by Griff Hosker
“When we were alone I said. “You led well there. What is your story? Where have you come from? I can see that you have fought before.”
The one called Aelfraed spoke. “I am half Saxon. My father took a woman from Elmet when they defeated the king. I was treated badly by him and he beat my mother. When I became strong enough I killed him and fled with my mother but they sent dogs after us and tore her to pieces. I hate them.”
I nodded. I could understand his hate. “And you Aethelgirth?”
“I too am half Saxon but my mother came from the land of Deira by the river the Romans called the Dunum. I too was badly treated by my father and my mother and I fled. We lived in the land of the lakes for a while and then the fever took my mother. I did not want to be alone and I heard of the Warlord of Rheged who had a brother who was half Saxon and thought that I could find a home here.”
“And you both have. When my brother has finished with your training you two will be joining me at my castle and Captain Garth will train you to become leaders of men.”
Chapter 18
Prince Cadfan fitted in well at the castle. He was polite and Myfanwy adored him. Garth and Ridwyn were a little suspicious of him at first and I sat with them and Myrddyn to discuss the issue. “Let us suppose that he is a spy. What can he tell his father?”
“Well, Warlord, he knows the defences of Prince Pasgen’s castle and this one.”
“Excellent Ridwyn. What does that tell him that Iago would not have seen by looking?”
Ridwyn looked perplexed. Myrddyn enjoyed the Northumbriam’s discomfort. He remembered the sea voyage when Ridwyn had enjoyed the discomfort of his passengers. “If the prince suddenly leaves and goes home then we will know that he was a spy and we can expect an attack. While he is here we are safe.”
Ridwyn blushed, “It is good that I am just a warrior and others make the important decisions. Sorry Warlord.”
“No it is good that you question me for the answers make everything clear.”
The prince and Dai enjoyed the training and Lann was able to show them around and share with them the experience of being a training warrior in the land of the Romans. I was busy with my newly born son, Urien. We named him after the man I thought was the greatest leader the island had ever seen and I hoped that this son would do as well. When he was born it made me think of Hogan even more. I was just counting the days until he and the others returned.
Their ship arrived after the first fierce storms of autumn and both Myfanwy and I were worried that he would not return. Myrddyn had that annoying self satisfied look of someone who has seen the future. I suppose I should have trusted him when he said that they would return safely. We had just launched our two smaller boats, The Eagle and The Hawk. Both were fast little ships and it was they who brought the news that an imperial ship was approaching from the south. It meant that we were all there to greet our family when they arrived. Bishop Stephen could not make it in time but I knew that he, too, would be keen to find out about the world of Constantinople.
After our four small ships the huge cargo ship seemed to dwarf even the port. I looked desperately along the rail to look for my son and his colleagues but all I saw was a row of darkly tanned sailors. I leaned down to speak to Myfanwy, “Perhaps Hogan is below decks.”
She laughed, “You goose! He is there on the deck, waving at you!”
“But where is his beard?”
She shrugged, “He has shaved and a good thing too. He looks much more handsome and I bet easier to kiss than a hairy warrior who rarely bathes!”
Hogan was one of the darkly tanned sailors. I had not recognised my own son! I waved back. It may not have looked authoritative but at that moment I was just any other father welcoming his son home. It seemed to take an age to tie up and I saw the passengers disappear, to get their belongings I presumed. Once the gangplank was down the five of them almost ran from the ship. Hogan threw his arms around Myfanwy and his new brother. “What is it a boy or a girl?”
“Why you have a little brother. Can you not tell?”
He kissed Myfanwy and I could she that she was pleased. He shrugged, “All babies look alike to me!” He turned to embrace me. I have missed home, father, and it looks even better than it did.”
“You look different.”
He pointed to his face, “You mean the tan? It is hot and sunny all the time. You cannot believe the times I was desperate for a little cold or some rain.”
He grabbed Myrddyn’s hand as I turned to greet Pol. “And you too have changed my standard bearer. Perhaps you will want to be a strategos now.”
He pointed to his chest, “In here, Warlord, I have not changed and I am happy to carry the Wolf Banner unless young Lann has now claimed it?”
“No but he too has changed. Come, all of you, we have a feast planned and you can tell all of us your adventures and what you have learned.”
Myrddyn said, “I will stay here and bring the goods sent by Andronikos.”
The feast was a joyous occasion. It was as much a celebration of my son’s birth as a welcome for our travellers. I watched Prince Cadfan look enviously at the obvious love between Hogan and his step mother. No doubt he was reflecting on the different relationship he had with his own. I sat between Pol and Hogan and Hogan between me and Myfanwy. Myrddyn sat on the other side of Pol. I found myself totally fascinated by their experiences. Miach sat with his son and, blunt as ever, asked the question which had been on all our lips. “Why do you smell like a woman and where is your beard?” he then added, unnecessarily I thought, “You haven’t started liking boys have you?”
Hogan showed great maturity when he answered for Daffydd. “No Miach, in the east they bathe more frequently than once a year and they feel that smelling sweet is better than smelling like a horse.”
Miach looked offend and sniffed his own arm pits, “You could be right Lord Hogan. I may try this bathing eh?”
