by N. M. Browne
Dan had begun to trust his instincts and his instincts urged him to trust the bard, even though Dan had no idea what he was talking about.
‘I want to understand more … about this magic. Can it hurt her? Kai spoke of paying for the power. He spoke of Macsen’s brother, Lovernios?’
The bard’s eyes darkened at the name. ‘I fear to talk of dead druids on such a night as this. I have to sing for Queen Usca now. Meet me at the battlements when I have finished.’
Dan nodded. Something in the bard’s tone frightened him. Did the dead really walk here at Samhain?
‘I will meet you …’ Dan paused. In a world where names were so important it seemed impolite to style him merely ‘bard’. ‘I do not know your name.’
‘I am called Taliesin. I will speak with you soon.’
He returned to his harp and Dan knew he was dismissed. The name stirred a memory, but he might have heard Kai or one of the others talk of him.
It was cold on the battlements and eerie. Dan had chosen to stand a little way from the watch on the seaward side of the fortress. The great breakers of an autumn sea crashed against the rocks of Craigwen. In the darkness the white crested waves formed ghostly shapes in the dark night. He wished it were not Samhain.
‘Daniel?’
‘Here, by the wall.’
‘The shades are out in force tonight.’
‘You can see them?’
‘Of course. You can’t?’ Dan shook his head, grateful for his lack of perception.
‘You wanted to know about the druid Prince, Lovernios, Macsen’s brother?’
‘Yes. No, well, I don’t know. I just want to know more about magic. Is Ursula in danger from it?’
‘Everyone is in danger, my friend. It is the human condition.’ He paused as if gathering his strength together. ‘Few people know about Lovernios. It was the secret we kept from the Ravens; our hope for the ultimate victory. Only time will tell if we were right. What do you know of the druids?’
‘They were priests, magicians?’
‘You are almost right.’ Taliesin opened his arm to embrace the whole scene, the open battlements, the wild seascape in a dramatic gesture. ‘Everyone knows that this, all of this, is just one world among many. Worlds touch in places and the walls between them are thin. Tonight the world of the dead and the living meet as you could see, were you sensitive to such things. The druids found some of the ways between these worlds. Rhonwen talks of a veil between worlds. The druids talked instead of bridges. The world of the gods and the spirits of the trees and the pools of this land cross and recross this one and those who have learned how can walk the bridges between them. For the druids all the bridges they knew were toll-bridges. You could cross but only if you paid. They paid in blood, rarely theirs, and in other things – gold sometimes. The sacred groves were places of bridges and if you paid the toll the right way you could cross or allow the spirits to cross over to this world and do your will.’
It was fortunate that it was too dark for the bard to see Dan’s expression of frank incomprehension.
‘Of course if the toll was a sacrifice it had to be done the right way. There are seven hundred sacred cuts alone. They varied with the age and sex of the victim.’
‘The druids sacrificed people?’ Dan was all attention and horror. Taliesin was surprised by his surprise.
‘Of course, blood fuelled the magic of the druids, it was its price. Blood and gold were the roots of druid power. The Ravens disliked the power the druids exerted. Their word was law. Macsen would not have had this trouble uniting the tribes if there had been enough druids behind him. Even warriors faltered at a druid’s word, for they had power in the world of the dead as in the living.’
Dan found that his mouth was dry. The Combrogi practised human sacrifice. He shivered and not just from the cold. He was not sure he wanted to know more.
‘What has this to do with Macsen and his brother?’
