When I reached Persebrig I was as tired as I can ever remember. There were parts of the last few miles I cannot even remember. I rested against a tree and, suddenly, Branton appeared next to me. “We thought we had lost you my lord.”
I gave him a wan smile, “No Branton, I am still above ground but how I do not know how.”
They had built a small camp and it was big enough for the twelve of us who had reached journey’s end. I saw Edward, Osbert, Tadgh, Ridley and the seven others. Only Branton and myself had avoided wounds. I still do not know how. I suspect Nanna and Aethelward had been watching over me. I shook my head in the sadness of the deaths, “We did not do so well then?”
Osbert laughed, “My lord, if that was the last act to the Red Horse Company then men will sing the saga for years to come. The forest is littered with Norman corpses. They call us the ghosts of Hastings and they fear us. They will not venture into those woods for many a year.”
I looked at Ridley, “Truly?”
He smiled back at me, “Truly. I feel proud today to be an Englishmen for less than fifty men have killed over two hundred Normans. Many knights lie dead in the forests above Medelai.”
“So we are all that is left?”
“Aye, my lord, and what a glorious death for all.”
Branton put his arm around my shoulder. “I saw the web of death you wove in the forest, my lord. King Harold and your uncle would have been proud. I watched as men ran weeping from the monster of the forest. They fled from the Hooded Man.”
I tried to laugh but I was too tired. “And now? What?”
“My lord, whatever you wish for you bear a charmed life and the Normans fear you. We may only be twelve in number but the Normans see a greater threat in the woods of the north.”
We tended to the wounds we had suffered and took what rest we could on the bank of the river at Persebrig. Gradually we noticed people arriving, in ones and twos and sometimes in small family groups. At first they were wary of armed men but the sight of the red horse on our shields encouraged them and they flocked to our fire. We discovered that they were the remnants of those villages and farms in the east which had been destroyed by William and his men. The scale of the devastation was truly immense. Ripon had been sacked as had Thirsk and other large towns. It seemed, at the time, as though William was intent upon destroying the Saxons who lived in the north. The exhausted refugees slept knowing that they would be safe with us.
“What now then Aelfraed?”
“I do not know. I had thought to continue the fight but we have a duty to these people.”
“There is always Dunelm, my lord.”
Dunelm; I wondered how long that would survive if William was intent on destruction. The church of Cuthbert might provide a sanctuary which even a Norman would not violate. “That looks like the only option we have Osbert. We will leave tomorrow. Branton and I will scout south for I would not wish to be surprised while guarding these people.”
Dressed in our tunics once more we headed back the way we had come. We also sought any horses and wounded warriors. The signs of our fighting were everywhere and we found many of our men with four or five bodies around them. My company had not died easily and I could see, from the disfigurement of the bodies that the Normans had made sure that they were all dead. By the time we had reached Medelai we had counted more than a hundred dead Normans but we had not seen any living. “Perhaps they have gone back to lick their wounds, my lord.”
“No Branton, he will now be even more determined to destroy us. It is even more urgent that we deliver those refuges to safety before William comes after us.”
My childhood home was now a shell of burnt out wood and stone. No one would live there again. I dismounted to walk once more amongst the buildings. Perhaps Nanna was watching over me for, as I stepped from my horse, the crossbow bolt flew over my head. Branton kicked his horse forwards with his sword held before him. The man with the crossbow was torn between reloading and taking out his sword. In the end he did neither and Branton ran him through. I quickly mounted again and drew my sword. It was an ambush and they had waited for us. The over eager crossbow man had triggered the attack prematurely. The Normans were hidden at the edge of the forest and I followed Branton to take the fight to them. They were all on foot and my long sword scythed down on either side of my horse’s head as I cleaved my way through the terrified men at arms.
“Follow me!”
