The voyage home was, mercifully, incident free. Arturus and his bride giggled and laughed the whole time. There was nowhere for them to be alone and so they huddled and cuddled on the deck. We left in the late afternoon and they stood watching the sun setting in the west. When darkness came they went towards the prow and watched the flickering lights to the east where tiny communities eked out a living by the sea. With the women occupying the cabin the rest of the deck was littered with bodies of those asleep or trying to sleep. As Warlord I felt duty bound to walk the deck and ensure that all were comfortable. I could do little even if they were not but it was the least I could do. I had just checked that Gwyneth and her ladies were comfortable and stepped out on to the deck when Gwenhwyfar and Arturus appeared.
“Uncle, my wife would have a word with you.”
“Of course. We stepped into the lee of the cabin where the wind was not as strong and we could speak.
She began by stretching up and kissing me on the cheek, “This is to thank you for allowing this to take place. I know that you could have forbade it and I am grateful that you did not.”
“Arturus is the nearest that I will have to a son. It is natural that I wish the best for him.”
“And you have heard that I am a wild child who ran off with a witch. You fear that I will enchant Arturus.”
I smiled, “I believe that he is enchanted already.”
Arturus said, “And I know about the witch, Morgana. My father is a wizard; why should I fear a wife who may be a witch.”
She poked him playfully, “I am not a witch. If I were I might turn you into a toad. Morgana just told me of my past. She said that I had powers. She intimated that Myrddyn and my mother had lain together.”
I laughed, “I was with Myrddyn longer than you were alive child and I can attest to the fact that he never went near to your mother.”
“Even when he worked on his tomb?” Arturus’ mind was as sharp as ever.
For the first time doubt crept into my mind but then I dismissed it. “You do your mother a disservice talking about her thus.”
“It was she spoke to me about it first. She kept saying that she had made a mistake when I was conceived and my wilful nature was her punishment.” She shook her head, “I had nothing to do with my birth! How could I be a punishment?”
“And are you a Christian?” I held up my hand. “For myself I care not but Arturus is a Christian.”
“You can be a Christian and believe in the spirit world.”
I shook my head, “Do not try to argue that case with a priest. I agree with you for my brother is wise and has explained it to me but do you believe it Arturus?”
“I have to, Warlord, for I can read my wife’s thoughts as she reads mine. I am not the youth who came back from Constantinopolis so full of himself. I have changed.”
I suddenly spied hope. “Then Gwenhwyfar, I wish you and your husband well. You will be as safe in Civitas Carvetiorum as anywhere and my equites will protect you. When I am gone to the Otherworld it is Arturus who will lead them.”
She squeezed my arm, “Do not be in a hurry to get there, Warlord. I wish to get to know you.”
She was an enchantress. I felt myself falling under her spell. It was as though the wild child we had first met had suddenly become a woman and that she had powers now which she did not know of earlier. A wind came from the south and made me shiver. Was this good or was it ill?
When we arrived back we were greeted by the whole settlement. Arturus and Gawan were both popular. Gawan’s wife was taken with the young beauty her son had married. Denied daughters of her own the two got on well. That was a relief to Gawan for Arturus would be away for half a moon every three moons and he did not want conflict in our halls. It also helped that Gwenhwyfar was overwhelmed by the civilised stronghold that was Civitas Carvetiorum. It boded well.
Arturus’ bride also seemed to have an understanding of the ordinary folk of our town. She took pleasure in walking the streets with her two ladies and speaking with those that she met. She was kind and she was generous with both her coin and her time. Morgana had taught her skills and she was able to offer advice on illness which women had. Sometimes they did not feel they could speak with Gawan and Gwenhwyfar was a kind listener. This was not the wild child of whom we had been warned. Myrddyn was right, yet again. She became popular and when her skills as a healer were discovered then she was much sought after. The witch who had given her shelter had taught her and developed her natural skills. Perhaps that was another reason her mother and she had not got on. It was something she did not understand.
Now that we were back from the wars, our world could return to what passed for normal. Our quests resumed and we added, for we now had more equites, a second quest to the north and the borders of Alt Clut. We had an ally there who was closer to us than any. If we could stop Oswiu from encroaching there then so much the better. We also had to plan for Arturus’ elevation to the order of equites. I left that in the hands of Llenlleog. I had much to occupy my mind. We had more messengers from both Penda and Cynddylan in the months following the wedding. King Penda used the boar symbol and Cynddylan used men who were known to Gwenhwyfar. We learned that the Bernicians had fled north but now had a line of defences along the Hwmyr. It was in the land of Deira and that had been King Oswiu’s. He had now been proclaimed King of Northumbria. The fact that he had his strength in the south made our lives slightly easier.
