by Griff Hosker
"Reform!"
The charge of the squires had allowed our horses to catch their breath. As my equites lined up alongside me I saw that the Mercians were driving the enemy backwards. The Bernicians were dying for their King. He had not fled and so long as his standard fluttered they would fight on. They were, however being pushed back. It would be hard and brutal. King Penda would give no quarter. If we lost he would lose his kingdom. The King of Bernicia had ensured that his kingdom would survive by sending his brother back. I had no doubt that he thought they could still win. They thought they had God on their side.
Once we had reformed I dug my heels in Star and shouted, "Charge!" I aimed my horse at Alweo's oathsworn. I recognised the design on their shields. We had beaten them once at the ambush. They had originally been in the second rank and it was only as a result of Bernicians dying that they were in the front rank. I leaned forward and to the right. Star compensated by leaning to the left. I had trained him well. The Mercian spear was thrust at my head. I had to trust in my helmet. At the last moment I bowed my head and swung my sword blindly. The spear rasped and scratched along my helmet. The leather thong beneath my neck held and my sword connected. As I lifted my head I saw that my sword had driven across the neck of one of Alweo's oathsworn. He fell and I saw the fear on the face of Alweo son of Eowa. He did not have a spear. He had a sword. Holding his shield before him to protect himself from Star's snapping jaws he swung his sword at my left. I wheeled Star to the right and the sword smashed across my shield. Llenlleog had slain Alweo's father. A single blow decapitated him.
As his father's head flew Alweo's face showed his fear. He could not ask for quarter. He had betrayed King Penda and he could only expect death. He had to fight on but he was facing Saxon Slayer. I pulled Star to the left and the move took Alweo by surprise. I swung Saxon Slayer from on high and my blade hit his helmet hard from above. The Saxons made good swords. I had seen Alweo's and knew it to be a good one. His helmet was not as well made. His protector beneath did not do what it was supposed to. I saw his eyes glaze over and he stood stock still. Then a tendril of blood dripped down his nose and he fell to the ground. He was dead.
King Oswald and his standard bearer remained. My equites were finishing off the last of the oathsworn and I dismounted. I strode towards the King. Pointing Saxon Slayer at him I said, "You have shown courage today King Oswald, for you have stayed with your men but you sent mercenaries to attack my people. You killed my kin and for that you will pay!"
"You are all pagans and you will rot in hell! I will go to heaven for the priests have heard my confession. Nothing that you do can hurt me."
He stepped forward and lunged at me. At the same time the standard bearer struck at me too. It was a dishonourable blow and might have succeeded had not Llenlleog had lightning reactions. His sword, used two handed, ripped deep into the standard bearer to his spine. I saw King Oswald flinch as he heard the backbone break. I took King Oswald's blow on my shield and let the sword slide down the side. His sword was shorter than mine. I could have stood off and traded blows but while he stood then men were dying for the Bernicians would not stop fighting while their king lived. I swung my shield at his right side and he reeled. As he did so I stepped in and slid my sword upwards. His left hand was slow to fetch his shield around for he was unbalanced. And I found a gap. Saxon Slayer had a tip and the sword drove between the metal scales. It ripped through the leather holding them together. It entered the padded garment he wore beneath and up through his rib cage. I kept driving and saw the horror on his face as he realised that he was dying. One last push entered his heart and, with a soft sigh he died. He fell and lay beneath the huge sycamore tree. I pulled out Saxon Slayer and held it aloft. My equites and squires began banging their shields and shouting, "Warlord!" We had won.
Gawan and Arturus were the first to reach me. They jumped down, "We have won brother and it is down to you and your equites."
I nodded. "And there are four who have died. Was the victory worth it? Oswiu fled. There will still be a king of Northumbria. He will hide in Eoforwic or Din Guardi and build up his army. Is that a victory?"
"It is a kind of victory. It buys us time to build up our army and King Penda to extend his power. So long as he remains a true ally then all will be well." He lowered his voice, "I have not seen treachery in his mind."
