The Promises of a King, page 9
Things were going well, but Harold knew that this was not why he had assembled such an army. Gruffydd had to be dealt with, and winter was coming fast. Finally, after clearing all the burnt contents of what remained of the stone cathedral, the people of Hereford gathered in the clearing to say a prayer for all those that had died in the attack. Outside the city, dozens of carts lay waiting to enter, each piled high with timber and stone, all intended to rebuild the damaged cathedral.
Harold watched the service from the top of one of the few remaining buildings, along with Owen of Hereford and one of his officers, John Greenway.
‘They should rebuild the houses first,’ said Owen, ‘not waste all that time and effort on a status symbol.’
‘The people need somewhere to pray,’ said Harold.
‘Aye, they do,’ said Owen, ‘but a humble church would serve just as well. They should get the population fed and sheltered first.’
‘The city is theirs, not ours,’ said Harold, ‘and this is what they want. We have other things to consider.’
‘I agree,’ said John. ‘We have wasted enough time here and should march on Archenfield.’
‘Gruffydd will not be in Archenfield,’ said Owen quietly, ‘he will be back in Wales, celebrating his victory.’
‘You do not know that,’ said John, ‘and until we are sure, we need to assume he is still a threat.’
‘I know him,’ said Owen. ‘He is not the sort of man to enclose himself behind a palisade. He prefers to fight out in the open, preferably with mountains and forests at his back.’
‘How do you know him?’ asked Harold.
‘I have met him,’ said Owen, ‘on two occasions as your brother’s second. We fought alongside him against Rhydderch many years ago, an unsuccessful campaign, but now the Gwent king is dead, there will be no stopping him.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Wales has always been a powerful nation,’ said Owen, ‘but they have been far too busy killing each other to cause England a serious problem. Now, with Rhydderch dead, Gruffydd will seek to unite the country under one banner, and if that happens, Edward will have a serious problem, especially in Mercia where his men can strike and withdraw to the safety of Wales before anyone has a chance to respond.’
‘So you think he is unlikely to be in Archenfield?’
‘I am certain of it. He may have ambassadors there, but he will know it is a risk.’
‘So who is fortifying it?’ asked John.
‘It can only be one man,’ said Harold, ‘Aelfgar of Mercia, and if that is the case, we have a chance to bring this war to a quick conclusion.’
‘By attacking the town?’ asked John.
‘No,’ said Harold, ‘by appealing to Aelfgar’s sense of decency. He may be an arrogant man, but even he will know that this sort of destruction is not acceptable.’ He turned back to Owen. ‘I brought you with me,’ he said, ‘as I was aware that you know the ways of the Welsh. If you serve me well, then I will consider freeing you from your obligations to my family. To that end, I am going to put my trust in you and treat you as one of my own men. Fail me, or run from your obligations, and I will hunt you down and kill you myself. Do we have an agreement?’
‘I will not let you down,’ said Owen, ‘and will gladly do your bidding until you decree otherwise.’
‘Then do we have an agreement?’ repeated Harold.
‘We do, my lord,’ said Owen and held out his hand.
Harold stared at Owen’s hand before looking up to meet Owen’s gaze.
‘I will not shake the hand of the man who bore the blade that pierced my brother’s heart,’ he said. ‘But I will take your word if freely given.’
‘Then you have my word before God,’ said Owen, lowering his hand. ‘What do you want me to do?’
Chapter Ten
Archenfield, November, AD 1055
Two days later, one of Aelfgar’s men walked into the town hall in the centre of Archenfield, the temporary headquarters of Aelfgar and his huscarls.
‘My lord,’ he said, ‘you should come. Harold Godwinson has sent a messenger; he seeks parley.’
‘How many men does he have with him?’ asked Aelfgar.
‘Just one,’ said the messenger.
‘Then disarm them and bring them to me. I will meet them here.’
‘As you wish, my lord,’ said the messenger, and he left the room.
