by Griff Hosker
“Will you do as last time and head up the western side?”
“No, we will travel east through the heart of his land. I intend to push as far north as I can before he follows me and then I will draw him back to our border forts. Perhaps he will be angry enough to waste men trying to take them.”
“Then Penda and I will prepare to repulse him. We will begin the muster of our armies. I know that King Penda is anxious to show King Edwin that he is the High King of the Saxons.”
“Be careful of your new ally, my king. When he was the leader of a warband he had no ambitions. If we do defeat Edwin be wary of where he moves his gaze.”
“I will heed your advice for, like your father’s, it is always wise. When will you return so that we may be ready?
“I will be back by midsummer’s eve. That will give our famers the chance to sow crops and harvest the young animals. We will be taking his men from their fields.”
“Good. You have heartened me. I will send to Dyfed and to the other kingdoms. Perhaps they will send warriors too.”
“I hope so. If we can defeat King Edwin this summer then that may end his threat for all time!”
Now that we had three garrisons guarding our eastern and northern borders I felt happier about leaving my wife. Once again we were mounted and we even managed to take with us fifteen boys who would be both messengers and slingers. Aed and his scouts numbered eight. I left half of Gawan’s equites at Deva. They would be able to respond to an attack from Mona.
We passed the ford at Aengus’ fort and pushed on to reach Namentwihc by the early afternoon. The gates were open. “Daffydd I am going to ride through the gates. Circle the town and stop any men from leaving.”
I saw the question forming on his lips and then he thought better of it. Giving me a wry smile he said, “Aye Warlord.”
Llenlleog was more open, “You will charge through the gates, Warlord?”
I shrugged, “It may work. I can see no guards on the ramparts and the gate is just two hundred paces from the trees. Even with these horses we should reach it but as you have the best horse you have my permission to try to hold the gates for us.”
He suddenly grinned, “Why not pretend you are chasing me? Give me a start.”
“Aye, we will try that.”
He burst from the trees and galloped up the track to the gate. We left almost immediately for he had nearly reached the gates anyway. We thundered after him. I saw that there were men at the gates although there were none on the ramparts. Llenlleog’s charge had confused them. For no one would be reckless enough to charge a fort on their own. Llenlleog laid about him with his blade and the two men at the gate were slain. He dismounted and stood in the doorway. As we galloped up a handful of warriors ran at him. As soon as they saw us they turned and fled before they even got close to Llenlleog. The eastern gate was soon jammed with those trying to escape from the fort. Horsemen in armour could only mean one thing; the equites of Rheged and the Warlord.
I turned to Kay and Bors. “Have the men search for carts that we can use and any horses. Osgar, find any food and load the carts when they are found.”
Llenlleog stood looking pleased with himself. “Well done, warrior, your action was both clever and courageous.”
“Why not chase after the warriors who fled?”
“It will merely tire the horses. They will not escape; Daffydd and his archers await them.”
There was not a great deal of food but there were enormous quantities of salt. It was like white gold. “Osgar, tomorrow I want you and the squires to escort this booty to Aengus’ Ford. He can distribute it to the other forts when he has the opportunity. We will head north east. You will follow us.”
Daffydd returned as night was falling. “There were just twenty Saxon warriors and they all fell to our arrows. The women, children and the old we let pass.”
The town was ours. We would have sheltered lodgings and we would eat well. That evening, as we ate, Pelas asked, “Why did you not enslave the women and children?”
“A number of reasons: we would have to escort them back to Deva and that would waste warriors. Slavery is not something I really like for you have enemies in your homes if they are taken from a neighbour but, most importantly, they will flee to other villages and tell them that we are coming.”
Llenlleog’s mouth dropped open, “You want them to know you are coming?”
I nodded for my mouth was full of food. When I had swallowed I said, “They will go in many directions and they will report a huge army far bigger than the numbers we actually have. It will cause panic and confusion. Many of the villages they flee to will also run and that will muddy the waters for they will all report different numbers. The Northumbrians will hole up in their burghs and send word to Edwin. He will not know where to go. Our scouts are the best and we will avoid his large army and swoop on his smaller warbands. Our aim is to spread terror, fear, and confusion in his land. That way he cannot attack the land of Cymru or our lands. When we do invade, we will do so swiftly and we will use surprise.”
We left Namentwihc a burnt out shell when we had taken all that was of value. We headed north east through unfamiliar country. Our scouts kept us informed of the movements of the Northumbrians. We kept more east than north for the land was flatter and there were more farms for us to burn. We knew that King Edwin was mobilising his forces. Aed kept us well informed about what we were likely to encounter. I also knew that we were putting our head further into the jaws of the Northumbrians. I was counting on the speed of my army to withdraw just as quickly.
After another four days of rapid raids heading east I sent Dai and Felan to the north. I hoped that King Edwin and his leaders would be anticipating us continuing east. We would change direction. The move took us to the huge forest which seemed to fill the old land of Elmet. It went from the high divide almost to the coast and the marshy swampy land. The Roman Road went through the middle of it and, as we had never travelled in the area we risked the ride along the road through the forest. It proved to be a disastrous deviation. We were just five miles along the road when Dai came galloping back bleeding from his arm. There was no Felan with him, just his horse. “Turn and flee, Warlord. The forest is filled with Northumbrians. We ran into an ambush!”