Arturus said, "And this is the last time I watch you fight alone, Warlord. Had not Llenlleog had quick reactions then the standard bearer's treachery would have done for you."
"But it did not. We are all brothers in arms and protect each other."
King Penda rode up. He jumped from his horse and embraced me. King Cynddylan followed him. "I owe you much, Warlord. If we had twice the number of equites then we could conquer this whole island!"
"But we have not and can never have. We have a victory but not a complete one. Oswiu fled."
"Aye." He took his sword and went to the body of Oswald. "He wanted to be like his Christ. Let us help him!" He took his sword and hacked the body of King Oswald into pieces. He turned to Pybba. "Put Oswald on this tree and let his body feed the birds and warn all of the folly of attacking Mercia!"
The rest of his oathsworn did the same to the bodies of Eora, Alweo and the rest of the oathsworn. It looked like a charnel house. We left the bodies by Oswald's Tree. The Christians saw it as something holy. I heard that they made him a saint. Even as we walked back to the Mercian camp the crows, magpies, choughs and rooks were feasting on the dead.
Part 2
Gwenhwyfar
Chapter 7
King Cynddylan took me to one side as King Penda and his oathsworn spread the dismembered body over the limbs of the tree. "Is this well done?"
I shook my head, "But now that it is done it cannot be undone. You are a Christian. Will the church not think that he was martyred?"
"Perhaps." After studying the grisly tree, he turned to me, "I would travel back with you, Warlord. Ethelbert will march with his King to Tomwordig. I have fulfilled my commitment and I intend to visit King Cadafael at Aberffraw. I have a home at Rhuthun. I would deem it an honour if you would visit with me. I have a proposal to make."
I was intrigued but wary, "I have to get back to Rheged as soon as I can. I left scant resources should trouble visit us."
"One night should do it and it is but a few miles out of your way."
That evening we celebrated. We had taken treasure from the enemy. The religious artefacts went to King Cynddylan and the rest was shared equitably. There were many good swords and amulets. The clasps for their cloaks were also both well made and decorative. Some of the helmets the thegns, chiefs and kings had worn were also worth taking. The sword of Oswald I took. I had plans for it. It had a fine scabbard and the blade was engraved.
We buried our dead on the top of the hill fort. It had been built by the ancient peoples who did not follow the White Christ. They would sleep easily there. By the time we had buried them the Saxons were already half drunk. We had captured vast quantities of ale brought from Bernicia and they had consumed most of that already. King Penda and I sat with King Cynddylan, Gawan and Llenlleog watching the victorious warriors become progressively drunker. I could see that the Mercian King was not happy about it but we had won a great victory and eliminated one of his enemies.
After he had seen two of his thegns suddenly jump up from the ground and begin fighting he shook his head and said, "It is a pity that Oswiu escaped."
I was not certain if he was criticising me but I chose to ignore it if he had. "It will take him time to build up his forces again."
"And us also, Warlord. Their initial attack cost us many men. I had hoped to take the war into their lands but that cannot be; at least not for a while."
Llenlleog was in a thoughtful mood, "He will hire mercenaries. The church will pay him to do so. The last thing they want is a pagan army attacking the Christian Kingdoms."
King Penda nodded. His face was not the face of a vict
orious general, "But our alliance still stands?"
We all nodded. King Cynddylan said, "And I will visit with Cadafael and discover why he failed to honour the alliance."
King Penda shrugged, "We did well enough without him."
"But think how much more complete would have been the victory with his archers and his light horsemen. Our father helped to train his men and while they are not equites they would have been more than capable of catching King Oswiu."
I thought back to my father's days when Cadwallon had fought at our side. My brother was right but we could not change what had already happened. "Gawan, battles are always easy to win after they have been fought!"
"Perhaps."
"We will use the same arrangements for sending a message, Warlord but next time you will not have as far to travel for I intend to attack him in his own land. After this setback it will not be for at least a year. We need to harvest crops and have my men make more warriors as well as training men for war."
