Sea Lord: Book 2 of the Owerd Chronicles by Gault James

Author:Gault, James [Gault, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

-XV-

Fortuitously, Sir Godric had summoned a meeting of Hakon and Owerd’s housecarls at the Winchester house for just that day to meet the whole team and seek guidance on their requirements. When Owerd rode up to the house in late afternoon, he was thus delighted to see what looked like a whole herd of horses tethered in the courtyard. His entry into the crowded common-room was greeted with a small cheer as they all stood in welcome. He was warmed by their enthusiasm and even more so by the many questions relating to the wellbeing of Lady Hilda.

Getting straight down to business, though, he sought short briefings from Sir Godric, then Hakon and finally Osric. Godric had by far the most challenging task.

‘There are no suitable buildings in either Southampton or Portsmouth to house our men, Sir Owerd, but I have found a place nearby that is less crowded, indeed almost barren in parts, called Gosport. There are the ruins of an old Roman fort there that I believe can form the basis of a large building. There is plenty of wood nearby; only a tiny but useable fishing port but good access to the sea.’

Hakon was all smiles. ‘I have two good longships purchased for next to nothing and a complete crew for one. They lie near Hastings. My own vessel is ready for sea but I need a cook, and male cooks are hard to find’.

‘You also need to find me a derelict vessel please Hakon. Size does not matter, cog or longship, but it must be able to be towed offshore for use as a target for our king’s demonstration’.

Osric’s brief was the longer. ‘Men are easy to come by my lord. We have signed up none yet as they have nowhere to stay but with the ground now too hard for working and winter setting in, we will have no trouble gaining the numbers you seek. There is reluctance to sign on for more than forty days and I hear from Sir Godric that the Exchequer is also balking at paying for men on any permanent basis’.

There was much more detail then discussed. The outcome by day’s end was an outline plan with Godric to look after support arrangements with a housecarl to assist, Hakon to see to training with another housecarl assistant and Osric with most of the remaining housecarls to attend to recruiting. By Terce the next day, riders had scattered over the south of England seeking “warrior butsecarls” for their enterprise. Owerd took two housecarls, the more experienced riders Matthew and Rhys, with himself to Aust.

The village of Aust was a blessed relief from the bustle of the larger southern towns and Owerd felt a sense of a weight lifting from his shoulders as he rode into the courtyard of his manor there. Hilda was quickly to his side as he dismounted, as was a young man he had not seen before who took the bridle of his horse, albeit with a look of terror on his face.

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