by Griff Hosker
He bowed and dropped his sword. “I am sorry it has come to this. My lord...”
“This is not the end, Tadgh, things will change. Help me to unbar the gate.” We lifted the bar and dropped it to the side. As I swung open the gate I said, “Now open the other,” I waved at Myrddyn. The galloping hooves drew the attention of the searchers. Seeing the gate open I said, “Thank you Tadgh,” and then struck him on the chin. I mounted Raven. Pasgen and Myrddyn were with me in a heartbeat and we sped off across the drawbridge. I felt the arrows as they ghosted over me but it was dark and they were hurried shots. Had it been Miach then I would have been dead but King Ywain did not value archers as I did.
We rode hard until we were clear of the castle and then I took us south into the wooded land there. We halted. “Prince Pasgen, You are more than welcome to join me and my brothers.”
“No, Lord Lann. I will always be your friend and, if I fail, then I will join you, if I am still alive. But I owe it to the memory of my father to try to save Rheged. I will ride to Alavna and raise an army of loyal warriors. “
We clasped arms. “Then take care.”
We retraced our path and left the wood. We had gone barely half a mile when we heard the hooves and shout of the pursuit. I grinned in the early dawn half light. “It seems the king is keen to get us Myrddyn?”
“Then let us lead him a merry dance my lord.”
We gave our horses their head. They rode freely but not hard. Both were fine mounts and grain fed; both had been well exercised. I suspected that the garrison horses had not been out of the stables for some time. The road to Castle Perilous had one steep section and then it levelled off. I deliberately slowed at the steep section. We were highlighted against the eastern sky and the riders thought they had us. They kicked hard up the slope, weakening their horses. Once we reached the flat section we kicked on. Our horses were fresh but I knew that the ones behind would be labouring soon. The closest they came was two hundred paces and we could almost see their faces but one look at the frothing mounts told me that they had nothing left to give. They gave up the chase some four miles from my home. We had escaped.
The guards at the gates were surprised to see us so early in the morning. They were even more surprised when I ordered the whole castle to stand to. While Myrddyn went to fetch Brother Oswald, I roused my officers and led them to the main courtyard. “I want every warrior here before me while I address you.” I could see the confused looks on their faces. Lord Lann did not go in for public speeches; what was afoot?
When they were gathered I looked at Myrddyn and nodded, he left. I began. “Myrddyn and I have just been held captive by King Ywain. He has surrendered to the Saxons.” There was an uproar, which I expected. I saw the look of horror on Pol and Hogan’s faces as well as the shock on Garth’s face as the enormity of it all sank in. I allowed them a few moments to voice their feelings and then I raised my arms. There was silence. “I am telling you this because some of you may feel more loyalty to King Ywain than to me. If that is so then Myrddyn has opened the gates. You are free to leave, with no hard feelings and to join the king. I suspect he and his Saxon allies will be along soon.” No-one moved. “If you stay then know that, once we have secured our survival we will be leaving Rheged to find a new home. I say again either stay or go.”
In answer Garth began chanting, “Wolf Warrior!” Soon it was taken up by all. When it was obvious that no one would be leaving I nodded to Myrddyn who closed the gates once more.
“I intend to give our people the same chance of leaving as you and when I leave here that is what I will do. To buy us time we will have to defend the castle against our enemies so that our wives and family can escape. For those who have no families then you will be fighting for our family.” I spread my arms. “This family.” Again they cheered. “Now back to your posts and officers to me.”
I led my officers, Brother Oswald and my family to the main hall. I quickly told them what had befallen us and Prince Pasgen. “It is Wales for us. Tuanthal, I want you to ride to Ridwyn and explain what we are about. He can join us if he wishes. Tell him that we will be leaving within the next few days. It may be that the king does nothing but I suspect that Aethelric will want me dead. Oswald, get the carts ready. We will send the people to my brother. Myrddyn, ride to Raibeart and explain. He will know what to do. My plan is simple, defend the castle until the people are with Raibeart and then fight our way out.” There were a couple of dubious looks and I smiled, “Do not worry. Myrddyn and I have a plan to secure our flight. We will need all our warriors if we are to create our own country.” I looked them all in the eye and I saw no doubts. “You are my brothers. Let us do this.”
I took Brother Oswald with me to speak with my people. I told them the same but not the country. “I know you are leaving your homes and you can stay here with my blessing but your masters will be the Saxons. If you wish to join me then go to your homes and bring what you need. Be back here by sunset and then we will escort you to safety.” I could see heated debate and many tears. I knew from my own parents how hard it must be to leave your home and all that you had built up to leave for the unknown. My brothers and I had no choice, but as we trudge up the hill I realised that their choice was equally stark.
When we walked back to the castle I could see that Brother Oswald was worried. “We may not have enough carts and wagons my lord. I have done my best to acquire horses and …”
“Do not worry. The people can walk. It is but fifteen miles to Raibeart’s domain. Tuanthal and his men will act as escorts and Raibeart will bring his army. We just need them away by dark.” I put my arm on his shoulder. “Bring all your papers Oswald. We need Osric’s account to be there for my great grandchildren.”
