by Griff Hosker
“Of course it means that you can no longer be my squire.”
His face fell. “Then I will decline your offer my lord for I would not give up the honourable role of squire.”
I exchanged a look of amazement with Garth. We both knew how much the young man yearned to be a warrior. He had trained his body and built it up steadily. He practised with his peers and yet he was willing to give up his dream to be a servant to me.
Myrddyn, inevitably, came up with a solution. “If you recall, my lord, when I was training to be a warrior, I also studied with Brother Oswald. It seems to me that the training to be a warrior will not compromise his duties as a squire. He can still keep your weapons sharp and your armour ready for he will be doing that for himself.”
“What about when we fight? He will be in the shield wall.”
“Excellent, for that means that you will not and we will all feel happier about that,” he added, “my lord.”
I saw both Garth and Pol nod and knew that I had been outwitted. Not that I minded, as I enjoyed Pol’s company and there was no sharper mind in the land than Myrddyn’s. So it was that Pol started his training to be a warrior.
A week later I was summoned to Civitas Carvetiorum. I took just Myrddyn and Pol. Pol now had his own mount; a present from Raibeart and I saw how tall he had grown when he seemed right on the bigger mount. He had also begun to fill out and he would soon be the same size as me. Myrddyn too had grown taller as he had reached maturity but he had not filled out as his exercise was with his mind and not his body. As he had shown with the cudgel, he could defend himself well but that was not his main strength.
The sentries at Civitas all gave me a curious look as we entered but, curiously, they all made the sign to ward off evil when they saw Myrddyn. He just smiled but I could see that his interest was aroused. I left Pol to stable our mounts while Myrddyn sought Brother Osric.
The captain of the guard took me straight to the audience chamber of King Ywain. Dowager Queen Niamh was seated next to him; Ywain’s wife, the present queen, preferred to be a mother rather than a politician. Queen Niamh rose and embraced me. “Good to see you again Wolf Warrior.” As she sat down, she too, gave me a curious look.
“Sit, Lann.” Ywain gestured at a seat next to the Queen. “Have you heard, King Morcant Bulc is dead?”
They both looked at me closely. I hated the lie but it was necessarytoprotect Rheged, even if that meant keeping its king in the dark. “I had heard a rumour.”
They looked at each other. The Queen said, “That is remarkable for they say it was you and your wizard who killed the king and his guards.”
“Really?”
Ywain nodded. “It seems that no-one entered the castle and yet they were all slain while seated. They did not even draw their weapons to fight their enemies and then the guards reported a spirit leaving through a door which was locked and from the description it sounded like Myrddyn. And a wolf’s skull was left next to the body with a bloodied blade in its mouth.”
“And of course, Myrddyn never left my side.”
“Quite.” He paused and waited for me to continue but I just smiled. “They scoured the country but found nothing save the tracks of some saddled horses which they recaptured.”
“Ah.”I saw the Queen smile and nod at me. I knew then that she approved of my action but would say nothing. Ywain also knew but could not fathom how we had managed it. I was secretly pleased that Myrddyn’s apparent magic had worked. If the Bernicians and their masters, the Saxons, believed we had magic on our side then it would be an extra weapon we could use.
“The story goes that Myrddyn used dark magic to spirit himself and your wolf spirit into the castle and killed the king.”
“That is hard to believe , your majesty.” I could see he did not believe me but he could find no rational explanation for the murder.
I sought permission to speak with Brother Osric and the Dowager Queen embraced me, she whispered in my ear, “Well done Lord Lann. I know not how you did it but my husband sleeps easier tonight.”
When I entered Brother Osric’s inner sanctum I saw a knowing look on his face. “The enigmatic Lord Lann; it seems you managed to extract revenge without attracting attention. I am impressed.”
I spread my arms in assumed innocence. “I do not know what you mean.”
“I do not believe for one moment the story which is circulating. That Myrddyn manifested himself in the chamber of King Morcant Bulc and killed the king and his bodyguards before they could defend themselves. And this nonsense of the spirit of the wolf! Please, I may be an old man but I am not a stupid man.”
