Outlaw (Aelfraed) (16 page)

That was enough for most of them and they began to retreat. “After them! Do not let them regroup. “Branton! Keep your eye on the knights.”

I knew that Ridley and Osbert would warn me of danger to our flanks and my only fear was a charge by the knights. I never, for one moment, thought that Osbert and Ridley were harmed.  The men we fought were not the Welsh Housecarls, they were not good enough. We passed beyond the ditch and still they retreated, the ones at the back running away.  Our archers began to shoot arrow after arrow into their unprotected backs.  I wondered if we would be able to reach their leader, still sitting impassively on his mount behind the rest of his men. I heard, “Ware right!” Looking over I saw the light horse preparing to charge.

“Fall back.
  Keep in good order.”

We managed to reach the security of the fyrd and we gathered our breath.
  The field was covered by their dead. There appeared to be mercifully few of our men lying in the mud and I saw Ridley and Osbert safe on the flanks.  This was where I missed my uncle and his advice. I had no idea how many we had killed but assumed we were almost even. “Branton!”

“Yes my lord?”

“Mount up all of your archers.  We are going to attack them.  You keep the horse away from us.  Ride at them and shoot your arrows.” I grinned, “They have learned to fear you, Osbert, Lord Ridley.” When they reached me I was pleased to see them whole and without wounds. “Have we lost many?” I was aware that I only had two hundred men at arms. We could not afford high losses.

“A handful.”

“We are going to attack them.  Ridley, take half of the men at arms on the left, Osbert the rest of them on the right.  I will lead the fyrd.”

Osbert cocked his head, “Are you sure, my lord?
  They are unpredictable.”

“I will have my fyrd behind me and you have trained them well. Branton will keep watch on the horses. I will give the command when I have spoken to the fyrd. Let me know if Perci makes a move.”

I moved up the hill towards the fyrd.  The wounded had been taken behind the men and I wondered how my uncle was.  I was desperate to speak with him but time was of the essence. The men of the fyrd looked eager and, as I approached, they began to roar my name. I held up my hands for silence and they all stopped. “Today we get revenge for King Harold.  Today I will lead you to attack and defeat these Normans.  Some of you know me, others do not.” I glared at them.  “So I will make this quite clear. No-one goes ahead of me.  Is that understood?” Some said ‘yes my lord’ and others nodded.  “Keep together and make sure your shoulders touch your neighbours.  The men of Topcliffe will be behind me, watch them.” I saw my own people visibly grow a head taller. “Form your lines and follow me.”

I walked down the slope and saw that the Normans had still to move.
  That, in itself, gave me confidence.  We had them worried. I carried Death Bringer for I wanted to inspire fear in these foot soldiers. “Let them know we are coming!”

Ridley and Osbert began banging their shields and those in the fyrd who had them, mainly my men, did the same and then a single voice started a chant which they all took up.
  “Aelfraed! Aelfraed!” I moved forwards and the whole ungainly line headed down the slope. The chanting and the banging help to keep the rhythm and when I glanced down I saw that they were all marching in step. The bodies were a minor inconvenience as we stepped over them.  I saw the pennant dip and the remnants of the light horse charged.  It was a weak charge for the horses were blown and Branton’s archers kept up such a withering rate that they soon withdrew.  Crossbow bolts began to strike the men and Branton changed his target. I actually saw one heading for my face; I slightly inclined my head and felt it fly along my cheek.

Perci had recognised the fyrd and me.
  He obviously saw his chance and he and fifty knights rode in a wedge towards me.  I roared, “Shield wall!” noticing, as I did so that William of Perci was in the third rank.  He was a careful warrior. Branton’s men were using their mail breakers but I knew they would have few left. The whole battle would be determined by the men of the fyrd and Death Bringer. Fortunately he was aiming his wedge at me and my men had spears- I, of course, didn’t. I would be facing the most powerful weapon of the age with just an axe and a mail shirt.

