by Griff Hosker
“There is land along the Clwyd valley. There are few farmers there. The slopes of Wyddfa can be cleared and sheep raised but you cannot raise the grain that you raised here.” I shook my head. “The land is wrong. There is better land to the north and the east of the Clwyd but you would have to fight for it.”
The woman glared at her husband, “We will fight for it, Warlord! We have seen what results from indolence.”
There was a collective cheer. “You are all agreed?”
There was a chorus of ‘Ayes’.
“There are two ships here. You will not all fit on them but they will return as many times as is needed to take you all to safety.”
The woman, who had been speaking for the others, seemed to realise the import of her words. “And what of the Saxons? Will they just let us leave?”
“My men and the warriors will defend this place until you are safely away. You had best start now. Dawn will be upon us soon.”
As families began to drift towards the jetty the woman came up and kissed my hand. “Thank you, Warlord. We should have heeded your words.” I nodded.
I went to the ramparts. Lann Aelle was there with his father. I could see the burning in the distance which marked the end of Caer Gybi. The ditch before me showed where the first Northumbrians to attack had been slain. They would come again in the dawn. All the warriors who had come ashore in the boats we had burned would be eager to destroy this symbol of our world. Tuanthal and his sons had abandoned the outer ward. We now had the middle ward, which led to the jetty and the inner ward. It was a large area.
“How many men do we have?”
“Counting the twenty three you brought we have fifteen Hibernians and thirty warriors.”
“Aengus is still here?”
“He is.”
“We will need to hold the middle ward as long as we can. So long as they do not come from the west we can hold them.” I suddenly remembered the stables. “Are the horses still here?”
Lann Aelle said, “Aye. “There are twenty of them.”
“Good for I have a plan. Have all the men eat and then send whatever supplies are left to the jetty. I want this place burned to the ground before we go. Have the horses brought out to the middle ward. I want all the seal oil and pig fat we can find and I want it placed around the inner ward and the hall.”
Aelle asked, “What do you plan?”
“We will be attacked today and we will repulse them. It will cost us many men but we will do it. The ships can be back tonight to take off the rest of the people. Before we leave we will fire the buildings and the walls. They will have to build anew if they are to use this ancient hill fort. Those who are left will either sail out on the fishing smacks or ride to glory with me.”
Lann Aelle nodded his approval. His father shook his head, “Ride through the Saxons and across the island? It would be madness.”
“Nonetheless that is what we shall do. Now go and attend to the tasks I have set up. Send Aengus to me.” I looked at the hall. It was now surrounded by innocuous looking barrels and amphorae. It would be the last trick I would play.
I was left with my uncle. He stared to the east. Soon dawn would begin and we would see Wyddfa.
He leaned on my arm as we walked back to the hall. “The Saxons have driven me from every home I had. When my mother and I fled to Stanwyck and your father took us in I hoped that would be home and then we were driven from Stanwyck. My home at Wide Water was perfect and we were driven from there. You and your father saved us. I will not move from here.” I nodded. “I know that you will watch over my son and my grandson.” He smiled, “You are so much like your father it frightens me. When I see him in the Otherworld I will tell him that he can be proud of you.” There were no words. “I will wait by the hall. Sound the buccina when you leave. I know what to do.” He put his one good arm around me and hugged me.
He shuffled along the ramparts to the hall and I knew that he would help to buy us the time to escape. It was wyrd. He had been saved for this one moment. He was dying and yet, in his death, would come salvation for the men of Rheged.
Chapter 17
Dawn had broken by the time a weary Aengus joined me at the gate. Pelas, Llenlleog and Llewellyn stood with me. “Aengus, I want you to go back on the next ship. I need you in the Clwyd Valley.”
He shook his head, “I swore an oath, Warlord, and I will stay by your side.”