I wondered how this had happened for we had moved quickly. They could not have known we were coming. Something was not right. There was little point in trying to work out why and so we turned and galloped back down the road. Had we not been on the road then we would have been slaughtered. The Northumbrians had moved swiftly through the trees along the side of the road as well as on it. Their mailed warriors were running down the road. It suited them for they could fill the road from ditch to ditch. We could be trapped if we tried to attack them. The lightly armed fyrd used the trees. They were able to run easily. They moved almost as quickly as we did for they had no armour. They attacked the squires at the rear of our column. They had caught us quicker than I had anticipated. I heard their screams as the young warriors fell and were butchered.
. “Pol, take command. Lead the men from the forest and wait for us. Bors, turn your men around. We will charge them.”
My men were the best trained. They knew that a delay in following orders could be the difference between success and failure.
I whipped Star’s head around and rode back through the squires. “Squires, follow Captain Pol!” I saw five riderless horses showing that the Northumbrians had had success. As soon as the last squire had ridden past us I charged the shield wall which formed on the road. I had a long spear with me. Rather than using it to punch I threw it when I was just ten paces from the wall. They were not expecting it and the spear head went into the open mouth of a mailed warrior. He fell and, as Star went through the gap I swung the mace which had been hanging from my saddle and smashed it into the face of the next Saxon. They had not expected me to go on the offensive and the shield wall was only three warriors deep. Star trampled the last warrior and I je
rked his head around to the right.
Speed was of the essence. “Destroy the shield wall!”
A shield wall only works with locked shields. We were inside a disordered shield wall. My mace fell upon helmets and leather skullcaps. It was soon covered in blood, brains and gore. The warriors who remained fled into the forest and back along the road..
I reined in Star. We needed to reform. I saw that three of my equites had either been killed or wounded. Even as Bors went to the aid of one the lifeless body of the equite fell from the saddle.
I knew that the road would be filled with the lightly armed warriors we had passed through and they would be ready for us. There was just one alternative; we had to use the forest. “Follow me through the forest.”
It was a risk but I guessed that they would gather by the road and expect us to use it for speed. If we rode individually we could be almost as swift in the forest. I was aware that Lann Aelle was with me along with Pelas. I hoped that Llenlleog had not fallen; he was a good equite. Star picked his way through the forest. You needed quick reactions for Northumbrians would leap from behind trees. I had hung my mace from my saddle and unsheathed Saxon Slayer. It was a faster weapon.
I saw a spear head as it came from behind a tree. I leaned forward and anticipated where the warrior would be. As his head came around I swung my sword and felt it bite into flesh. I swerved to avoid a tree root and went to the left. It saved my life for an axe swung at the empty space I had occupied. I heard a scream as Lann Aelle ended the life of the warrior.
We had only ventured a few miles into the forest and yet the ride south seemed to take forever. When I saw the brightening light ahead I knew that we had made it. We burst from the trees. Daffydd’s men were watching for us and they launched a shower of arrows. I heard the shouts as the pursuing Northumbrians fell. We reined in behind the line of spears of Pol and my equites.
The Northumbrians stayed in the forest. To have ventured out would have invited slaughter. Pol said, “Head south, Warlord, and we will cover you!”
It was my turn to obey orders and I led my column of equites to the last village we had attacked. We halted there. Pol and the rest arrived a short time later. He dismounted and joined me. “I set Dai and Aed to watch them,” he waved to a warrior who had a bundle on his saddle. It was Osgar. “We have a prisoner.”
Osgar dropped the unconscious Saxon to the ground. I saw that he was probably a farmer for he had no mail and just a leather skull cap. He was no warrior. I went to him and began to slap his face. He awoke and stared in fear at me. I took off my helmet. “You know who I am?”
“You are the Warlord.”
“Then know this, I keep my word. If you answer my questions truthfully then you shall live. If not we will open your guts and let the animals of the forest feed on your flesh. Understand?” He nodded. I could see that he was barely fifteen. “How did you come upon us?”
“Warriors reached Caer Daun and said that you were raiding. Eorl Eadfrith led us south to catch you. We were to meet with Eanforth and trap you between us.”
“What were you doing at Caer Daun? There were a large number of you. Were you seeking us?”
He hesitated and then said, “We were ordered there after the spring sowing. We were told that King Edwin wanted us mustered. We did not know it was the Warlord we faced.” I heard the fear and awe in his voice.
That was ominous and I stored that information but the most important fact was that Eanforth also had warriors. “Where is Eanforth?”
He hesitated, “Life or a slow death- it is your choice.”
“He is in the east. That is all I know; I swear.”
I nodded, “I believe you now go.” I pointed up the road. He ran as fast as he could. I had no doubt that Eanfrith and Eadfrith would question him but he could tell them little more than they already knew. The Warlord and his equites were raiding.
