King Henry's Champion by Griff Hosker Page B

brother serves Sir Henry de Vexin in Durham.  He should have my manor.” He winced, “With your permission, of course.”
    “Of course.”
    He smiled, “Thank you.  Tell him…” His eyes stared lifelessly at the sky.  He was dead.
    “Go with God, my friend.” I turned to his men at arms.  “Take your lord back to Warkworth.  There is a church there?” They nodded, “Then have him buried and I will send to Durham for his brother.”
    “Aye my lord.  He fought well.  It was just unlucky that he was thrown from his horse.”
    “It is God’s will.” I turned to William. “Well done to both of you.  Have you any hurts?” They both shook their heads.  “Then take Star back and fetch me Scout.” I stroked the mane of my war horse, “You did well today.  You have earned your feed.  Give him some oats.”
    I walked along the line of the enemy to see their dead knights.  There were just three of them and four squires. I saw the one I had killed and his squire lay just behind, the back of his head caved in.  That would have been the blow from Wulfric’s axe. There would be no ransom.  As I scanned the field I could not see any noble prisoners. I took off the helmets of the three dead knights.  I did not recognise any of them. Nor did I recognise either their livery or the devices on their shields. We had won but it was not the complete victory that I had hoped.  It was not the poor soldiers who we needed to kill, it was their masters and their men at arms. I walked towards the castle to speak with Sir Roger.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 4
    I heard hooves behind me and turned as William galloped up leading Scout. “That was quickly done.  Where is Leofric?”
    “He is attending to Star.”
    “Good then you may be my squire today.” I mounted.  “Show me your sword.” He took it out and I saw blood upon it.  “Did you kill today?”
    He nodded, “The man was going to stick his spear in Sir William.  I ran him through from the back.” He hesitated, “Was it wrong to do so?”
    “No, my son.  In war there are no rules.  You fight and you kill with anything you have to hand.  If possible we face our foes but on a battlefield such as this that is a luxury we can ill afford. Sir William told me what you did and I am proud of you.”
    Sir Roger had mounted and joined us along with Ralph of Wales. “A great victory, my lord.”
    “A victory, Sir Roger, but not as complete as I had planned.” I waved my hand around.  “They have lost three knights, perhaps twenty men at arms but the bulk of the dead are ordinary folk.  They are easily replaced. We have lost William of Warkworth and three men at arms. They are less easy to replace.” I looked at Ralph, “And our losses in the woods?”
    “We lost two archers. They were Sir Hugh’s men and Alan of Thornaby suffered an arrow wound.  It is naught.”
    “You and Dick had best find any arrows which remain undamaged.  I fear we will need your skills again.”
    After they had gone I turned Scout to head towards the river and islands. “You think they will come again, my lord? I think Sir Roger thought it was all over.”
    “I suspect so. When Dick returns he will let us know. If they have more men at Berwick, as I suspect they do, then they will return but they will know our numbers. Next time we will not be able to surprise them and they will come in force. I will have to find a new strategy.” I pointed to the castle.  “This is a fine position for a castle but you need to have one of stone.”
    He nodded, “I think the Bishop had planned for a stone one but he died and…”
    “And there is no replacement.  I know. I will press for the funds to be made available. It is short sighted to quibble over pennies.” The procrastination of the King was costing us dearly.
    My knights and men at arms were by the river watering their horses.  The squires had fetched meat, cheese and ale. Sir Hugh had a huge grin on his