“No, you will not. You swore an oath and that means you obey me.” I softened my voice. “When I leave I will be on a horse. If you are with us we will have to go more slowly. I need you in my fort for you will be the Steward and the protector of my family. This is wyrd for you abducted my wife and now you will be her guardian. I will be away from home more than I will be there and I need my family protecting. Lann Aelle and my uncle have told me how hard you work and I would use those skills.”
He nodded, “I feel I have failed you; again.”
“You have not. I will save as many of your men as I can and they will be on either the fishing smacks or the ‘Aelle’. Now go for you will need to help load the ship.”
We watched as the Northumbrians began to move into position. They could not know that we had supplemented the garrison with twenty archers. They would be our surprise for them. They would expect that the farmers and islanders were still within the walls. His warriors would be anticipating slaughter and rape. I turned to my three companions. “We will be the last to leave, along with Lann Aelle. Pelas, your job will be to ensure that there are five horses for us. Stay by me until I send you for them. Llenlleog, bring the archers here but have them hide beneath the ramparts and Llewellyn prepare the dragon banner. When I bring out my shield they will know whom they fight and I hope to draw them here.”
Lann Aelle brought the Hibernians to the walls and spread them out. The rest of the garrison was guarding the eastern wall of the middle ward. If that fell then all was lost. At least everyone had eaten and was full. There was not a scrap of food left within the walls and the last two boat loads of islanders and the food were waiting at the jetty. Six islanders who could sail were waiting by the fishing smacks to take off any of the warriors who survived. I did not think it would be many.
Lann Aelle said, “I did not think it would come to this, Warlord. It tastes like defeat.”
“There is no defeat until every warrior of Rheged lies dead. So long as one walks away we are undefeated.” Just then I heard the Northumbrian horns as they began their attack.
“Got to your places and remember we have to buy enough time for the boats to take off the rest of the islanders.”
“Aye, Warlord.”
The Saxons were using a wedge to advance across the uneven ground toward the gate. Their leader must have assumed that we had no arrows as the garrison had not used them the day before. I glanced down at Aidan and his men. “Are you ready, Aidan.”
“I am.”
“Llewellyn, the banner.” As the banner was unfurled I swung my shield around so that they could see my wolf shield. I drew my sword and yelled, “Aella, I am the Warlord of Rheged! Behold Saxon Slayer. It has killed many kings, princes and champions. It will kill you. Will you meet me in single combat?”
As his men halted and turned around I knew that I had bought a little time. A heavy set figure in full mail with a war axe and a shield with three red legs painted upon it stepped forward. He raised his helmet so that I could see his face. “I need not fight you, Warlord, for you have no horsemen here. You just have the Hibernians I threw from my island. We will take this fort and decorate it with your heads.”
His men began to laugh. “Aidan, now!”
The twenty archers stood and loosed their arrows. Even while the arrows were falling onto surprised faces a second and a third flight were released. The chief next to Aella fell with an arrow piercing his eye. Aella shouted, “Treachery!” And the whole warband lurched forward without any sense of order. Every warrior who did not have a bow had a sling and the Saxons were assailed
by so many missiles that they all had to hide behind their shields. My uncle had ensured that every ditch was well sown with lillia and the Saxons screamed as they were impaled on them while trying to clear the ditch. A few made it to the wall where they were speared like stranded fish. The Northumbrian horn drew them back out of arrow range.
The ditch and the outer ward were filled with the dead and the wounded. We left the wounded to moan and to shout. It would make their fellows more reckless.
“Llenlleog, take ten archers and watch the west wall. Aella may try to attack from that direction although the cliffs are steep.”
The Northumbrians regrouped. I saw Aella, now well out of arrow range as he spoke with his chiefs. “Well done Aidan. When you run out of arrows I want you down at the jetty.”
“We would fight with you, Warlord.”
“You are too valuable to lose and you will obey me.”
“Aye, Warlord.”
It was early afternoon by the time they were ready for their next attack. One of the boy slingers, who had remained, came racing to me. “Warlord, your equite says they are attacking the west wall.”
