Debt of Honour (Border Knight Book 11) by Hosker Griff

Author:Hosker, Griff [Hosker, Griff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2021-04-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

King Henry and the Scottish boy

Before we could act on any information which the folk of Seaton could give us, I was summoned, along with Sir Geoffrey to attend on King Henry at Stockton Castle. He was still at York when the rider reached me. I left Alan Longsword in command of my men. We would not need either archers or men at arms for King Henry would have enough of his own men and there were few castles in the north which could accommodate such a royal progress. My little tower room would be the best my son, Richard and I, along with Thomas could expect. We reached Stockton the day before King Henry and that allowed me to discuss with my father this apparent invasion of Viking warriors.

“Like you, William, I cannot see what they would hope to gain and they have not passed through Stockton. Since the men ambushed you we have closely questioned every Scandinavian whether warrior or merchant.”

Henry Samuel had arrived for King Henry had specifically asked for him. He gave the most ominous explanation, “Is someone gathering a hidden army ready to wreak havoc on the north?”

“Let us hope not. Do not say anything to King Henry until we have more solid evidence. From what you say William, you do not know numbers. It could just be thirty or so Vikings trying to get to the isles. I do not believe that to be the case, but it is the only explanation which fits the facts.”

King Henry, his son and his lords used our ferry to cross the river. It suited my mother as she was able to greet each party and have them shown to their chambers before the next ones arrived. There had been enough notice to arrange plenty of food and to have the chambers not only cleaned but filled with fragrant flowers. The shutters on the wind holes had been kept open to blow away any unpleasant odours. My mother was a real lady. It was she who had arranged the seating and, of course, she and my father flanked King Henry. I sat next to Prince Edward and the Archbishop of York, Walter de Gray. The Archbishop was an important man and had ruled England when King Henry had travelled to France. I was curious as to why he was with the party, but it soon became clear that he wished to extend his power into Scotland. He had tried before and perhaps thought that a king who was a minor could be persuaded to make the bishops in Scotland accept his authority.

I noticed that Prince Edward was rapt by the conversations around him. I doubted that he had much time for playing but as he would be a future king that was not a bad thing. He was older now than his father had been when he became King of England. “What do you think of the North of your future realm, Prince Edward?”

“I have seen little of it yet, Sir William but it seems to me that it has fewer people than there are further south.

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