The Fallen Crown (6 page)

"Aye lord. John, ride to my father and fetch him to the road close to the priory.  Do not get caught by our enemies.  The Earl is counting on you."

"I will not let you down."

"Aiden, make sure the way is clear."

It was less than eighteen miles but it took some hours to reach the track which led down from the moors to the vale below. Even in the dark we saw the high mound of Whorlton to our right.  It was the sign that we had to head west. We reached the road well before dawn and I had all the men dismount and feed and water their horses. With the grain we had brought from Helmsley the horses were well fed.  We led them down to the Wiske River and they drank too. Some of my men ate the rations they had with them but my knights and captains gathered around me. 

"We will wait here for the enemy.  I am guessing that they will use this Roman Road for it is both wide and well made." I pointed to the high ground to the north us.  The road rose a little and there was some dead ground behind. "The bulk of the men at arms will wait there.  The knights and the squires with my oathsworn will form the front line. I wish him to see us and our banners.  We will draw him on. Dick I want you to divide the archers." I pointed to the west of the road just ahead of us. It dropped sharply down to the Wiske and there was ample cover. Put half your archers there." I pointed to the land to the east.  It began to rise and led to the escarpment of the moors just half a mile away. "The rest can go on the other side of the road. There is little enough cover there but use what there is and embed some stakes."

Dick asked, "You care not if the enemy see us?"

"He is no fool.  He proved that with his cunning plan.  He knows we have archers.  Better that he sees you in a prepared position rather than looking for the others."

He nodded, "Then I will be with the archers to the east."

"Have as many men rest as they can."

They nodded as they headed back to their men. Aiden, Edward and Edgar waited nearby. Aiden said, "I am sorry, Lord.  I have let you down.  I should have known."

"No, Aiden, the scouts who were sent by my other knights let us down and I have learned a lesson as have they." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Wulfric berating his scouts.  I hoped he would not inflict actual harm on them.  They had made a mistake; that was all.

"We will find the enemy for you."

"Are you certain; are your horses not tired?"

"Fear not lord.  We know this land well.  There is cover to the east up on the escarpment.  We will not need to travel far.  It will be a clear day and our vision will be unimpaired." I nodded and they rode off.

He was right.  The May on the hawthorn and the cow parsley gave all the hedges a stripe of white blossom.  Summer was upon us.  The cold weather of a month ago had given way to what promised to be a fruitful summer.  If I could not stop Fitz Mandeville then the bounty of the summer would go to our enemies.

Richard brought me a water skin, "Do not forget to drink, lord."

"Thank you for the admonishment! You are becoming the complete squire." He smiled at the compliment.  "Today, Gilles will command you.  Obey him as you would me.  This will be hard for our enemies may well outnumber us."

"But Sir Richard will join us."

"John of Elton has to reach him and then they have to arm and ride.  It is a twenty mile journey. I am content knowing that they will reach us some time this morning. Now rest.  Today will be a test of all of us."

I then went to speak with my other captains and knights.  I needed them to know precisely what my instructions were. That done I sat down beneath a lone apple tree.  It was a gnarled crab apple. The blossom upon it promised a good harvest.  How many of my men would be alive to see the fruit? I knew that the day would be bloody. It was mid morning when my scouts rode in.

"They come my lord!"

"Good.  What could you see of our lines?"

"Had I not known that there were others on the other side of the road I would have just seen the archers and the  twenty five of you."

"Then let us hope they think we have the death wish. You three choose your own place to fight." They nodded and I shouted, "To arms!"

I mounted Rolf but I left my shield hanging from my cantle and held my helmet in my hand.  I needed to see and be seen.  "Richard, unfurl the standard.  Let them know who they fight." As the banner flapped in the gentle breeze I watched the road south.  There was the slightest of bends and then the road rose to a second high point to the south of us.  I saw their banners appear.  We were less than a mile from them.  Would they turn and flee?  If so then I would have to pursue them.  They kept coming.  They rode in a wide column which filled the road. They were not boot to boot but there were many of them.

