by Griff Hosker
Pol stood, his mouth open, “Are you conjuring or making a spell?”
“No, I am getting us some hot food. Now it you want to help rather than asking foolish questions go outside and bring me in some snow to melt for water.”
I laughed at Pol as he scurried out, bright red. “It was natural you know given that you are a wizard.”
“And in all the years you have known me have you ever seen me with a cauldron, making spells?”
“Well no but…”
“Potions to heal? Yes I made those but I need no spells. I have magic within me. You do too Lord Lann although you do not know it. I hope that tonight you will see some of that magic and that power.”
As Myrddyn prepared our food I took a branch and set it alight. The walls had strange shapes painted on them. “Did you do these Myrddyn?”
“No they are from the time before man knew about time. They are from the first peoples who worshipped here at this mountain. This has been a holy place forever.”
“You have been here before then?”
“Many times. The first time was with my grandfather after my parents were killed. Each time I come here my power grows.”
Pol asked the question which was on my lips. “Then why not come here more often?”
“Even a wizard can only take so much power. If he has too much then it can destroy him. It is like that with kings. King Urien was content with the power he had and was comfortable with the king that he was. King Morcant Bulc wanted more power and he did not like who he was. It will be the same with King Iago. His father was happy with his power but Iago craves more. He defeated the Saxons and thinks he is invincible.” He suddenly looked at me, his green eyes piercing, it seems into my head and heart. “When you fight a battle do you always know that you will win?”
“Of course not. We have fought against great odds where I expected to lose but we always win. I know what you are trying to get me to say but I do not take for granted that we will win. You tell me you have not foreseen my death and that is comforting but I still fight and lead as though I could die at any moment.”
“And that is why you do not get beaten but King Iago believes that he cannot be beaten which is why he ran from your fort. He did not want to lose. You would not have run in the same position.” I remained silent and Pol looked at me. Myrddyn nodded towards me, “The Warlord would have worked out a way to defeat those in the fort and not rested until he had a plan. That is the difference. And now I shall sleep. Whatever you hear tonight Pol it will not harm you and if you do dream then remember those dreams.”
Pol looked at his empty bowl. “Did you give me a potion?”
Myrddyn laughed, “No I gave you rabbit stew. Now sleep.”
I must confess that I was both excited and afraid when I laid down on my sheepskin. The cave was, despite the cold outside, remarkably warm and the fire flickered and danced on the roof of the cave. It was mesmerizing and then….
A huge dragon rose from the fire and leapt to the roof of the cave. It seemed to fill the cave and its breath was monstrous and choking. Fire leapt out at me and I held my shield before me to ward off the flames. I heard Pol crying out and then Pol became Hogan and he was trying to escape but the dragon had him in his claws. I struggled to draw Saxon Slayer; my arms seemed incapable of holding it and suddenly I held it in my hand and I felt power surge through my body. I hacked at its claws but the sword, inexplicably bounced off and Hogan was screaming and then in his other claw I saw Myfanwy with our baby in her arms and she too was screaming. I hacked and slashed impotently at the dragon but its skin was too tough. I found that I could barely lift the sword.
Suddenly I felt a woman’s hand upon my shoulder. I turned and it was my mother. She whispered in my ear. “You must climb closer to the beast. You must take its head. Do not be afraid. Your armour will protect you and your sword is more powerful than you know. Believe in the blade and believe in yourself.” And then she was gone.
I climbed up the beast’s legs. His reptilian eyes sought me out and fixed me. His foul breath surged towards me and I held my shield up. The wood and the metal became so hot that it hurt but it did not break asunder. As I struggled to climb his chest I saw that his mouth could not burn me any longer and I lowered my shield and there I saw that his neck did not have the same scales as his legs. I drew back Saxon Slayer, even as Myfanwy and Hogan screamed in pain and I thrust it deep into the neck of the dragon. It twisted and turned and still I held on. Foul green blood gushed from the wound but I held on and its death throes began and it tossed its huge head from side to side. My sword was torn free but I held on to it and then I was falling, falling, and there was no bottom; I was falling into the pits of hell.
I was cold and I opened my eyes. Through the entrance of the cave I saw the first rays of the new dawn. I sat up and stared around. Where was the dead dragon? And then I saw Pol and Myrddyn watching me. My wizard had an amused look on his face but Pol looked at me in awe and wonder.
“You dreamt too Pol?”
“No my lord I watched as you fought the dragon and the beautiful lady handed you your sword and you slew the dragon that was as big as the mountain.”
“No Pol, that was a dream. I had one similar to that.”
“No, Warlord, you are wrong. It was real and I felt the heat and I heard the cries.”
“Myrddyn?”
“Who is to say that Pol does not have the second sight too and can see the future? What we saw or dreamt or heard is personal to each of us. Pol, you can never speak of this night. We are all joined by this bond.”
Pol nodded, his eyes still wide with wonder.
“But what did it mean Myrddyn?”
