by Griff Hosker
“Come brothers. We will help our parents.” I paused to grab the dead warrior’s sword. As we climbed the bank two of the wounded warriors tried to crawl towards us. Raibeart loosed at less than four paces and the arrow went through his throat to embed itself in the earth bank and I thrust my newly acquired sword through the groin of the second.
When we reached the top of the bank I saw that my father was fighting two men and there was a ring of bodies around him. I screamed, “No!” and raced towards him; I could see that he was wounded already. I heard the panting breath of my brothers as I raced the last fifty paces. We had no arrows left but Aelle and my brother took out their slings and one of the warriors was hit twice by their stones. We were too late for my father for the huge warrior he was fighting stabbed him in the side when he slipped on the blood soaked grass. He had started to turn to face me but my arm was already swinging the long sword behind me and the blade sliced through his neck with such force that his head flew into the air, a surprised expression fixed forever on his face.
I knelt down next to my father. He was barely breathing. He opened his eyes and smiled at me. “Thank you my sons. I can go to my ancestors knowing that you truly are warriors.”
“Do not talk father we will heal you.”
He pulled his arm away from his stomach to reveal that the sword had sliced him open. His entrails were clearly visible. He gave a wry smile, “I am dying and you, Lann son of Hogan, must protect your brothers and fight on against these pirates and murderers. Swear it.”
“I so swear!”
He closed his eyes and I thought that he was dead. His voice was thin and raspy as he said. “Bury me with my wives and then leave this place. You must hide. Find the hidden house on the way to the fort.” I looked perplexed and he gave me the familiar smile I knew so well. “It was your grandfather’s home and your mother and I hid there from the slavers. It is safe and you can find sanctuary. It is my last gift…”With a sigh, he died.
I turned and saw the tear filled faces of my brothers. “We have no time for tears we have a job to do.”
I went into the hut and brought out the spades. We dug three holes each one as deep as my legs. When they were done we reverently picked up the body of my father and laid him in the middle one. I placed his sword on his chest with his hands folded about it and then placed his shield upon his face. We placed my mother and my sister on his right. We put her dagger across her chest and Raibaert’s shield upon her face. We did the same with Monca and her daughter. Then we covered their bodies with the soil and found stones to cover them.
We stood together, bound by love and grief. “Sucellos, take these people and watch over them until our time to join them is nigh. We swear that we will not rest until they have been avenged. We so swear.” My brothers repeated the oath and we stood in silence.
Our next task was even more grisly. We owed it to our neighbours to dispose of their bodies too. It would not do to let the animals despoil their resting place. We could not bury them all so we put them into the largest hut; placing families together and then we piled all their belongings with them and set fire to them. The flames rose high into the evening sky. I suddenly worried that there might be other Angles nearby and they would see it but I was beyond caring. If they came they would find three angry, vengeful warriors.
My two brothers suddenly found the emotion too much for them and I saw quivering lips. They had managed to perform the grisly tasks easily enough but now they were left alone and my promise to my father suddenly became a burden I could not avoid. “The Angles we slew may be part of a larger band; we cannot stay here and Wolf and the flock will need us.” I saw the relief on their faces that a decision had been made. I glanced around the stronghold which had been my home for fourteen years. We would never see it again. “Take whatever you need from our hut and then I will burn it. We will then burn all the huts.” My last decision was made out of spite. I knew the Angles would come and I did not want them to benefit from our work and then I had another idea. My spirit hardened with resolve.
I went into the hut and retrieved my wolf skin. I found father’s and brought it out. I picked up my shield from where it had fallen. “There is father’s wolf skin cloak if you want it.” I held it to the two of them.
Aelle nodded kindly. “He was your father Raibeart and it will fit you better.” I was gratified that my two brothers got on so well without any arguments.
“If you wish anything from the Angles then take it.” They looked shocked. “They are well armed and armoured. Much as I hate to take what is theirs it is better than what we have.” I shrugged. “It is up to you.”
I had my sword, and although my brothers knew it not, I also had a mail shirt but I had no helm. I went to all the bodies and searched until I found one which fitted. I noticed that the owner had a leather cap beneath and I took that. I saw that Aelle and Raibeart had taken a shield apiece and Raibeart was struggling to remove a mail shirt from an already stiffening body. I helped him to remove it and he donned it. It was slightly too big but he would grow into it. I found a short sword which I gave to Aelle and while I did so Raibeart found his own. “Put all the other weapons into our hut and then fire it and the others.”
“What will you do brother?”
“I will leave a message for the Angles.”
My brothers raced away and I performed my grisly task. The hardest one was the first but I was helped when I remembered what they had taken from me, my family. By the time I had finished I was cold and numb. There were no feelings left. I sought the spears which both sides had used and had placed them in a circle in the middle when the last hut was fired.