After the last message from the King I sat with Gawan. Arturus was still enjoying the company of his wife. He was diligent when he performed his duties but he no longer spent every spare moment with the squires. He was closeted with his wife as often as possible.
“And King Penda is happy with the gathering of an army upon his borders?”
I nodded and sipped the wine. A ship had sailed from Constantinopolis. Our copper and iron were highly prized for their purity. Arturus and Gwyneth had made good contacts in the port as well as in the court. “He is for he wishes a final battle. When Oswiu is dead then King Penda can take the last two independent kingdoms. He will be High King.”
“And then we will have to watch out.”
“I think not, brother. I have never tried to gain a kingdom, merely save one. King Penda has no desire for our land. He wants flat farmland which yields him rich crops. He told me so and I believe him. I looked into his eyes and saw no deceit.”
“That is what he says now but when he takes Northumbria he will look at Rheged with greedy eyes.”
“Then we will fight him!”
Gawan laughed, “Of course you will.”
Daffydd ap Gwynfor had also been back to the Clwyd. He had been to collect more of Gwenhwyfar’s chests. While there he had sailed to his former home and spoken with his family. What he had told me had been disturbing.
“There is something else. Daffydd heard of the Clan of the Snake.” I had Gawan’s attention. Having killed our last living relatives both of us sought vengeance. “They have resurfaced in Wessex. They have acquired ships. They have four of them and they are using the land of Wessex to raid the seaways. Cenwalh, who was King, has fled. Some say he is hiding with the Jutes on their island but it cannot be confirmed. With King Penda now ruling Wessex the Clan of the Snake have managed to create their own domain. When Penda has dealt with Northumbria then I can see him ridding his land of these barbaric men but for now we have a danger to the south and west. It is said that he also uses some of the rivers in the heart of Gwynedd to raid ships bound for the northern waters. That is too close to home. I would not like to see those savages let loose in my land again.”
“Then I will have to use my powers.” He hesitated and then, sighing said, “Gwenhwyfar has powers. I feel stronger with her here in this stronghold. If she aided me then we might be able to detect the Saxons.”
“That is a risk and I am not certain your son would approve.”
“I can ask him. It will take all of my powers to see into their dark hearts. They have powers themselves. If they have ships then they can avoid your equites. I cannot see how we would defeat Saxons in ships.”
I drank down the wine and smacked my lips. It came to me. “Constantinopolis has towers along its walls. Do you remember brother?”
“Aye but how does that help us? We have towers here on our walls.”
“Think bigger; think the land of Rheged. We need towers on the coast and along the Eden valley. The wall already has them.”
“And who will man them, brother?”
“That is the good part. We ask those who live close by to build the towers and to keep watch. We tell them what to look for. This way we could spot an enemy coming up the coast and be ready to meet them in battle. It also gives them a refuge should they be attacked. Our land is rich in stone. Let us use the stone as a weapon.” Gawan did not appear convinced. “Gawan, we know from my father’s time that it is very easy to lose a land. We have fewer men now to protect more people. The people must help themselves. We have made a start for all the men who live in Rheged can use weapons. This would be good training for the boys and youths.”
He smiled, “Perhaps you are right. How would we tell them what we need?”
“That is simple. The equites and squires who do not go on a quest this moon can ride and visit with those who live in the coasts and the High Divide. It will be good for the men of Rheged to see equites.”
Surprisingly my equites were all in favour of the idea. They also saw the benefits of riding among those they protected. Kay summed it up succinctly, “One day, Warlord, we will have to fight alongside these men. If you know a man before you are his shield brother then you will fight better together. Our equites can advise them how to build the towers and to man them.”
I took Arturus with me and we rode to the wall. We had re fortified Banna. There were ten of our archers there. The two of us rode east. We had the easiest task of all for the Roman Wall stood and there were fragments of towers all along it. We chose the best of those that remained and sought out the men who lived closest. The fact that the Warlord asked them seem to imbue them with a greater sense of responsibility. We stopped when we reached the site of the battle where King Cadwallon had perished, Hagustaldes-ham. We saw no sign of enemies. We had been away from home for ten days. Our horses were tired and I needed a bath. We headed to be home.
