The Dragon's Banner (15 page)

Urien rose and walked to the table. Taking
the flagon, he poured more wine into his cup, filling another as
well and handing it to Caelin. "Drink, for this will warm you and
take away the chill."

Caelin drank deeply of the hot, flavorful
wine, and he savored the feeling of warmth as he swallowed. He had
indeed been famished, and the meal and the wine brought strength
back to his aching limbs. He hadn't realized how weak he had become
until the meal restored part of his constitution. "My thanks to
your majesty. You are too kind."

"Caelin, you have merited my kindness on more
occasions than I can easily recount, yet there is one other task I
would have you undertake, if you will accept it."

"Sire, I shall gladly accept any task you
give me, and I shall succeed or die in the attempt."

Urien smiled. "Such I knew would be your
response, yet I would have you know what I intend before you agree.
Into this keep you came, wounded and frozen and half-dead, true to
your oath to bring me Lord Arailt's final words. I would now have
you undertake such a quest again, for I must know why we have heard
naught from King Constantine and the other monarchs. I tell thee
truly, Caelin, I believed that Constantine would long ago have
ridden to our aid, yet we have received not so much as a message
from the south. The King of Powys is an honorable man, and in his
word I trust. I must know what has happened."

Urien took a drink of wine and walked over to
the hearth, warming his hands at the fire as he continued. "I would
send you south, to make your way through the enemy's forces and
journey to Caer Guricon. Deliver my message to King Constantine and
beseech his assistance, for we cannot hold much longer on our
own."

Caelin rose from his seat and stood rigidly
before the king. "I am at your command, sire. I know not how to
slip past so numerous a foe, but if my body and soul may achieve
it, then it shall be done. I shall reach Caer Guricon, and then I
shall return...with or without the army of King Constantine."

"Nay, Caelin. If you find no help then do not
return, for if we have no relief we shall fall, and I would not
have you return from so perilous a journey only to perish in a lost
cause."

Caelin opened his mouth to protest, but Urien
raised his hand imperiously. "We shall not argue, for would you
obey your king or question his commands?" Urien could see that
Caelin was troubled by his final order, yet the young warrior said
nothing and just stood silently before the king. "Go now, and rest,
for tomorrow you shall leave as soon as it is dark."

Caelin bowed and left the king's chambers as
ordered, walking slowly to the common room where he was billeted.
He lay on the pile of straw he had called a bed these past ten
months, but sleep wouldn't come despite his exhaustion. I will be
forever shamed, he thought to himself, to live in the free south if
my king be fated to die in the ruins of his capital. For several
hours he rolled about fitfully, until at last fatigue won out, and
he fell into a restless sleep.

The next night, with a pack full of
provisions, a heavy fur cloak, and a small bag of gold, he crawled
silently through a secret door in the south wall. The moon was but
a tiny white sliver, and the night was nearly black as pitch.
Slowly, carefully he made his way past the camps of the enemy and
then, climbing over a steep hillside, he found the old Roman road
and headed south.

For five days they rode north and west, and
finally, as they cleared a steep hillside, they saw Caerleon in the
distance. The stronghold of Leodegrance's family for four
generations, Caerleon was a massive fortress, which of old had
housed an entire Roman legion for three centuries. Now it was the
seat of Cameliard, and one of the greatest strongholds in
Britannia.

No more Saxons had they encountered, but they
surprised a small group of Britons bearing the black and red
banner, and they put them all to the sword. All save one, the
leader, whom Uther questioned, learning much of who they were and
from where they came. The prisoner did not survive the
questioning.

Warriors of Vortigern's army they were, and
allied with the Saxons. Their lords had charged them with laying
waste the country and instilling fear in the villagers to break
their will. Five kings had sworn to Vortigern, and to their levies
he had added every turncoat and sword for sale he could find. From
the furthermost north to the southern coasts his forces were in the
field, and all of the free kings were hard pressed.

As they reached to the gates of Caerleon they
were challenged, and Leodegrance rode forward, calling to the
captain of the guard by name. "Folant, have I been gone so long
that your forget me, whom you trained to fight?"

