The Dragon's Banner (9 page)

As he spoke, Odoacer glanced back and forth
between Uther and Leodegrance, not wanting to show disrespect to
either. "I will treat with you after the deed is done, for though
we have no strength to offer Britannia, I would share words with
you before you depart, and if you will indulge me, perhaps ask your
help."

With that, Odoacer took his leave with
Arquellus following, for it was to be a busy night for them.
Arquellus was true to his word, and fifty of his warriors guarded
the camp of the Britons. Uther and Leodegrance sat up, speaking
softly in Uther's tent, for it was in neither of their natures to
rest while great matters were decided. But this was not their land,
and they did as they were bidden. They guessed it was just after
midnight when they heard the sounds of fighting within the main
camp, which lasted but a few moments and was done.

At dawn they were called to come to the main
camp, and they broke their fast with Odoacer and Arquellus at a
long table erected in front of Orestes tent. As he bade them take
their seats, Odoacer spoke. "The usurper, Orestes, is dead, slain
as he attempted to flee. I command the army now."

They spoke as they ate. "Please accept our
regards, Lord Odoacer, and our wishes that your future be filled
with glorious victories." Uther’s voice was genuine, for Orestes
had proven himself a deceiver and assassin, and Odoacer had treated
openly and honestly with them.

Odoacer looked up at Uther. "Thank you, Lord
Pendragon. I would speak with you, for though I have no strength to
spare I would offer you counsel if you will accept it." Uther
nodded silently.

Odoacer looked at Leodegrance, then at Uther.
"I have seen the empire in the west descend to the brink of
savagery. Many years has it been since any but usurpers and thieves
donned the purple. On the morrow I march on Ravenna. The emperor
Romulus Augustus, Augsutulus we call him in mockery, shall be
compelled to yield the diadem. I shall not wear it myself, but I
shall send it to Constantinople, to the eastern emperor, and I
shall rule Italia in his name. No more shall petty lords seeking
the purple plunge the wasting land deeper into darkness."

Odoacer paused for a moment as if he were
trying to divine the thoughts of Uther and Leodegrance. "I would
bid thee to return to Britannia devoted to this task - to unite
your land by whatever means you must, for if petty kings wage
eternal war the whole will sink into darkness and despair. It is
you, the great lords of Britannia, who will answer to God if your
homeland falls to savagery, just as my soul will be called to
account if I seize the diadem and Italia slides into darkness."

Uther and Leodegrance were silent,
considering Odoacer's words. He only spoke what they already knew
in their hearts. Britannia was dying as its lords squabbled among
themselves, and the people suffered. The land was beset by invaders
who could be defeated only by a united people. If the Britons would
not be slaves they must be masters. Finally Uther spoke. "Lord
Odoacer, your words are truth, and we shall return and purpose
ourselves to uniting the land, whatever sacrifices that quest may
require. If we must slay every errant lord and king we shall do
so."

"Good, good," said Odoacer. "And now, if I
may, I would ask that you do a service for me, for I would be
merciful, but I fear I need your help to do so. Augustulus is but a
boy, forced into the purple by his father, who wished to rule
through his son. I would spare his life, but such a course is
fraught with risk, for alive he may inspire resistance and
rebellion by his father's allies. I would have you take him to
Britannia, and swear your oaths that he shall never leave your
island. Do this, and I will grant him mercy and give him to your
care."

Uther and Leodegrance shared a quick look,
each nodding assent to the other. "We shall grant your request,
Lord Odoacer, for I see the wisdom and mercy in it. This child
emperor shall travel with us to Britannia, and I shall pledge that
he will remain and never again set foot in Italia."

Thus agreed they finished their meal,
discussing less weighty matters as they did. When they were done,
Uther and Leodegrance returned to their camp to prepare, for on the
morrow they would depart with the army and march to Ravenna.

The march to Ravenna was uneventful, and
there was no opposition to Odoacer. For seven days they journeyed,
and as they neared the capital the fertile farmlands and vineyards
gave way to marshes and bogs. The army was greatly slowed by the
terrain, and Odoacer decided to ride ahead with a small force. He
invited Uther and Leodegrance to join him, and so with a group of
200 horsemen, Uther Pendragon rode to witness the deposition of the
last Roman emperor in the west.

