Free The Fallen Crown by Griff Hosker Page B

ransom your knights." I smiled, "That is as fair an offer as you made to me, is it not?"
    Instead of being outraged he smiled. "I am pleased that you spurned my offer. When your body lies trampled beneath the hooves of my horses I will take your castles and the Tees will be mine. I shall be Earl of Cleveland."
    I heard Wulfric snort and I put my hand up to silence any retort.  We needed none. I smiled, "Then get back to your men.  We are waiting for you."
    He jabbed an arm to the east.  "I see your archers there but if this handful of armed men are all that you have then this will be a short days work!"
    "Do not wear my armour until you have taken it." I spurred Rolf and he leapt forward.  The five were so frightened that one fell from his horse and my men all laughed.
    "We came here in peace!"
    "Can I help it if my horse is keen for combat? I shall look for you Mandeville.  Make sure you are in the vanguard and not hiding amongst your men." My words were deliberately insulting.  I wanted his knights to hear them. He would have to lead the charge now.
    I rode back to my men.  I saw John of Elton galloping down the road.  He reined in and I saw that his horse was lathered.  "Sir Richard comes.  He has forty men."
    "Forty?"
    "Aye lord.  He raised the fyrd.  They come with their bows. They will be here within the hour. They were at Crathorne when I left them."
    "Your horse is tired.  Go and take shelter with Dick and the archers.  Your sword and shield may prove useful there."
    I turned my attention back to the enemy. As much as I would have liked to charge them I knew that our horses, despite the water and the grain, were tired. We would charge but only at the last minute. I saw the enemy horse form into a wedge formation.  The ditch which ran alongside the road would be an obstacle.  It was why I had chosen this site.  He had enough men who were lightly armed who could outflank us but I gambled that he would not. He had weight of numbers and I hoped he would try to use them.
    His vanguard had forty knights.  They were ten abreast. Behind them came forty men at arms also ten abreast.  The other twenty were a reserve.  The mass of men, many of whom were on foot, were in a swirling mass with the reserve.  As the column came towards us, at the trot, they walked behind. When they were four hundred paces from us I saw the black standard of Edward Fitz Mandeville rise and fall.  It was a signal but what did it portend?  I soon had my answer.  The last twenty men at arms detached themselves and headed obliquely to their right to charge Dick and his archers. At the same time the knights and the rest of the men at arms began to increase speed.  The slope made it necessary.  They were not coming at us any faster but it was taking more effort to do so.
    I donned my helmet and slung my shield over my shoulder and arm.  I held my spear in my right hand.  I preferred a spear. It was just as long as a lance but easier to wield. "Steady and wait for my command!"
    Dick and his archers were under no such order and they began to loose as soon as the twenty men at arms, who charged them, were in range. With Aiden and his men alongside them they were a formidable force.  I knew I could ignore that flank.  I had to put my plan into operation. When they were a hundred paces from us and galloping, although in truth they laboured up the bank, I shouted, "Charge! For God, England and the Empress!"
    My men cheered and we charged.  We had a narrower front.  Eight knights faced ten but my archers, under Dick's command, had struck enough of those attacking them to direct their missiles at the main column. They were loosing from the enemies' right and they had no shields to protect them.
    We did not have enough time to get to full speed but the slope and the laboured gait of our enemy meant that we were travelling at the same speed and we had the slope with us.  I saw Edward Fitz Mandeville before me.  He was a big target.