Authors: Griff Hosker
“And you, my lord, have a promissory note for Constantinople.”
“I do Branton.”
“I will follow you there.”
“No, Ridley, you can come with me but as a friend and not as a follower.”
Ridley looked puzzled and Osbert, as usual explained it to him, “He means, my lord, that you have to choose.”
“Correct Osbert, as do you and Branton.” The two brothers looked at each other and I knew then that they had discussed the situation. “If you were to stay here I would not blame you.” They looked at the ground, shamefaced. “Do not feel that way. I could not have had two more loyal warriors to fight alongside me but I go to a strange place and the journey to reach it will be hard. If you come with me Ridley then you must be prepared for dangers that we have never faced before.”
“Aelfraed, I have followed you since I was smaller than your sword. I will follow you till the end of my days.”
“Thank you old friend, I am glad. And you Osbert, Branton; what are your plans?”
“No my lord, we are English and we will stay here but it has been an honour to serve you. There is still much to do in our homeland.”
“That is good; I am happy for I can say all my goodbyes at once and begin anew. We will leave in the morning for Eidyn Din and I will collect the money from the Scottish promissory note then we will take ship.”
That part of my life was sorted but I dreaded meeting my son and Gytha; would the boy run in fear from me? I shook my head.
I had stood in a shield wall and faced innumerable enemies and yet I was afraid of a boy and his mother. Ridley put his hand on my shoulder. “Come Aelfraed, we will all go to meet with the lady Gytha.”
I suspect that they had all been waiting some time to greet us.
We took no weapons save the dagger Malcolm had given me for I did not wish to terrify them all again. There was a roaring fire and they were seated around the table. I saw no guards but I think they were within calling distance. Harold looked to have grown. He had been little more than a walking baby the last time I had seen him but now he was recognisable as a boy. He smiled shyly at me as I entered and I breathed a sigh of relief; at least he had not run. Gytha looked as lovely as ever and I saw that she was with child.
I bowed and kissed her hand, “My lady.”
She burst into tears and threw her arms around me. “Oh Aelfraed, I am so sorry for…”
I held her away from me and put my hand on her lips.
“It was
wyrd
. It is in the past and it is forgotten.” I suddenly remembered Ealdgyth and Aethelward, Thomas and Sarah. “We should not be thinking of us but those that have died, Ealdgyth, Aethelward, Thomas and Sarah.”
She suddenly became tearful, “Thomas and Sarah? I didn’t know.”
I realised then that she would have heard of the death of the Queen but why would anyone have told her of two servants and their death? We sat and we told her of Topcliffe and Coxold and the deaths, slaughter and rapes. It was hard telling the tale and I saw Ridley’s eyes well up.
“We did not know.
We heard that the Normans had to put down rebellions.”
I snorted. “Rebellions? Hah!.
Traitors like Edgar and those less than useless brothers of Ealdgyth. No, the Normans did not have to do much; it was the Earls and the Aetheling who destroyed England.”
I saw my son, out of the corner of my eye, staring intently at me.
I so wanted to pick him up in my arms and take him but I knew I could not. I had given up that right when I chose to fight the enemies of my father.
“We have heard that William has destroyed many towns in Northumbria,” I wondered where the Thegn of Fife had gained his knowledge.
“We thought the people had fled.”
“No.
I am afraid that they died.” I looked at Calum. “Should they come north to fight you then I warn you it will be a bitter war and the Normans are no respecters of women and children.”
Gytha put a protective arm around Harold and I saw her eyes fill with tears. “Where are Harold and Ulf?”
Gytha looked at Calum in panic and he reddened and then began to bluster. “Er, well when Edgar, their half brother arrived he took them with him to the court of King Malcolm.”
I stiffened. Edgar was treacherous and deceitful.
“You let that renegade take Ealdgyth’s sons? When they were left here under your care.”
“I wanted to keep them here but Edgar was insistent.”
I shook my head. They were both weak willed empty vessels and I was tempted to take Harold with me. “Where are they now?”
Calum shrugged apologetically.
“Still at the court I believe.”
I stood up and walked towards him.
He recoiled in fear. “Liar! You know where they are and what has happened to them!”
The door suddenly burst open and six guards entered with swords at the ready.
Ridley and the others immediately turned to face them but my dagger was out and pressed against Calum’s throat. “Tell your men to drop their weapons or by all I hold dear you will die! Do it!”
Gytha’s voice, suddenly
pleading screamed, “Aelfraed! Please!”
I pressed harder and a tendril of blood oozed out. “Drop your weapons!” Calum’s voice was squeaky with terror.
I heard the metal thump as the weapons dropped to the ground. “Disarm them and then tie them up.” I glanced over my shoulder. “If they give you any trouble then kill one!” My voice suddenly sounded merciless and I saw that the Normans had made me so, along with Edgar, Edwin and Morcar. “Now I am already an outlaw. I have nothing to lose so tell me what I want to know or this castle will become a charnel house.”
“They are dead! Edgar said they died on the road but I know that he killed them.”
At that moment I wanted to kill Calum but I knew that I could not care for my son in my absence.”You were always a weak willed bastard and you should die for what you have done but my friends and I are leaving tonight and someone needs to watch over my son but if you ever fail in your duty then I will return and you will die. Do you understand me?”
He nodded and I could see a mixture of relief that he was still alive and terror at my threat, “I will, I promise.”
“And to remind you of that promise.” I took the knife and ran it down his cheek. It was not a deep wound but it bled profusely. Gytha screamed and raced to him to staunch the bleeding.
I went over to Harold who looked terrified.
