by Griff Hosker
I remembered Myrddyn's words, 'Remember this pool. It is the home of the sword. This is where it must lie.'
"Father, Myrddyn, I have kept my promise. The sword will die with me until it is ready to be reborn." I dropped the sword into the hole. I heard it clang off the side and then there was a splash as it hit the water. I felt an excruciating pain in my back and I closed my eyes. All was black and then I saw four shadows walking toward me. They were men. Three were dressed in mail. It was my father, Myrddyn, Gawan and Agravaine.
My father held out his hand, 'Come my son, your work here is done. We have a place of honour for you. The sword is now safe until another comes to claim it.'
I stood and all pain was gone. My wounds were healed. I took my father's hand and we stepped into the blackness.
Epilogue
Arturus' Story
We waited six moons for my father and uncle to return after Geraint arrived and told us of the battle and my uncle's last message. We still hoped that, one day, they would ride over the hill and back to our home. We knew they were dead when the Mercian, Egbert, sent us Pol's horse and a message that Lang Seax was dead. His messenger recounted the events of the battle of the Dee and the disappearance of my uncle and Agravaine. King Peada had sent men to hunt down the mercenary Saxons. They had found bodies a few miles from the wolf cave that was Myrddyn's tomb. The Clan of the Snake had left its lair.
We had also lost Llenlleog. When Pelas ap Tuanthal arrived back with his box of treasure he said that the three of them had been ambushed by the Clan of the Snake near to the Long Water. Llenlleog had led them up Halvelyn's side to draw them off. Llewellyn and I had taken the equites to go to their aid. We found Llenlleog's squire and their horses. They were dead and we found a trail of dead Saxons but we never found Llenlleog. It was as though the mountain had taken him. He had simply disappeared. We pursued the Saxons beyond our borders and slew them all. I placed their heads on spears at our boundary to mark that which was ours.
Rheged was bathed in sadness by our losses. We had many widows and orphans and we had lost our two rocks, the Warlord and my father. The gold we had been given and won meant that none went hungry but coins cannot buy fathers, brothers and sons. Only Gwenhwyfar seemed to be at peace. On the day that Pol's horse was returned to us and all hope left us she sat in my hall feeding Myfanwy. She reached over with her free hand and touched mine. "Husband, I have a confession to make. I have known of your father and uncle's deaths since they died. Their spirits came to me."
I was shocked. My wife had kept something from me. "But why did you not tell me?"
"You have many in your land who are Christian. You are Christian. I did not want them to know of my powers. You and I now have a duty to hold Rheged together for as long as we can. Until Myfanwy is a woman we will be the glue which holds Rheged together."
"How did they die?"
Her face clouded. "They died as warriors. They were both true to the end as was Llenlleog and Agravaine. Your grandfather trained his warriors well. The Wolf Brethren are all gone. The darkness is coming but your family has done that which was ordained." She put Myfanwy over her shoulder and rubbed her back to wind her. "As for you and me? We have a different adventure in our future but we will face that future together. The handful of equites you have will need to do that which more than a hundred did in your uncle's time. I must hold the people together and Myfanwy will be the hope of Rheged."
The next day I took Llewelyn and Pelas ap Tuanthal. We went with our squires and we rode to Halvelyn. We passed the empty shepherd's cottage where we had found Warrior. He had not returned and I guessed he was dead too. We left our horses there and walked to Halvelyn's peak. Standing there I raised my hands and closed my eyes. I shouted, "Spirit of Llenlleog, I know you are close, speak to me."
The wind answered me by whistling around my ears. I remained still. My only movement caused by the wind itself. I though he would refuse to speak to me for I wore a cross about my neck. I took the cross from my neck and held it in my hand. The wind itself seemed to speak to me. 'Arturus I am at peace. I died well even though I was alone. Rule this land well. Become the Warlord!' Then the wind settled and became flurries of gentle air. I lowered my arms.
Ban asked, as we descended, "Lord why did you take off your cross? Are you no longer a Christian?"
