The Bold Prince
Hereford, England - September 1114
“My Lady?” Hlothere gave question as he entered the private chamber of the Duchess.
Wulfrun sat looking out the window and did not turn to greet his bow, “I have called on you to give me a report on what you have found, Uncle.”
The master of spies stood with some curiosity, “My investigations have yet to come up with a culprit, my Lady. It remains a mystery.”
“Then you are not very good at your work, sir,” Wulfrun stood and walked to fetch a cup of ale, “This Lady…the Queen mother…she would not rest and may find the solution before you come to it.”
“I have all of my sources at the task, my Lady…” Hlothere responded, “…but we may not pry information from a soul about the death of Lord Brice.”
“And what of your wife…my aunt Heregyth?” Wulfrun looked to him sharply.
Hlothere gave a quick bow, “I assure you, my Lady…my wife…your aunt has only done what you require her to do. You had the request to write to your lady mother and so she has done so on occasion.”
“Did I request that?” Wulfrun turned back to the window, “I recall that not. She takes a chance that I did not give her and now makes me look responsible in the eyes of the realm.”
“My Lady,” Hlothere stuttered slightly, “I am loathe to contradict you, but you surely did instruct Heregyth to contact your mother. Surely you recall…it was just after Lord Brice first came to your court.”
“I remember it not,” Wulfrun waived a hand and kept her gaze to the outside, “And I like not that I am to look the guilty party that this man of the King dies in my keep…in my realm…I am to look suspect when I had no part in the deed. You told me that he died of his age, sir. We now know that he did not.”
“There is still no proof of anything untoward, my Lady,” Hlothere suggested.
Wulfrun turned briefly to him and pointed to a letter on her table, “There is. Look there.”
Hlothere moved to unfold the letter to read the contents and then returned his gaze to the Duchess with wide eyes, “Why did you not share this with me before now, my Lady?”
She looked back out the window, “I did not know if you were aware of its contents. I did not know if you shared in this deceit with my lady aunt.”
“Of course I did not!” Hlothere was certain.
She offered a slight smile, “I do know that now. While you have been investigating this crime…I, sir, have been investigating you. That you admit that Lady Heregyth has been in correspondence with my lady mother proves to me that you thought nothing illicit about their words together. This letter proves their complicity and not yours.”
Hlothere looked to the Duchess with some worry, “Does the Queen mother know of this letter?”
Wulfrun turned to him with a withering glare, “She gave it to me.”
The master of spies offered a heavy sigh but looked to her with some hope, “Still, my Lady…the letter proves nothing other than your mother and aunt conspiring to silence Lord Brice. It does not mention the method of his silence nor your efforts in it in any way.”
“As I had no effort in it…” Wulfrun turned back to look outside with an icy stare, “…I should think it does not. Yet it would not matter when the King hears these words. We would not silence his own mother.”
Hlothere dropped his head, “And she travels back to him at the now with this knowledge.”
“She does,” Wulfrun kept her stern gaze to the window in thought.
“Then we must send an emissary to the King at once to argue your case,” Hlothere was quick to suggest, “I would go myself if you should wish it.”
She held up a hand to silence him, “I do not think so. He would not care to hear it, I am afraid. I fear that the King loves me not.”
“My Lady…” Hlothere broke in, “…The King loves you in every way, I be certain. You are surely his most powerful friend…his greatest friend.”
“Hmm!” she grunted as she kept a sharp glare to her lands outside, “I believe that I have been. I have called up my force to assist in his wars when he lifts not a finger when we see rebellion in Mercia. I raise my levy only to see Hereford under attack. And this Queen…his wife…she be no Lady that I can see. She treats me rudely when she does dare set foot in this realm, which is near to never. I do not care for her.”
“Still, my Lady…” Hlothere attempted to counsel but she held up her hand again.
Wulfrun turned to him with great irritation, “This woman proposes to bring the Emperor to our side in this struggle and then goes out to declare for herself? She holds over three thousand in Pfalz against her liege and expects us to find respect and gratitude for her?”
Hlothere briefly bowed his head, “I could not speak for the Duchess of Meissen…”
“The Queen, Hlothere…” Wulfrun glared at him, “…she is THE Queen of this realm. And what does she do for it but turn her back on her husband for her own glory? It sickens me.”
“My Lady,” Hlothere stood tall with kind eyes, “It be clear that you have great affection for the King and for the realm…”
“Do I?” she asked sharply. “I care about Mercia and no other, my Lord.”
Hlothere nodded his head, “Of course.”
“You may see this man that has married my mother…he takes his men to Bourges at the now and holds sway over all of northern France. He fights on three fronts and has yet to be bested. I may find more favor from him than I would this King here.”
The master of spies offered a worried look, “My Lady, Mercia is of England…not Normandy.”
Wulfrun held her head high, “I know that well, sir. You need not remind me. But we may yet have use for this man of Normandy.”
“My Lady…” Hlothere attempted to plead with her, “…would it not be better to pay great homage to King Uhtræd and beg your case to him?”
She turned to look back out the window, “I fear it not. I do not think that he would listen with the lies his mother may tell him…and he would believe. And this woman of Meissen…I believe she poisons his soul. The King does play at sieges, but sooner or later, the man from Normandy will cross. What side would we be on when he does, my Lord Hlothere?”
Hlothere offered a heavy sigh, “You believe he might harass your lands?”
Wulfrun did not turn as she answered, “His allies already do. I would give you leave now to send word to my mother. I may have some words to say to this Lord Robert. We shall see if he be more amenable to my thoughts.”
“If that is what you wish, my Lady, I will see to it at once,” Hlothere answered with resignation.
She turned to him with an icy stare, “I did not wish for this, sir. But it is what we must do to safeguard my realm.”
* * *
Middlesex, England - October 1114
The King sat in his tent alongside the bank of the river Thames as he looked to a map in front of him. His brow was pinched and his ale untouched. The Duke of Ferrara sat next to him with a bemused smile that the King did not see.
“It is but a piece of paper, my good King,” Duke Arnolfo suggested as he sipped at his own drink.
The Duke was steady and honorable as Uhtræd had found, but he turned to Arnolfo with no smile, “This piece of paper is every bit the guide as we move forward, my Lord. These lands of France play greatly at our own tasks here in England and I would have knowledge of every move if I am able.”
Arnolfo nodded his head, “Francia is difficult, Your Grace. It has not been whole for some time now, and I fear it never to be. We must each make our own.”
Uhtræd looked back to the map, “You would not find favor with Prince Roubaud?”
“He is a fine enough Prince, as I see him,” Arnolfo sat forward, “Surely better than the French whore.”
“Which one?” Uhtræd offered a grin.
“It matters not,” he answered, “That is not your task. If your Norman Duke wishes his place, he will have to best them all, including you. I believe he may find his problems in his days ahead.”
The King gave nod of his head as he furrowed his brow, “That is no doubt. This map is a tapestry of confusion, my Lord. Even in your own lands of Italia, the people of Genoa go against the Emperor. I had hoped to have the man as an ally.”
Arnolfo stood to refresh his cup, “This would be Caesar is not worth your trouble, Your Grace. He has lost Poitou, I hear, and now the Duke of Gelre challenges him. This Duke does not even have his own lands as your good lady wife controls them. All of us within the Empire would wish this Imperial power lessened and so thanks God that someone has found the stones to do something about it.”
Uhtræd offered a heavy sigh, “Yet it does me no good.”
The Duke curled his face in question as he sat and pointed his finger to the map, “Less good is that it appears your own wife joins in this rebellion. I had thought the Duchess on your side, Your Grace.”
“She fights for Meissen and I would expect nothing less,” the King was quick to answer, “She does not lose faith with our cause but hers will always be more pressing. I would not argue and wish her well.”
Arnolfo shrugged, “I suppose the damage is already done to your Norman Duke. It was a fine gift to see this German move towards Normandy and take out many men even in his loss.”
Uhtræd turned to nod his head but was taken from his words when a page announced his brother, “The Lord Chancellor, Your Grace!”
“Brother…” Prince Eadward began before spying the Italian Duke, “…Your Grace…I did not know that you were at counsel.”
