Sword for Hire (Border Wars Book 1) Read online

  “But he had the permission of the Empress Matilda!”

  “Looking back always gives us a clear view of what we should have done. Prince John did not recognise that for there was nothing written down. Your great grandfather should have sought King Henry’s permission to build. He should have had it placed on record. Prince John could then not have done as he did and ordered the destruction of the walls.”

  “But the Scots!”

  “I know.” He poured me some wine, “Drink. You are upset but I have to tell you that I am not your enemy.”

  “Yet you are lord of the manor.”

  “I am a hostage to fortune. I was appointed because of Arsuf. I have no connections and I am not a threat to either the Bishop of Durham nor Prince John. I can never have children and when I die then Hugh de Puiset can appoint someone who is more amenable to his orders. I am a stop gap.”

  I drank some of the wine. He was right, he was not my enemy. He could have closed his door on me. “I am sorry for my attitude but…”

  “You have every right to be angry. I was there the day you were knighted. If I had had a son I would have had him to be as you. You deserve this manor.”

  “And yet I do not have it.”

  “If you can persuade the bishop to give it to you then I will leave. I have no desire to be lord of any manor. I stay only to help the people.”

  “But the bishop hated my grandfather and father. I will receive short shrift there.”

  “Then you should try the prince.”

  “I will do so.”

  “You will stay here tonight? Your men can sleep in the other hall.” I hesitated. “Pride is a sin, Sir Thomas. Bend your neck a little.”

  I nodded, “And my father’s things, where are they?”

  “I have them in storage for you. Nothing has been touched.” He leaned forward, “Nothing. All of his chests are still there.”

  I stood, “I will speak with my men and then visit the church. I would visit my grandfather’s grave.”

  He put his arm on mine and looked, suddenly, much older, “I will come with you.”

  “Why do you need to? I know where the church is. I was there when my mother was buried and my grandfather and grandmother are buried there!”

  “Nonetheless I will come.” There was a tone in his voice. He reminded me of my grandfather. It was the same tone Grandfather William had used when he had told me that Old Aiden, the scout had died.

  As we left the hall William and my men looked up. “We are staying the night. Stable the horses. The men will be housed in the other hall.”

  “Yes lord.”

  I did not recognise the priest who scurried out of the way as we approached the church. Father James had been the priest my father had appointed. Of course, the bishop would want his own man here. Was this why Sir Richard had insisted upon accompanying me? He did not know how I would react to a new priest in my great grandfather’s church.

  When I stepped inside I saw that was not the reason. My father had had two niches built, one on the left and one on the right. The one on the right was my great grandfather’s grave. It had his effigy carved in fine stone. On the left was the grave of my grandfather and grandmother. They too had their effigies carved in stone save that my grandmother’s effigy was not there.

  I whirled around. Sir Richard held up his hands, “It was not my doing. The bishop came and said that your grandmother was not Christian. He ordered the stone removed and her bones cast into the river. I am sorry. I was not here when he did so. Your priest, Father James, objected and he was sent hence. The bishop, it seems, has old scores to settle with your grandfather. He could not do so in life but now that he is dead…”

  I was angry and I wanted to hurt someone. This Hospitaller was not to blame. My anger would have to cool and, when I had my vengeance, it would be in cold blood. I walked down to the next niche. It was the one with the newest stone. It was the grave of my mother. On the floor was the grave of my great grandmother, Adela. Kneeling before my mother’s tomb I took out my sword and holding it like a cross said, “I swear that I will have vengeance for the wrong that was done my grandmother. I will not rest until Hugh de Puiset has paid.”

  When I stood Sir Richard said, “I know that knights such as we set great store by oaths but I wish you had not sworn that one. It will cost you your life.”

  “Sir Richard, what have I now? My home has gone. The warriors I left England with are dead save one. My father’s warriors are scattered to the four winds. My family are all dead and the Bishop of Durham has desecrated my grandmother’s grave. You fought in the Holy Land. You know the horror that was there. I came home to find peace or a sort of peace. If I cannot have peace then I will have war. A whirlwind has been unleashed. The most dangerous of enemies is one with nothing to lose. What else can I lose?”

  His silence was eloquent. He did not speak until we reached his hall, “Come, I will take you to your father’s chests. I also have his horses. He did not take his war horses to the Holy Land. I had the beasts cared for. There is his stallion, Gonfanon and two breeding mares. They are fine horses and worth a small manor! There are good palfreys and sumpters. I know not where you go but you will have horses to carry your goods.”

  I smiled for the knight was trying to do what was right, “You are a good man and the people of Stockton are lucky.”

  “I try. I am not certain how long God will grant me on this earth but I too have taken an oath to be the best lord of the manor that I can be. I can do little about the privations heaped upon the people but I can ensure that I do all I can to ease them.”

  He took me to a locked door. It led down to the cellars which my great grandfather had had built. He took a brand from the wall and, as we descended the stairs, he lit the sconces in the wall. There were many chests.

  “I had your father’s people pack clothes in one chest, weapons in another, papers in a third. There is another chest of your mother’s things and two more chests with items which they said belonged to your grandfather and great grandfather. Their mail is in the chests. Their swords, I believe, were buried with them.” He pointed to one chest which was smaller than the rest. “That is your father’s treasury.” He smiled, “The bishop wondered where it was. I believe he wished to have it himself.”