“That is the story the king believes.”
“And we both know it is the story which the world believes but I deserve more.” I looked at Myrddyn. “I will keep whatever you tell me as though in the confessional.”
I knew that, for the Christians this was the most sacred of oaths and I nodded at Myrddyn. I could see that he was delighted for the opportunity to recount the tale and he went through every detail. Brother Osric remained transfixed and totally silent as Myrddyn told him of our mission.
When he had finished then Brother Osric leaned back and said, “Satisfying. You have successfully scotched the snake and yet you have made it seem as though you had no hand in this. I am impressed with both of you. I could not have engineered a more successful outcome but you are quite right Lord Lann. This must remain in these walls. Rheged will fall soon enough but this will delay that fall.”
I suddenly felt quite depressed. “We will fall?”
“You are a great leader, Lord Lann, but you are not a king. Only a king with either your skills or King Urien’s could save us now. ” His old rheumy eyes peered deep into mine. “You must begin to make plans for escape.”
I was shocked. This was the steward of Rheged speaking. “Surely we can defend against the Saxons.”
“Bernicia has fallen. Even if Rheged can hold on then Strathclyde too will fall and then we are an island on an island. We will fall. There are too many Saxons and they want Rheged and all it stands for destroyed.”
“But where would we go?”
He glanced at Myrddyn. “I think your magician knows... Wales.”
I wondered if there had been collusion but I knew that Myrddyn always thought of me first and himself second. “But my oath?”
Myrddyn looked at me, “When the time comes then your oath will not matter for you swore an oath to protect Rheged, not just King Ywain.”
Brother Osric took out a huge number of vellum sheets. “This Myrddyn, Lord Lann, is a record of Rheged and what we have done. When I die then I want your oath that the two of you will protect this record and add to it so that posterity may know what we have done. Brother Oswald can continue my work.”
I think that Myrddyn was as shocked as I was. “Dying!”
“I am old, Lord Lann, and I know my body as well as any man. I will not see the fall of Rheged but I know it will come. Promise and swear!”
“I so swear.”
“As do I.”
“Good.” The old priest looked relived as though a weight had been taken from his shoulders. “Then take it now.” The look he gave us both was ominous but Myrddyn took the vellum and I felt as though I had a weight upon my shoulders which I could not bear.
As we rode home, with Pol, diplomatically some way ahead, I spoke with Myrddyn about our predicament. “I had thought that Rheged would fall long after I was dead. The Saxons have never defeated us.”
“But there are so many now, Lord Lann, that I can see what Brother Osric meant. We can hold them for a while but once Castle Perilous, or Banna, or Wide Water falls then what will stop the hordes? They gather on the borders like carrion around a corpse. We are that corpse.”
“Then begin to make plans.”
“We need the land scouting out.”
“That would be you and some horsemen. Tuanthal?”
“He is a sound warrior. Perhaps ten men might do it. It will take so
me weeks.”
“I believe we are safe until next year.”
He looked at me, “Know this, Lord Lann, you will not be able to take all of your people for some will not wish to leave the land of their birth and those people will either die or be enslaved.”
I had hidden that thought in the deep recesses of my mind but I knew what he said was true. I steeled myself. “Then that will be their choice. I will save what I can of Rheged and I will have done my duty as warlord. But I still cannot see what Brother Osric foretold.”
“Brother Osric is more of a wizard than I am, my lord. I believe he can see into the future.”
When we returned home I summoned Brother Oswald, Garth and Tuanthal along with Myrddyn. I could not tell them all that I had been told but they needed a vision. “I am sending Tuanthal with Myrddyn to Wales to find us a new home should Rheged fall.” I saw their shocked looks and held up my hand. “I do not think it will fall but a good leader plans for the future.” I spread my hands, “I hope to become a good leader. Brother Oswald, Brother Osric has sent you his papers he wishes you to continue to document Rheged’s life and to guard this valuable document.” He took it eagerly. “Garth we need to gather as many draught animals and horses as we can. Do it, with Brother Oswald’s aid, surreptitiously and gather them out of plain sight; down close to my brothers. When we do move, if we have to move, it will be quickly and quietly. All three men looked to Myrddyn who nodded, seriously. “Keep my words to yourselves. We live in dangerous times.”
