by Griff Hosker
He pulled the armour off and gave it for me to view. I had been struck by an axe and it had given me the smack. The tip of the blade had penetrated and cut my skin but it was not a deep wound. I was certain that I had some broken ribs but my armour and the padding had saved me. “That armour saved your life. If it had struck my mail then I would be dead.”
The men returned with the bodies and the booty. They had obviously raided a farming family for they had slaughtered a cow and a pig. It made me even angrier than I was before because those people had had no protection from these fat overfed warriors who were so reluctant to fight. “Who were the warriors who were supposed to follow me?” Three men looked shamefaced and one of them pointed to four of the bodies. “They did not deserve to live.” I whipped out my sword and held it to the neck of the nearest one. “I should kill you all now! But you have no honour and do not know what you have done. You are not warriors, you are fat overpaid and lazy guards! You are excrement on my shoe!”
They recoiled and the man I had threatened fell to the floor sobbing. “My lord forgive us we were afraid.”
I turned and said to Riderch, “Next time leave these women at home because they cannot be trusted.”
As we rowed back to the stronghold the warriors were more subdued. Riderch spent the journey back asking me questions. “Where did you get the armour and the sword? “ That and a thousand others poured from his lips. Although tired I felt I owed him the answers for he had been the only one of the leaders to volunteer to come with me.
“I can see that there is an aura about you. Perhaps wyrd brought you here.”
“You are not of the White Christ then?”
“No I keep the old ways.” He leaned in to me to speak confidentially, “I think our king keeps a foot in both camps if you know what I mean.”
The king was delighted with our success and promoted Riderch immediately. Some of the other leaders questioned the losses. I was about to open my mouth and mention the civilian casualties but I refrained from doing so. This was not my land and soon I would be safely back home. The king showed his regal qualities and he firmly put those gainsayers in their place. “We have destroyed a whole band of Saxons. We have gained their boat and their arms and we have lost what? A handful of men and, from what Lord Riderch tells me,“ I saw him puff up at the first use of his title, “those four were cowards who deserved to die.” He looked at his new deputy. “Tell me Riderch could you lead such a raid again without Lord Lann?” I didn’t like to tell; him I was not a lord. I just kept a stony, impassive face.
“I could your majesty.” His face broke into a smile, “Although I would prefer him to be with me for he is a fearsome fighter. He took an axe blow to the back which would have felled an oak and still killed four warriors who had surrounded him.”
Even the gainsayers were impressed by that. “And that is the reason why I would like to husband his skills and learn more of his ways. He is to be with us for a short time and we need to make the most of his knowledge which,” he gave me a measured look, “has exceeded my expectations I must confess.”
After we had eaten he took me to one side and poured me a beaker of the local drink made with honey. “Lann, you did well today and I can see that you impressed my men. Why do you not stay and serve me as my deputy. Together we could conquer all that the Saxons took from us.”
I was shocked. Riderch had risked his life and yet the king would give me his position without a second thought and he wanted me to betray my king. “I swore an oath to King Urien.”
“On a holy relic?”
“No I gave him my word.”
He seemed relieved. “Urien is a Christian; an oath to him is not binding unless sworn on either a relic or one of the White Christ holy books.”
“That matters not your majesty. I gave my word and it is binding to me. I am Urien’s man until death.”
He looked amazed that I would not betray two men. “If you reconsider then let me know. “he then dismissed the idea s though I would eventually come around to his way of thinking. “Now the raid on the island; I want you to lead it but not put yourself in harm’s way. You are too valuable.”
“May I speak honestly your majesty?”
His eyes belied his answer, “Of course.”
“In my experience a leader who does not fight alongside his men is not a leader and his men will soon realise that. I will lead the raid but, believe me I will return. I am not destined to die here. I will die far from here.”
I had silenced him with my conviction. “You are a most interesting man and I look forward to getting to know you a little better.”
When I was in my quarters I examined the damage I had suffered. My body would heal and the scar would be a small one. My ribs hurt, especially when I breathed hard, but they would repair. My wolf cloak had helped to save my life but I would need a new one. The armour was in urgent need of repair and that would be my task before I risked my life for King Morcant again. I spent the rest of the evening repairing my scales.
The tides and the weather were not right for a week which gave me time to heal and repair my armour and cloak. I also spent time with Riderch and the men who would be coming on the raid with us. We had supplemented our original band with another fifteen volunteers. I was interested to see that the keenest ones were the three who had failed me the first time. Riderch and I would take two boats; the Saxon one we had acquired and a similar one owned by the king. I would only take command once we were ashore for I was no seaman. Riderch told me that there was a causeway to the island which was heavily guarded. It was only usable at low tide but it meant we knew where the guards would be. We could see the stronghold on a clear day and they had built a formidable wooden fort on another crag similar to the one King Morcant used. Riderch knew the area well and we planned to use the side away from our castle for the approach. I knew that my bow would be crucial to silence sentries. We were taking flint and kindling for I planned to burn their boats. They could build new ones but it would take time and they would need to come to the mainland for wood and then King Morcant could bring them to battle. The one thing which worried me was how many men they had. No-one had bothered to count them. There might only be fifty or there could be a thousand. That was part of our task.
