by Griff Hosker
“I am just glad that the bluff worked! Come let us use the Praetorium to discuss what must be done.”
When we were seated around the table we were crowded as the room was small but I enjoyed the intimacy. I felt that it made us closer both physically and strategically. There was much outrage, especially from Prince Pasgen about the treachery from an ally. My brothers said little. Hogan, for the first time at such a meeting was quite outspoken. “We teach this King of Gwynedd a lesson. We know our men are superior to his. We know that are our arms are the best. Let us defeat him and conquer the kingdom!”
Prince Pasgen clapped him about his broad shoulders. “Here we have a true warrior of Rheged! If my son had lived I would he had been as you are.”
“Any other comments?”
Hogan and Pasgen desperately looked around for support. Miach said, “We have still to replace the archers we lost. I know that they were a small number but they take time to train.”
“The bolt throwers worked well.”
“I know Prince Pasgen, but they need the enemy to attack us. I am quite happy to stay on the defensive and let the enemy bleed upon our walls. I am just uncertain about our ability to go to war and bring them to battle on the open field.” I pointed to the west. “Even now we have depleted our forces on the island. We have to build up our army. We knew we would have to do it anyway for the Saxons would return but this means we have to do this thing urgently. So long as they outnumber us then we will defend.”
“Perhaps we need do nothing about King Iago.”
We all stared at Myrddyn. He rarely said anything which had not been soundly thought out and I waited for him to continue.
“Young Hogan is right; the men of Gwynedd cannot compare with our men. They have just fought two battles with the Saxons and they are in no position to fight us. It is coming on to winter and this is no land to fight when there is snow on Wyddfa. We need do nothing but watch and be vigilant. The Saxons will return and they will come set on revenge. They will want Iago and they will want you. Iago was not interested in Mona before because the Hibernians kept attacking and his men or his father’s men got wet each time they were summoned to repulse them. He had no trade. Look at him now; he has no ports and lives far from the sea. It was Lord Lann who made the island attractive by building our bridge and defeating the Hibernians. He built up trade and made the island a safe place. It is why the ones who were here already do not resent us.” He paused to allow his words to sink in. “We build up our forces and let the two armies destroy each other.”
“That is not particularly noble.”
“Was it noble Prince Pasgen when your father was murdered and your family slaughtered? It is war and war is not a game. The Warlord knows that and I am certain that is the reason your father named him Warlord. You need a warlord who understands war and how to win. Lord Lann does.”
“Any other comments?” While listening I had made my decision. “We will build up the army. Calum will be responsible for the warriors here. Miach I want your best archer to take charge of the archers, slingers and bolt throwers based here. We will increase numbers when you have trained them. Until I say otherwise every freshly trained man comes here. We also need to stay ahead of the enemy with our weapons. I want every man in the shield wall to have a helmet with cheek guards. They will all have a leather padded coat beneath their armour. Pol nearly died because of a dagger. I want half of Prince Pasgen’s equites and half of Tuanthal’s men arming with a spear which is three paces long. Like the lance they used to scar the White Christ.”
“Are you becoming a Christian brother?”
“No Raibeart but I had time, at the monastery, to look at the paintings and that was on one of them. I saw how it could be used to reach beyond the enemies own spears. They will also have the biggest horses for I want the horses mailed too. We need the equites to be as heavily armoured as the shield wall.”
“Is that all?” Tuanthal shook his head. “Where will we get the horses? The armour? Neither are cheap.”
“No captain, it is just the start and you are right, they are not cheap. Raibeart and Aelle, you need to get your people to produce as much of whatever it is they produce so that we can sell it at the markets and then buy leather for the coats and iron for the armour. I know that we can go back and dig up the treasure from the field of death but not yet. I want us to become the people the whole world trades with.”
I paused for breath, if nothing else. Captain Calum asked, more for clarification than anything, “So we stay behind the walls and do nothing?”
“Not quite. Captain Tuanthal I want you to take your equites on a long patrol to find King Iago and see what he is up to.”
Prince Pasgen went bright red and leapt to his feet. “That is the job of my equites!”
I was not a man to shout and I said, “Sit down!” It was said firmly and without shouting but he must have seen my face for he did as he was told. “You will do as I say or you will be replaced. Your job is to keep the mainland and the bridge safe. Tuanthal can be spared from the island you cannot. Do you think I can afford to have a handful of men defending this fort when King Iago could be around the corner? This is not your personal battle. You will have to man the southern wall as well as the fort. Mungo and his men will have to keep the bridge on their side of the narrows and you could be cut off at any time. I need you here. I need you in charge not being a hero and getting your men killed!”
He paled and Aelle said, “That is cruel brother!”
“Having a death wish when men follow you is cruel.” I softened. “This is no game Pasgen. You are a good leader. You are like your father and not your brother but you have to begin to think of the bigger picture and not just what you are doing moment to moment.”
He nodded, “You are right and you were right to say it. My father chose well Lord Lann. I am sorry.”
