Earl Read Free

you always take the carcass back to the castle.  I also found the prints of many men."
    "Why did you not send me word?"
    I saw fear flicker across his face as he thought he had incurred my wrath. "My wife and my children were ill with the winter sickness.  I am sorry, my lord."
    I was being harsh and I knew it. It was not my villein’s job to watch my land.  That was my role. "No, Alan the Lame, I am not chiding you.  I would have you safe."
    "There was one other thing.  I normally see Thomas of Thorpe when I collect my firewood from the forest.  I have not seen him these ten days since. Aiden was heading there."
    "Thank you.  Is your family well now? Should I send Father Matthew with medicine?"
    "They are recovering, my lord.  He smiled.  You are a father and husband too, you will know how we worry."
    "Aye, Alan. Take care."
    I mulled over his words as I led my men towards the farm which stood on the ridge of Thorpe. It was on the way from the Durham Road to the Garth of the Bishop. I allowed the ones who lived close to the forest to use it to collect firewood.  Many lords did not and punished those who did. Thomas and Alan the Lame would have used that to exchange news. If raiders had come then perhaps Thomas had seen them.
    Thorpe was not in my manor. It was part of the Bishop's lands. I kept my eye on the land but it should have been Sir Henry de Vexin’s responsibility in the absence of a Bishop. There were only a handful of houses and farms.  They were spread out over a wide area. In fact Thomas' nearest neighbour was old Thomas in Wulfestun. The land around Thorpe was difficult to farm.  It lay on a ridge and the valleys thereabouts were steep. I knew that Thomas of Thorpe eked out a bare existence for him and his two daughters.  With no son to help him and not enough coin for slaves I did not know how he survived.
    Aiden was waiting outside the wattle and daub hut when I arrived.  His face looked pained.  He came over to me before I had even dismounted. "My lord, the raiders have been here.  They came six days since."
    His tone told me that this was bad news. "They have hurt these people?"
    He nodded, "They raped the two girls and the wife.  When Thomas tried to intervene they cut off his hand."
    "How is he?"
    "He is not well.  They have tried their best but..."
    "Wulfric send a rider back to Stockton and fetch a wagon and Father Matthew.  Tell him that Thomas of Thorpe has had his hand cut off."
    Arkwright was soon galloping south.  It was just four miles to my castle if one went by the Durham Road.  He could be there and back within a short time. I dismounted and went inside. The two girls were huddled together by the back wall and were still sobbing. I saw blood on their shifts. The wife, I did not know her name, looked up from her husband who lay, pale and still, by the fire. I knelt down next to her.
    She shook her head, "I have tried to stop the bleeding my lord.  I fastened this to the arm." She pointed to a rag tourniquet. Blood still dripped from the stump.
    Wulfric said quietly, behind me, "We must use fire, my lord."
    "I know. Get a brand. Dick, see to the girls." I turned to Thomas' wife. "I have sent for a priest and he will tend to your husband but we must use fire to staunch the blood.  Do you understand?" She nodded. "Go to the other side and we will do the rest."
    I turned to Wulfric, "You had better hold him down."
    "Aye my lord. I'll just give him some of this first.  It is an old soldier's trick," He took out a leather flask.  "Wine sweetened with honey." He held Thomas' head and poured some down his throat. He replaced the stopper and then pressed down on both shoulders. "Ready my lord."
    "John, hold the stump for me and clear away any material." I had seen this done before.  I suppose I could have asked one of my men to do it for me but I was the Lord of the Manor; I had responsibilities. He nodded when he was ready and I thrust the brand onto the flesh.  There was an