need of like minded fellows."
They came warily. Gilles knew my mind, he had been with me. The others said nothing of my mission and they drank with me. I needed no words of support. I just needed the companionship of men with whom I had faced danger. We were about to be destroyed and I wanted some memories to take with me. When I had had enough drink to make me smile and to loosen my tongue Dick asked, "Lord, what troubles you?"
"We face twenty five thousand men and the Archbishop has sent Balliol and De Brus to negotiate the peace. That is like letting the fox in the henhouse!"
Wulfric filled his beaker, "Lord, it makes no difference. They are treacherous and the Scots will still come here. We know that. We hold the walls and they die. It is as simple as that."
Sir John smiled, "He is right, lord. You were wise in the times of plenty and you put your gold into the walls of this castle. We will laugh away a siege. The King could have a hundred thousand men. He has to cross a moat and scale our walls. Even if he does that he has to face us beard to beard on our walls and we now have more men. I would back any of your men against ten Scots."
They all nodded, even Gilles.
"Are you all mad? Is it the full moon?"
Dick said, "No lord, we are not mad. We are your men... to the death! We fight with you and stand shoulder to shoulder. We face whatever comes our way. I fear no man when I am led by," He stood and raised his beaker, "the Warlord of the North!"
The others joined him and suddenly I felt at peace. If I was to die then what better company than that of these men.
On return from my meeting I visited my knights and made their families the same offer I had made to Sir Richard. None took me up on it. They understood my offer but wished to stay. Sir Tristan and Sir Harold however had their families prepare to leave their home and join me as did the people of Norton. Their manors could not be defended. We would lose the men who defended them and gain nothing. Better to protect the people. We could rebuild manor houses. My leaders were now aware of the seriousness of the situation and they all worked harder than ever to prepare for the enemy. We were a people under threat and we worked together.
I wrote letters to the Empress, the Earl and my son. They would be both my will and my legacy if the worst came to the worst. I told them what I intended and what I foresaw as the outcome. I would send them on my ship at the last possible moment. William the Mason worked every hour he could to add defences to my already impressive castle. Each extra stone would slow down the enemy.
Aiden and his two scouts arrived back two days after I had finished my visits. They looked dirty and dishevelled but they were all full of news. "Lord, they are at Durham and encamped outside."
"Numbers?"
"More than twenty thousand but only fifteen or sixteen thousand are warriors. To be honest, my lord, I have never seen as many banners and standards."
"Did they try to reduce Durham?"
"No lord, for they were visited by two lords, De Brus and Balliol. They spent some time talking and the two knights left for the river. I think they came by ship. I do not think the Scots will attack Durham. They have captured all the other castles of Durham. Wark and Hexham are the only two places which remain in the hands of our knights."
"How do you know?"
"We captured two of their scouts and before they died they told us all."
"So they are a couple of days away?"
"Yes lord."
I shouted, "Dick!"
He had placed himself within earshot as soon as my scouts had returned. "Send riders to Norton, Hartburn and Elton. They should come here now. Send riders to Yarm and to Thornaby. Tell them that the Scots are two days away."
I actually felt better now that we had something to do. The castle became a hive of activity as shelters were erected in the inner and outer baileys. Alf and Father Henry organised
They came warily. Gilles knew my mind, he had been with me. The others said nothing of my mission and they drank with me. I needed no words of support. I just needed the companionship of men with whom I had faced danger. We were about to be destroyed and I wanted some memories to take with me. When I had had enough drink to make me smile and to loosen my tongue Dick asked, "Lord, what troubles you?"
"We face twenty five thousand men and the Archbishop has sent Balliol and De Brus to negotiate the peace. That is like letting the fox in the henhouse!"
Wulfric filled his beaker, "Lord, it makes no difference. They are treacherous and the Scots will still come here. We know that. We hold the walls and they die. It is as simple as that."
Sir John smiled, "He is right, lord. You were wise in the times of plenty and you put your gold into the walls of this castle. We will laugh away a siege. The King could have a hundred thousand men. He has to cross a moat and scale our walls. Even if he does that he has to face us beard to beard on our walls and we now have more men. I would back any of your men against ten Scots."
They all nodded, even Gilles.
"Are you all mad? Is it the full moon?"
Dick said, "No lord, we are not mad. We are your men... to the death! We fight with you and stand shoulder to shoulder. We face whatever comes our way. I fear no man when I am led by," He stood and raised his beaker, "the Warlord of the North!"
The others joined him and suddenly I felt at peace. If I was to die then what better company than that of these men.
On return from my meeting I visited my knights and made their families the same offer I had made to Sir Richard. None took me up on it. They understood my offer but wished to stay. Sir Tristan and Sir Harold however had their families prepare to leave their home and join me as did the people of Norton. Their manors could not be defended. We would lose the men who defended them and gain nothing. Better to protect the people. We could rebuild manor houses. My leaders were now aware of the seriousness of the situation and they all worked harder than ever to prepare for the enemy. We were a people under threat and we worked together.
I wrote letters to the Empress, the Earl and my son. They would be both my will and my legacy if the worst came to the worst. I told them what I intended and what I foresaw as the outcome. I would send them on my ship at the last possible moment. William the Mason worked every hour he could to add defences to my already impressive castle. Each extra stone would slow down the enemy.
Aiden and his two scouts arrived back two days after I had finished my visits. They looked dirty and dishevelled but they were all full of news. "Lord, they are at Durham and encamped outside."
"Numbers?"
"More than twenty thousand but only fifteen or sixteen thousand are warriors. To be honest, my lord, I have never seen as many banners and standards."
"Did they try to reduce Durham?"
"No lord, for they were visited by two lords, De Brus and Balliol. They spent some time talking and the two knights left for the river. I think they came by ship. I do not think the Scots will attack Durham. They have captured all the other castles of Durham. Wark and Hexham are the only two places which remain in the hands of our knights."
"How do you know?"
"We captured two of their scouts and before they died they told us all."
"So they are a couple of days away?"
"Yes lord."
I shouted, "Dick!"
He had placed himself within earshot as soon as my scouts had returned. "Send riders to Norton, Hartburn and Elton. They should come here now. Send riders to Yarm and to Thornaby. Tell them that the Scots are two days away."
I actually felt better now that we had something to do. The castle became a hive of activity as shelters were erected in the inner and outer baileys. Alf and Father Henry organised
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