I decided to head south and strike the road for we needed to get north again as soon as possible. Suddenly, I caught sight of some mail and saw a knight. From his moustache I knew who it was, William of Perci. As usual, he was lurking at the rear of his men and I urged Sweyn through the trees, aiming at him. He was not expecting an attack from me and he frantically tried to turn his horse. In the end he managed a half turn, which probably saved his life for my sword smashed at his shield and not the head I aimed at. He tried to kick his horse away from me but I stabbed downwards. The sharp point of the sword went through the upper part of his leg and into his horse. Both rider and horse crashed to the ground but before I could finish him off I heard Branton shout, “My lord, flee there are more men coming!”
Cursing Perci’s luck I chopped at the spearman who bravely tried to defend the recumbent knight and then we were away from the ambush riding as quickly as we could. Once I was certain that there was no pursuit I halted to allow the horses to regain their wind. Branton was white and I saw the bolt sticking in his calf. “You are wounded. Let me look at it.”
“We have not got the time, my lord.”
I dismounted. “We will make the time.” I took a leather lace from my satchel and tied it tightly around the leg above the bolt. The quarrel was in deep but they did not have barbed heads. I took one of Branton’s arrows and gave it to him. “Bite down on that. This will hurt.” He nodded as he put the arrow between his teeth. I grasped the end of the short bolt and turned it slightly one way and then the other. I heard a low moan as the movement sent waves of pain through my sergeant. Blood oozed out of the wound and I hoped that I had loosened it sufficiently. I tightened my grip and then tugged as hard as I could. The bolt popped out and the arrow snapped in Branton’s teeth. I handed the bolt to him and then took out a piece of cloth. I wiped the blood away from the wound and then took out the small pot of Reuben’s paste which I still carried. I smeared some on and then tied the cloth around it.
“That should do until we reach camp. Keep loosing and retying the lace or you will lose the leg.” Unable to speak Branton nodded. “You lead and I will watch the rear.”
A couple of times on the journey I thought he would slip off but he held on manfully. I had confidence in Reuben’s paste, for it had save Ridley’s life but Branton had lost much blood. It was later afternoon when we rode into camp. The refugees had been fed and organised. I smiled when I saw Osbert’s concern; the two bantered and bickered but Osbert looked after his younger brother like a mother hen and her chick.
Branton flashed a wan smile, “The revenge of the crossbow, eh Osbert?” He slid from the horse into his brother’s arms, mercifully unconscious.
Osbert looked up at me, his face filled with distress. “I have bound the wound with Reuben’s paste and he will live. He has lost much blood.”
We laid him on the ground and covered him with a fur. “Will we be pursued?”
“Not for a day or two.” Ridley wandered over. “They were waiting for us at Medelai. Perci!”
Ridley’s eyes lit up, “Does he follow?”
“No, but he is badly wounded, he would be already dead now if it were not for the fact that we were outnumbered.”
“I am glad, for I will be the one to kill him.”
While Branton slept we rebound his wound and cleaned it up. We could see that it had not struck the bone and the vein had been missed by a fingernail. “It is the first wound he has sustained.”
“I know Osbert; he has been lucky.” I spread my arm around the men. “When you think how many times we fought and against whom then it is no surprise that we all bear scars. Remember Aethelward and his limp?”
He grinned, “Aye, now that was a bad wound. You could tell when it was damp for he would curse and shout at all.”
“I know why he does that. The wound in my back always likes to tell me when the rain comes.” I looked at the sleeping refugees. “Tomorrow Ridley and I will take Edward and the archers as a rearguard. You will take the refugees ahead.” He looked at me as though he was going to argue but I held up my hand. “Branton will be with the refugees and you will watch them all. I do not think they will pursue us for they only saw Branton and myself. Besides, they would have to get Perci back to Jorvik. We will be safe for a day or so.”
The journey was slow but uneventful. We picked up other homeless wanderers as we went for they had all come from the south to try to find a haven far from the Normans. The priests at Dunelm were sympathetic and I gave them coin for food but Father Norbert shrugged, “It is Christian and kind of you my lord but there is no food to be bought; no matter how much gold there is.”
