by Griff Hosker
Pausing only to grab Saxon Slayer and hoping that I could still wield it, I stabbed the hammer man in the side with Saxon Slayer. The blade went right through him and into Lann Aelle’s other opponent. Now that we had breathing space we turned, back to back to face the pirates who remained. The better armed ones, it seemed, had attacked Lann and me. The ones left had a sword or an axe. With my family on board I was in no mood for mercy. The young warrior who advanced towards me looked terrified. I took his sword on my shield and slid my blade through to his backbone. I withdrew it with a backhand motion and Saxon Slayer sliced open the next warrior’s side.
Suddenly I heard a scream and saw three warriors moving towards Myfanwy. She had the children behind her and Wolf was growling next to her. Suddenly Miach leapt forwards to stab one in the side. His companion brought his axe down and it split open the old archer’s head. Wolf suddenly leapt at the warrior and fastened his teeth around the Hibernian’s neck. He had his throat cut by a third warrior.
I roared with anger and brought Saxon Slayer down to split him from the head to the crotch. As the second warrior looked in horror I punched him with my shield and swept his head from his body as he tried to stagger to his feet. I spun around filled with hate and anger. I just wanted to kill! Myrddyn’s voice came to me, “My lord, they are all dead.”
I stood panting; my children were whimpering and Myfanwy was trying to comfort them. I could hear the slop of the water on the hull and the groans of the dying. I was still angry. I found the warrior whose stomach had been sliced open. He still lived but he was coughing up blood.
“Who is your chief?”
He laughed and spat a gobbet of blood at me. Lann Aelle went to despatch him but I restrained him. “Well you will die warrior and soon your King Felan will join you.”
“He is too clever for you.”
I turned to Lann, “And that is their chief. Throw this piece of meat overboard. Let the fishes feast on him.”
“No! Kill me; give me the warrior’s death!”
As Lann and one of the surviving recruits threw the man over I shouted, “Warriors do not attack women and children!” He screamed as he struck the water.
I went to my wife and put my arms around her and my children. There were no words to say but I saw her eyes fixed on Miach. He had been with me since Rheged and I valued him as a friend as well as a captain. My band of brothers was getting smaller.
We pulled in close to the shore and my brother’s stronghold. He and his warriors came to the beach. “Are you safe brother?”
“I am but Miach and Wolf both died bravely.” I pointed to the sea. “There will be bodies and wreckage washed up. You may be able to save one of the Hibernian ships. I would be grateful if you could. I have a debt to pay.”
Aelle nodded, “May the Allfather be with you. I will send Gawan a pup when my dog has whelped.”
Gawan’s face brightened a little as he heard that. Wolf was descended from a dog we three brothers had had as children. Aelle still bred from her original line. There would be another Wolf.
We sailed in silence along the coast. I smiled at Lann Aelle. “You did well nephew.”
He shook his head. “No my lord I nearly got you killed. You had better give me the sword so that I can see if it is damaged.”
I laughed, “This is Saxon Slayer. This can not be harmed.” Wyrd! As I slid it from its scabbard I saw the pommel had been damaged and one of the jewels which had been there was shattered and in pieces. I looked at Myrddyn in horror. “This is an evil sign, surely.”
Myrddyn picked up the sword and closed his eyes. He shook his head. “It does not feel that way.”He looked at me with a curious expression on his face. “Which would you rather have lost: a jewel from the sword or one of your children?”
I looked over at them still huddled and shaking. He was right. I had sacrificed part of the sword. “But the sword is ancient. Is its power now lost?”
“Until it is whole again it has no power. We need to heal the sword.”
Lann Aelle looked at the wizard curiously. “How?”
“It has lost a stone. We replace it.”
My squire still did not understand, even though I did. He shook his head. “It would have to be a special stone!”
I reached into my pouch and took out the amethyst. “Like this one perhaps?”
It was only when I held the stone next to the sword that I saw it was the same size, exactly, as the one which had been destroyed. The colour matched perfectly with the two adjacent stones; in fact it was a better match than the damaged one had been.
