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  I think that Alfred realised it too for he nodded. “Then I still have much to do to ensure that Petr is schooled. This is harder than I thought.”

  For me this was unexpected. Having to teach Petr had brought out different qualities in Alfred. He would be a much better squire and knight for the experience.

  I also found that the proposed marriages pleased my wife. She was fond of Fótr. He had lost his family in Sweden and we had taken him on. He had been part of my retinue when we had rescued her from those who wished her harm. He had fought for her when little more than a boy. Marguerite had come with us from Sweden and as Petr’s mother made Petr almost an honorary nephew to my wife. The hug she gave me showed me how much she approved. I do not think she had thought it all through. She saw two weddings. She saw the opportunity to furnish a hall. She did not see her son beginning his training to be a squire and, ultimately, a knight.

  Petr began to pester me. He wanted to be tested on those skills he knew he would need to pass the test of knighthood. He rode at the targets. He managed to do so, using just his knees. He fought Henry Youngblood on foot and won. He recited the vows he would take. He even managed to play the rote and sing a ballad. It was not very good but it did not have to be. It just had to be sung.

  “You realise that you have to sing before ladies?”

  He nodded, “I know. Could it be before Lady Margaret, your Aunt Ruth and my mother first? That would give me confidence.”

  I smiled, “We could wait until Maud and Sarah arrive for the wedding.”

  “No lord, that would be a disaster.”

  “Then practise. You have a month. I hold a feast for my knights to honour the dead of Stockton. You can do it then.”

  He agreed. The feast had been begun in the Warlord’s time. Initially it had been to remember Sir Wulfric and Sir Richard but, over the years it had been to remember all the dead warriors who had died for Stockton. When I had been in the Holy Land and Sweden, not to mention Anjou, the celebration had been in abeyance. Since we had returned we had ensured that we remembered the dead for we now had dead of our own to recall.

  As we prepared we heard news from the south that King John had exiled more barons who had opposed his will. The Irish barons had been quashed and some had had estates in England confiscated in reparation for their rebellion. The King was warning all knights of the folly of insurrection. I did not like King John but, since the war against William of Scotland, he had left me and my lands free from his tyranny. We paid our taxes and they were too high. That was a small price to pay to be out of his eye. I think that we were too far north for him to worry too much about us.

  Sir Richard de Percy visited with me. He brought other barons from his lands which lay both to the north and south of mine. We had fought together against William of Scotland. He was a knight whom I could trust. I would stand in a shield wall with Richard de Percy. He was an honourable knight. He was, however, also a rebel. He had lost two manors as a result of King John and he was bitter. He did not like King John and unlike some others was active and vociferous in his opposition.

  As soon as his banner was sighted my wife became worried, “Thomas, Sir Richard is a dangerous man.”

  “He is a good knight and we stood together to fight the Scots.”

  “That I do not doubt but King John has spies everywhere. You risk all by allowing him here.”

  “And can I refuse him? You are condemning him out of hand. He is a friend, he is a neighbour and he visits with me.”

  I could see the worry on her face but she nodded. She would have to trust me and my judgement.

  He swept an arm around my inner bailey and my newly constructed walls. He had a military eye and I saw him appraising its qualities for both attack and defence. “This is a fine castle. You managed to persuade the King to allow you to build walls then?” I nodded, “But not a keep.” He shook his head. “You are a bastion against the Scots. Bamburgh is the King’s castle and it has a keep. Why cannot yours have one too?”

  “I am content. We have made the walls thick. They cannot be mined for there is water around them. My hall is more comfortable than a keep. Besides I have the best of men to defend my walls.”

  “Aye. I envy you your archers and men at arms. They seem to flock to you. I would I had men like that.”

  “What brings you and your fellows here? Had I known we could have hunted.”

  He lowered his voice, “My visit is not about a trivial matter. Thomas, I come here because I know that you are of the same mind as me. You do not trust the King nor do you like him.”

  “However, he is my liege lord. I may not like him and I do not have to trust him. He is my King and I will not be a traitor.”

