Crusader (Anarchy Book 14) Page 9

  I looked up for another man stood there. He was bigger than John of Chester. He had the red cheeks and nose of a drinker. He had a sword and a metal helmet. His shield had seen better days but he had one. He bowed, “I see you offered that other Englishman something, lord. I am English. What would you offer me?”

  “That depends upon your story. I am William of Aqua Bella.” His eyes widened. “You have heard of me?”

  “I fought against your father at Lincoln.”

  “Robert give the man some wine for I like him already. He tells me he was an enemy of my father and expects me to take him on.”

  The man laughed but took the beaker, “I would kill for a beaker of wine but let me finish, lord.” He downed the beaker in one and smacked his lips. “You may not give me another but I will speak the truth anyway.” I nodded to Robert who poured him another. He drank half. “I thought the war was over. I had fought for Stephen and we had lost. When Stephen was incarcerated I thought it all over and I took ship for the Holy Land. When I reached here I heard that war was renewed and I cursed my ill luck. I could have still had a job.”

  “You care not who you fight for?”

  “I lived in Kent. There, everyone fought for Stephen. I knew not the rights and wrongs. I was soldier. I was paid and I followed orders. When the war began, I was young and I fought for the King of England. Was I wrong, lord?”

  “I can see how you thought you were right. Would you fight for me? And before you answer think on this. I am not here forever. I will return to England someday and I will fight alongside my father. Would you fight against King Stephen?”

  “I will be honest with you, lord. I am a warrior and I fight because I enjoy fighting. I am good with a sword and with a dagger. I am not a clever man. I believe what the priests and my betters say. I will fight for you, lord and I will be as loyal a man as any. I would swear to this on a Bible… a stack of Bibles.”

  I laughed, “I like your honesty.” I took a silver coin. “Do you need anything?”

  He put the coin in his purse and sat next to Tom. “So long as there is wine in that jug then I am content to sit here.”

  Robert shook his head, “What is your name, villain!”

  He was not put out by the insult. He smiled, “Henry son of Will of Dover, captain!”

  John of Chester returned. He had a newly bought cloak wrapped around his other purchases. He sat next to Tom and Henry son of Will. I was contemplating leaving for we had hired two men when two other men rose. They had been sat together but not talking to each other. They spoke in French. Both had worn surcoats. They were so faded that I could not tell what colour they had once been or even if they had had a device upon them. Both had a sword. John and Henry had both been relatively young men. These two were of an age with Wulfric.

  They looked at each other and the one without a beard spoke, “Lord, I am Gaston de Lyons. You have hired these two men. If you seek more then consider us.”

  “Are you friends?”

  “He shook his head, “I had never met Gregor of Basle before yesterday but we have both served in campaigns across Europe. We are not young but we have skills.”

  “Know you, then, that I am English. My name is William of Aqua Bella. I am here to do penance and when that is done I will return to England. If that does not suit then tell me now. I demand total loyalty. If I have that then I will be behind you come what may.”

  Gregor of Basle spoke, “For myself I care not who we serve. I would fill my belly. You have fine mail and a good sword. You are a lord who is successful. I would like to change my luck. Hitherto my lords have been unlucky.”

  “Then drink the last of the jug. Robert go and see if you can find four animals for them. Sumpters, palfreys, donkeys or asses, I care not.”

  Henry downed the last of the wine, “Where do we go, lord?”

  “Just a few miles down the road. You now serve me and I serve the King of Jerusalem!”

  Robert bought four good horses. As he told me later he knew that we would need remounts. The four men might only be guards for Aqua Bella but good horses would not come amiss. When they saw the walls of their new home they were impressed. Once inside they were even more over awed.

  Henry son of Will, as we soon learned spoke first and thought afterwards, “Well we have followed the muck cart and landed in a bed of roses and no mistake.”

  Robert shook his head. The English sense of humour had always been a mystery to him.