“I know Father. I will try to get some for you.”
He looked at me strangely, “Where from? Will this be a miracle of the loaves and fishes again?”
I laughed, “No father more the miracle of the Men of the Hood and the Normans.” He cocked an eye at me. “The Normans eat well!”
Branton refused to stay at Dunelm. We had managed to pick up another couple of volunteers, young men who wanted revenge. They were not trained warriors but beggars could not be choosers. There were few enough of us now to sit in a circle while I explained my ideas. “We are going south to rob the Normans of their food.” Ridley grinned wolfishly. “Jorvik will be too heavily defended but I guess the Normans will be busy building their forts and castles. It seems to be their way. We do not have the luxury of a large number of archers so we will have to use stealth to achieve our ends.”
The ever practical Osbert nodded, “How will we get the goods back here?”
“We won’t. We will get them to Persebrig and I will ask the priests to collect them from there. That way we will be able to fight any pursuers and the priests can be the carters.” I pointed at the horses. “We have enough horses for their riders now lie dead in the forests south of Persebrig. That is our advantage.”
“It is a slim one.”
“Aye Osbert but better a slim one than none at all.”
Edward now assumed command of the five archers we had left. Our numbers were up to a score but Branton was wounded and five were young men, callow as warriors. We spent the next few days searching for any Normans who were foolish enough to wander into our land. We were heading for Topcliffe when Edward reported that he had seen a column of men with wagons heading north towards Medelai. Were they going to rebuild? I left Ridley and Osbert with the men and joined Edward. There were two wagons. They had ten men at arms walking close to them and ten outriders. Each wagon had two men but, although we were outnumbers, I could see neither knights nor crossbowmen. The best place for an ambush was where the road to Medelai left the Roman road. It twisted and turned through hedgerow and trees. We left one scout, an older experienced warrior called Aedgar, who was to keep watch on the column in case they deviated from their route.
We headed for the ambush point and I sent a rider towards Medelai to see if there were Normans there. It would not do to be caught between two such groups. “We will wait to the right of the road with the bulk of the men. Edward you take the archers ahead of us and go to the left. When you fire I hope to draw their horsemen after you. If you ride then they will follow and we can attack…”
Suddenly, our scouts galloped in, “The Normans, they are not at Medelai. They are building a castle on the high rocks above the Swale.”
“How many of them?” The place they spoke of was less than two miles away. With the small numbers at my disposal discretion might be a better option.
“There look to be no horsemen but about fifty foot soldiers. They are still digging the ditch.”
I smiled, “Well they cannot use our people to build their castles if they have killed them all. It seems that the Normans are a victim of their own success.”
“We go ahead then, my lord?”
“We do, Osbert, and then we might return at night to give these Normans a visit from the ghost warriors.”
Aedgar rode in soon after, “They are coming. About a mile behind me, my lord.”
“Good, you join Edward.” We waited in the trees. Branton was in no condition to fight so I gave him command of the new men. They would be used to plug any gaps. I was using Boar Splitter for I needed to be able to have a longer reach against the wagons. They had learned their lesson, following our previous ambushes and there were two riders well ahead of the column. Two more looked to be some way distant and the others were spread on either side. I turned to Osbert, “When we attack you take the rearguard. We don’t want them bring reinforcements.”
He grinned, “It would be a long ride.”
“You never know.” The vanguard drew level with us and they halted, the lead rider almost sniffing the air. Had they seen or heard us? He said something to his companion who laughed and then they carried on. Edward would have to decide how to take out the two riders and launch his attack, I readied Boar Splitter and made sure that the strap on my shield was tight. The two daggers were in their scabbards above and below my arm and my sword had been oiled; it would slip easily from my scabbard.