Ravenna was another marvel to Uther, like
Toulouse, a vast city unlike anything else he had ever seen. The
emperors had lived mostly in Ravenna for nigh on seventy years, and
the city displayed the opulence of its imperial station. Ravenna
opened its gates at Odoacer's command, for as swiftly as he had
journeyed here, news of what had transpired traveled faster.

Through the broad main streets they rode, all
the way to the imperial palace. Odoacer's men burst through the
massive gilded doors, but they met no resistance, for all the
guards had fled. They led the emperor out into the square before
the palace in front of Odoacer who, mounted upon his horse, stared
down intently at his imperial captive.

The emperor was but a boy who had seen no
more than twelve summers, and though he expected nothing but
certain death, he stood proudly before Odoacer. The warriors who
had dragged him out waited, for they too expected the command to
slay the boy.

But Odoacer did not give that command.
Instead, he looked upon the emperor silently for a moment and then
spoke, his voice imperial. "Your father, Orestes, is dead. Romulus
Augustus, as you call yourself, hear my words. You have usurped the
throne, and you have no right by succession or victory in battle or
ordination by God to rightfully claim the purple."

Romulus did not answer, but stood straight
and did not back away. His legs, perhaps, wobbled somewhat, for he
was terrified. But he drew the strength from within himself to
stand fast and face his death with pride and dignity.

Odoacer continued, "Yet, I perceive more the
fault of the father in this than the son, for I do not hold you to
account for the deeds of Orestes, the traitor. A son's obedience to
his father I will not punish if I need not. I do not seek your
life, boy, and if you accept my terms willingly I shall grant it
back to you.” Romulus looked up with surprise on his face, for the
first time betraying emotion, though still he said nothing.

"First," said Odoacer, "you shall renounce
the imperial throne and all claim to it, now and forever. You shall
surrender the diadem and all tokens of the office. Second, you
shall depart Italia, never to return."

Odoacer motioned toward Uther. "This is Lord
Uther Pendragon of Britannia. Soon he shall return to his homeland,
and you will go with him as his ward, for he has agreed to accept
this charge. The rest of your life you shall live in Britannia, and
you shall make your oath here and now never to return and always to
obey Lord Pendragon. If you agree to these terms I will spare your
life; if you refuse, it is forfeit." Odoacer paused for a moment,
allowing the boy to consider his words. “Decide now.”

The boy-emperor stood for a moment, still
silent. He had steeled himself to face death, and now he was
offered life, though he must give up all he knew and travel to a
faraway land. His legs almost gave way under him, but he found the
strength to stand firm. He looked up at Odoacer and spoke with as
much dignity as he could muster. "I accept your terms."

The emperor was escorted to his rooms, for
Odoacer ordered that he not be dislocated until it was time to
depart. He was kept under guard but made comfortable, and no harm
was done to him. The imperial diadem and the other emblems of
empire were carefully packed into a great chest. True to his word,
Odoacer sent these on a ship, with many guards, to Constantinople.
Henceforth there would be a single emperor, and Odoacer would rule
Italia as legatus and king.

In the weeks after the deposition, Uther and
Leodegrance spent much time speaking with Odoacer, for though he
was by birth a barbarian, they found him to be lordly and wise, and
a friendship of sorts grew between them. Alas, there would be
little time for this brotherhood, for one morning Odoacer called
his guests to break the fast with him and to speak of things.
Odoacer was leaving for Rome on the morrow to receive the
acclamation of the senate and their recognition of his
kingship.

"I would have you join me, my friends, but
alas I fear you will find yourselves compelled to decline. For even
this morning when I awoke shortly before dawn, I felt the chill of
autumn in the still morning air. If you ride with me to Rome, you
will find yourselves unable to begin your return journey until
spring. For I fear you would already find the mountain passes
closed by the time you could reach them. Thus, if you would depart
this year I will make ships available to you at Vada Sabatia to
sail you to Euric's lands. From there you can make your way back to
Britannia. But you must depart soon, or you will find the sea
closed to you as well. The Vandal pirates are like to take
advantage of the disruptions in Italia ere long."