  The next morning, I realised that I would need more surcoats. I needed my men to look the same. I would have to return to Jerusalem and have more made. Robert gave them the materials to make their own shields. I wanted us all to look alike. I would need a new helmet for John. The other three would suffice for the time being. I was about to ride into Jerusalem again when there was a cry from the gate. It was Joshua, the duty guard, “Lord! Knights and banners!”

  We hurried to the gate. By the time we reached it, I saw a column of men riding up the road. They followed the de Waller banner. I turned to Francis, who had joined us. “Speak to them. Do not let them know we have a new lord here. I will speak when the time is right.”

  “Aye lord.” I heard the nervousness in his voice.

  “Everyone hide. I want you to appear when I rise!”

  Apart from my new men, everyone smiled. They knew me and they knew why I did this. I had not explained the situation to my new men. This would be a good test of their nerve.

  I had my back to the wall and I looked up at the pole which should have held my standard. It was not yet finished and there was a bare pole. I realised that this would help us. De Waller would have no idea that the manor had been given to me. I heard his voice.

  “Why is your gate barred! Open it so that I may come and take what is due to me.”

  “Lord, I have been ordered not to allow entry to any.”

  “Ordered?”

  “Yes lord, the King has given the manor to another!”

  “I care not. This road is mine and I will take my tithe! The olive oil is the price you must pay for living on my road.”

  Francis glanced down at me. I shook my head. “I am sorry, lord. I cannot admit you!”

  “Then we will take this pathetic little shit hole and I will have your back flayed and you and your brood sold into slavery!”

  I had heard enough and I rose as did all my men. “I do not think my overseer would like that lord nor would I.” I held up the king’s seal, “Especially as King Baldwin has asked me to guard this road from all or did your nephew not tell you that when he skulked back to Ramelah?” I saw his nephew colour.

  Guillaume de Waller was almost the same age as my father. He had a cruel look in his eyes exaggerated by a hawk’s nose. He drew his sword and pointed it at me. “You are the wretch who maimed my knight! I will have your head on my gate!”

  “Are you stupid or are you deaf? I am King Baldwin’s lord of the manor. I am his sentinel of the Jaffa to Jerusalem road. I am a servant of the King of Jerusalem! Sheath your sword or you will suffer the same fate as your knight.” I raised my sword and four war bows appeared over the walls.

  He sheathed his sword, “You are the son of the Greek boy are you not? I have a blood feud with him. Your father killed my cousin, Guy Fitz Waller. I do not forget nor do I forgive. Your family cost my cousin his estates. You have the better of me today but you have but a handful of men. Watch your back, Englishman!”

  “Aye I had better for it is obvious that you are no knight and certainly have no honour. You would be a backstabber! I give you fair warning. I will use deadly force against any who try to hurt those who use the king’s road. The next time my archers will not maim they will kill. You do not frighten me, de Waller. If you are so confident then fight me here and now before my walls!” It was a gamble for I had not seen him fight but my father had always taught me to beard bullies. There was a silence which seemed to echo off the cliffs above us. Every eye was on de Waller.

  He bro
ke the silence. “I will not soil my sword on you. The next time I see you then you die!”

  I laughed, “But obviously not by your hand! You will have one of your lackeys do the job. No matter, I will fight any man you nominate as a champion! Do you have confidence in any of them?”

  Once again it was a bluff. His men looked eagerly at their leader waiting for him to choose one. He did not and I saw the hearts ripped from them. He did not think he could defeat the son of King Henry’s Champion by fair means. It was a victory!

  We watched them turn away and ride back down the road. I saw that Francis was sweating. Garth and my men grinned. Henry son of Will shook his head, “I’ll say this for you, lord. You have a pair of balls on you!”

  Robert shook his head and Garth grinned and clapped Henry son of Will on the back, “You have it right there, brother!”

  Leaving Gregor and Gaston to watch the gate, we headed indoors. “I take it we stay here tomorrow, lord?”