I had just finished leaving my message when Aelle let out a gasp of horror. He looked at the twenty heads arrayed on spears in a circle; I had just found the nearest twenty warriors and it seemed an appropriate number. The others I left where they lay as a reminder to our enemies that there were still Britons ready to fight them. My two brothers looked at me, I suspect seeing a different person from the one who had taught them the bow. “They will now know that someone survived and that they were defeated. Today we do as father had wished, we go to war with the Angles.
I had taken food before we left the hut and, when we reached the flock and Wolf, we just collapsed on the ground and ate. Wolf sensed something was amiss and nuzzled into me licking my hand gently. Raibeart and Aelle slept beneath father’s cloak and I drifted through the nightmares of dead Roman soldiers and decapitated Angles.
When I woke I was resolved. Wolf wandered over and licked my face and I looked at my two brothers who were still sleeping. They were, now, whether they wished it or not men and warriors. They had killed their first men and those Angles would not be their last. We could no longer be farmers and so we would become hunters; hunters of the invaders. I would trade the sheep; we could not tend to them and we would barter them for something useful. There was a village south of us called Aelfere close to the Roman road. Men there did trade with those who used the road. I knew that it was perilously close to the Roman fort which I knew to be held by the Angles but I hoped that we would be able to discover news of where the enemy were.
“Come on lazy bones. We have many miles to walk.”
As we trudged down the road, with Wolf herding the sheep Raibeart quizzed me about our future. I reminded him of father’s last words. “We will find the house or the house of father’s grandfather after we have traded the sheep and then we will become warriors and fight the enemy.”
Raibeart looked doubtfully at his brother and me. “Three swords against the Angles? Have you taken leave of your senses Lann?”
“Yesterday we bested twenty warriors with a sling and two bows.” I cocked my head to one side. “What do you think?”
He suddenly grinned and punched Aelle playfully on the arm. “Yes we will become warriors; and the Angles will come to fear us!”
We saw the village nestled close to a river. I picked out four of the better sheep
and said to Aelle, “You and Wolf guard these and our belongings. Raibeart, take off your mail and shield. Give them to your brother. We will return soon.” I pointed to a small wood. “Take the sheep there and wait for us.”
He looked seriously at me, “I shall brother and I will not let anything happen to our flock!” He might not have been of our blood but he was as close to the two of us as if we had shared the same womb.
Aelfere was a prosperous place and there were many Angles there but they appeared not to be warriors but traders and farmers. On the outskirts, about half a mile from the village was a farm with a wall and fences. The farm dog yapped a warning to us and we halted as the farmer approached. He looked admiringly at the sheep. They were a healthy flock for we had tended to them well and looked after them. He assumed we were Angles for he spoke to us in their language. Thanks to Aelle and Monca I could speak the cursed words.
“A fine flock. Where are you taking them?”
“To Aelfere to trade.”
A cunning look appeared in his eye and he shook his head. “There are many thieves in the town you would not get a good price.”
I knew his game and I played along with it. Whatever we could get for the sheep would be better than abandoning them to the wolves. “Would you have something to trade for them?”
“I might. Bring them into my enclosure and we will talk.” He opened the gate and Raibeart drove the sheep in. “What do you wish to trade them for?”
I looked around the farm which looked prosperous and was made of stone. From the looks of the stonework the farm had been built from old Roman stones stolen from one of their forts. I heard a neigh and knew he had horses. “You have horses?”
“I have horses. Come and see.”
There was a fenced area and six horses of various sizes pranced around. They were not in good shape and some of them were little more than hill ponies. I suspected they were bound for the pot. “They are of poor quality but I will take four of them in exchange for the flock.”
He snorted in derision. “I will trade you two and those of my choice.”
“Four or nothing.”
“I tell you what I will do I will give you three.”
“Of my choice?”
“Of your choice and that sword.”
Raibeart burst out, “No, not the sword.”
I held up my hand. I had a much better sword and others of better quality hidden by the river. “And the tackle to ride them?”
“I have reins but not the saddles. I had a saddle but it is broken.”
I held out my hand, and offered the sword with the other, “Then I will take three, the reins and the broken saddle.”
He clasped my arm but asked, “We have a deal but why the broken saddle?”
“So that we can make more of the same design.” He nodded, it now made sense to him and I saw him regretting not getting abetter price. “Come brother, let us go and make our selection while our friend here brings the reins.”The farmer strode off to bring the reins and the girths.
“Lann, why did you let him have your sword? It was a fine weapon.”
“Because, little brother, I know where to get more.” I tapped the side of my nose and said, “Ssh!”
There was one horse which looked tall enough for me but the other taller horses were old and thin. I chose to accompany my horse the two smaller ponies who looked sturdier than the nags who would probably die within a day. I knew I had made a good choice when I saw the sour look on the farmer’s face. I did not want him to now that we knew nothing about horses so I said, “You can put the reins on them for they know you. We will get to know them on our journey south.”
He saw nothing untoward about this and he fitted the reins. Raibeart and I paid close attention. “You go south then?”