When he had gone I said, “We were unlucky. They were gathering ahead of us. They did not know where we were going it was just wyrd. It means that King Edwin is gathering his army. He is heading south to face King Cadwallon. Once again he has anticipated us.”
Pol said, “What now?”
“We cannot travel either east or north. There are enemies there that we know of. Both would be too dangerous for we would be trapped.” I rubbed my chin. “They will expect us to go west. Therefore we will head south and make our way to Mercia and the lands of King Penda. It will also mean that we can draw them towards the armies that we know are preparing for war.”
“Is that safe?”
I shrugged, “I know not but it appears to be the only chance we have. I just hope that the two kings have prepared their armies. I said I would be back by Midsummer’s day and it is past that now. Send for Aed, we will ride and put distance between us. Send riders to warn the two kings of the invasion.”
Chapter 19
The land to the south had been the land of the Angles. It had been settled for a long time. Here there were more cleared areas and fewer trees. After hours of hard riding we passed through a smaller wood and my scouts found a small Northumbrian burgh. A river ran around one side of it. There were many farms whose smoke we could see as we approached. Our wounded warriors needed somewhere to rest so that we could heal them and our horses just needed time to recover from their exertions. We had ridden further on their backs in mail than was good for them. Only Llenlleog’s horse looked fresh. It was a risk but we needed to capture this burgh and hold it. Hopefully Penda and Cadwallon would reach us sooner rather than later. I knew that the Northumbrians would take some time to catch up with us. Dai reported that the gates were closed and that there were sentries upon the wall. That was unusual for it was still daylight.
“We will attack this evening. Daffydd, take your men to the south and prevent reinforcement from that direction. Kay we will use your equites and squires to attack.”
Lann Aelle asked, “Who will lead the attack?”
“I will.”
“No cousin. You are always putting yourself in harm’s way. You are not invincible and we should share the load. There is your brother, Pol and myself. Do you have no faith in us? Do we merely follow?”
I could see from the looks on their faces that they had discussed this and were unhappy. “I cannot help my nature. I trust you all but I would put myself at the fore rather than you.”
Gawan said, “Brother, when you had no family and you had the death wish, we understood your reckless bravery.” I looked up, startled. My brother had known of the darkness within me. “Now you have a wife and a child. Hopefully your next child will be a boy.”
“My next child?”
Gawan smiled, “We are dreamers.” He nodded, “And so let one of us lead. It is a small burgh. There will be little danger.”
“Then why should I not lead?”
“Because your body is tired. You fought hard the other day and we did not.”
He was right. My shoulders slumped, “Very well Lann Aelle, you lead.”
Leaving Bors and his men to guard the road to the north we swam the river upstream and headed to the burgh keeping out of sight. We found a wood just half a mile or so from the walls. Lann Aelle led the ten archers and twenty equites who would assault the walls. We would wait until the gates were taken and then enter the burgh. It is harder to wait than to do. Time seemed to drag. We watched the black shadows as they flitted forward. My men were well trained in using cover and moving so that their motion would not be detected. When they reached the ditch I found myself holding my breath. Gawan said, quietly, “Trust Lann Aelle brother. If you were there would you fear the guards and the walls?”
I shook my head, “The guards will have little armour and they are not as well trained as my men.”
“Then breathe.”
I laughed. He was becoming more like Myrddyn each day. I heard a cry from the burgh. “Ready your weapons.” When I heard the clash of steel I shouted, “We ride.”
I counted on
the fact that my men would capture the gate. When we were half way to the gate I saw a light as it was opened. Pol pointedly led my warriors through the gate and past the dead sentries. The rear gate had opened and I could see many of the inhabitants fleeing. I left Saxon Slayer in my scabbard. It would not be needed.
“Aed, send for Daffydd and Bors. We have secured the burgh.” It was not quite true for there were pockets of fighting going on. The Northumbrians were fighting harder than they normally did and I wondered why.
Lann Aelle strode towards me, his blade bloody and his face grinning. “There cousin, we have captured the burgh and we had just four equites wounded.”
“Well done. You were right to chastise me.”
“Call it counselling! I sound less like a wife then.”
Daffydd and Bors returned with the same news. The handful of women, children and a few men had fled north. “We could have chased them, Warlord but I was aware that our horses needed rest.”
“You did right Bors. We will hold up here for a day or so. I would have us recover our strength.”
We went to the warrior hall. It had been recently built as had the walls. This was King Edwin consolidating his lands. There was a pot of food on the fire and we ate. Osgar came in and interrupted us, “I am sorry, Warlord, for the interruption, but we have made a great discovery.”
Osgar would not have disturbed us for nothing and we all followed him. What I had taken for houses turned out to be four small halls. Osgar opened one of the doors and I was lost for words. It was jammed full of supplies. There were barrels and amphorae from floor to ceiling. “I know, Warlord and the other three have the same within them.”
Gawan nodded, “These are for an army, brother. That explains this new burgh and why there were just warriors guarding it. The prisoner told us of a muster. They must be heading south. This clever Saxon is making sure that this men are well fed and supplied.”