“My son. I may never see you again but know this, your father loves you but I cannot stay for you would be hunted. Your grandfather was a king and a great warrior. Your father fought the Normans. Do not be like this apology for a man. Be a man.” I kissed him gently on the head and then he ran to his mother to hide in her skirts. My men had bound the guards and gagged them. “Tie this spineless reptile up. Osbert, Branton, fetch our gear and meet me at the gate.”
When Ridley had tied Calum up. I took Gytha in my arms.
“I did love you once but I love you no longer and I release you from your vow. If you wish to marry this man then do so. Ridley, go and secure the gate.” He nodded and left. “I am leaving this land and I will never see you again but if you hold me at all dear then you will tell our son the truth about his father, Aelfraed, son of Harold Godwinson.”
She nodded and then threw her arms around me. She kissed me and then said, “I did love you Aelfraed
but you loved England more and I will tell our son of his father. The only warrior William the Conqueror feared.”
Once outside I saw that the two guards by the gate had been disabled by Ridley.
I hoped he had not killed them; we had enough blood on our hands. Osbert and Branton were grinning like children as they rode up with our horses and gear. “Like old times my lord!”
“”When do we have new times? Let us ride for the Thegn may decide to send his men after us. “
Ridley quickly mounted and we raced through the open gate and over the drawbridge. Scotland did not have the anarchy of Northumbria and the garrison was not as alert as a Norman one would have been and we were soon racing down the road towards the ferry.
“What if the ferry is on the other side?”
“Then, Branton, we will have a long ride around the estuary.” Having said my goodbyes I felt almost light headed. It was as though every tie holding me to this island had been severed and, for the first time in my life I would be free.
Nanna, Aelfraed or perhaps just
wyrd
, were watching over me that evening for the ferry was still there. The ferryman looked at us. “Well that was a short visit! You can’t have your horse back you know.”
“Get us across quickly ferryman and there is a gold piece for you.”
He looked beyond me to the north and the castle of the Thegn. He grinned, “Like that is it? Push off lads. We eat well tonight.”
We were half way across when the gaggle of riders reined up at the landing stage.
The ferryman shook his head. “I can see you have been pissing off the Thegn. Ah well, he is a tight bastard anyway. He pays in copper, not gold!” He bit the gold piece I had given him and whistled happily as the southern shore loomed up.
I felt safer on the other side.
“We will head to Leith and find the Jew Reuben told us of and then we will say goodbye.” As we rode along the coastal road, with the sun setting at our backs I could feel the sadness in the brothers. Having taken the decision to stay, they were now thinking of life without Aelfraed and Ridley. I know that for I was thinking the same about them. We had endured much together. All of us had almost touched death and yet we, alone of all our company had survived. We did not break our thoughts with useless words but enjoyed the memories of times past.
Leith was a busy port and I could see many ships at the wharf. I left Ridley and the others with the horses while I went to the commercial quarter of the port.
I asked where the Jews lived and the answers showed me that they were held in disdain here too. I shook my head; without their usury then businesses would not prosper. I saw the sign of a money lender and went in. “I seek Isaac.”
The hooded eyes gave nothing away but I could see suspicion lurking in them. “Why?”
“Reuben of Jorvik told me I could redeem this promissory note.”
I handed it over and he pulled a candle over to read it carefully.
Suddenly his eyes lit up and a smile appeared on his face. “I am Aaron, Isaac’s brother. He is away on business but I can help you.” He went to the rear of the building and said something in his own language. A gaggle of faces appeared. They all smiled at me and he said “I have just told them that you are the warrior who saved Reuben of Jorvik and that you were the only Christian warrior to stand up for our people.”
They all wanted to touch me as though I was special.
It felt strange. Aaron allowed it for a while and then shooed them all away. “I will get your money now, my lord.” As he counted it out he asked, “You are leaving?”
“I am leaving Aaron.”
“That is wise. We have heard that the King William has put a high price on your head and that of your Hooded Men.” He shook his head. “He is so afraid of you he has ordered your name to be struck from every document. You and your men are now the Hooded Men.” He rolled his eyes. “Aelfraed and Ridley no longer exist, as though that wipes you from our memory.” He leaned forwards. “There are men coming north, for it is known that your wife, forgive me, lives close by.” His eyes looked sad and pleading. “I would take the first boat you can my lord.” He smiled as he handed over the money in two bags. “Reuben has spread your name throughout our people. Wherever you travel you can use your note to get funds. “He scribbled something on the note and handed it back to me. “I am honoured to have met you.”
I slipped quickly back to the port where I found the others. “It seems that William is a little bitter about us.” I handed one of the bags to Osbert.
“Here you may need this.”
He tried to refuse it.
“No my lord, it is your money.”
“It is our money and I would not have this were it not for you two and the men who died for us.
Take it for them. You may be wiser to travel on a ship with us for the Normans are coming here.”
Branton laughed. “Without you two my lord, no-one will know us.
We will head west and then south. It is Aelfraed and Ridley who are the named outlaws. We are just the Hooded Men.”
I nodded and embraced each of them in turn. “Take the horses; we will not need them and Godspeed.” We looked at each other as men who have faced death but never spoken of it.
“Where will you go?”
Osbert looked south.
“The land south of Jorvik, towards Sheffield, has many forests. We will go there and try to continue to annoy the Normans.”
“I wish you both all the luck in the world.”
“And you, my lord.”
Ridley took his farewell and then Osbert and Branton saluted us both and rode off west.
We never saw either of them again but I hope they had good lives for they were honourable men and they deserved it.