Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 03] Saxon England

by Griff Hosker

  Pol raced up the steps and shouted, “The door! I have found it.”

  Myrddyn shook his head and said, angrily, “Shout a little louder. The guards in the gatehouse didn’t quite hear you!” I smiled at the look of horror on his face as he realised what he had done. I waved my hand to show that it was not a problem.

  My healer made the top and tried the door. He glared at Pol and then said, quietly as I arrived next to him. “It is shut but we may still be too early.”

  “We just sit and wait. Check your weapons.”

  We had left our shields outside the cave. They were there in case we were pursued. I had Saxon Slayer and a wickedly sharp dagger. Pol had his trusty seax and the sword he had taken from the dead Bernician. Myrddyn had a cudgel and a seax as well as the wolf skull. When I had asked him about the cudgel he explained, “We need silence from our enemies. We need to surprise them. I will leave the sword play to you warriors and I will hit anyone I see just as hard as I can.”

  We waited in the silence, with just the faint sound of the surf outside of the cave. I knew that we had a finite amount of time we could spend in the cave. When the tide returned we would be trapped. It seemed likely that part of the cave remained dry but it was a worrying thought. Suddenly we heard the sound of a reluctant bolt being opened. Our hands went to our weapons although I rationalised quickly that the only way it would be an enemy would be if Anya was a traitor or had been compromised. I nodded to Myrddyn who pulled on the rusty ring which was on our side. The door swung open and revealed a frightened young girl. The fact that Myrddyn smiled at her and said, “Anya?” made her smile.

  “You are the wolf?”

  He shook his head as he controlled his laughter. He pointed to me, “No he is Lord Lann, the Wolf Warrior.”

  Her eyes pleaded with me, “You will take me?” She suddenly realised there were only three of us. “Where is Ridwyn?”

  “Do not worry. He is bringing his boat.” I turned to Pol. “Pol, take her to the entrance and you can wait there for Ridwyn. Wolf, guard Pol.”

  She gave a half bow and almost ran by me. I suppose if I had been abused by the warriors as she had then I would make the speediest exit I could manage. “Now what, my lord?”

  “We could go in but I would rather wait for the other two. Bhru can guard this door and three of us should be able to deal with most eventualities.”

  He looked relieved, “And I am in agreement. I thought for a moment you would hare into the castle and kill the garrison all by yourself.”

  I laughed but found myself worrying that perhaps I was becoming too reckless. As long as King Urien had been alive then I felt I had a point of reference; someone to whom I could seek advice. Now I had no one and others sought advice from me. Would I become a reckless despot who acted on a whim? What was I doing in this dank cave? Did I really think that I could sneak in and kill the King of Bernicia and get away with it?

  Suddenly I heard a voice in my head and it was a female voice. “Think with your heart and be true to yourself.”

  I looked at Myrddyn who shook his head and smiled. “Her voice comes to me too my lord. It is a surprise when it happens, is it not?”

  “You heard too?”

  “She speaks to me often but it is always in dark places in the depths of the night.” He spread his arms around the cave. “Like this.”

  We heard voices and we held our weapons before us but it was just Ridwyn and Bhru. Ridwyn’s face was filled with joy and I wondered about him and Anya. “The boat is here. Pol and Anya have loaded it with the supplies and are waiting for us.”

  “Good. Bhru, guard this door.”

  “Aye my lord.”

  I looked at my two companions. “Well let us get the deed done.” I led the way for I was the most familiar with the castle. I suspected that the kitchens would be empty but we took no chances. When we came to the end of the tunnel I peered around the corner. The smells and the heat told me that it was, indeed the kitchens and that meant I knew where we were. Two floors above us were the main hall and the quarters of King Morcant Bulc. I hoped that the guards would be outside and not inside. We drew our weapons for surprise was vital.

