by Griff Hosker
They all pointed at a boy who stood grinning.”I did my lord.”
“And what is your name?”
“Tuanthal.”
“Well Tuanthal I am in your debt and when you are big enough to wield a sword I would have you join my warriors but, in the meantime, here is the chief’s dagger and two silver pennies.”
They were both gifts which the boy did not expect. The dagger was ornate with a magnificent scabbard and a bone handle and he had obviously never had coins before. “Thank you my lord but I did not do it for the reward.”
“I know which is why the reward is well earned.”
Four of my warriors had died and another eight of the men who had come to the Castle Perilous for the feast. As Garth pointed out, had the Saxons been loose in the valley then all would have died along with us in the fort. The Saxon dead were stripped and piled outside the fort. We used kindling and wood to make a bonfire of their bodies. The smell of burning flesh was a savage reminder of how close we came to dying. The Saxons had lost over a hundred dead. All of the men wounded in the ditch had had their throats cut by men eager to vent their anger upon them.
It was dark when Ywain and his men returned. The women had cooked up the remains of the food and the weary horsemen were greeted with hot food as they stabled their horses and warmed themselves in the now overcrowded hall.
“We chased them until we could no longer see them. On the morrow we will find and strip their bodies. What were your losses?”
“Not as many as it might have been but too many to be acceptable. Do you think this was the invasion?”
He shook his head. “No there were not enough of them. The leader, what did he look like?” I showed him his helmet and torc. “These look like a minor chief. I think they will come but in greater force. We have been lucky.”
“I believe the gods of this land protected us with the snow.”
He smiled, “Perhaps the snow is the sign of the White Christ and perhaps he saved his people.”
“Let us agree that it was the gods of all the people who helped.”
The families were reluctant to leave the next day. Ywain came over to me. “They will have to go back now Lann. It will be safe for them. The Saxons are dead.”
“And yet I can understand their fear. Leave it with me Prince Ywain and I will devise something.” They all cheered Ywain as he left. Brother Osric would be happy with the booty. I put my men on guard and then Garth and I addressed them with Brother Oswald looking on. “I know that you are reluctant to return to your homes. You are welcome to stay here. We are not throwing you out but I will tell you that it will be safe for you to return home. I also promise that, if there are four or five families living in a village we will come and build you a ditch and a wall such as we have and you can take arms we captured from the Saxons. You are not being abandoned and, should the Saxons return then you are welcome inside my fort at any time.”
One of the older men said, “Lord Lann is right. If we leave our land then they have won. I will return.” He picked up a sword and a shield from the pile outside the hall. “But I will be prepared and I will learn how to use a bow.” He laughed, “Then I can kill as Lord Lann did!”
His words were the stone which starts the avalanche and they picked up weapons and helmets as they left the fort. Garth looked ruefully at the diminishing pile of weapons. “There goes our spare weapons my lord.”
Brother Oswald said quietly, “Regard it as an investment. They will look after their weapons and learn how to use them. You lost three brave men yesterday but through this you will gain many more recruits.”
As I looked around I saw one young woman who had not moved and she was alone. I looked at Garth who said, “That is Aideen, her husband and father both died. She is alone.”
Brother Oswald looked like he would speak with her but there was something about her and I shook my head. And, although I could not tell the priest, I heard my mother’s voice in my head exhorting me to comfort her. He nodded goodnight and headed for his cell.
I went down to her. She looked to be the same age as Raibeart and she looked to be in shock. I had seen the same with warriors after their first battle when they have survived and cannot believe it. The villagers had taken their dead with them to be buried near to their homes. There were two bodies covered with cloaks and I assumed they were her husband and father. I was better speaking with warriors than men. This needed Aelle for he had a way with women and knew the words to use. “I am sorry for your loss.”
She stood and threw her arms around my waist and wept. Garth and my warriors watched with interest. They could see that I knew not what to do. Garth mimed putting my arms around her shoulders. I did so and she began to sob, her whole body shaking. Garth waved the men away I heard him mumble something about jobs to be done and then he too went to check that the gate had been fastened.
After a while her sobs subsided and she pulled away. Her face was red and puffy. “I am sorry my lord but I am alone now and when I saw you there I thought you reminded me of my father and...” she threw her arms around me and began to cry again. I could see this was going to take some time and then a picture of a terrified Monca and a young Aelle came to mind. If all I had to do was to stand there and let this young woman cry then I could do that. This time when she stopped I held her at arm’s length. Now, Aideen, what would you like us to do for you?”
It was obvious that she had not thought beyond the next moment. “I have no home now. Our animals are there.” She pointed to a milk cow and a couple of goats. Her eyes filled with terror. “Do not send me away I beg you my lord!”
“You heard my words. No one has to leave and you are welcome to stay here but we have things to do.” There was no easy way to say what I had to. “We needs must put your father and husband beneath the ground. Would you like them buried at your home?”
