by G L Roberts
King Heardred’s boat made the turn north and was followed by two more vessels. Six other longboats had already broken off from Heardred’s fleet and were sailing south toward the lower realms and kingdoms of Alban.
“They move now, my king,” the helmsman said.
King Heardred looked south toward the other boats. “One by one, they will take to the southern shores. One by one they will enter the druid infested villages. One by one, until we have all of Alban,” he said. “They will learn a king’s wrath has no boundaries. They will learn that a few rams among sheep, does not make an army.”
“We approach the narrows, my king.”
King Heardred peered out at the horizon. “Drop the sail, from here on we row. Post a man at the bow. The tide lowers the water in many places. When the sun rises again, it will be red with blood.”
❦
“Why would they break off from the fleet?” Leus asked.
Meydra had brought word to Bryn that the boats were nearing the horizon. Several had broken off from the main body sometime during the night. They were now headed north and south while the main fleet continued west toward the mouth of the Inbhir Nis.
“They mean to invade from several points this time,” Malcolm said. “It is what Lady Athebryn predicted they would do. Now, do we wait until they land or do we strike first?”
“Our armies have taken up positions at every landing possible around the island,” Arryn said. “We will meet each boat with force.”
Rythale examined her bow. She ran her fingers over the string. “Do we stay here to meet Heardred?”
Bryn walked around the council members. She rested her hand on Rythale’s arm. “Heardred is not with those who approach Inbhir Nis. He takes his boat farther north and will land at the narrows near Stoer. Another is leading the armada which approaches us here in the East.”
“We have sent our armies to points all over Alban and the West coast of Erui,” Kenna said. “Yet we keep no army here on the East coast. You expected this. Do you know something we do not?”
Bryn smiled at Kenna. “You are beginning to understand my mind, cousin. Yes, I expected this. I have listened to our meetings with the captains, and I have come to one conclusion. The Norsemen are predictable. They return to the same places year after year. Taking the same stores, abducting from the same clanns. I have also learned one thing of value from the last encounter with the Norse. They have druids in Götaland.”
“Does this help us?” Cinnia asked.
Bryn walked over to Cinnia. “The Norse have seen a dragon. They have seen the jewels on the dragon’s neck. They only know about the dragons and the legend of the Jewel from the records the druids keep. They may have great disdain for the druids, but they do understand the keeping of records. The Norse have their own record keepers, tellers of stories. Historical scrolls. Runes on rocks and standing stones. They believe.”
“And they believe the Jewel is an object,” Rythale said. “Queen Betony has long told us of the jewel. We too believed it was an object to be found and used as a weapon. If the Norse believes this as well, we have the advantage.”
“Then we have the advantage because they do believe this,” Thalynder said. “It was what they were seeking when they wished to take a hostage. When Meriel appeared, their king was hesitant. His daughter was not.”
“It is his daughter who we will see land here in the East,” Bryn said. “She will be the one we will meet. The others will be met by our armies, and they will be sent back to the sea, or they will be casualties of war. Hansa, daughter of Heardred, will be the voice of the Vík Ingr we wish to hear.”
Leus looked over at Bryn. “The council remains here?”
“No,” Bryn said. “We take to the backs of the dragons. Queen Betony has her people hidden away. Our army here will be enough for Hansa’s boats. The council must see what the Norsemen are doing first hand so we can prepare the troops for what may come. We will have the knowledge we need to treat with Hansa.”
“The backs of the dragons, high above the boats?” Cinnia asked.
“Do not fear cousin,” Arryn said. “Your dragon will not drop you.”
Cinnia grinned. “I am not afraid, cousin,” she said. “I am thrilled to be on the dragon’s back.”
Bryn smiled at Cinnia. “Then let us leave now. We will fly while the moon hides. We will be as a shadow in the night sky. As birds that fly overhead in search of a roost. When we have seen what our enemy is up to, we will return here. Then, my friends, we will take our findings to the captains.”