  I paused at the next stairs and listened but I could hear nothing. We slowly made our way up. The guard, presumably on his way to the kitchen was more shocked than we when we met. My sword was out and I stabbed him in the neck. Although it caused a river of blood, it ensured his silence. Ridwyn carried the body and disposed of it in the kitchen. I was warier now; where there was one warrior there could be two. I heard voices and I paused. They appeared to be coming from the guard room which I knew was to my left. Beyond it was the gate. I quickly climbed the next stairs which I knew led to the king’s chamber.

  There would be a guard outside the door that much I knew. The question was, would he be alert or not. I signalled Ridwyn. He was a Bernician and could use the local dialect to lull the guard. I whispered into his ear, “Pretend you are drunk and say you have a message for the king. Use you local words, I will be close behind. I want his back to us; you must stop him falling.” He moved ahead of me and I gestured for Myrddyn. I took his cudgel and he gave me a smug smile. I would make him pay for that.

  Ridwyn staggered a little and gave a hiccup, with a silly grin on his face. He mumbled something and the guard gave an irritated wave of his hand. Ridwyn half fell forwards and the sentry automatically reached out to grab him. Ridwyn cleverly twisted and fell on his back so that the sentry had his back to me. In two steps I was behind him and, as he sensed my presence and began to turn I smacked the cudgel against the side of his head. Half of his skull caved in and I saw grey, wet matter dripping to the ground. He was dead. More importantly for us he fell, silently, on to Ridwyn. We rolled him off. I returned the cudgel to Myrddyn. We moved the body away so that we would not trip when we made our exit.

  Our new problem was ascertaining how many men were within with Morcant Bulc. It was late and I assumed there would not be many but it would take only one to raise the alarm and make our exit impossible. Myrddyn saw my problem and held up his hand. He moved towards the door and I wondered, as I drew my sword, what magic he would be performing now. He put his ear to the door and listened. He held up one finger, then two and, finally, three. He waited a little while longer and then held up three fingers. There were a small number of men in the room then and it could be three, four or five. We had surprise on our side which should take care of at least one. If it was four or less then we had a chance. Five would make life difficult. I extinguished the torch making the corridor black. At least we would not be highlighted against the torchlight.

  I approached the door and gestured for Myrddyn to open it. He was less skilled than Ridwyn with a sword and had a quicker mind. When he opened it he would be planning our next move. I took a deep breath and nodded. He opened the door as quietly and slowly as possible. It was with some relief I saw the quiet glow of a room lit by the fire in the far end of the room. I could see that there were chairs with their backs to the door. We entered and began to creep towards the chairs. Suddenly a girl appeared from Ridwyn’s right. He had no time to think and he swung his sword at her, it took her head off but not before she had begun a scream. Morcant Bulc and two of his men leapt to their feet. Myrddyn was the quickest off his feet and with his mind. He took a step forwards and swung the club at the surprised warrior whose head was crushed like the sentry’s. Ridwyn smashed his bloodied sword at the second man who barely parried it and then I forgot all else as I face King Morcant Bulc.

  In some ways he had a slight advantage, he knew the layout of the room and he had seen me fight. I had never seen him fight. I surreptitiously pulled my dagger from my belt.

  “So you are a murderer in the night now, vaunted Wolf Warrior. How far have you fallen?” The sarcasm in his voice oozed.

  I realised that I had to kill him quickly before he could raise the alarm. Had he shouted rather than gloated then his guards might have come. Myrddyn must have
read my mind for he closed the door. I had no time to play with the king and I stabbed forwards with Saxon Slayer. I have quick hands and the king had been drinking. Even so I think the sword would have beaten his defence anyway. His feeble deflection just took the blade to slice through his side. I saw the look of horror on his face as the blood gushed out. I could see his mouth forming the words which would summon the guards and I jabbed my dagger at his throat. “This is for killing the king who could have saved our land. Die you treacherous snake.” There was life in his eyes as I spoke the words and then I watched the life leave King Morcant Bulc, the king who made possible the conquest of Britannia by the Saxons.