I began swinging, watching, as I did so, the spear held out by the lead warrior. He had a golden star on his shield.
  I was aware of other knights being struck by arrows but the one at the front bore a charmed life.  Suddenly the spear struck my shoulder just as my axe bit, savagely, into the horse’s neck. My blow was so hard that it almost severed the head.  The spear head caught in the metal plates and was torn from the rider’s grip.  As he tumbled to the ground I raised the axe and in one blow decapitated the surprised knight. I quickly swung again and this time connected with a knight’s leg.  He screamed in agony and wheeled his horse around. I was suddenly facing William of Perci, with his flowing moustaches and evil aspect.  His horse had stopped and he held his spear in his hand. Without warning he suddenly threw the spear overhand at me.  I reacted without thinking and Death Bringer pinged off the head of the spear making it spiral away and behind me. He actually smiled at me and nodded acknowledgement.  Shouting something in Norman the knights rode away as quickly as they had charged.  My fyrd cheered and we continued our descent towards the cowering foot soldiers. I knew that the time was right and I shouted, “Charge!”

The moment that we broke into a run the enemy just broke and fled, following the departing horsemen. “Branton! After their horsemen.
  Harry them.”

Soon the only Normans left on the field were those who were dead or about to become dead.
  The fyrd crossed the field, slitting throats as they went and picking up pieces of armour and weapons. Ridley made his way towards me. “I think your grandmother was watching you this day Aelfraed.”

“I think someone was. Find out the butcher’s bill.
  I must find Aethelward.”

Aethelward was awake, lying amongst the wounded.
  His shoulder was bandaged and there was blood seeping from it.  The farmer who had repaired him was more used to animals. “Well?”

“We won and they fled.”

He closed his eyes, sighed and lay back.  For a moment I thought he had expired but, after what seemed an age, he opened them and said, “Thank God for that.  I was worried when you attacked their line.  That was not our plan.”

“No Uncle but as there is another column near Ripon I knew we had no time to sit and wait for them to attack. We had to strike quickly. The arrows worked and that took the heart from their knights.
  They are used to taking arrows and still winning.  Branton’s arrows kill!”

When we tallied up our losses, they were lighter than we could have hoped; sixteen archers, thirty men at arms and eighty of the fyrd.
  There were many wounded but all but three of them would survive. The Normans had lost heavily.  We found eighteen dead knights, almost a hundred and fifty of their horsemen and two hundred foot soldiers and crossbowmen. Perci would have to head south and lick his wounds,

I held a war council. “Osbert, take the fyrd back to Topcliffe and half of our men at arms and archers. Lord Ridley and I will follow them south and then take Aethelward to Jorvik for I do not like the look of his wound. Although Osbert did not like splitting our forces he knew that I was worried about Maiden Bower. We lashed a sling together made from cloaks and spears and put Aethelward between two horses.
  Our progress was slow but I still felt every bump as my uncle winced.  I was grateful when we reached Easingwold and he passed out. I suppose I could have taken him to the priory just ten miles north but I did not trust Morcar any more.  He needed to know that we had won.  We had our first victory against the Normans.

It was dusk when we reached the northern gate of the city. The sentries wondered at our state for men were covered in Norman blood. We were quickly admitted and I sought the nuns at the house of healing.
  The looks on their faces when they beheld my uncle’s wounds were not hopeful. He woke and murmured, “Go find Morcar.  I am in good hands now.”

Morcar was beaming from ear to ear.
  I have heard that you have trounced the enemy.”

“They fled the field if that is what you mean but they are still around and there is another column heading for Ripon.” I paused, “William has sent Copsi north.”

Had I slapped him I could not have effected a bigger change.  He paled. “It is not over then?”

I laughed.
  “No it has not started. But at least you will be safe now and we have the chance to build up the army.  You can allow the people back into the city now.”

He looked shamefaced.
  “They never left.  They would not go.”

