Saxon Dawn (Wolf Brethren) (29 page)

Brother Oswald said, “Good night my lord
; I will complete an inventory tomorrow and send a despatch rider to Brother Osric for supplies.”

I went into the hall where Aideen sat next to the blazing fire.  During the battle the women had tended it and it now burned well. The room seemed empty now with just the two of us. I took off my cloak.  I could have done with taking off my armour but I could not leave her alone yet. She turned to look at me. “Can I stay here my lord?  I mean beyond tonight.”

“It is a fort filled with men you know.  There is no female touch here.”

She suddenly smiled and I was reminded of my mother. “If I am here there will be a female touch.  I can make cheese.  That is what we did with the goats and the cow and I can cook.  And I can sew and I can clean.”

I held up my hand.  “Enough! You can stay and we will make some quarters for you.”

It was as though a great weight had been taken from her and she hugged me and
placed her head upon my shoulder. I did not know what to do and so I sat there with her head on my shoulder and her hair smelling of rosemary and then I felt her body moving slowly and she was asleep.  I laid her down gently and covered her with the wolf cloak.
Wyrd
was working hard this night.

Aideen proved to be a hard working woman who made excellent cheese. Her cooking was an improvement on what we had had before and her presence improved the behaviour of the men.  I realised that we had needed something like this and I was not displeased.  I also found that I liked her laughter and her songs.  I woke up and looked forward to the food she would bring and the sing song greeting she would give. Brother Oswald also took to her for he loved his food and he learned, from my wife, how to make cheese.  I knew that while I was away she would have the kind company of Brother Oswald. As the days lengthened and we settled into a routine of making arrows and repairing the fort I found that I had time to talk with Garth, Brother Oswald and Aideen.  I was in a happy place for I could talk of war and strategy with Garth and of domestic matters with Aideen. With Brother Oswald I could learn much for he was a wise and well read priest. I was happier and calmer than at any time in my life.

We had found a horse wandering in the woods soon after the battle and we assumed it was the Saxon chief’s. It gave Garth and I the chance to ride further afield and check for intruders.  We found three bodies which the Prince had overlooked
, although by the time we reached them the wolves and the rats had taken most of the flesh but it afforded us more weapons.

“We have weapons aplenty but what we do not have are the men to wield them. “

“Perhaps, my lord, when we begin the training again we can ask if there are any volunteers and some of the slingers look to be ready to use swords.”

“Good idea
, remind me to visit the farms and tell the men when we are to start our practice again.”

That night we all sat in the hall and ate the stew Aideen had prepared.  It was good to finish off the meal with cheese and she had brewed her first batch of beer.  It was not the best but, as Garth said, and he was the beer expert, “
Winter is the wrong time of year for good beer.” Brother Oswald had also solved the problem of its poor taste by heating a sword in the fire and plunging it into the beer.  It transformed the taste.  We were living well.

Aideen sang a song of a shepherd falling in love with a maiden and we all enjoyed the fire.  I did not notice the men drifting off
or Brother Oswald give me a wave of goodnight for I was watching the flames flicker and burn.  I saw cities and towns, dragons and mythical beasts. I was suddenly aware that my arm was around Aideen’s shoulders and she was looking up at me, her mouth slightly open and smiling.  I still do not know what made me do it but I leaned down and kissed her. I had never kissed before and when her mouth opened and her tongue darted into my mouth I thought my head would explode. I pulled away slightly. Her smile widened as she murmured huskily, “Do not fight it, my lord.  It was meant to be.”

Later as we lay naked beneath my cloak I felt complete. I was far older now than my father had been when he sired me and I wondered why I had waited so long.  As I looked at the sleeping Aideen I knew why.  I was waiting for her.  My mother still influenced my life though long dead.  She walked the spirit world and waited for me.

My men were discreet the next morning.  Garth organised the food and the guards so that when we arose it was to order and organisation. “I have sent the despatch rider my lord.”

Aideen clung to my arm. “Thank you Garth.  Aideen will share my quarters now.” She smiled up at me as did Garth. I think I was the only one to be embarrassed by
the events.  Then I remembered that Garth knew Aideen and her family.  She was only a stranger to me. “I will ride to the fortress today,” I looked at Aideen, “I have news for the king.”

Aideen stood on her
tiptoes to kiss me on my cheek.  “And I will clean your … sorry our quarters.  I am sure they have not been cleaned since you moved in.” And so my life changed.  I went from the lonely life of a lord to a warrior with a wife and soon a child. Still, as I rode down the snow covered road to Civitas Carvetiorum. I felt I had gained more than I had lost.  I now had something else to fight for, my wife Aideen.

Blackie made good time and we soon caught up with the despatch rider, Adair.  He looked disappointed. “Doe
s this mean I have to return to the fort my lord?”

“No
, Adair, although I would have thought you would have wanted to avoid the journey through the snow.”

He grinned and I saw that there was still much of the boy in him although he would soon be a man.
“No, my lord.  Brother Osric always has something for me and the cooks keep a bowl of something good to eat.”

I should have known that the kindly priest would enjoy spoiling the boys.  They were the children he would never father. The sentries saluted as we entered. “See you later Adair.  I will be returning later and I will accompany you.”

“Thank you my lord.  I will wait by the gate.” He looked at me seriously and said, confidentially, “they have a brazier there and it is warm.” He might be a boy but he was learning the ways of the warrior.

Brother Osric was surprised to see me and his hand covered the honeyed dried plum he had on his desk.  “Lord Lann I was expecting a rider but not you.”

I smiled, “He is coming along soon and you can give him his treat then.”

