Free Northern Knight by Griff Hosker Page B

looked over my shoulder.  The horsemen had reformed and now pursued us.  Our turn had told them of our numbers. We did not ride at the gallop.  We did not want to weaken our horses.  The cobbles over which we rode would warn us if they closed. 
    Sir Guy flicked his head to the side.  "Will your archers be in position?"
    I nodded, "But do not expect to see them. We will know where they are when the men behind begin to fall."
    "It is a pity there are only ten of them."
    "There will be eleven.  Harold is as good an archer as any and those eleven can release forty arrows or more in the time it takes for a column to pass them. It is a surprise we can spring so long as we have arrows."
    I heard hooves closing and glanced behind.  They were less than a hundred paces from us now. "Be ready to turn on my command.  They are closing."
    I saw that they all drew their swords, as Sir Guy and I did. I had held my shield loosely and I now tightened it against my side. I caught a tiny movement to my left as we turned to descend slightly.  I looked again to see what I had spied and I saw the first of the arrows from Dick and my archers as they released them at less than fifty paces. They struck with such force that even when their shields stopped them the power made the riders reel. The ones who did not stop the arrows found the arrows deeply embedded in their bodies. As we came around the bend and down the slope I saw that Edward and Rolf had disobeyed me. The dismounted men at arms were arrayed behind them with a forest of spears. My men knew what to do.  They split in two and rode behind the human barricade. We turned and faced the enemy.  They could not outflank us for we occupied the eaves of the forest. They tried to pull up as the German men at arms stabbed forward with their spears.  I was happy to see that my three bodyguards had, at least, obeyed orders and the three ladies were mounted and safely behind the horses of the dismounted men at arms.
    I kicked Scout forward and rode at a man at arms who was trying to turn away from the spears.  I swung my sword at head height.  It bit through his coif into his neck. He tumbled to the ground.  Edgar brought his mighty sword down to split the helmet and skull of a second man at arms.  With Dick and the archers continuing to release arrows into the backs of the pursuers the inevitable happened.  The survivors fled. They had left so many dead along the road that I knew they would not return.  Others might come but this conroi would never dare to face a foe such as us.
    "Dismount and change horses.  Despatch the enemy wounded. You have done well!"
    They all cheered and the men at arms slapped each other on the back.  We had routed a superior force.  Already the men at arms and archers were searching the bodies for the spoils of war. Such was our life.  One moment your life was in danger and you had the prospect of a brutal death and then you were victorious and loving life.
    I took off my helmet and pushed my coif from my head.  I was pouring with sweat. "Edgar, make sure that there are no injuries amongst our men.  Even minor cuts need healing."
    "Aye, my lord. This is where we miss Wulfric."
    "It is.  When we return to England we will see about hiring a healer."
    "If we get a priest who can heal it will ease the men's minds, my lord.  They fight harder if they know a priest will give them the last rites."
    "I will think on it." I led Scout to the spare horses. 
    The Empress and her ladies had dismounted too. They approached.  "Can we do anything to help, Baron?"
    "We will let you know. How are the saddles this morning?"
    Margaret gave me a rueful smile.  "When we reach Caen I swear I will never ride a horse again.  I know not how you do it each day and wearing mail!"
    I laughed, "You get used to it and I fear we have many leagues to go.  I can offer you no comfort until we reach the land of the Count Du Bar."
    The Empress watched as the dead men were thrown