by Griff Hosker
Prince Cadwallon took heart from the death of his enemy and he took a blow on his shield and then stabbed underneath. The Hibernian looked in surprise as his guts began to spill onto the floor. I looked and saw that we had reached the gate. “Halt.”
We now filled the space where the gate would be and Tuanthal and Aedh began to whittle down their numbers. Brian, son of Felan, suddenly shouted and the warriors fled back beyond arrow range. I looked and saw that the sun had almost set. They would wait for night.
I lifted my helmet and felt the rush of cool air. “Lann Aelle, get some of our men and collect the weapons of the dead give them to the men of the village.” As he did as I bade I turned to the young prince, “You did well, Prince Cadwallon. I hope that you never have to face as many foes again without help.”
He took off his helmet. “
“Warlord, you saved me. I was lost and then you took off that man’s head.”
I shook my head, “It is all down to experience. Look for the enemy’s weakness. These had no armour. Any blow to the neck or body would be fatal. Use your weapons. Our shields are stronger. Hit with them. Never pull back on a stroke. You always follow through. That way it has more chance of being a killing stroke. You have a fine sword which can go through metal. The enemy had weak ones which did not even dent your shield.”
He turned his shield over to examine it. There was barely a mark on the leather cover.
“They were not trying to destroy your shield they were trying to kill you and you are armoured. A good sword would pierce it but these,” I picked up a sword and bent it, “are worse than useless. The ones who wield them can get lucky and stab you or cut you but have faith and you will prevail.”
I turned and looked around, the wounded were being tended to but we needed to prepare for the next assault. “Aedh, Tuanthal, Osgar here.”
The three men ran over. Osgar looked a little wild eyed but he gripped the sword he held firmly. “We have done well. Have we lost any men?”
Tuanthal shook his head, “They did not get close enough. We have some wounded men but nothing serious.”
“Good. Lann Aelle is distributing the weapons from the dead Hibernians. They are poor but the shields will afford the village men some protection. They will not try a frontal assault again. They will sneak over the stockade. We knew it would not hold them. Osgar I want one of your men allocated to one of mine. We will get no sleep tonight but at least with two men together we have a better chance of spotting them when they do come.” Lann Aelle had returned. “Lann Aelle, you stay with the prince.”
“And what of you, Warlord, who will watch with you?”
“I will be alone tonight. I intend to patrol the perimeter.” Before they could argue with me I went on, “Osgar, tell your people that tonight they must be totally silent. One sound could alert the enemy. I want them to wonder where we are and if we sleep. We light no fires and we listen for danger.”
My men nodded. Osgar looked at them and then he smiled and he too nodded. “One night without sleep is a small price to pay. Thank you, Warlord for stopping this day. If not for that chance visit we would be dead and our families would be slaves.”
“Thank me when my men arrive in the morning eh?”
There was a flurry of noise as the instructions were given and then pairs of men and boys were placed around the flimsy wall. I had left the dead Hibernians where they had fallen. They were an obstacle but the superstitious warriors might not wish to pass the dead. As I walked around I smiled at the villagers looking at their newly acquired weapons. I had told the prince that they were poor quality and they were but they were better than nothing. I nodded to each pair as I passed and I patted the villagers on the back as I gave a reassuring smile. We did not have much chance but confidence might make the difference. I was trying to calculate how many men Brian son of Felan had left to him. There could still be forty warriors if Miach’s original count had been correct. This time we would not be able to use arrows. It would be close in work which would suit the Hibernians.
When I had completed a circuit I sat close to the gap in the stockade. There was an old tree stump they used to chop wood upon and it made a good seat. I put Saxon Slayer into the ground so that I could grab it quickly. My shield was over my back and I held my dagger in my left hand. The dagger was a Roman pugeo and I had had it since I had first discovered the horde of Roman weapons. I remembered when it had been my proudest possession and yet I could not remember the last time I had used it. The discovery of the Roman Spatha had brought it to mind. I wondered what was so special about that sword. Myrddyn and I had not had a chance to examine it. Apart from the broken tip it had looked to be in perfect condition. Once again I was tied to the past. Rome and the Warlord were never far apart. When would I be able to sit and reflect on my life?
My reverie was broken by the slightest of noises. It came from beyond the stockade. I did not stand but I reached out to grab my sword. I could see nothing but I knew there was someone out there in the dark. I kept looking at one shadow in the dark and then it moved. It was a man. Once I had identified the man I saw others close by. I dared not stand and I waited as they crept forward. I had not put on my helmet for I needed my ears as much as my eyes. I hoped that my white face would not give me away and I took satisfaction in the knowledge that I could not see their faces. That meant that it was unlikely that they could see mine. Suddenly one of them tripped over a body and I took the opportunity to stand. My movement appeared to have gone unnoticed. Their shapes were a little clearer now but it was still hard to estimate distances.
Closer they came and I was able to count them. There were six killers. I heard a cry to my right and a sudden clash of metal on metal. There was no longer any need for silence. I stepped forwards and slashed in a wide arc before me. The blade bit into flesh and a warrior screamed. I jabbed forwards with my pugeo and felt it grind into a face. I quickly stepped back and the blade which would have taken my head cut the air instead. As I moved backwards they advanced and I saw them a little more clearly. They had shields and swords. All around me I could hear the sounds of battle and men dying but I had my own little war with four men; each one eager to take my life.
