a healer. I have learned much this night. I have seen those with wounds such as this either lose the leg or die. I will try to copy this archer. He has skill."
"Edgar go and get food. I will watch John with Wulfric for a while."
We sat by the fire and listened to the deep and reassuring breathing of my squire. After a while Wulfric broke the silence. "The King should invade Scotland and teach them a lesson once and for all, my lord. Our men at arms, archers and knights are superior to anything we have seen or met."
"I know Wulfric but you fail to see the bigger picture." I had brought three coins from the horde. I held them in my palm. "This Scottish coin I do not worry about. As you say we have the beating of King David and his wild men. They are like the biting of the midges, annoying. It is these two which worry me more. Where in the Empire do the coins come from? Why is King Louis trying to draw the King to his northern border?"
Wulfric stared into the fire. He suddenly turned on me, "He is going to attack in Normandy!"
"I do not think that he will do that. I think that he and Flanders will ferment rebellion. The Norman lords are not as loyal as those in England. Many see themselves as the Duke of Normandy. France and Flanders care not for if there were to be rebellion then they would sweep in and defeat the weakened victor."
"We should tell the King."
"Let us gather all the intelligence we can and then I will speak with the Bishop of Durham and the Archbishop of York. Both are wise men. I will take their counsel first."
My squires agreed to take it in turns to watch over John with Edgar. I retired although I did not think that sleep would come. I had much to occupy my mind. I was loyal to the King but I had another loyalty to Matilda and her son Henry. Anjou was vulnerable. Since the King of France had betrothed his son to Eleanor of Aquitaine there was danger to Anjou from the south. The Count of Anjou had grown in recent years but he would still struggle to resist an attack on his borders. The thought which finally sent me to sleep was that I would go to Normandy in the autumn. First I would settle the border and my own land and then I would seek counsel. What I had learned could not be committed to parchment. That was too risky. I would take the evidence with me.
When I awoke I was relieved to see that John was awake, weak, but awake. "I am sorry, my lord, I failed to protect myself with my shield. I saw that my foes had no armour and thought I could not be hurt."
Edgar snorted, "Even without mail an enemy can strike your legs. You need a longer mail shirt and leggings. If you fight as a knight then you should be armed as a knight."
I nodded, "Edgar is right. All of you are now more than ceremonial squires. You fight and you need better protection. When we return to Stockton, Alf will make you better mail."
Dick and the archers returned soon after we woke. He had his men hold the outlaws in the stable while he reported to me.
"Of the six of them, my lord, two are not to be trusted. The other four are younger. Their families were killed by raiding Scots five years since and William of Lucker took them in."
"You say we could use them?"
He nodded, "My Lord Norham needs archers. The four have skill and good hearts. They can use bows. I saw their arms. They are like young oaks. They remind me of Harold." He took a deep breath. "It is what I believe, my lord."
"And I trust you. You have done well. Fetch them to me."
While he went I sought Sir Roger and explained what I intended. "You trust your archer's judgement?"
"He was an outlaw and he has never let me down. I trust him." We went to his hall and awaited Dick.
I had Wulfric stand close by as the six were brought in. "You are all guilty of being outlaws. The punishment for such a crime is clearly laid down. What say you?"
I saw the two who were beyond redemption. While the other four looked shocked and
"Edgar go and get food. I will watch John with Wulfric for a while."
We sat by the fire and listened to the deep and reassuring breathing of my squire. After a while Wulfric broke the silence. "The King should invade Scotland and teach them a lesson once and for all, my lord. Our men at arms, archers and knights are superior to anything we have seen or met."
"I know Wulfric but you fail to see the bigger picture." I had brought three coins from the horde. I held them in my palm. "This Scottish coin I do not worry about. As you say we have the beating of King David and his wild men. They are like the biting of the midges, annoying. It is these two which worry me more. Where in the Empire do the coins come from? Why is King Louis trying to draw the King to his northern border?"
Wulfric stared into the fire. He suddenly turned on me, "He is going to attack in Normandy!"
"I do not think that he will do that. I think that he and Flanders will ferment rebellion. The Norman lords are not as loyal as those in England. Many see themselves as the Duke of Normandy. France and Flanders care not for if there were to be rebellion then they would sweep in and defeat the weakened victor."
"We should tell the King."
"Let us gather all the intelligence we can and then I will speak with the Bishop of Durham and the Archbishop of York. Both are wise men. I will take their counsel first."
My squires agreed to take it in turns to watch over John with Edgar. I retired although I did not think that sleep would come. I had much to occupy my mind. I was loyal to the King but I had another loyalty to Matilda and her son Henry. Anjou was vulnerable. Since the King of France had betrothed his son to Eleanor of Aquitaine there was danger to Anjou from the south. The Count of Anjou had grown in recent years but he would still struggle to resist an attack on his borders. The thought which finally sent me to sleep was that I would go to Normandy in the autumn. First I would settle the border and my own land and then I would seek counsel. What I had learned could not be committed to parchment. That was too risky. I would take the evidence with me.
When I awoke I was relieved to see that John was awake, weak, but awake. "I am sorry, my lord, I failed to protect myself with my shield. I saw that my foes had no armour and thought I could not be hurt."
Edgar snorted, "Even without mail an enemy can strike your legs. You need a longer mail shirt and leggings. If you fight as a knight then you should be armed as a knight."
I nodded, "Edgar is right. All of you are now more than ceremonial squires. You fight and you need better protection. When we return to Stockton, Alf will make you better mail."
Dick and the archers returned soon after we woke. He had his men hold the outlaws in the stable while he reported to me.
"Of the six of them, my lord, two are not to be trusted. The other four are younger. Their families were killed by raiding Scots five years since and William of Lucker took them in."
"You say we could use them?"
He nodded, "My Lord Norham needs archers. The four have skill and good hearts. They can use bows. I saw their arms. They are like young oaks. They remind me of Harold." He took a deep breath. "It is what I believe, my lord."
"And I trust you. You have done well. Fetch them to me."
While he went I sought Sir Roger and explained what I intended. "You trust your archer's judgement?"
"He was an outlaw and he has never let me down. I trust him." We went to his hall and awaited Dick.
I had Wulfric stand close by as the six were brought in. "You are all guilty of being outlaws. The punishment for such a crime is clearly laid down. What say you?"
I saw the two who were beyond redemption. While the other four looked shocked and
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