archer. Archers are meant to be behind walls. Me? I like to ride my destrier, Roger, and use my war axe where I can swing!"
"I know, old friend, but now that you have a manor I would advise a little more caution. These people have just become used to a lord who will protect them. Do not abandon that."
He looked offended, "Lord, do you doubt my right arm?"
"No but we all know that someday a young version of you will come along!"
"Perhaps." He did not sound convinced.
We had returned to his castle. "We leave in seven days. We gather at Thornaby. That way we can cross the vale to Osmotherley and miss out Helmsley. I would not waste men on a siege there."
"Good, for I hate sieges!"
"How many men will you bring?"
"Fifteen men at arms and ten archers. I have young Thomas son of Oswald as my squire. He is a handy lad."
"Then have your scouts seek this Sir Edward. Sir Richard has scouted the vale of York and we know his defences there. Malton is his stronghold. We can expect it to be firmly held."
Sir Edward was in a better position than most. Like me the river gave him much protection and he had some stone features in his wooden castle. He also had the advantage that he could take refuge with me if things became difficult. I told him my plans. "I will be ready lord."
"And how many men do you bring?"
"I needs must leave a strong garrison for my family are within. There will be twenty men at arms, fifteen archers and two squires. John, my son is under the wing of Gilles my squire." He looked at me. "I would have Gilles knighted soon, lord."
"You can knight him yourself, Edward, you know that."
"I do but he and I would be happier if it was the Empress' Champion, Warlord of the North, the Earl of Cleveland, who dubbed him and gave him his spurs."
"Very well. Is he content to live in Thornaby yet? Does he wish his own manor?"
"Not yet lord but there is a manor south of here, Stainton, which some day it might suit."
"That belongs to the Archbishop of York."
He nodded, "I thought you could use your influence with him."
"Perhaps although his nephew says that he is close to death. We may lose that influence soon. I agree with you that Gilles has proved himself worthy and he is of an age. When we have finished with Fitz Mandeville I will give him his spurs."
As we returned across the Tees on Ethelred's ferry, my squire, Gilles asked, "How long was Gilles of Thornaby a squire, lord?"
"Oh these five years past. Why?"
"You took me from Normandy two years since. I wondered how long I would wait."
"If you were ready then I would knight you now. Do you feel ready?"
He shook his head, "I have only begun to learn how to be a knight lord. Each time I think I am one step closer I see you or Sir Harold do something and know I am not even close to that elevated position. I am happy to continue to learn, lord."
"Good. For you do learn. When we go to war watch Gilles of Thornaby and see what he does. Look not at what he is ordered to do for any man can do that. It is what he is not asked to do and yet does which is important."
Sir Tristan, Sir Harold and Sir Richard of Sherwood, along with my household knight, Sir John of Stockton, would complete my conroi. I gathered them in my solar where we could discuss the campaign. John, my Steward, was there to take note of what we would need. When he knew the numbers then he would know how many sumpters and servants we needed.
"Sir Tristan and Sir Harold I do not expect you to bring all of your men. You have manors to watch. Given that, how many men do you bring?"
Sir Harold said, "I lost one of my men at arms fighting Cumin. There will be nine men at arms and eight archers."
Sir Tristan said, "And I lost two . I will bring eight men at arms and eight archers."
"Dick?"
"I have thirty archers."
"Did you take on a squire?"
He nodded, "Aleric's son, Tom. He can use a bow but he is a fine swordsman too."
"Good then we have
"I know, old friend, but now that you have a manor I would advise a little more caution. These people have just become used to a lord who will protect them. Do not abandon that."
He looked offended, "Lord, do you doubt my right arm?"
"No but we all know that someday a young version of you will come along!"
"Perhaps." He did not sound convinced.
We had returned to his castle. "We leave in seven days. We gather at Thornaby. That way we can cross the vale to Osmotherley and miss out Helmsley. I would not waste men on a siege there."
"Good, for I hate sieges!"
"How many men will you bring?"
"Fifteen men at arms and ten archers. I have young Thomas son of Oswald as my squire. He is a handy lad."
"Then have your scouts seek this Sir Edward. Sir Richard has scouted the vale of York and we know his defences there. Malton is his stronghold. We can expect it to be firmly held."
Sir Edward was in a better position than most. Like me the river gave him much protection and he had some stone features in his wooden castle. He also had the advantage that he could take refuge with me if things became difficult. I told him my plans. "I will be ready lord."
"And how many men do you bring?"
"I needs must leave a strong garrison for my family are within. There will be twenty men at arms, fifteen archers and two squires. John, my son is under the wing of Gilles my squire." He looked at me. "I would have Gilles knighted soon, lord."
"You can knight him yourself, Edward, you know that."
"I do but he and I would be happier if it was the Empress' Champion, Warlord of the North, the Earl of Cleveland, who dubbed him and gave him his spurs."
"Very well. Is he content to live in Thornaby yet? Does he wish his own manor?"
"Not yet lord but there is a manor south of here, Stainton, which some day it might suit."
"That belongs to the Archbishop of York."
He nodded, "I thought you could use your influence with him."
"Perhaps although his nephew says that he is close to death. We may lose that influence soon. I agree with you that Gilles has proved himself worthy and he is of an age. When we have finished with Fitz Mandeville I will give him his spurs."
As we returned across the Tees on Ethelred's ferry, my squire, Gilles asked, "How long was Gilles of Thornaby a squire, lord?"
"Oh these five years past. Why?"
"You took me from Normandy two years since. I wondered how long I would wait."
"If you were ready then I would knight you now. Do you feel ready?"
He shook his head, "I have only begun to learn how to be a knight lord. Each time I think I am one step closer I see you or Sir Harold do something and know I am not even close to that elevated position. I am happy to continue to learn, lord."
"Good. For you do learn. When we go to war watch Gilles of Thornaby and see what he does. Look not at what he is ordered to do for any man can do that. It is what he is not asked to do and yet does which is important."
Sir Tristan, Sir Harold and Sir Richard of Sherwood, along with my household knight, Sir John of Stockton, would complete my conroi. I gathered them in my solar where we could discuss the campaign. John, my Steward, was there to take note of what we would need. When he knew the numbers then he would know how many sumpters and servants we needed.
"Sir Tristan and Sir Harold I do not expect you to bring all of your men. You have manors to watch. Given that, how many men do you bring?"
Sir Harold said, "I lost one of my men at arms fighting Cumin. There will be nine men at arms and eight archers."
Sir Tristan said, "And I lost two . I will bring eight men at arms and eight archers."
"Dick?"
"I have thirty archers."
"Did you take on a squire?"
He nodded, "Aleric's son, Tom. He can use a bow but he is a fine swordsman too."
"Good then we have
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