Baron of the North (25 page)

Authors: Griff Hosker

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Historical, #Military, #War, #Historical Fiction

BOOK: Baron of the North

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"You have been lucky so far, Earl. I pray your luck continues."

"And I know you have had bad luck lately so I will give you a gift which might bring you better fortune. It is a good luck charm. It is crudely made but…"

I dropped his dead assassin's charm in his hand. His eyes narrowed and he smiled. "Thank you but I need no charms. Still I am sure I can find someone who will find a use for it."

I said quietly, "Then he had better be more skilled than the owner of this one."

We left before dawn. We reached Caen by noon for the horse I now rode was a much better mount. The ship rode a little higher in the river for Dai had obviously done some good trading. As we approached I said to my squires, "Say nothing about the attack. I will tell Wulfric and the others when it is right."

"Aye Baron."

Dai's smile told me how successful his trading had been whilst Wulfric and my men also looked happy. "Are we ready to sail, Captain?"

"We are, my lord. And soon we shall have you home."

I was reflective as we sailed north to London. I had asked my squires to remain silent about the attacks but not about my new title. They could not wait to tell Wulfric and the others. To my surprise they were all delighted. It was just a title but, to my men, it made me the equal of Robert of Gloucester. I did not point out to them that Robert of Gloucester was illegitimate nor that I now served three masters. I allowed them to bask in the reflected glory of serving an Earl.

The Thames was as busy as the Golden Horn. England was now a hub of commerce and ships travelled from all parts of the mainland. Perhaps the blockade of the Empire had affected the English trade. Whatever the reason we struggled to find a berth. "Dai you can sell some of my wine and spices with your own."

He nodded, "How much my lord?"

"Just half. When can we sail?"

"It will take time to trade and then we shall have to wait for the tide. It will be the morrow."

That was a longer stay than I wished but I had no choice. Old King Canute had tried to defy the tides and had failed. I was a mere knight. I turned to the Varangians. "I have fulfilled my part of the bargain. We are now in England. If you wish to become my oathsworn then I will take you all as my warriors but if you wish to become your own men then I bid you farewell."

Erre looked at the others and stepped forward. "I will speak for us all, Earl Alfraed. We will be your oathsworn. Our minds have not changed since Miklagård. In fact, if anything, our resolve has hardened. You are like Earl Harold would have been. You are a warrior and we will follow you unto death."

They knelt before me. I took out my sword and holding it by the blade offered them the hilt. "Do you swear to follow me and protect me and my family?"

They chorused, "We do!"

"Then I will be as a father to you and protect you unto death!"

And so I gained six fine men at arms. It proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made for none of them ever broke their oath.

My first task was to go to the Tower for my family. King Henry had told me they had been happy. The proof would be in my wife's eyes. The Castellan read the document and smiled, "The guards will miss your family, Earl. They have enjoyed their stay here and been popular with everyone." He gestured and they came forth.

I was amazed at how much William had grown. He ran up to me and threw himself in my arms. I was nearly knocked over. Then my daughter hurled herself quickly towards me and kissed me too. I was sad that I had missed her first faltering steps. She had gone from a toddler to a younger version of William and I had missed it all. Scotland and Constantinople had occupied my time when she should have.

Then I took my wife in my arms and, without worrying about what people thought, kissed her hard. She pulled back and, with eyes wide, said, "I need not ask if you missed me! The women of the east were not attractive then, my husband?"

"Compared with you even the fabled Helen would have been a dullard!"

I took the time Dai needed for the trades to buy some material for the wolf emblem on my surcoat. The King's choice of signet had been almost supernatural. Wulfstan would have said, '
Wyrd
.' I would not ignore such a sign. My two stars would now be replaced by a wolf and I could not wait to give Alf my sword for him to fit the blue stone in the pommel. It was not a Christian thought but I knew that the stone would bring me good fortune and make me a better warrior.

My men carried their belongings and we returned to the ship. I spent the afternoon, night and next morning telling them of my adventures and of my new title. Had I known I could have taken longer to tell for we did not leave when Dai had predicted.

As events turned out we were in London for three days. A mixture of trades, inclement weather and tides meant we did not leave for home when I expected to. It was now the middle of autumn and the weather we had to endure as we travelled north was some of the worst I had ever experienced. It seemed we were being tested. The poor ship had endured much already. Dai was already worrying about the condition of his ship as we passed along the eastern coast of England.

"Have you somewhere I could repair my ship on the Tees, my lord?"

"We have."

"Then, with your permission, I will spend time there. I would not risk the winter storms with my ship in the condition it is."