Myrddyn gathered all the shards of the jewel and put them in a small leather pouch. “And we will need to use these.” He pointed at Wyddfa, now even closer. “We must visit the cave and the home of the mountain. There we will heal the blade and make it stronger. This is a sign from the mountain; this sword will save this land!”
When we landed Hogan could see the distress on Myfanwy’s face. She looked up at me and said, “Next time we come by wagon!”
Hogan shook his head. “Next time we visit with you.”
That shook Myfanwy from her self pity. “Come, where are my grandchildren. Nanna and Gawan have made them presents.”
“I will take you. We have built a room just for the children.” He lowered his voice, “I get more sleep this way.”
“I remember.”
Lann Aelle still held on to Saxon Slayer. He was gripping tightly to prevent any more damage. I looked at Myrddyn. “What do we need to do?”
“Tomorrow is the summer solstice. The three of us are inextricably tied to this blade and we will all need to be there for the ceremony. Until then the blade should not be touched. Give it to me, Lann Aelle, and I will put it somewhere safe.”
My nephew looked distraught still. “I am so sorry, Warlord. I should have just taken the blow.”
I shook my head. “It was meant to be. I understand that now: the finding of the jewels, the sea voyage; all were put into place. I am content.”
“Then you will not seek revenge on Felan?”
“Oh no Lann; Felan will die and I will put his ships and his village to the sword so that he bothers no-one again.” As I said it I made a silent oath to myself. I never broke an oath and I would not break one to myself.
It was a subdued celebration. I still had Daffydd ap Miach’s face in my head and could not celebrate as I should have done. He had lost a father and his son had lost a grandfather he had never seen. The loss to me of a captain was great but it could not compare to the loss of the family. After I had told him his face had become like steel. “You are going after this Felan?”
“I am. I will destroy this nest of vipers once and for all.”
“Then I will lead the archers.” It was a command and not a request. I could see it in the resolve on his face.
“You will and you will lead all of our archers for your father thought you the finest archer we have.”
“I will never be the man my father was.”
Myfanwy, of course, along with Myrddyn managed to lighten the mood. Myrddyn entertained with some tricks. He normally disliked the conjuring lesser wizards used but he knew this was the time. Myfanwy sang silly songs. Morag had never heard them and laughed until the tears flowed from her eyes. By the time we retired we had a semblance of the joy we should have had earlier.
No one said a word as the three of us left on foot to climb Wyddfa. Myrddyn carried the tools he would need and I carried the sword. Lann Aelle was our grim faced protector. The last time we had come we had ridden but it had been winter. It was a totally different prospect in high summer. The woods at the base of the mighty mountain teemed with life. Had we been in a mood for hunting we could have fed an army for a month. The steady and breath sucking climb allowed me time to think for speech was out of the question. I had never questioned the sword before. Until I had visited Constantinopolis I had just thought I had found a good sword. Now I could see that it was more complicated tha
n that. The lives of all those who had wielded the blade for hundreds of years were inextricably entwined in its blade and its life. I was under no illusions; the blade lived. Past battles came to mind and I knew that it had saved me for I had fought, many times, beyond my skill. Those victories had been Saxon Slayer’s. What we were now doing was a dark and important ritual. Bishop Stephen and the followers of the White Christ would not understand but to my men it was as normal as breathing or eating. The blade needed renewal and so we were in the most holy of mountains with the most powerful of wizards with a jewel hewn from another holy mountain. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle with excitement.
We had brought flint and some kindling but we quickly found more for we would need to heat the metal of the mount to hold the stone in place. It would be more than unlucky to loose the amethyst; it would be a disaster. We walked deep into the cave with the torches burning brightly and throwing strange shadows on the roof of the cave. I suspect Lann Aelle was terrified but he never showed any hesitation at all. I know that he would have been afraid for I was the first time I had come with Myrddyn to his lair.