The richly mailed knights led and were followed by the men at arms.  Ahead of these were a handful of scouts.  They halted half a mile from us.  By the time the rear of the column had come into sight I guessed that there were over two hundred men.  There might be as many as two hundred and fifty.  Only the first one hundred, however, were mailed.  Their regular lines made counting easy. The rest were in a looser formation. Some had helmets and all had a shield but that was all that I could see.

Aelric commanded the archers on the right.  I could barely see them but I shouted, "Aelric, wait for my command before you loose your arrows."

"I will, lord."

I wanted the focus of the attack to be on our left.  They would see the stakes and the archers.  They would have to turn or else their shields would be of no use.

The enemy halted beyond bow range. My archers had a well deserved reputation for both range and accuracy. A knot of riders took off their helmets and rode to a spot halfway between us. They wished to speak. Sir Edward asked, "Do we all ride to them, lord?"

"Let us wait until they move and then we shall.  I want to plant fear in their minds.  I wish them to wonder why we wait." Sure enough the five knights began to look around them.  They suspected an ambush or a trap.  They held a conference and then edged their horses on.  "Let us speak with them now."

I ignored the conventions and took all of my knights.  We halted two hundred paces from our squires.  The squires and men at arms prevented our enemy from seeing the bulk of our warriors behind.

I had heard of this Edward Fitz Mandeville but never met him.  He was a big man.  He could wear Wulfric's armour. However unlike Wulfric he had some fat upon his face.  His jowls looked heavy.  His mail was black as was his surcoat. It reminded me of one I had seen at Durham. He was slightly younger than I was with a neatly trimmed beard.  I guessed he thought himself a striking figure. I had no time for such nonsense.

I let him speak first.  He had approached us.  "I come to offer you the chance to surrender.  Earl, you are a traitor.  If you and you men lay down your arms I promise that you will be treated fairly. We will forego execution. We will take your lands but allow you and your families to go to Normandy." He smiled as though he had made a most generous offer.

"Who are you?"

My question threw him.

"I am the Baron Fitz Mandeville and my cousin is the Earl of Essex!"

"Then you should know enough to realise that you address me as, lord!" He looked stunned as my words.  I continued. "We missed you at both Malton and Helmsley. I may rebuild Malton one day but Helmsley looks like a castle in which I could live. Now I will offer you terms.  If you and your men surrender then I will execute you for your crimes and ransom your knights." I smiled, "That is as fair an offer as you made to me, is it not?"

Instead of being outraged he smiled. "I am pleased that you spurned my offer. When your body lies trampled beneath the hooves of my horses I will take your castles and the Tees will be mine. I shall be Earl of Cleveland."

I heard Wulfric snort and I put my hand up to silence any retort.  We needed none. I smiled, "Then get back to your men.  We are waiting for you."

He jabbed an arm to the east.  "I see your archers there but if this handful of armed men are all that you have then this will be a short days work!"

"Do not wear my armour until you have taken it." I spurred Rolf and he leapt forward.  The five were so frightened that one fell from his horse and my men all laughed.

"We came here in peace!"

"Can I help it if my horse is keen for combat? I shall look for you Mandeville.  Make sure you are in the vanguard and not hiding amongst your men." My words were deliberately insulting.  I wanted his knights to hear them. He would have to lead the charge now.

I rode back to my men.  I saw John of Elton galloping down the road.  He reined in and I saw that his horse was lathered.  "Sir Richard comes.  He has forty men."

"Forty?"

"Aye lord.  He raised the fyrd.  They come with their bows. They will be here within the hour. They were at Crathorne when I left them."

"Your horse is tired.  Go and take shelter with Dick and the archers.  Your sword and shield may prove useful there."

I turned my attention back to the enemy. As much as I would have liked to charge them I knew that our horses, despite the water and the grain, were tired. We would charge but only at the last minute. I saw the enemy horse form into a wedge formation.  The ditch which ran alongside the road would be an obstacle.  It was why I had chosen this site.  He had enough men who were lightly armed who could outflank us but I gambled that he would not. He had weight of numbers and I hoped he would try to use them.

