Read Online King Henry's Champion by Griff Hosker - Free Book Online

face.  “There is no finer feeling than sending Scotsmen and rebels packing. We showed them.”
    “We did indeed, Sir Hugh.”
    He shook his head, “A shame there are no ransoms still there is plenty of armour and horses.”
    Sir Harold said, “There were no war horses, my lord.”
    “I know.  They did not expect to meet knights.” The thought made Sir Hugh Manningham frown. Does that mean they have more knights in Berwick and next time we may not be so lucky?”
    “Had they had war horses we would have caught them.  Their palfreys were nimble beasts.”
    “The river, my lord, we should make that an obstacle. If we put stakes across the ford they could not use it.” Sir Edward had a mind which used nature to help defence. He had been a soldier since he had been a child.  He knew how to war.
    I waved my arm up and down stream. “This river is not deep. Stakes would stop horses only and they could swim them.  No Sir Edward, we need to stop them north of the river. We use our mobility. We have an effective garrison in Norham.” I turned to Sir Roger, “You could hold them next time eh?”
    “We could now that we know how they will attack.  They will use ladders.  We need long poles to discourage them.”
    Wulfric said, “Make the bottom of the ditches muddy, fill them with water.  The water will drain leaving the bottom muddy and then the ladders will slip and sink. Ladders are unstable in the best of times.”
    Wulfric was the most experienced soldier I had and his advice was invaluable. I had just mounted Scout when Dick and his archers rode in. We all looked at him expectantly. “Well?”
    “They regrouped at the castle.  There are more knights there.  This was just the vanguard, my lord. I saw the standard of Gospatric there.  They have many knights.”
    Edward nodded, “That is why they fled at our attack.  They were to secure the crossing. You are right my lord, they will come again.”
    “The question is when.” I looked at the sun. It was past noon. “Are they all in camp?”
    “Yes my lord but their leaders went into the castle.”
    “Does the camp have defences, Dick?”
    “No, my lord.  They have sentries but it is a tented camp.”
    “Good, then I have a plan.” I turned to my knights. “I want the horses and servants to go into Norham.  There is nothing to be gained from a camp in the woods. We rest and then I intend to make a night attack on their camp.  I want only those who have no wounds. Dick and his archers will silence the sentries.  We will walk our mounts to within four hundred paces of their camp and then we ride through it. We kill as many as we can and we drive off as many animals as possible. It weakens them and, I hope, destroys their will to fight. Use spears and not lances. Dick, have fire arrows readied.  It will cover our retreat.”
    Dick said, “One more thing, my lord.  There is another island and ford just a mile to the east of us. There is another bend there.”
    “Then when we retreat this night I want you to leave ten archers there as an outpost in case they try a different approach.”
    I had John use the grindstone at the castle to put an edge on my sword and spears. “I will leave you, my banner and my son here tonight.” I saw the disappointment on his face. “A night attack is tricky. William was lucky today.  You guard him and my standard this night.”
    “Aye, my lord.”
    Sir Roger put his own chamber at my disposal and I slept, albeit fitfully. I kept waking and wondering if my decision was the right one. I had far too few men to do the job.  Should I have gathered all my knights? Then I realised that I would not have known of the danger before I left home. Perhaps the rebels and the Scots would not return.  We had more than bloodied their nose. What sent me to sleep was Athelstan’s voice in my head reminding me that I had to have faith in the men I led. 
    Sir John and Sir Phillip had insisted on joining me; they argued that