Saxon Dawn (Wolf Brethren) (17 page)

“Forty paces to the water my lord.”

“Can you see the boats?”

“No my lord.”

“Fear not, Lord Riderch will not desert us.  When we are within twenty paces then tell me.”

The
Saxons suddenly launched themselves in a furious attack but there were too many of them to be effective.  Some slipped in the mud and the gore, while others hit their comrades’ weapons.  We had the advantage that we could just stab forwards and whatever we struck was an enemy.

“Twenty paces!”

“When I shout go, push forwards with your shields and then we run for the boats.”

There was a chorus of, “Yes my lord.”

“Go!”

We all pushed and, as they pushed back we were gone and they fell
to the ground.  I paused, took the axe from my shield and threw it in the direction of the band that chased us.
Wyrd
was with me as I struck one of those pursuing us and then I ran. I hoped that my judgement of Riderch was sound; otherwise I would have a cold and watery end. The icy waters were around my thighs when I felt the wood of the boat nudge gently into me. Riderch’s smiling face was above me as he and two others hauled me aboard.  “So my lord you cannot fight just one man at a time you have to take on a whole warband.”

“Except that this time, my lord I was not alone, I had warriors with me.”

My standing rose considerably when we returned. The three warriors who had stood by me were now lauded as great warriors and Riderch was seen as a war lord.  Half of the Saxon boats had been wrecked and burned.  A couple had been salvaged and there were a few on the other beach but their raids would be hampered. The bad news was that we could now estimate their numbers and it was likely that there were six or seven hundred on the island. The king could now see the advantage of an alliance.
Riderch was confident enough to take another band seeking Saxons.  The parlous state of the Saxon stronghold meant that they risked the stormy seas and the ambushes to try to gather supplies. The sea took two boats and Riderch destroyed two warbands who tried to gather supplies.

By the end of the month the king summoned me to his quarte
rs.  “You have fulfilled your part of the bargain, Lord Lann.  Can I not entreat you to join me and my army?  My men hold you in the highest regard. Together we could create a kingdom to rival that of Rome.”

I worried about his ambition.  It was all well and good to talk of defeating the Saxons on the borders of the kingdoms but it
would take many years to build an army big enough to drive them home. “As I said your majesty, when I am released from my oath by King Urien then I would deem it an honour to serve you but until then I must, perforce, rejoin my king and my brothers.”

He reluctantly nodded, “But I have King Urien’s promise that you and your brothers will come to train my archers.  Your skill has impressed my men.”

“Yes your majesty, and Riderch now knows how to make stronger shields.  You have made a wise choice in him; he is a good leader.”

The king was silent on the matter.  I think he regretted his
impulsive decision.  Riderch had seemed like a keen and naive young warrior who could be dominated by the king but I had seen he had a mind of his own and, I had heard, the queen was now with child so perhaps he rued his rash promise.

I left the next day.  I was touched by the turn
out of warriors who wished to say goodbye. I was pleased that I had made friends.  When the army of Rheged came east there would be one band of warriors on whom I could rely; the band of Riderch.

Blackie enjoyed the freedom of the road as we rode west.  I regretted the lack of warm, dry beds. But I enjoyed the lack of responsibility.  It also gave me the opportunity to examine the land we would pass through in the spring. I headed across the high ground for it was drier and there were forests which provided
shelter.  It was also further away from the Dunum; who knew if the Saxons had crossed it? I came across the old Roman road which still headed north.  In places there were tufts of grass and weeds showing the lack of traffic but, almost five hundred years after it was built, it still stood testament to the skill of the soldier builders. I saw another of the Roman forts. The soldiers of Rome had done their best to destroy the defences but they had built well and the stone bases still stood. If King Morcant Bulc had a mind he could easily fortify this one and it would be a defence against the Saxons, here on the western edge of his lands.

I completed the journey in two days.  I was a more con
fident rider and I no longer feared falling off at anything more than a walk. Of course I would not dream of fighting on horseback but I could allow Blackie to trot quite quickly and, occasionally, when I felt reckless, allow him to gallop. Brother Osric had told me that the Roman soldiers fed their horses grain.  I marvelled at the luxury that had been Rome; they had so much food that they could give their horses grain.  We had barely enough for the people let alone our horses but I did spoil Blackie and knew that if I came across some grain then he would have it.

When I reached the fort I felt relieved. The sentries greeted me warmly although I could see that the garrison was no
t at home.  The training ground, the area the Romans had called the gyrus, was empty. I stabled Blackie and told the stable boy to take special care of him.  I had taken a bracelet from the dead chief and I gave it to the stable master. It was a blatant bribe but Blackie was valuable to me and I would have him cared for. After I had deposited my arms and gear in the barracks I took the helmet and the torc with me to the blacksmith’s.

Aed was a squat man, as broad as he was tall but he was a wonder with metals.
“That is as fine a helmet as I have ever seen.  Where did you get it?”

“A Saxon chief.”

“Do you wish me to make more of them?  It would take much metal and time.”

“No, Aed, I have worn it and the eye pieces are too small. I would have them made bigger to enable me to see better and I have this.” I gave him the torc.

“It is not gold.”

I laughed, “I know but it is the colour of gold.  I would have this melted down and used to reinforce the eye pieces, the crown and the nasal.”

He nodded appreciatively.  “That will indeed make it stronger and make it look magnificent.”

“How much?”
I knew he would do it for nothing but my father had taught me that a good workman was worthy of the hire.

“The metal from the torc that I do not need to use?”

