Heart of Alban

by G L Roberts

  “King Heardred was reluctant to take our dear little Meriel with him. He would have preferred to take Thalynder and ransom her to the highest bidder in Götaland. Using her as a means to strengthen his house and his tribe. Our fortune was that his daughter, Hansa, convinced him the dragon would be worth more to the tribes than the princess.

  Götaland is a land of many tribes. They bicker and fight as we sometimes did. They plot and plan against each other, never trusting those outside their own tribe. We were once as they are now. Quick to blame and condemn. We have since learned to live with each other. We do not always agree on how to live with each other, but we make the best of it. Life will adapt as needed.”

  Bryn held open her hand. It contained a shell she had found on the sand at the sea’s edge back at Skerrabrae. It was not intact, but it was nonetheless beautiful. It carried more weight than expected. She held the shell up to show the council.

  “Look at this piece of shell. Something once lived in this shell, and while it did, the outside adapted to the hardships of existence. It rolled with the turbulent sea. It hardened itself against the elements, growing layer upon layer to protect the life inside.

  Our clanns have been adapting to life on our Alban for millennia. Alban too, has been adapting to changes. Our island was once densely forested. At a time when Elves walked the length and breadth of Alban, the forest was never-ending. Our forests are no longer dense. Our hills are no longer sharp crags of jagged rock. They have been rounded by the changes. And now they are more suited for grazing livestock. They have become the homes of our clanns of the North.

  We too have adapted to change, but the one change we should not allow ourselves to adapt to is the invasion of our island by thieves and murderers. We must not become accustomed to anyone taking our lands, our crops, or our lives.”

  Bryn turned to look east.

  “Right now, across the North sea, Heardred’s daughter has something more precious in the eyes of the tribes than our princess. She holds a gem of unmatched brilliance and fire than any other within reach of the Norsemen. Hansa has also awakened the Jewel legend among the tribes. A legend that became a myth when the truth was lost. Heardred may or may not believe the legend is real. But, the druids of Götaland will believe. Those druids—our distant cousins, Arryn—have the same books and know the same stories. They will believe the Jewel has been found and they will try to convince Heardred or his daughter Hansa, to return to Alban. They will come to take the Jewel in whatever form they believe it has taken.”

  Bryn stood up. She touched Thalynder on the shoulder and smiled down at her. “Thankfully, they no longer want a princess as a prize.”

  “They will come for you,” Lothan said.

  Leus leaned his elbows on his knees. “If they believe the Jewel to be somehow associated with a human. There is nothing yet that would lead them directly to Lady Athebryn.”

  “That is not altogether true,” Rythale said. “Lady Athebryn was seen riding on the back of Meriel. That may be enough to single her out.”

  “And her crown,” Lothan said. “If they see the crown, they will know the legend is truth.”

  Bryn reached up and touched her crown. “This?” She removed the circlet from her forehead, and the jewel disappeared. Kenna gasped. The others stared in amazement.

  “I was cloaked, and this was never seen.” Bryn tossed the crown to Arryn.

  Arryn caught the crown and studied it carefully. “It is cool,” he said. “I thought it was too hot to touch.”

  “It was,” Bryn said. “When I first received the crown, it had come from the dying dragons and was too hot for any other to touch.”

  “Where has the jewel gone?” Kenna asked.

  “It is here,” Bryn touched her forehead and closed her eyes. The clearing lit up as if the moon and sun together hovered overhead. The others watched as Bryn was bathed in the light. A jewel appeared at her forehead and took on a different shape, twinkling brightly, it held the brilliance within its many facets. Bryn opened her eyes.

  “I do not need a crown to lead.” Silver tendrils spread from the jewel and wove themselves through Bryn’s hair. She stood bathed in the silver light, and the jewel sparkled with the fire of a million stars.

  “How is this possible?” Malcolm asked.

  “When I accepted the Jewel back at the Stones of Staenis, it was necessary for everyone there to witness a transformation, including me. The crown was needed for you to believe what you saw. For the Elf-Sisters and the Elders to believe what they had long only guessed. My council—my friends, you no longer need to see to understand I am the Jewel. I do not need a crown to lead this council or the clanns who follow us.” Bryn took the crown from Arryn and tossed it up into the air. It splintered above them and rained down on the council. Little shards of light landed on each of the members. They fused themselves to where they landed.