  I nodded. I found that tears were springing to my eyes. My family had thought that we would be here forever. Now their legacy was boxed in chests. I forced out a question to steady myself, “Where is his steward, old John son of William?”

  “Ah old John. I liked him. Once he saw I meant well he helped me. It was he showed me the secret place where your father had hidden his treasure. He told me tales of your great grandfather and grandfather. You have a lineage of which you can be proud. Old John died last winter. I think he simply could not live alone in the hall without the Warlord’s housekeeper, Alice. He had been fond of her. She lived to a ripe old age. I had never heard of any living until they were eighty. He thought you would not return. To me he gave up on life.”

  I had regained control of myself. I remembered, fondly, the old woman Sir Richard spoke of. She was as much a part of the castle as the solar my grandfather used. I turned, “Have you a wagon I could use or carts?”

  “Surely there will be one. There were some when I came here. I will leave you while I search them out.” He handed me a key. “Here is the key. Lock it when you leave. I trust my people but…”

  I spent some time examining the contents. I took, from my great grandfather’s chest, a dagger. It was beautifully worked and had a wolf beautifully carved in the handle. There was a single blue stone. I had never seen it for I had never met the Warlord but my father had spoken of it. From my grandfather’s chest, I took the two seals I remembered hanging around his neck. One was the seal to Aqua Bella. Having been there it had a special significance for me and I took the signet ring given to him by King Henry. He had been one of the inner circle of knights who advised King Henry. The only other who was
left was William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke. I slipped it on to my finger.

  I locked the door. Before I rejoined Sir Richard I went to the hall where my men had gone. There were four other warriors in the hall. I said, “I would speak alone with my men.”

  They nodded, “Aye lord. Come on lads.” The one who spoke paused, “You might not remember me, lord. I am Edward. My father was old Edgar who used to care for your grandfather’s hawks after Old Aiden died. I was a young lad when you and the earl went to war. We are all sorry for what went on. If I can do anything…”

  I nodded, “I will speak with you before I leave. I do remember you.”

  When I was alone I said, “When you swore an oath to me in the Holy Land it was with the expectation that I would have a castle to return to. That is not the case. I have come back to nothing and I can offer you nothing. I release you all from the oath you took. More than that I will give you all a hundred silver coins each for the service you have done me. I know not what the future holds for me. I cannot ask you to risk your future.”

  They looked at each other. David of Wales always seemed to be their spokesman, “Are you saying you want rid of us, lord? Have we offended you?”

  I was confused. “No, of course not. Were you not listening? I have nothing! There is not only no title, there is no manor! Your future will be a bleak one. I will be a sword for hire. It will be like the Holy Land all over again!”

  He said, quietly, “Have you ever broken an oath, lord?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Then are we lesser men? We know what has happened to you and we will not abandon you. You did not abandon us and yet you barely knew us. We will face this uncertain future with you. Isn’t that right, lads?”

  There was a chorus of ‘Ayes’.

  “And we have been speaking with Edward and others. Your family are good people. They have saved this valley more times than enough. They deserve to be remembered. If we can keep you alive then they will be remembered.”

  William was awaiting me outside the hall. “I am sorry for what they did to your grandmother, lord. It is not right. Justice must be done.”

  “I am not certain that justice lives in this land any longer.” I put my hand on his shoulder, “William, I will say the same to you as I said to the men. You have followed me since that day at Arsuf. I release you now from any obligation to follow me. I have a debatable future. I cannot promise that you will ever be knighted. Sir Richard has no squire and he seems an honourable man. If I ask him I am certain that he will take you on as a squire.”

  He smiled, “Sir Thomas, I care not if I never become knight. Our destinies are bound together. I will follow you. We may have a poor future but I guarantee that it will be interesting. I am your man, until death!”

  And so, I began a new life with just six men to follow me. They say that seven is a lucky number. I prayed so.

  Chapter 6

  The next morning, I rose early. I had not slept well. The food had been excellent, the wine had flowed and Sir Richard had been as courteous a host as one could wish but I had much on my mind. I went from the hall to the river. My grandmother’s bones were now in the river. For once I was glad that my father was dead. It would have broken his heart to have heard what had happened to his mother. Then I remembered Aunt Ruth. She would not know of this. Even though she lived but a few miles away Wulfestun was a quiet place. She was a recluse. My father and I had visited her before we went on crusade and they had parted well but neither expected to see the other again for a long time.

  I turned and headed back to the hall. I would have to do one more duty before I left to confront Prince John. I was about to re-enter the hall when Edward son of Edgar appeared. “Sir Thomas, I hoped to catch you alone. I need to speak with you.” He sounded worried.

  “Of course.”

  We went back to the river. The wall had guarded the hall from the river but now the foundations that remained made a bench. We sat.

  He took a deep breath and then began to talk. His voice was urgent. “When the bishop came some of the men who served your father objected to what the bishop was doing. They tried to stop his desecration of the tomb. Men died. Men on both sides. Your father’s men were brave but they were outnumbered. The bishop declared them outlaws.”

