Irish War (Anarchy Book 16) Read online

  “So, Earl William, will we get to fight the Scots?”

  “The king wishes us to make a peace but we need to ride in strength for we wish the return of Cumbria and Northumbria.”

  He beamed, “Then we will fight for the Scots will not give up those two jewels. That bastard Stephen gave them away! I still recall Northallerton! Had the knights of the north heeded your father we could have taken the whole of Scotland! We sent them packing that day!” I saw Sir Richard’s eyes light up. He had not been there but, along with the battle of Lincoln, that had been one of my father’s greatest triumphs. It had been a great victory. It was the pinnacle of my father’s career as a commander.

  Dick nodded, “I was speaking with some of Hugh’s knights. King Malcolm is young but we will be travelling in dangerous territory. I will keep my archers ahead of the column. Edward and Edgar are good. They can warn us of danger.”

  “I rely on you two to help me make the right decisions.”

  Wulfric laughed, “A battle is where I make my best decisions! Dick here is your man for strategy!”

  “Do not disparage yourself, Wulfric. I need you to use those battle-hardened eyes which can detect threat and weakness in battle to do the same when we negotiate. I do not doubt that they will not allow all of my knights to accompany me. You two will be amongst those that do.”

  Dick laughed, “And we are the lowest born, save Harold! There is an irony! The low born are equal to the high born!”

  “You have earned your place at the high table by your deeds in battle.” Dick had been an outlaw when my father had met him. He was right. He had had a remarkable journey. We finished our food. “Let us ride, we have many leagues to cover this day.”

  Sir Hugh had two of his scouts with Edgar and Edward. Alan and Carl were local men who knew the road west. The four of them left first and we headed towards Bowes. One of Sir Hugh’s knights, Sir John of Bowes, had a fortified hall there. It was not a castle for, if danger threatened, then the people of Bowes could easily flee to Sir Hugh’s castle. After passing the hall we followed the old Roman Road over Stainmore. It was a bleak road. Few people lived there. That made it more dangerous for us. It meant no one could give us warning of danger. There were many places where we could be ambushed. Of course, for an ambush to take place then an enemy would have to know, in advance, of your plans. I had acted swiftly following the king’s commands and I hoped that no one could take advantage of our journey. We had chosen the longer route as it was easier on the horses and had less opportunity for attack.

  We passed a number of small castles as we headed west. Not all were occupied. English knights had had them until Stephen gave them away. There were many men serving my father who had fled to Stockton when the Scots had taken them. The Scots who held them now had small garrison. There might be, perhaps, twelve men in each one. We could have taken any of them but my orders were to talk. We passed the occupied castles with just baleful looks. If my negotiations went well then soon they would have English lords in them. Appleby Castle was the newest of the castles. Built by the Earl of Chester it commanded the road. We made certain that we skirted the castle. The Scots did not use the war bow but if they had crossbows then they could hit one of us.

  It became obvious that we would not make Carlisle before night fall and we would have to make camp. Our four scouts constantly returned to give us information on the road ahead. We stayed the night at Brougham Castle. It had not been invested by the Scots. Instead they had a lord at Penrith. That was just a few miles up the road. The Scots had taken the gates from the castle. No doubt they had been used to build something but the hall remained and we were able to sleep dry. Our horses had somewhere to graze and access to water. We would arrive at Carlisle fresher than I had expected.

  The fact that we had passed Appleby and spent the night at Brougham meant that King Malcolm was apprised of our imminent arrival. Riders had been sent ahead of us to warn him. We were not at war and we were not attempting to hide. We knew that we had been seen when Edgar rode back to tell us, after we had passed Penrith, that riders were heading our way.

  I needed no words to order the experienced men I led. They prepared for battle without a word of command. Shields were pulled a little higher so that they could be used in a heartbeat. Swords were slid in and out of scabbards. Archers strung bows and readied arrows. Our helmets hung from our cantles but could be donned in an instant. We all wore a mail coif upon our heads.