  “Are you not a traitor to your country?”

  “Those knights who rebelled in Anjou and Normandy, were they patriots? Many had estates in England too. I gave mine up for I have honour. Have they honour? Do not ask me to get into bed with fellows like that.”

  “Thomas, we do not speak war. We speak negotiation. We ask no man to fight King John. If we can gather enough of the great barons of the country to meet with the King we can ask him to grant us rights. And you are one of the great barons.”

  I was intrigued, “Rights?”

  “We seek a council of barons who would be there to ensure that the King behaves in a fair way. He has taken land from men he does not like. That is not right. We wish him to obey the laws of the land.”

  “He is King.”

  “And as King he should obey the same laws as we do. If I took your land you would appeal to the courts.”

  “But we cannot do that with a King.”

  “Not yet but with a Council of Barons there would be men who could arbitrate.”

  “It sounds fair but why should the King allow such a document to be created? What does he gain?”

  “It is not about what he gains. It is about what he loses. The treaty and the document are the conciliatory approach. If he does not choose to agree then we withdraw our support for him. We stop paying taxes. We refuse to serve the forty days we are required. If the King will not support us then we refuse to fight for him.”

  “But you would not fight against him?”

  There was a slight hesitation and then he said, “No, we would not bear arms against our King.”

  I did not believe him but I do not think he lied to me. He meant what he said. He would not bear arms but if the King appeared at his castle with an army then he would fight. I nodded, “I beg you not to mention this again while you are here. I need time to think on this.”

  “Then you are with us?”

  My voice became harsh, “Do not try to put words into my mouth. I said that I will need to think on this and I shall. Now come, everyone will think that we do conspire!”

  Sir Richard kept silent about our talk. He entertained the table with anecdotes about life further north. I knew that he had come to secure my support and my answer had given him just enough encouragement. What his visit did tell me was that this conspiracy was still in its early stages. The exile of Fitzwalter had damaged the barons. He was their leader. Would Sir Richard assume his mantle?

  When Sir Richard and his party left for Topcliffe I was relieved. He would call in at York and I knew, even though he had said nothing, that he would try to strengthen the support for the barons. Perhaps I was a coward. I put the conspiracy to the back of my mind. I had a squire to knight and two marriages to oversee.

  The remembrance feast was an opportunity for all of the knights of the valley to gather. The exception was Sir Ralph. His father in law was at death’s door. The priests had administered the last rites but the old knight hung on. Sir Ralph was missed, as was his wife and children, but we had enough knights with their families to do honour to the dead. It was not a maudlin feast. There was singing and there was gaiety but that came after we prayed to God and then bowed our heads. We remained silent as we remembered those who had fallen. For me that was my father. For Au
nt Ruth it was her brother and her father. Each remembered someone who had died. In the warrior hall the men at arms and archers would be doing the same. We were all brothers in arms.

  Before the celebration could really begin poor Petr had to endure the performance on the rote. He had already done so for his mother, Aunt Ruth and my wife. They had all been supportive and his mother had cried tears of joy. This was his real test. He had to sing before knights and their ladies. They were, however, all friends.

  I knew he was nervous but Alfred and he had worked on a short song. It had the beauty of being an English translation of an eastern song and so easier for him to learn. There was silence as he began.

  I wonder what was the place where I was last night,

  All around me were half-slaughtered victims of love, tossing about in agony.

  There was a nymph-like beloved with cypress-like form and tulip-like face,

  Ruthlessly playing havoc with the hearts of the lovers.

  He finished. He had made a few wrong notes on the rote but he had sung it perfectly. There was silence and then my hall erupted in a cacophony of cheers and applause. Petr was popular. Even before he had been my squire he had come to war with his father Ridley the Giant. He had endeared himself to all by his willingness to do anything that was asked of him.

  I smiled, “Petr, you have passed that test.”

  We both knew that just two remained: the master of languages and reading and writing. Alfred had ensured that those tests were easily passed! He did so flawlessly before my knights and they applauded him. The ordeal over I saw him, and my son visibly relax. For Alfred this was one step closer to his dream.

