Conquest

She turned to Hereward and kissed him on his cheek in a fond embrace. ‘God’s speed to England. If Rodrigo ever forgets that one day he is supposed to marry me, I promise to come to England as a poor unfortunate spinster and throw myself on your mercy.’

Rodrigo walked with Hereward to his horse, both men contemplating all that had been said during the course of their winter together.

Hereward voiced his thoughts first. ‘In truth, my mission in England has little chance of success. The English may already be a beaten people. The Saxons to the south are overrun, the Celts are mercurial and will probably only fight if William crosses into their own territory, and the Anglo-Danes, who live mainly in the northern realms of the earls Edwin and Morcar, have been badly led and failed England at the moment of its greatest need. As for foreign support, Denmark is the solitary possibility, but their only motivation will be plunder.’

‘What of the remnants of Harold’s army?’

‘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.’