"We will come when you call." King Penda was a good general. His men had fought well and his plan had been a sound one.
We rode north and west the next morning. We went at the speed of the King's guards and they walked. King Cynddylan asked that Gawan and myself ride ahead of the rest. He wished to have words with us. Arturus did not mind for he rode with Llenlleog and the equites. "Warlord, we have an alliance of arms but I would have a closer alliance."
I was wary. "I am no king."
"I know I was thinking of an alliance of family. I have two daughters, Heledd and Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyfar is the younger and some say the fairer. Heledd will make a good wife. I would have one of them marry Arturus. Heledd would be the better choice. She could be a queen."
Gawan nodded, "And yet you would be happy for her to marry a warrior who will never be a king."
"If I am to be brutally honest I would have her marry a prince but Cadafael 's son is too young and Peada, Penda's son has seen them and had no desire to marry either of them. I think his father wishes for a Saxon bride. Oswiu's daughter Alchflaed would seem to be King Penda's choice if warfare fails. I have no son and my wife has ceased bearing me children. I could take another but that would create dissension for my wife's family is powerful."
I took it all in and we rode in silence for a while. He had obviously married to secure his position as King of two lands. Admittedly one was a client of Gwynedd but he had power. "Arturus is not my son. His father is here. What say you Gawan?"
"It depends upon Arturus. He lived in the east for a while. That might influence him. Neither of us have any objection to Arturus marrying whomsoever he chooses but we will not force him to marry any. He is not a prince and that is not our way."
The King seemed a little put out by Gawan's comments and he too, rode in silence. "I had thought that marrying a princess would be attractive enough for you to agree to this while we rode."
I shook my head, "Then you do not know the men of Rheged. Kings come and go but we stay to guard the land. My father helped King Cadwallon become a powerful leader and then we were abandoned. Now his son does nothing. An alliance with you is a good thing but if it depends upon Arturus marrying one of your daughters then I fear the alliance may end. We have fought on alone before now. Besides Arturus has some of his father's powers. He will sense what is in our heads. He will have to be told before we reach your home. He is a strong-minded man."
"It seems I have little choice in the matter."
The rest of the journey to the King's stronghold was uncomfortable. I would not make Arturus do anything he did not want to do. Gawan rode to the rear to speak with his son and Llenlleog joined me at the head of the column. He knew nothing of our conversation with the King and his mind was already on replacing the equites.
"We have eight squires who could be equites."
"Eight, that seems a high number."
"Warlord, one problem with you leading all our attacks from the front is that you do not see the men behind you. I do. Seven you have not seen in action but the eighth you have."
"And who is that?"
"Arturus."
"Arturus? He has been training less than any of the others."
"He had more skill before he began his training. When he was in Constantinopolis he trained with the Emperor's guards. He studied with the strategoi and their learned men. He knows more of the ancient battles than any man I know and that includes you, Warlord. You and I are getting no younger. Bors and Kay should be at home boring their grandsons with stories of wars long forgotten. We need new blood. We need young blood."
"But I would not have Arturus' spilled."
"And you will not."
We rode in silence for a while. We were climbing to the pass which led to the Clwyd valley. Soon we would be at Rhuthun. Things were moving quickly; too quickly. I glanced to the south and saw Wyddfa. In my head I suddenly heard a laugh. I had not heard the laugh for such a long time. It was Myrddyn. His voice in my head was so clear that I had to look around to see if he was on Star's back with me.
'Have I taught you nothing? We each play a part in this game of kings and crowns. You and I did not wear a crown, nor did we wish to. Your time is coming to an end Hogan Lann. You have done all that your father and I could have hoped. Make the new world one which is ruled by those who follow on from Arturus. This is all meant to be. He will choose well. It may not be your choice, or his father's but it will be the right choice.' There was a silence and then Myrddyn's voice faded as he said, 'There is a place ready for you, Warlord!"
