Earl (6 page)

I wandered over to my men at arms who had found the skins with ale amongst the men from Dublin. Wulfric sat next to Erre.  I joined them.  Erre proffered the skin.  I shook my head, "Thank you, but no."

I sat. Wulfric nodded, "I was just telling these lads that they saved us this day.  I have never seen such ferocious fighters."

I smiled, "I knew, Wulfric, from my father and from what I saw when we fought for the Emperor that they could do what they did and more." I put my arm around Erre's shoulder. "You may not be a rider, Erre but none of my mounted men at arms, save Wulfric could have done this day what you did."

"It was good to fight today, my lord.  William died with a smile on his face." He gestured towards the pyre.  "They were enemies I recognised.  Fighting Thracians is not the same. They are wild tattooed barbarians. This is England and today, I felt I was fighting for England.  I never fought for King Harold.  Today it felt like I was."

My hand went involuntarily to the hilt of my sword and the blue stone.  As Athelstan might have said, '
Wyrd
'.

We broke camp and headed back to Chester. There was still no word from the Earl of Gloucester.  I had expected it before now. Our Welsh prisoners carried litters with some of the wounded while we used two horses to make one for William of Yarm. We reached Chester at noon.  The Earl of Chester's men were still searching the siege works for booty and any enemy who had not fled.

"Wulfric, make camp yonder where we first encountered the enemy.  The land is flat.  I suspect we will not be here long."

I led my knights and squires into the castle. Men cheered as we passed through the gates.  My banner had told them who we were. The castle still looked much the same as it had the first time I had seen it.  The Earl needed to improve it.  Had we not arrived then I fear the reinforcements would have swung the balance in the favour of those besieging. My castle was stronger and had better defences. This siege might just be the spur the Earl needed.

Ranulf de Gernan, the Earl of Chester, approached me.  His smile told me of his happiness.  I had met him before.  Slightly older than me, he had less experience and that had showed. When I had campaigned in Wales with the Earl of Gloucester he had not been with us.

"Thank you for your help.  I fear it would have gone ill for us had you not arrived when you did."

"It was Robert of Gloucester, your father in law, who summoned us."

He nodded, "When you rode away I wondered why, but now that I see how few you were in numbers I understand your strategy.  Where is the Earl?"

"I know not.  I sent riders to him but they have not returned. I discovered from prisoners that their leader is Owain, the Prince of Wales and he is south of here." I pointed to our camp. "I will join him on the morrow. Will you accompany me?"

"Aye but I can only take a few men. There is much work to be done here and we are too close to Dublin to leave this back door to England unguarded."

I nodded, "I have some wounded whom I will leave here.  Some of them can fight.  I also have some prisoners your men can set to work repairing their damage and we captured some grain.  I expect that you are running short of supplies."

"We are! Come.  Let us go into my hall and I will entertain you."

"First I must see to my men.  John, ride to the camp and have Wulfric send over half of the food we captured, the prisoners and the wounded."

Ranulf’s wife was the daughter of Robert of Gloucester.  Maud was lively and vivacious. She had something of her Aunt, Matilda, in her.  Her laughter and her smile seemed to light up the room. They had laid on a meal for us.  It was not as grand as they might have hoped but with our extra supplies it was bearable. Warriors always enjoyed food after a battle.  Even the plainest of fare tasted good when you had been close to death.  After we had finished the two of them questioned me closely about my exploits.

"My father speaks constantly of you.  He entertained us royally with the story of how you have rescued the Empress twice."

I nodded, "Sir Edward here was with me both times.  We are both Knights of the Empress.  It is a great honour." I subconsciously fingered the medal she had given me.  I still bore it around my neck.  Like my blue pommel stone I believed that it protected me.  I am certain that Father Matthew would not have approved of such pagan beliefs. I told them, as modestly as I could, how we had saved her.

Maud clapped her hands, “My lord, you tell a story well.  You could have been a troubadour!”

When the interrogation had finished Ranulf de Gernan asked. "What do you think has prevented Maud's father from coming to our aid."

Maud said, defensively, "If he could have reached us he would!"