  “No Robert, we patrol the road. We ride all the way to Jaffa if we have to for I think that he will attack a caravan, any caravan and we will punish him!”

  Chapter 7

  Gaston de Lyons had proved himself to be the natural leader. Henry son of Will spoke the most and was the loudest but many of his words were empty; they were harmless but had no substance. I left Gaston in charge.

  “I know not if they might attack the manor. If they did then it would be a mistake but be on your guard. We still have people working in the field. Have John in the top tower. He will keep a good watch and he has reason to hate the de Wallers.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I rode Remus again. There was nothing wrong with Romulus but Remus seemed to understand every nudge of my knee or flick of my wrist. My father had had the same relationship with his horse Scout. He had never been the biggest of horses but he had been the cleverest.

  We used a different formation. Garth and the archers were at the rear with Alf. If we came upon trouble then Alf would hold the horses while they rained arrows upon the enemy. The six of us would have to deal with whoever we came across. Unless the Lord of Ramelah used all of his knights and sergeants then we stood a chance. We had left before dawn. Our new cloaks were much lighter and I noticed the difference as soon as the sun came up. I was not as hot as I had been.

  I used my eyes to search for danger. I had ridden the road a few times now and was getting to know it well. I could see something which was out of the ordinary. We did not take the trail after Shilat. We kept to the road. It was Tom’s ears which picked up the noise of battle. The caravan which was being attacked must have camped north of Ramelah and had been heading up the road when it was stopped. Ramelah lay twelve miles to the south of us. The land through which we travelled was riven with ravines, gullies, twists and turns. We found the caravan in one such narrow valley. The men of de Waller had the camel drivers on their knees. The sergeants were not keeping watch and, as we came around the bend, we surprised them.

  There were twelve sergeants and four knights. The knights were mounted while the sergeants appeared to be examining the cargo. All of them turned when they heard our hooves and saw the six of us. I recognised Guy de Waller. With him were three knights, all older than he was. The young knight pointed at me, “It is the knight my uncle spoke of! It is the Englishman!”

  The knight to whom he spoke already had his sword out. He pulled his horse’s head around. “This is no business of yours. Our lord’s castle is close to here. We collect his taxes.” I looked at him. He had a swarthy complexion and the blackest hair I have ever seen. His beard and moustache were oiled. His armour looked different too. I could not quite place its origin but it was not Norman.

  I saw that some of the men who were on their knees had bloodied faces. One looked to be the merchant whose caravan this was. Ignoring the knight, I said to the man, “You should not have to pay a tithe for using the king’s road. When I have dealt with this bandit then I will escort you hence.”

  The knight roared, “Bandit! I am Roderigo of Santiago! I will have your head for that.”

  I had my spear couched, “I warned you de Waller and now you pay the price.”

  The four knights galloped towards the six of us. They saw but one knight, a young squire and four men at arms. They did not know that my men at arms were armed as they were. Any of them could have been a knight. They chose to serve me instead. I rode at Roderigo. From his name, he was Spanish. I had never fought a Spaniard. I was not arrogant enough to believe that I would win just because I had won every tilt before now.

  He cleverly used the road. It was narrow and I did not have the space to manoeuvre as I might have liked. I did, however, have the advantage that I held a spear and he only had his sword. I pulled back the spear and kept the head high. He did as I expected. He pulled his shield higher. At the last moment I punched, not at his head but at his leg. He almost got the shield down in time but my spear head scraped along his boot and into his horse’s side. In pain, it reared and the knight fell to the ground.

  A second knight clutched the arrow in his shoulder. I whipped Remus’ head around and rode at the third knight. He did have a spear. The road was narrow and neither of us could use the speed of a galloping horse to knock the other from his saddle. The knight was older but I could see that he had not jousted as much as I had. The head of his spear wavered up and down. Mine rested on the cantle of my saddle. As he punched forward I concentrated on my strike. My left hand flicked up and the spear slid up the leather cover of my shield. I punched over his cantle, towards his middle with my own weapon. It is almost impossible to use your shield to protect there unless you know that is where the blow will come. My spear head tore through mail and I felt it strike something soft. The knight’s spear dropped and he turned his horse to gallop down the road.

