The Du Lac Devil: Book 2 of The Du Lac Chronicles
Page 38
“It doesn’t matter. Don’t you see? I am already dead. I died when she…”
“Is that why you are starving yourself so you can hasten your death and join her? Do you believe Amandine would want that? Open your eyes. She was willing to sacrifice herself for you. Do not dishonour her memory. Fight.”
“What do I have left to fight for? You have a wife, you have a family, a kingdom, silver-”
“You have a son,” Alden reminded him. “You have just as much to live for as I do. Merton, if you do not start eating, then I will force the food down your throat.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Merton managed what resembled a growl.
“To save your life, I most certainly would. But the choice of how you want to play this is, of course, entirely yours.”
“Then I shall eat.”
As if to prove a point, Alden summoned a servant and ordered a warm broth. But as the servant opened the door to leave, James was standing at its entrance. His hand was raised as if he was about to knock. His face was a deathly white as if he had just seen a ghost.
“Sire…I’m sorry to interrupt but…we need to talk.”
“I’ll come,” Alden said rising to his feet. If James needed to speak, then he had learnt long ago that he needed to listen.
But instead of waiting at the door for his King, James stepped further into the room and shut the door after the servant had left.
“It concerns you both,” James said, looking from his King, to Merton, then back to his King again.
“How can it concern me? I am dead,” Merton reminded him, an edge of self-mockery in his words.
“And so was… Sire, there is a man demanding to see you.”
“Tell him to come back tomorrow. I am not receiving the peasantry today.”
“He isn’t a peasant,” James said, stepping closer.
“Who is he then?” Alden asked.
“I am not sure, but he says his name is…” James stammered to a stop, and his face looked pained. “He says…” James stopped again, fearing the name that he had to speak.
“Who does he say he is?” Merton asked. “Come, James, the suspense is killing us. Just say it.”
But he couldn’t say it. It would be the darkest of profanities if he did so. The dead stayed in their graves. That was the rules. They did not venture out again unless they sought to make mischief and James wanted to spare Alden that heartache. So instead of speaking, James stooped into a low bow as if to apologise.
“James?” Alden glanced at Merton. He had never seen his general so agitated.
Slowly James straightened and once more stared at his King.
“His name,” Alden demanded.
“He says his name is…Garren du Lac.”
Author’s Notes
The Du Lac Devil was an absolute joy to research. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and although it is a work of historical fantasy, I wanted to stay as authentic to the period that the book is set in as I could. Hopefully, I have conveyed a little of what life was like in AD 500.
We met Cerdic of Wessex in The Du Lac Chronicles, and I wanted to bring in some of his kinsmen into the story of The Du Lac Devil. As a warrior race the Saxons are up there with the best. These men reshaped British History and they deserve at least, to be remembered.
There are two such Saxon warriors who often go hand in hand together, and they go by the names of Wihtgar and Stuff. Like his kinsmen, Wihtgar wanted to forge a kingdom for himself and he did. He conquered an island just off the coast of Hampshire and he named the island after himself…The Isle of Wight. There is some debate amongst historians as to the legitimacy of this claim; some believe that we are dealing with a legend — Wihtgar is a myth, and there is nothing substantial to his name — but I like to think there is a ring of truth there somewhere.
I spent many long hours researching the remarkable life of Clovis. It is believed that he was a commander in the Roman military. He then did an about face and went to war against Rome. Clovis was ambitious, and Rome was on her last legs. Maybe he was just an opportunist and took advantage of Rome’s weakened state. Whatever the reason, Clovis won a decisive victory against Rome, at the Battle of Soissons in AD 486. But Clovis’s ambition didn’t stop there. Roman Gaul and parts of Western Germany fell to him as well. He forged a new empire through blood, war, and marriage. He made Paris the capital for his new kingdom and he was the first King of a united Frank (France). What an achievement.
Clovis married Clotilde, a Burgundian princess and niece to Gondebaud, King of Burgundy. Great warrior that he was, Clovis was no match for his wife. Clotilde was a Catholic, and she wanted their son to be baptised a Christian, and so he was! Clotilde also convinced Clovis to turn away from his pagan gods, and he too was baptised. Who said Dark Age women didn’t have any influence on their menfolk?!
It is said that truth is stranger than fiction, and this is certainly the case with Gondebaud of Burgundy. Gondebaud’s brothers and members of his family died in very suspicious circumstance. It is thought that Gondebaud murdered Clotilde’s father, mother and brothers. Clotilde and her sister were lucky to escape with their lives.