  When the Scots came I almost laughed. There were four mailed men on large horses and the other twenty who came with them had no mail and rode on the small horses favoured by the Scots. With round shields and short swords, they were not a threat. I saw Dick’s archers unstring their bows. We would not be fighting this day.

  The leader was an older warrior with a grey beard. He had a surly manner. There was a distinct similarity between him and the young warrior next to him.

  “I am Fergus Mormaer of Galloway! What are you doing in King Malcolm’s lands?”

  “I am here as an emissary of King Henry of England and Duke of Normandy and Anjou. What I have to say is for the king’s ears alone.”

  They did not move. I saw the younger warrior grinning, “You bar our way mormaer.”

  The younger warrior spat to the side and began to scratch his armpit, “Norman you are not passing us.”

  I nudged Alciades forward, “What is your name?”

  “Uhtred son of Fergus.” He frowned, “Why do you ask?”

  “I prefer to know the name of the men I kill. Now out of my way. The men I lead have killed more Scotsmen than those who squat like toads in Carlisle Castle. The twenty-four who bar our way will not bother us.” I turned to the mormaer. “Control your whelp and learn manners or I will have blood spilled here this day.”

  I spurred my horse. The horses of Fergus and Uhtred moved out of the way and when Wulfric and the rest of my knights followed the Scots were forced into the ditch. One of the mailed warriors could not control his horse and he was thrown, heavily to the ground.

  Wulfric rode next to me. “You should have bloodied them, Earl.”

  “There may be a time for that but King Henry impressed upon me the need to secure the land peacefully.”

  I heard hooves a short while later and saw half a dozen of the riders on ponies. They were galloping across the valley sides to reach Carlisle before we did. It was to be expected. The castle was triangular in shape with two bridges over the moat. It had a solid keep. As we neared the castle I saw that the King’s standard flew from the tallest tower and that the walls were lined with men. The gates were, however, open. I turned in the saddle, “Brother Peter, Sir Wulfric, Dick and Sir Hugh bring your squires and come with me. Sir Harold take charge and make camp here by the Eden.”

  Sir Harold nodded, “Yes Earl William.”

  It still sounded strange to hear my father’s title given to me. I nudged Alciades and the nine of us entered across the bridge over the moat. The armed guards who looked up at us bowed their heads as we passed. My standard was known. Once we reached the bailey servants were waiting to hold our horses.

  “Alf, you and the other squires stay here. Keep your ears and eyes open.”

  Carrying our helmets, we walked towards the gate to the keep. It was a large square keep. This would be the first time I had entered. A pair of guards stood at the door. I wondered if we would be stopped from entering but they stood apart and bowed to allow the five of us to enter. Once inside we were greeted by a priest. “I am the Canon of Carlisle, Henry Murdach. The King asks if your intentions here are peaceful?”

  I smiled, “Does the king fear five men and one a priest? We do not come here to hurt his majesty.”

  The canon nodded, “Then follow me, my lord.”

  The Great Hall had been prepared for our visit. The King was seated on a throne on a raised dais. Next to him were two huge warriors. They were the chamberlains who would lie next to his door each night. He was flanked by two knights.
I later discovered that they were Ferchar, Mormaer of Strathearn and Walter Fitzalan. Both were much older than the king. They glowered and glared at me. Next to them were two huge bodyguards. There were two tables set out at right angles to the dais. Scottish lords, ten of them, sat on one table while the other was empty. I gestured for my knights and Brother Peter to sit at the empty table. I strode up to the dais. I took from my surcoat the letter written and signed by the king. I flourished it.

  “King Malcolm, King Henry has sent me as his representative to discuss certain matters appertaining to the border. This is my licence to do so.” I unrolled it so that he could see the signature and the seal. I made no attempt to hand it over.

  I saw King Malcolm open his mouth to speak. The knight to his right spoke. “You speak to a king. Show more manners!”

  “I speak for a king and you speak to an earl. I would have more respect in your tone if I were you.”

