Housecarl Read online

  The fire was still burning the following morning and I made sure that it was fed before we left. I looked up at the cross before we departed and it made me feel better. I gripped the staff and wondered about my vision. Was it the ale which had made my thoughts drift that way or was it something more? As we rode in silence towards the head of the valley Aethelward rode his mount next to mine. “You had a vision?”

  I stared at him. Was he a Wight? How did he know? “I had a dream… it was the ale.”

  “I do not ask you to tell me your vision for that is yours; it is the mark of a warrior. I ask you to think on your vision and to interpret it for all visions and dreams have meanings.”

  “How did you know that I dreamt?”

  “I heard you speaking and you moved in your sleep. I have seen it before. Harold had such a dream many years ago when he was but a young man. I recognised the signs but, pray, do not ignore it. Think on it and use it.”

  I nodded and looked at the ash staff. “Uncle would this staff make a good spear?”

  He took it from my hand and turned it. He looked down its length and then hefted it above his shoulder. “Aye it would. We will use one of the swords we took from the bandits and make a spear head the next time we find a smith.” He smiled. “It was wyrd that we came here Aelfraed and I can see your mother’s hand in this.”

  Ridley and Ulf had been busy since we had left them; the mail armour had been cleaned and scrubbed with the river sand and now looked as it should have done. Ridley’s face beamed as we rode into the camp. “See master. It is almost like new and Ulf says that we can repair the broken links when we find a smithy.”

  I looked quickly at Aethelward who just said, “Wyrd.”

  “Did it go well?”

  “Aye Ulf and my nephew helped to carry it off. The monks believe that we are pilgrims and I gave my name so that we should be remembered.”

  “I still do not know why the monks are important.”

  “The King of Wales needs credibility. He has only ruled this land of Wales for a short time and needs the support of the church. This is the largest and most important monastery in this heartland of Wales, in the shadow of the dragon. ” I smiled as Ridley involuntarily shivered. “The court of the King is at Rhuddlan and I know that men from the court will visit the monastery before too long. The Welsh king will keep patrols travelling along this road and they will bring news to their king.”

  “Which is why we will need to avoid the road.” I saw the plan clearly.

  “Precisely young Aelfraed and we will head south eastwards towards the frontier towns. It would not do to be seen as a party of four.”

  With the pack horses loaded we set off, Ulf as usual was at the front while Ridley took the rear. He did not mind the pack horse for it carried his precious armour and, hung from the pommel, was his helmet now scrubbed and polished. I was a little envious. He was already well on to the way to be coming a warrior and he was well armed. I absent mindedly stroked the smooth shaft of the ash staff. Ridley might have his armour but I had had my vision and I would get armour that I knew.

  “Well we know that he is to the south of us. That means he will be with his army.”

  “You are right Ulf for he has only recently conquered that land. We will head for Morgannwg which borders the lands of Wessex. We can watch for signs of war as we travel south.”

  We had been on the road for seven days when we crossed the trail of the warriors. Ulf’s sharp eyes picked up the signs and we halted. With the combined attention of the two warriors we ascertained that at least a hundred warriors had travelled south, in the same direction as we. It was the first indication we had of warlike intentions.

  “Well we can go to Earl Harold now and tell him that there are warriors gathering on the borders.”

  Ulf laughed. “Would that it was that simple. These warriors may be heading for the newly conquered lands in the south of the country and there are but a hundred. No it is a sign but we need to find out what it means.”

  I looked at Aethelward. “Then how do we find out?”

  “We visit the next town and ask.”

  “As simple as that?”

  “No not that simple. We will visit the town and listen for people talk and a hundred warriors passing through will be an event worthy of retelling. You, nephew, can tell of our visit to the monastery and Brother Aidan. They will enjoy that news.”

  The next town was in Maelienydd. I could not begin to pronounce it but it was a prosperous looking place with a wooden wall and armed guards at the gates. When my uncle explained that we had been on a pilgrimage we were allowed to enter but I could see that the guards viewed us with suspicion until we dismounted and they saw my uncle’s injury. It made them less suspicious. We headed for the hut which had a crudely painted picture of an ear of barley outside. Aethelward nodded towards it, “An alehouse. A good place to begin. You need to listen although if they speak Welsh then neither of us will understand them.”

  Fortunately for us the woman who owned the alehouse could speak easily with us. Our coins were welcomed by her and made us even more welcome. There was no-one else in the hut and we struck up a conversation. Aethelward asked her if she had rooms and flourished a silver coin. Her eager eyes lit up and she told us we could sleep with the horses in her stable at the rear. I suspected that we had paid too much for what would be basic accommodation but I knew that we would be better off and warmer than Ulf and Ridley camped beyond the town in the woods.

  By the time other drinkers had entered the woman, Morag, was talking with us as though we were old friends and we were accepted as such by the locals who enjoyed the chance to talk with strangers from beyond their borders. Aethelward was correct and my tale of Brother Aidan and his blessing added truth to the story for he was well known by all. It was Morag who inadvertently gave us our first intelligence. “If you are heading back to the land of the Angles then do not go south for there are many warriors there and I think you will find neither rooms nor food.”

