Saxon Bane

by Griff Hosker

  He knelt before me. “We have long waited for this day, Warlord.” I raised him to his feet and his face looked anxious. “You will be staying?”

  “I promise you that we are returned and we will hold what we take.” He suddenly saw Penda and his Mercians. He frowned. “These are friends, Kay. These are allies, Mercians and not Northumbrians.”

  Kay shook his head, “Strange times are come to pass then.” He waved his arm behind him. “Where are my manners? Your quarters are prepared and we have a feast for you. There is a field yonder for your men and their mounts. We cannot accommodate them within our walls.”

  The feast was a lively one. The men of Wide Water were lucky. There was plenty of game and fish, even in winter. The only thing they wanted was grain but, as we ate that night, Kay told me that some farmers had begun to sow rye in the northern valley just beyond the fort. “Soon we will rival Mona for its bread.”

  “Good. We will leave on the morrow and meet Gawan and the Hibernians.”

  “I will bring some of my men.”

  I looked at him in surprise. “You do not need to. I know that the plague killed many warriors.”

  “This is our land. If we allow you to fight for us then it will be as it was before you returned. We should own the defence of our land or we are not men. I will leave Wide Water well defended but we will bring a hundred warriors.” He smiled and toasted Penda. “If the Saxons and the Hibernians fight for us then our people should too. This land is worth fighting for! We will not lose it a second time”

  The feast was the first occasion where our men had supped together and it surprised me how well it went. Hogan Lann and I had worried that it would result in drunken fights which might disrupt the harmony of the army. It did not and warriors found that they had much in common. I thanked the spirits again for their advice.

  Perhaps the gods had watched our celebration for they gave us a sunny morning as we headed north for Civitas Carvetiorum. The first part was as hard as I remembered as we snaked our way along narrow passes with precipitous drops and threatening rock falls. However it brought back the happy memories of serving King Urien and holding back the first invasions of the Saxons.

  Penda commented on the land. “I see why it appeals to your people. You tend sheep and you like mountains. I cannot understand why the Northumbrians are willing to bleed for it.”

  Hogan Lann smiled, “Oh we have made them bleed over the years and that is why they are a little more cautious these days.”

  Our horsemen reached Civitas Carvetiorum before dark. Gawan had left a small garrison of twenty men and we were welcomed. It was very late when the weary spearmen dragged themselves into its walls and collapsed into the barracks which had been there since the time of the Romans. The bright sunny day had turned into a chilly night and we were all grateful for a roof over our heads.

  Aedh and his scouts left early the next day to await Gawan at the estuary. Myrddyn and I left the others to find Osric’s cell. We had hidden there before now when threatened by Saxons and so it was a place of safety for us both. More than that, it was the depository for all things valuable. We went alone for we knew where the secret chamber lay. Brothers Osric and Oswald had told us that it went back to the time of the Romans and that the legions based there had secured their treasures in its vaults. We used them now, ourselves. When we discovered a fort we looked for the secret vault and used it. We had treasure in every Roman fort we found. Hogan Lann would be given that knowledge when he became Warlord.

  I had not been here in many years. I was not sure if Prince Pasgen had taken anything from it. I left Pol to guard the door and then we opened the secret door leading to the chamber. Myrddyn had a candle and it flickered in the musty subterranean air. There were four large chests and one smaller one with a carving of one of King Urien’s equites upon its lid. I did not remember seeing it before. We lifted the small one out, for it was locked and then opened the larger boxes. The first contained bracelets, jewels and torcs. Some looked ancient and some looked Saxon. They were worth a fortune. The second one was filled with gold and silver coins. Many of them had the heads of Roman Emperors upon them. The final chest had the biggest surprises within. There were maps, all written in Osric’s hand, and plans for weapons like the ballista and onager.

  Myrddyn chuckled. “Osric had more foresight than any man I ever knew.”

  We clambered out and dusted ourselves down. Myrddyn examined the small box. It was locked. He stroked his beard and then reached into his satchel. He had various keys. He tried them one by one. The third one worked and it popped open. Inside there were the bones of a hand, a ring and a folded piece of calfskin. Myrddyn carefully took out the calfskin and laid it on the table. He unfolded it as though it might tear. We both saw the signature at the bottom and looked at each other. Osric was speaking with us.

  I write this record knowing that my death is close at hand. I have served my masters well: I devoted my life to God, I helped King Coel and King Urien to protect the frontier and I kept alive the Roman ways. I have done my duty.

  To that end I have hidden the treasure of Rheged in the old Roman fortress of Luguvalium. The map will help someone to find it. I believe that God will direct some unborn hand to this end. I have buried it with St. Brigid’s hand and ring as a way of telling the finder of the treasure. If the hand is not with this map then the barbarians have won and the treasure of Rheged is lost forever.

  I go to God with a clear conscience,

  Osric of Rheged

  “But why, Myrddyn, did he leave the small casket here? Surely it should be somewhere else ready to lead the finder here.”

  “He must have died before he could do so but we can hide it for him.” Myrddyn searched around for some ink and a scribe.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Osric is not the only one who can tell the future. Find me some calfskin. Osric always kept some hidden about the place.”