“There is nothing to apologise for. In this room we can all say what we want.” I pointed at the door. “Out there we do not argue; in here it is a different matter. One last thing; I intend to get Gwynfor to try to get us two ships. I want to be able to reinforce here even without the bridge and Brother Oswald told me that we can put bolt throwers on the ships as the Romans did. I would use the ships as a floating fort.” I paused again. “I have spoken much. Does anyone want to speak?” I had come up with these ideas whilst lying in the monastery hay loft and I had had to get them all out in case I forgot any.
There was silence but I was gratified to see smiles from all of them. They had approved of my words. Myrddyn said, “I think that King Urien and Brother Osric would be more than happy with their choice of leader. You have grown Warlord.”
Later when I was travelling back with Hogan, Pol and Myrddyn my son kept looking at me strangely. “Have I grown two heads son?”
“No father but I saw a different Warlord tonight. You frightened me at times and yet excited me beyond words at others. How did you think of all those things?”
“Every waking moment I am thinking of my people. We may not live in Rheged any longer and we may have acquired others but they are all my people and my responsibility. I have no time to think of me. I have others to think of and so my mind works all the time.” I nodded at Myrddyn, “And I have had two good teachers. You can learn even when you are a man my son. Remember that.”
I could hear Hogan telling Pol everything which had transpired during the meeting. Despite the tempers and raised voices I felt happier. Today all my men knew where we were going and that we were together. Raibeart and Aelle were heading back to their people to be leaders in a different way from before and they were both happy about that. Aelle had long since been a leader of people rather than a war leader and Raibeart’s wound had made him realise his own mortality. Neither man wanted war and that suited me. I was the brother who was the warrior and nothing would change that. My men had also thrown themselves into the new conflict. Tuanthal was already riding the foothills of Wyddfa while Miach and Pasgen were
moulding a mighty army to withstand the hordes of King Iago and the men of Gwynedd.
When I reached my stronghold I was tired but I knew I had one more journey to make before I could rest. Myfanwy took one look at my face and was about to berate me when Hogan, surprisingly put his arm around her and, after winking at me, led her away. “I think that the Warlord would like a decent meal tonight after he has visited Caergybi. Now I thought….”
Myrddyn laughed, “Your son is growing up and handles women far better than his father ever did!”
“You are right. Come Pol, one more ride to the port and then you may rest for a few days and Myrddyn can heal your wound.”
The word had reached Gwynfor and Gareth of the ambush and the concern on their faces was touching. “He was always a bad ’un that Iago. I remember when he was a young man he would tear up the countryside whoring and carrying on as though he was a brigand instead of the son of the king. He was not like his father. There was a real king who kept his people safe.”
“What I need, from both of you are your thoughts on ways to increase trade and how to buy two ships.”
They looked at each other and Gareth said, “If you get the ships then trade will increase because there are places who don’t trade with us yet and we could make profits from them.”
“And I think we could build a ship. It depends on how big you want it.”
“It should be able to sail to Gaul at least.”
“It will cost timber and there is precious little here.”
“How about,” suggested Myrddyn, “we build a saw mill on the mainland and we build the ship in the Narrows.”
“Aye we could do that. Old Tam, he is a shipwright. His sons both died. It would give him something to occupy his mind and stop him drinking.”
“Good. I leave that with you. Just tell Brother Oswald to get you whatever you need. Gareth, I have told my brothers to increase the production of everything. We need as much trade as you can create. The work you do is as valuable as that of any soldier.”
He swelled with pride. “I’ll not let you down Warlord.”
Once Hogan and I returned to the stronghold I set about, with Brother Oswald, to work out how to improve the defences. We were many miles from King Iago and the Saxons but I remembered that the Hibernians had raided us before and with so few men to defend our land we needed the strongest walls that we could.
There were just the three of us who ate together that night. Myrddyn and Brother Oswald were busily planning walls and ditches. They were both in their element. Myfanwy watched with satisfaction as my son and I devoured all the food she had ordered for us. Although we had cooks she supervised the cooking and watched the whole process. The meal was as much hers as those who had toiled in our kitchens. “It is good to see my two men eating so well and it makes a change for us to be a family.”
I sensed criticism but I had learned, with Aideen, to keep my mouth shut. As I was eating this was not a problem. Hogan was much better with women than I was and he grinned at Myfanwy. “We get much bigger portions this way. I agree with Myfanwy, father. Let us keep it private all the time.”
“No, Hogan, I did not mean that. I know that the Warlord has many duties but I think every now and then we should be alone when we eat.”
I had finished my food and I sat back. “I think that is an excellent idea. We entertain too much anyway.” I was grateful to Hogan for his intervention. Once again he had steered me in the right direction. I looked over at him. He was now a man. He was as tall as I was and nearly as broad. I struggled to remember his age but the number was irrelevant it was more important that he was ready for more responsibility. “Hogan, you are now almost full grown. You deserve more than to be just my squire. What would you wish to be?”
“I am happy to be your squire.”
“You and I know that you wish more. Be honest with me son. I always try to be honest when I speak. It is the only way.”
“I think I would be an equite. I envy Tuanthal when he goes off on his adventures.”
“It is more than an adventure Hogan. It is not a game.”
