It was July by the time we reached, first, Stockton, and then Hartlepool. We had little more fighting to do. Once we had secured the prisoners in Chester, we began work on the castle at Dyserth which lay just a mile or so from Twthill. It was, as Sir Robert had said, a better site for a castle. He had his men begin the work with the captured men at arms and the captured levy. There would be fields in Anglesey which would lie untended. The wounded knights were left to recover while I rode abroad with Sir Henry Samuel, Sir Geoffrey and our men. Dick grew up rapidly during those long summer days as we travelled as far west as the Conwy River and as far east as the estuary of the Dee. We patrolled the length of the Clwyd scouring it of all who might threaten Sir Robert and his new castle. We were harsh. We sought buried weapons and that meant disrupting the houses and homes of the farms. As we found hidden weapons in half of the homes then it was more than justified.
The ransoms were paid by the middle of June and all of our men benefitted. The King sent a messenger to congratulate us on our victory and confirmed that Sir Robert Pounderling would be Lord of the Clwyd. Sir Robert was grateful to me and I could use that at some point in the future. It was summer and we lived outdoors while the castle took shape. We enjoyed a remarkable dry period and were able to talk in the open where we would not be overheard. He had been happy to take orders from me and told me that he would do so when next we campaigned.
“What do you think we should do next, Sir William? You will be in Hartlepool and by winter we will barely have walls up but I need to know what we do next.”
“When my men rode to the Conwy, they pointed out that it would be a good place to build a castle. I know that is not possible until Dyserth is finished but we could cross that river and, perhaps, make this side of the straits ours. There is no bridge and if we keep a watch there, we can forestall any attempt to land men.” I pointed to his castle, “And I think you are wrong. By winter you should have the base of the keep finished as well as the curtain wall. While you cannot dig foundations in winter you can put a second floor on the keep and build a gatehouse. The Welsh farmers you use will be keen to finish their part and to get back to the farms that they have neglected.”
I left him with the promise that he would send riders to keep me regularly informed of his progress. Our journey home was more pleasant than the one coming south. It was as we went home that we discovered what we had suspected, Sir Peter would never go to war again. He had hurt his leg and this time, more seriously. The Welsh knight he had fought had managed to strike his kneecap with a mace and shattered the bone. He would be a cripple who would only walk with sticks. King Henry’s wars had cost him dearly.
Sir Gerard, too, was a changed man. His wound had not been serious. He had had his left arm broken. He kept training with his right arm while his left healed and he insisted upon coming on patrol with us. The battle had been the making of him. He had been terrified of death and he had emerged, if not unscathed, then alive and aware that he had defeated three knights while doing so. I could send him back to the Bishop knowing that I had done what I had promised. He asked to be considered for the next campaign and there, indeed, was a change.
My mother was just pleased to see that none had died and she fussed over Dick whilst glaring at me as he told her of his part in the battle with the Welsh. I did not mind that he exaggerated his part but it made my mother think I was a bad father. My father, in contrast, knew that I had done all that I could to keep Dick safe and he was pleased our plan had worked.
“All of this is good, my son, and you are another year closer to becoming Lord of Stockton!”
I just wanted to get home to see my wife, new son and my daughter. I had nine months to spend at home and I intended to enjoy every moment of those nine months. For a short time, I would no longer need to be a border knight and that pleased me!
The End