‘The Ravens destroyed all the holy places, Mona and Llyn Cerrig Bach and the sacred groves. They slaughtered druids by the thousand. They took the gold and in months destroyed the knowledge of centuries. I know little of the druids’ mysteries. I do know that Prince Macsen’s brother, the druid Prince, was the last hope.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You must know that the Ravens came here for conquest and for wealth. If we did not oppose them and gave them their taxes they would let us be, but the druids had wealth and power and the Ravens were afraid. The Ravens bought allies where they could. Our friends the Brigantes have long been client kings. The Ravens fought those they could not buy: the Silures and the Ordovices. They were nearly defeated by Boudicca of the Iceni and the Trinovantes. Then, after they sacked our most sacred place, Mona, the Ravens killed 80,000 men, women and children at the place they call Mancetter. The harvest failed. There were few left to gather what little there was and many of us starved. They were desperate times. Macsen was too young to fight and lucky enough to be far from the worst of it, but he remembers. We all remember. Those who could escaped to Ireland. Those few druids who still live are there, too old now to do much. Lovernios hid in Ireland, but as the situation got more desperate, he devised a plan to save us. I should not have been allowed to be involved, but I was young, too young to be a druid and unmarked by the ritual signs. I helped get Prince Lovernios to this island. Too many people, whose names I must not say, died to get us to Lindow.’ His voice cracked with emotion.
‘The Ravens were killing anyone from the rebel tribes, all warriors, boy children, anyone who might have touched the hand of a druid. We picked a sacred place that was almost unknown, as far as possible from occupied territory, but close enough to the old roads. It was Beltain. It had to be Beltain, a day of sacred power. We had baked oakcakes and burned just one, the old symbol of the chosen. He who picked the burned piece would be sacrificed.’
Taliesin stopped. The chill wind had dropped.
‘Even the spirits of our dead remember and are listening.’ He stared at something Dan could not see and smiled a wan smile. ‘It was bravely done. Macsen has something of his brother’s greatness.’ The bard’s eyes shone with tears. Dan could see them in the dim moonlight. The night was suddenly very still, as if the whole of Craigwen, even the tide and the moonlit cliffs, waited on Taliesin’s words.
‘It had to be Lovernios because he was the best of the Combrogi. He was physically perfect, fully trained in the druidic ways, gifted and of royal blood. He gave himself gladly. He was killed in the most sacred way. I cannot tell you how, it touched on the mysteries and anyway I cannot bear to remember. It was not painless and it went on for a long time. He never cried out and when it was over we laid him in the holy pool for the gods. Those involved scattered and waited for the gods’ response. We could find none. The Ravens tightened their grip. Reinforcements came and they have hunted us like animals ever since. If we are not enslaved and shipped abroad to fight for the Ravens in other lands, we are killed unless we pledge loyalty to the emperor and deny our gods. I heard of Alavna. You were there. I do not need to paint you a picture.’
That was true enough. Dan was too familiar with the retribution of Ravens.
‘So what happened then?’
‘Nothing. We had hoped that the gods would respond to such a sacred sacrifice. But the gods of this land were deaf to us. They did not rise up to oust the Ravens from this Sacred Isle. For the Combrogi there has been only despair until now.’ The bard stopped, as tears choked him. ‘Dan, I’m sorry, I can talk no more of these things tonight. The spirits of so many of our dead crowd around me. Go to Ursula. Don’t let her leave Macsen’s chamber until the dawn. I would not have her see what I can see tonight. Such sadness! Such waste! We will talk again I promise.’
The bard picked up his harp and as Dan turned to leave he could hear its plaintive strains. He was no wiser really. He still did not know what the bard’s tale had to do with Ursula. He did not waste time in speculation. He hurried to Macsen
’s chamber and the warm glow of the firelight. The knowledge that the unseen ghosts of the Combrogi dead haunted the night was enough to make the hairs rise on the back of his neck. He gripped Bright Killer firmly. It was a futile gesture. How could he defend himself against the dead?
Chapter Twenty
It was not necessary for Dan to defend himself against the dead. He returned to Macsen’s chamber without incident. Ursula was sleeping on Macsen’s pallet when Dan returned. Kai stood guard. He offered Dan a drink of warm watered mead which Dan accepted gladly. They drank in companionable silence.
‘Our Boar Skull is full of surprises,’ Kai said at length. Dan looked at her sleeping form and found it impossible to see any sign of the warrior Boar Skull.
‘She fights well though,’ Dan said, wanting Kai to know that even as a woman she was worthy of respect. He had misunderstood the Combrogi yet again.
