The Fallen Crown Read online

  It was a greenway which led east but we were all good riders. Rafe and Long Tom rode ahead. I kept my banner furled. I could not believe that Cumin would risk my wrath by sending men to raid my lands. However he might be scouting out my borders to see how well they were guarded. That would make more sense. I knew that the village of Fissebourne had been prosperous once. It lay on the road to Hartness. Could that be a target? I was speculating and I had to find them. When we struck the Roman Road we saw their sign upon it. Rafe waved to us. He was north of where we had joined the road. Horses had travelled upon it and they had left marks showing that they were heading east.

  "What lies east of here?"

  "Middleham lord."

  In the distance I could just make out smoke rising from the settlement. Long Tom said, after leaping down to examine some horse droppings, "This is fresh, lord. They passed here not long ago."

  I spurred my horse, Lion, and led my men on the turf road east. I hefted my shield. If they were just ahead then we needed to be ready. We spied them within a mile of leaving the road. They were ahead of us and making their way to the small village. Larger than Auckland it had a palisade running around it. I think it was to keep animals out for a horse could mount it easily. I did not need to give orders. As I drew my sword I heard the rest of my men at arms and squires doing the same.

  The raiders were racing towards the village in a mass. There was no order save that the knights and men at arms were at the fore. I heard the screams as the villagers realised they were being attacked. The thunder of our hooves made those at the rear look over their shoulders. When they saw us I heard a wail and shouts of alarm. As I brought my sword across the back of one of the men on foot I knew that the shout had been too late. We were among them. My sword laid open the leather jerkin and his back to the bone. He fell silently from his horse.

  Those nearest me tried to flee out of the way. When I saw arrows pluck some from their saddles then I knew that Dick had dismounted his archers. I could leave the ruffians to him. It was Sir William Cumin who turned first and tried to form a line to face us. It was too little and too late. They were stationary and we were galloping. I had no need to make for William Cumin. He wanted revenge but he did not come alone. I saw that the knight next to him had the same livery and had been stood on the gatehouse with him. He was another cousin.

  They came at me on either side. I had to focus on William for he came at my sword side. I would rely on my shield to protect me from his cousin. We met sword to sword and they rang like church bells as they clashed. My shield arm took a heavy blow from the sword of the younger Cumin. I pulled my reins to my right as I heard Gilles shout to Richard to attack the knight. Cumin's squire jabbed a spear at my shield as I passed behind Cumin's horse. I kept my saddle but only just. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Gilles swing his own sword at Cumin's squire. I found myself behind an unsighted William Cumin and he was desperately trying to see where I was. My men at arms were amongst his and mine were the superior of any. I brought my sword over my head and struck him on his left shoulder. He shouted out in pain. Something had broken. His reins were in his left hand and his horse just kept going. The Scottish knight tried to turn to face me but he could not. I spurred Lion and he leapt forward. I brought my own sword before my body and, as I passed him, I swung it across his body. It hit his chest and he tumbled over the back.

  As I turned my horse around I saw Richard struck from his horse by the last Cumin. He cruelly tried to make his horse trample the helpless squire who lay winded on the ground. An arrow came from nowhere and struck the knight's shield. He turned and fled with his squire.

  Gilles reined in next to me as did Edgar. They protected my sides.

  "See to Richard!" I turned my head as Gilles leapt from his horse. Richard Cumin and his squire were galloping north. I could see their shields were stuck with arrows. Dick had done his best. The rabble, the ones who remained had also fled and all that were left were two men at arms and William Cumin who groggily stood.

  I remembered the villagers at Auckland. I rode up to William Cumin. "You have no honour Cumin. You and your uncle are bandits both!"

  His helmet had fallen to the ground and I saw the sneer on his face. "The treasury in Durham is full. Ask for your ransom!"

  "I told you before I wanted no ransom."

  He looked at me with surprise, "You will let me go?"

  "I will release you, yes! Hang them!"

  He tried to move towards me, "I am a knight!"