I did not answer until we reached the horses. Then I put my cross about my neck again. "There are times when I will be a Christian but, in this land, there is an older force. If I am to be the Warlord then I need the land to aid me. I need the people to be behind me. I am no longer the golden child who returned from Constantinopolis full of himself. I have changed and I have grown. My father, my uncle and my wife have moulded me. I will be the last Dux Britannica. When we last equites die, we will become as my uncle, Llenlleog and my father. We will be legends who will keep hope in hearts which have little else." I mounted my horse, it was my uncle's, Copper. I stroked its golden mane. Drawing my sword, the sword my uncle had taken from King Oswald's hand, I raised it high, "This sword will light the darkness for as long as we shall live."
The five of us headed north to the last bastion of the old Roman Empire in Britannia, Carvetitas.
The End
Glossary
Anglo-Saxon months
January, is AEftera Geola, or After Yule--the month, quite literally, after Christmas.
February was Solmonath, a name that derived from an Old English word for wet sand or mud, sol; it meant the month of cakes, when ritual offerings of savoury cakes and loaves of bread would be made to ensure a good year's harvest.
March was Hredmonath to the ancient Anglo-Saxons and was named in honour of a little-known pagan fertility goddess named Hreda, or Rheda.
April was the Anglo-Saxon Eostremonath, which took its name from another pagan deity named Eostre.
May was Thrimilce, or the month of three milkings.
June and July were together known as Lida, an Old English word meaning mild or gentle, which referred to the period of warm, seasonable weather either side of Midsummer.
August was Weodmonath or the plant month.
After that came September, or Haligmonath, meaning holy month, when celebrations and religious festivals would be held to celebrate a successful summer's crop.
October was Winterfylleth, or the winter full moon.
November was Blotmonath, or the month of blood sacrifices.
And December, finally, was AErra Geola or the month before Yule.
Name-Explanation
Abbatis Villa- Abbeville -Northern France
Aengus Finn mac Fergus Dubdetach-Irish mercenary
Aelfere-Northallerton
Aelle—Monca's son and Hogan Lann's uncle
Aileen- Fergus' sister, a mystic
Aelletun- Lann Aelle's settlement
Alavna-Maryport Cumbria
Artorius-King Arthur
Banna-Birdoswald
-God of war
Belerion-Land's End (Cornwall)
Bilhaugh Forest -Sherwood Forest
Bone fire-the burning of the waste material after the slaughter of the animals at the end of October. (Bonfire night)
Bors- son of Mungo war chief of Strathclyde
Bro Waroc'h-one of the Brythionic tribes who settled in Brittany
Byrnie - mail shirt
Caedwalestate-Cadishead near Salford
Caer Daun-Doncaster
Caergybi-Holyhead
Cadwallon ap Cadfan-King of Gwynedd
Caldarium-the hot room in a Roman bathhouse
Carvetitas - Camelot
Ceorl-Commoner, ordinary soldier
Chonoc-salchild -Knock (Cumbria)
Civitas Carvetiorum-Carlisle
Constantinopolis-Constantinople (modern Istanbul)
Cymri-Welsh
Cymru-Wales
Cynfarch Oer-Descendant of Coel Hen (King Cole)
Dal Riata-land on the south west of Scotland
Daffydd ap Gw
ynfor—Lann's chief sea captain
Daffydd ap Miach—Miach's son
Dai ap Gruffyd—King Cadfan's squire
Delbchaem Lann—Lann's daughter
Din Guardi-Bamburgh Castle
Dun Eideann -Edinburgh
Dunum-River Tees
Dux Britannica-The Roman British leader after the Romans left (King Arthur?)
