Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 04] Saxon Blood

by Griff Hosker

  Myrddyn saw me watching her. “There is little point in fighting Sucellos my lord. You need a woman to run things here and she is good woman. She cannot replace Aideen and she never will. That part of you, along with your dead daughter, is protected and cannot be harmed. Myfanwy can see to your physical needs. Besides, Hogan likes her and he needs a mother still. He may be a man or almost a man but there is a still a boy within that body.”

  “So Myrddyn, you would be a matchmaker too?”

  “I think of this land of Mona and what is best for it. You will never be King of Mona but you have no need to be. You will rule this land as long as you choose and I am merely trying to make that rule pass to your son. Myfanwy will help that succession.”

  I sat in the solar, long after the rest had retired, running Myrddyn’s words over in my head. He was right and I knew it.

  Part 2

  Wales

  Chapter 8

  It was a week before Raibeart was up to riding and even them Maiwen and Myfanwy tried to prevent it. They only gave their permission when Myrddyn agreed to travel with us and because Aelle was also riding. We planned on travelling along the northern coast and then staying at the fort at the Narrows, Mungo’s Burgh. We could then return along the southern coast and they would have a picture of the whole island. Pasgen and some of his equites escorted us although we did not need such a heavily armed presence with the Narrows so well guarded. I think they wanted, still, to be seen as needed and as they had no families the stronghold brought back too many unpleasant memories of lost wives and children.

  I could tell that both my brothers liked what they saw. I remembered my first view of this golden isle and I understood it. “But brother, what of the people who are here?”

  “Look around you, Aelle. Can you see hundreds of huts and farms? No. Are there people living close to each other? No. We pass one clutch of huts and then see no more for many miles. There is room enough. We just have to be careful. Your people will want to be close together and I wish to avoid displacing anyone. We will sit with Oswald and use pen and parchment to make sense of this. But we have only seen one third of the isle as yet.”

  We reached Mungo’s Burgh at the Narrows. Mungo was the leader of the men of Strathclyde who had tried to hold Deva for me. They had built and now defended the fort which guarded the main entrance to the island. The bridge was a vital link as well as being a crucial point of defence. Normally Tuanthal kept his horsemen there to patrol but since the rescue that warrior hall remained empty.

  Mungo had briefly seen us when we returned but now he made us really welcome. He and his brethren brewed a lethal alcoholic drink which we had used before to start fires. We drank well that night. The following day, with thick heads aplenty we discussed the state of the fort.

  “The problem is, Warlord, that we do get raids on the mainland from those animals you scoured when you first came. By the time my men get over there they are gone and we have lost three families of settlers already this year.”

  Aelle smiled, “Part of the answer is simple brother. Build a fort on the other side of the Narrows. It will provide shelter when there is a raid and the men from there can patrol the mainland.”

  “I do not have enough men for that and we are still not swift enough. I need some of Tuanthal’s men.”

  I suddenly saw Prince Pasgen smile and I realised that it was the first time since we had been reunited that I had seen him happy. “I have a solution. If some of Mungo’s men guard this new fort I can base my equites there and we can patrol the mainland side of the Narrows.” We looked at each other, wondering about the wisdom of that. His eyes pleaded with me. “We would love to do this and Wyddfa reminds me of Rheged. No offence to Mona but it is flat after the mountains of Rheged and I know that my equites would like it too.”

  Raibeart coughed and said, “And I know that many of my people are mountain people and they would like to settle there too.”

  I looked at my brother. I had hoped that he would be closer to my home. “And you Raibeart where would you choose to live?”

  “I am happy to live here or closer to you although I suspect my wife may prefer the security of your stronghold brother. She gets on well with Myfanwy.” He shrugged. “I was, as you were Lann, a shepherd. Pasgen can be the shepherd of my people too. I would trust him with my life so why not that of my people.”

  Everyone looked at me for an answer. Myrddyn shifted in his seat. “I cannot see a flaw in it Warlord. Except, perhaps, that the King of Gwynedd, may object to more settlers in his land.”

  “Then I will have to speak with him. We can go ahead with this. Myrddyn and Raibeart can go back to bring any of Raibeart’s people who wish to come and we will begin to build the fort. We will also need Brother Oswald the builder too!”

  The next day I left with Aelle, Pasgen and Myrddyn to scout the land on the other side of the Narrows. Although I had camped, fought and killed there, I had never looked at the place as a defensive site. It was perfect. The mountain crashed steeply down to the sea and, in places was a bare one hundred paces wide. We chose one of the narrowest sites on the strip of land which was still close to the pontoon bridge. It was a mile or so to the north. We chose it because it meant the smallest amount of building while still protecting the precious bridge. Although Myrddyn had his own ideas about building he respected the engineer enough to await his arrival. Instead we went to find a source of stone. There was little point in building in wood when we had the scree from Wyddfa to take. We found more than enough and Myrddyn could see that we could quarry the larger stones from a site quite close to the new fort.

  Prince Pasgen seemed to have become a different person since the idea had been broached. He was full of ideas, enthusiasm and humour. It was as though he had been reborn once he had crossed to the island. When we returned to Mungo’s Burgh we began to plan how the arrangement would work. We decided that Mungo would control the Mona side and the mainland would be under the control of Prince Pasgen. For the first time since he had been ousted by his brother he had purpose and he had his own lands.

