by Griff Hosker
I shook my head. “I find I do not like your Emperor Phocas. I will not fight for him.”
“Ssh! If he hears that you do not like him….”
I laughed. “Then what? Does he think I like him now? I wish you had never brought us here strategos. For all the wonders we have seen I find it a place full of sickness and corruption. In my land you know your enemies and you fight them, here you look over your shoulder in case another has materialised from your friends.”
He shrugged as he left. “It is the price you pay for civilisation.”
Nothing changed over the next few days although I did manage to teach Lann Aelle a few more moves and Myrddyn taught him a little more Latin. We noticed that they increased the number of guards and our bathing was restricted to once every other day. Myrddyn found that sad. “It is pathetic and it is petty. I think you are right about the Emperor, and your mother was right to warn us.”
“You have not dreamed again?”
He shook his head. “We are far from the power of Wyddfa. I know that there are holy mountains in these lands but I do not think that we are close enough to them for me to use their powers. We are reliant on our own skills.”
I looked at the sun setting across the Sea of Marmara. “I hope that something changes soon or we will waste away here and our home may be threatened.” I looked over to Lann Aelle, “Make sure you sharpen the blades before you go to bed. They have had a good work out today.”
It was a warm night and I slept fitfully. I missed my cold chamber at home with the wind whistling off the sea and thick fur to shelter beneath. I heard a sudden noise outside and I was instantly awake. “Lann! Awake!”
Myrddyn woke and grabbed his short sword when he saw me strapping on Saxon Slayer. I opened the door and saw the four guards dead in ever widening pools of blood. “You two get behind me.” I padded down the corridor. I saw a body on the floor and it was not one of the palace guards. I heard noises from ahead and I held Saxon Slayer in both hands. “Lann be ready to defend my right.”
“I will Warlord.”
As I stepped around the corner I saw Andronikos and the Emperor defending themselves against ten armed men. The bodies of the guards were surrounded by the bodies of more of these intruders. My training and instinct took over and I roared, “Wolf Warrior!” and leapt at them. I swung my sword in an arc at head height. One of them ducked beneath it but two others fell, the sharpened blade ripping open their flesh. I carried on forwards, despite the fact that they had spears and wickedly sharp swords. I swung back hand and felt my blade dig into the side of one killer. Another tried to take advantage of the fact that my blade was embedded in his comrade’s body. He lunged at me and would have killed me had not Bear Killer darted out and killed him first. As I retrieved my sword I had time to see, out of the corner of my eye, Myrddyn as he pulled back the head of one of the men on the right and slit his throat.
With my sword withdrawn safely I stabbed forwards, into the back of the giant who was about to spear the Emperor. He roared in anger and swung around to deal with his new attacker. I swung my sword upwards and watched as it ripped open his ribcage and took off half of his jaw. Lann despatched another warrior and the last three tried to run. Myrddyn threw his knife and it struck one in the back. Lann ran down the corridor and, swinging his sword from above his head, the razor sharp sword split the other man’s back in two. I threw myself on the back of the last soldier and wrenched his sword from his hand. I picked him up and returned to a wounded Andronikos who was helping Myrddyn to tend to the Emperor.
I turned to Lann. “Hold this one.” To the soldier I said, “If you move you die. If you wait then you may live.”
Myrddyn looked up. “It is a superficial wound. He will live.”
“See to the strategos.” I heard more warriors racing to the aid of their Emperor.
“Thank you Warlord. I owe you my life. How can I repay you?”
I turned and saw that the corridor was filled with soldiers and officials all looking in horror at the carnage and blood before them. “That is simple Emperor Phocas. Give me the life of this man and then let us return to Mona.” I leaned down so that only he and Andronikos could hear me. “Say it before your courtiers. I would not have you break your word. For just as I saved your life, you know that I could have ended it. And that is why you do not want me as your general. I might get a taste for running the Empire. And I could take it from you for, unlike you, I am a killer.”