I neither saw nor heard the arrows but two men at the head of the column fell. The outriders were to far away to see. Immediately the riders from our side galloped towards the danger and the foot soldiers closed with the wagons. We just leapt forwards, Ridley on the right, Osbert on the left and me in the middle. Boar Splitter sank easily into the neck of the first man and I twisted it to turn it and then pushed it through the driver of the second wagon. It went in so far that it struck his companion and I released it and drew my sword. I put one foot on the wagon and climbed on. The driver fell to the ground beneath the terrified horses and I despatched the wounded man. One of the riders had turned and charged towards the wagon, his spear held over hand. He hurled it at me from a distance of no more than five paces and I ducked behind my shield. Its point struck the boss and flew into the air. When I lowered the shield his sword point was slicing towards my head. His shield covered his body but he had no coif and my sword went straight through his neck.
And then it was over. We saw one rider, wounded; galloping away south but the others lay dead or dying. We removed the bodies and headed the wagons back towards the Roman road. Our casualties were light, in the scheme of things but our numbers were so few that every wound and death diminished us greatly. Two of the new men and one of my older warriors had perished. As we rode north I examined the content of the wagons. One was food while the other was tools and weapons; we would use the weapons. It was not perfect but it would have to do.
The priests were waiting for us at Persebrig. We gave them the wagons. “One of them contains tools, it may be some use. We will bring more directly to Dunelm when we get more.” I turned us around and headed back to the new castle. I wanted to get there before they knew that their supplies would not reach them. My men were tired but, if we could hit them hard then we could rest for a few days before trying a third time to strike back.
We found a spot some eight hundred paces from the workings. It was close to the river and below the cliff. I chose it because it was the one side they would think they did not need to protect. I chose the best and fittest twelve to accompany me, leaving a sulky and unhappy Branton with the wounded, the new men and the horses. Osbert gave his brother little sympathy, “That’ll teach you to be more careful.”
“It was a crossbow bolt!”
Osbert grinned, “And if you had worn armour…”
We took no shields but swords, axes and daggers. Our two aims were terror and destruction; terrify the men to fear the night and slow down the building. We climbed the small hillside easily. There were many hand holds and bushes to help us up. Later, when they had finished the building they would clear it but they had other priorities and problems to contend with. Edward and his lightly armed archers took out the five sentries by creeping up to them and slitting their throats. The builders and guards were all sleeping in tents. There were two braziers for the sentries to warm them selves upon and we took a burning brand each and spread out amongst the neatly ordered tents. I waved mine once and then plunged it into the tent. My sword and dagger were already out and I waited for the flames to catch. Suddenly there was a scream and a man’s head appeared at the tent’s entrance. I slashed my blade across his throat. The same reaction was repeated throughout the camp. The tents we had not burned were slow to wake and we raced along the sides slashing the ropes with our swords. It was all intended to cause confusion. Some warriors emerged, sleepily from their tents, swords in hands but, without helmet and without armour they soon perished. I heard a shout in English and saw Tom, one of my warriors die with two men attacking him.
“Fall back!”
We had done all that we could and I watched as my men slipped away silently into the night. Then I saw that Ridley had not retreated and was fighting three men, his axe whirling around his head. To my horror I saw two men stealthily approaching him from the rear. I dared not risk a warning shout and, instead, I ran towards them. My sword stabbed one in the back while my dagger ripped the throat out of the second, the warm blood covering my hand and splashing my face. “Ridley! Retreat!” I slashed at the man on his right who fell backwards his face a mask of terror. Ridley’s axe split open the head of the warrior he was facing and the third just screamed and ran.
I grabbed Ridley’s arm and pulled him away. He turned angrily and then saw it was me. His expression changed to an apologetic, wan smile and we fled. When we reached the horses Osbert was watching for us nervously. “We thought you had fallen.”
I shook my head. “Ridley here decided to take on half the Norman army. Luckily they were not as brave as they thought and they ran.”