I felt my foot touch the stump on which I had sat and I stood on it; the tree had been a big one. I now had the advantage of height. They lurched forwards to get at me and I swung Saxon Slayer using all of my force. The edge dug into the neck of the warrior on the left of the four men. Two of them tried to slice off my legs with their swords. I jumped in the air and, as I came down brought the sword on to the helmet of one of the men. My weight, the fall and the heavy blade sliced head and helmet in two. When I landed I took the offensive. I leapt at the two men with my pugeo held before me. As I hit the ground the wind was knocked from me and I found that I could not move the dagger. It had impaled a warrior to the ground. I stood and, as the last man tried to rise, I stabbed him in the heart.
I sheathed my dagger and pulled my shield around. Pausing only to don my helmet I moved towards the gap in the fence. The ones I had slain had obviously been sent to secure the entrance whilst others had climbed the flimsy stockade. I moved out of the enclosure and along the ditch. There were men hacking at the walls while others jabbed at the defenders with spears. They did not see me coming. I brought Saxon Slayer down on one man laying open the side of his head and his arm. I punched away a second man who had turned to face me and I stabbed him as he lay prostrate.
I heard a shout behind me, “Wolf Warriors!” I did not turn for I knew that it was Lann Aelle and the prince. As the Hibernians turned to rush me they were faced by three warriors, all in mail. I felt a sword strike my shield while another slid along the mail of my byrnie. The two warriors died at the hands of my nephew and the prince. The others fled.
I turned to my saviours. “Thank you both.”
Lann Aelle laughed, “You did not need our help. We just wanted to fight alongside you.”
“How goes it inside?”<
br />
“There are many dead but these were the last.”
“Good, get their weapons and join me inside.”
By the time I returned into the village the first hint of dawn was lightening the east. I went to the bodies of those who I had fought at the gap. The surly faced warrior lay there. He was the one whose face I had split. He now had a strange grin which made him look happier than when he had been alive.
As I walked through the village I saw dead bodies, both villagers and Hibernians. Osgar’s people had fought well. I also saw three of Tuanthal’s men lying dead. They would be hard to replace. Aedh and Tuanthal were relieved to see me.
Tuanthal shook his head, “I did not like that my lord. You had no idea where the enemy was. Each shadow could have been a friend or a foe.”
“I know but that gave us the advantage. Collect their weapons and put the bodies on the other side of the ditch.” Leaving my men to do their work I sought out Osgar. I hoped the old headman had survived. Lann Aelle would need such brave leaders.
I found him being tended by his wife and his daughter. His head had been laid open by a blade. He grinned, “We showed them Warlord. They will learn to leave my village alone next time.”
“Hopefully there will be no next time.” I put my hand on his arm, “You will have lost people.”
“I know but that is the price we have to pay and now that we have a lord we can learn to be warriors as well as farmers.”
There was a clattering of hooves as my horsemen rode in. I turned and saw that they were led by Myrddyn and Gawan. The two of them leapt from their horses. Myrddyn nodded at me but Gawan looked concerned. The light was filling the village and the blood stained ground and bodies told a grim story.
“Are you hurt father?”
“No Gawan. This is the blood of others. There will be those who need healers. See to them.” I looked up at the leader of my horsemen. “Bal, I will get my horse and we will run these Hibernians down.”
“Aye my lord.”
We had left our horses saddled in case we needed to leave in a hurry. I mounted Mona and rejoined my men. Lann Aelle was speaking with Myrddyn. “Lann Aelle, take charge until I return. I will make sure these pirates rob no one else.”
Tuanthal threw me his spear as I passed him.”You will need this, my lord.”
It was now light enough to see a mile or more and we rode south east. Aedh had spotted their camp in that direction and I guessed that would be where their boat would be moored. We followed their trail by their dead and their dying. We despatched the wounded as we went. Inevitably that slowed down our pursuit but I could not let any warrior suffer a lingering death. These men had struggled as far as they could. Their bones would remain and rot in Rheged.
By the time we reached the sea it was daylight and we saw their ship as we emerged through the pine forest into the dunes. I urged the men on to try to catch them. I thought it might be too late but I had to try. There were ten warriors wading out to her and another six still on the beach. We rode hard at them. The sand slowed us almost as much as it slowed the fleeing warriors. I saw Bal lean forward to spear one man while a second of my men took the head from another. As we struck the water one of the fleeing men fell and Mona’s hoof cracked open his head. The last two warriors were hauled on board. Those of my warriors who had bows launched arrows at the ship. A cry told us that one had struck its mark but the ship slowly turned and we hit no more.
As it headed west I saw a wounded Brian shake his one good arm at me in anger. His words were lost in the wind but I knew that he was cursing me. I had been cursed before and still I lived. We returned to the village laden down with weapons. Many were only good enough to be melted down but they were better than nothing.