I smiled, "Fear not, dear lady, I too, know that it was not carelessness which prevented his arrival.  It is why I have ordered my men to break camp and to leave before dawn. We needed this day to recover from the battle but I have succeeded in the first part of my task, I have relieved Chester, but now I must ride to the aid of the Earl. If he has not come then he must have found trouble.  Owain is the dangerous one."

I saw the look on Maud's face.  It was a mixture of relief and gratitude.

"I wonder how the King of Gwynedd will take the loss of his son."

We all looked at Edward. "I do not know, Sir Edward, but it is not the old man we need to fear.  Owain ap Gruffudd is the real power in Gwynedd these days. If they had been conducting the siege of my castle then I fear it would have fallen.  He is a ruthless man and he is loved by his men.  He is a dangerous foe."

"All the more reason why we will leave early." I rose as did my knights. "I will take my leave my lady." I kissed the back of her hand.  "My lord, I will see you on the morrow."

"We have rooms for you and your knights, my lord."

"Thank you, my lady but, when I can, I share the hardships of a campaign with my men." I shrugged, "It is my way."

When we left to find Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the Earl brought five household knights and ten men at arms. They had suffered too many casualties for more. The Vikings and the Irish had constantly attacked their walls during the siege. We left my wounded men at arms and William of Yarm.  He was recovering and Lady Maud promised to keep a special eye upon him.

We headed south and east to try to meet up with either the Earl of Gloucester or discover the whereabouts of the rampaging Welsh army. I remembered the last Welsh incursion.  The salt and the cattle on the Cheshire plain always seemed attractive to the Welsh.  I sent Dick and four archers out towards Nantwich to see if they could pick up their trail.  As we rode I asked the Earl why he had not fortified the lands to the south and west of his castle.

"There are still Vikings in Man and in Dublin who raid my west coast. I have knights patrolling that area. We had thought the Dee was a barrier. The castles along the border did not seem a priority.  I can see now that they were."

I nodded and pointed to my two young knights who rode ahead of us.  "I have given these two manors which protect my land to the west and the south even though they are safe areas.  Sir Richard has a castle which also guards the crossing of the Tees.  Rivers make good barriers but determined men can cross them.  A castle is a better deterrent."

"But it costs."

"Stone is cheaper than the lives of your people.  I use my gold to make my home stronger."

We spent the next few miles discussing how he might raise revenue without raising taxes.  He seemed pleased with my advice.

It was two hours into our ride that Griff of Gwent galloped in. "My lord, we have found the Earl.  He is being assailed by the Welsh.  They are on a hill some few miles from Nantwich.  There looks to have been an old hall there."

I was just turning to ride to the aid of the Earl of Gloucester when Dick, Aiden and the rest of my riders galloped in. Dick shook his head, "My lord, you are too fast for us.  We rode to the camp but found you gone.  The Earl has need of you.  He is at Deofold."

Ranulf said, "That was where Harold Godwinson had a hunting lodge."

I felt a sudden shiver up my spine.  It felt as though the past was reaching out to me. "And is that the same place that Griff of Gwent spoke of?"

"It is."

I was tempted to gallop off and go to the aid of the Earl but I did not have enough information. "How many men surround him?"

Aiden was a good scout.  "They are mainly on foot.  He has some Vikings but the majority appear to be his own warriors.  They have fifty mounted men and I would estimate almost three hundred on foot."

I turned to Ranulf. "We must make this Owain think there are more of us than there are. And I would drive him south and west towards Oswestry. We will ride north and then east so that we approach this hill from that direction.  If you have your men on the extreme left of our line, Sir Edward and my knights can be on the right and I will occupy the centre with my men at arms." I turned, "Dick, ride on our flanks.  I want him to think you are men at arms. When we charge… if we charge then I want you to close and harass them with arrows."

Aye my lord.""

Ranulf said, "You will trick him?"

"If I can I will defeat him but if he sees us coming from the north east and fears he will be caught between our two forces he may withdraw south and we can rejoin the Earl of Gloucester. Aiden, keep ahead of us and warn us of danger."

