Baron's War Read online

  I reined in and looked to La Lude. The sight of the standard leaving the field followed by the knights had ended the battle. Men at arms and the levy fled south and east. Even as I watched I saw David of Wales’ archers bring down more of them. Looking towards the fleeing French I saw that Fótr and Ridley had stopped. Then Fótr triumphantly raised the French standard. He had managed to take it! Victory was ours! We had won.

  King Phillip

  Chapter 7

  We could not leave for home for some time. We had captured knights and we had bodies to remove. This was our land. We would not pollute it with enemy dead. After taking what we needed from the tents, the dead, the chests and the captives, we made a pyre and burned the enemy bodies and their ram. We stayed the night in La Lude and the next night too. I wanted to make certain that the French had gone. Sir William led his own horsemen to follow the French. The trail was easy to find. Some of their wounded had died and others had discarded weapons. They followed them back to the outskirts of Tours.

  Before we left I said to my knights. “I do not think they will send a small army next time. It will be the whole French army. None of you have a castle strong enough to withstand them. When you spy them approach then flee to my castle.” They looked at each other as though they doubted the wisdom of my words. “Do you have ransom you can pay?” They shook their heads. “Then listen to me and I will teach you how to play this game. Flee to La Flèche! When King Phillip comes then I will talk for you all. I have not served you ill thus far. Trust me for a little while I beg you.”

  Sir Edward said, “Of course they will!” he turned and glared at the three of them. “Sir Thomas knows his business.” He shook his head. “All of you have what you have because of one man, Sir Thomas! Act like men!”

  His scornful words had the desired effect. They all nodded. We headed to our castles. We had left good men in the churchyard at La Lude but we returned home in good spirits for we had won and my men at arms were rich!

  My wife was just relieved that I was well and my men had not been hurt. Sir Richard had lost a few of his men and I could see that it had disturbed him. He ate with his new squire and his men in the bastion. It meant I ate with my wife, squire and son.

  My wife said, “The ‘Swan of Stockton’ docked this morning. I think the captain has a letter for you.”

  I was desperate to read it but it would have to wait until the morning. My wife and my son needed me there. Alfred was keen to hear all of the details of the battles. I was in no mood to do so and I let Fótr take over the task. He was a good storyteller and Alfred was engrossed.

  My wife knew me well and she remembered the late-night conversation we had had. “Did the battle change your mind, my love?”

  “The opposite; it confirmed what I had already thought. There is more. I no longer lead knights who are all of one mind. I cannot lead knights who do not believe in me. I owe it to them to secure their future and that will not be easy.”

  “We could just leave for England, my love.”

  “I have never run away from conflict in my life and I will not begin now. It is not just my knights that I worry about. They are, if anything, the least of my problems. It is the men who chose to join me and the people who live in the four manors. No, I will have to think my way out of this problem but I can still make plans. In the morning I will speak with our captain. Then I can begin to make plans. We will need more than one ship. I will ask him to find other ships for me.”

  “And when do we leave?”

  “That is out of my hands and depends upon King Phillip. If he does not come soon then we have time to prepare. We use the time well. We will need money in England. I will see Geoffrey and make sure that we have coin we can take back. We have other goods we can take back or sell. I know not what Whorlton will yield in terms of income.”

  My wife was perceptive. “And which men will you take with you?” She had got to the heart of it.

  “I would take them all but I suspect that many, especially those with local wives, will want to stay. Ridley and those who married Swedes will come. Sir Edward has already made his choice. I will have to speak with them but first I will make certain that we have ships and we have the means to leave.” I hesitated. “I must go in secret to Angers. I must speak with William des Roches. He promised me once that he would repay me for the favour I did him. I will now call in that favour.”

  I was up early and made my way to the docks. Henry, son of William was watching his men replace one of the sails. He looked relieved to see me, “Lord, I heard that there was a battle to the east of here. I am pleased that you survived.”

  I nodded. “We need to talk privately.”

  “Of course. Come to my cabin. It is a little small but we cannot be overheard.”

  Small was an understatement. There was a table and a chair and that was all. “You sleep here?”

  He laughed and pointed to a large metal hook screwed into the side of the cabin, “I have a piece of canvas which is slung between these two hooks. It is restful.” He opened his chest and took out a letter. “I will give you this before I forget.”

  I put the letter inside my surcoat. “My family and I will be leaving this land but I know not when.”

  He nodded, “When I took Sir Ralph back to England I gathered as much. It was a long voyage and he told me what was likely to happen. And you would take your men and horses?”

  “As many men as I could take and the best of my horses.”

  “Then ‘Swan’ will not be sufficient.”

  “No, can you find me more ships?”

  “You have gold and that guarantees that someone will take you. You need it to be someone you can trust. The men on this river and the Loire know you. I will sail to Angers and make discreet enquiries.”

  “Once you have secured their services then I would need you close to hand. Would you be able just to take short voyages?”

  “Of course. I know the river well and now that the French own most of Anjou it is easier to navigate. There is plenty of trade between here and Nantes.”

  I gave him some coins to secure the services of other captains and I returned to my home. I summoned Margaret. I wanted her to be there when I read the letter.

