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blur. I reined him around.  It took all of my strength to do so. My two men at arms had carved a similar path and we rode back through the maimed and wounded.  The ones who could, fled before us. Behind me, from the top of the round keep, I heard William Cumin, screaming, "Kill them! Kill them all!"
    Cumin was not a soldier.  Had he been he would have led his men. With their captain dead his men were reluctant to risk the wrath of the warlord.  They were tardy in their advance. We slowed our horses down, to calm them, and walked them to the sally port. Gilles stood, as I had asked, holding the door open.  We dismounted and walked our horses through.  On the other side my men waited on the narrow path which circumnavigated the walls. I had no doubt that the men on the walls would try to shower us with crossbow bolts but we had our shields. We made the Stockton road with just one injury. A bolt had managed to penetrate the links on the hauberk of Stephen the Grim.  It had barely nicked his leg. We rode home and I realised that we now had no allies whatsoever north of Barnard Castle and Norton. We were alone.



Chapter 2
    As we headed south my wounded man at arms was the butt of my men's humour. "I see the bolt did not make you smile then, Stephen the Grim!"
    "Repairing your mail will cost you a coin or two!"
    "I saw the crossbowman if you wish to go back and get him!"
    He shook his head. It was true he never smiled.  He had been wounded in the face and for some reason he had lost the ability to do so.  He had a good sense of humour and gave as good as he got. "Fear not Leopold I have coin enough.  I, unlike you, know how to choose rich knights to fight!."
    Wilfred rode next to me as they bantered.  "I am sorry I was so slow reaching you lord."
    "I wondered at the delay.  What happened?"
    "I see now the ploy. They sent out food and ale.  We were distracted."
    I suddenly turned, "You did not partake of either did you?"
    "No, lord, for we saw the men at arms moving towards you.  Why?"
    "In all likelihood it was poisoned! The Bishop is dying and he believes that Cumin poisoned him."
    "Curse him for a dissembler and a villain!" He turned and looked back at the walled city.  "Does this mean that Durham is now a stronghold of the Scots?"
    "Not yet.  He is not Bishop.  Until he is then he cannot ally with Scotland but one of his nephews, Osbert, serves Prince Henry and leads the savages who raid and pillage. Once we reach my home and before we join the Empress we will rid the Palatinate of this scourge."
    "Then Sir Hugh is on his own?"
    "I fear so.  We will have to leave a stronger garrison in Stockton. This land is more dangerous now than when we set off."
    We reached my home well before dark.  After warning John that I would need to take a conroi north I sought Aiden and his falconers.  The two youths were now almost men and Aiden was training them well. "I need you to find this band which rides through the Palatinate.  They murder and they destroy.  Their trail should be easy to find."
    "And yet you ask for the best scout in the Tees, my lord."
    I nodded, "You are Aiden and you are wise.  I do not wish you to be seen.  If we fright this prey they will run to Durham and I have no desire to try to winkle them from that stronghold."
    "They will probably use that as their home, lord.  It is central.  Did you see where they had been already?"
    "They have laid waste to the land around Barnard and the upper Tees.  Gainford is safe; for the moment."
    He nodded, "There lies your problem, lord, for if I were this robber baron then I would strike at the richer settlements along the Tees. There are but two castles to stop them; this one and Sir Hugh's"
    Harold and Tristan rode in from a day's hunting.  I told them my news. "I will take your men, Harold and Tristan, and as many mounted archers as are still here. I cannot wait for the return of Philip and Dick.  We must act before more people are hurt."
    Aiden nodded,