Saxon Dawn (Wolf Brethren) (25 page)

“Send them to my brothers first.”I grasped Raibeart’s arm. “We have done well brother already and I know that father would have been proud.” He nodded, unable to speak. “I will visit as soon as I am able.” Aelle too just embraced his brother and his eyes were heavy with tears.

Turning Blackie’s head I followed Ywain and his bodyguard, beneath their dragon standard. Aelle and Wolf followed behind and the two wagons, one with Aelle’s new family and his equipment and one containing mine. The road south rose and fell through small valleys and I could see that it was not the country for horses. We stopped on a ridge and I saw Brocavum across a shallow valley.  It was a good site for a fort. It was on a small rise above a river and the road crossed a bridge over the river. Whoever held the high ground would control the road. Ywain rode next to me.  “This is
Castle Perilous Lann. It is the only way from east to west and north to south for many miles.  If the Saxons come…”

“You mean when the Saxons come.”

He inclined his head and nodded. “Then they will have to reduce this fort. You will have to buy time for the rest of Rheged.” I could see that the fiefdoms had been allocated with a view to each lord’s strength. “My father has complete faith in you, as I do.”

As we rode across the bridge I could see that the walls were lower than those of Raibeart
’s Banna, Someone had stolen much of the stone.  There would not be enough to make the walls as they once were.  I would have to compromise. They unpacked the wagon for me and covered everything with deer hides to protect them from the weather.  I walked over to Aelle and his new wife.  “Be safe little brother and look after your new wife. Freja, I am happy that you have joined our family and Aelle’s mother is smiling now on this union.”

“Thank you brother and I hope to be half the warrior that you have become.”
I hugged Freja and saw that she too was filled with the emotion of the farewell.

Wolf came over to nuzzle me and I stroked him.  “Go with Aelle and look after him and his family.  The obedient sheep dog trotted off with his ears down and his tail between his legs.

When they had all left I felt quite lonely.
Blackie snorted and threw his head back.  “I know I still have you.  Let us begin to make something of this mess eh? “ I took off his saddle and let him wander to graze the grass which looked to have been untouched since the Romans left. I found what had been the gatehouse. The huge wooden doors had been pillaged long ago as had the walls on either side but one of the towers still looked usable.  I found the door which needed repair but was functional and climbed the stairs.  There was a guard room which looked as though it would make a functional bedroom and then I opened the door at the top and found myself on the ramparts. I had a good view across the bridge and the road.  Behind me the hills stretched away but I was still afforded a fine view. I could see why the Romans had chosen this site; it controlled the land for many miles. I had my home. The ground floor would make a secure and dry stable for Blackie and I began the arduous task of carrying my armour and weapons up to the first floor. I put everything I owned in there, even though it filled the space.  I would organise it later.  I went into the other tower and saw that, although the roof had been destroyed the walls were still sound.  It would make a serviceable kitchen.

Leaving my towers I walked the perimeter. The ditch still functioned but the walls had been robbed.  I walked up to the remaining stones.  I could build a turf wall upon them and then build wooden palisades.  As yet I had no warriors but when I did we could rebuild and defend.  The ditch would need deepening. All that it required was hard work.  I returned to my quarters and laid out my bed.  Along one wall I placed my armour and weapons and on the short wall, my spare clothes.   I carried the cooking implements down to my new kitchen; that done I led Blackie to the river to get water.  While he drank I filled my two buckets with the sparkling river water. When we returned to my kitchen I found some loose stones and constructed a fire on which to cook.  I had some oats which I would share with Blackie.  He would have his raw and I would cook mine.  It would not be tasty but it would stave off the hunger pangs until I could hunt.  While that was cooking I repair
ed the door to the ground floor. I would, at least be able to bar it from any predators, human or animal.

After my frugal meal I retired to the top of the tower.  It was a clear night and I looked for the seven stars.  Seven was a magical number among my people and it was said, by some, that
the stars could foretell the future. I lay back and stared into the black night sky and the twinkling stars.  What did they portend for me?

Suddenly Blackie whinnied; a sure sign of danger.  I went to my quarters and grabbed my bow. I returned to the tower and peered cautiously over the top. I knew I would see nothing immediately.  I would have to let my eyes adjust to the dark first. I
detected movement.  There were men and they looked to be three warriors; I could see their spear points.  They were armed.  The question was, who were they? I did not have a clear target and I watched the shapes as they moved up from the bridge towards the ditch. When they crossed the ditch then they would die. Whoever they were they were good.  They kept a low profile and used whatever cover they could.  When they neared the ditch they split up and I had the problem of choosing the best target from amongst them.  Had I seen them more clearly I would have chosen the leader but I could not discern, in the dark, any difference between them. I put down the bow and slipped down to the room where I drew my sword.  They did not know that I had spotted them and I would have the advantage.  I would not die in this tower; that much I knew. I stroked Blackie as I passed my horse, munching oats, a rare treat for him. I slowly unbarred the door and crept around the side of the tower.  I held a dagger in my left hand and my sword in my right; I was calm and I was ready.  They had split up which gave me the advantage.  They would come at me one by one and, thus far, even champions did not worry me.  I could handle three rogue warriors.

I saw the first blade appear around the edge of the gate and I swung the sword around. Just before it connected with the warrior’s throat I recognised him.  It was Garth; it was one of the warriors from my shield wall and wedge. He dropped to his knees. 
“My lord! I am sorry.  We thought you were a Saxon.”

I burst out laughing, “And I thought that you were three assassins.”

