Earl by Griff Hosker Page A

early.  I did not take Star; I took Scout instead. I did not think I would need a warhorse. I was also a little mindful of facing Vikings with their axes and savage disdain for horses. I used Dick and his archers as scouts. We headed west along what must have been a Roman road many years ago.  It had not been maintained.  It had a reasonable surface for horses and men but wagons would have struggled to cover long distances upon it for there were many of the cobbles missing and the ditches had not been cleared.
    We headed just ten miles down the road.  We used the remaining Roman marker stones as guides. The Dee lay to the north of us.  I wondered if they might use the river to supply their men. I knew the Welsh did not but Vikings used their drekar the way we used horses. As we watched for signs of movement along the road I sent Griff of Gwent and Wilson to see if there were any ships in the river. I had not wanted to go too far down the road in case we were needed back at our improvised camp. Griff of Gwent and Wilson were only away a short time.
    "My lord, there are ships coming up the river but they are the Viking dragon ships. There are three of them."
    My immediate reaction was one of dismay.  They were being reinforced and then I realised I was looking at this the wrong way.  They now had more mouths to feed. I could not see them having spare food in their own lands in Ireland at this time of year.  It was Anglesey which was the bread basket of Wales.  They would be using their valuable source of supplies for their allies.  Cheshire had not been conquered yet.  The Welsh king was gambling on taking the fertile land for his own. "How many oars on each one?"
    "One had thirteen and two of them nine."
    "Were they heavily laden?"
    "No, my lord, there were high in the water.  I saw weed."
    "You have done well."
    Griff of Gwent asked, "Why is it good, my lord, that they ride high out of the water?"
    "It means they only have one man per oar. They only have sixty men aboard the boats.  We killed almost that many the day before yesterday. These must have been summoned before our attack."
    "My lord, riders! They come from the west."
    John's voice made me turn and spur Scout back into the trees.  The place we had chosen for an ambush had a dip on our side of the road. I now used that to our advantage. I nudged Scout forward so that I could peer through the thin foliage. There were two knights on horses.  They were followed by ten armoured men at arms leading a column of marching men.  They were armed with spears.  I saw the light glinting off some helmets.  This was not the fyrd. I tried to remember the maps of the area.  They could have come from St. Asaph.  I knew there was a castle there but more likely it was from Flint which was just ten miles down the road. I could not make out the numbers but it mattered not.  We had surprise on our side.
    "Dick, have your archers ready.  I will take the men at arms and charge up the road.  You attack them in the rear with arrows."
    "Aye my lord."
    "Wulfric follow me."
    I rode back down the road to a point about forty paces from the line of trees.  I formed up with Wulfric, Roger of Lincoln and Jack son of John. With John my squire behind me the other ten men at arms made a solid wall of iron.
    We had long spears, captured from the Welsh, with us. Our lances I would keep for the day we met a large body of knights. I estimated when the Welsh would appear and, when I judged the moment right, I spurred Scout.  We trotted forward and then cantered. I saw the banners appear above the skyline and knew that they were within twenty paces of the rise. I lowered my spear and the other three followed suit. We saw each other at the same time.  The difference was that we were going at a canter while they were moving at the speed of a walking man.
    As soon as we were seen I heard the Welsh voice give the alarm.  Dick's arrows began to descend upon those at the rear of the column.