‘Combrogi women have always been great fighters. It is courage that buys victory not vast strength. It grieves us all that our women could not fight beside us now. It does a man good to fight for his land with his wife beside him. After the slaughter of Mancetter when so many Combrogi died King Donicca ruled that he would protect our women if nothing else. It is wise but if I am to die in battle I would rather spend my last night on this earth in the arms of my wife than alone. She would say the same too if you could ask her.’ Dan had not known that Kai had a wife. Kai looked sad. In an effort to cheer himself up he changed the subject.
‘Watch that Boar Skull girl of yours. You will have a fair few good men to kill if she makes a habit of shape shifting like she just has. Combrogi blood is hot enough to give her trouble and she has not the sense a woman should have.’
Dan feared Kai was right. It was a novelty for Ursula to be beautiful and with her newly discovered power she could certainly be that.
Macsen’s unceremonious entry ended their conversation.
‘There’s no sign of Rhonwen, and Lud of the Brigantes has not arrived. We need him and we need her. She may have gone to Lud herself. She was talking about it on the road. We’ve heard rumours that he intends to break his word to me about backing us. It would be too easy for him to follow in the footsteps of his treacherous vixen of a mother Cartimandua and stay with the carrion.’ Macsen nearly spat his disgust.
‘What am I to do with her?’ he indicated the peaceful form of Ursula.
‘I’m not sure I can keep her here. Rumours are bound to surface about what she is. Why did Rhonwen not realise she had this power? Did you know? There is so much we could have done with the power she can wield.’
Kai looked grave.
‘I glimpsed something in the Cup. No one has ever resisted the sharing of it all before, but no I was suspicious of her but I did not guess why. I am sorry, Macsen. I did not think of it.’
Macsen waved an impatient hand. ‘What’s done is done, Kai. I shan’t waste more thoughts upon it, but I won’t hide from you our situation. If Rhonwen does not agree to marry Cadal and breaks faith we are in trouble. I don’t think he’s going to break his end of the bargain, even after what has happened to her. Cadal is a better man than I thought or he is playing a game I’ve not fathomed yet. But without the support of the Brigantes it’s looking very tight. The legion has been training hard. Everyone knows what’s at stake. If they overcome us then the tribes are finished. These Ravens have some fine tricks to defeat a siege. I’ve learned much these last few moons and I’m not confident we can do it. I’m not sure the tribes have grasped the desperation of it.’
Macsen’s handsome face was taut with fatigue and tension. Nervous energy poured out of him with his words. He could not keep still. One pace of his long legs brought him to Ursula.
‘It is a pity to wake her. She is very young, don’t you think? Perhaps if Cadal would take a sorceress rather than a princess priestess?’ Dan’s look of horror was reflected briefly in Kai’s face.
Macsen sighed. ‘No, you are right. He would not and she will be more use to us here if she can learn more of the magic in time.’
Dan did not like the way Macsen spoke of Ursula as if she existed only for his convenience. It was the way his father sometimes spoke of him and of Lizzie. He could feel the cold anger begin to grip him. He fought it. This was not the time.
‘Prince Macsen.’ It was hard to speak. The cold madness drew him and he could feel himself slipping. ‘Ursula has bound herself by oath to you but she is her own man.’ Or did he mean woman? Thoughts were becoming frozen in the ice. ‘Give her some respect.’
It was the bard who saved him. He had entered the room a moment behind Macsen. Something had changed. Even through the growing coldness he could see it. Taliesin had left behind his melancholy of the battlements and was all business. His soft voice disrupted Dan’s steady descent into his killing place.
‘My Lord, King Macsen, King Cadal has asked me to beg you to find the Princess Rhonwen. He is concerned for her safety and wishes to return with his bride and Queen Usca on the next tide. This time of year the sea can be stormy and my weather sense warns me of imminent bad weather. It was only the urgency of our need to confer you in your Kingship that caused him to sail at such a dangerous season.’ The bard’s great dignity made his words seem more gracious than they might have done.
