Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 03] Saxon England

by Griff Hosker

  My captain of horse greeted me cheerfully. “This is an unexpected pleasure my lord.”

  “I came to request more wood.”

  “Would you wish the same lengths as previously?”

  “Not just six paces long.”

  Tuanthal was intrigued and I explained about the onagers. “They sound like a good idea. When they are built I will look at one. They might prove useful here.”

  I gestured at the huts. “I see you are growing.”

  “They came from the mainland. We keep visiting Llanrug to discourage the savages but they have just moved further away, terrorising hardworking farmers. They have learned to avoid us. The settlers met us when we were gathering wood and asked for sanctuary. I saw no harm.”

  I could see the concern on his face and I put my arm around his broad shoulders. “On the contrary, it is what I wish. I want Mona to be a sanctuary for those fleeing the Saxons or any other predator and this is your land my friend.”

  “No my lord I am steward of your land.”

  I mounted Raven, “I have little time to stay on this visit but I will return with carts within the week and then I will stay.” I peered across the open, rolling land. “When I came across the island I saw wild flocks of sheep. You might think about herding them. They will provide food and wool.” I gestured at the villagers. “Some of these may well be shepherds. With more people we need more food.”

  My return journey was swift and Raven enjoyed the gallop. I reached the bridge just after dark and looked forwards to my hot meal. I saw that the sheep had been penned and Wolf was standing guard. He wagged his tail in recognition but never took his eyes from his charges. Myrddyn and Garth had waited for me before eating and I told them of my day. “There will be many animals which were domesticated and are now feral. Perhaps we could send out the archers to round up any strays. We could distribute them amongst the people of the island.”

  “And it seems we have immigrants too. Tuanthal now has a small village of refugees from the mainland.”

  “There will come a time Lord Lann when you need to make the mainland safe. I think it is what Bishop Asaph hoped would happen.”

  “We need to be secure on this island and we no longer have the huge army we once had.”

  Garth laughed. “So far I have seen little that would worry us my lord.”

  I pointed to Wyddfa, hidden in the dark but always present. “How would we dislodge men from the mountains and the passes? Our warriors are not mountain fighters. They like firm and open ground beneath their feet.”

  He looked crestfallen. Garth believed that his shield wall could best anyone but he was intelligent enough to understand my point. “Then I will have to train men to fight that way.”

  “We could use the boys who are too slight for the shield wall. If we train them with javelins and slings they could scurry from rock to rock. Early training would give them the skills.” Myrddyn pointed to the bay which the locals called, Porthdafarch after a young man who had drowned trying to save his young bride. It was rocky and accessible. “They could use Porthdafarch as a practice ground.”

  I nodded my agreement, my mouth full of food. “When the weather improves that will be our goal.”

  Brother Oswald hurried towards us. “When will the wood be ready my lord?”

  “I said we would take carts next week.”

  “We also need iron. One disadvantage of not fighting Saxons is the lack of booty.”

  “Ah the man of God misses war.” Myrddyn could not keep the glee out of his voice.

  “Until the whole world is Christian then war is a necessary evil.”

  I shook my head. These two would argue all night. “We need traders to visit the port. I will speak with Gwynfor.” Garth looked at me curiously and I could sense he did not understand. “When he is fishing he may see ships. The ships that travel to Rheged have to pass by the channel. He could encourage them to visit here. Especially if he says we have silver.”

  Myrddyn leaned forwards. “We have examined Brother Osric’s papers and just south of here, say sixty miles or so, there are gold mines that the Romans used.”

  “Perhaps that might be worth a visit. The trouble is with so few men we cannot spare many to take such a journey but we will see.”

  Gwynfor confirmed that many ships used the straits and he would be happy to hail them. “The trouble is my lord that the harbour is not as good as it was. The Romans used to keep it clear for the bigger ships and the quayside used to have bollards to tie up their boats.”

  “Leave that with me. Brother Oswald can put his fertile mind to the solution to those problems.”

  The priest did indeed have solutions and he also suggested building a hut where the ships crews could buy and exchange goods sheltered. “And,” I added, “watched; very clever Brother Oswald. Perhaps we can replace Rheged as the port they visit.”

  “It would be a shorter journey and they would not be exposed to the pirates for as long.”

  A month later saw the onagers built and the first ships bring goods for trade. The first visitor was from Byzantium and the Roman Empire. The captain had a cargo of excellent pots and amphorae. The island did not have many potters and it was a valuable cargo.

  “It was intended for Rheged, Warlord,” he had recognised me, “but since the two brothers began fighting there is not as much money to be made there.” He spread his arms apologetically. “When your fishermen stopped me I thought I would see if this was worthwhile.” His look suggested that he was disappointed.

  “I know that we are not an Alavna and certainly not a Civitas Carvetiorum but one day we shall be and,” I took out a fat bag containing coins. “We do have coins so perhaps it might be worth your while visiting and spreading the word.”

  His greedy eyes took in the bag and he nodded. “If you would like to come aboard and examine my wares…”

  I saw Brother Oswald give a slight shake of his head. “No, bring a sample of each pot and the Brother will negotiate. That means you can just bring ashore what we need.” I could see the disappointment on his face. He hoped to get rid of his cargo for an outrageous profit and then leave quickly.

