by Griff Hosker
“Kill me before you make promises you cannot keep!” I stabbed him in the eye with the sharp Roman dagger and he fell. I slashed the blade across the jaw of the next warrior and his blood erupted from it as he fell silently, dying. The man on the left of me looked in panic as I slashed him across his throat and the death of those three warriors allowed me to draw Saxon Slayer and sweep it in an arc. I felt it strike metal and flesh as the warriors behind those I had slain rushed to come to grips with me. I was able to step forwards and Gildas and Garth joined me. We stepped into the space and I stabbed the next man in the stomach. We were moving forwards and we had our own wedge.
Garth was stabbing and hacking for all he was worth. “Let’s push the bastards up this fucking hill, my lord.”
“I will settle for the ditch.” I roared above the press. “Men of Rheged, forwards!”
I could see arrows soaring above me and knew that Raibeart was maintaining the pressure. The best warriors, not with Aella, must have been at the front of the wedge, and we had just killed them. Behind me the spears kept jabbing forwards but, as we left the wall they became less effective. “Push! Those behind, push.”
By keeping our shields in their faces and pushing we prevented them from using their weapons. I replaced my sword in my boot and drew my dagger. I saw the terror on the faces of the warriors before me. I slashed the dagger across their faces and as they tried to bring their shields to defend themselves I punched with my own shield and a Saxon fell to the floor. Gildas had the room to swing and he stabbed the man as he lay prostrate on the ground. As the two lines splintered and fragmented it became possible to fight with full swings. That suited my men for we had good shields and we had spent hours practising with our swords. We also had the advantage in that the Saxons liked axes which could be lethal but required much effort to swing and their warriors tired. My men had spent hours pulling long bows and they had muscles knotted like trees. They could swing all day. When we reached the body filled ditch I was no longer worried. We would prevail here but, I did not know how Ywain and the men on the left of the line were faring. It was lower than where we were and I hoped that Aelle had managed to aid the men at the bridge.
There were still plenty of enemies before us when there was a roar from the right flank and the King, followed by Raibeart and his archers plunged into the enemy flanks. The spears of the king and the energy of the archers were too much and the Saxon left flank collapsed. I heard the king’s voice ring out against the ghostly wailing of the dragon standard. “Men of Rheged! Now is your hour. Drive them from the field!” With a roar the whole line leapt forwards and even Aelle’s remaining slingers joined in, racing in close to hurl their deadly stones at point blank range and then leaping on the stunned and wounded warriors to slit their throats. There was no quarter given but those who could, fled and, as I looked up the slope, I saw the survivors of the first attack fleeing and, from the corner of my eye I saw the remnants of King Aella’s force fleeing too. Against the odds we had won and overcome the Saxon horde.
I knew that we could not stop until there was not a single living Saxon before the fort. We searched the field for any who might still live and we killed them mercilessly. It was dark before we gave up the chase and wearily slipped down the blood and body covered slopes of the shallow valley. I could see fires burning in the fort and smiled. Aelle had probably organised that for the rest of the leaders were with us. He had done well. Ywain and his father joined Raibeart and me.
“What happened at the bridge, Prince Ywain?”
“It was closer than I would have liked. My brothers fought valiantly.” He looked at his father, “Rhun perished.” King Urien had a brief flash of pain across his face but then nodded stoically. “The Aelle brought archers and slingers, they exhausted their quivers and then they fell on one flank as we fell on the other. Then we heard the wail from their defeated throats as you routed the Saxon left and they fled.”
“A great victory your majesty.”
“It is, well done to you all and to you my son.”
Ywain’s voice became sad as he said quietly to Raibeart and me, “Sorry about Aelle.”
He got no further for Raibeart and I stopped in our tracks. “What happened to him?”
“He fell just before the end. It was King Aella himself who struck the blow.”
Despite our exhaustion Raibeart and I ran as fast as we could for the bridge. Neither of us risked speech for we were both charged with emotion. We ignored the praises and the cheers from the warriors who searched the field for booty. We headed for the last place he had been seen. We saw one of his slingers. “Where is Lord Aelle?” He pointed to a fire close to the bridge.
A crowd of men were gathered before it. One of the warriors saw it was us and shouted, “Make way for the Wolf Brethren.”
When they parted we saw Aelle lying close to the fire, his face deadly white and his right side covered in blood soaked bandages. A tonsured monk, who looked like a younger version of Brother Osric looked up. “You must be his brothers.” We nodded. I could not save the arm but he will live.”
I almost cried with relief. Our brother lived still. Raibeart knelt down to hold his cold left hand and I said, ”Thank you Brother….?”
“Brother Aidan.”I serve King Morcant Bulc. It was he who organised the fires and the food.”
My eyes narrowed and Raibeart looked around angrily. “When did you reach us?”
“We came as the Saxons fled. Any later and he might have died.” There was innocence in the monk’s voice; he was not a warrior but I knew, without a word being spoken that Morcant Bulc had delayed deliberately. I would say nothing for the moment but there would come a reckoning.
“Thank you brother Aidan, I am in your debt.”