We had to duck our heads in some of the passages but Myrddyn seemed to know his way. We had just ducked beneath a large rock when we suddenly emerged into a huge cavern and there was the most beautiful blue lake in the middle. I think I stopped breathing briefly for the lake was the exact same colour as the amethysts. The lake almost filled the cavern and the cavern would have taken the whole of Castle Perilous within it. We were in a special place, a place made by the gods.
Myrddyn began the fire while I took out the sword and the stone. There was a large slab of rock close to the water. It looked like a table. It could have been made to lay the sword upon. I put them both down and noticed how the torchlight sparkled on the water, Saxon Slayer and the amethyst.
I noticed that Lann was shivering. “Cold?”
“No my lord.” He tried to shrug. “I don’t know why I feel this way, it is strange.”
Myrddyn didn’t look up from his fire making. “It is the power of the mountain you are feeling. It is not just rock; there is a spirit within. You feel the spirit of Wyddfa. Close your eyes Lann and let it speak with you.”
“I am afraid.”
“It will not harm you. It only fights our enemies.”
I watched as Lann closed his eyes and he remained silent for some time. When he opened them there was a look of awe upon his face. “I saw a woman and she spoke with me.” I looked over to Myrddyn and shared a smile. “I did not understand her words but she smiled and I felt at peace.”
“That is the spirit of the mountain. Come, the fire is lit and we must prepare.” The flames from the fire danced upon the roof and then reflected back into the water. The water was no longer just blue but had crimson and gold flickering and skimming across its still surface.
Myrddyn had a small crucible and he placed it on the tripod he placed over the flames. He took out some copper. “This is copper from the same mine which yielded the stones. It will bind the stone tightly to the sword. The sword and the stone will become as one. The stone will be in the sword and the sword bound to the stone. It will become as the mountains. We must wait. Warlord, hold the amethyst. You must be the one to place it into the sword. Lann Aelle, you must hold the sword steady.”
I took out the stone and found that my hand was shaking. Lann gave me a wan, nervous smile. Myrddyn stared intently at the crucible. As soon as it bubbled he took the long metal hand and lifted it off. “Ready!”
He poured the molten liquid into the socket. “Now Warlord, and I will say the words.” As I placed the amethyst into the molten metal I heard it softly hiss and then Myrddyn began to chant,
“Spirit of Wyddfa, protect this sword.
Spirit of the stone, protect this sword.
Spirit of Wyddfa, enter the sword.
Spirit of the stone, enter the sword.
Stone and sword, become one.
Sword and stone protect the land.
I name you Saxon Slayer.
Now you will be reborn.”
There was a sudden hiss and then silence. Myrddyn said, “Give me the sword Lann Aelle.”
Holding the weapon by the blade, as carefully as a father with his new child, he walked into the icy lake and reverently laid it down in the water. There were a few bubbles and a soft sigh and then Myrddyn left the water. “Warlord you may retrieve your sword. It now knows its name and it awaits your touch.”
I was feeling nervous myself as I stepped into the blue water. I closed my eyes with the cold and I heard my mother’s voice.
“Now is the sword come home.
Take the sword from the water.”
I reached down and grasped the hilt. I felt a surge rush through me as though I had a sudden power. I felt as though I had been struck by lightning. I turned and Myrddyn and Lann were both on their knees. I raised the sword and cried, “Saxon Slayer!” I do not know if it was one of Myrddyn’s tricks, a trick of the lights or something more mystical but the blade of Saxon Slayer suddenly flamed bright red and seemed to flash like lightning all around the chamber.
Myrddyn stood and smiled and said, “Now is the sword healed and with it, we can heal the land.”
Chapter 14
I felt different as I descended the mountain the next morning. I dreamt, as I had done the last time I had slept in the cave but this time there were no words, there were just pictures of my mother playing with Hogan’s children. It did not worry me that there had been no message. My mother or the spirit of the mountain only ever warned me of imminent danger. I took the dream to be a sign of stability.
