Free Northern Knight by Griff Hosker Page A

regained their seats.
    Aiden and my archers were spread out both ahead and behind us. Already we were beyond the trails that they had discovered and we were riding the main road to the south and west.  One danger was that it would bring us perilously close to France and King Louis. He would not seek the Empress' hand but he might use her to buy the support of a potential suitor. This was a dangerous game we were playing.  We had to negotiate a maze and the obstacles could be deadly. I turned as I heard hooves thundering up the road.  Aiden galloped up to me, "My lord, there are horsemen behind us."
    "How far away?"
    "A mile or two."
    "How many?"
    "At least fifty."
    "Find Dick and the archers, bring them to me." As he galloped off I shouted to the others, "There is pursuit.  We ride hard until my archers return." I turned to Guy. "If they catch us then we turn with our men at arms and charge them.  They will not expect it and it will buy us time." He nodded.
    I spurred Scout to reach the horses with the lances. They were strapped in bundles of ten.  I unstrapped a bundle.  I grabbed one and the rest fell to the floor.  My men at arms stopped, grabbed one and continued to ride hard. We did not have the luxury of being able to stop and choose the best weapon.  I kept glancing over my shoulder to see where the pursuit was. When this road had been built the Romans had cleared both sides of trees.  Over the last six hundred years the forest had grown back and what had been a place safe from ambush was now a potential death trap as bushes had grown in ditches which had not been maintained and trees had spread their branches across the road.
    Roger of Lincoln was the last man for he had picked up the last lance. "Baron! They are less than half a mile behind."
    I nodded, "Harold, tell Sir Edward to keep going.  We will try to delay them.  Have Dick and the archers make an ambush."
    "Aye my lord."
    As he rode off I slowed down Scout. "Rearguard, about turn." The turn took time and I saw the enemy horsemen.  They were coming in a column. Their speed meant that there were gaps. "A line of five men!"
    I was in the fore with Sir Guy and his squire.  Roger of Lincoln and Peter of Totnes were the other two.  We lowered our lances.  "Charge!"
    The enemy had no lances.  It is hard to ride with a lance.  They had been pursuing us and hoped to take us with their swords. They saw what we intended and drew their weapons whilst pulling around their shields. What they did not manage to do was to form ranks. We did not have much speed but we were knee to knee. The leader was before me and I saw his banner behind him.  He was one of the Count of Aachen's men. I pulled back my lance and punched hard.  I had no lance coming towards me and my shield was protecting me from his sword. The spear drove through his mail and into his stomach.  He rolled from his horse taking the broken end of the lance with him. I used the stump to knock his squire to the ground where his falling banner managed to force another rider into the woods. 
    Our sudden charge had taken them by surprise.  I drew my sword and smashed it against the shield of a knight who approached me.  I saw a lance come from behind and the German was skewered. Although we were outnumbered the German men at arms did not know that.  They just saw a wall of men and horses.  With the leader and the banner down they were confused and I saw them halt. I reined Scout in and stabbed at a confused looking man at arms.  My sword punctured his shoulder.  He turned and rode east.  I saw others joining him.
    "Back to the column.  Ride!"
    As I turned I sheathed my sword and I saw that two of Sir Guy's men at arms had fallen. We passed their bodies as we headed west.  Their horses galloped alongside us. Sir Guy and I were at the rear of the column.  Three of my men still had lances.  They would be a valuable commodity if we continued to be attacked; we could not replace them. I