‘Everyone out,’ announced Aelfgar, turning around, ‘except Gerald Ericson, you will act as my second.’
The room emptied, and Aelfgar dragged a table to the centre of the hall while his head huscarl placed two chairs to either side.
‘Bring ale,’ ordered Aelfgar to one of the servants.
‘They are coming to negotiate, not drink,’ said Ericson. ‘Let them thirst.’
‘Hospitality costs nothing,’ said Aelfgar. ‘We are nobles, not commoners.’ They both took their seats on one side of the table and waited for the messengers. A few moments later, two men were ushered in and led to the table.
‘Please,’ said Aelfgar, not recognising either of the men, ‘remove your cloaks and be seated.’
Both men did as requested and waited as the servant filled their tankards before leaving the room.
‘To those who have died,’ said Aelfgar, raising his tankard, ‘may they rest well in heaven.’
‘And to those who are still alive,’ replied Owen, joining the toast, ‘may they live to see their grandchildren.’ All men drank from the tankards before placing them on the table.
‘My name is Aelfgar of Mercia,’ announced Aelfgar, ‘and this is Gerald Ericson, my second. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?’
‘My name is Owen of Hereford,’ said Owen, and this is John Greenway, huscarl of the House of Godwin. We have been sent here to negotiate on behalf of the earl.’
‘Welcome,’ said Aelfgar. ‘We acknowledge your intent and assure you of your safety while within the walls of Archenfield. What can I do for you?’
‘My lord,’ said Owen, ‘I have been made aware of what happened at King Edward’s court, and my master, Harold Godwinson, has sent me here to inform you that he understands why you were so upset. The decision was unexpected, yet it was the will of the king and, as such, could not be challenged.’
‘That is easy for him to say because it was his family that benefitted, but that is not the point. What is done is done, and now the king must reap what he has sown.’
‘My lord,’ said Owen, ‘there is no doubt that you have shown what you are capable of doing, though it has to be said that the entire destruction of Hereford was, in our eyes, unnecessary, as were the deaths of so many men, women and children. However, Earl Harold has instructed me to tell you that even at this late hour, it is not too late to stop this war. All you have to do is end your alliance with the Welsh and declare loyalty to the king, and he will do all that he can to get the banishment lifted as well as returning you to a position of power.’
Aelfgar stared with shock. He had expected a demand to surrender or face destruction, but here he was on the receiving end of an offer to be reinstated.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Aelfgar. ‘Why would he do that after all this?’
‘Because we are more concerned about Gruffydd,’ said Owen. ‘Since that audience with the king, the political landscape has changed drastically, especially as Rhydderch is now dead. With a united Wales behind him, Gruffydd could threaten London itself, so we need every English man of noble birth standing fully behind the Crown. All you have to do is admit that you were wrong, and all that has happened will be forgotten. You can once again take your place at court.’
‘And Edward has agreed to this?’
‘Not yet, but messengers are on their way there to seek approval for Harold’s suggestions. They should be back in three days, giving you a chance to consider the proposals.’
‘So, what are the terms?’
‘Only those that I have already told you. We want your allegiance, not your death. Besides, if it comes to battle between your men and ours, that will only result in the demise of even more good men, warriors we may need to stand against Gruffydd.’
‘You do know that Gruffydd and I have an alliance?’ said Aelfgar.
‘We do,’ said Owen, ‘but agreements can be broken. You will be far better off standing in our lines than his.’
‘I am a man of my word,’ said Aelfgar, ‘and will not betray an ally.’
‘Then negotiate a break,’ said Owen. ‘I know Gruffydd, and he is a proud man, but he will quickly grasp the situation and act accordingly. If he thinks the move is inevitable anyway, he will do one of two things: either negotiate for something in his favour or kill you. There is an equal chance of either.’
‘Not a very good option,’ said Aelfgar.
‘Then just shelve your pride and ride away from him,’ said Owen, ‘the choice is yours.’