  “All of you now wear a piece of the crown and are forever bound to this council,” Bryn said. The bright light faded from the clearing. The jewel at her forehead disappeared. “Look now at the shards.”

  Arryn looked at his wrist where the shard had touched him. It was gone. Malcolm had seen the shard land on his hand, but it too was gone. Each, in turn, looked and found nothing.

  “Where did they go?” Cinnia asked.

  “They are not gone,” Bryn said. “They remain hidden until needed.”

  “When did all of this happen?” Kenna asked.

  “When you were still in your mother’s hall. While Thalynder and Malcolm were discussing joining kingdoms, and Lady Albistan was speaking with Cinnia.” Bryn ran her hands over her tunic. “I traveled to a place unknown to humans or elves. There, I discovered the legend that had become myth was no longer a myth. The legend was now indeed the truth. I am the Jewel, and the Jewel resides in my heart. It will appear when needed.”

  “You no longer need to remain cloaked,” Arryn said. “You will appear as we do, common as any soldier.”

  Bryn smiled at Arryn. “Yes, though I would not call any of this council common. Look again at the shards.”

  This time the little shards shimmered and shined like pieces of the stars themselves. Arryn’s fused to his skin on the inside of his right wrist. Malcolm’s on his left arm at the top of his armguard, attaching itself to both his arm and armguard. Kenna’s landed on the top of her sword hand. Lothan’s shard landed on the inside of his bow hand. Rythale looked at where she thought the shard fell but did not see it.

  “I was certain it touched my shoulder. But I cannot see it.”

  “Here let me look,” Leus said. “Ah, it is here. It has landed in the center of your triskele, Here at your right shoulder. It has fused to your skin.”

  “And where is yours, Leus?” Cinnia asked.

  “Mine is here.” Leus displayed his left arm where the shard had landed above his wrist.

  “And yours?”

  “Here,” Cinnia held out her right hand. The shard glistened at the base of her thumb.

  “Where is yours, Thalynder?” Arryn asked.

  Thalynder had been very quiet. She was looking at her hands. She held them out for the others to see. “Here, on the top of my hands.”

  “You have two,” Arryn said. “Two shards landed on your hands?”

  “I was only touched by one.” Thalynder stared up at Bryn.

  Bryn smiled at Thalynder. “I gave you the other.” Bryn walked around the circle.

  “Each of you was touched where the dragons who made them wished them to fall. There will come a time when the placement will become understood.”

  “Like your crown,” Lothan said.

  “Yes, for now, the gems will not appear until needed. This is only one of the things I have learned of late. In time you will understand your own purpose in the wider plan.”

  “The wider plan,” Leus repeated.

  Bryn touched Leus on the shoulder. “It is time now to speak of the Norsemen. Our captains are gathering their armies a
nd will join us here soon. We can strategize and ponder possibilities. I know you met while I was away. Did you discuss the clanns and other kingdoms and the aid we may expect?”

  “We started to report on our separate areas, but decided to wait for you to give our full accounting,” Arryn said. “We also wanted our Erui representative present.”

  “Thank you, Arryn,” Cinnia said.

  “Then let us have the accounting now,” Bryn said. “We will see another raiding party before the return of spring.”

  Lothan kicked a rock toward the fire. “They will be bent on revenge as well,” he said. “ I will begin. We have killed the heirs to Heardred’s House. Queen Betony is already making plans to hide the clanns in the brochs and cairns. We have provision stores now with more to come. Queen Betony’s army will be here in a fortnight. The captain’s name is Palen. The army currently numbers three thousand.”

  “Queen Betony knows Heardred well,” Bryn said. “We will be advising all the coastal clanns to do the same. This will include the coasts of Erui, Cinnia. As well as the West coast of Alban.”

  Cinnia nodded.

