Leofric. Having read one I wondered which was the more serious of the two!

  I saw her on the gatehouse of the castle. She was greyer but still the woman who had helped me to capture and hold Lincoln Castelo for the Empress. By the time we entered the outer ward she had descended the stairs. She was fond of me. Some of my detractors implied that I had had a relationship with her. That was untrue. She had been a loyal wife to a poor husband and worse Earl. When I dismounted she hugged me and kissed me.

  “Earl Marshal! You are here and all will be well.”

  I smiled, “I do not know about that. I was heading south but King Henry has diverted me here.”

  “The Welsh?”

  “The Welsh!”

  We laughed. She turned and saw Samuel, “Goodness me that has to be your gra
ndson! He looks just like you, Earl!”

  Samuel stepped forward and bowed, “This is Sir Samuel, William’s son.”

  “What a fine looking young man! You have been lucky with your children, Earl.” I said nothing for I knew she was hurt by her own son’s disloyalty. “Here am I chattering like a magpie. You have ridden long and hard. Come I will have rooms prepared for you. Your men at arms know their way around the warrior hall.” She linked Samuel and me, “Two handsome men on my arms. I am a lucky woman!”

  Once in the hall she took command and wine and food was brought as well as bowls of scented water and cloths for us to bathe the dirt of the road from our faces. She had her men put chairs in a circle around her. She smiled but it was a knowing smile, “You chose these men and therefore you can trust them.” I nodded. “Good. For once, Earl Marshal, the Welsh are not a threat to us but to each other.”

  Sir Richard said, “That is good, is it not? The Welsh kill each other and we gain more land.”

  Sir Harold shook his head, “Richard, listen more and speak less! That way you will not be so embarrassed.”

  Maud patted Richard’s hand, “Watch the Earl Marshal and learn.” She turned back to me, “The reason you are here is because of me.” She lowered her voice. “I wrote to the King two years ago. Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd is the most reasonable of the Welsh princes and he sought a wife. The King thought it was a good idea and he is to marry Emme of Anjou, the King’s half-sister.”

  I saw Richard open his mouth but his father shook his head.

  “And the other Welsh princes?”

  “His brother Cynan died this year but there are two others Rhodri ab Owain Gwynedd and Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd. They have raised an army in Anglesey and have laid waste the lands around the Clwyd Valley.”

  I held up the letter from the King, “And King Henry wants us to ensure that Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd prevails.” I nodded. “Now I see. It seemed to me that there was no reason for this command.” I saw that Richard and Samuel were still confused. “The Welsh are good hill fighters but our knights and men at arms are their superior. Our archers are the only ones who can match the Welsh.” I turned to Maud. “What forces do I have at my command?”

  “Not as many as you might have had. My foolish son took the knights and most of the men at arms with him to France. We have fifty archers and forty men at arms in the garrison.”

  “Not enough.”

  “Sir Hugh of Mohald has six household knights, thirty men at arms and thirty archers.”

  “Still not enough.”

  “Have the fyrd been called this year and the local barons?”

  “No.”

  “Then we had forty days service from them. How many are there?”

  “There are five hundred which can be called to arms quickly.”

  I nodded, “Then that might be enough.” That would give us fifteen knights, one hundred and four archers, almost a hundred men at arms and five hundred peasants. I had fought the Welsh before and they did not use many knights. “Have the Constable send out the summons. I would meet with Sir Hugh here. If he has the castle at Mohald then he knows the Welsh.” She nodded. “Does the Prince bring any men?”

  “Aye, Earl Marshal, they are gathered at Denbigh.”

  “And he is there too?”

  “He is. The wedding will take place at St. Asaph and as his brothers have been raiding ever close the prince wishes to be able to send then hence.”

  I hesitated, “Countess, if I were not here would he defeat his brothers?”

  She gave a disarming smile, “You are here and we need not worry!”

  I had my answer and I laughed! “You should have been a man Maud for you have the mind of a general. I take it you have scouts?”

  “Good ones.”

  “Then have them sent to find these two Welsh brothers. I would that this was finished sooner rather than later.”

  My knights went to speak with our men and, after the Countess had given her own orders we sat together speaking. We were old friends. Maud was one of the few left from the civil war. “The King will not hurt your son.”

  She smiled, “I know. Henry is a good King. Although some find him a little uncouth and others a little blunt I saw him with you when he was a squire. The young man you trained is still in there. He is the work of the Warlord. He will do that which is right.”

  “Aye and that work is now done. He has his crown.”

  “Yet you still watch out for him. When others sit and enjoy their old age you still ride this land doing the King’s bidding.” There was concern in her voice.

  “It is not so bad. I have my grandson with me and I get to meet old friends such as you.”

