proud of my squires that day. They fought as men. They showed that their training with Wulfric had been worthwhile for their shields and swords worked in unison.
The ones who attacked the bow castle were not the oathsworn and they fell back to their longship. As I hacked the legs from the warrior who stood on the cog's top rail I saw that there was just one line holding us here at the bow. I sliced through it and we began to separate. I ran to the next two lines and hacked through first one and then the last, by the stern. The longship began to drift eastwards. With no one at the steering board the sails fluttered and flapped.
From the mast Griff of Gwent shouted, "It is a charnel house on their ship, my lord. If we wished we could take her!"
I shouted, "No, we have beaten them. That is enough. Besides they have allies, see." I pointed.
The smaller ships were closing with the longship. They would be able to crew it but their attack was over. Wulfric and my men at arms were already ending the lives of the wounded Danes.
"Archers see to our wounded." I turned to my squires. They were bloodied but unbowed. "You did well. How is the leg, John?"
"A little stiff but we survived!"
"Aye we did. Collect any valuables from the dead Danes. Their weapons are poor as is their mail. Pitch them overboard."
I found Captain Jack being tended to by Edgar. At his feet lay Carl and two dead Danes. "My sister's son did well. I will owe my sister a payment. He died protecting me."
"How is he Edgar?"
Before my healer could answer Captain Jack said, "It is a scratch. I have had worse shaving!"
I laughed for he had a full white beard. "You are a stalwart captain."
"This is my ship! And I thank you and your warriors. There were more Danes than I have ever seen. I hope King Henry uses this treasure wisely."
Part 2
Normandy-The Rebellion Begins
Chapter 7
We had been lucky and lost few men. We buried our own with honour, at sea. None of my archers or oathsworn had fallen although men had suffered wounds. It had been mainly the crew and the Archbishop's men who had fallen. I gave the treasure we had collected to Phillip and the captain. I felt guilty that they had suffered and we had not. As we neared Caen, Phillip said, "I would fight with you any time, my lord. Those were great odds and yet you did not panic. Your plans were well made."
The Captain said, "Aye my lord, you and your men saved my ship."
"Thank you Captain Jack. We have fought together for some years."
"Aye and your Captain Dick is a great archer. I thought that we were good but we could take lessons from the men of Stockton."
There were many ships docked and it took us some time to edge in to an empty berth. "I will go and see the castellan and see what he wishes done with the treasure." I pointed to the keep. "There is no flag flying so I am guessing the King is abroad. Wulfric have the horses landed. It will take them some time to get rid of the sea from their legs." I turned to William, "You can come with me."
It was not a long walk to the castle but it did us both good. At first it felt as though we were still on the deck of the cog but by the time we reached the gates it was easier.
"Welcome, my lord."
"Who is castellan these days?"
"Sir Richard d'Avranches my lord. He is in the Great Hall."
I was pleased. Sir Richard was one of the King's closest friends and a loyal warrior. The door was closed but the guard said, "I will announce you your lordship." He opened the door and said, "The Earl of Stockton and his squire."
When we entered I saw that Sir Richard was with two other knights. I knew neither of them. Sir Richard smiled, "Good to see you Cleveland. Is that your boy?"
"It is my lord, my squire William."
"What brings you here? The King is abroad." He lowered his voice. "Rebellion is in the air."
"And the Earl of Gloucester?"
"With the King. Was it he you
The ones who attacked the bow castle were not the oathsworn and they fell back to their longship. As I hacked the legs from the warrior who stood on the cog's top rail I saw that there was just one line holding us here at the bow. I sliced through it and we began to separate. I ran to the next two lines and hacked through first one and then the last, by the stern. The longship began to drift eastwards. With no one at the steering board the sails fluttered and flapped.
From the mast Griff of Gwent shouted, "It is a charnel house on their ship, my lord. If we wished we could take her!"
I shouted, "No, we have beaten them. That is enough. Besides they have allies, see." I pointed.
The smaller ships were closing with the longship. They would be able to crew it but their attack was over. Wulfric and my men at arms were already ending the lives of the wounded Danes.
"Archers see to our wounded." I turned to my squires. They were bloodied but unbowed. "You did well. How is the leg, John?"
"A little stiff but we survived!"
"Aye we did. Collect any valuables from the dead Danes. Their weapons are poor as is their mail. Pitch them overboard."
I found Captain Jack being tended to by Edgar. At his feet lay Carl and two dead Danes. "My sister's son did well. I will owe my sister a payment. He died protecting me."
"How is he Edgar?"
Before my healer could answer Captain Jack said, "It is a scratch. I have had worse shaving!"
I laughed for he had a full white beard. "You are a stalwart captain."
"This is my ship! And I thank you and your warriors. There were more Danes than I have ever seen. I hope King Henry uses this treasure wisely."
Part 2
Normandy-The Rebellion Begins
Chapter 7
We had been lucky and lost few men. We buried our own with honour, at sea. None of my archers or oathsworn had fallen although men had suffered wounds. It had been mainly the crew and the Archbishop's men who had fallen. I gave the treasure we had collected to Phillip and the captain. I felt guilty that they had suffered and we had not. As we neared Caen, Phillip said, "I would fight with you any time, my lord. Those were great odds and yet you did not panic. Your plans were well made."
The Captain said, "Aye my lord, you and your men saved my ship."
"Thank you Captain Jack. We have fought together for some years."
"Aye and your Captain Dick is a great archer. I thought that we were good but we could take lessons from the men of Stockton."
There were many ships docked and it took us some time to edge in to an empty berth. "I will go and see the castellan and see what he wishes done with the treasure." I pointed to the keep. "There is no flag flying so I am guessing the King is abroad. Wulfric have the horses landed. It will take them some time to get rid of the sea from their legs." I turned to William, "You can come with me."
It was not a long walk to the castle but it did us both good. At first it felt as though we were still on the deck of the cog but by the time we reached the gates it was easier.
"Welcome, my lord."
"Who is castellan these days?"
"Sir Richard d'Avranches my lord. He is in the Great Hall."
I was pleased. Sir Richard was one of the King's closest friends and a loyal warrior. The door was closed but the guard said, "I will announce you your lordship." He opened the door and said, "The Earl of Stockton and his squire."
When we entered I saw that Sir Richard was with two other knights. I knew neither of them. Sir Richard smiled, "Good to see you Cleveland. Is that your boy?"
"It is my lord, my squire William."
"What brings you here? The King is abroad." He lowered his voice. "Rebellion is in the air."
"And the Earl of Gloucester?"
"With the King. Was it he you
Similar Books