The captain was a fearsome giant clad in
black mail, his wiry hair and beard half black and half gray. At
the sound of Leodegrance's voice he ran forward from the portcullis
and fell to his knees. "Sire, you have returned." He turned his
head and shouted back to the gate-guards, his voice choked with
emotion. "The king has returned. All hail King Leodegrance."

Leodegrance was taken aback, and he quickly
dismounted, walking over to Folant and bidding him rise. "Of what
do you speak, Folant, for my father is king in Cameliard."

The captain rose and stood before
Leodegrance, and tears streamed from his eyes. "Alas, my king, for
your father is dead. Slain in battle on the eastern marches two
moons past. You are now king of Cameliard."

Leodegrance stood silently, for he was
overcome with emotion. Grief for the loss of his father, shock at
the realization that he was now king, uncertainty as to what next
to do. It was Uther who spoke next, for he had dismounted and run
to his friend's side. "Make way, men of Cameliard, for long has
your king journeyed, and he is fatigued. You have awaited him, and
he has returned, and he shall lead you, yet first the son must
mourn the father." He walked with his silent friend through the
gates, waving aside the guards who barred the way.

The captain accompanied them into the
fortress, ordering the gate guards to return to their posts. Word
spread quickly, for the warriors of Cameliard had been leaderless
and despairing, and the return of their young prince, now king,
rallied their spirits. Along their path the soldiers and craftsmen
and servants of Caerleon gathered and, bowing low, they paid homage
to their new king.

Finally the party entered the great hall, and
the thick wood double doors were shut, leaving Leodegrance, Uther,
Caradoc, and Folant alone. Leodegrance sat in one of the heavy oak
chairs, not the king's seat, and looked up at his guard captain.
"Tell me now, Folant, all that has happened." He motioned for the
giant to sit.

The great warrior stood nervously, but sat
when Leodegrance motioned to him once again. "Well, sire," -
Leodegrance cringed when Folant called him "sire" again - "there
were raids along the eastern marches. Saxons, and other warriors
too, attacking villages, killing, burning, carrying off women. It
started just before the harvest. Your father, God rest his soul,
would have none of it, and he took half the guard from Caerleon and
rode east. He was a wise man and a good king, your father, and he
knew there would be more trouble, so he called up the levy before
he left, ordering them to assemble at Caerleon.

"Behind he left me, to hold Caerleon and
organize the levy, so what I know of the fighting in the east is
from the men who returned. He ranged all along the eastern frontier
and drove off the raiders, slaying many. Then he learned from a
captured Saxon, that the women who had been taken were being held
in a camp just east of the border. You know what sort of man was
your father, sire. If there were subjects of his in danger he would
be there in an instant. So off they rode to free the prisoners.

"But it was a trap, for when they reached the
camp they found the women, but all had been slain after much
torment. Doubtless, your father realized it was a trap, but it was
too late, for they were beset by enemies from all sides. Long did
they fight, and finally they cut through the enemy, yet in this
last fighting the king was surrounded by enemies and overwhelmed.
The last of the guard turned and fought, reclaiming his body before
they left the field. One man in ten returned, but they brought the
body of the king, and now he rests in the tomb of his fathers."

The room was silent for a moment. Leodegrance
was briefly lost in memories, but he forced himself back to the
present. "No Saxon chieftan lured my father to his death. The hand
of Vortigern is clear in this matter. Our business now is
vengeance. You said my father called the levy - where are they? I
saw none but the normal guards when we arrived."

Folant looked nervously at Leodegrance.
"Sire, with your father slain and you gone for so long, no one
knowing where, the lords were confused and without a leader.
Finally, they dispersed and returned home to protect their lands
the best they could. I took to myself the power of regency and
commanded that each leave a tithe of their men here to replace
those lost with your father. I sent a messenger to Caer Guricon,
for King Constantine had been at war in the north, and had bidden
your father to guard the south. I begged instruction from him, but
as yet we have heard naught. I pray that you approve of my actions,
sire, for I meant not to overstep my place but only to preserve
Caerleon for you until your return."