  "You are a bandit and a villain. Hanging is your punishment. Wilfred, Edgar, strip him of his armour. Let him die naked. That is my order!"

  The two men at arms were resigned to their fate. From their scarred faces and arms they were veterans. They knew what to expect. William Cumin was stunned. He dropped to his knees before he was unceremoniously hauled up again and his mail lifted from him. With ropes around their necks the three of them were dragged to the nearest tree and the ropes thrown over. My men at arms looked at me and I nodded. They began to haul on their ropes. The men at arms went limp until they were half way up and then they violently threw their legs to one side. Their necks broken, they died relatively quickly. They had seen men hanged before. They did not want to choke to death. Better a broken neck than that death. Cumin, however, did not and he wriggled like a fish on a hook. I saw his cheeks and face grow purple. He gasped for breath. It was not a quick death. Without his armour he was light and it took some time for him to die. Eventually his body went limp and began to sway gently from side to side.

  "Leave their bodies there. Collect the horses, armour and weapons."

  I rode back to Richard. He was standing when I reached him. "I am sorry, my lord. He defeated me."

  "He was a knight and you are a squire. There is no shame." I saw that Gilles had slain the squire who had tried to kill me. "And thank you Gilles."

  He grinned as he held up the dead squire's broken sword. "Alf's sword proved stronger lord. The squire had fine armour but his sword was cheaply made."

  I nodded, "Your sword should be the best that it can be. Ride to the villagers yonder. Tell them they can have the dead horses but they should leave the bodies there until they are collected." Two of the enemy horses had been killed. Their flesh would not go to waste.

  Richard asked, as he mounted, "Who will collect the bodies, lord?"

  "Cumin will know of our attack and he will send men to recover his nephew."

  "And us, lord?"

  "We will head back to Stockton. The danger here is passed. I have no doubt that more men will raid but not for some time. I have other plans to make."

  We captured two of the stragglers as we headed back to our castle. I thought to hang them but then realised that they were just ordinary warriors. Both had the accents of the Scots who came from north of Bamburgh. We took them back to our castle and put them in the dungeon with Edward Fitz Mandeville. I tired of using my own men to wait on him hand and foot. It amused me to use the Scots to do so. The fact that they were meanly dressed displeased him. It was a petty victory for me but one I enjoyed, nonetheless.

  Chapter 7

  We now had so many horses that I was forced to send some to my other knights. They would not go to waste. The mail and armour went to Alf. He reused the ones which were poorly made and repaired the rest. I saw that we had had an influx of refugees from the north. The privations of Durham had driven them to shelter. There was now a wasteland to the north of us. It was as though a plague had descended and wiped out life there. I resolved to visit with the Empress when my ship next returned. I would take a small number of men at arms. I could make the journey in ten days. I would wait for my ship in case she brought any news.

  In the meantime I held sessions. The crimes were petty but my people needed to see that justice was done. It was a necessary part of my task as lord of the manor. As William the Mason had returned I sat and planned more improvements for my castle. Now that the leat had been cut for the waterwheel which
would grind the grain I needed some protection for it. He and his sons built a small extension to our curtain wall and improved the tower which overlooked it. If the Scots came again they would be in for a shock.

  As August approached I prepared to leave. We expected 'Adela' daily. My oathsworn were all ready to ride at a moment's notice. I was, therefore, surprised when a rider from Sir Hugh Manningham arrived one evening. It was Oswald. He was a scout often used by Sir Hugh. I knew him well. When he began to speak I understood why he had been chosen.

  "My lord, Sir Hugh sent me with dire tidings."

  I nodded. The outer bailey was no place for such discussions. "Come to my Great Hall. Gilles, find my knights and captains. I would speak with them."

  When they were gathered I said, "Speak. What is the message from your lord?"

  He looked around at my knights. He knew them and seemed satisfied that he could speak, "My lord warns you that you have upset Prince Henry, the Earl of Northumberland. William Cumin and Osbert Cumin were both his knights."

  "How does he know this?"