My next problem was Aideen; should I tell her or not? She had a short time to go before she gave birth and I decided that, as we had a possible year of grace, I could keep silent and avoid her wrath. I would need to see my brothers and Riderch sooner rather than later. Using the excuse that the king had asked me to tour the kingdom I left with Pol and six trusted warriors. I headed first for Banna. Ridwyn now had a happily married Anya at his side when he greeted me and she rushed to my arms and embraced me. I think my warriors were taken aback but we had seen much together and I allowed her the moment. When I was alone with the brothers I explained that I was making plans should Rheged fall. Ridwyn was shocked but Riderch looked as though he had expected it. “When Bernicia fell I knew that all things must change. I will follow you, Lord Lann, wherever you lead for you have never failed me yet.”
Recovered from the shock Ridwyn added, “Aye and me.”
“We are gathering horses for we will need to move swiftly when we do.” I hesitated. “When the Saxons come it will either be here or at Castle Perilous. Do not feel that you have to defend to the last man. If the Saxons come here first, then delay them, and then flee with your people to, either Civitas, or Castle Perilous.”
“We will my lord.”
Raibeart looked distraught when I told him Brother Osric’s words. He had fled Elmet to the safety of Rheged and now that sanctuary was being taken from him. “Are you sure we cannot hold?”
“I believe we can but you know Myrddyn and Brother Osric. They know more than we so all that I ask is that you make plans. They may come to naught in which case all we have lost is some thoughts and plans.”
“You have always made the right decisions and I trust you now. I will do as you suggest.”
“It if it is any consolation then I believe that it will be my castle which is attacked first and you and Aelle will be their prey when they have conquered the rest.”
“That is small consolation brother.”
Aelle had already thought of the problem. “I fear my people will wish to stay here. It is idyllic and I love it. I do not think there would be anywhere else I could be as happy.”
I nodded for I knew what he meant. “But if you were ruled by a Saxon then would you be as happy? I only give you a warning brother. You use the information as you will. I have Myrddyn scouting a new home and, hopefully, it will as be perfect as here but the eventual decision will be yours. Brother Osric said that if Rheged fell then my oath, and I assume yours, would not be binding, either.”
I felt that I had done my duty and my promise to our father to watch over my brothers had been kept. I could not force them to flee but I knew that, if I had no oath to uphold, and if Rheged fell then I would flee to save my family and those who trusted me. There was no point in dying for a piece of soil.
As summer drifted into autumn Garth and Brother Oswald assiduously gathered horses and had carts made. They used the excuse that we intended to move more rocks and iron for future buildings. No one seemed interested as there were other matters to worry about. The Bernicians had risen, under their boy king and his mother, to try to wrest the kingdom from the subjugation of the Saxons. It ended bloodily and Bulc’s family fled north to the land of the Caledonii. It ensured that the Saxons had to spend the wet autumn sopping up the last remnants of resistance. Those true warriors of Bernicia joined Riderch at Banna for all knew what a staunch warrior he was as well as a keen opponent and enemy of the Saxons.
We heard that Brother Osric had become ill and had taken to his bed, nursed by the redoubtable Niamh who ministered to the man who had been as close to her husband as she. It spurred Oswald to add to Brother Osric’s writings. I think he wanted to show the old man that his life work would not end when his life did. He took his vellum to Civitas. When he returned he told me that Osric had criticised his spelling and his penmanship, which, in itself, told me that Osric was not yet ready to meet his maker.
I was becoming worried when, after almost four weeks, there was no sign of Myrddyn and my men. Aideen too was worried. She had given birth to another daughter, Monca and now wanted Myrddyn’s wisdom about the child. Aideen still clung to the old ways, as I did and Myrddyn was a priest of those ways. His youth did not matter for he was, in our eyes, a shaman and as such held in high regard.