  Thomas,

  I can now address you as such. Sir Ralph came here before he went to Whorlton and delivered your letter. He allowed me to see the parchment. This is joyous news! When do you return?

  I pray that it is soon for my husband, William, is not well. He has the coughing sickness. I know not my position if he dies! We also need you for the Scots are becoming tiresome again. We have cattle raids and slave raids. My husband does his best but the Bishop of Durham is a weak man who spends his time in London and allows his nephew to rule Durham for him. The Sheriffs are more concerned with collecting taxes than defending the land.

  Sir Ralph seems a pleasant knight but he will have his work cut out at Whorlton. It has long been abandoned. The village is run down and over taxed.

  I pray you have a safe journey home and that we are all still here when you arrive.

  Your Aunt,

  Ruth

  My aunt had been indiscreet. If the letter had fallen into King John’s hands then we both might be in trouble. I handed the letter to my wife. She smiled when she read it. “Then we can go to your family home?”

  “I will leave, tomorrow, to visit with William des Roches. He may help me make up my mind.”

  I did not choose Ridley to go with Fótr and me. He stood out too much. I took Padraig the Wanderer. He had the kind of face you forgot in an instant and yet he had served many lords and was a true survivor. We did not wear surcoats and we took no mail. If possible, I wanted to be invisible if I could. I did not ride Skuld. I chose an older palfrey. Perhaps I would be noticed but I hoped not. I planned on arriving early on market day where we could blend in with the others going to make purchases.

  We dismounted a mile from the town walls. We walked our horses. All three of us had
the hoods of our cloaks up. It helped that it was raining. I noticed the damage to the walls and the gate from the siege. William des Roches knew his business. He had taken the citadel easily. He knew how to war and I hoped I would not have to fight him. I wondered what had happened to Brice the Chamberlain. Perhaps he was in the dungeon. He would receive better treatment than the Bretons King John had had him starve to death.

  We managed to slip through because there was a wagon ahead of us which was running contraband weapons to the Cathars. With the seaways blocked the Cathar heretics were desperate for weapons. The sentries ignored us and we slipped silently into the town and headed for my house. I had decided that, even when I left Anjou, I would keep the house. Who knew when I might need it? Old Jean and his wife Anna had lived in La Flèche all of their lives. They would have lived there still if their son, Henry had not killed a man in a fight in the inn. He had been put to death by the family of the murdered man. It had happened when I had been away at war. Henry had been wild but he had been their only son. The family of the murdered man had made their lives unpleasant. I had had to speak to them on a number of occasions. When Geoffrey had suggested them as housekeepers I thought it a perfect arrangement.

  Anna kept the house immaculate. I paid them a wage each week and they lived better than they had in La Flèche. Jean stabled the horses. “Will you want food, lord?”

  “No, we will eat in inns. I would speak with you both.”

  Anna looked worried, “Have we done something wrong, lord?”

  “Of course not. It is just that if King Phillip takes over this land then I must return with my family to England.” They gripped each other’s hands. Were they to be evicted? I smiled, “Fear not. I will continue to pay you and keep the house. When Henry, my captain, calls, he will bring you more money. He may even stay here.” I looked at them. “Can you write?” They shook their heads. “It is no matter. When Captain Henry comes I would have you give him all the news from Angers and La Flèche. It may be many years until I return but I promise that one day I shall. You two will be my eyes and ears here in Anjou.”

  They were both delighted with the arrangement. I felt slightly guilty, using them as spies, but I had paid for the service with the fine house and a pension which would last for the rest of their lives. We ate in a local inn on the river and listened to the talk of the war. It would soon be over. King John was trapped close by Rouen and Peter de Preaux was leading the French forces to take that mighty castle. It was John’s last bastion in Normandy. In two years he had lost Brittany, Anjou and now Normandy. We heard of a crusade, not in the Holy Land but here, in France. The Cathars of Carcassonne were being persecuted. Many swords were heading there. The only bright spot for the Plantagenet family was Aquitaine and Poitou. Aquitaine wanted nothing to do with Phillip and the men of Poitou were still loyal. It was nothing to do with John and all to do with his mother.

  Fótr and I went, the next day to the citadel. I sent Padraig to check on ships which might augment those found by Henry. When we were admitted into the Great Hall, William des Roches roared with laughter. “By God but you make me smile! You are the thorn who pricked John and now irritates the rump of my new King and yet you are able to sneak through my walls as though you are a ghost.” He clasped my arm. “Welcome Thomas!”

  “I was not sure of my reception after La Lude.”

  He nodded. “Sulpice d’Ambroise is no friend of yours but it was a masterful display of horses and archers. You did not come here to seek praise, did you?” I shook my head. “Then on with it.”

  “I am no fool. King Phillip will soon come and either squash us like a river insect or tell me that I must bend the knee.”

  “And that you will never do.”

  “No.”

  “Then what?”

  “I would leave this land and return to England.”

  “Then do so. I told you once that you were free to use the river. It was a heavy hint which you chose to ignore.”

