So wore the seasons into winter, and all was tidingless at Longshaw.
Long were it indeed to tell the whole tale of the warfare of the House
of Longshaw, even for those years while Osberne abode with Sir
Godrick. For the Knight was not only a fearless heart in the field and
of all deftness in the handling of weapons, but he was also the wisest
of host-leaders of his day and his land, so that with him to lead them
an hundred was as good as five hundred, take one time with another.
But of all this warfare must only so much be told as is needful to
understand the story of Osberne and his friend of the west side of the
Sundering Flood.
But first it must be said that Osberne throughout that autumn and
winter spared not to question every wight whom he deemed anywise
likely to have heard aught of Elfhild; and heavy and grievous became
the words of his questioning, and ever his heart sickened before the
answer came. But of one man he gat an answer that was not mere naysay,
to wit, that months ago (and it must have been when Osberne first met
Sir Godrick at Eastcheaping) he and two fellows were journeying on the
other side of the Sundering Flood, but much higher up, and they came
across a thrall-cheapener who said that he had a choice piece of goods
if he could but get a price for it, and thereon showed them a damsel
as fair as an image, and she was like to what Osberne had told of her.
And then the thrall-cheapener said that he had bought her of the Red
Skinners, who had borne her off from a countryside far and far away,
but somewhere anigh the Sundering Flood. That man said that they
bought her not of the carle, whereas the price was high and it was not
much in their way of business.
Now this story was told a little after Yule, and the chapman who told
it was going back again presently through the Wood and across the
Flood, since the season was mild; and Osberne asked would he take him
with him, in case he might hit upon anything in those parts. The
chapman was nought loth, as may be deemed, to have such a doughty
champion to his fellow farer; so Osberne asked leave of his lord, who
would not gainsay him since nought was stirring, but bade him take
three good men of his friends with him. So they went, and crossed the
Flood a few days before Candlemass; and when they were on the other
side they fell to asking questions at the houses of religion and of
the chapmen whom they met there. Also they gat them into castles and
great houses where many servants are wont to be, and not a few bought
at a price; and there they used both tongue and eyes. Thus fared they
a twenty days' journey up the water, keeping ever somewhat nigh; but
woe worth, if they gat them no great scathe (though they had some
rough passages forsooth, which time suffereth us not to tell of), yet
also they gat no good, and were no nearer to hearing a true word of
Elfhild than ever.
So back comes Osberne, cast down and somewhat moody, but straightway
finds tidings that drive all other things out of his head for a while.
It was a little after Marymass that he comes home to Longshaw, and
hears tell how war, and big war, has arisen. For the Barons who lay
mostly to the east and north of Longshaw (though some help they had
from the west and the south) both hated Sir Godrick sorely because he
withheld them from the worst deeds of tyranny, and also, though they
owed not service to the King of the Great City or the Porte thereof,
yet were they somewhat under their power; at least each one of them
was. These then had met together and made a great league, and had
sworn the undoing of Sir Godrick and the House of Longshaw for ever.
And all the world knew that they were but the catspaw of the King and
the City and the tyrannous Porte, though neither of them would let
themselves be seen therein.
Now Godrick sends for Osberne, and talks long with him, and the end of
that talk is that he sends him on the errand to go seek the hosting of
them of the Barons' League who dwelt furthest north, and to fall on
them as fast and fierce as he may, so as to break up the said hosting,
so that he may not have these men on his flank when he marches against
the main host, which he will do with all speed. All of which he deems
may be done, because he wotteth that the Barons deem of him that he
will abide their coming to Longshaw, and that when they have shut him
up there, they shall then have the open help of all the strength of
the King and the Porte.
Now Osberne heard and understood all, and the men are all ready for
him, a thousand and three hundred by tale; so he makes no delay and
leads them by ways unkenned so diligently that he breaks forth on them
before they be duly ordered, though they be all out in the fields
drawing together. Shortly to say it, his thirteen hundred men are more
by a great deal than their six thousand, and they scatter them to the
winds so that they can never come together again, and all their
munitions of war and matters for feeding and wending are destroyed.