“It can mean many things Warlord,” he saw the look of annoyance which crossed my face. I did not like these games. “However I think that the dragon is King Iago and it means that he is the enemy and not the rest of his people.”
“You mean I should challenge him and kill him?”
He laughed, “Do you think, for one moment, that he would face the warrior who has killed more Saxon kings and champions than any other man? He would be a fool to do that and he is no fool. No it means that you must ruthlessly pursue your war against King Iago.”
Pol could not stop talking about his vivid dream in the cave and Myrddyn had to patiently explain that it had been a dream but the dead spirit he had witnessed was my dead mother. It changed his life that day as it did mine. The dream had been my most vivid and, like, Pol I had thought it had been real. I had smelled the brimstone!
There was great relief from all within the fort when we returned. I think all of them had thought that we were mad to venture out to such a dangerous place and to risk invoking the otherworld. Perhaps they were right but with Myrddyn as a guide you always felt safe. Even now he still looked like the young men who had sought employment all those years before and he did not appear to age. The other young man who had sought my employment, Brother Oswald, now appeared to be even older than I. It is strange how life treats us.
The next few days were spent watching the new equites training and the archers performing for me under their new captain, Walch. They set up a two bolt throwers to show me how fast they could use them and they were impressive. Walch was an interesting man. Like Aelle his mother had been taken by a Saxon and used as a thrall. When we had rescued his mother he had been but a child and had grown up at Glanibanta. He had joined us on our southern journey and Miach had spotted his potential. It showed me that Saxon Blood was not necessarily a bad thing but perhaps the Saxon way of life was.
On my way home we called to see how my brothers were doing. Raibeart looked well after his wounding and had begun to put on the weight of a man who is not training with sword and mail each day. Aelle looked disturbed and I asked him what was amiss. “It is Lann Aelle.” Lann Aelle was his eldest son and named after me. He was now almost fourteen summers old and was beginning to show his Saxon heritage with blond hair and beard. His mother had roots
beyond the seas and more than a hint of Saxon blood so it was no surprise that Lann Aelle should look more like Aelle’s father than his mother. “He is restless on the land. It is not for him and he would become a warrior.”
“Is that such a bad thing brother? We all became warriors and we did well when we did so.”
“But look at him. He shows the Saxon blood in him. I fear that there are warriors who might pick on him or bully him. He is a proud youth and would say nothing.” He looked around to see if anyone was listening. “He is a lonely child and does not play with others. Perhaps it is my fault. I was so busy building Glanibanta up that I neglected him a little. He would follow me around when I was working and did not play with the other boys. I just didn’t notice.”
I felt for my little brother. He rarely showed his emotions but I could plainly see his distress. “If he was a little older and could ride I could put him with Hogan’s equites.”
He shook his head. “He would stick out like a sore thumb. He is a fair swordsman but not in the class of Hogan.”
One of the effects of my time in the cave apart from my new found calmness was the fact that I sometimes heard voices in my head. They were not the voice I had but normally that of my mother or sometimes, bizarrely, Myrddyn. This was one such occasion and my mother’s voice seemed to whisper in my ear. “He could become my squire. I have none at the moment and it would mean that I could train him. Pol did a good job with Hogan and I am sure he would look after Lann Aelle.” Aelle’s face lit up. “And then, when he is trained, he can do as Hogan did and choose his own destiny.”
“Thank you, brother; you still watch over us after all these years.”
“That is an oath only broken by death. Freja knows that he will be leaving and living away from her?”
“She knows that and I am sure that she would be happy knowing he is with you.”
“I am always in danger. There is a risk he could be wounded or die.”
He spread his hands, “Wyrd. What will be, will be but you are the luckiest warrior I know. Raibeart and I can no longer fight but no wound slows you up and your skills are never diminished. No I am happy knowing he is your hands. They are the safest hands I know.”
Lann Aelle was delighted to be with his famous uncle and showed his gratitude by tears and an embrace for his father. The look on Aelle’s face was worth a dozen victories. Pol was also happy to be training a new squire. He had been my first squire and knew how important it would be to the boy. He put a brotherly arm around his shoulder. “The first thing I must show you is how to keep Saxon Slayer sharp. We will see if you can make it sharp enough to shave with!”
“You appear to be more settled now that you are back home husband. Why is that? Did the wizard do something to you and Pol? You are both different in some way.”
“We visited a cave and spent some time alone.” I looked at Myfanwy, now heavily pregnant, “Are my changes such a bad thing?”
“No, in fact quite the reverse but I wondered how they were achieved. You know I do not care for magic.”
“This was not magic. This was just a night in a cave with my thoughts.”
I spent more time with Myfanwy and our unborn child than I had ever spent with Aideen. It was not because I loved Myfanwy more, Aideen was still the love of my life but I wanted to enjoy every moment of this special time and the world, remarkably was at peace. I knew it would be a brief moment in time; Iago or the Hibernians or the Saxons would become belligerent again but I took the chance to savour it. My parents had been taken from me too quickly; I had not had long enough with Aideen and my daughter. I would have to be apart from Myfanwy and so I indulged her and I watched her as she grew. I hoped that I would be granted the opportunity to see my new child and that Belatu-Cadros would not call me to arms quickly. My prayers were answered for in the spring when the first hardy flowers peeked above ground my daughter was born.