Edwin-King of Bernicia, Deira and Northumbria
Eoforwic - York (Eboracum)
Erecura-Goddess of the earth
Fanum Cocidii-Bewcastle
Fiachnae mac Baetain- King of Strathclyde
Fiachnae mac Demmain - King of the Dal Fiatach
Freja—Saxon captive and Aelle's wife
Gammer-Old English for mother
Gareth—Harbour master Caergybi
Galloglaigh-Irish mercenary
Gawan Lann—Lann's son
Gesith-Saxon chieftain
Glanibanta-Ambleside
Gwynfor—Headman at Caergybi
Gwenhwyfar-Guinevere
Gwyr-The land close to Swansea
Hagustaldes-ham - Hexham
Halvelyn-Helvellyn
Haordine-Hawarden Cheshire
hearthweru - King's bodyguard (the precursor of the housecarl)
Hen Ogledd-Northern England and Southern Scotland
High Divide—The Pennines
Hogan Lann—Lann's son and Warlord
Humbre (Anglo-Saxon) Hwmyr (Welsh) - River Humber
Icaunus-River god
Iedeu - Jedburgh
Ituna-River Solway
King Ywain Rheged-Eldest son of King Urien
Lann—First Warlord of Rheged and Dux Britannica
Lincylene -Lincoln
Llenlleog- 'Leaping one' (Lancelot)
Loge-God of trickery
Ladenses-Leeds
Loidis-Leeds
Maeresea-River Mersey
Maes Cogwy-Maserfield (the present-day Oswestry - Oswald's Tree)
Manau-Isle of Man
Mare Nostrum-Mediterranean Sea
Metcauld-Lindisfarne
Myfanwy—the Warlord's stepmother
Myrddyn—Welsh wizard fighting for Rheged
Nanna Lann—Lann's daughter, wife to King Cadwallon
Namentwihc -Nantwich, Cheshire
Nithing-A man without honour
Nodens-God of hunting
Oppidum-hill fort
Paulinus of Eboracum-The Pope's representative in Britannia
Penrhyd-Penrith, Cumbria
Penrhyn Llyn-Llyn Peninsula
pharos- lighthouse
Pol—Equite and strategos
Prestune-Preston Lancashire
Roman Bridge—Piercebridge (Durham)
Roman Soldiers- the mountains around Scafell Pike
Rhuthun -Ruthin North Wales
Scillonia Insula-Scilly Isles
Solar-West facing room in a castle
Spaewife-Old English for witch
Sucellos-God of love and time
Tain Bo-Irish for cattle raid
Tatenhale-Tattenhall near Chester
Tepidarium-the warm room in a Roman Bath house
Tomwordig-Tamworth (Capital of Mercia)
The Narrows—The Menaii Straits
Treffynnon-Holywell (North Wales)
Tuanthal—Leader of the Warlord's horse warriors
Vectis-Isle of Wight
Vindonnus-God of hunting
Virosidum-close to Middleham in North Yorkshire
Wachanglen—Wakefield
Walls of Brus- Wark on Tyne (Northumberland)
War shits-dysentery
Wrecsam-Wrexham
wapentake- Muster of an army
Wide Water—Windermere
Wyddfa-Snowdon
Wyrd-Fate
Y Fflint-Flint (North Wales)
Ynys Enlli- Bardsey Island
Ynys Mon-Anglesey
Yr Wyddgrug-Mold (North Wales)
Zatrikion- an early form of Greek chess
Maps
Historical note
There is evidence that the Saxons withdrew from Rheged in the early years of the seventh century and never dominated that land again. It seems that warriors from Wales reclaimed that land. I have used Lord Lann as that instrument. King Edwin did usurp Aethelfrith. Edwin was allied to both Mercia and East Anglia.
The Saxons and Britons all valued swords and cherished them. They were passed from father to son. The use of rings on the hilts of great swords was a common practice and showed the prowess of the warrior in battle. I do not subscribe to Brian Sykes' theory that the Saxons merely assimilated into the existing people. One only has to look at the place names and listen to the language of the north and north western part of England. You can still hear anomalies. Perhaps that is because I come from the north but all of my reading leads me to believe that the Anglo-Saxons were intent upon conquest. The Norse invaders were different and they did assimilate but the Saxons were fighting for their lives and it did not pay to be kind. The people of Rheged were the last survivors of Roman Britain and I have given them all of the characteristics they would have had. They were educated and ingenious. The Dark Ages was the time when much knowledge was lost and would not reappear until Constantinople fell. This period was also the time when the old ways changed and Britain became Christian. This was a source of conflict as well as growth.