I asked Hogan, “What made you shave?”
He blushed although with his tan it was hard to tell. Pol laughed, “It seems the Greeks think that beards are for Persians and barbarians. Hogan spilled a little Greek blood before Andronikos explained that. Once we had all shaved, Hogan’s knuckles healed!”
Pol had been deeply affected by all that he saw. “They have many cities which would swallow Civitas whole and Constantinople is so big that it takes more than a day to walk across it! And the peoples who are there Warlord! I saw brown people, black people, and even yellow people! I did not know so many varieties existed. And the food; you have never tasted some of the things that they have. They have a cream which is sweet and as cold as snow! There are more spices than they have sent us before. I brought some back for I like the taste.”
He finally stopped and drank some wine. He pulled a face. “And the wine tastes much better than this.” He suddenly realised what he had said, “I am sorry Warlord, I did not mean to offend.”
“No offence taken but, “I lowered my voice, ”Some of the others may get a little sick of hearing how wonderful it was and how bad it is here. If you could mention it to the others?”
“Yes Warlord. You are right and I will do so.”
“Now what did you learn of war and weapons?”
“That you are a military genius Warlord.”
“Pol, you know I hate flatterers.”
“No, my lord. That is what Andronikos said of you. He said, to the Emperor, that you were a genius who had implemented one of your own ideas that they used in the east. He said it showed that you had a natural ability for war. The heavily armoured equities, the reinforced shields, the tactics we use all of them are commonplace in the east but everyone uses them. I now know why we are unbeaten and with the knowledge that Hogan and I have brought back we will be even better in the future.”
Later when Pol and the others were telling their tales, I sat with Myrddyn, my wife and babes having retired and spoke of what we had heard.
“You were right to send them Warlord.
They have brought back valuable information. The two monks have some interesting ideas about buildings and how to make them stronger. Daffydd has plans for his father to make better bows, and better machines of war. I just pray that we have time to put things in place.”
There was something in his voice which made me suspicious. I looked at him and had a sudden clarity of thought. He had dreamed in the cave. “Tell me, wizard, what was the dream about this time.”
“You are getting the second sight. I was warned about vipers in the nest and dragon ships.”
“Saxons and spies.”
“That was my thinking.”
“And we have many newcomers too from the Gauls through the Saxons to Prince Cadfan.”
“My thoughts too.”
“And have you a picture of who the spy might be?”
“Not yet and it would take a dream but you are missing the point Warlord. You said it yourself about Cadfan. A spy has to get his information back to his master. If anyone deserts or leaves then they are the spy. And what could a spy tell them? Now that the world knows of the Greek Fire, we have no secrets and if we think it is the Saxons then we know they will come by sea. We have four ships now, let us use them. Let us use the new volunteers to man signal stations around the coast. With Hogan back we have more equites for Tuanthal to use and we can patrol twice the area.”
“I still do not like the idea of spies in my land.”
“Nor do I and I will try to sniff them out.”
As all of my commanders were in the castle, as well as Aelle and Raibeart I held a meeting. Part of the meeting was given over to Hogan and Pol who told us of what they had learned. Then I spoke of the possibility of spies. Aelle bridled a little and took offence.
“Are you saying that we must have no warrior who is not from Rheged? If so we will have a mighty small army.” Raibeart patted his arm to calm him down but I was not angry.
“No brother. We need warriors from anywhere and Pol and Hogan have already said that the Emperor uses his enemies in his army. What I am saying is that we should be watchful. If there are spies then when there work is done they will disappear. That will be an indicator that something is about to happen but I can tell you that I believe that there are spies in our ranks.“ They all gasped and I held up my hand. “And I am not worried. It is how we deal with the results of the spying which is more relevant. I want you to use your volunteers to build additional signal towers along the coast and to man them in rotation. It will help to make them feel part of our defence. I want our four ships constantly on the look out for the Saxons.”
“Saxons!”
“Yes Aelle. I have information that the Saxons are planning something and I want us to be ready. Tomorrow I will escort Bishop Stephen’s monk home and Hogan and I will visit with Pasgen. He is close to Iago and it will be good to get his opinion about this.” I paused and looked at each man in turn, finally stopping at Aelle. “I am not accusing anyone of spying. I will not be suspicious of any one man over another but, until we know who the spies are, then every warrior who is not in this room is a potential spy.”
“So you trust us brother?”
“I always have and I always will. The day that I cannot trust those in this room is my last day as Warlord!”
The next day as we headed east, the ninety equites rode with me. Pol and Hogan had been given full Cataphractoi armour and I saw every other equite looking enviously at them. Hogan laughed, “Do not worry boys. I have the plans for making the helmets and I have given them to Ralph. Once he has made the steel you will all look as handsome as me and Pol.”
I gestured for Tuanthal and Hogan to join me. “I intend to have two groups of equites. You will be in overall command Tuanthal, with Hogan in command of the lancers. I want the two of you to patrol the island. If you have officers you can trust and rely upon then you can subdivide but I want you able to get to any part of the island within two hours. If we do have another sneak attack I want a quicker reaction. I am also increasing the scouts. You will both have ten scouts attached to you so that you can cover a wider area. Finally, now that Daffydd Ap Miach has brought back the horse bow we will train ten archers to be part of each command. You will both be self sufficient. I am hoping that the shield wall will only be used as a last resource in the future.”