There was relief when we returned. The mountain was a brooding and constant presence. It must have seemed either foolish or brave for anyone to willingly enter its bowels. The one thing everyone wanted to do was to see and touch the sword. Although it did not look as powerful in daylight as it had in the cave the addition of the stone of blue had made the weapon even more beautiful. The new copper moulding shone like new gold and made the blue of the stone even more intense.
We stayed seven more days. I took the opportunity to visit with Mungo and Aidan at their outposts. Their regular patrols and those of the equites kept the frontier free from both Saxon and the men of Gwynedd. Settlers, however could only be guaranteed safety if they lived with a couple of miles of the fort. One disturbing report came from Mungo. The Saxons were increasing the numbers of ships in the estuary and along the coast. Mungo’s bolt throwers had taught them discretion and they kept out of range. I decided to use one of our smaller ships to sail along the coast and keep an eye on things.
Aedh was at Ruthin and I sought him out. “Have you a good deputy you could leave with your men for a while? I have need of you and eight of your scouts.”
Intrigued Aedh nodded eagerly. “I have and we have just trained some new scouts, former slingers. This will be a good chance to blood them; while the frontier is quiet.”
“Good. Bring your men to Pasgen’s tomorrow.”
Daffydd had already selected the archers he wished to come with us for he knew of my plan. “You have a week to ensure that the frontier defences will not be compromised. Make your way to Castle Cam and our plans should be in place by then.”
All of this activity made Hogan suspicious. “You are going to go to Felan are you not? I will come with you.”
I was calmer now that the sword had been healed. I had, even before the sword was damaged, been irritable and short. The healing of the sword had been the healing of me too. “No Hogan. It is not that I do not need you but this work is of a different type. I will take Pol with me for he has done this before. I do not intend to risk an army. For one thing we do not have enough ships. I am going to hurt them so that they never again despoil our land. This is your domain. You are vital to the safety of all of us. The peace we have had is to your credit. And there are your children and your wife. There is always a risk in these missions. I will not risk my
heir and the father of my grandchildren.”
“But you will risk yourself.”
“When you are Warlord and you take those decisions you can decide if the risk is worth it. For me, I see no risk. I dreamt no dream last night. I will be safe.”
My family was nervous about boarding ‘The Wolf’ but the captain made a great fuss of them. The ship had been totally cleaned and repaired. There was no sign of the battle. Even so I was glad when we docked. The children would travel easier the next time we sailed. As we had passed Aelle’s settlement I saw that they had dragged the remains of the Irish ships ashore and were repairing one of them. It would give us another ship to use, eventually.
Aedh and his chosen men arrived a day early. They were all young and they were all keen. Scouts are thrill seekers by nature and the thought of a secret task for the Warlord was just too tempting to refuse. I gathered Aedh along with Myrddyn, Garth, Daffydd ap Miach and Ridwyn in my hall. Pol would join us when he could but these five were vital to the planning.
“Firstly let me thank you for coming here. The fact that you are happy to sail to Hibernia to punish Felan for his many offences is gratifying.” I had already been finding out as much as I could about these Irishmen and I displayed the map which Brother Oswald had drawn based upon the information we had received. “It seems that this Felan lives on the coast in the south east of the island. There is a large river there. It appears to have many names. The important fact is that it is wide and it is sheltered. They can moor many ships and they are protected from storms. Felan has a small fort and hall on the south of the river. It is not a fort like those we build. It is made of wood and has no ditch.
We could just sail over and attack it but I want someone to go and look at the place. That will be you, Aedh and your volunteers. You need to find a place we can land unseen. My plan is to land fifty warriors led by Ridwyn. Myrddyn and the archers will stay on board their ship. When we have killed their king I want the fleet destroying and, as we all know, fire is the best method.” I smiled. “Myrddyn is an expert. I want the archers on the ship as we may be pursued. The archers can protect us. There are too many unknowns at the moment, and we will only finalise these plans once Aedh has returned.” I peered around the faces. “Do not tell anyone what we are about. It takes only one careless word and Felan will be waiting for us. He feels secure on his island; I want that delusion to continue.”