I was summoned to Myfanwy’s chambers when the labour began. The midwives and women tried to shoo me out but my wife half rose and said, “He is the Warlord and it is his child. He has every right to see it born!”I leaned over to kiss her. “You are safe then?”
“ Forget me, how are you?”
She gave me a wry smile. “Men! If you had had to have the babies then you would know. I am fine or at least I will be when our child joins us. Now stand over there and keep out of the way.”
Thus dismissed I watched as the birthing began. I thought I would be distressed but I found it quite moving to watch. There seemed to be little fuss and the women were supportive. I would never experience that sense of unity in peace but I did in war. My oathsworn were like the women around my wife; they were there to protect and to help. The birth was uncomplicated and I had a daughter.
We named her Nanna after the goddess of flowers and it seemed to suit her. All fathers think their daughters are beautiful and so it was with me but even Myrddyn seemed taken with her and played the nursemaid on more than one occasion. She became someone other than me who commanded his attention and that was a rare thing. I also sensed within her the spirit of my mother. That may, of course, be wishful thinking but, as events showed; there may have been more than a hint of truth in that.
We had barely two weeks together before a messenger arrived from Mungo; our scouts reported movements from the men of Gwynedd. Pol, Myrddyn and I left. Garth and Ridwyn resented being left behind and I had to take them to one side to explain my thoughts. “We cannot keep attacking larger armies until we have built up our own strength. My shield wall had many more men in it when we were in Rheged. Now there are barely forty warriors left from that time. We need to break Iago’s heart before we break his will. I intended to let him attack our stone walls. We have new weapons which we can use but they are not ready yet. Let us breed our horses and build our ships. When every warrior has a shield such as yours Garth, a helmet such as yours Ridwyn and a sword such as mine then we will be ready and we will go to war.” I saw them nod their understanding. “And I would have you protect my family from the Hibernians. They have been too quiet for too long.”
I think the other reason why the two warriors were unhappy was that I was escorted by Tuanthal and his equites. They saw Hogan’s appointment as some sort of favouritism, not realising that it had been my son’s wish. There were now fifty equites and ten of them, led by Hogan were armed with the long lance. Hogan had also somehow managed to procure a slightly larger horse and his wore a mail head piece protecting his nose and neck. His armour also reflected that he had spent some of his own money on the best mail and helmet he could get. His helmet looked like mine and had bronze cheek pieces and strengthening. I was proud of my son as we rode east.
Lann Aelle looked as though he had died and gone to heaven as he rode behind me, next to Pol in his new mail armour and helmet. Hogan had given him his short sword which had served him so well and his old horse. It showed how much Hogan had grown over the winter. Like Pol he looked with affection at Aelle’s son, his cousin.
Hogan had pennants fitted to the lances and they fluttered in the breeze as we rode. I could see even Tuanthal looking enviously at them. They would add nothing to the effect of the lance but they did to the appearance of the warriors. Hogan had also asked if he could make a copy of the wailing dragon pennant used by Prince Pasgen. Although I could not see an objection I thought it wise to ask the last member of the Rheged royal family for permission.
While we waited for the bridge to be readied I spoke with Mungo. “Are your people happy?”
“They want me to return home and bring more of their families.” He shrugged, when time allows then I will do so but not while King Iago is still at large.”
“You have seen evidence of him?”
“My men patrol the coastline to the north and they have seen his men in increasing numbers coming towards Wyddfa. He is coming but he is showing caution.”
“How many men do you have now?”
“There are two hundred warriors. We hav
e fifteen archers, ten slingers and we have managed to train twenty hammer throwers.”
That was good news. Angus, who had been my friend, had led the men of Strathclyde to decimate the Saxons at Dunelm; I missed him for he had died fighting Aella on the Dunum. It was a weapon almost as fearsome as the bolt thrower and the men of Gwynedd knew nothing of it. “And on the mainland?”
“Many of the warriors I brought are over there. Calum has two hundred warriors including another ten hammer throwers. There are forty archers and twenty slingers. Prince Pasgen now has seventy equites.” I did not say anything and he added by way of explanation, “We thought it best to keep the bulk of our men there where the danger is.”
“As I said to Prince Pasgen I put the three of you here because I trust you and I see nothing wrong in your dispositions and I like the idea of bringing more of your people. We need children to become farmers and warriors if our people are to survive. The last of the Britons live here on this island.”
Prince Pasgen was delighted to see us. He had installed a stone water chamber in case of siege and in the months since I had last been there more of the land around the walls had been cleared. “We now control four hundred paces in every direction. The bolt throwers are on every wall and they can clear any enemy who approaches.”
“And where were the enemy seen?”
He pointed to the north. “Aedh and his scouts said that they were camped between the monastery and here. He said that there were four camps and they numbered four thousand warriors.”