Osbert and the men burst out laughing. “And I can see why my lord. Your face is a mask of blood; you look as though you have come from a pit in hell.”
I went to the river and, as a shaft of moonlight lit it up I saw that I did indeed look as though I have been slaughtering animals. I shrugged, “It all adds to the legend and I think we will have achieved our aim. They will not sleep easy here again.”
We rode north again. The new Norman castle was too close to our old camp and we would be at risk if we stayed there. Osbert suggested our eastern camp. “I think not. We need to be as close to the river as we can be. We are too few to defend against large numbers. We will return to Persebrig. The deserted Roman ruins will give us shelter and an escape route.”
“Escape to where Aelfraed?”
Ridley had been more his old self since his bloodfest. “North to Scotland.”
I saw the glance exchanged between the brothers and Ridley. “What is in Scotland my lord?”
I could almost see their thoughts and hear their conversations when I was not present. They worried about Gytha and how I would react to her infidelity. To them Scotland was as much a danger as England. “Firstly Edgar is there and he and I have some issues to settle. Secondly we have money there. Branton brought me the promissory note from Reuben, remember and finally, it is the one place we can take ship should the Normans get too close.”
Branton looked uncomfortable. “Leave England? Why?”
I waved my arm at the handful of men who rode in a ragged line behind me, “Because this is all that is left to fight the Normans and,” I pointed to the shells of houses we were passing, “because this is not England any more. England is the people and they have been slaughtered by the Normans who bring a new style of war to our land.”
When we reached the river we collapsed to the ground. A lack of food and sleep meant that we were living on our last reserves of energy. I took Ridley to one side. “Come old friend; let us do as we did as young men and hunt. The men need food and we owe them that much, at least.”
He gave me a funny look and shook his head. “If we are talking debts…oh never mind. Aye, let us hunt.”
We took off our byrnies and took two of the horses we had left behind. Osbert opened any eye as we passed him. “We are going hunting Osbert. I do not think the Normans will reach us today and we need food.” He started to rise, “No stay. We will need your energy later.”
We crossed the old Roman bridge and headed away from the road and what passed for civilisation now. Ridley was the better shot and he took his bow. I trusted in Boar Splitter. I had killed deer with it before; it all depended upon how close you could get to the beasts before they smelled you. I found myself oddly excited. This was the first time, in a long time, I had not been hunting my fellow man. Perhaps, too, it was because I was with Ridley again and we were young boys again in the woods above Medelai. This was not the thick woodland of the land further south. This was shallow grassy valleys with tree lined bottoms and we made good time as we headed for a spot we knew where the deer gathered to graze during the day. We rode west for a while as the wind was blowing east to west and then we cut south. Once we lost sight of the road, Ridley strung his bow and notched an arrow. We would have to leave the horses soon and we needed to be ready. When you do something, like hunting, regularly with a close friend, then you do not need words. Ridley just dismounted and tied his horse to a tree in the small copse sheltered on the northern side of the dale. I hefted my spear. I was travelling light and we descended to the stream we could hear bubbling away before us.
We were silent as we scanned the ground for tracks. The earth was muddy in places but the deer tracks would stand out, even in the grass. Ridley froze, like a good hunting dog and pointed. I saw that the deer had begun walking east; they too were trying to stay upwind of any predators. We both stepped into the water, for the sound of the stream would mask any noises we might make and the deer would stand out more. Ridley stopped again as we saw the small herd ahead of us. There was an old stag, with five does and three young. With luck we would take two and have food for a week. I readied Boar Splitter but the range was too great for a throw; I would have to hope they fled close by me and then I might take one. The arrow flew true and took the doe in the neck. It lurched away east along with the rest of the herd. The old stag though, did the opposite. He charged Ridley. As Ridley reached around quickly to notch another arrow he slipped in the water and I saw that he would not make it to safety in time. “Down!” Holding the spear before me I ran as fast as I could to reach the beast before it struck Ridley. Its head was down and its antlers pointed at the helpless Ridley who had drawn his dagger prepared to fight to the last for life. Its preoccupation with Ridley cost the old stag his life and I pushed the sharp head of Boar splitter deep into the beast’s chest just as it prepared to strike Ridley. The blow turned his head and Ridley ripped his knife across the neck of the dying animal. With a soft sigh and a rushing fountain of blood it collapsed into the stream.