“They have a hard journey in the snow and they are little more than boys…”

I held my hand up.  “You have no need to explain Brother Osric but those boys fought a hard battle against the Saxons and one of them saved my life with a stone.”

”Like David from the Bible.” I looked confused and he sighed. 
“The book of Christ and God. He was a shepherd boy and he killed a giant with a stone.”

“Well the Saxon was no giant but his axe would have taken my head. Is the king at home?”

“Yes, Ywain patrols today.” He paused, “You and your people did well the other day.  Prince Ywain said that, had the warband descended into the valley then there would have been much slaughter.”

“It is why we are there Brother Osric.” I shrugged. “The sacrifice of ten warriors to save a kingdom is a small price to pay.”

Brother Osric suddenly looked concerned.  “Do not throw your life away cheaply, Lord Lann.  You have much to do in this land and the king depends heavily upon you.”

The king looked up from the list he was studying and I thought he looked older. Of course he now only had Ywain and his young son at home and he would be missing his
other sons and, I suspected, Gildas and myself. “Does this visit mean trouble?”

I smiled, “No your majesty but I have news which I had to deliver to you first
, as my liege lord.”

“That sounds serious.”

“I am taking a wife.” His face split into a grin and he beckoned me to sit. I explained to him the circumstances of Aideen’s widowhood but I omitted the details of our liaison.

“That is good.  I am pleased that two of the
wolf brothers are married.  Rheged needs sons of fine warriors to continue the fight against the Saxons. You and your warriors did well.”

“We were lucky.  Had I not brought the people within the fort then all would have perished.”

“Perhaps that is something to consider for the future.  We cannot protect all the people but those close to the forts can, at least, have winter protection. I am glad that you are here for I can bring you up to date with events in the rest of the kingdom.” He took a breath and looked me in the eye as he said, “ The Saxons tried an attack on Glanibanta.” My heart sank to my boots; Aelle! He saw my concern. “Do not fear your brother survives. He had made the defences even more secure than yours and he did not lose a man.  They withdrew.  He said that the lake helped them.”

I nodded sagely, “Erecura came to their aid as she did to me.”

He shook his head and laughed, “I believe it was the White Christ but we can agree to disagree.  Someone aided us in our fight against these invaders.”

“Agreed.”

“When the crops are in and the spring animals are born then we will ask our men to rejoin us. We will muster this time close to your fort for that is where they are most likely to attack.  I believe that the raids were Ida’s way of testing our defences.  He lost many men and many weapons; next time he will try to find a softer way in and I think it will be north of the wall. There are few roads there and the only defence we have is your brother Raibeart.”

“What of King Morcant Bulc? If they came up the west then they would have to defeat his armies.”

“I have heard that he has made the coastal defences stronger and left the people beyond the coast to their own devices.  I fear he is not the king I took him to be. But the last message I had was that he would come to my aid if I needed him.”

“By the time we send for him it may be too late. And how is Prince Ywain enjoying his equites?”

“He is grateful to you for the arms and armour he gathered after the battle.  He can now equip his men as mine are, in full mail with lance, shield and sword.  He and I hope to have a hundred men each by the spring.”

That was the best news I had had in a long time.  “The Saxons fear your men
, your majesty.  That may be the turning point in this war.  If my shield wall can halt them, and my archers weaken them then your horsemen can destroy them.  I will take this message of hope to my people and it will make their hearts glad.”

“You return today?”

“Yes your majesty.” 

“
Then I will give you a gift before you leave.”

I returned to Brother Osric who co
cked his head to one side and his piercing eyes bored into me.  “And just when were you going to tell me that you had taken a woman? Or was I to be the last to know!”

“I am sorry but I had to ask the king first.”

He sniffed which was his way of accepting the excuse. “Here.”  He took from one of his cupboards a sweet smelling bag.  “Give this to your wife as a wedding present.”

“What is it?”

“It is a mixture of dried herbs and petals. It makes rooms smell pleasant.  You warriors do not know how to bathe; goodness only knows how the poor woman will survive. And I have some more ash and yew.  I assume you would like to make more arrows?”

“It looks like we are going to need them but I now believe we can defeat the Saxons.”

“With King Urien at our head we can but if aught happened to him…”

I was shocked. I had never considered that the king might not survive a battle.  “He is well protected.”

“Aye he is and yet one lax moment and he could die.  You of all people should know that. Had that boy not shouted at the right time and slung his stone then I would be talking to a ghost now.”

As I went to the stables to pick up Blackie and the pony laden with wood I realised that he was right.  We lived a parlous existence. The
royal couple awaited me and Queen Niamh held a bundle. It was a fur but it was tied with rope implying that there was something within.

The Queen stood to kiss me on the cheek. 
“I am glad that you have taken a wife.” She wagged an admonishing finger in my face.  “Look after her.  The fur will keep you warm and within is a dress for the day she marries.”

“She has a dress!”

“Men! It is the day she marries and to a woman that is an important day. She will appreciate it even if you do not!” I noticed that the king and Pasgen were hiding their grins and enjoying my discomfort.

“I will do as your majesty says and I thank you for the gift.”

She softened and put her hand to my cheek.  “Take care.  I know that you are in harm’s way and we survive here because of your vigilance.  May God protect you.” She then made the sign of the cross; I noticed the Christians did this many times and had decided it must be a spell they were casting.

As we rode home Adair was quite chatty.  On the journey out he had been quiet, almost intim
idated, riding with his lord but now he was almost garrulous. “The men in the fort said that you are the greatest warrior in the kingdom.  Better even than the king.  They say you could defeat any Saxon they send against you. “