Meydra and the eight other dragons waited in the field for the council. Bryn and Thalynder led the others, holding hands as they walked.
“You have already decided what we will do next,” Thalynder said.
“I have an idea.” Bryn raised Thalynder’s hand to her lips and kissed her fingers. “Reading my thoughts?”
“I do not have to. You are a leader. Though, to say it, you wear leadership like a shroud. You should wear it like a crown.”
“It feels more like a shroud when I think of the lives following me. What if I am wrong, my Lynder. What if I do not understand the nature of the enemy?”
“Oh, but you do understand them. That is what puzzles some. How is it a handmaiden of a future queen can know the mind of marauders and murderers while the future queen stumbles with indecision?”
Bryn stopped and let go of Thalynder’s hand. “I heard Helstun’s words back when we first met the Norsemen at the little clearing at Loch Nis. I heard Hygid and Heoroth as they faced death, and still, they threatened. I heard Heardred when he would have rather taken you hostage and not Meriel. I do know the minds of these marauders and murderers. I know their words.”
“And Hansa?”
“Hansa revered the dragon. She has some idea of the legend. Not full knowledge of it as a druid would, but a curiosity—a question. Hansa will return to Götaland to tell the story of Alban; however, the story turns out.” Bryn took Thalynder’s hand in hers. She kissed Thalynder’s palm. “Come, we take to the dragons.”
The dragon’s bowed their heads as the council approached. As each member climbed onto the backs of their dragons, Bryn remained on the ground. She walked to each dragon, one by one, and touched foreheads with them.
“We need swift wings,” she said. “We also need stealth. Fly high and keep this council secret.” Bryn looked up at the women and men before her. “We need the number of those who come to battle. We need to know the number of boats. This will be a long night, and we will travel fast and far. When we return, we will have the means to stop the invasion before it begins. Hold tight to your dragons, my council of dragon companions, we will not return until dawn.”
Take us to the enemy, Bryn called to the dragons with her heart. She climbed onto Meydra’s back and glanced at the others. Bryn drew her sword and held it above her head. “Now, race the wind!”
Above the nine dragons and their riders, a single star came out as the sun started to set, twinkling brightly. Only one rider noticed the bright star.
For the Heart of Alban and all she loves, Ua said to Bryn.
❦
King Heardred stood on the bow watching the narrow north passage between the main island and the now uninhabited smaller islands of Alban’s far north. The druids had long since abandoned the smaller islands because of the many invasions by his people. Raiding these outer islands was the first in a long line of aggressive behavior by his ancestors. They drove the druid sheep to Alban’s mainland. His ancestors had not foreseen the resilience of the druids, or their resourcefulness, and the druids left the outer islands in one massive migration. They took up with the other clanns and kingdoms for the protection the larger communities provided. It had been nearly twenty years since the last druid clann, Clann Brae, had left Skerrabrae and found refuge in the realm of an Alban King.
“They are cunning,” King Heardred said aloud.
“Sire?”
“The druids,”
King Heardred replied. “Cunning as badgers. We cannot afford to turn our backs on them.” He looked out toward the open sea toward the horizon. “We will pass the point by midnight.” He pointed to a small rise on the horizon. “The coast drops off to the southwest, and that is where we will find our prey.”
Conri pointed at a star. “That is the Unmoving Star.”
“And it is called such because it is never out of place?” Hansa asked.
“Yes, at least in our night sky it is. It might be different if we were to travel to the southern lands.”
“I am not aware of too many other lands. Perhaps, someday, you will tell me about those lands.”
“I will give you books.”
Hansa looked down. “You will need to teach me how to read them first.”
“Then, I will do so. Now, watch the arrow.” Conri took the metal arrow out of the box and let it drop. He held onto the sinew as the iron moved back and forth. When it stopped, the tip was pointing in the direction of the Unmoving Star. “See, it follows the star. This morning it was pointing to the bow because we were traveling north toward the star. The correction I made just as the sun was setting, now has us traveling west for the mouth of the river.”