  “Oh many warriors eh? Thank you. It is kind of you to warn us.”

  “Well we have had them travelling through here for the past month.” She leaned over to speak confidentially to Aethelward, “They do not like to pay either. I was glad to see the back of them. At least when the new king came through here he paid.”

  “He was not with his army then?”

  “He travelled with his guards a week before them.”

  “Then it was a mighty host?”

  “He must have emptied the lands of Gwynedd.”

  “Mighty indeed and timely advice. You are a gracious hostess and I will tell other travellers of your hospitality.”

  She reached over to pat the back of his hand with a lascivious look in her eye and I suspected that had I not been there then Aethelward would have had the company of the widow’s bed that night.

  When we met Ulf and Ridley I wondered if we would be heading to Earl Harold but my uncle showed that he knew me better than I knew myself and he explained why we would not be following that particular course of action.

  “There is little point in returning to our lord with such scant information. What kind of troops does he have? Who are their leaders? What is their state?”

  “But uncle how do we find that out?”

  “Simple. We visit their camp and see them.”

  I could not think of an answer but it seemed most hazardous to me that we would risk all by visiting the camp of our enemy. I did not see the wry smile Ulf gave my uncle for, once again, my uncle was several moves ahead of me on this particular chess board.

  We eventually found the Welsh army just across the Severn from Hereford. It was a mighty host although I had not seen more than fifty men together before then and perhaps my judgement was coloured. The army filled a number of fields and seemed to be mainly archers but the warriors who were armed with spear and shield looked formidable enough. My uncle led the two of us into the heart of the camp. I was terrified. I expected
to be slaughtered at every juncture although no-one showed us the slightest interest. We were just two would be warriors riding through the camp. Aethelward had donned his mail armour and carried his shield at his side. He told me to hang my axe from my pommel, wear my helmet and sport my shield across my back. I suppose it all added to the illusion that we were volunteers although I knew the moment I opened my mouth they would know that I was English. What terrified me the most was that he headed directly for the tent which sported the flag of the Welsh dragon; he was taking us to their king Gruffyd Ap Llewellyn. I wondered if he had become mad during our journey through Wales.

  When we reached the tent we were confronted by two axe men. Both wore shining armour and had high helmets topped with white feathers. The swords and axes at their side left me in no doubt that these were two of the King’s bodyguard. Aethelward nodded for me to dismount which I did with some difficulty for my knees were shaking uncontrollably. My uncle seemed totally at ease and said to the guard, “Tell the king that Aethelward the Saxon is here.”

  This was it, I thought. I would end my life killed in the camp of the Welsh army. I had killed a bandit but that would be the extent of my feats for these two guards before us could destroy me in an instant. Aethelward smiled down at me as though to reassure me but I still thought him mad. If I could have done so I would have fled from the camp but I knew that my body would have been plucked from my saddle by many arrows.

  The guard returned and nodded to my uncle who waited. The flap of the tent opened and there stood the king. I assumed he was the king because he wore a small crown but he could have been anyone. His armour was scale armour and shone like burnished gold. He looked sternly at me and then at Aethelward and then, suddenly his face burst into a grin and he embraced my uncle. I was astounded. “Aethelward! What in God’s name brings you here?”

  He gave a small bow and said,” Your majesty, my nephew and I were at the shrine of Saint Asaph and we heard you were in the south of the country. My nephew said he had never met a king. As you are the only king I know I thought we could journey here on our way south.”

  It was then that I knew how clever my uncle was. He had used the little truth we had in our story and used it to provide a plausible excuse for our presence. I followed and bowed my head.

  “And your nephew’s name?”

  “Aelfraed.”

  “Well Aelfraed. Welcome to my kingdom. Come, the two of you, join me in some wine and then I can catch up with your life.” He noticed the limp and nodded. “I can see that it has been eventful, come.”

  I was too stunned to even think about speaking and I sat there as the two men reminisced. It turned out that my uncle had fought as a mercenary against Earl Leofric of Mercia for Gruffyd and earned the respect of the king. The men were of an age and it explained why my uncle had been chosen for this task.

  Later as the evening drew darker and the alcohol flowed freer the King began to ask questions of Aethelward that would have worried me had I been the one being questioned.

  “So old friend, what do you do now?”

  “Now? I escort my nephew back home.”

  “Ah and is home the court of King Edward?”

  I suddenly realised that this was warrior speaking to warrior and Aethelward could not in all honour lie. “Our home is now in Northumbria at Medelai.”

  “Ah. Not the court of Earl Harold, your friend.”

  “I have many friends your majesty. That is what comes of fighting for so long but as you can see,” he tapped his leg, “I fight no more.”

  The King seemed relieved. He turned to me, “And Aelfraed, I see that you have trained; would you be a warrior and stand in the shield wall as your uncle did?”