  We had no time to congratulate ourselves and Myrddyn went to the door to scout the exit. I saw Ridwyn now taking in that he had killed a girl. “You could do nothing Ridwyn. It was wyrd. Do not let me down now.”

  “Sorry my lord.”

  Myrddyn then said. “Let us seat them at their chairs?”

  “What?”

  “We have time and it will add to the illusion that they died magically. Clean their weapons and replace them. We need to make it look as though they did not fight their killers.”

  “And the girl?”

  “And the girl.”

  When we had seated them they did look as though they were still alive. He then took out the wolf skull and put it on the table with the dagger I had used to kill him. It felt macabre but I could see what effect it might have. We made our way down the stairs. The noise from the warrior hall had died down to the snores, belches and farts from sleeping drunken warriors. Myrddyn paused at the door and I wondered if he was regretting his idea. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “It is a risk but I think we can manage it, now let us go down to the gate and let you out.” The lower parts of the castle were empty and we saw a relieved Bhru sheath his sword when we arrived. “I will see you on the beach.” With a nonchalant wave he shut the door and I heard the bolt slide shut with a deadly finality.

  We had extinguished our torch but we still had the one Bhru had used and we hurried out into the chill night air. Ridwyn sensed my air of apprehension as I looked back into the lair of the snake from which we had just escaped. We had succeeded but my company was incomplete. “Do not worry my lord. If anyone can escape it is Myrddyn the wizard.”

  Chapter 7

  Pol and Anya, too, were relieved to see me and Wolf jumped up to lick my face, or perhaps it was the blood which covered me, I do not know which. Ridwyn carefully loaded us in the boat putting the lightest, Pol and Anya at the front with Wolf and then the bigger men, Bhru and me in the middle. He seemed happy enough although he fiddled on with the water skins until he gave a satisfied grunt and turned the boat so that the bow was pointing out to sea and he was holding the stern. “Bhru when Myrddyn is aboard then raise the sail and tie it off.”

  I was glad that one of us, at least, had an idea of how to aid Ridwyn. “Is it done, my lord?”

  “Yes Pol. Morcant Bulc is dead.”

  “Was he alone?”

  “No, there was a girl,” I heard the intake of breath from Ridwyn, “and two big warriors.”

  Anya gave a triumphant snort. “Then I am pleased that all four are dead for those were the men who used to rape me each night.”

  “And the girl too?”

  “No she was worse for she held me down and said things to me while they soiled me. She said horrible things. I am glad she is dead and pray she roasts in hell.”

  The girl was obviously a Christian too. “Well Ridwyn it looks like your blow with the sword was ordered by someone other than you. Wyrd!” Ridwyn smiled from ear to ear. True warriors never like killing innocents and I knew that he would sleep easier knowing that she had deserved it. Now we had to wait. I peered at the castle watching for a sudden flurry of lights which would show that we had been discovered.

  Ridwyn said, “The tide is turning, my lord.”

  I snapped irritably, “And?”

  “And the sea will cut off Myrddyn’s route to us soon my lord, sorry.”

  I sighed, “And I am sorry too. I should not have snapped. Where is that infernal magician? Why could he not have just left with us rather than trying to beguile them with his cleverness.”

  “Because I am Myrddyn and that is what I do!”

  He appeared next to the boat as though by magic. I saw Anya cross herself in that annoying way the Christians have. “Then get in the boat, you annoying little man.”

  He was not bothered by comments and happily jumped in the stern of the boat with Ridwyn. “Do you not want to know how I escaped?”

  “Not yet!” I snapped peevishly. Let us get out to sea. The tide is turning and it is not as easy as it would have been.”

  Ridwyn began to steer and then said, “Get the oars out, we need to fight the tide. “ Anya held on to Wolf, not that he needed the support, while the four of us hauled on the oars until, after what seemed an age, Ridwyn said. “Ship the oars we are past the worst.” He smiled and seemed happy for the first time. “You can sleep if you wish. I can steer by the stars.”