  King Malcolm stood, “This is a bad start to peace talks! You are now the Earl of Cleveland I believe?”

  “I am, your majesty.”

  “And your father?”

  “He is now elevated to Earl Marshal. He is with the king.”

  He came down from the dais and clasped my arm. “I have spoken with knights who knew of you in the Holy Land. They say that there was no nobler knight in the whole of Christendom. I envy you the reputation.”

  I smiled. I found myself liking this earnest young man. “You would be a knight?”

  “I would but as my father died when I was too young I must await a king to dub me.”

  I spied hope here. “I am sure that will happen.”

  I saw him chew his lip and then look over his shoulder, “The Earl and I will walk the walls and talk.”

  The knight who had spoken to me said, “I like not that, majesty. I do not trust Normans!”

  “Lord Fitzalan, I will be quite safe but if it makes you feel better we will take the Earl’s priest and Canon Henry with us.”

  The two priests rose and followed us leaving the Scottish lords looking annoyed and my knights bemused at the turn of events. Carlisle was unusual. It was a triangular castle. The king led me up the stairs and we left the keep to walk along the fighting platform. I saw that the men who had lined it as we had arrived were now moving to their warrior hall. They had been ready for a fight. King Malcolm was no coward.

  “What does my cousin want, Earl? Speak plainly for I am new to the world of negotiations.”

  “As am I, your majesty. I am a warrior. I will state it simply for you. King Henry would have returned to him Northumbria and Cumbria. The lands given by King Stephen will become English once more. They were signed away and King Henry would have you sign them back to him.”

  I heard an intake of breath from Canon Henry.

  “I like this castle.”

  “I am certain there are better castles in Scotland.”

  “My grandfather gave estates to knights.”

  “Then give them other estates in Scotland.”

  “They will not be happy.”

  “I will speak bluntly, for that is my way. King Henry has sent me to negotiate. If my negotiations fail then he and my father will bring the full force of the English army to bear on Scotland to impose his will. How many times has a Scottish army defeated and English one?” He said nothing. “He does not want to take them by force but he could.” We had reached the wall closest to where my men were setting up camp. “I have brought but a handful of knights. Look there at the men who accompany my knights. They ride palfreys. They are all mailed. The archers are the finest in England and all are mounted. If I brought all of my men then this castle would be totally surrounded. Could you stand? How many archers do you have? How many crossbows?”

  “My people are not afraid to defend their land.”

  “Yet this land is English. It was given away in my lifetime. You say you are new to negotiations. How many battles have you fought?” His head dropped. “I have been fighting since I was but ten years old. That was twenty-four years ago. I have fought in England, Normandy, Anjou, Provence and the Holy Land. I know how to war and I know how to win.” I was not boasting, I was speaking the truth. “I am like my father; I never lie. Believe me when I say that if you refuse this offer then you will lose the flower of Scotland and we will still end up with Cumbria and Northumbria.”

  “I am not sure.”

  “You are threatened from the north and the isles are you not?”

  He looked up in surprise. “How did you know?”

  “I know. The men you might lose to us would be better employed fighting the Vikings and rebels in the north and the west.”

  I saw him thinking.

  “The Irish raid your lands and take slaves. Think how the men you use to defend castles from us might be better used to defend your people.”

  We reached the gatehouse and walked through. He said nothing along the whole length of the second wall. Then he stopped and looked at me. “And in return?”

  I had won, “You would be granted the County of Huntingdon in England. It is worth far more than Cumbria and Northumbria. They grow wheat in the land and the manors yield an income more than Cumbria and Northumbria combined. It is a rich county and it would be yours.” What I did not say was that he would have to pay homage to King Henry. I saw that he was still not convinced, “And of course it would allow, in time, King Henry to knight you.”

  His eyes lit up and in that instant the deal was sealed. “My lords will not be happy.”

  “And you are king. As king you make difficult decisions but you make them for your country.”

  “Would you agree if you were in my position?”