  I was seated next to Sir William of Hartburn. He had drunk well and, while he was not drunk, he was in a good mood. “Thank you again, lord, for inviting me here. La Lude was a place I loved but I could not be lord there under a French King.”

  “Is it any better here, William? We both know that King John is not the best of kings.” I did not want to embroil William in the conspiracy but I needed to know his views.

  “You are right but you will not allow him to be a tyrant.” He smiled, “The Bishop of Durham learned that!”

  “Then you are happy here?”

  “Hartburn is not La Lude but I like it. I have begun to clear that wood where we were hunting wild boar. Stephen the shipwright has bought the timber from me already. He will use the oak and sycamore for his ships. The rest he will sell to Thomas the timber merchant. I have had all the branches which would make good arrows sold to Harry the Fletcher. It is good wood. Now that the soil has warmed my men at arms and archers will compete to see who can remove the stumps the quickest. David and Andrew, Tom the Pig’s sons have asked me if they could have some land to farm for beans and oats.” He shrugged, “It is not grapes nor is it wheat but I am content. I do not bow the knee to a French King.”

  I sat back and enjoyed the feast. We were relaxed and we remembered well. More than that, we were of one mind. We would not serve a French master. We would not rebel against the King. The Warlord had served his grandfather and his father. Along with his grandmother he had saved England from Stephen of Blois. I had to believe that blood would out.

  The wedding came hard upon the feast. This time we had invited those from further afield. De Percy, de Vesci and the Sheriff were all invited. Only de Percy attended. Sir Ralph and his wife attended. Sir Hugh had died. Once the wedding was over I would use the power given to me by the Archbishop and award Northallerton to Sir Ralph. Sir Petr would have a manor, Whorlton, when he became a knight.

  Petr had worked hard. He had a purpose and he stood his vigil just two nights before the date of the wedding. Father Michael could not marry him on the same day as Fótr; he had banns to read but three weeks after he would be wed. It would be a smaller ceremony without the lords of the north but none the worse for that. My men at arms would all attend with their families for Petr was one of them.

  My hall was filled as was my guest hall. The inns of Stockton did a roaring trade. Lords brought their ladies, their servants and some men at arms. The burghers of Stockton made much coin. Godfrey of Beverley came. He sought an audience with me.

  “Lord, you did all that I asked and more. For my nieces to be married to two of your knights is a dream. I would offer you coin but I know that will you refuse it. You are unusual, not to say unique. I can think of no other knight who would refuse a king’s ransom and do that for which the ransom was intended. Know you that I have money for both my nieces. Their husbands shall want for nothing.”

  I shook his hand, “You are an honourable man. You do what you do for family and that is the most important thing you can do.”

  I had many lords at the wedding. I could not enjoy Fótr’s happiness as much as I would have wished. I was aware that Sir Richard Percy had words he wished to say to me. There were other lords I had invited who were also keen to garner my favour. I was now Earl of Cleveland. Gone were the days when I was a simple sword for hire. There was an expectation now.

  What I did do was to speak with Sir Ralph. I would not burden him with such a large manor as Northallerton without speaking to him. Sir William of La Lude had been more than happy with the tiny manor of Hartburn. Perhaps Sir Ralph would feel the same. As the other guests arrived I took Sir Ralph to one side. I led him by my river. At this time of year, it was beautiful. Herons patrolled the water and trout jumped. The water was as still as an ice flow. We walked down the path which led from my quay to the marshes where migrating birds nested in summer.

  “I am sorry for your loss.”

  “He lived a good life. It was never glorious but he was a happy man. His friendship with you meant more to him than anything. He regaled every dinner with tales of you in Arsuf, Sweden, Anjou. He had never been at any of those places but he knew your story. He was happy in his later years and that is all a man can ask.”

  “You have grown wise.”

  He laughed, “Four children will do that.”

  “And your father?”

  “He died six months since. I should have told you but with Sir Hugh…”

  “Do not apologise. I am sorry. You have lost two fathers.”