We set off after dark after a very short day. The men were all good seamen and they rowed us directly out to sea and then turned north. I could not tell where we were but Riderch and the helmsman seemed to be confident about our position. I saw the dark shape of the island on our left and we slowly made our way north. We were the lead boat and Riderch slowed down the strokes so that we were barely making way. I was peering into the dark for the tell tale pinprick of light that would show where there was a fire. Eventually Riderch seemed satisfied and we headed into the part of the island where it joined the causeway. He did not beach the boat but left three men with it and we slipped over the side into the bone chillingly cold water. The second boat ghosted up alongside us and the other warriors joined us. I notched an arrow and followed Riderch across the swampy area filled with the Saxon’s cattle. They barely made a sound as we moved through them and, in fact, they aided our subterfuge. Any guards watching from the ramparts would just see cows moving. I was now confident that the indolence of Morcant and his men had made them complacent and they only kept a desultory watch on the causeway.
We reached the rock and I was pleased to see that they had been too lazy to dig a ditch. We headed east towards the beached Saxon ships. Riderch and ten men were assigned to firing the ships while I had the rest in case we were attacked. Riderch and his men had been gone for moments when I saw something white on the ramparts. It was a guard. I could not see another but I knew that he could not help but see Riderch. I said quietly, “Prepare yourselves, we are about to be seen.” I sent the arrow to plunge into his neck and I head a thump as he fell from the ramparts. It would now be a matter of time before they found his body and knew they were under attack. “Spread out in a s
emi circle with me in the centre. The guards from the causeway may come first.”
As I glanced to my right I saw the three warriors I had berated. I smiled. They were trying to atone. Suddenly I saw torches and lights moving along the ramparts. I hoped that Riderch had managed to fire the boats or we would be in trouble and very soon. As soon as I saw a face I loosed an arrow and there was a scream and then silence. It was then I needed all my archers for a forest of faces appeared at the top of the rampart. I loosed four arrows in quick succession although only three found their mark but at least it kept their heads down and made them cautious.
Suddenly the sea behind us was illuminated by the eight boats set ablaze and pushed into the sea. Riderch raced towards us his face filled with excitement.
I could see that he was elated but I needed him to concentrate. “No time for congratulations they are awake; back to the boats!” I did not want Riderch to get carried away with his victory. He nodded and raced past me. I walked steadily backwards watching for the Saxons who would flood after us soon enough. A sudden lightening of the walls showed me where the gate was and I killed two of the first four men who ran out. They seemed more intent with salvaging the boats and I kept retreating. I loosed two more arrows at warriors who had thrown caution to the wind and then I heard a shout behind me. “My lord, they are upon us!”
My three companions had stayed with me. I slipped my shield around to my front and put my bow over my back. Drawing my sword I said. “Two of you, stand on either side of me and one behind me. Keep your shields held tight together. “ I kept walking backwards as they joined me. Over my shoulder I said to the warrior behind me. “Turn around and guide us. Prevent them surrounding us.” I glanced at the two warriors who looked a little fearful as fifteen Saxons raced towards us. I gave them what I hoped was a reassuring smile, a smile I didn’t feel. “Just keep together and we will beat them.”
One of the Saxons saw the helmet I wore, the one I had taken from the dead chief. “So you are the dog who killed my cousin. Did you ambush him and stab him in the back?”
“No Saxon, I faced him and his men tried to stab me in the back but Saxon Slayer will drink more Saxon blood this night.”
The taunt worked and he threw himself at me. He had not bothered to don armour and it cost him his life. He smashed his axe at my shield and, as the blade bit, I stabbed him in the stomach twisting the sword as I withdrew it. His entrails spilled on the ground. The warrior on my left took the opportunity of smashing his sword on the unprotected head of a second Saxon whose skull was split open like a ripe plum. They were more wary now, even though they outnumbered us. “How far?”
“Forty paces to the water my lord.”
“Can you see the boats?”
“No my lord.”
“Fear not, Lord Riderch will not desert us. When we are within twenty paces then tell me.”
The Saxons suddenly launched themselves in a furious attack but there were too many of them to be effective. Some slipped in the mud and the gore, while others hit their comrades’ weapons. We had the advantage that we could just stab forwards and whatever we struck was an enemy.
“Twenty paces!”
“When I shout go, push forwards with your shields and then we run for the boats.”
There was a chorus of, “Yes my lord.”
“Go!”
We all pushed and, as they pushed back we were gone and they fell to the ground. I paused, took the axe from my shield and threw it in the direction of the band that chased us. Wyrd was with me as I struck one of those pursuing us and then I ran. I hoped that my judgement of Riderch was sound; otherwise I would have a cold and watery end. The icy waters were around my thighs when I felt the wood of the boat nudge gently into me. Riderch’s smiling face was above me as he and two others hauled me aboard. “So my lord you cannot fight just one man at a time you have to take on a whole warband.”