“Are they being held?”
“Aye, Warlord.”
“Then go back and help them. If they are in danger then come to me.”
The attack on the west wall coincided with the next attack on the gate. This time they made a solid shield wall. My archers had to try to pick their targets. Fewer Saxons died but their progress was slow as they tried to maintain their lines of shields. Once they reached the ditch and began to clamber over the bodies of their dead comrades we managed to kill and wound a few more but there were still more than a hundred of them at the gate. They began to hack at the gate with their axes.
“Pelas, Llewellyn and Lann Aelle come with me. Aidan, take command here. When your arrows are finished then get to the ships. We will be safe.”
As we readied ourselves behind the gate I heard a shout go up, “The ships are returned.”
“Pelas go and secure the horses.” I shouted up to Aidan. “The ships are here prepare to fall back on my command.”
The Northumbrians were now attacking at all points around the walls. We held the advantage so long as we held the ramparts but once the gate fell then we would lose. I glanced behind me and saw my uncle leaning still against the hall. He was illuminated by the burning torch he was holding. He saw me and waved. Lann Aelle asked, “What is my father doing?”
“What he has always done; serving Rheged.”
The gates were well made and it was not easy for the Saxons to break through. The archers and men with slings were cutting down those who wielded the axes and it slowed their progress. One of Daffydd’s seamen ran to me. “Warlord we are boarded and we can take more men.”
“How many?”
“Ten.”
”Aidan, how many men are out of arrows?”
“Six.”
“Send them to the ship and send four of the Hibernians with them.”
“Aye ,Warlord.”
“Tell the captain to sail!”
The sailor ran off. The loss of ten men made the progress of destruction faster. “Aiden get the men from the walls. Have your archers join us. Send a messenger to tell Llenlleog to come here too.”
As the men ran down to us I shouted to the garrison, “Sail the smacks. Save as many men as you can but do not wait for us. May the Allfather be with you!”
The Northumbrians broke through with a rush. Aidan’s archers loosed their arrows and then the three of us ran forward with our swords swinging. I took the head of a chief who lost his balance close to me. Lann Aelle was fighting with a fury which terrified me and the Northumbrians were being forced back. The gate was wide enough for five men only and between the arrows and our blades no one could face us. When Llenlleog joined us we managed to push them back towards the ditch. I saw another wedge forming. “To the horses and the boats!”
We turned and ran. As we neared the hall I saw Aelle wave his torch in salute and then he plunged it into the hall. He drew his sword as flames suddenly leapt up the walls. A trail of fat and oil had been laid and it raced across the open ground towards the ramparts. The wooden walls burst into flames. We reached Pelas who looked in awe as the flames took hold. We grabbed our reins. Lann Aelle looked to his father and was about to race towards him when we saw him run towards the advancing warband and hurl himself into their midst. He slew two before he was hacked and cut down before our eyes.
I turned to my cousin. “He died well!” Lann Aelle nodded. “And now follow me.” I turned and saw that the archers were mounted and the rest were on the jetty. The fishing smacks were being loaded. Even as I watched the jetty was set on fire and I saw the sails of the overloaded boats heading south. Before we were surrounded we needed to break through. I kicked hard and drew, from my tunic, the last pot of Greek fire. As we galloped towards the gate I hurled it to the right, where the flames had caught hold of one of the towers. A wall of flames erupted up and out. I saw Aella engulfed in flames. The men at the gate ran to douse the flames consuming their leader and his oathsworn. We barged through them with swords, spears and maces bringing death and destruction. Suddenly we were through and I led my tiny band of warriors towards the bridge which led to Mona proper. If the Northumbrians had left it we had a chance and if not we would all die when the Northumbrians saw that we were trapped.
I knew the land as well as any and we rode down the rocky valley which hid us from our enemies. We rode through groups of wounded warriors. They could nothing about us but just stare. When we reached the narrow neck of land I saw that the bridge remained and it was unguarded. We galloped across it. I halted the column. In the distance I saw the Northumbrians racing after us.
