Warlord of the North by Griff Hosker

King Henry and I will not lie to you. Each person must make their own decision." I waved a hand at the still smoking piles of bodies.  "We have defeated one enemy.  There are more.  We make our walls stronger, while winter remains, so that no one will try to breach them.  We prepare weapons and we gather food.  As Warlord I give each family permission to hunt game in my forests. What we hunt we share! The road south is still in English hands and I hope for allies and reinforcements but if we have to fight on alone then we will do so."
    I turned to return to my hall and Alf shouted, "I know not about the rest of you but I follow the Earl of Cleveland.  Him I know and the man from Blois I do not!"
    There was a cheer which began small but grew until, by the time I rode through my gate it was deafening."
    Dick took my reins as I dismounted. He was grinning, "They have given you their decision." He nodded to his archers on the walls.  "We have decided too.  We follow you as Earl or as Warlord."
    "It could mean a traitor's death."
    "Aye, my lord it could but I think it will not and I also believe that what you do is right. King Henry would approve." He laughed, "I began life as an outlaw.  It is but a small jump to traitor!"
    "And Wulfric?"
    "He will tell you himself, my lord, but he and his men at arms did not find it a hard decision to make."
    I felt better as I entered my Great Hall. The gathered knights and their families almost filled it. They stood expectantly.  I was not yet ready to ask the question for part of me feared the answer. If they did not follow me could I fight against them?
    "Tell me Sir Hugh, your story."
    He looked tired and more than a little shaken.
    "Sir Barnard sent a message to me to visit him at his castle.  I was suspicious, my lord, and I used bad weather as an excuse not to attend. On the same day Lady Hilda and her family fled to my castle, pursued by Scots. They barely made it.  I sent a messenger to Sir Barnard asking for help.  The messenger did not return. The three ships we brought were on the river.  I thought it fortuitous that the river had not frozen and we were going to send our families to you for safety when a rider came from the east to tell us that you had been slain on the journey back from Normandy. We did not know what to do and the Scots then attacked my castle. Sir Barnard was with them, lord.  You were right.  He is a traitor."
    I nodded, "Scottish and French kings hired six killers to end my life on the way back.  They failed but their plan almost succeeded and Barnard Balliol will pay a price for his treachery."
    "He came to our walls on the second day of the siege. He begged me to surrender and join with the forces of King David.  He said he would fight under the Scottish banner; that was where his heart lay. We refused and he said there would be no quarter.  They attacked." He shook his head, "My castle is made of wood and it is small.  We could not hold out for long.  When night came and we counted our dead I decided to chance that Sir Edward or Sir Richard lived yet and we might find sanctuary. We slipped out after dark, boarded the three boats and managed to escape.  They chased us down the river for a while and showered us with arrows but they lost men and we did not. Now we are here."
    "I will tell you now what I have told my people.  From this day forth, until we have the rightful ruler on the throne I will rule as regent for the Empress Matilda and the erstwhile Prince Henry. When I have spoke with the Bishop of Durham, who is Prince Bishop, I will know my position better.  None need make a quick decision.  We have the Scottish pox to remove but once that is done then we have a decision to make."
    They nodded.  Some shouted, "I am for you now, Earl!" and the like.  Others held their counsel.
    "Sir Hugh, I am sure your father in law will care for your family until we have regained your home.  Lady Hilda use my castle as your own.  Wilfred,