  “My mother will not see the need for hiding and sequestering stores on the western coast,” Kenna said. “There is no evidence the Norsemen will venture anywhere other than our eastern shores. I can report there is an army headed here numbering two thousand five hundred. Our captain is Bendor, Baendar’s son.”

  “I had hoped for more from Lady Anestar,” Bryn said. She nodded at Kenna. “Bendor will be an important addition to the captain’s ranks. His father was brave and just. Your mother will soon come to see the error in her thinking.”

  Bryn walked about the company. “If you believed your enemy had a weapon of great power, would you sit idly by or would you attempt to find out as much information about the weapon as possible.”

  “I would send as many as I could spare, which, considering my tribespeople were across an ocean and out of harm's way, would be a great deal,” Malcolm said. “If I believed my enemy held a weapon capable of disarming my armies or even razing my tribes, I would spare no one to find this weapon.”

  “Indeed,” Bryn said. “Heardred will send longboats around Alban to the Western coast and beyond. He will take no chance the weapon was secreted away with some far distant clann. Perhaps, Lady Anestar believes this as well. It is good that some of her armies remain within her reach. They will be needed, Kenna. Have no doubt.” Bryn turned toward Rythale.

  “Rythale, will the Picts understand the need to unite Alban?”

  “They already do,” Rythale replied. “Our army will be here as will the others of the North in fourteen days. I do not know the count, but each clann of the North has sent all able to wield an axe, draw a bow, or sling a rock. Painted and passionate. We are united under the Jewel.”

  Bryn touched Rythale’s cheek. “A heart filled with passion must also know compassion. We welcome the Picts of the North Lands.”

  “As you know, Lady Athebryn, the Elves of the Umbriel Forest have rarely interfered with man and his troubles,” Leus started. “Yet, there were times when we lived side by side. Some of us even fell in love and married humans. Our children became half-elven. Like you, Lady Athebryn. Elf blood runs in your veins. You are the legend become truth. You are the Jewel of the legend. We never believed we would see this day, yet, here it is, here you are. My brother’s army marches as we speak. He brings five thousand archers and one thousand swords. My sister Neulta comes with her own force of fifteen hundred archers.”

  “We lived side by side once,” Bryn said. “I hope this will again be in our future. You have more in common with us than you realize, cousin. My heart rejoices at the prospect of seeing the elves at our side.”

  “So long as we do not get into little squabbles over meat,” Cinnia said. She smiled at Leus. “I jest, cousin. My aunt sends a message to your mother, my grandmother. Let the old ways guide us, one sister Albistan to another Adhar. I am the daughter of Rowan, daughter of Adhar.”

  Bryn turned quickly and stared at Cinnia. What she thought was only a breath of a whisper was a loud cry. “Your mother is Rowan?”

  “Yes, Lady Athebryn, my mother was once the High Druid of Erui. She died when I was born.”

  Bryn knew this was not the truth but realized it was something Cinnia had been told to believe.

  “Then you are a cousin to many here. Lady Albistan made a wise choice. Tell us, what of Lady Albistan’s army and those of the other clanns of Erui?”

  “Pledged are seven thousand,” Cinnia said. “An additional three thousand will join the pledged by the next full moon. All will arrive by the end of the month.”

  “The pledged?” Lothan asked.

  “Those in direct service to the Lady Albistan,” Cinnia replied. Arryn nodded and glanced over at Bryn. Bryn gave Arryn a short nod then turned to speak with Malcolm.

  “Has King Heli found this war is worth waging?” she asked.

  “He has. He and King Edmond of Mercia have agreed to send an army to you by month’s end,” Malcolm said. “My brother Lludd is named Captain of the combined armies. Lludd has agreed to wed King Edmond’s daughter by the way.” Malcolm gave Thalynder a small smile. “Mercia and Wessex will be able to watch the south-eastern coasts and the southern sea. They both understand the mind of the enemy and have already sent troops to watch the shores. Word will come if the Norsemen are spotted anywhere south of The Realm That Touches Two Seas.”

  “And my father has set a watch on both seas, Lady Athebryn,” Thalynder said. “The army is captained by Jend and will arrive at month’s end. King Thamen and King Heli with King Edmond will also captain troops and expect to meet with you when they arrive.”