Uther was silent, for he longed greatly to
see the legendary city of Rome. But already when they had departed
Caer Guricon the clouds of war were gathering, and he thought of
Odoacer's earlier words. Britannia must be united, lest a dark age
befall the people. Though his heart longed to ride to Rome with
Odoacer, he knew he must return home. He had been gone too long
already. He looked over at Leodegrance, and he could tell his
friend thought as he did. For their personal longings were of
little import; only their duty mattered.

"King Odoacer, though I long to see Rome,
your counsel is again wise. Duty and honor call us home, I am
afraid. War I am sure has come, and we should have returned long
ago. With your leave, we too will depart on the morrow and
gratefully accept your offer of a ship to take us to Gaul, for
anything that speeds our way is welcome."

So it was that Uther Pendragon and
Leodegrance said their farewells to Odoacer, now king of Italia,
and rode west to the far coast, and there took ship for Gaul. With
them they took many gifts, for Odoacer had been generous and had
laden them with many treasures.

West of Toulouse their ship took them, for
they wished to reach the coast and set sail for Britannia before
the full fury of winter was upon them. They were grieved, though,
that they would not see Euric again, for the king had been kind to
them. The sea would never be friend to Uther, but his distress was
greatly lessened from the first voyage, and he was in good spirits.
Returning home for him was also returning to Igraine.

The deposed emperor, Augustus, was quiet
during the voyage. In truth, he missed the diadem little, for he
never truly ruled and was only his father's figurehead. Yet he was
but a boy, torn from family and country, and on his way to an
unknown land.

One day just before the ship reached shore,
Uther took the boy aside and spoke with him. "King Odoacer bade me
to take you as my ward and see to your needs, and I shall abide by
this oath. I see in your eyes great sadness, and from this I shall
give you a new name, for you can no longer be Augustus. Henceforth
you shall be known as Tristan, which in the native tongue of my
land means sadness. This, so that you will never forget what you
have lost, for it will always be inside you. Yet I pray that you
find a place with us, and discover your way to joy and
contentment."

But even as he said it, Uther did not believe
that such would be Tristan's fate. There was a sad destiny to this
boy, and Uther could feel it, that his life would be hard and his
end tragic. After they spoke Uther sat alone and pondered his
feeling. Finally, he whispered softly to himself. "Uther, you sound
like Merlin with all this talk of destiny. The boy will write his
own fate." But he did not believe it, for the feeling was still
there.

When they reached the shore, Caradoc led them
to Thudis' villa, for they had landed not more than two day's
journey from there, and they wished to bid farewell to the Visigoth
noble who had been a good friend to them.

"We shall deliver you to your father's door,
Caradoc.” Uther’s voice was sad, wistful. They had come to think of
Caradoc as one of their own, and the parting would be bitter. "I
shall indeed miss you, my friend."

"Nay, Lord Uther, I wish not to remain here.
Rather, I bid you allow me to accompany you to Britannia, for there
is naught for me in Gaul but for my father to find some position of
little import. My elder brothers shall manage our family's
holdings, and I would not be an appendage, for my heart craves
more. My blade shall find use in your service, I believe, for you
have many battles to fight."

Surprised, Uther thought for a moment before
speaking. "My friend, you are surely welcome in Britannia, and I
should be honored to have your sword in my service. Yet, I could
not accept such without your father's blessing, for he has been a
friend to us, and good and true."

Caradoc smiled and laughed softly. "Lord
Uther, my father will be only too relieved to find a place for his
youngest son, for he shall have trouble enough doing so for the
elder ones. He has six of us."

And so it was, for though Thudis would sorely
miss Caradoc, he knew his son's heart and mind were too great for
whatever trivial post he could hope for in the Kingdom of Toulouse.
He thanked Uther and said his farewells to his son, with whom he
dispatched ten warriors to serve as guard. Leaving the villa they
rode west, to a coastal town where Thudis had told them they would
be able to hire a ship, and from there they set sail to Britannia.
Anxious they were, for they had been gone more than a year, and
they longed to return home and see what that time had wrought.
Uther ached to join the battle he knew must have begun. And there
was Igraine as well, who had never been far from his thoughts.