We left Pen Rhudd after speaking to the headman there and then headed south. The route I took was not direct. I would ride south to Aelletün and see if all was well there. We would spend the night and then head back to my bath house the next day. The men who lived in the place with the terrible memories might appreciate a visit from the Warlord to reassure them that they were not forgotten. I thought the idea came from my own head. I was wrong. The spirits guided my thoughts.
We were just a day away from home close to the head of the Long Water when we both smelled death. I had fought for many years and recognised it. Arturus was relatively young but he knew it for what it was. We both drew our swords. The smell of death was human. That might well attract animals. Wolves still prowled the high ground of Halvelyn. A wolf disturbed whilst feasting could be a vicious enemy.
There was a line of trees on the lower part of the hill next to the road and I knew that there were rocks and rough ground behind. I waved Arturus to the left and I went right. As we brushed through the trees and bushes, magpies and crows took flight. I saw the bodies. It was Galeschin, one of my newer equites, and his squire Ywain. I recognised the wolf clasp on their cloaks. They had been butchered. Their heads were on spears. Galeschin’s mail had been taken and both men’s hearts had been removed. Their weapons had been taken too. Of their horses there was no sign.
Arturus almost whispered, “Who could have done this?”
“I know not but the torn-out hearts fill me with foreboding. Galeschin and Ywain were given the task of speaking to those who live north of Shap.” I dismounted. I regretted riding in with our horses. We might have ruined any tracks that had been left. It could not be helped. I looked around. Our men had not come through the treeline. The nearest break was fifty paces north of where we stood. I walked back to the gap. The hoof prints were obvious now. I followed them. As I neared the ambush site, for that was what it plainly was, I wondered why the men had left the road. What had induced them to ride off the beaten track? I walked further up the slope. As I did so I spied a piece of dead ground. When I stood and looked down I saw that there were many prints. Their attackers had waited here but what had drawn Galeschin here? I kept walking and saw that the ground dropped away. Then I saw how my young equite had been lured. The body of a young woman lay at the foot of the small cliff. Her lower body was bloodied. I knew what her fate had been. Perhaps she had been forced to shout and that would have drawn in Galeschin. Galeschin was a young equite but he was capable as was his squire. As I walked towards Arturus I saw blood spatter and deeper footprints. I signalled for Arturus to bring the horses and follow me.
The footprints went to a jumble of rocks some fifty paces above the road. Arturus had to dismount rather than risk damaging the horses. I saw, as I approached, that the stones which had appeared to be natural had, in fact, been moved. The moss on them was not even. Sheathing Saxon Slayer, I moved five of them. A tattooed arm fell out. It was a Saxon; it was the Clan of the Snake. Arturus and I uncovered the bodies and found eight of them. My men had died hard and taken enemies with them. They had been buried not out of respect but to hide their presence from me.
“We have enemies loose in our land. We must track them.”
We mounted our horses. “How many will there be?”
“I know not.”
He pointed to the skulls on the spears, “We cannot leave them.”
“We will return and bury them with honour and the girl I found but first we find where they are. Do you wish more of our men to die? More of our people to suffer?” He shook his head.
We had not ridden over this ground and I soon spotted the hoof prints. They were riding double and the hoof prints stood out. Once we were on the road we would lose them but as the road led through Aelletün they would have to leave the road or risk the wrath of my men who lived there. Despite the fact that we had left our dead unattended I would not rush the chase to return to them. This was too important. I, therefore, kept a close watch on the side of the road once we reached it. “Arturus ride to the left. If you see a hoof print then let me know.”
“Aye Warlord. How many do you think there are?”
“They are riding double which means at least four and I have see the footprints of men beside them. I do not have the time to examine them but I am guessing at least ten.”
After a pause he said, “And there are but two of us.”
“We are equites and unlike Galeschin we know that there are enemies abroad.”
There was another pause and Arturus said, “You think he made a mistake do you not, Warlord?”
“Is that you reading my mind, son of the wizard, or are you using your warrior’s brain?”
“Neither. I know you now, Warlord. I have watched your back since I returned to become a man. You strive for perfection in all things. It is what set you against Gwenhwyfar when first you saw her. She was not perfect and that is what you sought for me.”
It was uncanny for he was right. I was never satisfied with anything that I did. I held up my hand. “Here, Arturus, they left the road!”
