‘So many were killed with Harold. He does have sons, and some housecarls will rally to them. However, the true heir is Edgar of the Cerdician line. When I get back to Aquitaine, I will know if he has survived and if he has the stomach to fight for his birthright.’
‘If anyone can do it, you can. I am very tempted to come with you, but my mission is here in Spain and I have Jimena to think of.’
The two men parted with one last warrior’s embrace.
Hereward did not allow himself even a moment to savour the prospect of returning to England with The Cid at his side. ‘We would be a formidable partnership, but you must follow the path that fate has ordained for you.’
‘So must we both.’
In order to significantly reduce the journey time from Oviedo to Cahors, passage had been arranged on a merchant ship from the nearby port of Gigon, bound for Bordeaux. Strong winds off the Atlantic carried them along Spain’s northern coast and across the Bay of Biscay at a good rate of knots.
With Alphonso’s help, Hereward had mastered the astrolabe and constantly irritated the ship’s captain with endless observations about their course and arrival times. Their progress up the River Garonne was much slower; sail was often no match for the strong current, and draught animals had to be used. They took a trader’s barge as far as Aiguillon, where the Lot joined the Garonne, and then employed oarsmen to row them up the Lot with as much speed as their broad shoulders could generate.
When they arrived at St Cirq Lapopie there was much rejoicing, and Cristina was made welcome. Everyone could see that Hereward was in fine health and had returned to his former self. His daughters were overjoyed; their father had been restored to them.
Edwin had already arrived at St Cirq Lapopie, accompanied by a senior housecarl from Harold’s hearthtroop at Glastonbury. Between them, they gave a detailed account of events in England.
With most of the Normans holed up in their mottes and baileys, the winter had been a period of relative calm for the beleaguered English. However, the harsh winter had done little for people’s spirits, and the fear and despondency throughout the land had become worse. Now that spring had arrived, everyone was bracing themselves for more harsh campaigns from the Duke.
The housecarl, Edmund, a taciturn man of very solid appearance, gave Hereward a frank assessment of the current political and military situation. In the south and east, many Saxons were beginning to make money thanks to the Norman presence. Buildings were under construction at great pace and in vast numbers. Trade in the burghs was brisk, and money from the defeated Saxon aristocracy was finding its way into the pockets of merchants and artisans as the Normans disposed of their new wealth on enhancing their homes and possessions. The ports were flourishing as trade with Normandy and Europe increased at a startling rate. Farmers were prospering — at least, those close to Norman strongholds.
The losers were the provinces and the poorer parts of the community. Most of the hinterland was still not under direct Norman control. There, the people were living in a vacuum of destitution, with neither trade nor security. The peasants of the south, left to their miserable existence, continued to toil for scant reward as they always had. The Saxon aristocracy and the ecclesiastical elite, whose lands and possessions were all but gone, were dispirited and dejected and many had gone into hiding.
Finally, Edmund described the status of England’s surviving professional soldiers. Some had returned to their homes and hidden their weapons. Others, determined to fight the Normans in any way they could, had formed small bands of irregulars. Many had left England to find a life elsewhere.
Hereward interrupted Edmund’s account. ‘Is no one gathering the men together and organizing them?’
‘We are trying, but it is difficult. We lack a leader. Sir, we need you back in England.’
Edmund finished by describing Edith’s attempts to form a coherent group to begin a rebellion. Edwin and Morcar had pledged Northumbrian and Mercian forces to the cause. Harold’s sons had a few hundred men in Ireland and would sail as soon as summoned. She had an agreement with the Danes that they would set sail if an English rebellion began, but there had been no commitment from the Scots or the Welsh.
‘What of the men of the southern earldoms — how many housecarls could be mustered?’
‘It is difficult to estimate. Another winter has passed and skirmishes go on all the time where men die. William has ordered searches for weapons and armour. If any are found, all men of military age in that household or village are executed. Hundreds must be in hiding, but we don’t know exactly how many.’
‘How many men are at Glastonbury, or could be available upon our return?’
Edmund, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, gulped a little. ‘Five, maybe seven hundred.’
Everyone was shocked.
Hereward tried to hide his disappointment. ‘Not an army of biblical proportions!’ He paced around in circles, deep in thought. ‘If that is the number in the south, those in Ireland make it a thousand. Edwin and Morcar should be able to muster two thousand more. If we can attract a few sturdy men back from their mercenary endeavours overseas, we have the beginnings of an army. It depends on their quality and whether they have the stomach for the fight. Remember, things went against us on Senlac Ridge by only a few minutes and a few hundred men.’
‘You are right, sir. If you will return and lead us, we have a chance.’
‘Thank you, Edmund. Worry not, I intend to return and fight. England is too precious to me; I cannot grow old and fat here as her lifeblood drains away.’ He paused, deep in thought. ‘Would it be possible to raise the Fyrd — or, at least, some of them?’
‘Some would come but, I think, in small numbers. Besides, if many came, we wouldn’t have the resources and organization to look after them, or use them effectively; they might be more trouble than they’re worth.’
‘You’re right. Thank you for your excellent and candid report. Stay close to me over the next few months; I’m going to need men like you.’
‘I am yours to command, sir.’
‘What about you, young Edwin?’
‘I’m going to fight with you, sir… if you’ll have me.’
‘I will. Stay close to Alphonso and Einar; watch what they do, and follow their orders to the letter. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Hereward took a deep breath. ‘From what we’ve heard, we must make for the North of England. It is beyond William’s immediate reach and is Edwin and Morcar’s stronghold. We can sail around the south-west coast and meet Harold’s sons in Ireland on the way. The North is also a good place to meet representatives of the Danes. Einar, that is your homeland — what do you think?’
‘It is a good plan. Most of the wealth is east of the Pennines, but William may well have York under his heel by now. The same might be true of Chester, although you could make contact with the Welsh from there. Lancaster may be too far north, but there is a settlement at a place called Preston, near the mouth of the River Ribble. Although it is isolated, it is on the westerly route to Scotland. York is due east, accessible by an ancient track through the Pennines via a hamlet called Skipton. It is a place I know well; it is where I was born.’
‘There could be no finer recommendation, Einar. We will make landfall in England at Preston on the Ribble, in the earldom of Northumbria. Edmund and Edwin, return to England as quickly as you can. We have much to do here, but we will follow as soon as we can and rendezvous in exactly one month. Tell Edith Swan-Neck to stay where she is; there are too many spies around and we don’t want to alert William. Bring only two hundred men to Preston, but be sure they are the best available; all must be trained housecarls, fit and eager to fight. We must have a small and mobile baggage train; no wives, children, camp followers of any kind.
‘Finally, and this is important, tell no one where they are going; just tell them that they are to meet me in the North to form a new army. They should expect to be away until the autumn harvest at the earliest, but that is all you can tell them. Is that clear?’
‘It is, sir.’
Much needed to be done at St Cirq Lapopie before the departure for England.
To Hereward’s surprise, not only did Martin change his mind about staying, so did the rest of the family. At an emotional gathering, Martin led the discussion and all agreed that, having been through so much, they should face this final challenge together. Even when Hereward gave them his truthful assessment of the odds against success, they were not discouraged.