  When Raibeart, Oswald and his people returned I was taken aback. There were thirty families who wished to risk the mainland. Prince Pasgen, too, was touched. “I promise you that I will defend you and your homes as my father, King Urien, The Great, protected Rheged.”

  As much as the people adored Raibeart the fact that a son of the king of Rheged was so passionate about their welfare made them his people. There were not many of them, but he now had his retainers and he never let them down. I stayed for a few days to help the process of building. The fort came first and then the homes. Brother Oswald suggested a wall which went to the sea and to the cliff making a barrier through which no man could travel without the permission of Prince Pasgen. It was similar in concept to the Roman Wall in Rheged. We almost had the plans for it already. I approved for it made Mona that little bit safer.

  I left with Aelle, Pol and Hogan to complete our circuit of the island. Raibeart wanted to bed his people in and he had made his choice. When he returned he would have a safe home built within my mighty walls.

  Aelle, too was taken with the beauty of the place, “This is truly an island like the Christian one of Eden. I can not find fault with any of it.”

  “You have yet to experience a raid from the Hibernians but you are right brother. I think that Wyrd had a hand in this. It is almost as though it was made for us.” I nodded to Myrddyn. “Myrddyn’s arrival was determined by forces beyond our world brother.”

  “I think I will do as Raibeart did and let my people choose where they wish to live. With your permission I will do as you did and take them on a tour of the island. Do I have your approval?”

  “Of course you do and to confirm that approval then my son Hogan Lann will accompany you. It is time he became my heir.” I swear that I saw Hogan grow inches when I said that.

  I spent a week back at my stronghold with Garth, Tuanthal and Miach. We had new warriors to recrui
t to fill the gaps left by the dead. Tuanthal was happy that he could now roam the island with his men. As he said it meant that should we be invaded by either Saxon or Hibernian then he would be close to them and able to respond quicker. Miach wanted the arrow production increased as it was easier to produce more arrows than train the archers which he needed. Garth was just pleased with the arms and armour we had captured. The Saxon bodyguards had been particularly well armed and any new warriors would be impressively arrayed.

  Myfanwy haunted me. Wherever I was she was close to hand; watching and observing. If she thought I was working too hard then she would show her displeasure with a look, or a tut or a beaker banged on a table. My men all cast me wry grins when she did so. Eventually I had had enough. If Myrddyn had been there then I would have sought his advice but he was busy building Pasgen Fort.

  I plucked up the courage to corner her close to my chambers where we could not be disturbed. It took me some days to do so. I, who could face odds of ten to one, could not beard a woman in my own den! And they say that women are the weaker of the sexes!

  “Myfanwy you are belittling me in front of my men and I want it to stop now!”

  If I expected a storm in response to my attack I was wrong. Instead she became demure. She became a fireside kitten and not the vicious mother cat defending her young. “How, my lord? All I desire is to serve you.”

  “And you do this by scowling at me! You almost break beakers when you put them down on the table and you show your displeasure in many other different ways.”

  “My lord. I care for you. Surely you know that? And I want you to look after yourself.”

  Her pleading eyes made my resolve weaken. I was confused. “What is it you wish of me?”

  She came closer to me her hair smelling of rosemary and she said, with a twinkle in her eye, “I would be your wife.” I was so taken aback I had no answer and I mutely nodded my agreement. I am not certain it would have made any difference if I had objected.

  We were married a week later. Apparently everyone in the stronghold, Hogan included, expected it. I had been the only one oblivious to what was going on. To be truthful it was one of the best things I ever did. She was a good wife, a wild bed mate and a good housekeeper; added to that she was as good a mother to Hogan as one could have wished. If there was a bargain then I came out with the better half. We spent a day alone and then she sent me off to do my work. “Go and see to the new fort. It will soon be autumn and we will have long nights to get to know each other better. Now is the time to prepare the defences of your land.”She was a very practical woman.

  When Pol, Hogan and I reached the fort I was impressed with the progress. The wall leading to the sea and the cliff had been finished as had the main wall and the gate. Men were busily digging the first ditch. Brother Oswald greeted me joyfully. “The stone here is magnificent. It fractures exactly where you want it to and the sand makes for perfect mortar. We are building a wall with towers to the south of the bridge. It will be much like a smaller version of the one in Rheged but it will allow us to defend the bridge from any attacks from the south.”

  Hogan was particularly interested in seeing how the fort would be built. He had been but a child when we had left Rheged and the massive stone structures of the Romans were a mystery to him. Brother Oswald loved nothing more than to explain, to anyone who would listen, how the buildings worked and why he did what he did.

  “You see, Hogan Lann, we have to dig deep foundations and provide a wide base upon which to build the walls. There we will put more stone supports to carry the tower that we shall build there.”

  “Why build a tower there?”

  “That is a good question which shows that you are developing an enquiring mind. The tower can protect the section of the wall leading to the sea as well as protecting this corner of the fort. There will be two more towers around the gatehouse.”