I dismounted to make certain that I was correct. They had left the road but they had dismounted when they did so. They were trying to hide from pursuit. I led Copper and walked along the prints. After forty paces they became deeper again as the Saxons had remounted. I looked up to try to divine their purpose. Just ahead of us was a huge rock which locals called Old Toothless for in the late evening it resembled a toothless old man. There was a track which went around it and then passed to the north of Halvelyn. It headed west and not south. Had these Saxons come by ship and, if so, were there others loose in my land? We were set on our course and we would have to follow it.
I waved Arturus over and explained what I had discovered. “Fortunately, there are so few people living between here and the Round Water that they can do little harm. They will have to camp soon. The track they follow has some dangerous places. They must have come east along this road to have known where to leave the road.”
“I see neither track nor trail.”
“That is because they are not on it yet. It begins some mile north and west of here. When we find it, unless I miss my guess, they will head along it to the west. They are returning to their boat.” We had our spears with us and I slid mine from its leather bindings and nodded to Arturus. He did the same. A spear was the weapon for hunting men on foot not a sword.
The angle the tracks approached the trail confirmed my suspicions. The path twisted and turned so we would not be able to see them and they would not be able to see us. Had they taken the tracks to the north or south of this one then we would have been clearly visible to each other. We watered our horses at each bubbling stream we crossed. We let them graze on the grass. We would not catch these Saxons before dark if at all. They had a lead but they were going at the speed of men. The blood I had seen on the leaves of the bush when we had left the road told me that at least one of the Saxons was wounded.
Heading west meant we travelled towards the fading light. When it became too dark to travel I sought shelter. I spied a shape to the side which looked like a hut. I dismounted and, with spear held before me walked towards it. I had not heard Galeschin’s horse neigh but I was taking no chances. A dog growled. The fading light showed its eyes and as I looked closer I saw bared teeth.
I lowered my spear and dropped to one knee. I held my hand out and said, “Good boy. Good boy.”
My use of familiar words seemed to have an effect and he came closer. As I stroked its fur my hand came away bloody. It had been wounded. I stood and drew my sword. I pushed open the door and entered the hut, I almost tripped over the bodies of the shepherd and his family. “Arturus, fetch a flint.”
The dog began to whine and to lick one of the bodies. The hut was a traditional one. It was made of stone and was round. There would be a fire in the centre. I made my way there and, putting my hand down felt the warm ashes. The fire had been lit that day. I felt around until I felt kindling. I had just laid the fire when Arturus came in. I heard his sharp intake of breath as he almost tripped over a body. “Go and see to the horses. Make certain that the door is closed and hang your cloak over it so that no light can be seen. Secure the horses behind the hut. Bring our bags in.”
“Aye Warlord.” His voice was filled with unasked questions.
The door closed and I took the flint. I was in complete darkness. I had to do things by feel. Myrddyn had taught me how to do this. He had made me practise finding things in the dark. When we had entered Din Guardi it had been an invaluable skill. The spark struck the wood shavings I had placed around the kindling. I blew on them gently and the red flames began to eat into the dried twigs. The leaves on them flared and ignited others. I added a couple of larger pieces of wood and when I was satisfied that it was alight I stood. What I saw turned my stomach. There was a shepherd who had been dismembered. His chest had been torn open. His wife and daughter had been abused and despoiled. I could do little for them. I did not want Arturus to see them. It was a horror which would live with him his whole life. I carefully moved the bodies and body parts to the side of the hut away from the bed and covered them with a cloak. I then turned my attention to the dog.
It was a shepherd’s dog. They were common on the fells. It was a golden-brown colour. It resembled a fox save that the ears were not erect. I saw that it had been struck a glancing blow by a spear head. The wound was a long one along its back. It must have been defending the family. I took my water skin from my side and poured a little into one of the family’s wooden bowls. The dog lapped it eagerly. While it drank I poured some on the wound. As the fire light grew I saw better. I wiped away the blood and unmatted the fur. It was a clean wound. It was on its back and it had not rolled in dirt to poison the wound.
The door opened and Arturus came in. He was careful to avoid light spilling from within. “Give me the vinegar and honey. We will sleep here this night.”
He saw the cloak covered corpses, “The family?”
I nodded, “They were butchered and we are closer to them than I thought. The bodies were not cold when I moved them. The Saxons are, perhaps, five miles or so ahead of us.”
“Why did they not stay here?”
“These Saxons have planned well. The further west they camp then the shorter their journey. They will have headed east when they came and remained hidden. They will cause mayhem on their way back for they know where there are isolated farms. We will just rest for a couple of hours. Nights are short at this time of year.”
