by Griff Hosker
I lay in the lukewarm water and listened to the good natured banter between the equites in the caldarium. It would do them good to let off a little steam in the bath house. I slipped away without saying farewell. I could have sent for a servant to dress me but I was enjoying the solitude. I slipped out of my room and went to my solar. Times past I would have shared a goblet of rich red wine with my father and perhaps Myrddyn and Brother Oswald. I poured a goblet and stood looking out of the window to the south. Was Pol right? Should we try to get the best horses possible? The problem was we would have to negotiate the Barbary pirates and some Muslims were fanatics. They hated Christians; who knew what they felt about those of us who worshipped the old ways? I would ask Myrddyn and Gawan.
There was a knock on the door and a slave stood there. “Warlord, Myrddyn asks if you would join him in the infirmary.”
I sighed and swallowed my wine. My solitude was ending. “I will be there momentarily.”
I contemplated tying my hair back or even plaiting it but it was clean and it was lustrous, I would leave it about my shoulders. I had no wife now to tell me it did not suit me.
The infirmary had been Brother Oswald’s idea. It was a building separated from the others. Ironically it had been completed too late to save him. He had said we could use it for those with the plague or other infections. They could be cared for without infecting others. Had it been finished on time he might have been spared, along with my family. Myrddyn was waiting at the door. “Come Warlord, Aengus is between life and death and I do not know if I can save him. He must speak with you before he goes to the Otherworld.”
“You can save him!”
“I can try but his wounds are serious; they could be mortal.”
The bed in which the Hibernian lay was away from the rest of the sick. He had heavy bandages covering half of his face. He had lost his right eye. His right arm had been removed and his right leg was heavily bandaged too.
He gave me a weak smile as I approached. “Warlord, I am glad that I saw you before I went to the Otherworld.”
“You must fight, Aengus. I would have you stay here with us.”
He gave a hollow laugh, “A one eyed, one armed warrior is no use to anyone.”
“That is for me to decide. I want you to cling to life. Myrddyn is here now and he is the greatest healer that ever lived.”
“I will try but if this is my time I need to speak with you before I cross over.”
“Go ahead then.”
Myrddyn said, “I have other charges. I will see to them while you talk.” He touched Aengus’ hand. “I will do all that I can to save you.”
“Your wizard is a good man, Warlord. I used to fear him but now I do not.” He winced as pain struck him. Opening his eye he said, “My men and those of Fergus fought well. I would have you know that.”
“I believe you.”
“I know that we came to you with a poor reputation but you gave us honour and we tried all that we could.” He closed his eyes as another spasm of pain coursed through his body. “We did not have enough discipline. I have spoken with the men who survived, and the women. They all wish to serve you still. I beg you to let them and to care for them. Like your wizard you are a good man and one we would follow.”
“Of course but you said women?”
“Aye they would not be left behind and they came with us. They fought alongside us and some died but they died happy for they were with their men.”
“If that was your only worry then I can put your mind at rest. I will watch over your people and they can fight for me still. Now you get well. That is a command.”
Myrddyn waved me over. I saw a woman. I thought that she was dead for she was so still. It was Aileen, Fergus’ sister. “It is the woman who thought little of you, Warlord. Apparently she thought enough of you to accompany her brother to Manau and to fight the Saxons there.”
“What is wrong with her?”
Myrddyn pointed to her middle which was heavily bandaged. “She received a sword thrust to her vital regions.” He shook his head, “I had to work hard for there were serious wounds there. But it is her head which poses the greatest risk. She has received a blow to the side of the skull. I believe that there is a fluid just inside the bone and it needs draining.”
“You are jesting!”
“No. When I visited Constantinopolis with your father I read of Greek surgeons who had relieved such pressure. I also spoke with the Greek healers. They wished to learn of my skills and I shared theirs. They drill a small hole where the pressure is and relieve it. I am confident that I can do it.”
“But if you fail!”
“Then she will die but will she be any worse off than this life of the living dead?”
“You will do this? You will drill a hole in her skull?”
He looked at me with his old sad eyes. “Yes Warlord, but you must assist me. I need another pair of hands to hold her still and I believe there is a connection between the two of you.”
“She hates me!”
He nodded, “And that is the connection; love and hate are closer than many think.”
I would have to do it. To refuse would be dishonourable. “When do we do it, tomorrow?”
“Now! Every moment we waste makes it less likely that we can call her back from the other side. Even now she is speaking with her brother, Fergus.” I was stunned. “Wash your hands and use vinegar to do so.”
“Vinegar?”
“Warlord, just do it.”
When returned he had a small hand drill ready; it looked like an auger used in shipbuilding but was much smaller. “You must hold her head as still as you can. One slip from you and she could die.” He smiled as he said it. I placed my hands upon her head. I noticed how beautiful she was. Her hair shone and her skin was as clear as Roman marble. She was a brave young woman and needed to live. I held her head tightly.
“Move your left hand a little. I must drill there.” He looked at me and he gave a sad smile, “I pray you Warlord, hold her as tightly as you hold Saxon Slayer in battle for we battle death. I have never done this. One mistake from either of us and this brave young girl will die.”
