Earl Read Online Free Page B

and they are all long gone.  England is the centre of the world now.  Why even Louis the Fat has conceded that King Henry holds all of the power.  Since the death of William Adelin he has stopped his attempts to usurp Maine, Anjou and Normandy. My brother stays in Blois and fights the bandits like Coucy and Puset who plague the borderlands."
    "You do not need me to tell you, my lord that until Louis controls all of the lands of Charlemagne he will not be happy."
    Food was brought and we both picked at it. "You are a clever man, Earl, we should be friends.  We can do much to help each other."
    I smiled back, "I am but a protector of the Tees and your lands are in Blois.  Even if we were friends it is hard to see where the advantage would lie."
    He leaned and spoke quietly.  "You never know what the future might hold, Alfraed, Earl of Cleveland.  Do not shut doors just yet. Who knows when you may need them opening?"
    I nodded, "Thank you for the advice, my lord.  I know that I am young and naïve and that I have much to learn.  You are, I know, a consummate politician and know how the court works.  I am just grateful for my little castle on the Tees where I am away from the intrigues of politics and power."
    “I agree that politics are far removed from the glory of the battlefield but wars are won there too.  Think on that. Those wars are bloodless.”
    “In war, my lord, there is always blood.  You know that.” We looked at each other in silence.  He had tried to sway me to his side without revealing what his plans were.  I could have gone along with him but my father and Athelstan had not brought me up that way.  I would remain my own man who was true to himself.
    Sir Barnard had arranged for a troubadour who came and sang songs about Sir Guy.  They were not very good songs and the troubadour was not the best I had heard but William enjoyed him until he fell asleep and I had the opportunity to return to my chambers. I had much to think on.
    Stephen's presence, here in the north, so soon after I had been made earl was not an accident. The fact that he was here made me suspicious of my host. What was their connection?  Then I wondered about Stephen of Blois. I wondered how he had reached here. I decided that I would use my squires to ask pertinent questions which would not arouse suspicion. I had had little to drink and I would rise early.  William always rose early and it would not seem strange for me to be abroad in the early hours when everyone else was recovering from a night's heavy drinking.
    Although I had no need to doubt my hosts I slept with a chair behind the door and my sword close to hand. I had experienced a knife in the night before now. I would not risk it with my son so close.
    As I expected my excited son had me up before dawn. I took him, when we had dressed, down to the stables. I woke John and Leofric.  "I want you two to watch my son." They both nodded.  "Without being obvious I want the both of you to discover where Stephen of Blois has been before he reached here.  Can you do that?"
    Leofric grinned, "Aye, my lord."
    John was not as quick as Leofric and he just nodded and said, "Yes my lord."
    William would help disguise their questions and the three of them left.  I woke Wulfric and led him into the inner bailey. "I want to know the intentions of Stephen of Blois.  Where is he going when he leaves here?"
    "Is there trouble, my lord?"
    "Let us say that I have an itch and I cannot scratch it."
    “I got to know some of his men last night.  I will do my best.”
    Sir Hugh and I left together just before noon. I would have left earlier but the night's carousing meant our host was still abed until late in the morning and it would have been rude to leave while he was in bed.  It gave my spies the chance to gather as much information as possible.  I would wait until I was back in Stockton before I asked for the details they had discovered.
    I used the opportunity to catch up with