  I saw that Guy de Waller had yielded and that four sergeants clutched wounds. One lay dead. I turned Remus and had my spear at the throat of Roderigo of Santiago as he stood. “Yield or by God I will have my archers slay every one of you!”

  He looked around and realised that we now outnumbered him. Sheathing his word he nodded. “This will not end today.”

  “I know but it is your men who bleed and it is you who will be walking back to Ramelah.” Without turning I shouted, “Take their arms and their horses. Leave them two for their wounded.” I saw that the wounded knight had stopped just beyond the last camel. He would need help. “Now walk back to Ramelah and tell your lord that your arms and horses are a fine for his banditry. If he objects then tell him to come to Jerusalem and put his case to King Baldwin.”

  Roderigo shook his head, “You know not the Lord of Ramelah! He has powerful allies.”

  “More powerful than the king?”

  He gave me a strange smile, “Perhaps. You are a handy knight. You should join us. There is more profit fighting for the Lord of Ramelah than the king.”

  It was my turn to smile, “And I do not fight for money. That is the difference between us. You have a long walk. Take the water from your saddles, you will need it.”

  We watched them as they trudged down the road which was already becoming unbearably hot. They held their shields above them to afford some shade. I saw that Garth and my archers had scaled the sides of the valley and they watched them from their lofty perches.

  The merchant approached me, “I am Phillipe of Jaffa. Thank you for your intervention. They are not normally so violent. Do we have to pay you now, lord?”

  “No. As I told you, the king has tasked me with keeping this road clear for all merchants. Come, we have some way to go. I would reach Jerusalem today.”

  “Then lead on, Englishman.”

  “No, we will watch the rear. I left them some horses. They may come after us.”

  The camels and donkeys were whipped into line and they began to march up the road. I waved over Tom and Alf. Take the horses and the weapons to Aqua Bella. Warn Gaston that we may have company. You two wait for us there.”


  They nodded, “Aye lord.” Tom handed me the gonfanon.

  Robert rode with me at the back. “This could escalate into a war, lord.”

  “That is why I urged them to have their lord come to Jerusalem. When we reach Aqua Bella then you and I will ride to Jerusalem. I would speak with the king. If I have exceeded my orders then he needs to tell me.”

  “You are like your father, lord. He is single minded. You are both like terriers. Once you have locked your teeth on something then it is hard to shake you off.”

  I laughed, “You could say that of many Englishmen, Robert.”

  We reached my home in the middle of the afternoon. The merchant begged for the opportunity to rest his animals and I acquiesced. Robert and I took the opportunity of changing mounts. We rode Alciades and Leonidas. We had not ridden them much and Remus was tired after his exertions. Francis and my slaves fed and watered the merchant. He showed his gratitude by giving us some of the salted fish he was carrying. Francis’ reaction showed me that it was a welcome gift.

  Phillipe of Jaffa said, “This is a gift and not a bribe, lord. I can see that you are a true knight. I wonder that you are not a Hospitaller.”

  We set off for the last part of the journey and he rode with us. “I am not cut out to be a warrior priest. When I have done what I came here to do I will return to England. The Templars and the Hospitallers are here until their bones bleach by the roads.” He nodded as he took in my words. “Tell me why de Waller’s men waited until you had passed his castle.”

  He shook his head, “I was tired of giving him a quarter of my trade goods. We passed it during the night. It almost cost us for Roderigo of Santiago demanded half. I would have been ruined. A quarter gives me barely enough profit to live. I had been tempted to take the old caravan trail like the Jews but I fear the bandits and the Turks.”

  “We patrol there too. We left many bandits dead the last time. Tell your fellow merchants that the road twixt Shilat and Ginaton is not as dangerous as it might have been.”