  “Your grandson does you proud. I meant what I said. He looks the double of you. Now you are greyer but when you were younger you could have passed for twins.”

  “He is also a fine knight. I am proud. My son William and I were parted for many years. We are now reconciled but Samuel is constantly at my side. When he leaves me in London it will be a hard parting.”

  She leaned over and took my hands, “Alfraed, speak with William Marshal. You know you can trust him. Let he be the one to hold the reins of power until Henry returns. You have done more than enough. This is not right.”

  I laughed and squeezed her fingers, “You may be right but I could not stop now, even if I tried. There is something in me drives me on. It is a compulsion. As much as I wish to stop I cannot.”

  “Aye, I can see it. You swore an oath to the Empress and even though she is dead it is there. Promise me that you will not fight. You can sit atop your horse and give commands. Let the others fight. They are all younger. Use your most powerful of weapons; use your mind.”

  Chapter 2

  The scouts returned before the five bands of the fyrd were mustered. The two who returned first were typical foresters. Wearing browns and greens and with nut brown faces they showed a life in the open. They knew their business too. This was the borderlands and a mistake here would be fatal.

  “My lady the Welsh are gathered close by the fishing port of Conwy. They raid the farms. So far the monastery at St. Asaph has been left untouched but their scouts have been as far as Rhuthun.”

  “How many men do they have?”

  Oswald looked at me, “A thousand at least but few horsemen. The knights and mounted men at arms protect the standard of Rhodri. Maelgwn has with him some wild Irishmen.” He shook his head. “They have limed hair and fight half-naked!”

  I nodded. I had fought them before. King Henry controlled Ireland but only the parts where we had built castles. In the west and the south there were many places where the Irish still ruled. They hired themselves to any who would pay them to fight. “My lady, I would have the Welsh watched until this Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd reaches us.”

  “A good idea. Oswald keep us informed as to their movements.”

  The Countess had good maps and we were studying them when Sir Hugh of Mohald arrived. He was a typical Marcher lord. With his castle on the River Alyn he guarded the approach to Chester. He was a man used to making his own decisions and his own laws. I liked him as soon as I met him.

  He held out his arm, “A real warrior at last! Good to meet you Warlord. I am honoured.” He suddenly realised that he had insulted the Earl of Chester, “My lady I am sorry… I…”

  She laughed, “I agree with you Sir Hugh. This is a real warrior and the last of a dying breed.”

  I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

  “Aye, I can be a little blunt. So, we make war on the Welsh, my lord?”

  “We do but it is to make Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd more secure.”

  He nodded, “It buys us peace for a time. Until we have more castles like mine then the Welsh will still raid. Apart from their island of Anglesey there is precious little farm land for them. What is your plan, Warlord?”

  “The fyrd is mustering but I will not attack without the Welsh.
I would rather the Welsh bled in their own land than Englishmen on English soil.”

  “Amen to that. My castle is a good place to muster. They have a hill fort at Denbigh but it would not withstand a sustained attack. From what my scouts have told me the Welsh are moving slowly. Their men are too busy ransacking and looting.”

  “Then I will send the fyrd and their lords to join you there. Avoid conflict if you can. I would have our presence and intentions kept hidden for as long as possible.”

  He nodded, “The Prince had best be quick for the fyrd get restless. They like to get back to their farms. A battle will hold them but only if we win.” He left and we waited for the Prince.

  Prince Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd arrived in the early evening. He had with him forty knights but none were armed and mounted as well as even Sir Richard. He had four hundred men marching with him and I was pleased to see that half of them were archers. He was younger than I expected and he did not look like a warrior. That was disappointing. We would have to beat his brothers soundly and then the Prince would have a chance of holding on to his kingdom.

  “Earl Marshal! When our brother, King Henry, told us that you would be here to lead my armies I knew that we would win! Where are the rest of your men?”

  “This is all that I brought. The men of Cheshire are mustered at Mohald.”

  He frowned, “Ah, Yr Wyddgrug. I am disappointed I expected the army which humbled King William of Scotland.”

  I sighed, “This will do, Prince. Your brothers are raiding the Clwyd. We will march to Mohald tomorrow and then begin our sweep north along the valley.”

  “Why no go directly to St. Asaph? That way we could cut off of our enemies.”

  “And the people of the Clwyd would suffer. This way we pick off their men as we move and ensure that they have to meet us in battle.”

  He shrugged, “You are the Warlord. I am in your hands. I will be interested to see how you do this!”

  I sensed that my knights were becoming angry. They preferred to fight for England. This Welsh prince was not winning any friends with his words. “And I look forward to watching your men defeat their countrymen too.”