  I rummaged around the drawers and cupboards which had been torn open by thieves hoping to find treasure. They had not known how close they were to a treasure greater than any other. I found a few pieces of usable skin and returned to Myrddyn.

  “Good, now while I write I want you to go into the chamber and bring up enough coins to fit in this. Make sure it is a mixture of all types.” He handed me a leather purse.

  I was not sure what he was up to but I knew him well enough to trust him. By the time I returned he had finished. He held up the second piece of calfskin and it looked identical to the first. “Why have you made a copy?”

  “Read it and you will see it is not an exact copy.”

  I write this record knowing that my death is close at hand. I have served my masters well: I devoted my life to God, I helped King Coel and King Urien to protect the frontier and I kept alive the Roman ways. I have done my duty.

  The barbarians are coming and I fear that the Warlord will not be able to hold them back forever. I believe with all my heart that there will come a hero as Lann of Stanwyck came from obscurity to hold back the Angles and the Saxons. It will not be in my lifetime.

  To that end I have hidden the treasure of Rheged in the old Roman fortress of Luguvalium. The map will help someone to find it. I believe that God will direct some unborn hand to this end. I have buried it with St. Brigid’s hand and ring as a way of telling the finder of the treasure. If the hand is not with this map then the barbarians have won and the treasure of Rheged is lost forever. The priests in this church know not what I do and when I return north they will still be none the wiser.

  The true hero will be from the same stock as Lann of Stanwyck and, in him, is the hope for Britannia.

  I go to God with a clear conscience,

  Osric of Rheged

  “Why?”

  “I am gambling on the future. I hope that we will win and free Rheged but if not then we know that we will not be here to remedy the situation. Either your son, or one of his children or grandchildren will grow to be a warrior an
d if he reads this he may see his own destiny.”

  “But you cannot be sure.”

  “No I cannot. Think on this. What have we got to lose? A religious relic, a ring and a bag of coins? It is nothing but if it leads one of your descendants here then he will discover the treasure and that may save the land in the future.”

  I folded the letter and put it under the bones, the ring and the coins. I closed the box and gave it to Myrddyn. “You will need to guide my sons when I am dead. They will need to know what they must do for their sons. This knowledge must be passed from father to son.”

  As he took the box Myrddyn said, “I swear that I will watch over our sons and their children so long as I live. And when I die then my spirit will guide them.”

  “Thank you.”

  A sudden thought hit me. “And what of my spirit? Shall I be able to guide them?”

  “I know not. The spirit is strong in you but perhaps it runs on your mother’s side. Your mother was a follower of the Mother cult. That goes back to the Druids and beyond. Perhaps it will be from the mother’s side.”

  “You mean Nanna or Delbchaem.”

  He nodded, “Or perhaps Hogan Lann’s daughter.”

  “Then they must be told what to do too.”

  He sighed, “You are giving an old man a great deal of work.” There was a twinkle in his eye. He was the one man in the whole world I could trust to watch over my children. He would not let me down.

  Pol stared at us when we emerged. “I thought you had gone forever. What did you find to do in such a small room?”

  I smiled at Myrddyn, “Save Rheged!”

  Chapter 13

  Myrddyn took the box and went away to secrete it somewhere safe. I knew he would make sure he placed it in a church where it could be easily found. Hogan Lann and Lann Aelle sought me out. “Perhaps we can go and inspect the work of my son’s warriors. Gawan had told me that his warriors had worked hard to block the gates.”

  All of us were keenly aware that we were in danger of being surrounded if the men Dál Riata decided to fall upon our flank. The three of us took Pol and twenty of his squires as an escort. We did not think that there would be enemies but it paid to be careful.

  As we were leaving Penda asked us, “Could I accompany you? I have heard of this mighty wall. I am not sure that I believe it.”

  I smiled, “It is real but come and see for yourself.”

  Parts of the wall had fallen into disrepair, especially close to the fort but Gawan’s men had made them good. However they did not look as awe inspiring as they were closer to the high ground. They were as high as two men and five men could have walked abreast along it. Even so Penda found the scale of the wall beyond belief. He looked at the mighty structure rolling endlessly eastwards. “Men must have toiled for lifetimes to produce this.”

  “No, Penda, the legion took less than ten years to build it.” I pointed to the blocked up gates. “Those gates were there to allow people through but they were people that Rome wanted. They stopped cattle raids and slave raids. They allowed the Romans to tax all who passed in and out of their lands.”

  He nodded. “Perhaps I will speak with King Cadwallon. It would be in both of our interests to build such a barrier between our kingdoms.”

  Wyrd! The spirits were moving men’s minds. I knew not how they did it. We rode for twenty miles and were happy about the condition of the wall. To save time we came along the Roman military road which ran south of the wall. Once again Penda found himself admiring the work of the Romans.

  “I cannot see how they were defeated.”

  Hogan Lann and Pol had both been in Constantinopolis and knew the story. “The problem lay in the cities which became corrupt and their rulers who became greedy. The soldiers and warriors on the border still fought for their country but they were let down by their leaders.”