“Do it wizard. I will keep her still.”
I concentrated harder than at any time in my life before. I noticed that he had cut away some of her long, red hair so that the bruised skin was visible. It looked harmless enough; it looked like my body after a battle. The bruises normally went away after a couple of days. Perhaps the head was a more dangerous place for such a bruise. Myrddyn took out a sharp knife and made a slit in the flesh at the side of her skull. He carefully parted the skin and, after examining the flesh, began to turn the drill. It made a strange whirring noise but I could not see it working. How could it get through bone? I glanced at him. “I am drilling through the skull. It takes time and I have to be careful. I can only hope that it is not as thick as yours Warlord.”
I focussed on the girl’s face. She could be no more than eighteen summers. From what I had been told she had fought against the Saxons. I knew young warriors who would not have survived such an encounter. There was something about this young woman which intrigued me.
Suddenly Myrddyn stopped and withdrew the drill. He placed it on the floor and held a candle to the side of her skull. He nodded, seemingly satisfied and then he took a long thin scoop and inserted it into the hole. A blob of reddish purple material dropped out into the pot he held. He shone the candle there for a few moments longer and then nodded. “Just a couple more moments and I think that we will be done.” I saw him take some catgut and a needle. He placed them ready to hand. He took a small metal disk and gently pressed it over the hole. It was an exact fit and slipped into the bone well. Myrddyn had been busy.
“Put your finger on this piece of metal whilst I sew.” The piece of metal was so small that when I put the tip of my finger over it the metal could not be seen. Myrddyn joined the two flaps of skin, lifting my finger as he did so and then he stitched, neatly,
the flap of skin, back in place. He sat back and smiled, ”And now we wait. Well done Warlord. You can assist me again!”
I found that my hand was shaking. “I hope not, wizard!”
He laughed, “Go and have a drink, Warlord.” He chuckled. “I can see this becoming another legend if it succeeds.” He nodded to the other end of the infirmary where a small crowd had gathered. We had had an audience.
I went to the main hall and found that I was now ravenous. I sat at the table and quaffed a whole goblet of wine. Pol and Kay joined me. As the food was brought we talked.
“I have spoken with the Hibernians. They did well, Warlord. From what they said they became over confident after their initial success and when Aella brought his whole force they were tricked into an attack when he pulled his centre back.”
“He outflanked them.”
“Aye, had either of us been leading the men then it would not have happened. They feel they have let you down.”
“I know, I spoke with Aengus and he has asked me to lead them. They can be trained here and protect my home.”
“That will make Aelle happy then.”
“Where is my uncle?”
“He went with Lann Aelle to show the improvements he had made and to ask his advice.”
It was good that the two were coming closer. My father had taken Aelle’s son away from him. He had sent me to fight far away. I knew now that he had done so to protect the land but I missed him now. I thought of all the times we might have spoken and the questions I would have asked of him. I had not thought he would be taken away as he had been. I wondered if the wizard had some way of going back in time. I was jealous of Gawan. He could still speak with my father. He and Myrddyn would visit Wyddfa at Yule to the dream cave. I could not. Lann Aelle and his father should have more time together. When I campaigned, the next year, I would leave Lann Aelle with his father. Outside of Pol and myself, he was the best strategos we had.
“You appear lost in your thoughts, Warlord.”
“I am Pol. I am thinking of my father and how I wish I could walk these walls with him and talk. I did not talk enough when he was alive.”
“You and he were not meant to talk, Warlord. It is a sad fact of life that the two of you were born to fight for Rheged. There are many people who are free today only because you and your father fought for them.”
I pushed away the empty platter. “It seems Pol, that we take one step forward and two back. Just when we bloody Edwin and the brothers we lose two valuable allies.”
“And yet our greatest ally, King Cadwallon, was not used. His strength is undiminished. It is sad that we lost our other allies but they served their purpose. They bought us time. They have given us a winter to get the horses and to train new men. Our crops were harvested; the Northumbrians were not. There will be a hard cruel winter for many. We hurt them.” He held up his beaker, “This is half full, Warlord. Do not be fooled into thinking that it is half empty.”
“You are right Pol. I am wallowing in self pity. Our old teachers from Constantinopolis would be less than happy with us. Come and we will go and speak with the Hibernians.”
We took the jug of wine and went to the table where the survivors were seated. They looked miserable and downhearted. I saw that there were but fifteen of them remaining. There were four others, along with Aileen, in the infirmary. They made to stand. “No, do not stand. I am here to drink with brave warriors who fought well for me.”
One of the older warriors shook his head, “But we failed! We had to flee with our tails between our legs.”
“What is your name?”
“Fiachnae.”
I poured some wine into his beaker, “Well, Fiachnae drink with me for there is not a warrior in my army who has not had to flee a field at some time. It does not make you less of a warrior. It gives you something invaluable; experience. You learn from what you did wrong. All of you will have learned from your defeat.” I pointed with the jug towards the infirmary. “I have just left Aengus and Aileen fighting for their lives. With the Allfather’s help they will survive. I promised Aengus that all of you can serve with my men if you have a mind. Will you?”