Osgar already had his men mending the stockade. They all cheered when I rode in. Tuanthal gave me a questioning look. “They are fled but it will take him some time to gather a war band big enough to trouble us again. By then Lann Aelle should have enough warriors to stop him.”
The villagers had lost ten men. Sadly they were mainly the old men. Osgar was philosophical about that, “They have given their lives so that their sons and daughters might live. And they died as warriors. It is not a sad event.” He pointed to the weapons his men now carried, “We will now be able to defend ourselves.”
Lann Aelle clapped him on his back, “This is the first of my defenders. Osgar has told me where the other villages are. I will now take Aedh and Tuanthal’s men and complete my inspection.”
I was pleased. My nephew was ready for his new role. He had not asked my permission. He had made his own decision. “And I will take the prince with me. He and Gawan have learned much but let us not tempt wyrd.”
I rode back to the Roman fort with my four companions and the scouts who had fought in the village. They had earned a rest. I was not worried about an ambush and I was keen to see what progress had been made. I was anxious to return home. If Aedh’s scout had not had any problems then Daffydd should be at the fort within a short space of time. I would travel back by sea.
Chapter 14
Gawan was impressed by Prince Cadwallon’s deeds. Lann Aelle had told them of his bravery when fighting fierce, although badly armed warriors. Myrddyn told me of the fort and the land. “The fort will be finished by Yule but it is defensible already. This is fine farmland, Warlord. With the protection of warriors it will encourage people to settle here.”
Tuanthal asked, “Are there enough people from Rheged?”
Prince Cadwallon had been listening and he said, “Many of my father’s people try to eke out a living perched on steep valley sides. There will be some who wish an easier life if they are offered protection.”
“There is your answer, Tuanthal. It is not just Rheged folk who will come. It is the free peoples of this island; the ones who are neither Saxon nor Hibernian.”
Myrddyn offered a word of caution. He gestured to the hills to the east. “At the moment our Saxon foes are well beyond those hills and we have bloodied their noses. If we are to keep them on the defensive then we need to keep their attention in the north. Your son and Prince Pasgen will need to go on the offensive in the spring. If not then Lann Aelle will be surrounded by a sea of Saxons.”
He was right. We had travelled the most difficult route from east to west but there were other, easier routes I knew. We had made a good start but that was all that it was, a start.
As we headed back Miach asked, “My lord, can I ask a boon?”
“Of course Miach. Your tongue and you mind saved that village.”
“Osric and Ludd had served with me since we were boys. We grew up in the same village.” He paused and looked skyward. “They were amongst the warriors killed last night.”
Then I remembered that we had lost warriors and I berated myself for not asking their names. There would have been a time when I would have known them all.
“You wish to leave my service?”
“No, no Warlord. I am your oathsworn until death. Captain Tuanthal will be taking the warriors off to war in other parts of the land. I would like to serve here. I would like to stay close to where the spirits of my brothers in arms wait. And I would not be able to do my job for I would always be looking for them. Let me serve Lord Lann Aelle here. I swear I would be a good servant.”
“I will grant your boon and I am sure that my nephew will use a warrior such as you wisely.”
He nodded his thanks and rode to the rear with a huge grin on his face.
The local villagers soon heard of our presence and we had a trickle of visitors. Although Lann Aelle was away he had reliable deputies from amongst the equites. Some of them, like Mawn, were much older than my nephew and had served Hogan Lann for many years. I also used Miach for I saw in him wisdom which was sometimes absent from other warriors. I made a point of speaking to them all. Some of them were at the fort to see what we could give them. Despite the supplies from Wide Water we still did not have enough for our own men and we ha
d to send out hunters each day. Myrddyn had made sure that the granaries were rebuilt and we would have to buy some grain and fill them.
Six days after our return Daffydd brought two of our ships up the river. He was a fine seaman and he brought them as close as he could get to the fort. In the end we only had to carry the supplies for half a mile and the men did not mind. We also had a surprise, for my wife and daughter were both on board.
Daffydd’s face told me of the argument he had had with my forceful wife. She took one look at my face and said, “Do not blame the captain. It has been such a long time since I have seen you and I wished to see my son.” She glared at me. “The one with the maimed hand, remember?”
“When the supplies are unloaded I will turn the ships around, Warlord.”
I smiled at him; we would talk later. “Thank you Daffydd. You have done well.” I paused, “Did you see any Hibernian ships on your voyage?”
“No, my lord, why?”
“A ship raided the land to the south of here. We will have much work to do later.”
I led my wife and daughter to the fort. Myfanwy’s face fell when she saw the conditions in which we were living but brightened when Gawan looked up from his work.”
“Come here bairn; let’s see what they have done to you.” She gasped when she saw his hand. “If I get my hands on the Aethelfrith it is more than two fingers he will lose.” One or two of my men smirked but were silenced by a glare. She looked at me.”Well, when are you coming home?”
“We will leave as soon as Lann Aelle returns from his patrol. It will only be a couple of days.”
“Well don’t expect us to sleep in that ruin.”Nanna was just as precocious as ever.
“Daughter I did not ask you to come here but you can sleep on the boat if you wish.”
“That is as bad as here.”
I spread my hands in exasperation. “Sleep where you will. We leave when I say!”