Crusade by Stewart Binns Read Free Book Online

knelt by Harold’s unmarked crypt for a long time, thinking about the desperate and brave decisions he had made. Should he have waited for more men to arrive in London in those fateful days before the battle, before heading for the coast? Perhaps he did act too quickly, but he was fearless; that was his strength. He took a gamble, as daring men do, and although it was a close-run thing, he paid with his life.
    I knew I could never be like Harold or Hereward, but I also knew that their example could be a guiding light for me, which, coupled with my own gift for thoughtful and considered decisions, might allow me to find a way to lead others and make my mark.
    As I left, I placed my hand on the plain, cold slab of his sarcophagus and vowed that one day I would pay homagein the same way to England’s other noble warrior, Hereward of Bourne.
    The canons of Waltham, ever loyal to Harold’s and England’s memory, agreed that I could stay in Waltham for a while to plan my next move. I needed new allies; they were not difficult to find. William had many enemies, and my claim to the English throne made me a useful asset. I sent word to Flanders and to France and soon had a response.
    Young King Philip of France had emerged from his weakened position as a boy-king to become a young ruler of great skill and tenacity and was keen to challenge William for control of Normandy. He offered me the formidable castle of Montreuil on the French coast, from where I could harass the Normans.
    I took a ship from Maldon, but fortune once more deserted me. Not far off the coast of Essex, a ferocious easterly gale got up and pushed us relentlessly towards the sandbanks off Foulness. We ran aground and, within minutes, were in the water, losing most of my men and all of my silver.
    I eventually made it back to Dunfermline, exhausted and thwarted once more. I was in my twenty-first year, but I felt like a boy again.
    ‘You can’t stay here,’ was Canmore’s blunt response when he received me. ‘I will give you a chest of silver, but you can’t stay in Scotland.’
    Margaret pleaded my case.
    ‘William has gone to Normandy and taken Duncan with him. He won’t hear of Edgar’s return for months.Besides, when did you ever care about upsetting the King of England?’
    ‘I need time to build my forces. This Norman bastard is building castles all over England, and he can put navies to sea and cavalry on the march in great numbers; what I saw on the Tay was a force a Roman emperor would have been proud of. I fear no man, but I can’t let him take Scotland like he took England. As soon as he knows Edgar is here, he will be at my gates within the month.’
    Margaret held me. She had tears in her eyes.
    ‘What will you do?’
    I was desperate but knew I had to leave. My next decision was the making of me. Had I stayed in the King’s comfortable fortress at Dunfermline, I would have withered away, consumed by my own anger and regrets.
    ‘I am going to submit to William.’
    ‘No, Edgar! We tried that; you remember what it was like.’
    ‘I know, but I’m older and wiser now. I have to find a life for myself. I will submit, gain his trust and bide my time. I will learn from the Normans. They are all-conquering; I have to understand why.’
    Canmore looked at me curiously.
    ‘That’s a clever move. I am not done with William yet. Learn from him – and when the time is right, we will meet again to see what can be gained for both of us.’
    ‘My Lord King, you have given me a refuge here. I will always be in your debt. Please take care of Margaret.’
    The Queen rode with me all the way to the Forth, where one of Canmore’s ships was made ready to take me to France. He had granted me a small retinue and a not inconsiderable purse. I would travel well.
    Margaret understood me better than anybody. Like many women who live obscured by the larger shadows of their menfolk, she knew that beneath the aura of masculinity that men are required to show,