The Norman Threat
Part Thirteen
The Next Day
NORMANDY:
Aubrey de Vere brought word of Edward's passing to the
court of Duke William, in camp, and he did not neglect to bow to
the new King of England and wish him long life. He stood
amongst his peers in the mustiness of the winter bivouac, and
watched each of them in turn offer tribute to the Duke.
"My Lord," declared Gilbert de Neville, Admiral of the
Channel Fleet, "Long live the King!"
Roger de Montgomery joined in the smug chorus, along
with Henry de Grey, Hugh de Montfort, and the rest of the
company gathered at William's table that morning. William
Algernon, the Master of the Cavalry, stood up last.
There was a sort of polish to these Barons, which reflected
their arrogance. Individually, they looked like outlaws, sporting
tattoos and many scars. They wore theatrically adorned vestments
and overcoats. Boots and leggings were decorated with
astonishing refinements. Silk and gold and silver were overlaid
upon brilliantly dyed woven woolens. But there was a manic edge
to their gathering. Even though they possessed uncontested power
in their own land, they spoke nervously and with the defensive
aggression of strongmen expecting a surprise attack.
William studied them each intently. He was excited, elated,
although he did not wish to show this great feeling in the presence
of his underlords.
Then Algernon shoved his way towards the Duke. He
planted himself grandly, standing ramrod straight in front of the
larger Duke, who looked down at him coldly, not returning the
toothy grin.
"The King of England!" crowed the grinning Algernon with
his overbearing enthusiasm and booming voice, laughing loudly
but without humor, since he was never in a good humor. He
became suddenly very serious. "But who is going to make an
Englishman out of you?" Then he grinned again and wheeled
round to face the rest. "And who will make the rest of us into
Englishmen? He pulled out his dagger and held it out menacingly
towards his audience. Just try and do it."
Not much appreciating the humor, a few of the others told
him to shut up and sit down. But some of them took the bait and
tried to take the knife from Algernon. The contest turned into a
fight with another Baron, Algernon gripping him in fury with his
one free hand, but overcome by the other man s two, he fought
with his legs. This caused them to lose footing and Algernon fell
clumsily into the line of men closest the Duke, still firmly gripping
the other man, who fell with him only to be gutted by the knife.
Algernon twisted the blade around in the other s belly until he
found the aorta and the blood gushed freely from the dying man.
The others grabbed Algernon as he lay fighting and pinned
him down by his limbs, while the dying Baron was carried out of
the tent by his own retainers. Still they could not pry the knife
from Algernon s fist. Several of them were badly cut trying.
Gleaming furiously at his assailants, Algernon loosed a genuinely
happy laugh, and even while squirming helplessly under the weight
of many Knights he remained victorious.
Damn him, thought the Duke. He stepped aside the heap of
men containing his fierce Master of the Cavalry, and motioned
Gilbert to follow him out of the tent onto the snow covered dunes.
The noon sun shone warm on his back, the cold north wind
driving gleaming breakers onto the long beach. His tunic tugged
at him in the strong breeze as they walked along the dune. He
began to relax as they put distance between themselves and the
others. Gilbert followed abreast, and kept silent. Finally the Duke
stopped and turned towards the breakers. This was where he
wanted to be. He was warm from exercising in the winter
sunlight, and he was King, and he closed his eyes to enjoy the
pleasure of the moment all the more.
He spoke with his eyes shut. "Enlarge the fleet. I must have
enough ships to overwhelm Godwin'son."
Three Weeks Later
FLANDERS:
The news had come from abroad of three claims to the
throne of England. Firstly, there was Harold Godwin son, currently
in possession of it. Secondly, there was William of Normandy,
who had been reminding all of them for years that the infertile old
King had appointed him heir. Thirdly, the old Norwegian Viking
King Harald Hardrada had let it be known that since he was the
nearest kin to the English royal family only he would have the
crown.
Earl Tostig, the exile, threw his support to Hardrada. A pact
of war was dispatched from Flanders to Trondheim, with his own
son as security.
As long preparations were begun towards the invasion of
England, a blanket of secrecy was thrown over the borders of the
Norwegian alliance.