“Too many raiders from the north around here for our liking. We seek our fortune south.” I did not distrust him but if any Angle saw the sword he would ask questions and I wanted a false trail for any Angles who chose to seek us.
He brought out the saddle and I could see the crack in the middle which rendered it useless as anything but a template. He put it apologetically on the back of my mount. “I thank you sir.”
“Will you not be riding them?”
“No we will walk them awhile and let them become accustomed to our smell.” I did not want him to see that we were novices and so we led the three horses south. As soon as we had cleared the farm and were hidden from view we left the track and headed down a small vale where we could mount our new horses. I took the saddle from the horse I would ride. “Raibeart, which would you like?”
The decision was made for him as the black pony nuzzled his head. He grinned, “This one.”
I put the saddle on the other pony it was a golden colour and it reminded me of Aelle’s colouring. This was Wyrd. There was no getting around it; I had to mount my horse. I was the eldest and it was my duty. “Hold the other two.” Taking the reins in one hand and a hunk of mane in the other I threw my leg over the back of the horse. It did not look elegant, in fact it was downright clumsy but I was on the back of the horse with a stupid grin on my face before I knew it. I saw Raibeart smiling too. “Give me the spare pony and you mount.” His beast was smaller and he did it much more easily. I remembered when the king had come the men had clicked their tongues and the horses had moved. I did so and nothing happened save that the horse looked round at me as though I was stupid. I wondered if they had ever been ridden. Raibeart stifled a laugh and I reddened. This was annoying. Would we have to walk back with them in our hands? In frustration I said, “Come on! Move!” and kicked hard in his side. To my surprise he moved forwards and I was nearly unbalanced. I jerked the reins around and headed him north again. “Come on Raibeart, let us find Aelle.” The movement of my horse meant that my brother’s pony just needed a click and a slight kick and he followed.
We had gone barely a mile when I found out why men do not ride bareback. Every time he landed it felt as though someone was kicking me in the balls! I was in agony but I dared not speak of it. I was the head of the family now and I would have to bear it although I doubted that, after this ride, I would have any family of my own anyway.
Wolf barked at our approach. The smell of the horses masked ours. Aelle’s mouth fell open as we rode into the clearing and Wolf cocked his head to one side. I slid, gratefully from the back of the horse and I was pleased that Raibeart too looked pleased to be on the ground. I handed the reins of Aelle’s pony to him. “Here brother. This is yours. We will walk a while. Put your cloaks and bags on the backs of the horses. Raibeart, our mail can go on the backs as well.”
“Where are we going Lann?”
“To the hidden house father mentioned. Come, we have far to go. Wolf!” I threw my hand down and Wolf herded the four sheep.
We had gone but forty paces when Raibeart asked, “But how will we find the hidden house?”
“Father said it was between our home and the Roman Bridge but not on the road. There are woods and forests to the west of the road so we will look for somewhere which could have been a trail.”
It was not the best of plans but my brothers accepted it for it was, at least, a plan. “Why the horses brother? We are no horsemen.”
I could almost hear the pain in his voice and I suppressed a smile. I knew the pain he was suffering. “The mail and our weapons will tire us out and we may need to move swiftly. Besides, “ I shrugged, “we could not keep the sheep. Regard them as a gift from the gods.”
“And why keep four then Lann?”
“Because Aelle, we will have food should the hunting prove difficult and I have a fancy that the sheepskin will make a more comfortable ride.”
“Why, does riding hurt?”
Raibeart and I looked at each other and gave a rueful smile. “Oh yes and we will definitely need to make saddles.”
We avoided the stronghold for many reasons and headed up the Roman road. As the sun began to dip we left the road, for we wer
e now north of our old home and headed west. It would be too late to find the hidden house that day and I sought a quiet place with grass and water for the sheep and shelter for us. The horse found all three for us. My horse, which I had yet to name, began to tug for the left. At first I tried to keep him on my line but then wondered why? His choice of direction would be as good as mine. He brought us to a small stream. There was some cleared ground with scrubby grass and the remains of what looked to be a woodman’s hut. All three of us knew that we had found our bed for the night. I did not want the horses to wander off and so I tied them together although they seemed happy enough to be with us. As the animals ate I took out the last of our dried food and we ravenously ate our first food since the morning.
As we lay under the tree, the animals contentedly grazing and Wolf watching from half lidded eyes, we looked up at the moon rising over the trees. “Do you think father and mother are watching us?”
“They may be but, more importantly,” I tapped my chest, “they are always in here,” then I tapped my head, “and in here. We are part of them as they are part of us.” I smiled at the two of them. “When I look at you two I can see your mothers, from their eyes to their hair.”
Raibeart nodded. “When I awoke this morning and saw you standing over us I thought that it was father I saw. You are his double.” If my brother has wished to pay me a bigger compliment he could not have done so.
“When I close my eyes I can see our parents and this may sound ridiculous but I hear their voices in my head and it is comforting. “ We fell asleep with happy thoughts and memories and my night was free from headless Angles and wolves in the night.