“You know father, that they have a strange view of us in Constantinople. They see this island as a smaller version of their city with white walls, turrets and nobles riding around the land fighting barbarians.”
“Truly?” I was amazed at the misconception.
“Truly. I think that part of it is fostered by the Emperor and those in power for they have built a legend and myth about Rome surviving in a desert when all else withers.”
“What is a desert?”
He laughed, “A place of sand without water and filled with heat and sun.”
“But Andronikos knows better.”
“Of course but there is so much intrigue in the city that one must watch what one says for there are spies everywhere.”
“Did you think I did right with our potential spies?”
“One of those who was speaking to us and teaching us how to win wars told us to keep our friends close but our enemies closer still. I think that it is sensible.”
As we were going close to the land of Iago we had left Cadfan at the castle. “And Prince Cadfan, what do you make of his situation?”
“I feel sorry for him. When I look at Myfanwy and you then I feel lucky. It must be hard to be rejected by a father.”
“He could be lying; we only have his word for it.”
He shook his head, “No, I do not believe it. I have looked in his eyes and seen only truth. Besides you and Myrddyn are the ones who look in men’s souls and know the truth. You do not believe he is a spy. You believe and trust him.”
I looked at him askance, “It seems this second sight may be hereditary!”
Prince Pasgen wanted Hogan’s new armour. I could see his eyes light up as he examined every individual piece of mail. He looked towards me with a pleading expression. “Warlord, we must have these for our equites! We would be invincible!”
“Ralph and the smiths are making them but they will not be ready until after Yule.”
“I envy you Hogan and Pol. You have visited the centre of the world and seen wonders we can only dream of.”
“And yet, Prince Pasgen, I am happier to be home. How do you feel Pol?”
“The same; it was an experience I would not exchange for the earth but this land is my world and is far more precious and dear to me because we have earned the right to be here and we cling on despite our enemies!”
When we reached the monastery Bishop Stephen was pleased to see his monk safely returned and to see us. “We heard how close you came to disaster and the lord watched over you. We prayed hard.” I liked the bishop and I kept my mouth shut but it had been iron and wood which had saved the island not prayers. “And I hear that Prince Cadfan is with you?”
“Yes. What do you hear of that?”
“The story which reached us was that the new bride of the king resented the prince and poisoned the king’s mind. He was imprisoned by his father.” He shook his head. “I am a celibate man who will never father a child but I cannot understand a man who treats his own offspring in such a way.”
Hogan looked at me, “It is strange to me too bishop.”
We were treated with great hospitality and I felt the same about Bishop Stephen as I had about Bishop Asaph; he was a good friend and a sympathetic ear. “Bishop we intend to build a fort along the coast from here where it narrows to the mountain. I mention this because should you need a refuge, from any invader or enemy, then it is there for you.”
“That is kind, Warlord, but we hear that King Aethelfrith is considering Christianity as the religion of his people.”
I knew the Saxons. If they chose Christianity then it would be a political act. The religion of peace and turning the other cheek w
as not the Saxon way but I said nothing and merely smiled. “The offer remains no matter what the future holds.”
He laughed, “Then Myrddyn is still the fortune teller eh?”
Once we were back in my castle we worked even harder to produce new weapons and armour and train men while we had this brief respite from war. The news from the bishop had done nothing to calm my fears; if anything it heightened them. If Aethelfrith was making overtures to the church then it meant he was planning something and we would be ready. Prince Pasgen and Calum worked hard and quickly to build a fort on the coast. They would use wood in the first instance and then, in the spring they would use stone. The new warriors were sent to build and man the new towers as part of their training and Brother Oswald made a map showing the new towers and identifying the warriors who would be guarding them. We now had ten priests and clerics who worked for Oswald. I knew that Brother Oswald used them to convert the pagans amongst us but I did not mind. So long as a man obeyed me first then he could worship any god he liked. I had the better of the bargain for I had immaculately kept records of men and arms and I knew to the last sword what we possessed. When it came to war I would know what we were capable of.
After the new warriors had helped to collect the harvest in, another successful one, according to Oswald, then they began their watch keeping duties. Our ships still patrolled the waters and I was disturbed to hear of sails on the horizon which disappeared when approached by our own ships. Someone was watching us and I liked it not.
As the weather turned cold Hogan, Pol and Brother John came to me to ask if they could try to build a hypocaust and a bath house. They had their plans drawn and before I could mention the need for industry on military matters they came up with a system which would use the clerics and warriors who were not needed for training. As Pol said, “It will build up their fitness my lord, and help them to work as a team.”
I could not argue with them for I had missed the comfort I had had at Civitas and Castle Perilous. It was during the building that we had our first inkling of danger. Aelle and his bodyguards rode in one afternoon when the skies were threatening another autumnal storm. His face was filled with joy but the news he brought me was grave. “The Irish landed a raiding party last night.”