Aelfgar stared at Owen. The offer had taken him by surprise, but he did not want to allow Harold Godwinson the satisfaction of knowing how welcome the proposals were.
‘Tell your master,’ he said, ‘that I will consider his offer, but until there is something solid to negotiate, my stance remains the same. Edward must bestow the earldom of Northumbria upon me, or my allegiance with Gruffydd, and all the war and destruction that entails, remains in place.’
‘I will relay your message,’ said Owen, ‘but please be aware that if Harold leads his army against this place, there can be only one outcome.’
‘I disagree,’ said Aelfgar, ‘for Gruffydd and his army are just a horn blast away. Combined with my own men, I believe we would emerge the victor of such an encounter.’
‘We will see,’ said Owen, standing up. ‘Thank you for the ale. I will return here in three days’ time to receive your reply.’ He nodded his head slightly before leaving the hall and heading back out through the fortified town’s gates.
‘How do you think that went?’ asked the huscarl as he and Owen rode away from Archenfield.
‘Better than could have been expected,’ said Owen. ‘He is desperate to agree terms but just as keen to save any shred of honour he may have left.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Because I could see the relief in his eyes,’ said Owen, ‘a look I have seen many times in the eyes of men who thought they were about to die.’
* * *
Later that evening, Owen of Hereford reported back to Harold in the house next to the ruins of the cathedral. Harold listened intently and, when Owen finished, sat back to consider his options.
‘When are the messengers due back from the king?’ asked John Greenway.
‘There are no messengers,’ said Harold, ‘it was an untruth to make Aelfgar feel more comfortable with the negotiations. It is important he thinks that I have the full support of the king.’
‘Is that not a given?’ asked Owen.
‘Not necessarily. His pride has been hurt, and a pardon for Aelfgar may complicate the bigger picture.’
‘Which is?’
‘Dealing with Gruffydd. Aelfgar’s arrogance is nought but a thorn in the side compared to the threat of the Welsh.’
‘So you are just using Aelfgar to get to Gruffydd?’ asked Owen.
‘Aye I am,’ replied Harold, ‘and from what you just told me, it seems he may have taken the bait.’
* * *
A few days later, Owen and John Greenway once again rode towards the gates of Archenfield, but this time they were accompanied by Harold himself, honouring a request received directly from Aelfgar himself. At first, Harold’s officers had urged him not to attend, but Harold was determined, keen to bring the whole campaign to an end as soon as possible.
‘Are you sure about this?’ asked John Greenway as they neared the gates.
‘Aelfgar is not going to kill me in cold blood,’ said Harold as they neared the town, ‘it would invite terrible retribution upon Mercia from the king and the other earldoms. He may be arrogant, but he is not stupid.’
‘I’m still not sure what you expect from him,’ said Owen.
‘As I told you, it is not him that interests me.’
‘If nothing else,’ said Owen with a sigh, ‘at least the meeting is going to be interesting.’
Twenty minutes later, they sat at the same table within the town hall, though this time, there was a third man sitting alongside Aelfgar.
‘Earl Harold,’ said Aelfgar, ‘thank you for attending. The reason for my request is that if all goes well, we can resolve this situation today with no need for further parley.’
‘I am encouraged by your optimism,’ said Harold, looking at the silent third man, ‘but first, please introduce your friend here.’
‘My apologies,’ said Aelfgar, ‘this man is Macsen of Gwynedd, the representative of King Gruffydd ap Llewelyn.’
Harold nodded to the Welshman before turning back to Aelfgar.
‘Have you talked to the king?’
‘I have, and he is willing to sign a treaty, assuming you meet his demands.’
‘He is in no position to make demands,’ said Harold, ‘but I am always willing to listen. What are they?’
‘You first,’ interrupted Macsen, speaking for the first time. ‘Tell me what is on the table.’
‘It is very simple,’ said Harold. ‘There have been far too many deaths already, but we recognise that Gruffydd is riding a wave of triumph from his defeat of King Rhydderch. Sometimes, a victorious army is hungry for more and while I think he went too far, I understand why he did what he did.’