Gawan's horse nudged next to mine. He looked at me and said, "He spoke to me too." Shrugging his shoulders, he said, "We must follow the path even though we may not like it."
"And Arturus?"
He laughed, "He does not wish to marry a Welsh harpy whom he has never seen! It went well!"
We stopped to water the horses at one of the many streams which flowed from Wyddfa. As I dismounted and allowed Copper's head to drop I saw the sword of King Oswald. I took it from its scabbard. A shaft of sunlight suddenly caught the blade and I read the inscription it said CALIBURNUS OSWALD MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN. It meant 'my name is Caliburnus, Oswald ordered me made.
Llenlleog read it too. A fine sword. You are going to replace Saxon Slayer?"
I laughed, "I could never replace my father's sword. I was thinking of Arturus." I did not say that if I was to die alone then my sword would die with me. "When he becomes an equite I thought to give it to him. It is as long as Saxon Slayer."
"Perhaps Oswald had it made as a copy of Saxon Slayer. The jewels on the hilt look similar."
"Perhaps and this my have been sent tome for that purpose. Say nothing. I need to think on this." I sheathed the sword and wrapped it in sheepskin. Looking towards Wyddfa I knew that I would give it to him. It was a question of when.
We remounted and continued on our way. The King still kept alone. I was not certain if we had offended him with our apparent rejection of his offer or he was thinking of something else. He was hard man to understand. I saw Rhuthun in the distance. It was a well-made stronghold on carefully chosen piece of ground. It had a good gatehouse, a ditch and a palisade around a large pair of halls. It was, however, made of wood. I had not seen any defences which could match Civitas Carvetiorum. We were lucky. King Urien and my father had not allowed the walls to fall into disrepair. We even had a functioning bath house. This was, for the area, a strong fort. There were few sentries on the wall for the King had brought most of his men with him. I wondered why he had left his wife and family here. Perhaps this was the land where her family held power.
We reined in just before the gates, "Warlord, my home is not large. I only have rooms for You, Gawan and Arturus. Your men will have to camp outside."
Was this a snub because of our words? If he thought to offend my men he was wrong. Llenlleog was close by. He nodded and smiled, "So long as there is food then we will be happy. Or we could hunt."
The King shook his head, "There will b
e food sent, Llenlleog."
The King had stable boys to care for our horses but Arturus went with them to make sure that our mounts were cared for. Our horses were everything to us. He would see to it that the saddles were taken off carefully and that the horses were rubbed down, fed and watered. We entered the hall. The King must have sent a rider ahead to warn his family for the Queen and her daughters were waiting in their finery. There were four thrones in the hall. The Queen sat on the one next to the King's and they were flanked by the two princesses.
The King had said Heledd was the elder and even before we were introduced I recognised her. She bore the same name as her mother and I confess that she looked not only like her mother, she was also regal. I would have put her age at eighteen or so summers. With flowing auburn hair and a fair complexion, she was, indeed, beautiful. Gwenhwyfar, in contrast, had chestnut hair which was almost red and she was younger but she had striking features. She had blue eyes which were like deep pools and she had an impish smile which danced upon her face. If Heledd was regal then Gwenhwyfar was an adhene. The old peoples believed in them. They were a spirit of mischief. Gwenhwyfar looked like such a creature. It was well that the King wished Arturus to marry Heledd. She would be a good consort for Arturus. Gwenhwyfar looked like the wild young horse you admired but would never dream of riding to war.
"My Queen, this is the Warlord, Hogan Lann and his brother Gawan, the wizard."
They were Christians. Queen Heledd and her eldest daughter clutched at their crosses. Gwenhwyfar smiled. She was not afraid of magic. Had she been of our people I might have thought her a witch. The Christians saw such women as, somehow, frightening, a force of evil. It was not so. There were witches who were evil but far more were the healers in the villages and the source of great and ancient wisdom. They were the ones who ensured that babies were born safely. Some were said to have powers which rivalled the wizards like Gawan. I suppose that the blood of witches still flowed beneath the Christian bodies.