Northern Knight by Griff Hosker

singing your praises, Baron Alfraed.  You have exceeded my expectations.  I had not thought that there would have been so many attempts to kidnap her. My son thinks highly of you and I concur with his view."
    "Where is your son, my liege?  I have not seen him."
    "He is in Wales. They are being troublesome again but this time it is in the south of the country close to his estates. Come tomorrow morning and I will speak with you.  I shall reward you and your men for their services."
    When I rejoined Edward and the Swabians they asked what the King had said.
    "We are to be rewarded for our services and I need to speak with him on the morrow."
    Edward asked, "Will we be heading home do you think?" I shrugged, "We have done well already.  We have fine horses and much gold. I am not certain that there will be much to be gained from staying here."
    "I fear you are right, Edward." I nodded towards all the suitors, gathered to woo the Empress. "I think this will be just the start of it. I do not envy you Rolf."
    "We will hunt and we will practise.  At least here the Empress is safe from kidnap. Caen is the most secure castle in the whole of Normandy."
    The King was alone when I saw him.  "Sit, Sir Alfraed." He had a parchment in his hands and he was playing with it. "I always desired the crown you know. But now that I have it and no heirs it seems to weigh heavily upon me. William, my son, would have been your age, had he lived. Things would have been so different had the White Ship not sunk." He shrugged, "Such is the will of God." He made the sign of the cross. "Perhaps I am being punished for imprisoning my brother." I squirmed a little for this felt embarrassing.  He saw my discomfort and smiled, "I am sorry, Baron.  I speak like this with Robert when he is here. Forgive me.  I feel older these days especially when I hear of exploits of knights such as you.  You must forgive a father for thinking of what might have been..."
    He handed me the parchment.  "This increases your lands in the valley of the River Tees and gives you the title of Lord of the Valley of the Tees. Roger of Ripon wrote a report for me and informed me that the lands on both sides of the valley have increased their yield of taxes and animals.  That is, largely, down to you." I was about to protest and he waved his hand.  "No false modesty, sir. There is a manor at Thornaby which had been vacant because it was impoverished.  You can hold that and give it to one of your knights if you wish. You would profit from the land. I would have given you Red Marshall too but it is close to the land of the Bishop of Durham and I would not risk losing the affections of Bishop Flambard. However there is a manor at Elton which I have it in my power to award." He allowed me to read the parchment. I saw that I was now the most powerful baron and only subject to the Bishop of Durham.  It was quite a coup.
    "In return I expect twenty knights from the valley and eighty men at arms as well as forty archers."
    "Archers are hard to come by."
    "I know but I do not expect that you will have to bring them to muster this year.  Apart from Wales, my lands seem peaceful.  You and my son have managed to quieten down the ambitions of the Scots and the rebels.  With the Palatinate now secure too I hope that the northern border will remain peaceful and prosperous. I must stay here for my enemies gather around me like wolves.  Anjou, Flanders, France; they constrict me and conspire against me." He leaned back; a sure sign that the interview was over. 
    Picking up the parchment I stood, "I will do as you command, my liege, and I will await your orders." Even as I said it I knew how stuffy it sounded.
    He smiled, "There are two ships leaving for England today.  You and your men can use them to return to England. The castle is crowded and we expect more visitors.  Your work is done here and my daughter safely delivered. Go home and enjoy some time with your family." I was