  “I would your majesty.”

  “Would you stand in my shield wall?”

  This was a trick question and had I had more alcohol I might have answered with a lie but I saw the quick flick of my uncle’s eyes and deflected the question. “Your majesty would not want an untried youth in his ranks. When I have trained as a warrior then you can ask me again.”

  “I will, young Saxon, for you have a look about you which reminds me of your uncle when he was about your age. He is a famous warrior, the Varangian Guard who fought against the Mercians and helped this Prince of Wales gain his kingdom.”

  As we drank into the night I noticed a sulky looking warrior in the corner. As my uncle was busily pumping the king for information I wandered around the tent trying to find out who he was. Eventually I discovered that he was Cynan ap Ap Iago; the son of a king whom Gruffyd had killed to attain his kingdom. As Iago had been but four when the tragedy occurred he had been brought up by the king as a young noble of the court. There was something about him which disturbed me for he seemed to be staring at my uncle. I took him to be a little older than I was but he had not filled out his body and looked, to my eyes, a little weak. Perhaps I had been used to facing Ridley and that coloured my judgement but I found myself now weighing up warriors as potential opponents. My one victory had been so slender that I was determined not to lose the next time I fought. I managed to position myself in the shadows behind Cynan and his small coterie. They were speaking Welsh but some words did make senses to me especially when I heard Iago almost spit out my uncle’s name. When they all left I returned to my uncle’s side wondering what this Cynan had against my uncle.

  The next morning it seemed that everyone except me was suffering from the celebration the previous night. My uncle’s tales had amused everyone except for the sulky Cynan it seemed and the king was reluctant to let us leave. “Stay Aethelward and be my adviser. You were the cleverest warrior I ever knew and you could aid us.”

  Aethelward then showed me his true nobility for he faced the king and clasped his hands. “I could not do so majesty for you will be fighting my people, the English. I know that you are now allied to Aedgar of Mercia and, having fought his father, I could not be an ally to his son.”

  The king nodded, “Many men would not accept that answer but I know that you are honourable and I would not wish you to fight against your own people.” His face became colder and his voice harsher as he added,” Leave my kingdom in safety but, Aethelward the Saxon, if you return, I will view you and your nephew as enemies. Last night was for remembrance; the future begins today and I will embrace you as a comrade and say goodbye.”

  The two men embraced and I sensed a sadness felt by both men for the times they had shared and the deeds they had done. “Aelfraed, I believe you will be a fine warrior and I hope never to face you in war but if I do then all of the last day will be forgotten.”

  “I understand your majesty and I thank you and your people for their hospitality.”

  With that we rode east towards England. We kept to the rough road which headed east. I knew that Ulf and Ridley were waiting for us in the woods above the track way and was surprised when we did not ride up to them. I was even more surprised when we stopped and Aethelward dismounted to examine his mount’s hooves. I had been following and seen nothing untoward but I had learned to trust my uncle and his decisions. As he knelt down he spoke to me. “I cannot see them but I believe we are being followed.”

  “That is why you did not head up to Ulf.”

  “Aye. We will continue along here but keep your ears open.”

  As we trotted eastwards I felt I ought to tell him about the young man and his friends. “There was a group of men who did not sound like they liked you last night.”

  Aethelward laughed. “That is not surprising as I am English and the Welsh have no love for us.”

  “No this one was a young man and he seemed to glare at you all night. I heard some of their words but they were in Welsh.”

  “Do you have a name?”

  “I think the young man was something Ap Iago.”

  “Ah that makes sense then, I fought against his father and helped take his kingdom for Gruffyd.”

  I somehow felt relieved that I had not been imagining the ev
ent but then I became worried. If this Ap Iago did wish harm to come to my uncle then it would not be as bandits for his companions were well armed warriors. I suddenly realised the danger we were in for the king had made it obvious that, once we left his court then we would be fair game. I kept glancing over my shoulder until Aethelward snorted, “ You will only give yourself a stiff neck doing that. Listen for the sound of hooves. This is why we are on the road and not in the woods. It will be easier for us to hear them this way.”

  I was quite surprised when I heard the bush talking to my uncle until I discovered that it was the voice of Ulf. My uncle did not stop, he merely slowed a little.

  “You are being followed.”

  “I know. How many?”

  “Ten of them.”

  “That makes it difficult. Is there anywhere ahead which we can use?”

  “Aye there is a turn and the road drops a little it will be slow going for horses.”

  “Good then we turn and face them there. Let them pass us and then take them in the rear. Use Ridley and his bow it will disguise our numbers.”

  Ulf spat out, “Will you be teaching your grandmother to suck eggs yet?”

  Then there was silence. I had not even seen the huge man and wondered at how he had hidden himself. I had little time to speculate for Aethelward placed his helmet on his head and said to me, “Arm up nephew for today you will have to face warriors. Use your sword for we have had no time to teach you to use the axe and these warriors will be skilful.”