  Penda looked from me to Hogan Lann and back. “I cannot see your leaders ever making that mistake.”

  I smiled at Hogan Lann. He would not understand my words but once I was dead Myrddyn would explain them. “So long as our blood courses through our veins then Rheged will always have hope.”

  The first of the ships arrived six days later. It gave us time to recover and to ensure that the horses were fit. It took a day to unload the ships but by the third morning we were ready to begin our eastward march. Aedh and his scouts left before dawn had even broken. They would operate deep in the heart of the Northumbrian kingdom. Aedh knew it well and no one would find him unless he wanted them to.

  Tuanthal’s men led followed by the archers, then the spearmen and finally the equites. We had sent the message to King Cadwallon as soon as we had arrived and the day that we set off I knew that he would heading up the road to join us as soon as he received the message. He had fewer men and would be able to make better time.

  Our plan was to reach Hagustald and take that important crossing of the Tineus. That would give us a base from which to delve deeper into Northumbria. At the same time we would send the equites to capture the crossing at Chesters. That was the site of the battle against Aella where Aelle, my brother, had lost his arm. If we held those two crossings then we would divide Northumbria in two. There we would await the arrival of King Cadwallon. We wanted the impact of the flag of Cymru along with the wolf standard and the dragon banner to terrify the Northumbrians. Our numbers were less than the army which King Edwin could field but we hoped to dazzle him with the enemies he would face. The Mercian standard might be the one which would worry him the most.

  Aedh’s scouts reported back each day. We had spare horses but I wondered at the endurance of these remarkable horsemen who could ride all day, seemingly without sleep. They reported a small force of Northumbrians at Hagustald guarding the crossing of the river.

  We reached Hagustald and Aedh himself met us. He looked exhausted and exultant at the same time. “I rode as far as Din Guardi. Edwin has emptied his land and headed south to face King Cadwallon. The fortress has a skeleton garrison.”

  I shook my head, “I have been inside that fortress. I could hold it with twenty men.”

  Morcar chirruped, “Myrddyn could fly us in!”

  Everyone laughed but Myrddyn and I knew the truth. That still might aid us. “We will cross that bridge when we come to it. That is two battles away, at least. What of Hagustald?”

  “There is a garrison there. No more than forty warriors. There appears to be the beginnings of a church and they are robbing stone from the wall to build it.”

  “Can it be taken easily?”

  Aedh had not been to Constantinopolis but he had a good mind for strategy. “We could take it as we did the monastery on the Lune. We would need to use archers and spearmen.”

  Daffydd and Bors looked at each other and nodded. Bors said, “Aye, we could do that but are we worried if the word is out about where we are?”

  Hogan Lann shook his head. “Now that we are here then the need for secrecy is gone. King Cadwallon will be here in a day or so. If any escape then they will report a couple of hundred archers and spearmen. It will not alarm them. When we strike at Dunelm and Din Guardi then they will know that we are coming but by then it will be too late. It is a long march from the borders of Mercia to here. Remember the Northumbrians do not use horses. They will have to march.” He nodded towards me, “The Warlord has thought this through well, Bors, have faith!”

  We camped at the old deserted Roman fort they had called Broccolitia. There were no roofs on the buildings but the walls sheltered us from the wind. It was built on little bumps and mounds and Myrddyn chuckled when I commented on that.

  “The Roman soldiers had a sense of humour for the name Broccolitia means Badger Holes.”

  The warriors were all busy preparing themselves for the attack the following day. Although only a couple of hundred of the seven hundred or so warriors we had with us would actually be attacking we all knew that we might have to defend as soon as we had taken the two crossings. We still did not
know for certain that Edwin had taken the bait.

  I sat with Myrddyn, Morcar and Morgause. I had had little time to talk to the young girl with whom Morcar was besotted. She had prepared the food and I found that she was a good cook. Her skill with herbs and wild plants meant that the mundane meal I had expected was enlivened by strange new tastes. I was a little worried, especially in light of Carac but as she ate at the same time as us my fears were allayed. I was becoming cynical. She was but a young girl.

  After we had finished and we sat by the fire listening to the warriors sharpening blades and oiling armour I asked her about her capture. “Tell me Morgause, where did you live on Mona?”

  “We lived in a cave above Trearrdur.”

  I frowned, “That is not far from the fort at the bridge.”

  She nodded, “We did not bother the warriors and they did not know we were there. My mother did not like men.”

  “There was just you and your mother then?”

  “No, there were two sisters too, Morwenna and Morgana. They were older.”

  “And how did you come to be taken?”

  “We had gone down to the beach at Porthdafarch to collect shellfish at low tide. It was before dawn and the Saxon ship was lying off shore. We did not see the men until it was too late. They silenced us and took us on board their ship.”

  “The warriors did not see them.”

  She shook her head. Morcar said, “It sounds to me like they were scouting the defences of the fort.”

  “I agree and I like it not. When we return I will enforce patrols of the beaches at night. Go on with your story.”