It was at the beginning of the sixth century that King Aethelfrith was killed in battle. His sons, Eanforth, Oswiu and Oswald became famous and outshone both their father and King Edwin. Although Edwin became king he did not have the three brothers killed and they had an uneasy alliance.
King Cadwallon became the last great British leader until modern times. Alfred ruled the Saxons but no one held such sway over the country from Scotland to Cornwall in the same way that King Cadwallon did. He did this not by feat of arms alone but by using alliances. He even allied with the Mercians to ensure security for his land. His death saw the end of the hopes of the native Britons. They would survive but they would never reconquer their land. I have invented a Warlord to aid him but that is backed up by the few writings we have. Dux Britannicus and Arthur are both shadowy figures who crop up in what we now term, the Dark Ages.
King Edwin's life was saved by Bishop Paulinus who had been sent by the Pope to convert the Northumbrians to Christianity. The act made King Edwin order all of his people to convert. I have used Paulinus as a sort of villain. I have no doubt that the Church at the time thought they were doing good work but like the Spanish Inquisition a thousand years later they were not averse to suing any means possible when dealing with what they deemed pagans. King Cadwallon did convert to Christianity but still fought King Edwin. Bede, the Northumbrian propagandist, portrayed Cadwallon as a cruel man who destroyed the Christian kingdom of Northumbria. Perhaps that was because King Edwin became an early Christian martyr. History is written by the winners and the Anglo-Saxons did win, albeit briefly before the Norse and the Bretons combined to reconquer England in 1066.
The people of Brittany did arrive there as stated in the novel. I have obviously invented both names and events to suit my story but the background is accurate. They spoke a variation of Welsh/Cornish. There was a famous witch who lived on one of the islands of Scilly. Although this was in the Viking age a century or so later I can see no reason why mystics did not choose to live there.
The horses used by William the Conqueror at Hastings were about fifteen and a half hands high. The largest contingent of non-Norman knights who accompanied him were the Bretons and their horses were marginally bigger. It is ironical that the people of Britain came back to defeat the Saxons. It was a mixture of Briton and Viking (Norman) who finally conquered Britain. (Wyrd!)
The stirrup was unknown in Britain at this time. I can find no explanation for this. It strikes me that someone would have invented it. However, it seems they did not and so the Warlord and his men can't use the lance or the spear effectively. The i
mpact of the weapon would have knocked them from the saddle. Charlemagne and his armies had the stirrup. That, however, was a century after this period in British history.
The battle of Hatfield took place on the River Don close to Doncaster. It was fought on a swamp in a bend of the river. It was in the early 630s. King Edwin was killed at the battle and the leaders of the victorious armies were named as Penda and Cadwallon. It marked a reversal in fortunes for the Saxons. They were forced to retreat further north and Eanfrith, the eldest of Aethelfrith's children became king of Deira. He was also killed by Cadwallon and Oswald became king. The kingdom of Northumbria would never be as powerful again until the Vikings conquered it in the ninth century. Bernicia and Deira emerged as minor kingdoms. King Cadwallon had a brief year of glory when he rampaged through the land of Bernicia. It was not to last.
The Viking name for Helvellyn was wolf mountain and there were many such animals there. Wolves were so prevalent in the north of England that William the Conqueror actually stipulated that his new lords of the manor had a duty to hunt and exterminate them. The last ones were only killed in the sixteenth century.
The change in King Cadwallon is attested to by Bede. Given that the priest was writing as someone who believed King Edwin was a saint we should perhaps take his testimony with a pinch of salt but Cadwallon was a Christian king. He said that King Cadwallon ravaged, "provinces of the Northumbrians" for a year, "not like a victorious king, but like a rapacious and bloody tyrant." The priest also said, "though he bore the name and professed himself a Christian, was so barbarous in his disposition and behaviour, that he neither spared the female sex, nor the innocent age of children, but with savage cruelty put them to tormenting deaths, ravaging all their country for a long time, and resolving to cut off all the race of the English within the borders of Britain." We see this change during this novel. Perhaps it is not to be seen as unusual. Alexander the Great was viewed in a similar way. Perhaps it is success which breeds such changes.