I helped up Ridley. The only thing he had injured was his pride. He nodded at the spear,”Deer Killer now eh?”
“No, it is still Boar Splitter I think.”
Laughing we hefted the stag onto Ridley’s shoulders and then walked along the valley to find the doe. I managed to manhandle it on to my back and we struggled back to the horses. With our kills over the horse’s necks we rode east again. We would feed the men.
It was the horses who warned us of the danger. They whinnied. That meant strange horses or men. We were still south of the river in the woods above the bridge and we could see the smoke rising from Osbert’s camp fire. We threw the carcasses to the ground and prepared our weapons. If all was well we could return for the deer but if not we would need to fight. Ridley drew his sword and I took the lead. The trail masked us from observation but also prevented us from having a clear view of the ruins. Suddenly we heard a shout and a scream; throwing caution to the wind we kicked our horses on and tumbled down the slope. There were ten Norman horse led by a knight and they were galloping across the bridge. I could see Aedgar lying slumped over the bridge and there looked to be much blood about him. The only advantage the two of us had was that they did not know we were behind them. The momentum of the slope helped us to gain on them. I could see my men fighting desperately against the knight who had just raised his sword to strike down the sentry. Branton and Edward must have had time to reach their bows for the knight fell with two shafts sticking from his chest. The other horsemen slowed and I thrust Boar Splitter into the unprotected back of one of the rearmost men. Ridley’s sword took his head from his shoulders and the two men in front of them made the mistake of turning. They saw the blood covered iron weapons which ended their lives. Osbert had managed to organise some sort of defence and the other six soon fell.
It was heartbreaking to see the remnants of my once proud company. The knight and his men had killed many before we had seen them off. “Ridley, stand guard on the bridge. Osbert check the wounded.”
I dismounted and went to the bodies of the Normans. The knight still lived although I could see the life oozing from him in deep red rivulets. I took his helmet from his head and pushed by the coif; he was a young man, barely eighteen at most. He tried to grin and opened his mouth to speak. To my amazement he spoke English, not well but he spoke it, “I so nearly had you Lord Aelfraed. I nearly killed the hero of Stamford. God watches over…” and then he died. He had been a brave warrior. I was now a trophy to be hunted. My name and my reputation had been the cause of the deaths of many of my men.
Osbert stood over me and I looked up. “How many of our men fell?”
“It would be easier to count the living. There are seven of us.”
I stood and looked. Tadgh, Edward, Branton and Aidan were all that remained of my warriors. We buried the last of the hooded men in a patch of wooded ground in the lee of the ruins. The ceremony was largely silent as we said goodbye to those who had fought with us for the last few years. The Normans were brave men too but we just laid their bodies in lines. When their comrades came for them they would bury them.
Once we had recovered the deer it was dark and we cooked all the meat up. We were not hungry but human nature dictated that we forced ourselves to eat. No-one spoke until Osbert said, “North then my lord?”
“North? Aye. I think William wants the outlaws.”
“I think Aelfraed he just wants to kill. Do you think he will just stop at this river? No. He will keep coming until the whole of old Northumbria is his. Malcolm had better watch his borders.”
Ridley was right. These Normans were not like the old Northumbrians. They used horses and could move swiftly in small armoured conroi. They were swift enough and well armed enough to control large areas, especially sallying from their castles. We had copied them, using the captured horses and that was why we had lasted so long but our numbers had become too few for us to be effective and they were both right; we would have to head north to the land of the Scot.