Chapter 341 - 246: The Route to the East

Before long, Eric spotted Rufus at the banquet. He must have just arrived, as Eric hadn’t seen him in the Church earlier.

Belem followed Eric’s gaze and noticed Rufus as well. "Why haven’t the northern Saxon brigands killed him?"

"How has he been faring up north?"

Robert had granted Rufus all the land north of Yorkshire, excluding the Earl’s Domain of Northumbria. While the territory seemed vast, Conqueror William’s devastating harrying of the north in 1069 had left it a desolate wasteland. Much of the area north of York was uninhabited.

A territory that large might not even generate two hundred pounds in annual revenue.

What’s more, the area was a hotbed for the Saxon opposition, and thus rife with bandits.

"I’m loath to admit it, but he’s done quite well for himself up north over the past three years. He led eighty knights on mounted raids into the Scottish-controlled region of Cumberland, forcing the Scottish Earl of Lothian to cede a portion of its lands to him.

Of course, he had to swear fealty to the King of Scotland for those lands."

After the banquet, Robert led a band of drunken counts and barons to the nearby Royal Forest for a hunt.

Although they would have much preferred to find a woman to sleep with, no one dared spoil the King’s good mood. Furthermore, hunting was one of the few ways to demonstrate one’s prowess before the King in times of peace.

They reluctantly abandoned the idea of finding a bed and instead chose their weapons. Any weapon was permitted, but the most popular was a special kind of long spear.

It was heavy, with a blade as long as the shaft itself, and featured a crossbar between the blade and the shaft.

They mounted their hunting horses one after another.

A pack of excited hounds charged ahead, and the hunting party set off after them.

King Robert, unlike many short men, did not seek psychological compensation by riding a tall steed.

Robert’s hunting horse was a sturdy, light-gray pony named Lumiere, which meant ’light’.

In the forest, it was every bit as fast as a larger horse, and even more agile.

Six packhorses followed the hunting party, their panniers laden with bread and cider for the King and his nobles.

They passed several villages and came to the largest stretch of forest near Luton City, an area boasting the most abundant wildlife.

They followed a narrow trail, while the hounds kept their noses to the ground, sniffing frantically through the undergrowth for the scent of prey.

Clouds scudded overhead, and the occasional patch of blue was a reminder that the sun was still there.

Crows cawed and scolded one another in the nearby thickets, while a small, bright-eyed robin watched the humans from a holly bush heavy with berries.

Eric was granted the place of honor at the King’s side. Among the entire party of counts and barons, he and Odo were positioned closest to the monarch.

With the help of his attendants, Robert soon bagged three hares and a wild boar.

"I love the spring, Eric," Robert said suddenly. "Everything is so green, and the flowers are in bloom."

"And it is a fine day," Eric replied.

"Yes, a truly beautiful day. Remember it, because we don’t know when we will see such a peaceful and serene spring again." Robert’s tone then turned pragmatic. "We have much to do this year, not only for the Kingdom, but for God. Eric, has your uncle, Roger, the Count of Sicily, sent word back?"

Late last year, Robert had summoned Eric to discuss the route for the Eastern Expedition. The Roman Curia had sent repeated urgings, and the funds for the expedition had already arrived in London by the middle of the year.

Eric had proposed to Robert that they gather the army in Normandy and march south. Along the route, they could swell their ranks by recruiting Frankish nobles eager to join the Holy War in the East. They would then enter Eric’s domain of Tuscan, boarding a fleet at Genoa or Pisa—ports controlled by the Tuscan Duchy. The fleet would then sail south along the coast of Italy, pass through the Strait of Messina, and continue to the East.

Consequently, Robert had asked Eric to contact his uncle, Roger, the Count of Sicily. He was to inquire if Roger would allow the English fleet to stop at his domain, the Sicily Duchy, and to extend an invitation for him to join the Eastern Expedition.

Sailing along the coast was safer, after all, and would allow for resupply at any time. Moreover, any sea route to the East would necessarily pass by Sicily.

Robert had favored the sea route from the start. The land route would require passing through the Holy Roman Empire, and having recently made an enemy of the Emperor, he suspected the man might have some nasty surprise waiting for him.

"My uncle’s control over Sicily Island is not absolute. A group of Heretics still occupies the southwestern corner, putting up a desperate resistance. He cannot leave Sicily to set out for the East."

"Such a fine story. All the Italians know the Outville Family has no interest in Jerusalem; they are far more interested in the lands of their Christian brethren in the East. Heretics putting up a desperate resistance? As far as I know, the Heretics of Sicily surrendered to him five years ago.

Resisting the Sicilian Heretics is a pretense; secretly colluding with them is more likely the truth! Your Majesty, I heard the other day that the Count of Sicily, Roger, presented his nephew—our great Lord Gloucester—with a Heretic servant," Odo suddenly interjected, his words a clear attack on Eric.