‘You know nothing of our reasons,’ said Macsen, ‘so just tell me what you want.’
‘So be it,’ said Harold. ‘If Gruffydd immediately takes his men back across the border, we will withdraw our army to Gloucester while we arrange further talks. In addition, Aelfgar must stand down his army and dismiss the mercenaries.’
‘Is that it?’ asked Macsen.
‘It is a generous offer,’ said Harold, ‘and one that will save many lives.’
‘Which lives, English or Welsh?’
‘Both,’ said Harold, ‘as well you know.’
‘We are not afraid to fight you, Harold Godwinson,’ said Macsen. ‘Yes, men will die, but you have much more to lose than us.’
‘If you think you can march on London,’ said Harold, ‘you are truly mad. Even if you defeat me, there are many more men like me ready to defend the king to the death, more than you can imagine. The rivers of England will run red with your blood, and after you have been defeated, we will march on Gwynedd to kill your families and burn your villages.’ He paused to let the threat sink in. ‘Make no mistake, Macsen,’ he continued, ‘this is no idle threat. Up until now, we have allowed your kings to rule your own lands with little interference but threaten our own sovereignty, and we will sweep through Wales like a storm of fire. However, if you take this opportunity to negotiate, all that can be avoided.’
It was Macsen’s turn to fall silent, meeting Harold’s stare with one of his own, trying to judge if the threat was a bluff. Finally, he lifted his tankard of ale and downed it in one before slamming it back onto the table.
‘Your threats do not scare us, Harold Godwinson,’ he said, ‘but Gruffydd is a merciful king, and he has instructed me to negotiate on his behalf. You can have your peace, but it will come at a cost.’
‘Which is?’
‘We want to keep Hereford,’ said Macsen.
Everyone stared at the Welshman, shocked at the audacity of the demand.
‘That is not going to happen,’ said Harold eventually.
‘Then we are done here,’ said Macsen and got to his feet.
‘Wait,’ said Harold, ‘sit down. I have not finished. You must have come here knowing that we would never give up Hereford. It puts our inland cities at too much risk, but that does not mean we cannot offer you something else in its place.’
‘Continue,’ said Macsen, sitting back down. ‘I am listening.’
‘I believe you have taken many farms and villages from here to Chester,’ said Harold. ‘What if I was to say you can keep possession of everything you have gained these past few days without threat of retribution.’
‘It is a good start,’ said Macsen, ‘but it is not enough.’
Harold thought furiously. He wanted peace more than anything, but there was not much more to give.
‘What about Archenfield?’ said Owen, and all heads turned to face him.
‘You do not speak for me,’ said Harold. ‘Hold your tongue.’
‘It was a suggestion only,’ said Owen. ‘This town is of little value to Edward and has already been taken. Why not just leave it to the Welsh?’
Harold looked towards Macsen to see his reaction.
‘Well?’ he said. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think that if you add one hundred horses and a cart of silver, then we have a deal,’ said Macsen.
The room once again fell silent as everyone waited for Harold’s response.
‘It is a heavy price,’ said Harold eventually, ‘but if I agree, will your king sign a truce guaranteeing he will not attack any more of our lands?’
‘He will,’ said Macsen.
‘And what about Aelfgar and his men?’
‘Take him, leave him, we care not,’ said Macsen. ‘We have no more need for him.’
Aelfgar bit his tongue. He was being talked about as if he was not present, but he also knew that the negotiations were on a knife-edge, and he wanted no more to do with the Welsh king.
Harold felt the stares of everyone present burning into him. Peace was within his grasp, but he was negotiating on behalf of the Crown without the knowledge of the king. Finally, he downed his own drink before looking again at Macsen.
‘I agree to your terms,’ he said. ‘Tell your king to withdraw from Hereford, Macsen, we have just saved the lives of thousands of men.’