While he prepared some food, I tended to the dog. He must have known I was trying to help for even when I used vinegar to cleanse the wound it did not snap. I smeared honey on the wound. It would stop the wound becoming dirty and would help the healing process. At least it did with humans and horses. Perhaps it was the same with dogs. We needed the dog. The spirits had saved it for it would be able to track the Saxons and give us warning when it smell them. I took out some dried venison and fed it to the dog.
Arturus had found a pot and some vegetables. He had made a stew. We had not eaten since we had left Pen Rhudd at dawn. We were starving. We left enough in the pot for the dog to eat and to lick it clean. As we lay down to sleep the dog came to curl up close to me. I smiled, “We shall call this dog Warrior for it has the heart of a warrior.” As I stroked the sleeping dog I remembered my father and uncles telling me of a dog they had which had hunted Saxons with them when they were little more than boys. It was wyrd.
I woke myself when it was still dark. The dog stirred when I did and rose stiffly to its feet. I went to the door and opened it. I slipped under the cloak and went to the side of the hut to make water. I heard the dog as it did the same. I went around the back and saw that the horses were both well. It was I came back to the entrance that I saw, across the valley below us, a pin prick of light. It had to be the Saxons. We were close. I went to the door and said, “Arturus, rise!”
I brought the horses around and we saddled them. We had to hurry. Once dawn broke then the pin prick of light would disappear. We had to get as close to them as we could before dawn came. Darkness would hide us for this was a steep sided valley. I fed and watered the dog again. We had to look after him and I swallowed down some water and then chewed on dried venison. We headed west.
The sheep dog, Warrior, looked much better and loped alongside us. He sniffed as we hit the trail and I saw his ears prick. He had the scent of those who had hurt him and killed his shepherd. We took it steadily for it was still dark. The pin prick of light flicked, disappeared and reappeared. Men were moving before it. I kept glancing from the trail to the light and it soon became obvious that the Saxons has come this way. It was confirmed by the dog. Dawn came slowly, almost insidiously. Halvelyn acted as a block to its rays. I saw them shining on peaks to the west of us. The camp site of the Saxons was still hidden in darkness. The path twisted and turned down the contours of the steep sided valley. At one point Arturus’ horse sent stones skittering down the path. To rush would be fatal. We reached the bottom and forded the bubbling mountain stream. Warrior leapt from stone to stone and was barely wet. We had just begun to climb when the light disappeared. They had extinguished it. It did not matter overmuch as we were less than a couple of miles behind them.
As we climbed, we were in the darkness of the bottom of the valley but the sun gradually spilled down the western valley side. I spotted the horses with the two riders on each of them. I counted eight other warriors. I could not be sure of the exact numbers but they were within sight. We could see them but Halvelyn protected us and we were in darkness.
The fact that we could see them and they, I hoped, would be unaware that they were being pursued, gave me hope. We reached their camp at the fourth hour of the day. The sun was up and the day would be hot. Two of their men had died. We found the stones covering the graves. My equite and his squire had taken many with them. I was proud of their sacrifice. I realised that they were taking the hard route. It was over the emptiest and roughest part of Rheged. I knew the place they were heading. The Romans had had a fort at Parton. It was on the coast and was a good harbour with ten or so families. They had taken the port. I had a hard decision to make.
“Arturus, you must ride north to Carvetitas. I need every archer, squire and equite at Parton. They must pass across the high ground and along the Flat Water and thence to Parton. It is the only place close by where they could moor a ship unseen. That is where they are headed.”
“Warlord, I cannot leave you alone! There are twelve men ahead of you!”
“And two of us cannot hurt them. They cannot make Parton without another camp. They have but two horses. I can watch them and I can slow them down. Have Llenlleog come down the coast it will be quicker and easier than the route they must take.”
“They are not worth the life of the Warlord!”
I smiled, “Then, squire, as your last act before you become an equite, see that I do not die! Now go. I have the dog!”
He looked at me and nodded, “Stay safe Warlord!”
“You are not ready to fill my boots Arturus. I will be safe.”
As he headed north I dug my heels into Copper. This was a true quest. I did not think it was my time to die but if it was then I was ready. Arturus would soon be ready and Llenlleog was more than capable of making the right decisions until he was. I would not let my father down. My life meant nothing. Rheged was all.