Part Thirteen
The Next Day
NORMANDY:
Aubrey de Vere brought word of Edward's passing to the
court of Duke William, in camp, and he did not neglect to bow to
the new King of England and wish him long life. He stood
amongst his peers in the mustiness of the winter bivouac, and
watched each of them in turn offer tribute to the Duke.
"My Lord," declared Gilbert de Neville, Admiral of the
Channel Fleet, "Long live the King!"
Roger de Montgomery joined in the smug chorus, along
with Henry de Grey, Hugh de Montfort, and the rest of the
company gathered at William's table that morning. William
Algernon, the Master of the Cavalry, stood up last.
There was a sort of polish to these Barons, which reflected
their arrogance. Individually, they looked like outlaws, sporting
tattoos and many scars. They wore theatrically adorned vestments
and overcoats. Boots and leggings were decorated with
astonishing refinements. Silk and gold and silver were overlaid
upon brilliantly dyed woven woolens. But there was a manic edge
to their gathering. Even though they possessed uncontested power
in their own land, they spoke nervously and with the defensive
aggression of strongmen expecting a surprise attack.
William studied them each intently. He was excited, elated,
although he did not wish to show this great feeling in the presence
of his underlords.
Then Algernon shoved his way towards the Duke. He
planted himself grandly, standing ramrod straight in front of the
larger Duke, who looked down at him coldly, not returning the
toothy grin.
"The King of England!" crowed the grinning Algernon with
his overbearing enthusiasm and booming voice, laughing loudly
but without humor, since he was never in a good humor. He
became suddenly very serious. "But who is going to make an
Englishman out of you?" Then he grinned again and wheeled
round to face the rest. "And who will make the rest of us into
Englishmen? He pulled out his dagger and held it out menacingly
towards his audience. Just try and do it."
Not much appreciating the humor, a few of the others told
him to shut up and sit down. But some of them took the bait and
tried to take the knife from Algernon. The contest turned into a
fight with another Baron, Algernon gripping him in fury with his
one free hand, but overcome by the other man s two, he fought
with his legs. This caused them to lose footing and Algernon fell
clumsily into the line of men closest the Duke, still firmly gripping
the other man, who fell with him only to be gutted by the knife.
Algernon twisted the blade around in the other s belly until he
found the aorta and the blood gushed freely from the dying man.
The others grabbed Algernon as he lay fighting and pinned
him down by his limbs, while the dying Baron was carried out of
the tent by his own retainers. Still they could not pry the knife
from Algernon s fist. Several of them were badly cut trying.
Gleaming furiously at his assailants, Algernon loosed a genuinely
happy laugh, and even while squirming helplessly under the weight
of many Knights he remained victorious.
Damn him, thought the Duke. He stepped aside the heap of
men containing his fierce Master of the Cavalry, and motioned
Gilbert to follow him out of the tent onto the snow covered dunes.
The noon sun shone warm on his back, the cold north wind
driving gleaming breakers onto the long beach. His tunic tugged
at him in the strong breeze as they walked along the dune. He
began to relax as they put distance between themselves and the
others. Gilbert followed abreast, and kept silent. Finally the Duke
stopped and turned towards the breakers. This was where he
wanted to be. He was warm from exercising in the winter
sunlight, and he was King, and he closed his eyes to enjoy the
pleasure of the moment all the more.
He spoke with his eyes shut. "Enlarge the fleet. I must have
enough ships to overwhelm Godwin'son."
Three Weeks Later
FLANDERS:
The news had come from abroad of three claims to the
throne of England. Firstly, there was Harold Godwin son, currently
in possession of it. Secondly, there was William of Normandy,
who had been reminding all of them for years that the infertile old
King had appointed him heir. Thirdly, the old Norwegian Viking
King Harald Hardrada had let it be known that since he was the
nearest kin to the English royal family only he would have the
crown.
Earl Tostig, the exile, threw his support to Hardrada. A pact
of war was dispatched from Flanders to Trondheim, with his own
son as security.
As long preparations were begun towards the invasion of
England, a blanket of secrecy was thrown over the borders of the
Norwegian alliance.
NORMANDY:
FLANDERS: