28 February 1011 Siege Line Outside Buckingham
In the tavern that had been commondaired as his residence and the command post of the besieging army Rædwald stood before the roaring fire in the hearth. Stretching his hands out toward the fire he tried to find some warm for them. Furs were wrapped around his body in a vain attempt to combat the elements. The cold scoffed at his fruitless struggles. The cold crept in through cracks in the walls and through the old dilapidated shutters.
In a room full of men scurrying about doing the business of war and sieges Rædwald was alone. For the first time he could remember he was truly lonely. His wife and queen Crístina was north, in Scotland leading the Taran army as it besieged St Andrews, the last English held lands in Scotland. It was Hlothere he missed the most. His brother was his best friend and confidant. He was the voice Rædwald turned to in troubling times. It would be sometime before Rædwald would hear his brother’s voice. For now Hlothere was under guard somewhere in England, a prisoner of war.
So engrossed in his melancholy thoughts of those that were not here, Rædwald did hear or notice the Court Chaplin Bishop Wulfgar of Lichfield walk up beside him. When he did realize the bishop was there it startled the king.
Looking down and bowing Wulfgar said, “I beg your pardon, milord. I did not mean to alarm you.”
Rædwald smiled, “It was somewhat my fault I was lost in thoughts of those in harm’s way.”
Wulfgar nodded and placed his hands at chest in prayer, “I understand, milord. I offer prayers for their safe turn.”
Rædwald placed his hand on the bishop’s shoulders, “I truly thank you.”
Wulfgar looked a little distressed, “In times like these I wish I could offer more than just prayers.’
Rædwald keeping his hand on Wulfgar’s shoulder smiled, “Sometimes a prayer is the difference between victory and defeat, between life and death.” Rædwald removed his hand from the chaplin’s shoulder.
A servant walked by with cups of warm ale. Both king and bishop took one.
They drank from their cups and relished in the warm of the brew.
Wulfgar then nodded and smiled, “My reason for coming over here was to deliver messages that have arrived from York.”
Rædwald took the messages and began to read them. Wulfgar turned his attention back to the fire. Rædwald chuckled a few times. He then turned back to the fire himself and took another drink from his cup.
Still looking into the fire Wulfgar said, “From your reaction I gather there was good joyful news among those papers.”
Rædwald turned and looked at Wulfgar. Wulfgar turned to look back at the king. Rædwald smiled, “Yes there was more good news than bad. Queen Crístina wrote that my sister Princess Bodil, wife of Sigismond Welf who is the nephew of King Renaud, sent a letter thanking us for our gift on the birth of their son, Benoît. She hopes to read the letter to me personally sometime soon.”
Wulfgar nodded and smiled, “That is very good news and I will pray for the princess and her son that he may grow up to be healthy, strong, and wise.”
Rædwald nodded his appreciation for Wulfgar’s gesture.
Wulfgar then asked, “If I may be so bold were there other good tidings? You seemed to chuckle at one of the note.”
Rædwald smiled and patted Wulfgar on the back, “Yes there was. Eadhburgh, wife of my brother Swæfræd, has announced that she is with child. That means that Swæfræd listened.”
Confused Wulfgar asked, “Listened? To whom or what?”
Rædwald suddenly realized that Wulfgar was not aware of Swæfræd’s past infatuation with certain ladies of the court.
The king laughed and said, “That my dear chaplin is a story for another time.”
Wulfgar accepted his king’s explanation and finished his ale. “I ask for my leave, milord, it is getting close to noon and I must prepare for the noon mass.”
Rædwald nodded, You may go.”
Wulfgar bowed and moved off into another part of the room.
It was then that Duke Emrys of Deheubarth, Marshal of Jorvik, and commander of the army besieging Buckingham approached the hearth. Once at the hearth Emrys threw another log onto the fire, sending a shower of sparks upward and outward from the fire.
Emrys called to a servant for warm ale. The boy quickly brought the marshal a cup and took the king’s empty cup and replaced it with a full one. Emrys took a long drink and then asked, “How was the conversation with Wulfgar? I think the old boy is afraid of me.”
Rædwald laughed, “And you enjoy scaring him at every chance you get.” Emrys laughed as Rædwald continued, “He brought messages from York. Mostly family matters but a few relevant to us.”
Rædwald handed one of the messages to Emrys who read it.
Emrys looked at Rædwald and said, “Friedrich has destroyed the last of the English army at Limerick. It appears he has fulfilled his contract several months early.”
Looking a little down Rædwald said, “That means I will have to pay him a bonus for destroying the English before spring and another for capturing Oshere Ealdmundsson.”
Emrys nodded, “It appears that way.”
Rædwald sighed and said, “We will need to send a messenger under guard with the bills of exchange covering the costs of the bonuses and informing Captain Friedrich that his services are no longer required at this time.”
Emrys nodded, “It will be arranged.”
Rædwald looked through the notes and upon finding the one he desired he handed it to Emrys. “This is a noted from our spymaster, Ealdmund, saying that young King Ælfgar has recently become a fall down drunk.”
Emrys grinned, “Now that is interesting.”
Rædwald also grinned, “According to the spymaster he has drunk himself into a stupor on more than one occasion. During a few of these binges his brother and heir Ealdmund Osheresson has had to make decisions for him.”