The ground was rough and undulating. There was no chance of seeing those I pursued. They could not see me and I could not see them. This was a narrow pass which led across one of the emptiest parts of Rheged. I knew not what the peaks were called to the north of me only that men would not willingly scale them. I knew then that the dog had been sent by Myrddyn to help me. I might still die but the dog would give me warning and I would take Saxons with me. We twisted, turned and climbed during that hot day. When I spied hot horse dung I slowed. I was catching them. Warrior’s ears were constantly pricked. Darkness would be my ally. I stopped and ate some dried venison and drank water. I shared my food with Warrior. Copper drank from the stream and cropped the grass. We continued west.
I was too old to be riding for so long but I dared not stop. As the sun began to set I slowed. They would light a fire. This was remote. We had not passed any habitation since the farmhouse of corpses. We dropped down below a ridge and, as the sun set before me I saw their shadowy silhouettes on the skyline and then they disappeared. They were less than a mile away. I slipped from my saddle and walked Copper. My horse needed a rest. Warrior had become agitated over the last mile. He knew the killers were close. I gave him a piece of venison and stroked him.
“Stay by me!”
I could almost smell them. They were that close. When I detected the smell of burning wood, I stopped. They had made camp. I looked around and found a dell close to a stream. I walked Copper there and tied her to a tree. There was water and there was grass. I had not yet decided what to do. Myrddyn would tell me. I ate and I drank. The dog was the problem. I gave him some venison. “Warrior, stay.” I pointed my finger. I repeated, “Stay!”
He took the venison and lay down. I hoped he would obey. I took out my sword and my dagger. I did not need my helmet and my wolf cloak was dark enough to hide me. I left the trail and walked over the rough ground to find their camp. I heard them before I saw them. They were arguing.
“All this way to kill two warriors! It was a waste. We lost too many warriors!”
“Lang Seax has led us well. We are richer and we have good weapons. We killed more than two warriors and we enjoyed their women. Life is good. If Lang Seax thinks that this raid is worthwhile then who are we to argue.”
“We should have brought more men. This land is ripe for the plucking.”
“It is but we have but four boat crews. When we have six then we can strike. Be patient. Lang Seax will rule this land one day.”
I crept forward on all fours using the bushes and rocks for cover. I was approaching from the darker, eastern side. and saw their fire and their sentries. They had two of them. They were on opposite sides of the camp and well away from the fire. These warriors knew their business. I sat beneath an elder bush and I waited. They would sleep. I counted twelve of them. I was confident that I could kill four and still escape. This was not the work for Saxon Slayer. My sword was too long. I slipped my dagger out and held it while I waited. The two horses were tethered to a tree. I heard them moving restlessly. They could smell me. It neighed; that alone showed the stress it felt. Its master had been killed and it forgot its training. One of the sentries walked over to them and smacked one. “We need you for but another day and then you die. I like horsemeat.” The horses stamped and there was another hard slap.
The two sentries came together and talked. The were just twenty paces from me. They were slightly higher than I was. Their camp was on a small flat area and the ground fell away. Hunkered down I was below their eye line and invisible. I needed them to separate before I could strike. I had to be silent and swift.
“I must have eaten something bad when we stayed in that shepherd’s hut or perhaps the bitch we killed cursed me. I have the worst gut ache!”
“Aelle, you always have a gut ache! You eat too much!”
I heard a laugh, “I like my food. Besides hunting men and staying hidden means you eat when you can! Creeping across this land and avoiding these horse warriors is hard on a man’s need for good and plentiful food.”
“You are right there. Hiding for seven days and working east was not easy. These warriors of the north are hard to kill. Their mail is like the skin of a wild boar. The ones we slew were young but they had courage. Even though struck many times they fought on.”
“Aye and the bows were useless against them. The arrows just bounced off. Lang Seax will need more than six crews if he is to conquer this land.”
“True but think of the power he would wield if he did. Oswiu and Penda would both vie for his favour. We would have the smallest kingdom and the greatest power.”
A voice from the fire said, “You cannot watch and talk!”
They moved apart and I saw my chance. The fire they had built up silhouetted them. One moved to the other side of the camp. The one on my side came towards me. I did not think he had seen me. He clambered down the smaller boulders and rocks to the flat ground just four paces from me. I was hidden behind a bush but he was not looking for me. When he dropped his breeks then I knew what he was here for.