She shook her head violently, “No my lord. I do not want to return to my home, ever, it is far from here and we have no neighbours. Could we bury them here?”
My men were already digging graves for their comrades and two more would not inconvenience them. “Of course.”
Garth had been close by and obviously listening. “I will see to it my lord.”
“Now wash your face and put this cloak about you. We will honour your family and then we will talk of your future.” It was as though I had lit a lamp n a dark room for her face lit up with hope.
When we had laid the bodies beneath the ground and covered them with stones Brother Oswald said some comforting words to send them beyond our world and then we re-entered the fort. “I have arranged for the men to guard tonight in pairs.” Garth smiled. “I think our boys did well enough today and need to sleep.”
“Do not forget to rest yourself Garth for you did well today. You all did.” He inclined his head and went to the tower. We needed a couple of dogs. The men could sleep at night and the dogs would act as sentries. I thought of Wolf. Aelle would be reaping the benefit of his alertness.
Brother Oswald said, “Good night my lord; I will complete an inventory tomorrow and send a despatch rider to Brother Osric for supplies.”
I went into the hall where Aideen sat next to the blazing fire. During the battle the women had tended it and it now burned well. The room seemed empty now with just the two of us. I took off my cloak. I could have done with taking off my armour but I could not leave her alone yet. She turned to look at me. “Can I stay here my lord? I mean beyond tonight.”
“It is a fort filled with men you know. There is no female touch here.”
She suddenly smiled and I was reminded of my mother. “If I am here there will be a female touch. I can make cheese. That is what we did with the goats and the cow and I can cook. And I can sew and I can clean.”
I held up my hand. “Enough! You can stay and we will make some quarters for you.”
It was as though a great weight had been taken from her and she hugged me and placed her head upon my shoulder. I did no
t know what to do and so I sat there with her head on my shoulder and her hair smelling of rosemary and then I felt her body moving slowly and she was asleep. I laid her down gently and covered her with the wolf cloak. Wyrd was working hard this night.
Chapter 15
Aideen proved to be a hard working woman who made excellent cheese. Her cooking was an improvement on what we had had before and her presence improved the behaviour of the men. I realised that we had needed something like this and I was not displeased. I also found that I liked her laughter and her songs. I woke up and looked forward to the food she would bring and the sing song greeting she would give. Brother Oswald also took to her for he loved his food and he learned, from my wife, how to make cheese. I knew that while I was away she would have the kind company of Brother Oswald. As the days lengthened and we settled into a routine of making arrows and repairing the fort I found that I had time to talk with Garth, Brother Oswald and Aideen. I was in a happy place for I could talk of war and strategy with Garth and of domestic matters with Aideen. With Brother Oswald I could learn much for he was a wise and well read priest. I was happier and calmer than at any time in my life.
We had found a horse wandering in the woods soon after the battle and we assumed it was the Saxon chief’s. It gave Garth and I the chance to ride further afield and check for intruders. We found three bodies which the Prince had overlooked, although by the time we reached them the wolves and the rats had taken most of the flesh but it afforded us more weapons.
“We have weapons aplenty but what we do not have are the men to wield them. “
“Perhaps, my lord, when we begin the training again we can ask if there are any volunteers and some of the slingers look to be ready to use swords.”
“Good idea, remind me to visit the farms and tell the men when we are to start our practice again.”
That night we all sat in the hall and ate the stew Aideen had prepared. It was good to finish off the meal with cheese and she had brewed her first batch of beer. It was not the best but, as Garth said, and he was the beer expert, “Winter is the wrong time of year for good beer.” Brother Oswald had also solved the problem of its poor taste by heating a sword in the fire and plunging it into the beer. It transformed the taste. We were living well.
Aideen sang a song of a shepherd falling in love with a maiden and we all enjoyed the fire. I did not notice the men drifting off or Brother Oswald give me a wave of goodnight for I was watching the flames flicker and burn. I saw cities and towns, dragons and mythical beasts. I was suddenly aware that my arm was around Aideen’s shoulders and she was looking up at me, her mouth slightly open and smiling. I still do not know what made me do it but I leaned down and kissed her. I had never kissed before and when her mouth opened and her tongue darted into my mouth I thought my head would explode. I pulled away slightly. Her smile widened as she murmured huskily, “Do not fight it, my lord. It was meant to be.”
Later as we lay naked beneath my cloak I felt complete. I was far older now than my father had been when he sired me and I wondered why I had waited so long. As I looked at the sleeping Aideen I knew why. I was waiting for her. My mother still influenced my life though long dead. She walked the spirit world and waited for me.
My men were discreet the next morning. Garth organised the food and the guards so that when we arose it was to order and organisation. “I have sent the despatch rider my lord.”
Aideen clung to my arm. “Thank you Garth. Aideen will share my quarters now.” She smiled up at me as did Garth. I think I was the only one to be embarrassed by the events. Then I remembered that Garth knew Aideen and her family. She was only a stranger to me. “I will ride to the fortress today,” I looked at Aideen, “I have news for the king.”