‘Yes, of course.’ Macsen visibly searched for courtesies he did not feel. That he was under serious pressure was evident to Dan and must have been as clear to Cadal’s perceptive bard. ‘We are grateful for King Cadal’s haste in accompanying my esteemed grandmother across such dangerous seas at this time. I will leave at once to search for the Princess Rhonwen, though if she is on her way to King Lud of the Brigantes, I will not find her quickly. King Cadal must know that Rhonwen’s mission is to help us defeat the Ravens. It is a noble cause and she is fearless in its service. She will not fail to return to him. She is honourable and has promised her consent to the marriage.’
The bard bowed and left with a swift, concerned glance at Dan. Dan was trembling from the closeness of his brush with madness. Macsen appeared unaware or at any rate unconcerned by Dan’s condition. Macsen spoke abruptly to Kai. He seemed to lack the time or the strength to speak in anything other than a rapid staccato.
‘Have the girl ready to ride by next watch. I will take her with me and Gwyn, Huw and Prys as my honour guard. I dare not leave Huw here either. Who knows what mischief he could ferment among our reluctant allies. It’s a bad time for me to leave but I have to keep Cadal happy. Our women and children depend on his goodwill. Kai, old friend, I need you here to make preparations. I have not told you the worst of it yet. I have just had intelligence that the Ravens are on the march. Suetonius has sent orders. He cares more for finishing us than for ensuring the security of Deva. They will be here before the winter. We have weeks not months to prepare. If the men are not too far gone in their cups, we must have a Council of War before I leave. Oh, Kai! It is too soon. We are too few. I’m not sure we can survive this.’
Macsen’s face was a study of anguish. Kai put his hand on Macsen’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
‘Every man will fight, Macsen, with everything he has. You can ask no more of us than that we will gladly give. It will have to be enough.’ Macsen nodded and clasped Kai’s proffered arm, then swept from the room. Dan had the strong feeling he had forgotten that Dan was there. Kai had not.
‘I don’t trust Huw with either the King or with Boar Skull. And as for King Lud of the Brigantes,’ Kai made a derisory sound, deep in the back of his throat. ‘He has only ever supported the interests of King Lud of the Brigantes. He would only give us aid if we were certain to defeat the Ravens. The odds are not that good. Huw is not without friends in the Brigantes’ camp. He has nothing to lose by trying to gain credit with them. He has none here. A young warrior who followed the royal party may find himself with an opportunity to serve the King, especially if he had an experienced tracker like Bryn or Braveheart. I will arrange for you to borrow my war-horse and
make sure that the watch will let you out. Bryn will know what to do for the rest.’ Kai’s gaze was steady. ‘This smells wrong. I don’t know what Rhonwen is playing at. This is the wrong moment for Macsen to leave. The men need him here.’ He caught Dan’s uncertain glance at the still-sleeping Ursula. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Ursula leaves here as Boar Skull. If she knows Huw is her travelling companion she’ll need no persuasion.’
‘Taliesin said for her to stay here until dawn because of Samhain.’
‘So the bard has been haunted this night too, has he? Don’t worry, Macsen will not need her before dawn. He has much to do.’
Kai’s concern for the King shocked Dan. Was he missing something? What exactly did Kai expect to happen? Was Kai expecting treachery? Kai was busy instructing servants. With more unanswered questions than ever Dan left to sort things out with Bryn.
Chapter Twenty-one
It was in fact late afternoon by the time Ursula, Huw, Prys, Gwyn and Macsen rode out from Craigwen. Rhonwen had taken a couple of horses with her but no servants. Macsen was furious at her foolhardiness and struggled unsuccessfully to hide his anger from her prospective husband. It was to be devoutly wished that Cadal valued bravery and decisiveness in a bride.
Macsen’s War Council had been brief enough. All Combrogi were instructed to move to the fortress and prepare for siege.
As Kai had predicted Ursula needed no persuasion to reconstruct herself as the muscular Boar Skull. If anything she had made herself even bigger, and struggled to fit into her leather breastplate. She had to be strongly discouraged from growing a warrior’s moustache on the grounds of serious implausibility. Those who did not know of her power would not believe that even Boar Skull could have grown a moustache overnight.