I slipped out of my hiding place. He had his back to me and I heard the hiss of his water and then the sound of him beginning to empty his bowels. The smell was vile. At least one of his hands would be occupied. He was using his other to rest on his spear. The noise of his water and straining masked the sound of my feet on the turf. I put my hand over his greasy mouth and pulled back sharply. At the same time, I ripped my dagger across his throat. The blood sprayed. I laid him face forward against the rocks and took his sword, spear and knife. I moved further to the right for there was a better place to hide. Two large rocks had fallen and a third had made a roof. I slipped in. The camp was above me to my right. If they knew where I was then I was trapped but I had watched the two sentries and seen their movements. They had not come near the three rocks.
The second sentry was on the far side for a long time and I feared that I might have to search for him. Then I heard the sound of his footsteps above me. “Aelle, where are you? Tol will have you gutted if you are asleep!”
There was, of course, no reply.
“Is it the gut ache?” There was concern in the voice and I heard him slither down the gentle bank. “Is that you over there?”
He appeared in my eye line. He was heading for his dead friend. I rose like a wraith as he passed me. He must have sensed me for although I made no sound he turned. I put my left hand across his mouth and lunged with my dagger. I hit him so hard in the throat that the blade appeared out of the back of his head. I lowered him to the ground and took his weapons. Placing the bodies together I took the rope they used to secure their breeks. I headed back to the place I had hidden between the rocks. I jammed the two spears so that their points were the height of a man’s stomach and then I tied one of the ropes between two small bushes which flanked the path the sentry had taken.
I hurried along the side of the camp, keeping low. I took in that the men were spread around. One man slept by the horses. Reaching the far side of the camp I used the two swords and the other rope as a second trap. As I finished tying off the rope a wild thought entered my head. The ground fell away to the north and west towards the Flat Water. The large tarn was so named because the ground around it was flat. There were farms there. If I stole back the horses then I could ride down the slope and return to my own camp by riding around the peaks. It would take me half a day but they would have to move more slowly for they would not have the horses. It would take a day for them to reach Parton and that would involve running. It was worth the risk.
I worked my way around their camp. The horses became restless as I neared them. The Saxon who slept close by them heard them. “Quiet! Cannot a man sleep!”
I paused and saw that they had hobbled the horses. I would have to free them before I could escape. I used the horses for cover and walked upright towards them. I stroked the mane of Badger, Galeschin’s horse and, slipping down cut the ropes which bound him. I moved to the other horse, Strider. As I stroked him he whinnied.
The man who lay close by rose. Rubbing his eyes, he said, “I’ll teach you!”
He had not seen me. He stood and raised his arm. I rammed the dagger into his open mouth. He gurgled and died. I barely managed to catch him. Strider obligingly shifted out of the way and I laid him down. I cut the last hobbles and sheathed my dagger. The Saxons had discarded the saddles and so I slipped on to the back of Badger and held Strider’s reins. I began to walk out of the camp. I walked around the edge of the camp close by the two dead sentries. There was more turf that way and fewer stones. Inevitably one of the hooves dislodged one of the stones and it clattered down to the rocks below. I held my nerve and kept walking until a voice shouted, “Aelle! Stop the horses from moving.”
It was the rising sun behind me which was my undoing. False dawn had crept unseen into the sky and the sudden flaring of the new day silhouetted me.
“Wake!”
I dug my heels into Badger and the two horses took off down the pass. The Saxon camp had been well chosen for it was on the highest part. It meant that the two horses could open their legs. The Saxons who were running down behind me would not catch me. I heard a cry and a shout as one of them tripped on my trap. I slowed down the horses to conserve them. The pass twisted north and around a rock. I was hidden from view. We descended rapidly and as we neared the flat ground and the first of the farms ahead I spied a path to the south. I was on the horns of a dilemma. I needed to get back to my own horse but I could not leave the farmer and his family to the Saxons.
I rode on to the farm and banged on the door. “It is the Warlord rise! There is danger!”
I heard noise within. Our famers used huts with just one door. It opened slowly. A frightened looking man with a short sword stood there. He recognised me, “Warlord!”
“There is no time for words. A warband of savage Saxons are less than a mile away. Take your family and flee south. Use this horse.”
All of our farmers knew the dangers of a warband. “Quickly, do as the Warlord says!” He had a wife and three children. His son held the reins of the horse as his wife and two daughters clambered on.
“I will try to lead them away. Warn your neighbours. My equites are coming and these are heading for Parton! Raise the alarm. Make noise!” I needed the rest of those who lived around the Water to be safe. I could not warn them all.