We all had a busy day for even I needed to collect together the things I would be taking. Although I would not be leaving until there was no time left, I sent all that was precious to Hogan and me with the carts. By the time sunset had arrived I felt quite touched by the loyalty of my people. All of them had opted to leave with us and when Ridwyn came it was with all of his Bernicians and the men of Strathclyde. Ridwyn summed up the attitude of the warriors. “We know that wherever you are my lord, the Saxons will get their arses kicked and we like kicking Saxon arses after what they have done to our people. Count us in.”
We had no time to waste and Brother Oswald quickly organised the carts and the villagers. With Tuanthal’s horsemen as guards, they set off. The priest was right, there were not enough wagons but when Myrddyn returned it was with Raibeart’s horsemen and the carts Raibeart could spare. Soon the only people left in the castle were warriors.
Leaving only a skeleton force to guard the walls I sent all the men to their beds. The next few days would need minds and bodies that were alert and I was sure that the Saxons could not reach us until then. I suspected that Aethelric had merely gone north of the estuary and would have returned to Civitas when King Ywain had told him of his loss. We would have the walls filled the next day and would prepare our surprises then.
As soon as we awoke I set the men to gathering as much material that would burn as possible. As soon as we had enough I began to get the men to pack the stables, the buildings, and the drawbridge with every piece of it. Every piece of wood, old wool, bark and chippings we could get hold of, we used. By noon we had just finished and not before time. The Saxons arrived from the poorly defended western side, the side protected by the king. It mattered not, we were going to give the Saxons a painful and deadly surprise.
They tore through the walls of the enclosure which had protected the villagers and roared towards the walls of the castle. Every archer and slinger was on that wall and they loosed and released with impunity. The Saxons died in their hundreds as they relentlessly advanced towards the wall. Once they reached the ditch, where they protected themselves with their shields, I withdrew the archers and the slingers and replaced them with my shield wall warriors. The archers and slinger left the castle by the southern
gate and Miach led them south to the ambush point on the road to Raibeart’s castle. The Saxons had learned about siege work and they began to dig under the foundations of the wall. I was more than happy for that event as we were able to kill even more by dropping rocks and boiling water upon them. Our javelins killed the reinforcements they sent and soon they were weakening. As I had expected the wall began to crumble and I withdrew all the men from the walls.
Myrddyn stood by me and he led half of the warriors, along with a reluctant and complaining Pol and Hogan out of the castle by the southern gate. Garth, Ridwyn and I now had but one hundred and fifty warriors to face the onslaught from thousands of Saxons. It seemed an impossible task. I sent the five despatch riders we had retained to fire the traps we had laid on the northern and western walls as well as the drawbridge. As they came back and the flames began to rise, I felt sad for I had built the castle to what it was from a shell and now I was making it a shell again so that the Saxons would not enjoy the fruits of my labour.
As the boys ran to join Myrddyn I formed my shield wall. We had no wolf banner but they knew whom they faced. It was a cornered Wolf Warrior and they sensed victory. They made our job easier. As they poured over the walls and through the collapsed wall they had no order and ran at a wall of shield and steel with made them a bloody sea of bodies. They were brave and they were reckless. Still they came on and we gave way, steadily. That encouraged them and made them think that they were winning. We withdrew towards the stables and the warrior hall. The other three walls and the rest of the buildings were now burning furiously which slowed their advance and killed many.
“Ridwyn! Now!”
Ridwyn roared, “Bernicia and Strathclyde, to me!”
The warriors he commanded suddenly left the flanks of the shield wall and ran into the stables. It confused their opponents. My Rheged men spread out and stepped back. There were now but eighty of us but our flanks were secured by burning buildings. We edged slowly back, Saxon Slayer killing all who came within its deadly arc. Garth was once more by my side and he hewed men as a man might hew trees. The Saxons had not formed a shield wall and their best warriors were not together; mine were. When I felt the stables behind me I shouted, “Aedh! Now!” The young despatch rider was waiting inside the stables for just such a command.
I turned to Garth and grinned. “Let us put the shits up these Saxons eh? Charge!”
We ran at the Saxons. My eighty men punched and stabbed like maniacs until a barrier of bodies lay before us. Garth shouted, “Back! Now!” And then there was just Garth and me.
I stepped forwards.”The Wolf Warrior will disappear but one day he will return and all of you will die.” Aedh had timed it well and, as I stepped into the stables, the whole building erupted into flames. I quickly headed for the secret passage we had built all those years before. The light from the fire aided me but the smoke was thicker than I had expected and I found it difficult to see and breathe. I kept my hand on the wall to my left so that I knew where I was and soon I smelled the fresher air of the outside. Willing hands pulled me clear and then my men began to throw wood into the tunnel and that too was fired. We hurried down the track towards safety before the Saxons realised what had occurred.