The story goes that Clovis demanded the hand of Clotilde and Gondebaud dared not refuse such a mighty king. But, after the deed was done, and Clotilde was married, Gondebaud feared that she would use her new position to seek revenge. It was better for everyone if Clotilde died too. It is said, Gondebaud tried to have her ‘done away with,’ which then brought the wrath of Clovis down on his head.
It is easy to get carried away with these stories, whether any of the truth remains in them is really difficult to tell, and there are many different versions of what actually happened.
Clovis did have legitimate brothers, but there is no mention of a bastard half-brother called Ansegisel. Ansegisel “Yrre” is a fictional character of my making. As is the alliance between Wihtgar and Gondebaud.
The Kingdom of Brittany, like Britain, is built on a foundation of folklore. It is said that King Budic II was forced to flee to Britain due to his cousin’s usurpation. Budic took refuge in the court of King Aergol Lawhir of Dyfed.
One of my favourite characters in The Du Lac Devil has to be the young monk, Sampson. I based Sampson on one of the seven saints of Brittany. When I read about Sampson’s remarkable life, I just had to include him in the story. Sampson was a coenobitic and then later, an eremitic monk. He was born in Southern Wales in the year c. 485. He spent his younger years at a monastery in Caldey, in Dyfed, (Pembrokeshire), where he later became Abbot. Sampson spent a great deal of time in Cerniw (Cornwall) where he founded several communities — The Isle of Scilly is named after him. He then went to Brittany and founded a monastery at Dol. As well as being a saint of Brittany, Sampson is also a saint of Guernsey. He died at Dor in Brittany in the year c. 565.
The Dark Ages is not the easiest period to research. There is very little in the way of primary written sources and what there is tends to be shrouded in folklore, or written for a particular, mostly political, purpose, so one has to be careful. But I think, for me, that is part of the appeal.
A complete bibliography of the books I have used to research this amazing period of history would be too long to list, but if I have sparked your interest, then I suggest checking out these fascinating books;
(Author unknown) — The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles,
Nennius — The History of the Britons,
Bede — Ecclesiastical History of the English People,
Gildas — On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain,
Thomas Taylors — The Life of Saint Sampson of Dor,
Guizot — A Popular History of France From The Earliest Time V1,
Francis Pryor — Britain AD: A Quest for Arthur, England and the Anglo-Saxons,
Michael Wood — In Search Of The Dark Ages and In Search of England,
Neil Oliver — A History of Ancient Britain.
The quotes from The Holy Bible, which Merton and Philippe use t
o test each other’s wit, can be found in the Book of Job.
In order of appearance;
Job 41:21,
Job 40:8,
Job 18:5.
If you would like to read more about the times of myths and legends in Dark Age Britain and to keep up with my latest news, then please pop over to my blog — Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots —
and say hello!
http://maryanneyarde.blogspot.co.uk.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for reading The Du Lac Devil. Please consider writing a short review on the site from where you purchased my novel. It would mean a great deal to me. Thank you.
More books in The Du Lac Chronicles series by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Du Lac Chronicles
Book 1
“It is dangerous to become attached to a du Lac. He will break your heart, and you will not recover.”
So prophesies a wizened healer to Annis, daughter of King Cerdic of Wessex. If there is truth in the old crone’s words, they come far too late for Annis, who defies father, king, and country to save the man she loves.
Alden du Lac, once king of Cerniw, has nothing. Betrayed by Cerdic, Alden’s kingdom lies in rubble, his fort razed to the ground and his brother Merton missing, presumably dead. He has only one possession left worth saving: his heart. And to the horror of his few remaining allies, he gives that to the daughter of his enemy. They see Annis, at best, as a bargaining chip to avoid war with her powerful father. At worst, they see a Saxon whore with her claws in a broken, wounded king.
Alden has one hope: When you war with one du Lac, you war with them all. His brother Budic, King of Brittany, could offer the deposed young king sanctuary — but whether he will offer the same courtesy to Annis is far less certain.
The Pitchfork Rebellion
When the devil wanted to destroy the world he would do so with fire. Alden du Lac knew this for a fact, because the devil had come to Cerniw.
Alden may have driven the man who tortured him from his lands, but he can do nothing to drive him from his dreams.
Alden has become bitter, angry and unrecognizable to those who love him. The only person whom could possible bring him back from the brink is his younger brother Merton. But even Merton is at a loss as to what to do.
As Alden seemingly wars with himself, there is a new threat to the kingdom. A threat that nobody foresaw, or could have possibly predicted…
The adventure continues in this beautiful novella.