English Knight by Griff Hosker

father. “There is an opportunity for a man with strength to build a position of power in those wild borderlands.”
    My father shook his head, “I have had power, my liege.  I have commanded vast armies and wrested land from both Italian and Muslim warlords.  I seek a peaceful land, a land for my son to come to love.”
    For the first time the king seemed to notice me, “Ah the fine knight who has such a deadly and lightning quick blade. Then do you seek power and land, Alfraed of Norton?”
    I was not used to such attention.  I had to think quickly, “I do not know your majesty.  All of this is new to me. This time last year my biggest worry was the style of my beard and the cut of my clothes.”
    All of them, my father included, laughed at that.  “And so it is with all young men.” The king looked at me sadly, “My son, before he was taken from me, had much the same attitude. You two might have been friends.”
    I bowed.  There seemed no response I could make to that. Instinct gave my tongue words. “I will try to serve you on your borders as your son might, your majesty.”
    For some reason, that seemed to please the king enormously.  He embraced me, “You have spirit and you have honour.  Our meeting was a good one.  You will be my men in the north and help the Bishop to turn back the Scottish tide.”
    Brother John was a small fussy man but he was always smiling.  At least in the time we saw him he always had a happy and cheerful countenance. He took us to his cell where he had maps. “If you are Saxon my lord then you know the area.  There were Saxons both at Norton and Billingham but, as you may know, those people were all removed when King William chastised the rebellious earls.” I saw my father frown.  His men had told me of the upset he had felt when he had heard of the slaughter.  Many of his servants and friends had died. Brother John continued.  “Your land goes from the river north to the borders of the Bishop’s lands and farms here.” He jabbed a finger at the map. “They go as far north as the land of the De Brus around Hartness and to the east as far as the marshes.”
    My father peered at the writing on the map.  “Wulfestun, here, is that a separate manor?”
    “It was but no longer.  King William incorporated it into Norton.”
    I ventured a question.  “Will there be any dispute over ownership?”
    My father and Brother John looked at me curiously, “A strange question, my son.”
    I shrugged, “If King William cleared the land of the former owners and installed his own baron then will they not dispute our ownership?”
    Brother John nodded, “A fair question. They were raided by the Scots and the men slaughtered.  The women were taken as slaves. There are no heirs to dispute the land.”
    “But the women.”
    “Have no claim.” Brother John shook his head, “Here Salic law rules.  Women may not inherit. It is not like the East. Even if the slaves were freed they could not have any claim to the land.”
    The cleric spent some time refining the exact boundaries and giving us the number of farms on the land.  He could not give us the names as they would be in the church on the manor. Seemingly satisfied the cleric told us that the documents would be ready the next day. “Are there any further questions?”
    His friendly attitude had emboldened me. “If the king’s son is dead then who will be the next king?” It was as though I had sworn in church.  My father and his men glared at me and Brother John’s face fell. “We should know this father for we do not want to lose this land.  The king might be dead already but for our intervention.”
    Now that he understood my question Brother John’s smile returned, “Another fair question. The king is young enough to marry again but he has made plans.  His daughter, the Empress Matilda has been named heir.  The matter is still raw because the young prince has only been taken from us recently.  Even as you