"Approve?" Leodegrance placed his hand on the
captain's broad shoulder. "Folant, you have acted wisely and
loyally. Indeed, you have held Caerleon, for if you had allowed its
defenses to weaken we may have arrived to find the fortress taken
and its gates barred to us. For surely, Vortigern has spies, even
in Caerleon."

Leodegrance thought for a moment about his
next actions, for he was new to kingship and, truth be told, he did
not know what to do. His heart cried out for vengeance, yet
marching foolishly east only invited disaster. No doubt Vortigern
expected such an action from the young king and had already
prepared another trap. Yet he must display boldness, for he could
not appear weak and indecisive before his lords, lest they lose
confidence in him. Indeed, their morale was already shattered by
the defeat and death of the old king.

Uther sat silently as well, for this was
Leodegrance's kingdom, and it was for him to decide on his next
course. Uther would help his friend any way he could, but also now
his thoughts drifted to Caer Guricon. Folant had said that
Constantine had been in the field, yet there had been no word for
some weeks. Though he had only obeyed his father's wishes, Uther
was now regretful that he had been gone, for it seemed that events
had progressed faster than had been expected. He wanted to stay at
Caerleon to aid his friend, but he knew now that he had to return
to Caer Guricon as quickly as his horse could carry him. He would
leave on the morrow.

Finally, Leodegrance broke the silence.
"Folant, call the levy again, for though we shall not march off
recklessly, it is clear that war is upon us. Each lord is to leave
one man in five to guard his stronghold, and march with the rest at
once. I would have the army assembled in a week."

Leodegrance turned to face Uther. "My friend,
sure I am now that you will return to Caer Guricon as soon as you
may. My father always regarded Constantine as high king and
supported him in all things. Bring to your father my regards, and
tell him that I also look upon him as the rightful ruler of all
Britannia. I shall look to the defense of Cameliard, but also I
await council on our joint course of action."

Uther nodded. "With your leave, I shall
depart in the early morning, and take none with me that I may ride
swiftly and arrive as soon as I may."

Caradoc, who had been standing silently,
finally spoke. "Lord Uther, I shall ride with you if you permit it,
for I will not slow you, and you shall have at least another sword
should we encounter trouble on the road."

"I am honored by your offer, my friend. I
intend to ride day and night with no rest."

Caradoc smiled. "Indeed, I thought nothing
else. I shall keep up with you, and you shall have one friend, at
least, protecting your back."

"Then it is resolved.” Leodegrance spoke
forcefully, but Uther knew his friend was troubled and uncertain.
"The rest of the party may stay at Caerleon as long as they wish.
Indeed, I am grateful for the skilled swords. For you, my friends,
since I have but one fleeting night to be your host, let us at
least share a decent meal, and then I bid you both retire, for you
have a long and hard road ahead of you."

They supped together, and then Uther and
Caradoc retired. Long was the night, though, and filled with
troublesome dreams. Burning towns and ruined fortresses did Uther
see, and battlefields of horrendous carnage. Many times he awoke,
soaked in sweat despite the cold night air.

Leodegrance had risen early to bid them
farewell, and he didn’t appear to have gotten any more sleep than
Uther during the night. Well-packed provisions he had ready for
them, and gold too, for he and Uther had used that which they'd
brought on their trip. The fastest horses in Caerleon he put at
their disposal, and when they were ready to depart he said an
emotional farewell to his traveling companion of more than a
year.

He stood alone in the dim pre-dawn light and
watched them ride away. Long after they'd ridden up and over the
hillside and disappeared from view he stood and looked out where
they had gone, for he was deep in thought about war and kingship
and friends. When, he wondered, would he next see Uther
Pendragon?

Through the muddy main street of Caer Guricon
he rode, for Uther had returned home after many months abroad. All
around the town were pitched the tents of the levy, for the
warriors of Powys were called to the king's banner. Yet no fresh
levy was this, for he saw the debris and tattered flags and wounded
men of an army that had seen battle. And fewer tents there were
than he remembered from the last time the army was assembled.