Aideen stood on her tiptoes to kiss me on my cheek. “And I will clean your … sorry our quarters. I am sure they have not been cleaned since you moved in.” And so my life changed. I went from the lonely life of a lord to a warrior with a wife and soon a child. Still, as I rode down the snow covered road to Civitas Carvetiorum. I felt I had gained more than I had lost. I now had something else to fight for, my wife Aideen.
Blackie made good time and we soon caught up with the despatch rider, Adair. He looked disappointed. “Does this mean I have to return to the fort my lord?”
“No, Adair, although I would have thought you would have wanted to avoid the journey through the snow.”
He grinned and I saw that there was still much of the boy in him although he would soon be a man. “No, my lord. Brother Osric always has something for me and the cooks keep a bowl of something good to eat.”
I should have known that the kindly priest would enjoy spoiling the boys. They were the children he would never father. The sentries saluted as we entered. “See you later Adair. I will be returning later and I will accompany you.”
“Thank you my lord. I will wait by the gate.” He looked at me seriously and said, confidentially, “they have a brazier there and it is warm.” He might be a boy but he was learning the ways of the warrior.
Brother Osric was surprised to see me and his hand covered the honeyed dried plum he had on his desk. “Lord Lann I was expecting a rider but not you.”
I smiled, “He is coming along soon and you can give him his treat then.”
“They have a hard journey in the snow and they are little more than boys…”
I held my hand up. “You have no need to explain Brother Osric but those boys fought a hard battle against the Saxons and one of them saved my life with a stone.”
”Like David from the Bible.” I looked confused and he sighed. “The book of Christ and God. He was a shepherd boy and he killed a giant with a stone.”
“Well the Saxon was no giant but his axe would have taken my head. Is the king at home?”
“Yes, Ywain patrols today.” He paused, “You and your people did well the other day. Prince Ywain said that, had the warband descended into the valley then there would have been much slaughter.”
“It is why we are there Brother Osric.” I shrugged. “The sacrifice of ten warriors to save a kingdom is a small price to pay.”
Brother Osric suddenly looked concerned. “Do not throw your life away cheaply, Lord Lann. You have much to do in this land and the king depends heavily upon you.”
The king looked up from the list he was studying and I thought he looked older. Of course he now only had Ywain and his young son at home and he would be missing his other sons and, I suspected, Gildas and myself. “Does this visit mean trouble?”
I smiled, “No your majesty but I have news which I had to deliver to you first, as my liege lord.”
“That sounds serious.”
“I am taking a wife.” His face split into a grin and he beckoned me to sit. I explained to him the circumstances of Aideen’s widowhood but I omitted the details of our liaison.
“That is good. I am pleased that two of the wolf brothers are married. Rheged needs sons of fine warriors to continue the fight against the Saxons. You and your warriors did well.”
“We were lucky. Had I not brought the people within the fort then all would have perished.”
“Perhaps that is something to consider for the future. We cannot protect all the people but those close to the forts can, at least, have winter protection. I am glad that you are here for I can bring you up to date with events in the rest of the kingdom.” He took a breath and looked me in the eye as he said, “ The Saxons tried an attack on Glanibanta.” My heart sank to my boots; Aelle! He saw my concern. “Do not fear your brother survives. He had made the defences even more secure than yours and he did not lose a man. They withdrew. He said that the lake helped them.”
I nodded sagely, “Erecura came to their aid as she did to me.”
He shook his head and laughed, “I believe it was the White Christ but we can agree to disagree. Someone aided us in our fight against these invaders.”
“Agreed.”
“When the crops are in and th
e spring animals are born then we will ask our men to rejoin us. We will muster this time close to your fort for that is where they are most likely to attack. I believe that the raids were Ida’s way of testing our defences. He lost many men and many weapons; next time he will try to find a softer way in and I think it will be north of the wall. There are few roads there and the only defence we have is your brother Raibeart.”
“What of King Morcant Bulc? If they came up the west then they would have to defeat his armies.”
“I have heard that he has made the coastal defences stronger and left the people beyond the coast to their own devices. I fear he is not the king I took him to be. But the last message I had was that he would come to my aid if I needed him.”
“By the time we send for him it may be too late. And how is Prince Ywain enjoying his equites?”
“He is grateful to you for the arms and armour he gathered after the battle. He can now equip his men as mine are, in full mail with lance, shield and sword. He and I hope to have a hundred men each by the spring.”
That was the best news I had had in a long time. “The Saxons fear your men, your majesty. That may be the turning point in this war. If my shield wall can halt them, and my archers weaken them then your horsemen can destroy them. I will take this message of hope to my people and it will make their hearts glad.”
“You return today?”
“Yes your majesty.”
“Then I will give you a gift before you leave.”
I returned to Brother Osric who cocked his head to one side and his piercing eyes bored into me. “And just when were you going to tell me that you had taken a woman? Or was I to be the last to know!”