He bowed his head and nodded, “Lord Lann may have the life of this man and he can leave Constantinopolis whenever he chooses. I give my word.”
“Thank you Emperor Phocas.” I walked up to the prisoner and said, loudly enough for all to hear. “I give you your life. Go back to Heraclius and tell him that the Warlord of Rheged said that a true warrior does not have others kill for him in the night. If he wants the Empire he fights for it.”
The man nodded, “Thank you Warlord. You are what they say of you, a great warrior.”
“No, I am just a warrior, for I did no more than any of my shield wall warriors would have done.”
Later when we had cleaned up and we were back in our room Lann Aelle asked. “Will he keep his word?”
Myrddyn answered for me. “I saw the fear in his eyes when the Warlord threatened him. He is now more afraid of Lord Lann than Heraclius and he can get rid of us easily. That was a clever ploy with the prisoner. I wish I had thought of that.”
“You would have done, Myrddyn, you would have done.”
The next morning we discovered how they had almost killed the Emperor. They had infiltrated some of the Green Circus Faction supporters into the kitchens of the palace. They had drugged the food of some of the guards and overpowered the rest. As a result the Emperor began a purge of all those who lived and worked in the Palace. We, as a result, were no longer guarded although I suspect that we were still closely watched. The Emperor and Andronikos were now guarded by two bodyguards at all times. If nothing else the attack proved the loyalty, beyond doubt of Andronikos. I never enjoyed the same closeness with the strategos. I never forget an injury and I bear grudges. If you are my friend then you are my friend for life and if not…
We spent the next ten days preparing for our voyage home. The ship we were to travel on had been involved in a sea battle with the rebels and would need some repairs and so we spent some of our money. To be truthful we spent much less than we should have because when the merchants heard who we were they gave us their goods. The story of the warrior, the boy and the wizard who fought off an army and saved their Emperor was told and retold over and over. I am sure that the goods we had would have been paid for by the stories the merchants would have told. We did not mind their generosity. Myrddyn bought many spices and mysterious chemicals as well as devices to help him build. Lann and I spent a great deal on clothes and weapons for they had a vast range. I made sure that I took plenty of gifts for Myfanwy and my children and ensured that Lann Aelle took something fine back for his mother. Two of the items we did pay for were silk dresses for Myfanwy and Lann’s mother. They came from the other side of the world and were the most expensive items in the whole of the city. I knew that Myfanwy would love the smooth material and the fabulous shimmering colours. Finally we took some of the perfumed oils they used in the baths. When we returned home I would have Myrddyn and Oswald complete Hogan’s dream and build us our own baths.
The day we left we were summoned to the Emperor. He looked drawn and I noticed that there were two bodyguards close by. Andronikos hovered behind the throne. “I am sorry that you could not aid me as my general but I hope you will continue to serve me as Dux Britannica.”
“I will serve the Empire as Dux Britannica and I will endeavour to retake the province of Britannia for Rome.”
He smiled, “Good, I did not wish us to part as enemies.” He nodded to Andronikos. “My strategos will not be returning with you, I have greater need of him here but I would like you to accept this gift in gratitu
de for you recent actions on behalf of the Empire.” Andronikos handed me a heavy bag filled with freshly minted gold coins. I took one out and saw that they were stamped with the face of Phocas. I had been told this was how Emperors established their credibility; they used coins.
“Thank you Emperor Phocas. I do not believe in murder in the night nor in treachery,” I glanced at Andronikos, “and I would do the same again.”
“Good. I am not sure that we will ever meet again Warlord. Your home and family seem to be greater ties than the thought of glory but it has been most interesting to meet with you and I have learned much from all of you.” He smiled at Lann Aelle, “I was particularly impressed by the courage and loyalty of your squire. I have never seen such bravery against trained killers. You will be a great warrior one day. For you I have this.” Andronikos went behind the throne and brought out the small buckler the Cataphractoi used. It was painted blue and there was a bear painted upon it.