Then turns the Red Lad and wendeth, not back again to Longshaw, but
thither whereas he wots the great battle shall be, and on the very eve
thereof he rideth into Sir Godrick's camp; and such an outcry of joy
there was when he bears in the taken banners and such spoil as was not
over-heavy to ride with, as that no man there was of Sir Godrick's but
he knew full surely that the victory would be theirs on the morrow. As
for Osberne, all men praised him, and the good Knight embraced him
before all the host and the leaders thereof, and said, "Here is one
shall lead you when I am slain."
Even so it went. Of a sooth stiff was the stour, for the Barons and
theirs were hardy men and of great prowess, and were three to Sir
Godrick's one. But they knew that they should not have the help they
looked for, for they had seen, ere the battle was joined, those taken
banners, and the others had mocked them and bade them come across to
serve under such and such a banner. So it was not long ere a many of
them fell a-thinking: What do we to perish here, when at our backs are
those so mighty castles and strengths of ours? Let us draw away little
by little and get behind our walls, and there gather force again
little by little. But soon they found that they would have no such
leave to depart but as broken men fleeing at all adventure, for their
foemen had entered too far in to them, and had cleft their array in
many places. And their banners where thrown down and their captains
unheeded, and at last there was no face of them against the foe;
nought but heaps of huddled men, who knew not where to turn or whom to
smite at: and the overthrow might be no greater, for at noon-tide
there was no host left that at matins had been as great and goodly an
host as ever was seen in those parts.
And now was the purpose of the King and the Porte broken, and they
must sit still and do nothing; nay, have got to be well content if the
Small Crafts take not the occasion to rise against them. But to say
sooth these knew their own opportunity and took it, as ye shall find
hereafter.
That great battle was fully foughten on the first of May, and ere a
half month was fully worn the Barons' League sent a herald to Longshaw
praying for peace; but Sir Godrick straightway sent back answer that
he would grant the Barons peace when they had delivered up all their
strengths into his hands, then and not before. Such answer the herald
bore back. But their proud stomachs had not yet come down so far, and
they but sent back their defiance renewed: for they though that,
though there were not strong enough to meet Longshaw in the field, yet
they might hold their strengths in despite of it, and so dally out the
time until the King and the Porte were strong enough to come to their
help. Now was this put to the test; for straightway, when Sir Godrick
had their answer, he rose up and led a host against the castle of the
greatest of these Barons, and took it in ten days, after much loss of
his men. Then went he against the next greatest and took that, with
less pain. And meanwhile the Red Lad to the north, and another captain
to the south, had the business of riding here and there and making
nought of any gathering if they heard of the beginnings thereof. And
this they did, with much labour and no little battle; but thoroughly
they did it, so as Sir Godrick might carry on his sieges of the
strongholds without let or hindrance, so that before the winter came
he had all he wanted, and most of the Barons captive at Longshaw. As
to the strongholds, into some he put his own men, and some he threw
down.
So noble Yule they kept at Longshaw that year, with all those great
men feasting at the table. But a day or two after Yule came a herald
riding through the snow (for that season was hard), on behalf of the
Barons' League, what was left of it, craving for peace, and Sir
Godrick said that peace they might have if they would, or not as they
would, but the terms were that he should keep what he had got, but
ransom his captives duly; or else they might dwell at Longshaw all
their lives long if they would. Now there was no help for it but such
terms they must take, and be glad that it was no worse.
So peace was made, and all was quiet till after Marymass. Osberne had
somewhat of a mind to get him into the Wood, and seek through the
strengths and other houses that were scattered about in the Wood
itself, and the edge thereof toward the Sundering Flood; but partly he
was sick at heart of for ever asking questions to which came evermore
but one answer, and partly there was very much work come to his hand
that he might scarce turn over to another, of visiting the captured
strongholds, and seeing to the men-at-arms therein and their captains,
and suchlike matters; for now he was closer to the rede and mind of
Sir Godrick than any other.