  “Very well.”

  “And of course there is a hut over there for you and your crew to use. We have beer you may wish to buy and fresh meat.” I nodded at the priest. “And the brother will negotiate a fair price for that too.” The trade went well and we were all satisfied. We were turning Mona into a Rheged. Brother Oswald was keen to begin producing honey again and the island was perfect for bees. There was gorse as well as many crops and the mild climate meant they had a better chance of surviving the winter.

  Spring came with an unexpected bounty. The animals produced many young, more than in a normal year and the fruits of the liaisons between my warriors and the young girls also produced many children. More ships came, some from North Africa and some from Italy. We were able to buy wine but Brother Oswald warned against profligacy. “We are not rich any more my lord. We need to buy only those things which we need and not what we want.”

  When I next rode around the island with Miach and his men I was greeted warmly. I told all of my people about the ships and trade and encouraged hunting and fishing for the sailors were always desperate for fresh food. I told them that they could trade whatever surplus they had for pots and amphorae. The women’s eyes lit up when I mentioned those. Brother Oswald had suggested a twice weekly market and we advertised that fact. The roads were safe and the more we could communicate with each other the better.

  All was going well and I was feeling proud of my achievements when we reached the narrows. There my world was shattered. As I rode through the gates I saw Mungo and the remnants of the Deva garrison and their families along with Gareth and a handful of his people. The Saxons had come and driven them off.

  Chapter 18

  “The first warning we had was when their ships arrived in the estuary. They landed and surrounded the fort. Some of them went north and some
east. We were well provisioned and we were not worried. Then they captured Witherspool and Gareth barely escaped with a few of his people. All the rest were slaughtered. They cleverly floated down the river and we hauled them in at the bridge. Then the Saxons built a ram. We did not have enough archers to slow them down and the gates began to break. I ordered the women and children over the bridge with Gareth’s men and then we piled great quantities of flammable material under the bridge. Once they broke through the gate we attacked them and caused many casualties. When they were regrouping I fired the bridge and we fled across it. I waited with a few of my men and sent the rest south and west to find you. The heat from the fire was so intense that it made the bridge brittle. When the first Saxons tried to cross it they caused it to collapse into the river. The Roman Bridge is no more. We came the same way as you and when we reached the monastery the Bishop helped us and told us where you were. He said to tell you, ‘The time is ripe for the Wolf to bare his teeth.’ Whatever that means.”

  “I understand and you have done well.” I looked at the last fifty men from the army of Strathclyde. “You have a home on the island. Your people can choose where you will.”

  Gareth asked, “And what of me and my few remaining people my lord?”

  Smiling I said, “Of course, if you return with me to Caergybi I think you can continue to do what you did at Witherspool.” He did not know what I meant but I saw a role for him dealing with the ship’s captains thereby freeing up Brother Oswald.

  The news that the Saxons had come with their ships was worrying. I had thought we would have had warning of their arrival through Raibeart and Aelle but they had bypassed those two and could arrive at my home at any time. We had only just made the onagers in time. As I left to return home I noticed that Tuanthal had two onagers. “Have you tried them yet?”

  “Aye my lord. We managed to strike the beach over there on the mainland once. No ship can pass these waters unscathed.”

  I rode west in silence. What Tuanthal has said was true but we were an island and they could land anywhere they chose. I hoped I had some time but I needed to plan as though I had not. We reached the fort after dark and I held a meeting with my advisers.

  “What you need, my lord is a series of beacons across the island. It is flat and there are a few highpoints. We could light the beacons when we want the people to seek refuge. They could use my stronghold or Tuanthal’s.”

  “Now that Mungo is here we need Tuanthal to patrol the island. What we need is ships to warn us of impending danger.”

  “The fishing ships are too small and we have neither the skills nor the resources to build our own.”

  What Oswald said was true and, for the first time since coming to the island, I felt under serious threat. Gareth joined me after we had finished making our plans. “Tell us of your ordeal Gareth.”

  “We heard them coming and saw that there were many of them. We would not have been able to fight them off.” He smiled ruefully, “you showed us how ill prepared we were, my lord. We crossed the bridge and headed for Deva. They must have thought that we had more in our poor homes than we had for they spent a long time there and then they fired it. We reached the river and my people were tired.” He hung his head. “I am sorry to say we stole some boats. But I was trying to save my people.”

  “Do not worry Gareth, sometimes leaders have to make decisions they do not like.”