“Thank you Emperor.” Lann’s face lit up with joy and I could see that Phocas was touched.
“Farewell and may you have a less eventful journey home.”
Andronikos accompanied us to the harbour. “I am sorry that our friendship ended. I enjoyed having you as my friends.”
“We were never friends else you would not have betrayed us. I am sorry too for, until you lied, I liked you and would have fought alongside you in a shield wall. Now we shall part and, like the Emperor, I shall never see you again. Lest you come to my land,” I looked him the eye as I clasped his arm, “you are welcome to visit at any time.”
“Thank you Warlord. Your chests are aboard.” He pointed to the ship which was much smaller than the one we had travelled south in. He looked apologetically at me, “The larger ships are needed for the war against the Egyptian rebels.”
“You do not need to apologise. I would take a row boat if it would carry me home.”
We went aboard. Here, in Mare Nostrum, ships did not need to wait for the tide and the captain stood by the tiller just waiting patiently. Once we were aboard he shouted, “Cast off forrard. Hoist the mainsail.” As he did so the gang plank was drawn back and the bow moved away from the harbour wall. “Cast off aft!” The wind caught us as the rope was thrown and we almost leapt from the mooring. We waved at the strategos and I think he looked sad. The parting was more poignant for him than for us.
As we all thought this would be the last time we would see the great city we stood at the stern and watched it grow smaller as we headed west. It stayed large for some miles and I marvelled again at this wonder of a city. Myrddyn pointed at it when it was ten miles astern. “There it looks as big as Caer Gybi but if it were we would be less than half a mile away.”
Lann Aelle looked confused, “What the wizard means is that the city is twenty times bigger and more than where we live. He is putting it in perspective.”
“How do you mean perspective?”
“We think we are important but when you see a city like that you know that we are a big fish but only because we live in a small pond. If we lived here we would be a small fish.”
I turned to the wizard, “And yet I am happy to be in my pond. At least there the enemies are more obvious than here.”
As the city disappeared over the horizon the captain left the steering to his mate and joined us. “Welcome aboard my ship, Lord Lann, I am Basil the master and owner of this vessel. I am pleased to have you on board.“ He had a glint in his eye as he said, “I hear you are a handy man to have in a fight whether against pirates or assassins. I hope we have neither but I am glad of your company.”
“Did the Emperor hire you?”
“You must be the wizard, Myrddyn? Aye we were damaged bringing survivors from the sea battle and this is our reward from the Emperor.” He rubbed his hands together, “We are paid to do what I would be doing anyway. We would be travelling to Gwyr and Caer Gybi for trade so my profits are up already. I thank you gentlemen. I cannot promise you a comfortable voyage for we are a small ship but,” he patted his ample stomach, “we will eat well and we are a jolly crew and I hope you will enjoy our company.”
And enjoy his company we did. It was a small crew with no more than twenty men on board. There were no rowers and the ship was in the hands of the gods and the wind. He was a good sailor and we made good time. He was a good talker and told us of the Empire and the trading routes. Myrddyn and I found it more interesting than Lann Aelle did for we saw a way to improve our prosperity and security by building up trading partners.
Once we passed through the Pillars of Hercules we began to hug the coast. We saw less of our garrulous host for the sea was stormier and wilder as he tacked and turned our tortuous way north. The journey had already taken five more days than the whole journey south had done and we had not even reached the stormy waters off Gaul. The captain was philosophical about that. “The stormy weather keeps the pirates at home,” he smiled ruefully, “which means that we just have to watch out for the wreckers.”
“Wreckers?”
“Aye Warlord; they are men who prey on ships which are drawn on to their rocks. Until you came to Mona we could not trade there for fear of having our ship wrecked on those treacherous rocks at the western end of the Holy Isle. Even now we have to sail further into the channel to be safe.”
“What you need is a light such as the one at Alexandria.” Myrddyn had learned much in the Imperial libraries and had been impressed by the Seven Wonders of the World.
“A pharos; aye, that would do the trick wizard.”