The other two stepped from the shadows and I recognised them as more warriors from our warband. “Come, let us go from the shadows.  I am sure I have something to drink and to celebrate this reunion.” I opened the door and Blackie gave us a bored look and went back to his oats. I found a flint and lit a tallow candle which gave off a smoky yellow light. I led them to my quarters and found the jug Brother Osric had given me.  I searched around and found three beakers. I poured a little into each one and held the jug up.  “Here is to the victors of Metcauld.” I swallowed from the jug and they quaffed their beakers.

“What are you doing here m
y lord?”

“I am the new lord of this land.  The king has commissioned me to raise a force to defend this land from the Saxons.”

The three of them cheered.  “That is the best news we have heard in a long time my lord for the Saxons have raided here many times and taken away slaves.”

“You live here?”

“Aye.” The three of them were young warriors although they were large men and had shown great skill in the wedge. “Our families all have farms hereabouts.”

Wyrd
! Once again forces greater than I could comprehend were working in my favour. “Would you like to be the start of my army?” Their faces gave me their answer before their answers confirmed it. “Good then return to your homes and tell your families that you will be stationed here.  You are the first warriors in my warband.” Had I given them a box of gold I could not have had a better reaction. I had been worried that I would be alone here and now there were four of us. Not much of an army, but a start.

The next morning there were not three warriors but ten. I frowned. I did not want to take away workers who would be needed to tend animals and look after the land.  I looked at Garth.  “Are these men not needed on their farms and in their homes?”

Garth grinned and shook his head.  “They will return home to work on their farms when you do not need them my lord but when they heard that the Wolf Warrior with Saxon Slayer was the new lord they could not wait to serve you.”

“In that case they are welcome but I am aware of the needs of families. I want you all to return home and give your parents this.  It is compensation for the loss of your labour.” I gave each of them one of the silver pennies with King Urien’s face upon it. They looked
at the silver in amazement.  Some of them had never seen coins before. “I will pay for all goods and services hereabouts.  I am here, we are here to protect the people, and not to rob them.” It was only much later that I realised that the simple act of giving the coins embedded me in the community faster than a victory on the battlefield.  No one had given these people anything before.  Others had taken and this was a change. King Urien had brought hope.

We decided to improve the tower
with the damaged roof and repair the gate first.  That way the garrison of ten men would have somewhere to eat and to sleep. We moved my improvised kitchen to what had been the blacksmith building close to the walls. I delegated that task to Garth and I took the opportunity of riding around my new fiefdom. It seems word of my arrival had spread quicker than fleas on a dog and everyone greeted me by name.  Many of the men touched my sword for luck and I could see that King Urien’s plan was working. When I returned I took Garth to one side. “Do you know of any of the women hereabouts who have skill with a needle or can weave?”

“Aye my lord.
  Carlin’s mother is a wonder with both.”

“What I want is a standard with the same design as my shield. “ I held up my shield although I knew he knew the design. “Could she do that?”

He grinned. “Let me borrow your shield and you shall have it.” I gave him a silver penny which he was reluctant to take. “She will gladly do it.”

“Garth this is silver taken from the Saxons. Give it to the woman.  We take nothing and we pay for all.”

That simple act reaped dividends far in excess of the one coin.  Men from the surrounding villages and farms came to deepen the ditch.  I had hunted and I gave them a dinner of roast venison.  As we enjoyed the food after a hard day’s work I addressed them. “I lived as you did with my family and the Angles came and killed them.  The king has sent me here to stop that happening to you.  If the Saxons or the Angles come, and I believe they will, then bring your families here and we will defend them.  But more than that you will all need training as warriors.” I spread my arm to include Garth and his nine companions.  “These warriors will be the nucleus of my army but eleven men cannot defeat a Saxon warband, even if they do have Saxon Slayer.” They all roared and cheered. “I want you all here on the holy day so that we can teach you how to become warriors.”

One greybeard asked, “But we have no weapons.”

“You will have.  While my men repair the walls of the fort I will bring you weapons so that when the Saxons come they will feel Rheged steel and they will find easier victims to plunder!”

I saddled Blackie the next day and left Garth to improve the defences.  He had to cut down trees and make ramparts behind which the people who lived nearby could shelter while their men killed the enemy and I was going into the land of the enemy to find those weapons. I was returning to my secret cache.  My men would be as well armed as the Romans were and the Saxons would
learn to fear the warriors of the wolf. I did not take armour nor did I use my helmet.  It would be my bow, sword and wolf cloak which would protect me.

I worked out that I was less than
forty miles from the Roman fort on the Dunum, I could not get there and back within a day but I could make most of the way back and be closer to home.  Not that that would save me if the Saxons pursued.  In that case I would have a lonely and unmarked grave. I risked the road to make the quickest time. The Romans had built well and the gentle turns took the pain from the climbs.  When I reached the windswept  tops of the hills I could see the land of my birth nestling fifteen miles ahead.  I hoped that the Saxons had no-one watching the road or this could be a short journey and a savage death. I had with me some sacks which would carry whatever weapons remained.  It was worth the risk to give my new warriors weapons which could hurt the enemy.

When I neared the river I left the road and walked Blackie.  He would need a rest from my weight anyway.  I gave him a bagful of oats while I scouted the bridge. The enemy were there. They had occupied the bridge and were denying passage.  I could not dig up any of the other treasure and I would have to rely on the goods I had stashed years before.
I walked Blackie and soon found my spot.  It was undisturbed. I dug up the weapons and found that they had begun to rust but it was superficial.  There were ten swords and ten daggers. I put them in sacks and balanced them on my saddle. There was one mail shirt which I laid across Blackie’s flanks and there were twenty javelin heads.  Those I split between two bags. I was torn between the nails and the caligae for I could not bring both and eventually settled on the nails. At least they would come in useful to improve the defence of shields and in the making of arrow heads.