The afternoon was almost gone; the sun was beginning to settle in the west although the day was so grey it was hard to tell if it was day or night. We were tired but we were also elated. We had taken few casualties and killed many Saxons but more importantly we had destroyed the castle and confounded them. They would wonder where the army had gone. Of course, as soon as they tracked us the next day they would find our trail but that mattered not, we had planned for their pursuit. Even now Raibeart was building serious defences to deter the Saxons and Miach had laid traps and an ambush for when we passed.
It was dark when we heard Miach say, “Now if you were Saxons you would be dead!”
He came from the woods and clasped my arm. “I am glad that you escaped my lord.”
“Me too. Remember Miach, no heroics. Slow them down and make sure that you and your men all escape. We will need you and your archers where we are going.”
“Do not worry my lord it will be Saxons who will die and not my boys.”
Raibeart and Freja were waiting for me when we reached their sanctuary. Hogan threw his arms around me and said nothing. “We sent your people down to Wide Water and Aelle.”
“Good. And your people?”
Raibeart looked at Freja, “We are not certain, and neither is Aelle. We will see.”
I nodded. I could not make my brothers leave and why should they? This was a beautiful and verdant land which provided a good living for all of them. We were all leaders now of our own tribes and clans. I could no longer make those decisions for my brothers as I had all those years ago “Miach will warn us when they come. Hopefully we will break them.”
My men marched behind me as we entered the first of three wooden walls to the place Raibeart had made for us. There was food and there was ale and we all ate and drank gratefully. We had survived all that the Saxons had thrown at us and we had escaped Aethelric’s trap. That in itself was a victory.
Chapter 13
When I awoke the next morning I was stiff. I had fought for three hours the previous day and walked fifteen miles. I was no longer a youth and my age was showing. War was a young man’s game. Miach rode in with his archers at midmorning. He slid from his horse, looking tired. “They came at full tilt this morning and my lads made them pay. We only stopped because we had empty quivers.” He pointed behind him. “They are two miles up the road.”
“Good. Take your archers and get some sleep.” I pointed to Raibeart’s archers. We have others who are keen to emulate your exploits.”
The ditches Raibeart had dug were lined with stakes. The wooden walls would merely slow them up but we intended to retreat slowly until we reached the real defences eight hundred paces down the road. By then we hoped to have thinned their warriors out with arrows. Once they reached the last defence it would be the shield wall that would do its worst. Pol and Hogan made sure that they were by me but this day I would not be in the shield wall; that honour would go to Raibeart’s men. My warriors were already forming up before the last defence with Garth and my best warriors at their centre. I was the bait to draw them on. Raibeart had chosen well for the site of his defences. There was a long lake protecting our right flank and steep slopes to our left. The huge mountain, Halvelyn, which towered over us to our left would stop any warrior from outflanking us. They had but one choice. Attack us frontally or go home. Both choices suited me and my small army; we would hold them in the gap. Osric had told me of some ancient Greeks who had done the same when three hundred held up thousands. I was not sure I believed him but he had never lied to me. Today I would find out the truth.
Aethelric, or whoever led these warriors had learned their lesson and it was a mailed wedge which came up the road. Our arrows were less effective but they had managed to slow down the Saxons, weighing down their shields and dealing a fatal lesson to any who did not hold his shield high enough. They took many casualties as they hacked through the wooden wall and as soon as they were through Garth’s wedge struck them and hurled them backwards into the body filled ditch. We then retreated behind the next wall. The results were the same. The Saxons broke through but at a high cost and then there was just one wooden wall before the real fortification. As they stepped over their dead to face the combined forces of Raibeart and me they must have thought that victory was within their evil grasp. They dressed their lines and they put their best, most magnificently armed men in the front rank. I saw Aethelric at the rear on a horse. It was a white horse and looked remarkably like King Ywain’s. That image made me both sad and angry at the same time.
A huge warrior dressed in mail from head to toe with a helmet like mine stepped to the fore. He had a Frankish axe, which could be used in one hand. His shield had the emblem of a raven upon it. He roared in Saxon. “I challenge the Wo
lf Warrior to face me, Bjorn the champion of King Aethelric. I will send him to join King Urien and the other Rheged cowards.”
My men became angry at the insult to their king and their officers had to restrain them.
He repeated his challenge and added, “If he does not come forwards then he is a coward who hides in burning buildings and pretends he has magical power! He is a nithing!”
I began to step forwards and Raibeart grabbed my arm. “Are you a fool, brother? Our plan has almost succeeded. You do not need to fight him.”
I smiled at Raibeart, “If I kill him then I rip the heart from our enemy and our plan will succeed even more.”
“But you might die!”
“I could die in battle it is true but not today and not against him.” I turned and pointed to the rear. “If this was meant to go badly then Myrddyn would be here stopping me. Remember, he sees the future.” I drew Saxon Slayer and shouted, “All Saxons speak loudly and in my experience they die loudly; squealing like stuck pigs. Prepare to die, Bjorn the Blowhard.” I could not see his expression because of his mask but I knew I had angered him. I turned to my men and surreptitiously drew my dagger and gripped it in my left hand, behind my shield. “Saxon Slayer will claim another Saxon Champion!” The roar that went up was so loud that I saw Aethelric’s horse rear.