“Good,” Hansa said. “Keep your wits sharp, Conri. I hope your druid knowledge serves us well.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bryn led the dragon companions first to the North sea. Below them, they saw several boats approaching the eastern coast. As they watched from high above, they saw another group of longboats on the horizon. Bryn moved the dragons closer to the second group.
“That boat in the lead. It rides heavy in the water.”
“It has many carvings on the sides as well,” Meydra said.
“It is the boat of the king.”
As Bryn and the others watched the second group of boats, the lead boat signaled to the others beside it. The fleet broke formation and moved north and south. The lead boat turned north with one other following close beside it.
“Drop a little lower,” she said.
Meydra dropped lower where Bryn could better see the boats. The four longboats, including the one Bryn believed carried the king, also held more ships company than the other vessels.
“Fully loaded,” Bryn mused. “And no moon tonight. These Norsemen chose the right time to return.”
“Raiding parties.”
“That is also my guess. Time for us to set our plan in motion. Take us to Skerrabrae.”
Meydra turned northwest, and the other dragons followed. Not long after turning, Meydra dropped lower still, and Skerrabrae came into view. Bryn raised her sword again, and the dragons all dropped down to the hill behind the village.
The council quickly came off the backs of their dragons. They gathered close together, and as they stood together, they were encircled by their dragons.
“Three boats come to the eastern shore while others split,” Malcolm said. “They are planning to invade the southern and northern shores.”
“And they have chosen a night with no moon,” Leus said. “They will remain under cover of darkness for several nights.”
“Did you notice the boats moving away from the front armada appear to be lower in the water?” Rythale asked.
“Yes,” Bryn replied. “I counted eighty souls onboard each boat as they turned away from the eastern shore. I suspect they are more heavily armed.”
“The lead boat that turned north appeared to be the king’s boat,” Arryn said. “Heardred returns but does not go with his front armada.”
“No, he does not,” Bryn said. “I believe he has followed his daughter, but without her knowledge.”
“He does not trust his daughter,” Thalynder said. “That was evident when we first met them.”
“Then what is happening?” Lothan asked.
Bryn turned to Lothan. “King Heardred has sent his daughter to treat with us while he attacks from the other points, north, south, and west. And I do not believe Hansa knows her father comes to raid.”
“Then we have the advantage,” Cinnia said. “We have sent armies to all other points. Your keen sense of the enemy’s thoughts serves us well, Lady Athebryn.”
“I agree,” Arryn said. “It is time we split up and meet the captains. They will need this information.”
Bryn touched Thalynder’s arm. “Indeed, Arryn you and Thalynder will ride east and meet back up with our captain there. Hansa and her armada are headed to Inbhir Nis. There, our largest army in the East waits. I also wish Hansa to see Thalynder. Princess, if Hansa has come to treat with us and not fight, you will be the best suited to listen to her words.”
Thalynder patted Bryn’s hand. “Agreed,” she said. “Diplomacy, after all, is what I have been raised to embrace.” She smiled at Bryn. “Whereas you were more keen to study the art of war.”
Bryn laughed. “At the hands of Prince Arryn, how could I be schooled in anything else?”
Arryn smiled. “And you now wield that sword like no other in the realm.”
“Our plan has Princess Rythale and I heading north to the Picts. Queen Betony is also in the North. We will tell her as well about the division of boats,” Leus said. “If they only send one boat to each location, we will have the advantage.”
Bryn frowned. That was what she was most concerned about. “True, but remember, we are not the enemy, they are. We are not taking the fight to them, they bring it to us. We aim to first disarm and negotiate. Death should not be foremost in our minds.”
“Yes, Lady Athebryn,” Leus said. “I will be patient.”
“Cinnia, you and Malcolm fly south as planned.”
