King Henry's Champion by Griff Hosker

a ridiculously high sum?”
    “Why should I do that?  It would make your family my blood enemies. I have enough enemies as it is.  Besides you were unlucky.  You had to surrender. If I think you have not paid enough ransom then you will be my enemy and I have a long memory and an even longer arm.” 
    “It is what I have heard of you. Fear not I am an honest knight and you will be paid what you deserve. It is a pity we are on opposite sides, my lord.”
    I smiled, “Were that true, Sir Hugo, then you would not have tried to take this land.  This is England and I defend my home.”
    I sent John and Wulfric to the Scots to arrange the ransoms.  John was proud of the honour and Wulfric would keep them safe. Although we had lost men it had not been as bad as it might have been.  I did not feel proud of the victory.  It was the weather which had won it for us. We had been resolute and held our ground but if it had been dry we would have suffered more losses.
    The hostages were taken into the castle.  The enemy wounded were despatched.  A dozen men at arms had also surrendered.  I would have to give thought to those.  I was not the kind of leader who killed his enemies out of hand.
    It was late afternoon when a column of eight riders appeared.  They were led by John and Wulfric and I did not worry.  They stopped and Wulfric said, “This is the Earl of Gospatric, he would speak with you.  The others are those who will take the demands for ransoms.”
    “Then take them to the castle.”
    They left and Gospatric dismounted. I could see now why he had not led the charge.  He was older than I and he was overweight. I pitied his horse. He took off his helmet and handed it to his squire who remained with the horse.  “Come, let us talk.” I was not certain that I needed to speak with him but I acceded to his request.  I had learned that such men often let slip vital information without knowing.
    We walked towards the river.  Once we had passed the muddy morass it became slightly easier to walk, “You were lucky today, Cleveland.  The ground helped you.”
    “And perhaps it was your incompetence too.”
    His head whipped around and there was anger on his face, “That is an insult!”
    “If you wish satisfaction from me then draw your sword and we shall decide that here.” He glowered and then shook his head.  “It was you who asked for this conference not me. We won the day.  I have yet to decide if I ought to take Berwick as punishment.”
    This time his look was one of worry, “Your King would not like that.”
    “Is he not your King too? Or do you wear King David’s coat this day?” He said nothing.  We had reached the river. I noticed that it was brown and the level much higher than it had been. It would be harder to ford now.  We were safe from any further attack. “Come, what is it you wish to say?  I have pressing matters to attend to.”
    “Why not join with us?”
    I refrained from giving him the retort that was in my head.  I could learn much here.  “Who are us?”
    “Those of us who have lands in England: Comyn, Buchan, de Brus. We have many supporters. You are not Norman.  You are like me, descended from the Housecarls of England. You control the land from the Tees to the border.  You are the most powerful lord of the north.  With you as an ally we could rule the disputed land twixt Scotland and England.”
    “With you as King?”
    “And why not? I have more right to it than the son of a bastard!” I stood and began to head back to the castle. His voice was pleading, “Well, what is your answer?”
    I stopped and faced him, “You swore an oath to King Henry and he gave you lands. Unlike you I believe that an oath is binding unto death. I am tempted to take you now in chains to the Tower so that the King himself can dispense justice.”
    He suddenly looked afraid, “You cannot! I came here in good faith under truce!”
    “And there you are lucky for I am an honourable