I was about to become angry but there would have been little point.
  It was in the past but it just proved that Morcar was not a leader. “I will remain here tonight and then take the army to Ripon to find this Copsi…”

When I returned to the house of healing Aethelward was looking a little better. He grabbed my hand.
  “Find Reuben and fetch him here.” I was about to argue but he just said, “Do it, please.”

I owed my uncle all and I did as I was bid.
  Reuben looked a little nervous as he entered the house of healing.  The nuns had little love of Jews but my presence and Reuben’s kind and ancient face made it easier. As we entered his chamber one of the nuns who was leaving touched my arm and gently shook her head. I hoped that I had misunderstood the gesture.  Perhaps she meant that Reuben should not be there but in my heart I knew what it meant.

“Reuben , Aelfraed, I am dying.” He held up his hand to silence my arguments. “I am a warrior and I know these things but I have had a good life and I have seen my sister
’s son become the greatest Saxon warrior of his age.” He turned to Reuben.  “Old friend, for that is what you are, you have my monies.  I hereby bequeath them to my nephew.”

“It will be done my lord and it has been an honour to serve you.” He then did something surprising, he leaned forwards and kissed Aethelward on his forehead. “I will leave you with your nephew now for it is time for those things we leave unsaid, to be said.” He turned to me.
  “Before you return to your home my lord, if you come to my home I will apprise you of your assets.” He stood in the doorway looking at Aethelward and then he left.

“Come closer Aelfraed, we have little time.” I sat on the bed and leaned my ear so that it was close to his mouth. “You will no longer have me for advice but I saw today that you do not need it.
  You are a strategos. I know not how things will turn out.  That is
wyrd
, but I hope that we will prevail and return England to its rightful rulers. If events turn out ill then use your money to buy safety in another land. I was happy in Constantinople and they would make you welcome.”

He sighed and lay back.
  “Uncle!” He opened his eyes and gave me a wan smile. “I want to thank you for coming back for me all those years ago and making me the man I am. I love you as the father I never knew and I promise that I will not rest until I have ended the rule of the tyrant.”

“Do not waste your life.
  Unless you can raise the country behind you then you will lose.  At the end of my life I realise now that life is precious and not to be thrown away.  But I shall now be with Sweyn and Ulf, Osgar, Wolf and Harold and we will watch your deeds…..”

And he was gone.
  Lord Aethelward, the Varangian Guard, the Thingman, the strategos and my best friend, died in the house of healing in Jorvik.

The next day we laid him to rest in the churchyard of the cathedral. Reuben, Ridley, Branton and Morcar were the only mourners present at the interment.
  I wanted it to be quiet with those who had known the great man. As we stood in silence, each saying goodbye in his own way, I suddenly felt very lonely. There had always been someone for me, Nanna and then Aethelward and now I was alone. I still had Ealdgyth but she was not someone who could replace Aethelward. However, it made me desperate to see her again for with her I could cry; with her I could seek comfort.

The men at arms had all respected Aethelward and we marched in sombre silence across the Ouse, and north west to Topcliffe. Yesterday’s victory now seemed hollow. We had paid a bigger price than I had wanted and I was even more determined to rid my land of these invaders. Reuben had given to me a list of my assets and I was a rich man.
  He had also given to me a small box of coin.  When I had asked him why, he had inclined his head and said he had a feeling that I would need it sooner rather than later.  It was only a tiny part of my money but money was not important to me; people were.

We were still ten miles from Maiden Bower when we saw the thin tendril of smoke spiralling into the sky.
  Branton had his scouts out but we were all on edge.  One of his scouts suddenly appeared, waving his arms. We halted and readied our weapons.  “Riders approaching!”

We relaxed when Branton recognis
ed them as two if his archers. Their faces were ashen as they reined in their mounts. ”My lord, Sergeant Osbert sent us. Maiden Bower has been attacked and destroyed.”