I clasped his huge forearm. “Thank you Aed.”

My next visit was to Brother Osric. It would save me many questions later on.  He looked up in surprise when I entered.  “We did not expect you for another week at least.”

“My job was done.”

He leaned back and gestured towards the wooden seat across from his desk. “Tell me all.” He took his quill. “I am keeping a record for future generations.” I detailed all that I had done, omitting my opinions of both the Bryneicians and their king but I did give him a detailed description of the castle. When I had finished he took a jug from beneath his desk and two beakers.  “Try this.  A ship was wrecked in the estuary and some jugs were washed ashore.  I have not tasted the like for many years.”

I sipped the red liquid, which looked like blood. “What is it?”

“It is wine.  It used to be drunk all across the Empire but
, now, sadly, it is reserved for kings and high churchmen.  What do you think?”

“It is not as refreshing as beer but the taste is warming.”

Brother Osric nodded enthusiastically.  “Yes it is a winter drink, especially on a cold day like this. Now your report was interesting but there were many things you left unsaid.” His eyes felt as though they were boring into your mind, “Things to do with the king.”

I started
.  Was he a witch?  Could he read my mind? “I wanted to give you what actually happened at Din Guardi, Brother Osric, and not my opinion.”

“Your opinion is valuable to me.  Some men’s opinion I disregard but you are an honest warrior and, more importantly, you are intelligent.  That is a rare combination.  You may tell me all and I will assess the importance
of your words and your opinion.”

I told him everything, including his attempt to subvert me to his side.
“Interesting.  Were you not tempted?  From what you say you would have been rewarded with titles as well as treasure.”

“I gave my word to the king and,” I felt uncomfortable saying this, “I like King Urien and believe he is an honourable man.  For me he is the only chance this land has of freedom from Saxon rule.  King Morcant
wants, I think, power for him alone and thinks nothing of his people. He was not concerned with the raids on his farmers for he was safe in his stronghold.  I do not think Urien would hide away if his people were suffering.”

“You may be right, although kings sometimes have to act in ways which make the people suffer, for the good of the land.” He looked at me shrewdly, like a thrush assessing how to get into a snail shell.

“You mean like leaving my home to be attacked because it was too far away to be helped?”

“I knew you were clever.  I mean exactly that.”

I nodded. “He could have done little save garrisoning our hill fort and my father and the others would have resented that. I think my home was destroyed because we did nothing to help ourselves.  That will not happen to me.”

“Well I have enjoyed our little talk. The king took the army out on a march to prepare them for the coming campaign.  They will return tonight.” He looked out of the window.
“Probably within the next hour.”

I had no idea how he estimated time.  I knew that the priests used candles and hourglasses to measure time but I did not understand it. He was like a magician who had knowledge hidden from us.

My brothers and Ywain were pleased to see me.  Even as their men were making their weary way back to the barracks they asked question after question.  I felt as though I was being attacked by arrows not words. Later, when my brothers and I took a walk by the river I told them all that I had told Brother Osric.  They both insisted upon seeing the wound in my back. “I was grateful for the extra protection of the wolf skin and I am glad that we have a spare. Make sure you both wear it over your mail for it will help to protect you. And how are the slingers and the archers coming along?”

“Much better.
  We have more recruits now and with sixty archers and thirty slingers; we are now a force to be reckoned with.”

“I do not understand why the bow is not used more.  Perhaps warriors just want the easy route of the sword.”

“Is it easy brother?” Aelle rarely used his sword.

“I find it so
. It just seems to come naturally.”

“Could I learn?” Although he was older than Raibeart something had happened when he was young to take all the confidence from him. Monca had never told us about just what the father of Aelle had done to them both but whatever it was, it had damaged Aelle.
Perhaps she had confided in my parents; we would never know.”

“Of course and we will teach you.”

The king sent for me the next day and I met him in Brother Osric’s office.  As there were just two seats I stood.  It was obvious to me that he had been briefed by Brother Osric but what he had told him I did not know. “Did you see many Saxons, Lann?”

“Yes, but only on the island.  The problem the king has is that come the spring and more clement weather they can raid all up
and down the coast and the king…” I hesitated, unsure if I ought to carry on.

“Go on.  I must have honesty from my men.”

I bridled a little; I had always been honest with him. “The king seems happy to stay in his stronghold which overlooks his enemies.  He can stop raids which are close to the castle but they ran raid as far south as the Dunum. Once they learn that they can sail up that river then our lands will be in danger.”

“Thank you.  That is a worrying thought. Now, and tell me true, can we beat them?”

I smiled, “Easily.  They have neither archers nor horsemen and even on their island they are vulnerable.  We raided and destroyed half of their ships with but thirty men.  With an army we could defeat them completely.”

“Who is the
ir leader?”

“He is a
king called Ida. The king told me that one of the Kings of the Saxons was called Ida but I am not sure if it is the same man.”

“
I am pleased that you are back; the men have missed their wolf warrior with the Saxon Slayer.” He held up maps which I knew Brother Osric had been making for him.  “We have begun to march the men to prepare them for a long campaign.  Brother Osric told me the Romans used it as a way to toughen their men up.  We will take them out again tomorrow and march to the coast and back. You say that you managed to travel across from King Morcant’s land in two days?”

“Riding a horse, yes.”

“Then we should be able to do it in three.  I will send north for King Rhydderch and his army. They are stout warriors but they had neither horse nor archers.  I suspect you and your archers will be in action more than the rest of the army.”