The farmer waved as he ran after the horse, his son and his family. I wheeled Badger around and rode back up the pass. I had almost reached the trail to the south when I saw the Saxons. They were still running down the trail towards me. Drawing my sword, I galloped across the rough ground to the path. One of the Saxons, seeing that I was within a hundred paces of them tried to take a short cut. It ended badly and he tumbled down across the rocks. When he rose, I saw that one arm hung awkwardly from his side. He was hurt. The rest did not follow. They headed down the trail towards the farm. That was one family they would not get. They had escaped the savage Saxons.
The path I took was not a good one. It was narrow and I had to pick my way along it. After an hour of tortuous climbing I spied their camp. It lay more than six hundred paces from me and below me. I chose a route which would take me to my own camp. That added another hour to my journey and the sun was higher in the sky when I reached Copper and the dog. I gave the dog some venison and water to Badger. Wearily I mounted Copper, tied a halter to my saddle and, leading Badger, rode towards the Saxon camp. I counted on the fact that they would be desperate to get to their ship and would have hurried down the trail.
Warrior growled as we neared it. Someone was still there. I drew my sword. I saw the Saxon. He had his back to the rocks where I had hidden. He had run into the spears and been gutted. He was barely alive. Warrior growled as he approached. The Saxon gave me a wry grin as I dismounted. He spoke Saxon, “Do you come to have your dog eat my guts?”
“It is what you deserve for what you did to the shepherd and his family.”
He laughed and was wracked with pain. “You think they were the only ones, horseman? The people paid for the deaths your horseman caused us. When Lang Seax brings all of our men then your people will truly know pain.”
I had been watching him and saw his hand sneaking around his back. He must have had a dagger there, one of the wicked weapons called a seax. Even as I raised my sword and pulled it back Warrior leapt and fixed his jaws around the hand. The effort was too much for the Saxon who expired. I patted the dog’s head, “Good boy. You have had some vengeance, at least.” I took the Saxon’s seax and stuck it in my belt.
I rode down the trail towards the farm. It was still intact but there was no sign of the farmer or his family. Riding around the Flat Water I saw no sign of the Saxons. I reached the end of the valley at noon. Some armed men appeared from the woods there. They were my people. “Warlord, we heard you were abroad.” The leader pointed west. “The Saxons went that way.” He held up a head by its greasy locks. It was tattooed. “We found this one with a broken arm. They had left him. It is one less savage to worry us and pays in part for what they did.”
“What they did?”
He nodded, “Ten days since a larger warband came through and they killed Radgh of Asby and his family. Six children were in the family.”
“This is the same warband. How far ahead of me are they?”
“No more than two miles. We were scouring the woods for more of them when you came by.”
I handed them Badger’s reins. “We will come for this horse when they are dead.”
“You seek them alone?”
“No, I have my equites heading to cut them off at Parton!”
I contemplated leaving the dog with them but he deserved to be there at the end.
I found them four miles from Parton. My equites and archers were on the far side of them barring their escape. The survivors had found a small island of land between two small streams. They had chosen the best place they could find for their defence. It mattered not. They would all die. I reined in to the east of them. I drew Saxon Slayer and raised it. My equites, half a mile from where I sat began banging their shields with their swords. I heard the Saxons singing. It was their death song. I lowered my sword and Daffydd ap Miach ordered his archers to loose their arrows. There were too few Saxons to make a shield wall and one by one they died. Some took five arrows to succumb but eventually all lay dead. I rode down and crossed the stream. Warrior walked up to them and sniffed. Then he cocked his leg and gave them the final indignity.
“Take their swords and then burn them. The rest will be in Parton.”
Llenlleog nodded, “We saw their ship. We did not enter the village. We remained hidden and hunted these. Geraint found them.”
Leaving some archers to burn the bodies we headed west. We saw a column of smoke spiralling into the air as we drew close and we saw the Saxon ship rowing away from the shore. They had fled. What they had left was heart breaking. Every man, woman and child, had been butchered. Even the village dogs had been slain. Warrior put his tail between his legs and his ears down.
Llenlleog shook his head, “This is my fault. We should have come here before we went to catch the warband.”
I shook my head. “They would have been dead already. The fire was to cover their tracks. I fear that there will be many such atrocities across the land.” I told him what I had discovered.
He shook his head, “You took a mighty risk, Warlord. There was no need.”
“You have fewer men to kill and if I had not recaptured the horses then they might have reached here even quicker. Besides it is done now. We learn from this and we move on. I now know that our plan for the towers is even more urgent. This Lang Seax is building up his forces. He wants Rheged.”
“Then he will
have to fight us to get it, Warlord.”