“It is fine,” the King looked up with a pensive brow, “This be my son’s brother by law, the Duke of Ferrara.”
Arnolfo smiled pleasantly with a bow of his head as Uhtræd looked to him, “My Lord Duke, this be my brother, the Chancellor to this realm. He is my rock in all ways.”
“It is my pleasure to greet you, my Lord Duke,” Eadward gave bow.
“And I you, sir,” Arnolfo stood and bowed with a flourish.
Uhtræd moved to his brother, “What news do you bring to me?”
Eadward was reticent but tried to offer a smile, “Some fine and some…not.”
“Then mayhap tell me the fine at the first, brother,” Uhtræd flashed a passing grin.
The Prince seemed nervous but again tried to find his smile, “Our work in Wales…against the Irish that sit within Glamorgan…I believe that we have found your claim there, Your Grace.”
Duke Arnolfo took his seat once more as he pulled his cup to him with a grin, “You do not stand idly by, good King Uhtræd. Allow me to give you all respect. I did not know what I would find when I traveled to your land. You might show me to be a very active King. I believe that I like it well.”
“That is well fine, good brother,” Uhtræd smiled and looked to the Duke, “We may not have chance to act upon such for some time.”
Eadward stood with apprehension, “Would you care to hear the poor news, Your Grace?”
The King turned back to him with good spirit, “If I must. What is it?”
“The Lady of Mercia…Your Grace…” Eadward was slow to say the words, “…she has gone with…Lord Robert.”
The look of shock upon the King’s face was large as he moved to pull the map from the table and threw it to the floor. The Duke of Ferrara was caused to stand and back away such was the King’s fury and Eadward did his best to keep his ground. Uhtræd found his face grow red as he fumed and looked back to his brother, “Where is our mother at the now?!”
“She is to you,” Eadward was quick in his reply. “She left Mercia in great haste, so her letter tells me. She has words for you but does not offer them to me.”
“This…” Uhtræd began to say but stopped himself as he moved to pick up the map. He found some calm and then looked to his forces once again, “This is…unexpected.”
Duke Arnolfo was unsure of the politics, so he questioned, “Why do you find such worry from this Lady?”
Eadward turned to him with certainty, “My Lord Duke…begging your apologies, but you do not know this land well. This Lady is very powerful and the loss of her force…”
“A great change of the field,” Uhtræd was quick to finish his brother’s thought. “I do not understand why she has done such a thing…but we must fight with the soldiers we have.”
“They have already fallen away from Lord Morcar’s force in Wareham, Your Grace,” Eadward answered, “She raises her men now in her favor. I do not know where she may strike.”
“How many?” Uhtræd looked to him with concern.
Eadward answered with great disappointment, “Lord Morcar loses half of his strength.”
Uhtræd moved to smooth out the map upon the table in front of him and thought. He was silent for a time but finally asked, “Do we know of Robert’s strength at the now?”
“Many thousands, Your Grace,” Eadward bowed his head, “Yet they do not cross as they continue their pursuits in the Empire.”
“And Lady Wulfrun?” Uhtræd asked as he kept his gaze to the map.
Eadward kept his head low, “She may muster over four thousand.”
“We are strong enough here to best such a force,” Duke Arnolfo suggested.
The King kept a keen eye upon his map, “But not both of our armies. This is not what I planned upon. I had need to take this man’s holds here in England while he wasted his time in France and beyond.”
“He is surely at a desperate play, Your Grace,” Eadward suggested.
“Desperate it may be,” Uhtræd kept his frown, “But worthy. I know not how he has done so, but this ploy does change things greatly.”
Arnolfo moved to pour another cup of ale, “If it be men that you require, Your Grace…I may give you some advice. There is a band out of Catalonia that makes their base near to my home in Ferrara. I know that your realm has been partial to the Saxon mercenaries over the years, but as I understand it, they are not available…great glory they have working for another. Yet these men that I know are hard warriors and have no home of their own given the Moslem scourge. I be certain that they may be had for a fair price.”
Uhtræd looked to the Duke with pained eyes, “I did not wish it to come to this…but make contact with this band, my Lord. I would not see England lost to the whims of a bitter old man and a petulant child.”