"And you are welcome for you have served me well, Dai the Welshman."

We pulled into the Tees on a cold damp morning when there was a hint to frost in the air. Our light clothes from Constantinople would not see the light of day until the next year. But my castle was all the more welcome for the fact that it was home. After the east, Bordeaux, Caen and Rouen, it seemed an insignificant little pile of stones but it was my pile of stones. Now that I drew close I felt a sense of relief. It could have been that my people would just have received the news of my death. Instead I returned with riches, fine presents and new title.

Harold was there to greet me. He too had grown. He clasped my arm, "I am glad to see you back, Baron."

Adela said, "He is now Earl, Harold."

"Earl! And not before time!"

My men and Dai's sailors began to off load the cargo and we stood to one side. I asked the question which had been on my mind for the last few days, "Is all well, Harold?"

"It is, my lord. There has been peace. The harvest has been the best for years and we have been lucky with the animals. Few died. More settlers have come so that Elton is now thriving once more."

I knew what that meant to my former squire, "I am pleased. And the other manors?"

His face darkened a little, "They are all well but, I am sorry to say, my lord, that Osric has joined your father and the oathsworn. He died last month and is buried with the others."

Although it was to be expected, for he was old, it still came as a terrible shock. I had not been there when the last of my father's men had died. Equally important was that there was now no one left alive who could tell me about the wolf token and the blue stone. The mystery had died with Osric. I would never discover what they meant. My new life was as an Earl but I now knew less about my past than I thought I had.

ow much is rom

Epilogue

It was a joyous Christmas. My wife was delighted with her new pots and clothes. Sophia had bought quality and my wife recognized it. Perhaps I would take her east to meet Basil's mother. The spices had proved a hit and we had the best Yule I could ever remember. The weather was not as cold as it was normally and so my wife invited all of my knights to tell them of my new title. It was a wonderful celebration. I was flattered by the apparent genuine expressions of pleasure from my knights. When all had left I was able to enjoy my castle and my family. I got to know my children and they me.

As the winter grew colder we had a rider who came from the south. He had messages from the King and, more importantly, a letter from Rolf, my brother in arms. The King's letters were terse and business like. They were instructions for the spring. The other letter was the most important. I went to my western tower to read it alone. It had been written, as he had said he would in code, but I knew its meaning without the need to decipher it. I took a deep breath as I broke the seal on the letter. I carefully unfolded it and began to read.

Earl Alfraed,

Congratulations on your new title. Your brothers here in Rouen are pleased that you have been so justly rewarded. I have some interesting news to impart. My sister and her husband have parted. It was not meant to be. At the moment she stays with me here in Rouen but she is keen to visit London. Perhaps if she does then you could visit her there?

My best wishes to your wife and your family,

Rolf,

Knight of the Empress.

I was both surprised and yet not surprised. Rolf had told me that all was not well in Anjou. The Empress had left her husband and was coming to England. What did the King think of that and did she expect me to do something? I had more questions than answers but a sudden thought filled my heart with dread; if she was in London then she was away from the protection of both her husband and her father. The brothers from Blois had a manor in London. Could the Empress be in danger? My happy, settled life in the north in the bosom of my family was now thrown into disarray by this news. I had a duty to my family, my people and my knights, not to mention the King, but the Empress might need me. What would I do?

The End

Glossary

Allaghia- a subdivision of a Bandon-about 400 hundred men

Akolouthos
- The commander of the Varangian Guard

al-Andalus- Spain

Angevin- the people of Anjou, mainly the ruling family

Bandon- Byzantine regiment of cavalry -normally 1500 men

Battle- a formation in war (a modern battalion)

Cadge- the frame upon which hunting birds are carried (by a codger- hence the phrase old codger being the old man who carries the frame)

Conroi- A group of knights fighting together

Demesne- estate

Destrier- war horse

Fess- a horizontal line in heraldry

Gambeson- a padded tunic worn underneath mail. When worn by an archer they came to the waist. It was more of a quilted jacket but I have used the term freely

Gonfanon- A standard used in Medieval times (Also known as a Gonfalon in Italy)

Hartness- the manor which became Hartlepool

Hautwesel- Haltwhistle

Kataphractos (pl. oi)- Armoured Byzantine horseman

Kometes/Komes- General (Count)

Kentarchos- Second in command of an Allaghia

Kontos (pl. oi) - Lance

Lusitania- Portugal

Mansio- staging houses along Roman Roads

Maredudd ap Bleddyn- King of Powys

Mêlée- a medieval fight between knights

Musselmen- Muslims