“No Lord Lann for your victory last year returned our Holy Island to my brothers. I have partly repaid our debt to you; the pagan who saved a Christian holy place.”
Wyrd! It is frightening how we are all connected by lines and links we cannot see. I knelt down next to my brother’s amputated arm. I lifted the cloth and saw that he had lost it below the elbow. He would never fight again but he lived and that was all that mattered. He could still command and he was still a whole man. I thanked whoever watched over us for his life. Raibeart, who had always been closer to Aelle, was almost in tears. “His hand is getting warmer.”
“Then I must be alive!”He struggled to open his eyes and he gave us a wan smile. “When the king swung his axe I felt sure that I would die.”
“You were saved by a Christian priest but you lost your right arm.”
He nodded and looked remarkably calm. “I still have my left?”
“Aye little brother and everything else too.” I could hear the joy in Raibeart’s voice.
I reached into my satchel and brought out the small jug of Rhydderch’s fire. I poured a little down his throat. “Try this little brother.”
“Ah, now I feel warm, and I will sleep.” We laid his wolf skin over him and left him under the careful eyes of his slingers who had gathered around their leader.
We both headed for the large number of men who were standing, warming themselves around the largest fire. I had seen King Urien and I wanted to hear the words between the two kings. As we walked over Raibeart said, “Do you think the delay was deliberate?”
I snorted with derision. “It was not a quiet battle and it was a long battle. They could have heard it from miles away and raced to get to us.” I pointed to the horses which were drinking from buckets. They were neither distressed nor lathered. “They were not ridden hard.”
As we reached the group I saw Bladud looking smug and then I heard King Urien. “Thank you King Morcant Bulc for helping our wounded. There would have been far fewer had you arrived just a little earlier.” There was just a hint of censure but it was nothing when compared with the vitriol I would have thrown at him.
“I am sorry King Urien but I came as soon as Bladud found me and we rode hard but it is
a long way from Din Guardi.”
“I know, for we rode it last year when we came to your aid.”
He ignored the slur. “Still let us celebrate our great victory.”
Ywain could not remain silent. “Our victory? You had nothing whatsoever to do with our victory. It was a victory of the greatest king alive today in Britain, King Urien and the entire ;and knows it.”
“Peace Ywain. Forgive my son King Morcant. He has fought all day and he is tired do not take a slight from his words.”
Morcant Bulc’s face was, briefly, a mask of anger, but then he smiled, “Of course we are all brothers and now that the threat from the south has gone we can reclaim the parts of our kingdom the Saxons took. The land to the Dunum will be ours.”
I took off my helmet and said, loudly, to Raibeart, “Let us find the company of some honest warriors who know how to fight and not just watch.” Raibeart, Gildas, Ywain and Rhiwallon all followed me. I held the gaze, first of the king and then of Bladud before I turned and left. I wanted them to know that I was their enemy.
When we reached the fire where Aelle slept fitfully Garth was there. I looked wearily up at him. “Well Garth, what is the butcher’s bill?”
He looked tearful and angry at the same time. “Apart form me and the despatch riders only Tuanthal and Adair live and they are both wounded. All of our men have gone my lord.”
Raibeart shook his head and spat into the fire. “And snakes like Bladud and Bulc live. There is no justice in this world.”
“Oh there is justice brother,” I was aware that my voice sounded like ice, ”but sometimes it is left to warriors to administer it. All will be revenged. We are young and we have time.”
Ywain put his arm around me. “He is a king, my friend, and you cannot touch him.”
“That may apply to you, but not to the Wolf Brethren. We remember hurts to our brothers.”
“But your oath to my father…”
“We will honour that oath but there was naught in the words I spoke which said I could not take blood owed to me and King Morcant Bulc owes me an arm and some good men who did not deserve to die.”
Gildas shivered, “I am glad that I am not your enemy Lord Lann for you terrify me.”
Raibeart grinned and, in the firelight, looked like one of the devils painted in Brother Osric’s holy book. “And Lord Gildas, there are three of us!”
Later, when we had collected all the bodies of our fallen we buried them in the field where they fell. We covered their graves with rocks. Prince Rhun was buried in the fort itself and placed under a huge slab which took twelve men to lift. He was laid out with all his arms and honour for he was a valiant prince who had fought and died well. For as long as we all lived the fort was a special place for those who fought at Chesters on that spring day when we won back Bryneich. The Saxons we left for the wolves and the vermin.
The next day we began the long journey home. Men had been sent for the wagons and we loaded the wounded and the booty in them and on the spare horses. We had a shorter journey home for we could use the Roman military road and we would be back at the fortress the next day. We were a smaller army than the one which had arrived but we were richer and more experienced. The army which headed west that day was the best army in Britain and I believe could have defeated any enemy. We were confident, well trained and successful.
King Morcant Bulc took his army south to pursue the Saxons and reclaim his borders. We all ignored him. It seemed fitting that he would now act with vigour when there were no enemies to fight. I was pleased that Brother Aidan came with us for he looked after Aelle well.