  “And the ditch?”

  “This is the first of our two ditches. The second will be deeper and we will have a wooden bridge which can be placed over the ditch to allow ingress and egress but be raised during conflict. The two walls will be well apart to protect both sides of the bridge.”

  I had heard it all before and I left the two of them to it. Pol and I headed south towards the land which had been dominated by the wild tribe who terrorised the area before out arrival. Already there were one or two families there. Raibeart’s warriors had helped them to build their simple huts and we stopped to speak with them. “Is the land to your liking?”

  “Aye Warlord. Lord Raibeart has promised that he will get us some sheep and then we will be truly happy.” The man, a veteran by the scars on his face, nodded towards the fort. “We are mighty glad to have that so close by, Warlord.”

  His wife nodded and gripped her husband’s arm. “We will be protected should the Saxons come again.”

  “I doubt that it will be Saxons who trouble us. We are as far from Saxon land as it is possible to get. I hope you prosper here and you have Prince Pasgen to watch over you.”

  The veteran shook his head. “It should have been him who was king and then we would still be living in Rheged.” Many of the refugees from Rheged felt the same way about the anointed king who had failed them.

  As we continued our ride I knew that he was right about Pasgen making a better king but not so sure that he would have halted the Saxon incursion. They were like the fleas on a dog and more were still coming from their lands across the sea. We were lucky to be so far to the west and away from their immediate threat. I did not doubt that one day they would threaten our borders but it would probably not be in my lifetime and by then our defences would make those of Rheged seem like wooden huts.

  By the end of the week the fort was almost habitable. Pol, Hogan and I had ridden patrols with Prince Pasgen and I was impressed by how quickly he had come to know the land he now controlled. “There are many small passes where we can build small towers to control them. We will need more warriors of course but every woman for miles around is with child.”

  “And your men? How are they?”

  He smiled. “Two have found widows from the wars and they are happy now. Soon, I hope that more of my men will take wives for their children will be mighty warriors.”

  “And do not forget to think of yourself Pasgen.”

  “I will. Perhaps there will be a Myfanwy who takes me in hand too!” Pol and Hogan laughed. Would I forever be singled out for ridicule? And then I smiled; I could live with them laughing about my love life so long as they took me seriously as a leader.

  When we returned to the camp at the fort there was a messenger awaiting us. It was a monk from the monastery. He bowed his head. “I have some sad news to impart Warlord. Bishop Asaph has died. He did not suffer and he remembered you at the last.” He gave a smile as he inclined his head, “He asked me to bring you the news.”

  “He knew he was dying?”

  “Aye, my lord, and he was prepared for the end of his life. He put everything in order and just smiled as he made his peace with God.”

  “He was a good man and I shall miss him.”

  “He liked you too Warlord and always said that you were the most Christian man who was not a Christian!”

  “I think that is a compliment. Will you stay and eat with us?”

  “No Warlord, I have to get back to the monastery but I have more news. King Iago is coming too. He should be here tomorrow. He stayed at the monastery for the funeral of the bishop.”

  “Thank you for that news.” We raced back to Prince Pasgen. “We had better prepare for visitors. We have the King of Gwynedd arriving tomorrow. The fort is not ready we had better take them to Mungo’s Burgh and they can stay in the warrior hall.”

  “I will go and prepare it.”

  I looked at Pol and Hogan, “And we will see what we can hunt for the feast. Bring three spare pack horses in case we are lucky.”

  We headed up into the forests which lined the base of Wyddfa. As ther
e were so few people living nearby, the wooded heights teemed with game. My son and my former squire were both skilled hunters. While Hogan’s skills with a bow could not match mine or Pol’s he was a silent stalker and could get so close that any inaccuracy was not a problem. We bagged six deer of varying sizes and rode back to the bridge. Once we reached it we could see frenetic activity amongst the men of Strathclyde and the Rheged horsemen. The two leaders were both taking the arrival of the king very seriously.

  They had, indeed, made the warrior hall fit for a king. There was fresh hay on the floors and pitchers of water spread around. The doors had been opened to let the breeze make it smell fresher. The fireplace was ready with logs and the whole hall had been decked with fragrant herbs. It might not be a palace but it was better than a tent or a field.

  We awaited the arrival of King Iago on the rocks by the Narrows. Oswald and Myrddyn still had men working hard on the fort but the wizard waited with me and Prince Pasgen. Pol had the banner unfurled and Hogan had polished my armour until it shone like silver. I could see that the king had brought many men with him as they snaked along the narrow coastal road. We could see them many miles before they reached us and I was glad that we had prepared the warrior hall. We would need all the accommodation we could manage. We had counted them before they arrived and knew that there were two hundred men with King Iago. Only a handful of men rode and the rest were doughty looking warriors who marched in mail shirts with shields across their backs..

  King Iago was about the same age as I was. He had a chestnut or red tinge to his beard and I later heard that as a young warrior he had been called Red Beard but now he preferred the name Red Dragon. His standard was a red dragon on a green field and looked impressive. Behind him rode Cadfan who smiled and nodded at us when he came closer.

  I bowed. “Welcome King Iago. We have prepared accommodation on the island if that suits you.”