Warlord of the North Read Free

ignored my words or at least appeared to.  He poured us both a goblet of wine.  "Until we have a ruler who can face King David with the full weight of our forces then my answer has to be yes." His voice became quiet, "You see now why I appeared to consider the request of the Bishop of Winchester. It is like a game of chess.  The rook we have sacrificed is Durham. We have not lost the game but we have protected..."
    "The King or the Queen?"
    "Just so, Alfraed, just so."
    I sipped my wine.  "I will leave on the morrow."
    "I am fortifying York.  King David will discover that this is no juicy morsel to be swallowed with ease.  It will prove most unpalatable I can assure you."
    I now understood his position.  My father had taught me that sometimes a leader had to make decisions he did not like for the good of all.  The Archbishop was right. King David and his voracious Scots were taking advantage of the death of the King.  I could not even blame Stephen of Blois. He was taking charge.  I was disappointed that the Empress Matilda had not taken ship and made her own claim to England.  I put the crown from my mind and I vowed to fight King David with every ounce of my being.
    We left just after dawn.  I now reconsidered my decision to pay off my men at arms.  It seemed that I might need them.  If I was to fight the whole of Scotland then I would need men at arms no matter how surly they were.
    We did not so much ride from York as paddled. Had I not travelled this road more times than enough I would have been lost but we rode, with water up to our horses' withers, along the Roman Road north. My seven companions looked at me as though I was mad but I knew the road. Soon the waters were not as deep and the road was clearer until, ten miles north of York it rose from the waters and directed us home.
    I pushed on hoping to reach Yarm before dark.  It was in vain.  The time of year, the weather and the condition of the roads conspired against me. We made it to the small castle of Osmotherley. Baron Ralph ruled here.  It was a small motte and bailey castle.  It was not a rich demesne but Ralph was a good knight.  The walls looked to be bereft of sentries as we approached. The gates remained firmly closed. I crossed the ditch and used the hilt of my sword to bang upon the gate. A fearful face appeared above us. 
    "Oh my lord, it is you! I shall let you in.  I am sorry."
    I vaguely recognised the face.  He had once been a man at arms and one of Sir Ralph's men.
    The gate opened and he bowed, "Alan of Ingleby, my lord.  Sir Ralph left me in command of his castle."
    I dismounted and walked Scout into the castle.  My men followed. I pointed to the stables.  "Put the horses in there and meet me in the Great Hall." Great Hall was an exaggeration.  It was a small and mean room above the stables but it would serve.  As I walked across the bailey I asked, "Where is Sir Ralph?"
    "His wife and child died of the plague in spring, my lord. He almost drowned in despair and then Father James, convinced him to take the cross and make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  It seemed to give him hope.  I am old and he asked me and my family to stay here and watch his castle until he returned."
    "How many are you?"
    "My wife and my two sons, Alan and Alfred."
    "We will stay the night.  If you have not enough food then I will understand."
    "We have food enough my lord.  My sons are good hunters both.  I will tell my wife that we have guests."
    He hurried off.  I went to the hall.  There were two floors above the hall.  The one closest was the baron's quarters. I went there and took off my cloak and surcoat.  Both were wet.  It was not raining but the air was damp. There was no fire.  I shook my head.  I was getting soft.  I was too used to my own castle and the royal residences in which I had stayed.
    Gilles came up the stairs with my bag.  "You sleep here tonight, Gilles.  My men can sleep in the stables."
    He nodded, "They