  “And you, Edward son of Edgar?”

  He hung his head, “I am sorry to say I did nothing. I could do nothing for I was not here. Sir Richard had sent me to pick up his chests from Hartness. When I returned I saw the heads of the dead on the walls of Stockton and the others had gone. They had been declared outlaw. I am sorry.”

  “No Edward. That was unfair of me. You could have done nothing alone. Where did the men go?”

  “Jack, son of Harold Will’s son, led them to the forests to the west of Norton. There were seven archers left and five of the men at arms.”

  “Thank you for that Edward. I am grateful.” I reached into my purse for a coin.

  He shook his head, “No, Sir Thomas. I tell you this because I wish to do right by you for the sake of my father and my uncle. I would follow you.”

  “I have no future.”

  “Lord, I know. I spoke with your new men last night and they told me what you said. I am just a lowly warrior but I can see that this land is not the one your grandfather fought to make safe. How could I sleep at night knowing that I had done nothing? I have no family. I will follow you if you will have me.”

  “And what of Sir Richard? I would not have you betray him.”

  “Nor will I. I am a man and I will ask him if I may follow you.”

  “If he agrees then so be it.” He nodded and strode off to speak with the Hospitaller.

  I found Will. “Have our horses saddled. We ride.”

  He did not question me. I went to my chamber for my cloak and helmet. I saw Sir Richard, “I beg a favour. I would visit with my aunt in Wulfestun. I promise that I will leave by tomorrow.”

  He smiled, “Stay as long as you like. I am enjoying your company.”

  I shook my head, “What I have planned means that I must stay a short time lest you become implicated too. You are a good man and I would not have you hurt on my account.”

  “You are a refreshing knight, Sir Thomas. You have values and you have honour.” He spread his arm in a circle, “The lords appointed by the bishop to the manors around here would not know one end of a spur from the other but they know how to take the last groat from a tenant. If the Scots ever come then God help them!”

  I returned him the key, “I would have my chests loaded onto the carts you said I could borrow. My men will pack them.”

  He took the key, “And then where will you go?”

  I pointed south, “I must speak with Prince John. If he is a good leader then he will honour the memory of my father and return the manor to me.” The look Sir Richard gave me told me that I was dreaming.

  My aunt’s home had been given to her by the Warlord himself. The farm had been abandoned after a raid by the Scots when my grandfather had been a child. He had built her a fine hall. Sitting in the middle of a huge forest it was as isolated as one could be and yet Stockton and its market was but a few miles away. As we made our way through the forest of oak, elm and ash I remembered coming hunting with my father and grandfather. I even recognised some of the trails which led into the heart of the woodland. The green way we followed had had some stones laid. It was not cobbled but, in the heart of a wet winter, the road could be trodden.

  The hall was quite simple in design. Made of wood and lath it was just one-storey high but it had two wings. I remembered when my Aunt had come here. I was just a child but even then, I could hear her clear and crisp orders as she made sure that the builders did exactly what she had wanted. My father always said that Ruth was a man in a woman’s body. She did not suffer fools. Had she been a mother then she would have been a good one for she was always kind to me and yet I could never get away with anything. As the only child who had survived chil
dbirth I was given a great deal of attention from my widowed aunt.

  As we dismounted she came from her hall. She was grey but her eyes were as sharp as ever. She embraced me and did not say a word. I felt dampness on my cheek. I waited until she relaxed her grip. It took some time for her to compose herself. “My young hero! They told me how you stood over my brother’s body!” Shaking her head, she said, “Foolish! You might have been killed! Your father would not have wanted that but I am pleased that you are alive. And a knight! It is good that you are home. Come, bring your squire indoors. We have much to talk about.” She linked my arm. I had always remembered her as being taller but I towered over her now. She said, as we entered, “You have come without baggage. I am guessing that you will not be staying the night.”

  I felt awful. I was being rude, “I am sorry, I did not…”

  “Do not worry, Thomas. We will have plenty of time to talk and you have things on your mind.”

  “How do….”

  She laughed, “I am no witch but I know you. You are like my brother. He was the same. You are both deep. When we were children I would chatter all the time but Samuel would watch and listen. Once he had made his mind up there was no dissuading him. That foolish crusade was an example. I wish he had stayed but then he would not have been Samuel, would he? He was like our father.”

  Her women appeared with bread, ham cheese and beer. They were all of an age with her. She smiled, “Like me they lost their husbands and also their sons to the Scots. We are a little community here. Like nuns but without the interminable praying and bending the knee. We are much more practical; we make things! Now sit and tell me all.”

  I did so as she poured beer for William and me. When we paused she insisted that we eat something and then asked us to continue. I reached the point where we took horses at Hull and I stopped. “And then we were back in England.”

  “Aqua Bella eh? Strange that you went there. I do not remember it at all. I was a suckling babe when we left but Samuel would have remembered it. Of course, my father spoke of it often. I envied you two. Your talks in the solar… You were born to be a warrior and he saw himself in you. He loved you, Thomas. It was a pity that your mother was denied more children. Both Samuel and my father would have liked that.”