When they trotted back into the castle grounds I counted two empty saddles and noticed that the men were road worn and weary. Having returned from long patrols myself I allowed them to wash, put on clean clothes and drink before I summoned them. I had a jug of heated wine laced with honey and they both drank appreciatively. Tuanthal nodded at Myrddyn who began to speak. “Firstly, my lord, we lost two men. One, Boru, slipped from his horse when we climbed a high col in the Welsh mountains the other fell into a river and drowned before we could get to him. We met no enemies who caused us harm. We avoided roads and kept to the secret ways known only to Myrddyn.” He grinned. “We are all adept at swimming rivers now!”
Myrddyn was reading my mind. I had worried that the men had died as a result of action. I did not know if the men who lived in the Welsh hills and mountains would oppose us. “Beyond the foothills there are fertile valleys protected by mountains but the most attractive land is in Mona; my homeland. That is protected by the sea. However it is my home. Let Tuanthal give you his opinion.”
“The wizard is correct my lord. The valleys would give us protection but there is danger reaching them. That is where we lost our men and they were both fit warriors and not women and children. The island is my first choice. There is a stronghold in the south. There is an island separated from the larger island and it is very rocky. We could build a smaller version of Din Guardi there. The danger would not come from the Saxons; we met none either going there or returning, nor did we meet the Hibernians. However they just raid for slaves and we could do what Myrddyn’s people did not and build each settlement a stronghold.”
I pondered their words as they drank. “This is why I wanted two men’s opinions. I value them both. Please keep your counsel to yourselves. I will deliberate your words and, when the time is right, then I will make a decision.” I looked at Myrddyn. “And Myrddyn, if I were you I would visit Brother Osric, he is not well.” We both knew that my words meant he had not long for this world.
When Myrddyn returned after a week at Civitas, it was with sad, and for Rheged, bad news. The old priest had died. He had spoken with Myrddyn, indeed Myrddyn believed that the old man had hung on until the young healer arriv
ed. He had spoken with him at length and then he had died. He died as he had lived, quietly and without fuss. I think I was as upset over his death as that of the king and my own father. I took Myrddyn and Brother Oswald for the burial.
It was just after the funeral that the Dowager Queen collapsed. We had just opened and drunk Brother Osric’s last bottle of his favourite Lusitanian wine and she collapsed. Had we all not drunk from the same bottle then I would have thought it was poison but Myrddyn said it was something in her head. Her eyes were open and she was conscious but she could not speak. Ywain and I cradled her between us. Some drool came from the edge of her lips and I dabbed it with a napkin. She tried to smile at me and to say something but she could not. I saw her try to move her arm but she appeared to have no control over that either. Finally her eyes fixed on me and she tried to talk with her eyes. I know that it is hard to believe but she smiled at me with her eyes and then they closed and Queen Niamh of Rheged died. I am not ashamed to say that I wept. I had no time to weep for my parents and I was too angry at the time to weep for King Urien but Queen Niamh was a truly great queen and we will never see her like again. We buried her alongside her husband and there was a void in the kingdom of Rheged. That was the day when darkness seemed to descend upon the kingdom.
The winter was not as cold as others we had had but it was wet and miserable even with constant fires no-one ever felt dry. The garrison complained about the constant oiling of their armour and there were many minor infarctions of rules and petty fights. After a week in which it had teemed with rain and two men had suffered minor wounds as a result of fighting I decided to take half of the warriors out for a hunt. We needed fresh meat and it would allow me to teach Hogan how to hunt. Aideen was happy to have her noisy and sometimes naughty son away from the castle for a week. I had decided to take my warband to the country around Aelle’s domain. He had told me that the wolves there had been attacking his sheep and it seemed we could kill two birds with one stone. There were would be fewer men left to be fractious and Garth could manage those easily. Aideen laughed as we left under a stormy sky. “I am glad that you will take our son to learn how to hunt but I am glad that I will be in this warm and comfortable castle.”