  “I lost my father long ago. I know not why he did not return with us.”

  I did but I could not mention it for I had been sworn to secrecy by his father. I changed the subject. “And now I have an offer to make to you.”

  “Aye lord.”

  “Know you that the Archbishop of York gave me the fealty of Northallerton and the manors thereabouts?”

  “I did not, lord.”

  “Well it is true. Ralph, we are alone and you can refuse if you wish. I would offer you the manor of Northallerton.”

  His mouth opened and closed. He looked at the river. A seal had raised its head and then disappeared. “Can I do it, lord? It is an important manor.”

  “Oh, you can do it but the question is do you want to? Whorlton is small and it is comfortable. Northallerton means you have to be polite to men you do not like. You will have merchants who wish you to help them. Farmers will come to you with their problems. There is no pressure here. There are others I can appoint but I know you, Ralph. You are a good knight and Northallerton will be better for your lordship.”

  He nodded, “If you think I can do it then that is good enough but Whorlton, it is a good manor and I like the people there. Who would be lord of the manor?”

  “I have not asked him but I thought to offer it to Sir Peter.”

  “Sir Peter? I know not him?”

  I laughed, “Aye you do. It is Petr. Father Abelard has told me that when he is knighted he needs a Christian name. To us he will still be Petr.”

  “Then I am happy but why did Sir Fótr not need a Christian name?”

  I put my finger to my lips and said, “He should but the priest in Anjou did not know that. This is his wedding day. Do not spoil it!”

  I was happy when all of my guests left. I liked an empty castle. My A
unt, in contrast was as happy as a spring lamb. She had spent too many years isolated in the north. Now she saw the rebirth of Stockton. As the last guest left she took my arm. “Thomas, I loved my brother but he made the mistake of following a king who did not deserve that attention and devotion. I know that you will not make that mistake. I have sat, for three days, listening to the men you invited to the wedding. You are a man of power yet you do not know it. Even the King fears you.” I stopped walking and she nodded. “It is true. Sir Richard Percy seeks you as an ally for he knows that you are one of the few men whom John fears. I am proud of you. My brother,” she crossed herself, “is in heaven and he is telling all that he has a son who is the true heir of the Warlord!”

  Her words meant more to me than any title or plaudit from one of my peers.

  I knighted Sir Peter, as he became, in my hall. There were a handful of knights there but his mother and father were there. Ridley the Giant was a great warrior but I watched tears course down his cheeks as his son became a knight. He would have to call him sir yet I knew that he did not begrudge the title.

  Ranulf and his family, Godrey included, stayed for the second wedding. This one was different. It was one of the men at arms, James Broadsword who explained it to me. “Lord, this is like a wedding from my youth. We are common folk. Lords and ladies might look down on us but this, to me, is as grand as Sir Fótr’s. Is that sacrilegious?”

  “No James, it is honest and I too am pleased that my hall is filled with archers and men at arms. Without them I would be nothing.”

  Chapter 4

  Welsh war

  I had to ride with Sir Peter to Northallerton. It was one thing to tell Sir Ralph that this was his new manor and domain but it was not as simple as that. There were the legal niceties. There were no other heirs and claimants but there would be those who did not approve of my action. They would be local men who sought more coin and more power. By coming with my men at arms and banners flying we told them that any opposition to Sir Ralph would be dealt with by me. My part in the battle of Alnwick and Norham had been noted. There was no trouble. It took a week to complete the formalities. There was no new Archbishop yet; the papal interdict forbade any official appointments. The See was still administered by the dean and canons and thanks to the letter of authority from Archbishop Geoffrey all went through seamlessly. My newly knighted squire used some of Godfrey of Beverley’s dowry to buy some gifts for his young wife. He would move to Whorlton but there was no hurry. Sir Ralph had left archers and men at arms there to guard the small castle. Sarah still needed time to fully recover from her ordeal and Aunt Ruth and my wife, not to mention Marguerite were helping the shy young woman become more confident.