  “We are honored to have them with us,” Bryn said.

  “Jend is a worthy captain,” Arryn said. “King Thamen has chosen an able soldier.”

  Thalynder smiled at Arryn. “She is. I believe she even bested you once in competition, Prince Arryn. Still, my father wishes he had never given you leave to join Lady Athebryn.”

  Bryn chuckled. “I was not a Lady at the time. I was a handmaiden to a princess. Sir Arryn was a knight of the King’s Guard, and you were looking for true love before you were to be married to a stranger.”

  “Ah,” Thalynder said. “And now, you are the Jewel and The Heart of Alban. Sir Arryn is a Prince of the Epidii, and I, a would-be Queen of The Realm That Touches Two Seas, is no longer looking for love having found it on the way to the Stones of Staenis.”

  Arryn laughed. “As we all have. The Jewel is the one true love of all of Alban. And I agree. Lady Athebryn is the Heart of Alban.”

  Thalynder nodded. “So true, Prince Arryn.”

  “Prince Arryn, I believe you have yet to report,” Malcolm said.

  “Then, I will do so. The Epidii gather and will have their army here by the end of the month, Lady Athebryn.”

  “You are hesitant,” Bryn said. “Is there a concern?”

  Arryn sighed. “I spoke long with elder Jorid. The army gathers, but the elders are unconcerned about the West coast. They believe as Lady Anestar of the Bridei does—that the western coasts are not in danger. They send a host of seven thousand consisting of the Epidii and other clanns of Dal Riata east to Bynack More. They leave no one to guard the West.”

  “That is a concern,” Bryn said. “Heardred will stop at nothing to avenge the deaths of his heirs. He will send boats to the west, unless…”

  “Unless what?” Thalynder asked.

  “Unless his daughter, Hansa, is named his heir.”

  “What makes you think this will happen?” Leus asked.

  “Her determination, for one,” Rythale said.

  “Yes, she is determined. She is also capable, somewhat even-tempered, and was able to discern the difference between a human hostage and one which would carry more weight with the elders.” Bryn paced a moment.

  “Taking Meriel was a boon for Hansa. Even though she was never going to have Meri
el to show the elders, the stories and first-hand accounts of Meriel’s existence may have been enough to secure Hansa’s position as Heardred’s heir. I believe Hansa is someone with whom we can reason.”

  “And if none of them care to listen or seek peace with us?” Cinnia asked.

  “We will give them something else to listen to,” Malcolm said. “The death cries of their fallen.”

  “I still believe we should engage the dragons if war is truly ours,” Leus said.

  Bryn observed the faces of her council for signs of agreement. Malcolm nodded, though his nod was small and hesitant. Lothan and Rythale nodded with more certainty, but Bryn understood their minds about the Norsemen. They had the most experience with the Norsemen and their relentless appetite for death and destruction. Thalynder sat silent, as did Kenna, while Cinnia frowned and Arryn shook his head.

  “If we expose the dragons to the enemy, here on Alban, we risk having all the other lands across the sea come to challenge us,” Arryn said. “The dragons would be an oddity worth trying to obtain for their own use, good or ill. I cannot lend my consent to this action.”

  “Then we should take the dragons to Götaland,” Leus said.

  Bryn walked over to Leus. She held his gaze and took his hand in hers.

  “Dearest cousin, would we not then become like the enemy? Would we start with those with swords and axes only to move to those with skinning knives, grain scythes, and grinding clubs? What next, the baskets that hold bread or perhaps a child’s toy? We would take the fight to them, and we would come back to find we have become an island of despair. Isolated and despised. Safe on our island, and enemy to all. For who, in the other lands across the seas, would care to treat with us? We have dragons to be feared.” Bryn touched Leus’ cheek. “No, we will not take the fight to them. We will fight to protect our people and our land. But we will do it on our land where the rest of the world can see we only mean to protect our own. Then others may join us in our fight against the Norsemen or any other people bent on destroying the innocent and the meek. This war is just beginning, and we will not end it by going to the home of the enemy and taking their home from them.”