“Except that this time, my lord I was not alone, I had warriors with me.”
Chapter 9
My standing rose considerably when we returned. The three warriors who had stood by me were now lauded as great warriors and Riderch was seen as a war lord. Half of the Saxon boats had been wrecked and burned. A couple had been salvaged and there were a few on the other beach but their raids would be hampered. The bad news was that we could now estimate their numbers and it was likely that there were six or seven hundred on the island. The king could now see the advantage of an alliance. Riderch was confident enough to take another band seeking Saxons. The parlous state of the Saxon stronghold meant that they risked the stormy seas and the ambushes to try to gather supplies. The sea took two boats and Riderch destroyed two warbands who tried to gather supplies.
By the end of the month the king summoned me to his quarters. “You have fulfilled your part of the bargain, Lord Lann. Can I not entreat you to join me and my army? My men hold you in the highest regard. Together we could create a kingdom to rival that of Rome.”
I worried about his ambition. It was all well and good to talk of defeating the Saxons on the borders of the kingdoms but it would take many years to build an army big enough to drive them home. “As I said your majesty, when I am released from my oath by King Urien then I would deem it an honour to serve you but until then I must, perforce, rejoin my king and my brothers.”
He reluctantly nodded, “But I have King Urien’s promise that you and your brothers will come to train my archers. Your skill has impressed my men.”
“Yes your majesty, and Riderch now knows how to make stronger shields. You have made a wise choice in him; he is a good leader.”
The king was silent on the matter. I think he regretted his impulsive decision. Riderch had seemed like a keen and naive young warrior who could be dominated by the king but I had seen he had a mind of his own and, I had heard, the queen was now with child so perhaps he rued his rash promise.
I left the next day. I was touched by the turn out of warriors who wished to say goodbye. I was pleased that I had made friends. When the army of Rheged came east there would be one band of warriors on whom I could rely; the band of Riderch.
Blackie enjoyed the freedom of the road as we rode west. I regretted the lack of warm, dry beds. But I enjoyed the lack of responsibility. It also gave me the opportunity to examine the land we would pass through in the spring. I headed across the high ground for it was drier and there were forests which provided shelter. It was also further away from the Dunum; who knew if the Saxons had crossed it? I came across the old Roman road which still headed north. In places there were tufts of grass and weeds showing the lack of traffic but, almost five hundred years after it was built, it still stood testament to the skill of the soldier builders. I saw another of the Roman forts. The soldiers of Rome had done their best to destroy the defences but they had built well and the stone bases still stood. If King Morcant Bulc had a mind he could easily fortify this one and it would be a defence against the Saxons, here on the western edge of his lands.
I completed the journey in two days. I was a more confident rider and I no longer feared falling off at anything more than a walk. Of course I would not dream of fighting on horseback but I could allow Blackie to trot quite quickly and, occasionally, when I felt reckless, allow him to gallop. Brother Osric had told me that the Roman soldiers fed their horses grain. I marvelled at the luxury that had been Rome; they had so much food that they could give their horses grain. We had barely enough for the people let alone our horses but I did spoil Blackie and knew that if I came across some grain then he would have it.
When I reached the fort I felt relieved. The sentries greeted me warmly although I could see that the garrison was not at home. The training ground, the area the Romans had called the gyrus, was empty. I stabled Blackie and told the stable boy to take special care of him. I had taken a bracelet from the dead chief and I gave it to the stable master. It was a blatant bribe but Blackie was valuable to me and I would have him cared for. After I had deposited my arms
and gear in the barracks I took the helmet and the torc with me to the blacksmith’s.
Aed was a squat man, as broad as he was tall but he was a wonder with metals. “That is as fine a helmet as I have ever seen. Where did you get it?”
“A Saxon chief.”
“Do you wish me to make more of them? It would take much metal and time.”
“No, Aed, I have worn it and the eye pieces are too small. I would have them made bigger to enable me to see better and I have this.” I gave him the torc.
“It is not gold.”
I laughed, “I know but it is the colour of gold. I would have this melted down and used to reinforce the eye pieces, the crown and the nasal.”
He nodded appreciatively. “That will indeed make it stronger and make it look magnificent.”
“How much?” I knew he would do it for nothing but my father had taught me that a good workman was worthy of the hire.
“The metal from the torc that I do not need to use?”
I clasped his huge forearm. “Thank you Aed.”
My next visit was to Brother Osric. It would save me many questions later on. He looked up in surprise when I entered. “We did not expect you for another week at least.”
“My job was done.”
He leaned back and gestured towards the wooden seat across from his desk. “Tell me all.” He took his quill. “I am keeping a record for future generations.” I detailed all that I had done, omitting my opinions of both the Bryneicians and their king but I did give him a detailed description of the castle. When I had finished he took a jug from beneath his desk and two beakers. “Try this. A ship was wrecked in the estuary and some jugs were washed ashore. I have not tasted the like for many years.”
I sipped the red liquid, which looked like blood. “What is it?”
“It is wine. It used to be drunk all across the Empire but, now, sadly, it is reserved for kings and high churchmen. What do you think?”