His vanguard had forty knights.  They were ten abreast. Behind them came forty men at arms also ten abreast.  The other twenty were a reserve.  The mass of men, many of whom were on foot, were in a swirling mass with the reserve.  As the column came towards us, at the trot, they walked behind. When they were four hundred paces from us I saw the black standard of Edward Fitz Mandeville rise and fall.  It was a signal but what did it portend?  I soon had my answer.  The last twenty men at arms detached themselves and headed obliquely to their right to charge Dick and his archers. At the same time the knights and the rest of the men at arms began to increase speed.  The slope made it necessary.  They were not coming at us any faster but it was taking more effort to do so.

I donned my helmet and slung my shield over my shoulder and arm.  I held my spear in my right hand.  I preferred a spear. It was just as long as a lance but easier to wield. "Steady and wait for my command!"

Dick and his archers were under no such order and they began to loose as soon as the twenty men at arms, who charged them, were in range. With Aiden and his men alongside them they were a formidable force.  I knew I could ignore that flank.  I had to put my plan into operation. When they were a hundred paces from us and galloping, although in truth they laboured up the bank, I shouted, "Charge! For God, England and the Empress!"

My men cheered and we charged.  We had a narrower front.  Eight knights faced ten but my archers, under Dick's command, had struck enough of those attacking them to direct their missiles at the main column. They were loosing from the enemies' right and they had no shields to protect them.

We did not have enough time to get to full speed but the slope and the laboured gait of our enemy meant that we were travelling at the same speed and we had the slope with us.  I saw Edward Fitz Mandeville before me.  He was a big target.  As his lance came towards me I lifted my shield while, at the same time, I used the spear overhand to stab down at him.  I hit his shoulder and he tumbled from the back of his horse. His standard bearer, in the second rank, brought the standard down to smash into my spear before I could withdraw it. I had plunged it deep into Fitz Mandeville's shoulder.  I had felt the head strike bone. My sword flashed from my scabbard.  The standard bearer was brave. He had no shield. Having used his standard as a weapon he was trying to regain control of his horse when I brought my sword diagonally across his neck.  My blade clanged off his helmet and bit into his coif. It was sharp and my arm was strong. It knocked him from his saddle.  My blade came away bloody.

We had forced our way into the heart of the enemy and now it was time for the second part of my plan. "Fall back!" I heard Gilles command the squires to do as I had ordered. I played my part and swayed in my saddle as though I had been struck.  My men threw their spears at the enemy.  We turned and galloped back up the road.  We went in two lines and, as we neared the top we dropped into the ditch.  I had scouted it out before and found no obstacles.

Wilfred and Edgar led my men at arms to charge into the uncoordinated mass of the enemy and as they did so I shouted, "Aelric! Now!"

None of the enemy were looking left and the arrows, released from less than forty paces distance could not miss. Men were thrown from saddles and then my men at arms hit the survivors of the arrow attack.  As we clambered from the ditch I saw Sir Richard leading his men down the road.  I waved them forward with my sword and then we followed the men at arms.  The tables had turned.  We now held the numeric advantage and the reserves and lightly armed horsemen who awaited us at the bottom of the slope were in for a shock.

Gilles of Thornaby was not so caught up in the moment that he forgot his orders. "Squires, follow your lords! Do your duty!"

The neat lines had gone by the time we joined the fray and it was a whirling maelstrom of swords, spears and axes. It was a cacophony of noise; horses and men screaming, the clash of steel on steel. Blood sprayed everywhere as we fought as hard as we had ever fought. Whichever side relented or backed down would lose. Richard rode close behind me and my standard drew my enemies. Gilles rode as close to me as he could get. A man at arms and a knight in a red and yellow striped surcoat charged at me.  They planned on attacking on two sides. I took the blow from the axe on my shield and the blow from the sword with my blade.