  “The boats were overcrowded but we headed down river; the current made life simpler. When we drew close to Deva we saw the Saxon ships on the other side of the bridge and the men with the ram trying to breach the gate. We were less than a hundred paces away when disaster struck; one of the boats capsized and took all but three to their deaths. Those three clung to our boat and we bumped alongside the bridge. We climbed as quickly as we could and your man, Mungo saved us by letting us in. We barely had time to think. We were all armed from those who had already fallen in the defence of the fort. Mungo sent us across the bridge with the women and children from the fort. The Saxons tried to hit us with arrows but Icaunus must have been watching us for they missed. When the bridge was fired I thought that our saviours would perish but they ran unscathed through the flames and told us to hurry down the road. When we reached the monastery the good monks there asked us to stay but we all wanted to reach the sanctuary that is Ynys Mon.” I smiled. Because Brother Oswald and Osric had written our plan for escape we had used the Latin name, Mona. It sounded strange to hear it now named in our language. “We were terrified when we saw the narrow piece of sea. It looked so angry but your horsemen brought the raft and we cried with joy at our rescue.”

  “Your people are more than welcome to stay here and, if they do I have a task for you.”

  “We would wish to stay here my lord. I feel safe.”

  “Good. We have ships that have begun to arrive to trade with us and the people bring their goods to our market but we need someone to run it, to manage it.” I peered into his eyes. “I need an honest man. Will you do it?” He nodded gratefully. “There is a hut there that we use for meetings and you can use that as your home.” He grabbed my hand to kiss it. I felt embarrassed. “Yes, well, you will be doing me a favour so thank you.”

  The next month was spent preparing for the attack we assumed would reach us sooner rather than later and building up our army. It would never be the Army of Rheged but with our new weapons and the magic of the isles protecting us I was hopeful. A message reached me close to the festival of Eostre. There were Irish ships just outside the port. I took ten mounted warriors and Miach with his archers. Pol and Hogan accompanied me. I did not think that the Irish would be here for a social visit and I was prepared for war.

  There were three ships and they were the same type as those used by the Saxons. They each held thirty men and although they had a sail oars were the preferred method of propulsion. Gwynfor looked worried. “Their leader is a warrior called Felan. He says he is here to trade but his eyes looked shifty.”

  “I think if he was here to cause mischief he would have attacked first and negotiated only if he failed.” I glanced up at the newly restored walls. The onagers were in place and hidden but, as yet they were unmanned. That would need to be remedied. “Miach. Man the onagers and aim them at the ships. Do not use them yet. I will try to talk with them. Gwynfor, will you take me out to them?”

  “Aye my lord.”

  “Miach, keep watch from here. You do not need me to tell you what to do. Hogan and Pol come with me. Wolf stay!” Hogan grinned whilst Wolf put his head down and looked very sorry for himself.

  The boats the men used were long and narrow with a small sail. I had seen them scurrying about the island and they were very nimble. Unfortunately they had a tendency to heel over and the water looked frighteningly close. The two boys did not seem to mind but I gripped the side for all grimly. We bumped next to the ship Gwynfor said was the boat of their leader. Willing hands helped us aboard and Gwynfor said, “I will wait just here my lord. Call me when you need me.”

  A huge red haired man almost picked me up when I boarded. “You must be the Wolf Warrior I have heard so much about!”

  “If you let me down I will introduce myself.”

  “Ah sure and don’t mind me. I like a fighting man and I hear you have done more fighting than any other man alive; the king killer and the killer of champions.”

  I demurred and held my arm out. “This is Hogan my son and squire and Pol my standard bearer.”

  “So this is the famous Wolf Standard. That too is famous as is the dragon you use with your fabulous horsemen.”

  “I was told you wished to trade.”

  He put his arm around me and led me away from his men. “Aye, the thing is it is more of work I would like to do with you. I heard from a few of the captains that you pay silver and not just barter for bits of jewellery.”

  I wondered how he had spoken with the captains; he had probably captured them but I smiled, playing his game. “Aye we do.”
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  “Now I cannot help but notice that you have no fighting ships and as you can see I do. I have heard that King Aethelric has put a price on your head and is coming here with his ships. So if you hire me, we will do the fighting for you eh?”

  “That is generous of you but I am not sure we can afford to pay for your three ships.”

  He leaned in and spoke conspiratorially to me. He stank of onions and he needed a bath but I forced a smile. “The thing of it is you would be paying me. I will deal with my men. How does thirty pieces of silver for every day we sail sound?”

  I disengaged myself. “It sounds a little steep to me. How about thirty pieces of silver for every month you work for me?”

  “I can see that you have a shrewd mind but if we are watching for you then we aren’t earning any money are we?”

  “I’ll tell you what I will do and we will call it a trial. I will give you ten pieces of silver and you sail to Deva. Come back and tell me if the Saxons are still there. Then I will know if it is worthwhile to hire you.”

  He greedily eyed the bag of silver. “Of course I could just take the money and not come back.”

  “True but I think you want the other twenty pieces.” I shrugged. “Let us call it a gamble. I am gambling that you want more gold.”

  His eyes lit up when I said gold and he spat on his hand and held it out to me. “Then we have a deal Wolf Warrior.”

  I took his hand and gave him the bag of silver. Felan took us to the side of his ship and waved at Gwynfor. “Sure and I like you. I might just bring a Saxon ship back. Will you pay for it?”

  “Twenty for every Saxon ship you bring.”

  “You have that much silver?”

  I smiled enigmatically, “Thank you for coming to see me. Your men are welcome in the town but only if they come ashore unarmed and in small boats.”