I did not want to speak with the king. I know it is unreasonable but I wanted him to be angrier with his fellow king than he had been. He had stayed, calming the waters after we had left. He had no need to. We could have beaten his pathetic army there and then. It also galled me that Bladud, despite his not having fought ,was riding in the place of honour next to the king. I would never understand King Urien. His kindness would get him killed one day.
Having said all of that it was good to march with Gilda, Garth and my brother. We spoke of the battle, going over in great detail all that took place. They all wanted a dagger on their shields as I had for they had seen how effective it was. Raibeart pointed out that the Saxon arrows we reclaimed were not as good as ours; they did not fly straight and they had not the distance. If we fought their archers again we would know their limitations.
Chapter 18
It was midmorning when we reached the castle. The king and his riders, along with Ywain, had reached there the previous night but we were stuck with the wagons. I did not mind for I was with the people I loved. When we reached the castle the king had arranged for all the people to greet us. They lined the road to the castle and they cheered us and threw spring flowers at us. That was the only victory parade I ever had and I will remember that day so long as I live.
When we entered the gates my joy was complete when Aideen ran to meet me. She was wearing her wedding dress and her hair was garlanded with flowers. She could have worn a sack for all I cared. To me she was always beautiful. She threw herself at me and kissed me. All of my soldiers roared and cheered and even Aelle raised his head from the wagon to smile.
“Come husband and I will show you our son, Hogan!”
The Queen smiled as though she was the grandmother although I knew that she must be grieving for her son and the King nodded his approval too. She took me along to a room at the quiet end of the fortress and there were two young girls who curtsied and then fled. There, lying in his cot, sound asleep was my son. I now had an heir, I now had a future.
There was a feast laid on for us that evening in the main hall. Aelle looked a little shamefaced as he sat there with his arm in a sling. Brother Osric had approved of Brother Aidan’s work on my brother’s arm and was busily trying to persuade him to stay on. Aelle looked at the meat and, manfully, tried to cut a piece using his left hand. Aideen had seated herself next to him and she leaned over and cut his meat surreptitiously with her knife. Just Aelle and I noticed that act of kindness but I could see the gratitude on Aelle’s face. He would have to learn new skills but the one thing I knew about my brother was that he was resilient. He would survive.
Raibeart was on my left hand side and he leaned in to me. “You have a beauty there, brother, as has Aelle. I can see that I have much ground to make up.”
I was well aware of the part luck or wyrd had played in our lives and wondered where the luck would come in with Raibeart. His outpost was lonely and lacked people; the chances of his meeting a prospective bride were not good. “You will have to trust that whoever moves our destiny watches over you. There will be plans afoot, of that I have no doubt.”
After the remains of the feast were cleared, the king stood. He looked a little older and a little greyer. It was understandable. He had lost a son. “Sons and my lords, we have lost the first of the Seven Stars. Rhun has gone. He died bravely and that is all that a warrior can ask. Prince Pasgen will now join the order and take over his brother’s responsibilities.” We all banged the table, much to the obvious annoyance of the Queen. “Our work did not end with the defeat of the Saxons; rather it began that work but I am hopeful now that we will, ultimately, succeed. There is not one of you who could not lead the army of Rheged and that is a rare thing. You have shown that you have the spirit needed to fight when all appears against you and, most importantly, you have all shown that you have a military mind which is capable of making the right decisions. When you return to your forts you will all need to bring on those who will carry on our work. I have seen already with young warriors like Garth of Brocavum that these new leaders are emerging and I am pleased.” He paused. “I am loath to see you all depart for your homes but I know that you must. Soon there will be crops to harvest and animals to slaughter and our people need to work the land. I would only beg of you another few days so that we may enjoy each other’s company.” He looked at Aelle. “I know
Lord Aelle that you will be desperate to return to your wife and child but Brother Osric asks that you remain here a little while longer to ensure that there is no putrefaction of your most serious wound.”
Aelle stood, with difficulty. “I did not know, your majesty, if you would still wish a one armed man to leads your warriors.”
The king clapped an arm around Aelle’s shoulders. “You lead with your mind and your spirit, Lord Aelle, and not your hand. Others can fight but you command. You will be my Lord of the South for as long as you wish it!”
Aelle sat down blushing. I suspected the wine had gone to his head and he had lost much blood.
“Tomorrow we will speak with our army and let them return to their homes. We have minted some coins.” He grinned, “Courtesy of our Saxon foes. And we can give the men a little more reward than we might have.” He then looked at his wife who beamed and Ywain who blushed, “And now some news a little closer to home. Prince Ywain is to marry the youngest daughter of King Rhydderch on midsummer’s day.” We all cheered and Ywain looked as though he wished the ground would swallow him. “Brother Osric conducted the negotiations and the king has offered a generous dowry. He is, indeed, Rhydderch the Generous giving both his daughter and a dowry.”
The feast degenerated rapidly. The Queen gave an admonishing look at her husband and left. Aideen was young enough to enjoy the playful banter of the warriors and when the King left it was just the young bloods and Aideen who talked until the jugs were empty.