  “Before I do I would like our magician to tell us how he escaped.”

  We all looked at Myrddyn who smiled and said, “I walked out.” My mouth must have dropped open for he laughed and continued. “The men in the warrior hall were asleep and I walked through them to the side gate. The two sentries asked me what I was doing and I tapped my nose and said the king had asked me to do something for him. They, too, had had a drink and when they saw the key in my hand they assumed, I suppose, that it had been sanctioned. They said they would watch for my return.”

  “They didn’t ask who you were?”

  “No. I suppose if I had looked furtive or suspicious then they might have done but I walked and talked with confidence. Besides I was leaving the castle and as I locked the side gate after I had left they would have felt secure.”

  I shook my head. “You truly do have powers Myrddyn.” I then addressed them all. “We have succeeded tonight but no-one can ever know that we did what we did. I want the Saxons and the world to believe that their king was killed by magic. Myrddyn has given us the chance to fool everyone. I want you all to swear silence.”I held out Saxon Slayer. They put their hands on it and all solemnly agreed. I could see that Pol was the one who regretted this the most. I imagined him telling Adair of his role in the adventure but I knew that, having sworn, he would remain silent.

  Despite my misgivings about the proximity of the water and the alarming way the boat seemed to bob up and down, I eventually went to sleep. When I awoke I had a salty crust on my lips and I felt stiff. The others were still asleep and a red eyed Ridwyn still steered. “Good morning my lord.”

  “Are you not tired Ridwyn?”

  “I am fine but as the only one who can sail a boat I will have to forego sleep until we reach the Dunum.”

  “When will that be?”

  He shrugged. “I am not sure. There is one major river between the Tinea and the Dunum. We may have passed it in the dark. But we will know when are close to the Dunum, there will be sand dunes and marches and the seals. The land to the south towers high above the river, if you remember. We will not miss it.”

  I peered around and found the water skin. I drank for a long time, mainly to rid the taste of salt from my mouth. I noticed that I was not hungry. “It is strange. I have not eaten for many ours and yet I feel no hunger. Why is that?”

  “I know not my lord, perhaps it is the motion of the boat but I rarely eat when fishing. We have food if you are hungry.”

  “No. I will survive.”

  We sailed in silence. Bhru’s snores made me smile. “The gods were with us my lord. We have shown them a clear pair of heels and we escaped without their knowledge.”

  “It was intended that it should be so. A man, even a mighty king like King Morcant Bulc cannot get away with treachery and perfidy. There is always a reckoning.”

  “Is that why you value the truth
and honour so much my lord?”

  “They are principles worth cherishing. In a dark world they are a beacon of light.”

  Gradually the others awoke but it was only when Anya’s smiling face looked around the small vessel that I realised we had forgotten nature’s call. We men could easily cope but the young woman looked uncomfortable. I glanced at Ridwyn and saw the light of understanding upon his face. “Anya, if you change places with Myrddyn I can show you how to steer.” Myrddyn looked less than pleased that he would have to negotiate the pitching little boat but I had an idea what was in Ridwyn’s mind.

  “Myrddyn, just do it!”

  He shrugged and complied. The boat pitched a little more than previously and the side looked perilously close to the water’s edge but they managed to change places. “Just keep steering with the coast on your right hand and we will be fine and,” he added, as though an afterthought,” if you need to, you know, then just sit on the back of the boat and, well just go. We will all look ahead.”

  Anya glanced at us all and every one of us looked studiously south, she giggled, kissed Ridwyn on the cheek and said softly, “Thank you.”

  The day passed pleasantly enough but I found that I was bored. I could not be a sailor. As dusk fell Ridwyn said. “We are getting close to the Dunum. I am going to head further west. Pol, keep your eyes peeled for a river to the right.”

  Eagerly Pol leaned over to stare at the coast. “Just don’t fall in!”

  “No, my lord!” I could almost hear the excitement in his whispering voice.