“There are now two boats heading south,” Malcolm said. “Once we meet up with King Heli, we will send word to King Edmond.”
“Lothan and I will fly to Dal Riata,” Kenna said. “Jorid may not believe the Norse will come to them.”
Bryn walked over to Kenna. “And your mother is likely to side with them. That is why I send you to the west. Baendar’s son Bendor will believe you. So will Jend of King Thamen’s army. They have seen the vík ingr first hand.”
Kenna touched her fist to her chest and nodded. “You go to Heardred.”
Arryn glanced at Bryn. “Alone?”
Thalynder grabbed Bryn’s arm. “You must not.”
“I will fly alone, but I will meet up with King Thamen and his army.”
“King Thamen leads his army to the village of Hinder Ross,” Malcolm said. “Will you meet them before they reach the West coast now with this new information?”
“If I were Heardred and I knew my daughter was going to Loch Nis via the Inbhir Nis, I would want to come in from the other side. I would want to find the most direct route to her location. That would be the mouth of Inbhir Ross. Inbhir Ross would take me and my boats inland to Loch Ross. There, horses will be needed. The village of Hinder Ross has horse stables. Heardred will aim to steal those horses, killing all who try to stop him. But we will be waiting for him long before then. I will meet Thamen’s army at Scurr Mor before they reach Inbhir Ross ahead of Heardred.”
“My father will be glad to have you at his side,” Thalynder said. “But do you have to go alone?”
“I will have Meydra.”
“And what of our dragons?” Cinnia asked.
Bryn looked at the dragons. She searched her heart and found the dragons waiting for her answer as well. Is this the right time? She wondered.
Yes, Ua said.
“Knowledge of a thing gives it credibility,” Bryn said to the council. “The armies know of the dragons. The enemy only knows of our little one, Meriel. For them, she is dead, and there are no others.” Bryn sighed. “It is time we allow the dragons to be seen. When you face the enemy for the first time, you, my council members, will descend from above on the back of your dragon. Your dragon will remain at your back as you walk toward the enemy. The dragons will not fight, and they will cause no harm. They will be a show of what may be only. Is this unders
tood by all here?”
“Yes,” the council replied together.
Do you understand me? Bryn asked the dragons.
Yes, came the answer of many voices.
Thalynder stood by An-Yun and waited for Bryn. Bryn was giving last-minute instructions to the other council members. One by one, they mounted their dragons and took off for the army that awaited them. Arryn stood with FireSong and waited. Like Thalynder, he waited for Bryn to come to them.
Bryn watched as IronHeart lifted with Malcolm. She turned to see Arryn and Thalynder waiting for her. She smiled at them. “My dearest friends.”
“As at the beginning when we three set off on a quest for Thalynder’s true love,” Arryn said. “This time, the danger is greater.”
“It is.”
“This makes the parting all the more painful,” Thalynder said. She reached out and took Bryn’s hand.
Bryn looked down at Thalynder’s hand. It was soft and delicate. The hands of a Princess should be so, she thought. “You are my diplomat, Thalynder. You can smooth the brow of any enemy.”
Thalynder smiled. “Ah, if you listened more closely to the words you speak, you would find you are the better diplomat, Lady Athebryn. I have the regal air of one raised to rule. You, on the other hand, have the natural talent of leadership. There is a difference.”
“Very true,” Arryn said. “But do not sell your self short, Princess. You too have the natural skills of a leader. You will rule with an even hand.”
“Thank you, Arryn,” Thalynder said. “Now, if you will excuse us, I wish to say goodbye to my beloved without an audience.”
Arryn laughed. “As you wish. I will take to FireSong and await you at the top of the hill.” Arryn walked over to FireSong and waited for his dragon to lower his head.
Bryn winked at Thalynder. “I will be right back.”
Bryn followed Arryn over to FireSong. “Keep her safe,” she said to Arryn. “The Realm That Touches Two Seas would be lost without her.”