I did not wait for further discussion but rode towards the north east.  I used Aiden to keep us in the right direction. He had travelled through the land and knew the best route to take; we had to avoid observation. It worked well for he knew where they were and we would avoid an early confrontation.  I saw the hill to our right as we rode down the greenway.  The hedges and trees obscured our view for most of the way but the occasional glimpses showed us the banners of Robert of Gloucester. Aiden stopped and we joined him.  "There, my lord, the Welsh!"

I followed him to a gap in the hedge line and saw the Welsh advancing in solid lines towards the hill. His knights and men at arms were gathered behind his rear line of spearmen. He would use them to break through when the line had been weakened. The problem I had was that I would have to take my force through the gap and then form them up.  We would be seen.  There was no alternative.

"John, signal the battle to move forward!"

I kicked Scout on and moved up the slope to the top of the field.  We were half a mile from the right flank of the Welsh.  I reined in and John joined me.  The Earl of Chester took his men left and Sir Edward, right. With the Earl's men we had about sixty men at arms and I hoped that our thirty odd archers would make us look more than we were. Our destrier and baggage would have to be guarded by my Varangians, Father John and our servants. I was throwing the dice and our fate was in the hands of God.

I saw the enemy horse reacting. They turned as the word spread that a new force of Normans had arrived on their flank. It would have been a shock but they reacted calmly. They were well led. "John, signal the advance!"

We walked forwards with banners fluttering in the breeze above us. I was sending a message to the Earl as much as I was to the Welsh prince. When a shaft of sunlight shone on our armour making it sparkle I knew that the Prince of Gwynedd would think that my men at arms were knights. It would not be until we were much closer that he would realise who they really were. I watched as they formed into a line. At the same time I saw that the men on foot had stopped their advance.  They had not yet turned to face us but the Earl was, temporarily, safe from attack. He would be able to organise his defence.

"Trot!"

John signalled with the standard and we began to move faster towards our foes. The knights and the men at arms all held long spears which we had captured from the Welsh. I saw that only some of the horsemen who faced us were similarly armed. They too formed into a line and began to walk towards us. They were bravely led for our numbers would appear to outnumber them.

"Gallop!" We were just three hundred paces from them and I knew that we would close very quickly for their line had also begun to trot.

I knew I had to judge this perfectly. At a hundred paces I shouted, "Charge!" It coincided with the enemy beginning their gallop.  I barely had time to lower my spear as the two lines of steel clashed.  I struck a knight who bore a green dragon on a red background. I punched as I leaned forward and my spear hit him hard upon his shield.  He must not have tilted much for he was thrown from his saddle. His lance had been aimed at my head and I watched as it moved from before my face to rise and fall with the knight. I knew that some of my men would not be successful but I had to keep heading towards the group of knights who were gathered around the Prince's standard.

Behind me I heard the clash of weapon on weapon, the screams of men being hit and the cries of stricken horses. Without looking I knew that Dick and his archers were raining death upon them.  They might not kill many knights but their horses would pay a fearful price. I concentrated upon the Royal Standard of Gwynedd.  Glancing to my left and right I saw that I had men at arms on either side of me.  They were my men. It gave me added confidence. I knew that John and Leofric would be hard behind me. I guessed we were an equal number to the Welsh ahead. Their first attack had failed. Would the Prince risk a second charge at us? When a horn sounded and they began to move south and west I knew that their leader was not willing to risk our reaching him.  I slowed Scout down.  There was little point in exhausting him. We had started the game and they would run.  It mattered not that we were not riding hard.  We had our spears in their backs. 

Suddenly horses and riders began to overtake us as the Welsh knights and men at arms raced to join their leader. The infantry too began to move south and west.  I saw standards on the hillside begin to move towards the fleeing Welsh. I edged Scout closer to the Earl of Gloucester's men. We could not catch the Prince but we might be able to catch some of his infantry. As I did so I saw Dick and his archers galloping to our right.  They halted some fifty paces from the Welsh, dismounted, and began to loose arrows.  They sent six flights before the Welsh managed to get out of range.  They remounted and galloped again.  It was a tried and tested tactic.  Dick was a master at it. They had tried to release arrows from the back of a horse but it did not work.  This did; ride hard, dismount, release arrows, mount and so on.