  Oswald seemed a little uneasy. He was not noble born but he was trusted by Sir Hugh. "Sir Hugh has had to come to an understanding with the Prince Henry, lord. We were alone and..."

  "I understand. Neither you nor your lord needs to apologise. We have left him isolated far from any help. So, Prince Henry told your master that he was angry with me?"

  "More than that, my lord. He said he would send men to teach you a lesson! My lord sent me to warn you that he would come south and punish you. He is gathering an army north of the Tyne."

  I looked over to Dick who shook his head. He said nothing but Dick had a wise old head on his shoulders.

  "And did your lord know where the attack would come?"

  "He said that Balliol was in the Earl's company and he believed that he would attack Barnard Castle and recover his lost land."

  I nodded. "I thank you, Oswald. You have risked much." I gave him a gold piece. "Richard take him to Alice and have him fed. He can sleep in the warrior hall this night."

  When he had gone I said, "Well?"

  Dick shook his head, "Prince Henry is no fool. Remember the battle at Northallerton, lord? He nearly wrested victory from us. He intended Sir Hugh to believe that Barnard Castle was the intended target."

  I saw Gilles and Richard look at each other. It was obvious that they had not thought of that as a ploy.

  Sir Harold said, "Last time they attacked Barnard Castle we met them there. Stockton was left with a tiny garrison."

  I nodded, "I gambled and won. Perhaps this time it is Prince Henry who gambles. He knows I am spread thin but he does not know of the reinforcements we have received from Anjou."

  Sir John asked, "Would we stand behind Stockton's walls, lord?"

  I shook my head. "That would allow him free rein. If we were trapped here he could pick off Piercebridge and Gainford. He could destroy Norton, Hartburn and Elton. We would give him the Tees valley if we did so. No, we meet him on the field of battle."

  "Where, lord?"

  "We force him to attack Norton and we fight him there on that boggy ground."

  "And how do we do that, lord?"

  "The same way Prince Henry did with us. We tell him." I saw confusion on their faces. "I will devise a way. Tomorrow Dick I want you to ride to Barnard Castle and warn Sir Hugh. I may be wrong. If so he must hold out alone. Then ride to Sir Philip and ask him to keep watch to the south west of Durham. Sit Tristan, your father needs warning and I need him and his men at arms. Sir John, I need Wulfric and his men at arms and archers."

  "If Prince Henry brings a mighty army then we will be outnumbered."

  "Perhaps but we have a good defensive position. If things go awry we can fall back to Norton and thence to Stockton. I will go to Sir Edward myself and give him the information."

  After they had gone I sent for Aiden and his men. I gave them precise instructions. Oswald left before dawn with a letter to his master from me. I took Richard and Gilles and went with Wilfred and Edgar to the dungeon. "Come to mock me again? Were these two savages not enough punishment?" I saw the look of hatred they gave him.

  I shook my head. "Your cousin has still to accede to my demands but that will have to wait. I fear I must move you. I have just had intelligence that the Scots under Prince Henry intend to attack us here in the valley. I need to move my forces to protect my castles. I must take you to safety for you are valuable."

  He frowned as though he suspected something. "Where will you move me?"

  "Just across the river. Your servants can go with you."

  "I beg of you, Earl, do not leave me with these savages! They stink and I cannot understand their gibbering!"

  I nodded, "They can help you across the river and then they will be returned to the dungeon." They both glared at me. "You insolent pair! Think yourselves lucky that you were not hanged like your masters!"

  "Sorry, lord."

  "Now pack the lord's belongings and do not try anything. My two men at arms will cut your throats as soon as look at you."

  My gesture seemed to placate Fitz Mandeville. He became almost civilised. "If the Scots come here will you wait behind your walls?"

  "I dare not. It is likely they will attack either Barnard Castle or come down the road from Durham. I will wait to the north and west. Hopefully I will find out which way they come and then meet them."

  He shook his head. "You gamble!"

  "When you have as few men as I do then you have to. If lords like yourself fought the Scots instead of me this would not be happening." The two prisoners had gathered Mandeville's things and they now stood. "Come, we will walk to my ferry."