I saw hope light their eyes as they all chorused an, ‘Aye Warlord!’
“Then tomorrow you can swear an oath on Saxon Slayer. We will teach you how to become warriors like us. You will learn to fight as one behind a shield and wearing armour. You will not flee the field again but your enemies will.”
Chapter 11
The talk with Pol and then the Hibernians helped me to sleep much better than I had for some time. I awoke with a positive attitude. I went, even before I had eaten, to the infirmary. I saw Myrddyn there, looking tired. “Have you slept?”
He shook his head, “When they are both out of danger then I will sleep. Aengus appears to be through the worst of it. This is one of the many times I miss Brother Oswald. He too was a healer and he could have aided me. Needs must I should train someone to do this when I am in the Otherworld.”
“Do not even jest about such things! It is hard enough to live without my father. I could not manage without his wizard too.”
“Even the tallest tree in the forest must fall some time but it will not be for some time yet.” He nodded towards Aengus. “I have found the last of the poison and he will live. He sleeps peacefully now. Let us go and see the one with the strong heart. She fought all night against death. She clings to life and that heartens me.” She looked very pale in the thin morning light but her breathing appeared steady. Myrddyn put his hand to her neck. “There is a steady beat.”
We had been there for a few moments when she opened her eyes and stared up. “Am I in the Otherworld?”
I smiled and took her hand. “No Aileen, sister of Fergus, you are in Caer Gybi and you are safe thanks to the hands of Myrddyn the healer. He brought you back from the other side.”
“With a little help from the Warlord.” Myrddyn added.
“I am sorry for the harsh words I uttered, Warlord. I was angry and I regret my outburst.”
I noticed that she held my hand still. “I understand and had I been in the same position then I, too, might have said such things but you are safe now and I have promised Aengus that I will look after all of the Hibernian people who fought for me.”
She suddenly started, “My brother?”
“He is in the Otherworld but he died with a sword in his hand and he will be telling them all of the courage of his sister, Aileen.”
She blushed and put her hand to brush her hair away. She found flesh and he eyes widened. Myrddyn took her hand and put it beneath the covers. “We had to cut your hair for there was a problem inside your head. We removed it but you have a small piece of metal just here.” He gently touched the stitches. “Do not worry it will do no harm and your hair will grow.”
I smiled, “You will be as pretty as you ever were.”
She smiled, for the first time, back at me. “Thank you, Warlord, that is kind. It is an untruth but it is a kind one for a girl who is now alone in the world.”
“No Aileen for when the Warlord swears to care for someone then they are never alone for they are in his family. You get well and when the wizard is happy we will talk of your future. You just need to get better.”
Pelas brought Saxon Slayer to me as soon as I had eaten. He must have badgered the smith for it shone and looked like new. “Well done, squire, for we need it this morning.” I took it to the Hibernians. All of them knelt and swore an oath. Aelle and Lann Aelle were present along with my equites.
“Until you are all trained I would have you here in Caer Gybi as part of the garrison. My cousin Lann Aelle and my uncle, Lord Aelle will be responsible for your training.”
As we went back to the hall Lann Aelle said, “That sounded ominously like goodbye. What have you planned, cousin?”
“Pol and I will travel to Frankia. I intend to buy some horses. We need to breed our own herds. I am sure that had my father been granted more
time he would have realised the potential of this island which is perfect for raising horses. We will buy a good stallion and some mares. Within three years we should have enough horses to campaign in Northumbria for a year.”
Aelle nodded but looked sad, “I hope that I will still be here when you return, nephew.”
“Of course you will. What ails you, uncle?”
“Old age. There is only Myrddyn left now of those I fought alongside as a young man. The Otherworld is calling.”
“Then tell it to wait for I am not ready to let you go yet. We all need your sage advice and memories.” I looked pointedly at Lann Aelle who nodded his understanding.
It took a few days to prepare the ship and gather the gold coin. We had traded well over the years and we also had collected much gold and blue stones from the mines in the heart of Cymri. We would use that now to buy us hope for the future. All of my equites wished to accompany Pol and me but I needed the experience of Kay and Bors to aid Lann Aelle with training of the warriors. I still worried about another Saxon attack. The ease with which Aella had defeated the Hibernians made me wonder about the strength of the forces on Manau. I left the strongest force I could. I took just Osgar and six of the younger equites. With Pelas and Llewellyn I was happy that we would be protected. We were not invading Frankia; we were trading.
Aileen was up and about and Aengus was awake and recovering before I left. Myrddyn was pleased with the recovery of both of them and Aileen had shown some skill in caring for the sick. I left them happily knowing that they all had purpose in their lives once more.
The journey south was familiar to us all. We traded with Dyfed and Gwent on a regular basis. Daffydd had also made many voyages to Constantinopolis although not in recent years. We seemed to have receded in the last few years and stopped looking out. That was not good. Perhaps this voyage was meant to be.
We had just passed through the tricky waters of Scillonia Insula when Daffydd asked me of our destination. “Frankia is a large place, Warlord. Where specifically would you have us land?”