Enemy at the Gate by Griff Hosker Page B

the town and I fell asleep that night, exhausted.
    I was summoned to the walls the next day by my sentries.  When I reached the gate I saw De Brus, Balliol and their guards.  "Yes!"
    "We have to come to tell you to flee.  King David marches here to destroy you."
    "I thought you were sent to discuss terms?"
    De Brus said, "We failed.  He will come no matter what we offered."
    I wondered what that was.  "It changes nothing for me.  I enjoy killing Scotsmen as you both know."
    "Earl, this is no time for petty squabbles.  We have been enemies before but now we fight on the same side."
    "No we do not for you two fight for yourselves and I fight for this land and the rightful ruler of England. Ethelred!" I pointed to the ferry. "Take the ferry and tell the Archbishop that the men of the valley still fight beneath my banner and we will die before we surrender!"
    De Brus shook his head, "You are my enemy but I admire your courage.  I will see that you are buried with honour."
    Ethelred looked up at me, "Take them across the river and then anchor by Sir Edward's castle until this is over."
    Ethelred turned to his son.  "Take this over.  I fight with the Earl for my home! I am an Englishman and I know where my loyalty lies."
    When the ferry had left and Ethelred entered my castle the doors slammed shut. With those of Hartburn, Elton and Norton within it felt, somehow final. At least we knew where we stood; alone. I walked down to the jetty with my letters and handed them to Captain William, "Take these to Anjou. If we are not here when you return or if the castle has fallen then serve my son."
    "My lord, you will prevail.  This is not the end!"
    It felt like the slamming of a door as the tiny ship sailed east.  My last lifeline was now gone.  We were alone. 
    The last of the villagers from Norton trickled through the north gate as Dick and my archers stood watch in a protective half circle.  When they were within the gates would be slammed shut for the last time and we would hunker down to await whatever King David had to throw at us. The last time they had come to besiege us I had been in Normandy and they had almost captured the castle. That had been a weakness of the design and we now had a stone tower by the ferry and a curtain wall which joined the town wall.  The tower was strongly garrisoned. We had prepared the ground around my town and my castle. We knew what to expect. We were ready this time.
    The first Scottish outriders and scouts arrived at noon the next day.  They were cautious and stayed well beyond arrow range.  My archers were respected and feared. Some watched the town walls while others went east and west along the river. My castle was calm for we had prepared as well as we could. We had enough archers and men at arms to man the castle walls, the towers, and, with the men of my town, the town walls.  Every man had a helmet; even those from the town. Every hand held a weapon, most of my men had two. Even the boys had their slingshots and a leather cap.  Below the ramparts the women were ready, under Father Henry's supervision, with bandage, cat gut and ointments.  We were a valley at war,  No one would hide from the enemy.
    We signalled Sir Edward's tower on the opposite bank of the Tees. It told them that the Scots had come. Until they crossed the river the burghers of Thornaby could continue their daily lives. Our signal merely warned them of their presence.  A rider had ridden to warn Sir Richard. The King of Scotland took two days to reach us such were the numbers of men he led.  By then the town and the castle were ringed with camp fires. There were neither cattle nor sheep for them to eat.  They had been taken south of the river or brought within our walls. I had no doubt they would hunt our deer but the army which lay without would take much feeding.
    Each morning I was on my walls as dawn broke. I was cautious.  If I was King David that would be the time when I would attack. Perhaps