  Ethelred had been warned of our arrival and he had the ferry already there. It was a high tide which was on the turn. The water was flowing quickly towards the sea. He had to stand at the steering oar holding it against the powerful current. "Wilfred, Edgar, watch Baron Mandeville. You two, load the ferry." The two of them carried the Baron's belongings to the front of the ferry. They had no sooner dropped them than they hurled themselves in to the river and were soon swept towards the sea.

  Wilfred shouted to the two archers who stood guard there, "Loose your arrows."

  Although they released three arrows each they failed to hit anything. I shook my head and grinned at Wilfred, "Take the Baron back to the dungeon."

  Baron Mandeville stared at me and then his face became redder. "You used me! You never intended to move me at all. This was a ploy to deceive the enemy!"

  "It is time you paid for your keep. Take him away. I must see Sir Edward."

  As Ethelred took us across the river Gilles said, "How do you know they will survive?"

  "I don't. The Baron was correct. I am gambling but I think it is likely that they will. If they run all day and night then they can reach Durham and I have no doubt that the Cumin family will ingratiate themselves with Prince Henry and tell him all."

  Sir Edward found my trick highly amusing but he became more serious when I explained my whole strategy. "What would you have from me, my lord?

  "As many men as you can spare. We will tie the ferry to the south bank. If this all goes wrong then there will be survivors and they can flee to my castle. Your family could join them."

  "But you do not believe that you will fail."

  "No. We will use Dick's archers to have a screen reaching from Hartness to west of Thorpe. Sir Phillip's archers will cover the western flank. We are all mounted and I cannot believe that Prince Henry will be. He will be slower than we are. I will adjust my plan if I am wrong."

  My men began to trickle in to my castle. I met with Alf and the men of Stockton. I told them what I needed from them. They were happy to defend my walls along with John of Craven and my Frisians. I waited for news from Aiden and his men but none came. 'Adela' docked two days after Oswald had left. This time she only brought ten more men but they were welcome. They would have a baptism of fire. I wrote a letter to the Empress telli
ng her of the possible attack. I had planned on visiting with her. I would have to defer that now until the autumn. He also brought the unwelcome news that the Bishop of Ely had had to flee to Gloucester. His attack had failed. I was now the only island of hope for the Empress.

  We had some good news the following day. Sir Hugh and Sir Phillip had ambushed and destroyed a column of forty men marching from Carlisle to aid Prince Henry. It was doubly welcome news for it also meant that the attack would be in the east rather than the west. I sent my men at arms to begin to prepare the defences on the ridge close to Wulfestun. I had stakes prepared. I intended to funnel my enemies to where my archers could make a killing. The stakes would be kept until we knew the ultimate destination of our enemy.

  It was Edgar who brought the news. The Scots were heading south from Durham. It was a smaller army than I had expected. They numbered less than four hundred. It was just the Prince's men who were coming south. I knew that most of his better knights had fallen at the Battle of the Standard two years earlier. It gave me hope. I sent Sir Harold with fifty mounted men at arms and my standard. He went to block the Durham road at Thorpe. The rest were with me north of Norton and we waited. I watched the sun set in the west. The sky looked threatening and I wondered what the new day would bring. Aiden and his two scouts had arrived. They looked weary.

  "The Scots are camped north west of here by Fissebourne. There are three hundred and fifty of them."

  "Has he lost some?"

  "He sent scouts out and not all returned." He grinned, "Ten of them fell to us but I will not take credit for the rest."

  "Good. Eat and then make sure they are heading this way."

  "Aye lord." He nodded to Edgar and Edward. "They both did well. They can scout without me if you wish."

  "I will always need you, Aiden, you know that!"

  The Scots liked to use lightly armed warriors on small ponies. They could cover great distances. They were, however, vulnerable to my archers. I had no doubt that Dick's archers had slain those that Aiden had not. After dark we heard the sound of movement to our left. I had the men stand to. It was with some relief that we saw it was Sir Harold. He dismounted and his squire handed my standard to Gilles.