Emrys took a few sips from his warm ale and asked, “When did all this start.”
Rædwald looked a t his marshal and replied, “Apparently there was some drinking after we declared war on him. The real bad drinking started not long after King Renaud of France landed and destroyed the small army gathering in Wessex at Southampton.”
Emrys chuckled, “I suspect the last month or so has been pretty hard for Æflgar with Bishop Hrolfr and King Renaud taking Selsey at the beginning of the month and us taking Reading at the end of January. We are now here at Buckingham and Hrolfr and Renaud are besieging Chichester.”
Rædwald smiled, “You do not how correct you are. Ælfgar went on a huge binge. Not only was he drinking himself silly, he was bedding every female servant he could lay his hands on. Queen Eanswith has locked him out of her chambers and bed. For the foreseeable future there will be no son born to the king and queen. His two daughters, Siffiæd and Seaxburh from his first wife, Anlaith nic Broccán will be his only legitimate children. Since they are girls they are ineligible to rule.”
Emrys rubbed his chin in thought, “Wasn’t Anlaith your sister-in-law?”
A tinge of sadness came over Rædwald, “Yes she was Crístina’s younger sister. She died giving birth to Seaxburh.”
Both men stood looking into the fire. They both finished their ale and a servant brought them new filled cups.
Emrys handed the notes he had back to Rædwald and asked, “Is there any news regarding the English - Scottish War in there?”
Rædwald responded, “I believe so.” He began going through them. Frustrated some that he could not find what he was looking for he placed the notes on a nearby table. He searched through them with more care. As he found what he was looking for he said, “Here it is.”
Rædwald pulled the paper out of the pile and read it through. When he was finished he looked up at Emrys. “The Scottish and Tarans are besieging the English holding St Andrews. It is the last stronghold of the English on Scottish soil as they have driven them from Moray, Crieff, and Cupar. The Scottish now occupy Clydesdale.”
Emrys scratched his beard under his chin, “It will not be long before Ælfgar will have to make a white peace with King Ewan.”
Looking slightly concerned Rædwald asked, “What will that mean for us?”
Emrys took a sip of ale and replied, “Most likely we will be facing a new English army.”
Now fully concerned Rædwald asked, “What plans do you have if that occurs?”
Emrys thought for a moment and then answered, “We will have Sumarliði lift the siege of Westminster and join with Sigfrið and the remains of the Northern Army after Friedrich departs. Once joined they pursue and destroy the English.”
Rædwald seemed to be a little annoyed, “What of Westminster?”
Emrys replied, “What of it? As things stand now it is not important. Once Chichester falls and Hrolfr and Renaud take Lewes they can march on Westminster and invest it.”
Satisfied Rædwald said, “Good. We need to be vigilant.”
Emrys adjusted his fur over his shoulder and asked, “Did Ealdmund report anything on Hjalmar’s Claim War for Durham?”
Rædwald rummaged through the papers again and removed one. He handed it to Emrys.
Emrys read the report and placed it on the table, “They are trading sieges. Hjalmar took Durham and the Bishopric of St Cuthbert. He is now besieging Hartlepool. Duchess Elin has taken Bamburgh. She is trying to invest Corbridge but she does not have enough troops to do so.”
Rædwald looked at Emrys, “When this war is over we will need to deal with Hjalmar.”
Emrys nodded, “Yes we will.”
Rædwald took a sip of ale, “What of our Irish allies? How are they adjusting?”
Emrys chuckled, “They had some problems at first. They did not agree with our level of discipline at first. Unfortunately we had to make an example of a few of the worst offenders. Those of Earl Cathal of Tír Eoghain understood the lesson right away. Those of Chief Garlat of Ulaidh took a couple of more lessons before they appreciated the advantages to following orders.”
Rædwald chuckled himself, “I wonder how King Rogallach of Connachta’s troops would have handled themselves.”
Emrys sipped from his cub, “They must be behaving themselves in North Africa. King Thierry II of Aquitaine has not sent them home.”
Rædwald rubbed his hands together and stretched them out to the fire, “Did Rogallach accompany his army to Africa?”
Emrys smirked, “No given his girth and age it would be nearly impossible for him to have done so. He sent Bishop Ernán of Cluain and Mayor Túathal of Dún Bhun na Gaillimhe. How did he get involved in this war?”
Rædwald continued warming his hands, “He is doing penance for a great sin. He was directed by the pope that if there was a need for assistance in fighting the Muslims he was obligated to answer. When Caliph Anwa II of Burhanaddin Sultanate declared the 5th Burhanaddin Holy War for Tangier and King Thierry called, he had to help. ”
Intrigued Emrys asked, “What sin would be that great?”
Without any emotion Rædwald replied, “Cannibalism.”
Shock and surprise filled Emrys’ face, “You jest.”
Rædwald shook his head, “No I do not. It was about fifteen years ago when a consumption epidemic swept Ireland. Rogallach secluded himself in his keep. The epidemic lasted longer than they planned for and they ran out of food.”
Emrys shook his head, “I cannot imagine that happening in Jorvik.”
Rædwald looked at Emrys and said, “I pray that you are correct.”
Both stood silent staring into the fire. Somewhere a bell tolled calling the faithful to the noon mass.