“Find kindling. Aidan, fire the bridge.” It was a race against time. There was plenty of dead gorse and it burned well. Aidan’s flint sparked and the gorse began to burn. Three of his archers still had arrows and they began to pick off those brave enough to step on to the bridge. As soon as the fire had taken hold of the wooden bridge we mounted and rode east. The bridge would fall and the Northumbrians would have to descend to the sea and cross the narrow straits. It would take time. Night was falling and I hoped to disappear. We would ride our horses until they fell and then we would run. Mona was no longer our island. It was Northumbrian.
I led us towards the Roman road. It was the quickest way off the island and it was the route with the least opportunity for ambush for it ran straight. Our problem was that the light was behind us and we were riding into darkness. Lann Aelle rode next to me. When I glanced at him I saw that his face was a mask of fury. I remembered my anger when my father had died. I had taken my revenge on Morcar. I pitied any Saxon who had to face my cousin this night. After two hours of hard riding we halted.
“Llenlleog, ride up the road and see if it is clear.”
He had proved to be reliable and calm. Lann Aelle was too upset as was Pelas who had just witnessed his grandfather being butchered.
Aidan approached me. “We lost three archers, Warlord.”
“You and your men did well.”
“All of them would have died for you.”
I put my arm around him, “I would that they would live for me.”
After we had rested and adjusted our girths we set off. I had no idea how many Saxons were on the island. I was counting on the fact that the bulk of them would have been attacking our fort. I knew that the fort at the Narrows would have been a target and as we neared the eastern end of the island I slowed us down to a walk. Suddenly my horse neighed. There was someone ahead. I silently drew my sword as did the others. I waved my arms to spread them out and we edged slowly forward.
“Warlord, is that you?”
It was Kay and my equites. We had reached safety.
“Is the fort held still?”
“Aye, Warlord. There are men of the Cymri there now.”
“Then we had better warn them that they are all that remain
on the island. It has fallen.”
We rode to the pontoon raft which would ferry us to the mainland and safety. To many this would be a defeat for we had fled with our tails between our legs but to me it was a victory. We had saved the people and denied the Northumbrians the riches of Mona. They would have to begin anew and they would have a winter without food. We would begin again and try, once more to regain the land of Rheged. Mona had been a respite but that was all. Our life on Mona had been a brief but rich interlude. Soon it would change its name and become the Angle Sey.
I reached my home not long after my ships had disgorged both their passengers and their cargo. There were many people milling around as my wife organised their beds. There was a huge cheer as my band of heroes rode in. I saw the faces of the farmers who had questioned my request for warriors. Now there was gratitude.
As I dismounted Aileen came to me and hugged me. “I am proud of you husband, you have done well. The people speak of you as a king!”
“But I am just Warlord.” I held her tightly and said, quietly, in her ear, “Aelle is dead.”
She nodded as though she new and it was no surprise, “It is wyrd. He died well?”
“Aye he died well and it was not the sickness which took him. He had a sword in his hand and he is with his brother even now.”
“Good.” She took my arm and led me up the stairs to the hall, “A messenger came from King Cadwallon. He is on his way here to speak with you.”
“That is timely for we need a counsel soon. The world has changed and we have lost the Holy Island.”
She smiled, “But we still have Wyddfa and she protects us yet. Come, your daughter is keen to see you.”
I quickly washed my bloody hands and face and followed my wife into my hall. The tables and chairs had been piled to one side and some of the refugees lay sleeping. We went into our chambers and there was the slave tending to Myfanwy. As soon as I entered she opened her eyes and began to gurgle. I picked her up. The smell of the fresh clean baby seemed to cleanse my heart. The deaths and the destruction disappeared as I held the child. I know not why but I felt tears coursing down my cheeks. Aileen hurried the slave from the room and sat with her arms around my shoulders as I wept.