The Fallen Crown by Griff Hosker Read Free Book Online Page B

greeting, lord, and this token." He handed over a seal.  "It is the manor of Liedeberge, between Hereford and Gloucester." I took it and watched Dick's face. Like Harold he was as honest as the day was long on Midsummer's day. "Aye, lord, it is close to Wales and subject to raids.  A rebel held it and I think she has given it to afford her some protection there." I nodded.  Did she think I could split myself in two? Dick continued, "There is a garrison there and Sir Miles has promised to watch over it until you are able to visit yourself."
    I put the seal around my neck. It was a symbolic act for my knights. I now took on that office and it added to the burden of the others I carried. The Empress was protecting herself not only against the Welsh and Stephen of Blois but her half brother.  The manor would warn him that Wales was not his own petty fiefdom.
    "And the campaign?"
    "The Empress and the Earl are busy recapturing the lands which Stephen took last year." None of my knights afforded Stephen the title he had usurped. "The Empress said she had no need of your army." He hesitated.  "She spoke with privately when her advisers were not close by.  She said she needed the north strong again.  She feared her uncle and his intentions."
    I nodded,  "King David plays a dangerous game."
    "She has high hopes that the Bishop of Ely can prevail in the east and then London will be squeezed in the middle."
    Sir Harold shook his head, "It is a shame that the Earl of Chester changed sides once more.  Had he held Lincoln then we might have been able to take York and the war would have been virtually over."
    "It is much as Philip of Selby said.  There are many, his uncle included, who wish to take the side of the Empress.  The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester anointed Stephen and they cannot do aught until the crown is fallen from his head."
    I looked around at these. Wulfric and Edward were not there but other than that I had my most trusted of knights.  I felt I could speak openly. "I intend to make Philip of Selby lord of the manor of Piercebridge.  I know that deprives us of twenty archers but my visit to the lands west of here made it obvious that Sir Hugh is in great danger."
    Dick nodded, "I can train more archers lord. Already the bowyers and fletchers have made great stores of both arrows and war bows. If I have this summer then I can field another thirty by autumn."
    "Good for we shall need them.  This news from the Empress is as good as we could have hoped.  I know that the Count of Anjou is preparing another assault in Normandy. Already our forces control much of Normandy. I see hope that the war there may be over even though the one in England is far in the future. It is to be hoped that our armies will be swollen when that side of the water is safe."
    My immediate priorities were Durham to the north and, more urgently, Fitz Mandeville in the south. I decided to seek out Edward Fitz Mandeville and bring him to battle at the end of May.  Sir Richard of Yarm had his scouts out and I knew that while Sir Edward was rebuilding Malton he was content to try to extend his control of the lands to the west. He risked antagonising the Earl of Chester but I did not think that would worry him. When I told my knights, they concurred.  They would prepare for the campaign. To that end I travelled to Normanby.  Wulfric and Edward were the closest of my knights to Malton. I visited Wulfric first as I was keen to see how his castle was coming along.
    He had built a sturdy motte and bailey with a stone gatehouse. He had a garrison who would defend his home when he came with us.  Wulfric had no wife. If he wished a woman he took her to his bed.  When he fell in battle, as I knew he would eventually, it would be the end of his line.  As he took me around his castle and then to the former castle of the De Brus I told  him of Durham and my plans for Piercebridge.
    He nodded his approval, "Philip is a good