  “I am never foresworn. I never lie and so I will answer truly. I am not you. I am the son of the Warlord. The Warlord chased your father and grandfather back to the New Castle and here after Northallerton. Our castle held out against Scots and King Stephen so the simple answer is that I would fight to hold on to what I deemed valuable because I have the men and the skills to do so. Look around, King Malcolm, do you? Do you have lords that you can trust as I trust the ones who follow me? Do you have mailed men who are skilled in war?”

  “Thank you for your honesty. And I, too, do not lie. We would lose. That will change when I have made my army the equal of my cousin Henry. We will fight England but I need to become a warrior first. I need the skills which will help me to do so.” He turned, “Canon Henry I would have your support in this.”

  The canon held the king’s stare and then bowed his head, “As you wish, majesty.”

  I later discovered that the Canon hoped to be the next Bishop of Carlisle. By agreeing to help the king he stood a chance of being advanced to another Bishopric. When we entered the Great Hall again everyone stood expectantly. I gave King Malcolm a slight bow and I saw a smirk appear on the face of Lord Fitzalan. He thought he had won. I sat between Wulfric and Dick. Brother Peter stood behind me.

  King Malcolm went to the throne. He waved over his steward, William mac David. “We have decided to relinquish our claim to Cumbria and Northumbria. They will revert to the English crown. Have it so written.”

  There was the briefest of pauses and then all hell broke loose amongst the Scottish lords. My men remained stoically silent with expressionless faces. They knew, better than any, that the slightest of smiles would be seen as an insult and blood would be spilled. We had achieved what we had come here to do peacefully and I did not intend to start a fight. When Lord Fitzalan approached the king then the two bodyguards intervened. They drew their swords and stepped between the king and his lords.

  The Steward took his staff and banged on the wooden floor. “Silence! I demand silence!”

  Gradually the room quietened. King Malcolm said, “If you cannot behave as gentlemen then leave. I am ashamed of you all. Look how the English behave. Are we animals?”

  Ferchar, Mormaer of Strathearn, pointed an accusing finger at me, “I see the Warlord’s evil fingers all o
ver this! You will rue the day you ever came here, Norman!”

  I said nothing. King Malcolm spoke in his Steward’s ear. The Steward pointed at the mormaer, “Ferchar, Mormaer of Strathearn, leave Carlisle and return to your estates. You are banished from court until King Malcolm says other.”

  The Scottish lord was not happy. I thought, for a moment that he would draw his sword and blood would be spilled but he thought better of it and stormed out. Four other lords followed him.

  King Malcolm said, “We will keep alone until the feast this night. I have documents to write. Earl Cleveland, I pray you bring your knights and squires. We will show you that Scotsmen can behave like true knights.”

  I stood and gave a slight bow, “I never doubted it for a moment.”

  As we headed back to our squires and the horses Wulfric said, “Well I doubt it all the time!”

  Just then Ferchar, Mormaer of Strathearn and his followers galloped from the stables and swept out of the castle. They headed north.

  Dick said, “That does not bode well, lord. I will make sure my archers keep a good watch this night.”

  Chapter 2

  Sir Harold and the other knights were anxious to know what had happened. They had seen and heard the Scots as they had left and wondered what it meant. “We are invited to a feast this night. Make sure that our men are on their guard. I agree with Dick that this does not bode well.”

  I trusted the king. I had met enough men with ulterior motives to be able to detect someone who was speaking truthfully. His lords, on the other hand, were definitely both belligerent and antagonistic. I could see why. King David had given them all lands and estates in Cumbria and Northumbria. Although not as rich or as rewarding as estates further south in England they were still more valuable than anything in Scotland. They were all going to become poorer. As I had discovered in the Holy Land, knights who were used to a certain standard were loath to lose it. They would fight to retain their new-found wealth. When we returned for the feast we all wore our surcoats but we did not wear mail. I could not see us being murdered in the castle. We would not be staying in the castle, instead we would be sleeping in the tents we had brought. My servants would ensure that I slept both comfortably and safely.