Crusade

Edwin looked at me, astonished and exasperated, but without an immediate answer to their bravado. I could not decide whether to embrace them for their daring or admonish them for their defiance. I thought the latter the wiser option — at least, for the time being.

‘This conversation must remain with the four of us. If anyone discovers that you were responsible, at least in part, for the King’s wounds — and bear in mind, we don’t know what the consequences of them will be — you will be in mortal danger. Lauded as avenging warriors by some, derided as committing regicide by others; either way, you will be marked for life. Apart from that, I find it hard to believe that you just happened to stumble into the King’s path. Everything you have said leads me to believe that you sought him out and thus flagrantly ignored Edwin’s direct order. Sweyn, you are rusticated for a period of three months. You must return to your home in the Lot and think about the value of discipline and the importance of obedience. If you are to become a knight, you must embrace these values.

‘Adela, you are to go with him and you may accompany him on his return. You too should think of these things. If you want to fight in the company of knights, you must learn to act like one.’

Sweyn was furious, his eyes burning with rage.

‘Sire, this is not just, we did nothing wrong.’

‘Your further disobedience serves only to discredit you. I have spoken, now go! We will talk again when you return. I do not want to see you again until Easter has passed.’

With that, they relented and strode away. Even though Sweyn had his back to me, I could almost feel his rage.

‘I hope I have done the right thing. I have to admire them both; although the circumstances were fortuitous, they came closer to killing the King than anyone ever has. It almost defies belief.’

Edwin was shaking his head in bewilderment.

‘My Lord, I can’t quite believe it. They continue to astonish me; he’s a slip of a boy, she’s no more than a hundredweight wet through, but they have a strength about them like fine-tempered blades. I suppose they were forged in the same furnace — in the horror that was Bourne.’

‘I am impressed. They remind me so much of Hereward.’

‘You are right to send them away; they will come back stronger for it. I’m sorry Adela suddenly imposed herself on you, but I did warn you she was obstinate.’

‘Don’t apologize, Edwin. She is remarkable; her inner resolve is so striking. Not a word of this. They are too young to be lionized or to be the quarry for those seeking revenge for a stricken king. Let’s hope his wounds are not severe.’

My personal experience on the battlefield and the deeds of Sweyn and Adela left me with much to think about. Up until then, my motives in contemplating a fight, or in the heat of battle, had always been focused on myself. Either I, as an Atheling Prince, had been the cause of the conflict, or else I stood to gain significantly from the outcome. But this time, I was peripheral to the cause.

Vinbald’s sudden, horrendous death and my response to it made me realize why people fight with such courage — even though they may not benefit directly from victory, or suffer overmuch from defeat. Sweyn and Adela had shown the same resolve in their passion to enter the fray and to influence the outcome of the battle.

In essence, I had learned how to fight.

7. Brothers-in-Arms

King William’s injuries at Gerberoi were not severe enough to immobilize a young warrior for long, but at the age of forty-four his recuperation took some time. This did not improve his humour and only added to the acceleration of his corpulence. The damage to his morale was also significant — enough to suggest that he might never fully recover from it.

In the summer of 1079, Robert’s bravado in challenging his father reaped a bountiful harvest. The King’s magnates, both in England and Normandy, gathered in Rouen, steeled themselves to the task and confronted William. They were led by men whose own sons had joined the cause of William’s prodigal son.

Their words hardly needed saying: Normandy and England’s neighbours were now too strong, Malcolm of Scotland too opportunistic, the Danes too avaricious, for William’s large and difficult-to-defend domain. Therefore, it was imperative that he treat with his firstborn, offer concessions to him and make peace in his realm.

They were not easy words to say, nor were they palatable for William to listen to, but after the customary bellowing and blustering, hear them he did. So, in the middle of August 1079, we accompanied Robert and his followers after he was invited to Rouen to negotiate with his father.