Soon my remaining men at arms and knights had joined me, as had the Earl of Chester.  He forced his horse next to mine.  "Your trick worked, Alfraed."

"God was on our side."

We pursued the Welsh for three miles until we came to more broken country and our horses tired.  I reined in close to a stream and shouted, "Halt.  We have done enough."

My men were all experienced enough to dismount and rest our weary beasts.  My men led their mounts to the stream. I looked up at Ranulf and wondered why they did not do the same.  Before I could ask him the Earl of Gloucester reined in. He leapt from his horse and embraced me. "Once again I am in your debt."

I gave a slight bow.  "My men found me but they did not have enough time to explain what happened."

He laughed, "Better you hear of my mistake from me than your men. I divided my forces. I know now that was a mistake. I sent half towards Wrexham.  I believed that the Prince was there and I intended to trap him.  He turned the tables on me and attacked me as soon as my men had gone. I expect them to return soon but they are not led by Alfraed the Earl of Cleveland." He seemed to see his son in law for the first time.  "I see you had the siege lifted."

"That was the Earl’s doing."

"And how is my daughter?"

"She is safe."

Robert of Gloucester pointed his spear at a dead Viking who had been slain by Dick's archers.  His body lay at our feet. He turned the body over. "This is a disturbing development."

I nodded, "Perhaps your father should invade Ireland and end the threat once and for all."

"Perhaps, although he is still in Normandy."

The Earl of Chester asked, "And what now, my lord?"

He looked at me, "Your archers will pursue them?"

"They will follow until they stop and then they will return here. If you wish to go back to Chester where we can gather our forces I will wait here for my men."

He shook his head, "I would keep us together now.  It is lucky that they headed south west."

The Earl of Chester laughed, "It was not luck my lord.  The Earl here chose our direction of attack to create their movement."

I shrugged, "I did not want to give them the chance to go to Chester and to cause mayhem there."

"Then I am decided.  We will retire to Deofold and await your men there."

The old hunting lodge still stood.  It had been long abandoned but it had a roof and kept out the draughts. When our pack animals were brought up we shared out the little food we had. The Earl of Gloucester had had to move so quickly that he did not have much food left.

As we ate I asked, "Who commands the other half of your army, my lord?"

"Sir Ralph Warenne. He is a doughty warrior and can hold the line but he lacks imagination.  He will return here when he finds no one at Wrecsam."

"Let us hope he does not encounter Owain ap Gruffudd then or we could be in another difficult situation."

I could see that the thought had not occurred to the Earl who stood and walked to the door as though watching for his men. He suddenly started. "Your archers return, Cleveland, or at least some of them."

That did not sound like Dick.  He would have returned with all of his men unless prevented from doing so.  Had he suffered a reverse? I joined the King's son as he walked to the edge of the wood to meet Dick.

"Well?"

The Earl was impatient.  I nodded to Dick. "We followed them for ten miles and then they met up with a force of Norman knights and men at arms heading east. There was a confused battle.  The Welsh drove the Normans from the field.  We followed them as far as Wrexham.  I left some of my archers to be the rearguard.  I brought the news as soon as I could for I deemed it important."

The Earl clapped him about the shoulders.  "It is indeed and you are a fine fellow.  Was the battle led by Sir Ralph Warenne?"

"It was and he is wounded." Dick hesitated and I nodded for him to continue. "Four knights were slain as well as eight men at arms.  Many of the fyrd fled."

"Then Owain has slipped away again." He reached into his purse and took out a coin.  "Here is for your troubles, my friend. I am grateful."

Dick took the coin and went back to his archers.

"What do we do now then gentlemen?"

"Simple, my lord, we go to Wrexham."

"And fight?"

"We may not need to." I waved a hand towards the Welsh corpses which still littered the plain. "They have been hurt badly here and even if Sir Ralph was knocked about his men would have hurt the Welsh." I turned to Dick who still stood by the open door of the hunting lodge. "Did Sir Ralph's men cause casualties?"

"Yes, my lord.  At least twenty warriors were either slain or badly wounded."