“I know and I do not mean to make light of it. I mean that I do not wish to compete with you. You are the Warlord and the master of the shield wall. I want to be my own man.” He paused. “Does that disappoint you?”
“No son. It makes me even more proud of you. When Tuanthal returns I will speak with him and you can begin your training as an equite.” I remembered my decision about heavier equites. “And I would look for a larger horse and then you can be one of the first to wield the long spear.” His face lit up and I noticed the nod of approval from Myfanwy. I was becoming better at this.
The next day the three of us, Pol, Hogan and me, rode through the island seeking bigger horses. It was only then that I realised that the only horses we had we had brought from Rheged. Hogan was as disappointed as I was when we reached Mungo’s Burgh and we had not seen a suitable mount. “I think that we will need to breed our own.”
Hogan’s face fell, “That will mean we will be without the horses we need!”
Pol pointed to the mainland, “Perhaps not. Remember Warlord, when we passed through the flat lands to the east of Deva there were larger horses pulling ploughs.”
“Plough horses!” snorted Hogan.
“I did not say our men would ride plough horses but if we bred them with our horses then the animals produced would have the best qualities of both.” Pol had trained Hogan and knew when to be patient and explain things; this was one such occasion.
Hogan brightened at that. “That sounds like a plan.”
“Except that the horse lands of which Pol speaks are now under the control of King Iago. Let us wait until Tuanthal reports and then we will know what we must do.”
Once we returned to my stronghold I spent the rest of the day talking with Myrddyn and Oswald. I was so engrossed in their plans that I lost all track of time until Pol, uncharacteristically, burst in shouting, “There is a messenger from Gareth. Mungo’s ship has been sighted!” He was suddenly aware of the stares of those in the room and he murmured, ”Sorry for the interruption but I thought….”
We all laughed. “Do not worry Pol. I would have been as excited. I will carry on this discussion this evening for I too, like keen young Pol, would like to find out if he was successful in his hunt for new warriors.”
We galloped hard to Caergybi and reached it quickly. It was a bare two miles hence. When we reined in Gareth was pointing at two ships which were edging into the port. “It seems he has brought friends.”
I was intrigued. The first ship I knew; it was the one he had set sail in but the other was new to me and had a different rig to the first. We made our way down to the quayside. As soon as the first ship touched, before they had even tied up, Mungo leapt from the side and almost picked me up. “It is good to see you Warlord and we have been more successful than you can possibly imagine!” He turned and roared, “Come on boys and meet the Warlord!”
The sides of the ship seemed filled with huge men, some armoured and others with just leather but they were all armed. They leapt beyond the poor seamen who were busy trying to tie up the ship. “Come let us take them away from here.” I pointed to the market square which was now empty. “We can meet them there.”
I was aware of many voices speaking in Mungo’s dialect. I felt like a stranger in my own land. I reached the square and stood at the steps. The second ship was disgorging its passengers and there appeared to be almost two hundred men who were coming to the square. I also noticed some and a few women with babes in arms. Mungo cleared a space around me and then raised his hands and there was silence. “This is Lord Lann, the Warlord of Rheged. I know you have all heard of him for that is the reason you sailed with me. Now that you see him in the flesh, do you still wish to serve him?”
There was a chorus of “Wolf Warrior!” and I wondered if this had been rehearsed.
“Good. Now the more difficult part. Warlord, do you w
ish this rabble to serve you as warriors?”
I do not think that Mungo thought I would answer in the negative but the men looked at me in a mixture of apprehension and awe. “Welcome brothers. I am honoured that you choose to fight with me.” I turned to Pol. “Take them to the warrior hall. Unfurl the banner.” He looked worried. “Do not worry, they are on our side.” I waved my arms to get the attention of the excitable warriors. “Follow Pol and the Wolf Banner and he will take you to my hall and your home until we get you settled.”
When they had left there seemed an unreal silence in the square and the bemused men and women of the port looked at the departing army. Mungo walked with me and I led Scout. “You have a tale my friend. Out with it.”
I could tell that he was eager for the telling; he began speaking as though it was a torrent of water from a waterfall. “We arrived unseen and the captain said he would find a port and meet us at the bay he had left us in four days time. We split up and all agreed to meet back at the anchorage in four days. I returned to my old village in the hills and found that it was burned and empty. I wondered if our trip had been in vain but suddenly, out of the forests, came many men. It seems that the Saxons had captured the villages and enslaved the women and children while the men were away fighting. Many of the men died as they tried to rescue their families but the families had been taken far away. As soon as I mentioned your name and Myrddyn’s then they wanted to join you. They begged me! Runners went to find other groups hiding in the hills and we made our way back to the meeting place. There were many others who wished to fight. They were the remnants of the army but most had lost their weapons and could no longer fight. When we reached the meeting place the ship was not there and we became worried in case something had happened to our ship. I did not fancy another walk through the country, especially without you and Myrddyn to guide us. The captain returned after three days and was full of apologies but it seems he had met a captain who was bemoaning the lack of trade. When he told him of the opportunities in Mona he and his crew volunteered to join us. That is why there are two ships but we were chased by some Saxon ships and had to sail to the west, out of sight of land to avoid them.”