I looked at Myrddyn and raised an eyebrow. “It is not magic lord. It is a tower with a fire burning at its peak to show ships the safe route. We could build one close to the wall of Castle Cam and we could use it for a lookout as well as a lighthouse. It would benefit sailors and us.”
“It would cut half a day at least from our journey.” He looked up at the sky. “And I can see a storm brewing here so we will head out to sea and get some sea room away from these rocks.”
And so we crabbed our way north until we had passed Gaul and were heading west towards Britannia. As soon as we left the shelter of the land to cross the waters to Britannia it was as though every god of wind and water had conspired to prevent us from reaching our destination. It was so bad that we could make no headway west and had to take shelter in the old Roman port of Dubris. The number of ships seeking refuge was testimony to the storm. After a night in the port Captain Basil decided that the storm had abated enough to continue. He was also concerned that some of the smaller ships in the harbour might be smashed against us and do more damage than the storm itself.
We made good headway until we came to the land of the Southern Saxons. There the winds were tortuous and twisted one way and then another. It was not until we sheltered in the lee of the large island of Vectis that we found some respite from the battering. We edged our way around the coast and then were blown far to the south. Captain Basil resigned himself to the weather. As I helped him to hang on to the tiller he smiled philosophically. “At least this way we avoid the rocks of Scillonia Insula. They are deadly and are said to be where the gods drowned the land of Lyonesse in times past. I am always happy to see those rocky teeth behind us.”
I enjoyed our stormy chats for the captain was a well travelled man and knew far more of the world than I did. Like us he was wary of the Saxons. He rated them as pirates. “They are a sea people but not a sea people who traded. They just take and then leave a desert behind. We never go near their ports. They are just as likely to steal your cargo and cut your throats as trade with you. It is stupid really. They would gain more by trading. Your people have learned that and now you are a haven for traders such as me.”
The storm abated again although the sail was almost in tatters. I wondered if the captain would anchor to fit a new one but he grinned at me. “The winds blow from the south west and the current runs this way. Even without a sail we will make the coast of Dyfed. I aim to make for Gwyr and repair our ship ther
e. It will only hold us up for one day.”
It is strange the way that wyrd works. It was almost as though it felt that the captain had challenged it. As we headed along the coast of Belerion another storm erupted and this time it took our sails away completely. They hung in three strips. Captain Basil ordered them torn down. They were a greater danger to the ship and crew as they whipped in the wild wind. He then ordered the oars to be unshipped and every man but the captain was ordered to the oars. We had to keep the bow into the wave to avoid being capsized. I have fought in many battles but the one with the sea that day was my hardest. I pulled on the oar until I thought I would wrench my arms from their sockets. The ship bucked and flew like an untrained colt. The salt spray burned our eyes and made our hands red raw. The blisters we developed burst and the salt savaged them. We did not appear to be making any progress but the captain exhorted us to carry on as we were winning. He kept pointing ahead but I had no idea at what. I felt like a warrior in a shield wall with dead comrades all around who hears his king shouting him to fight harder. All we could do was to continue to fight the elements. Perhaps we would survive. And then suddenly there was a grinding of rocks as we struck something below the water line. Lann Aelle looked ready to jump overboard as the ship rose, shuddered and then dipped, alarmingly, into the grey waters. I put my arm on him to restrain him. The captain ordered us to keep rowing telling us that we were close to shore. I heard him order some of the crew to begin bailing and then Myrddyn stood. “Keep rowing Warlord, I have an idea.”
I had no idea what wizardry he was up to but I trusted him. As I glanced out of the port through which the oar protruded I was alarmed at how close the sea appeared to be. It was lapping just below the blade of my oar. I wondered if it would begin to fill the ship and then suddenly we stabilised and the sea stopped rising. As I peered along the oar I saw that it was no longer in danger of flooding us. Myrddyn took his place next to me and began rowing again. “Well. Don’t keep me in suspense. What magic did you use?”