until you are knighted, would you be my squire?"
"Aye, my lord. I would be honoured."
My banner stood in the corner. I went to get it and handed it to him. "Then on the morrow we begin the fight back! We take what the Scots have captured and make this valley England once more!"
Chapter 4
I went to speak with Sir Richard and Sir Edward at first light. "I need you two to take your men and ensure that you are bastions protecting the river's southern bank. With Piercebridge gone and the mouth of the Tees closed we have to keep this vital artery to York open. If the road is cut then we will be helpless."
"But that leaves you perilous few men with which to defend the walls of Stockton, my lord."
"I know Edward but I am counting on the fact that there will be others who live and seek a lord behind whom they can fight. Train men. We have bows and spears aplenty. We use what we have."
"But we might be throwing their lives away."
"I rely on you to see that does not happen. I will use speed and the skill of my archers in the woods. My plan is to find those who are close to us and eliminate them first. We keep moving out until we are joined with Durham once more."
"And what of Durham? Surely the Prince Bishop should be fighting the Scots."
"Do not judge him yet, Richard. He may well be fighting. Until Aiden returns we are in the dark. Now go and keep me informed. Any information no matter how trivial should be sent to me."
I sought out William the Mason. "My old friend. I have need of your skills once more."
"Aye, my lord. I will do all that I can. This is my home and while I cannot wield a sword, I can, at least, wield a mallet and chisel."
"I need the north west town gate improving. I would have it made of stone. My men will deepen the ditch. I wish the wall to continue to the river wall and gate."
"You intend to make a small enclosure between the town and the castle."
"I do. We can make daub and wattle huts. The castle is too crowded now and I do not wish it to become pestilential should we be besieged. We need somewhere for the people to live if we are attacked again."
"I will get my sons and we will start straight away. I have stone which was intended for some houses in the town."
"Tell those for whom you would build that I will recompense them but the town takes priority!"
Alf was already hard at work making swords. His sons were making arrow and spear heads. I saw fletchers making arrows. "Alf, your work is all that I would wish it but I must tell you that I am using the stone that you and the others bought for your houses. I am making a stone gate and wall. If we are under siege then we can use it for the people. If any complain tell them I, personally, will recompense them."
He spat into the fire and it hissed and sizzled, "If they complain they answer to me, my lord. You purge the land of these savages and I will bang heads here if needs be." I knew I could rely on Alf. He was the Wulfric of my town.
I gathered my men. "Erre I leave you and the Varangians with Sir John to protect and guard my river crossing. William will work on the new gate. Have the men deepen the ditch and use the wood the Scots gathered for their siege weapons and make a drawbridge. We ride to find Scots. We will return after dark. The password is Miklagård."
He laughed, "I like that. God speed my lord."
Young Gilles had brought Scout for me and he led his palfrey. I shook my head, "No Gilles, I need you here on my walls. You must defend my home. The others who work with the hawks and the stables will be here also and Sir John will command."
I led my men and we headed to Norton. All that we knew was Sir Henry and his men were dead. We knew nothing else. We went defensively towards Norton. I doubted it was still occupied but it did not do to take chances. Dick and the combined archers spread out and we moved along the Hartness Road. The burned
"Aye, my lord. I would be honoured."
My banner stood in the corner. I went to get it and handed it to him. "Then on the morrow we begin the fight back! We take what the Scots have captured and make this valley England once more!"
Chapter 4
I went to speak with Sir Richard and Sir Edward at first light. "I need you two to take your men and ensure that you are bastions protecting the river's southern bank. With Piercebridge gone and the mouth of the Tees closed we have to keep this vital artery to York open. If the road is cut then we will be helpless."
"But that leaves you perilous few men with which to defend the walls of Stockton, my lord."
"I know Edward but I am counting on the fact that there will be others who live and seek a lord behind whom they can fight. Train men. We have bows and spears aplenty. We use what we have."
"But we might be throwing their lives away."
"I rely on you to see that does not happen. I will use speed and the skill of my archers in the woods. My plan is to find those who are close to us and eliminate them first. We keep moving out until we are joined with Durham once more."
"And what of Durham? Surely the Prince Bishop should be fighting the Scots."
"Do not judge him yet, Richard. He may well be fighting. Until Aiden returns we are in the dark. Now go and keep me informed. Any information no matter how trivial should be sent to me."
I sought out William the Mason. "My old friend. I have need of your skills once more."
"Aye, my lord. I will do all that I can. This is my home and while I cannot wield a sword, I can, at least, wield a mallet and chisel."
"I need the north west town gate improving. I would have it made of stone. My men will deepen the ditch. I wish the wall to continue to the river wall and gate."
"You intend to make a small enclosure between the town and the castle."
"I do. We can make daub and wattle huts. The castle is too crowded now and I do not wish it to become pestilential should we be besieged. We need somewhere for the people to live if we are attacked again."
"I will get my sons and we will start straight away. I have stone which was intended for some houses in the town."
"Tell those for whom you would build that I will recompense them but the town takes priority!"
Alf was already hard at work making swords. His sons were making arrow and spear heads. I saw fletchers making arrows. "Alf, your work is all that I would wish it but I must tell you that I am using the stone that you and the others bought for your houses. I am making a stone gate and wall. If we are under siege then we can use it for the people. If any complain tell them I, personally, will recompense them."
He spat into the fire and it hissed and sizzled, "If they complain they answer to me, my lord. You purge the land of these savages and I will bang heads here if needs be." I knew I could rely on Alf. He was the Wulfric of my town.
I gathered my men. "Erre I leave you and the Varangians with Sir John to protect and guard my river crossing. William will work on the new gate. Have the men deepen the ditch and use the wood the Scots gathered for their siege weapons and make a drawbridge. We ride to find Scots. We will return after dark. The password is Miklagård."
He laughed, "I like that. God speed my lord."
Young Gilles had brought Scout for me and he led his palfrey. I shook my head, "No Gilles, I need you here on my walls. You must defend my home. The others who work with the hawks and the stables will be here also and Sir John will command."
I led my men and we headed to Norton. All that we knew was Sir Henry and his men were dead. We knew nothing else. We went defensively towards Norton. I doubted it was still occupied but it did not do to take chances. Dick and the combined archers spread out and we moved along the Hartness Road. The burned
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