  “It is not as easy as that. Not all of my people would choose to leave. They have families and I would leave La Flèche in the hands of someone I could trust.”

  “You are in no position to bargain.”

  I sighed, “You once said that you were in my debt. I am calling in that favour. I would have you plead my case to King Phillip. I would leave La Flèche in the hands of Sir Richard, La Lude with Sir William and Bazouges with Sir Henry.” I saw him shift uncomfortably. “They will bend the knee. They will be loyal. How many other barons would you trust with such a key town and castles?”

  He stood and wandered over to the fire. The rain of the last few days had made this normally warm part of the land feel cold and damp. “There is merit in what you say and I like the three knights but what of you? Do you give up all claims to manors in this land?”

  I nodded. “Eleanor of Aquitaine gave me a manor in England. More importantly she acquired a document for me which means I can travel in England and live there. King John may not be happy about it but he swore on a Bible.”

  “I would not lay too much faith in that but I admire your optimism.” He looked at me thoughtfully, as though weighing me up. “Very well. I will do so.” He smiled. “There must be something of the soothsayer in you, Thomas. King Phillip is on his way here even as we speak. He left Paris yesterday. He will want to see you! I will ride north to meet him.”

  “Then I will return home and prepare.”

  Padraig was at my Angers’ house when I arrived. “Wasted trip, lord.”

  I was disappointed, “No ships then?”

  He smiled, “Oh no sir but Captain Henry had already spoken to them. Depending upon when we sail we could have six ships; if we need them.”

  “Come let us sit outside on Jean’s bench and watch the river. I would talk.” I picked up the jug of wine Jean had placed on the table and nodded towards the goblets. Fótr picked them up. When we were seated I poured us each a goblet. I raised mine and said, “To La Flèche.”

  “To La Flèche.”

  “Padraig, when we return to my home I intend to ask my men and my archers their intentions. I would know if they wish to risk following me to an uncertain future in England or to stay here and become subject to King Phillip.”

  “I will follow you to England, lord.” He laughed, “It is in my name, Padraig the Wanderer.”

  “Good.”

  “But you wish to have an idea of who else will follow?” I nodded and sipped my wine. “That is a hard question. Some names are easy: Ridley, David of Wales, Mordaf, Godwin, Godfrey. All of those would follow without a moment’s hesitation. My own shield brother, Richard Red Leg, he would come. There are some who have married girls from La Flèche. They would be torn. They would wish to be loyal but they have roots here too.” He emptied his goblet. “I cannot be more accurate than that but I will say that all would wish to follow you! No matter which lord they serve at the moment they all regard themselves as Sir Thomas’ men. Even if they stay part of them will still be owned by you.”

  Fótr poured Padraig some more wine and asked, “And why is that?”

  “Because most of them came here when they had nowhere else to go. Many had been abandoned or rejected and yet Sir Thomas took them all in and made them welcome. He made them safe and that buys loyalty that no gold can.”

  He had given me much to think and made the meeting with my men even more urgent.

  We headed back the next morning. My talk with Padraig and Fótr had cleared my mind. After speaking with Margaret and warning her that we would leaving sooner rather than later I gathered every man at arms and warrior. I left my walls empty, save for Fótr and Padraig, and gathered them in my Great Hall. From Padraig I knew that they were all expecting me to leave. That made it easier.

  “All of you are my warriors and will always be my warriors. However, I cannot serve King Phillip. He comes here soon and, when he does, then I shall leave with my family for a small manor in England. I freely give you all a choice. You may st
ay here, with my blessing, or you may come with me to England. For those of you with families my offer extends to your families. Sir Richard, Sir William and Sir Henry will be staying here. I have hopes that they will be confirmed as lords of their manors.” There was a murmur of conversation and I held up my hands. “I do not need the answer yet. You will need to talk to your shield and arrow brothers as well as your families. Tomorrow I shall be here in my hall and you can tell me your answer then. To those who choose to stay, and that may be all of you, can I say that I will always remember your courage and resolution when we have fought our foes. A lord never led better men.”

  I stood and left. The men drifted out. I saw a couple approach me. I held up my hand, “Tomorrow. This is not a trivial decision. I would have all of you give thought to it. Besides I have four more visits to make.”

  With the walls manned once more Fótr and I rode first, north to Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte to speak with the garrison there. Then I went to Bazouges and across to La Lude. After I had spoken with the garrison I spent some time speaking with Sir William.

  “You know that my heart wishes to come, lord. Marguerite and I have been with you a long time. We remember Sweden.”

  “I know.”

  He pointed to his three children who were playing in the bailey. His eldest, Robert, was a year and a half older than Alfred. “I have roots. Had you asked me while I was still at La Flèche then I would probably have come but building the walls of La Lude and getting to know the farmers and those who live in the village, well it has tied me to them. I am torn. I cannot abandon my people.”

  “And I understand. England will not be easy. From what I can gather Whorlton is run down and poor. Staying here is the right decision for you but I know that I will miss you.”

  “I will always be your knight, lord.”

  “And that gives me great comfort.”

  My last visit, just before dusk was to the bastion. As we took the ferry across the river Fótr said, “The knights have not changed their minds then?”