Saxon Fall (11 page)

As we waited by the coast we were rewarded by balmy blue skies.  The storms we had suffered crossing the land had been replaced by pleasant weather. Sometimes this happened. Perhaps the gods were smiling upon us once more. Star and the other horses began to put on weight again.  The hunters found much game and we ate well. If we did not have the animals and the grain then I would have been tempted to return to my home on my ship when it arrived.  The thought was fleeting.  I would not leave my men to make the last fifty miles on their own.

I walked the shore with Gawan and Lann Aelle.  “Your son has done well, cousin.”

“I am pleased. He admires you greatly, you know?”

“I am sorry.”

“No, do not be.  It was the same when I was squire to your father.  When I grew I felt guilty that I had shown him more love than my own father. It is something in the relationship between equite and squire.” He looked at Gawan, “And what of Arturus?  Will he become a squire?”

“He wishes to be but my wife…”

“It is the same with all women.  They carry them and bring them into the world.  They know that there is a likelihood that they will die in war and do all that they can to keep them safe.”

It was pleasant for the three of us to talk of such ordinary things.  The schemes and strategies, the quest for power, all were briefly forgotten as we spoke of children and our hopes and fears.

Daffydd ap Gwynfor arrived three days later, two days after my Captain of archers returned from the village. He waded ashore and I could see from his face that he had bad news to impart. He came directly to me and spoke, “Disaster assails us on all sides, Warlord.
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
has been slain in battle by Fiachnae mac Demmáin, king of the
Dál Fiatach
.  There is now peace between Edwin and the men of Strathclyde.” I looked at Gawan.  That had been part of his dream. “And Fergus and Aengus have been defeated.  The survivors await you on Mona.”

“What happened?”

“They landed and had initial success, taking the village to the west of the island but then Aella, the chief of Manau gathered his men together and drove them back to their ships.  They came back in one ship.  Fergus died and Aengus suffered grievous wounds. He is being cared for by your brother.”

I looked at Myrddyn but it was hard to gauge his feelings. Gawan, Lann Aelle and Pol looked as though we had lost a war. I knew what they felt.  We had done all that we could but it might not be enough to save us.

“Thank you, Daffydd.  Take the animals and slaves back to Mona.  I will bring my men back by road.” I nodded towards Myrddyn, “Take Myrddyn with you and any of the wounded.”

“I require no charity, Warlord.  I can ride with the best of them.”

“I know, wizard, but you are the finest healer on the island and those skills will be needed on Mona, will they not?”

“You are correct.  You are becoming wiser, Warlord, it must be my influence.”

The boat was quickly loaded and headed west.  We mounted our horses and began the long ride back to our land. It was a land from which we had not removed the threat of the Saxon and I would need to discover a new strategy to save Rheged.

We were weary when we trudged across the ditch of Deva into the safety and warmth of the fortress. The autumn rains had come in earnest and we looked like ragged refugees rather than successful warriors. Gawan was pleased to be back in the bosom of his family and I left him with his equites. Daffydd and his archers also remained there for the fortress had more room for them. I headed home with Lann Aelle and Pol.  We had three days to discuss the catastrophic events which had destroyed my plans,

“I did not think that the Hibernians would capture Manau but I did not think they would suffer such losses.”

“We do not know, Warlord, how many warriors they lost.”

“We know that they came back in one ship. That suggests great losses; besides the greater loss is
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
.  He had forced Edwin to protect the northern boundaries with many men.  They are now free to come south and make war upon us. We will need to rethink our strategy.”

Pol, who was always positive, said brightly, “We have proved that the long spear and the lance are more than effective. I think that we issue them to all of our equites.” I nodded and smiled.  He was right. “And I think that the squires have proved themselves. We have mail for most of them and we can use the weapons we captured to have the smiths make it for the others. Our speed and our tactics worked.”

Lann Aelle injected the word of caution. “We still need more horses and we need more equites training.  Our two most successful assets are the archer and the equite.  Both are expensive.  You cannot just give a man a horse or a bow and say fight.  It takes years to train them.”

“Then we use Tuanthal for that. We ask him to train as many equites as he can.  We will pay a bounty to families to give a son to be trained as an equite.”

Although it was my idea I was pleased with it. I remembered the rich farmers who had not wanted to be responsible for their own defence.  This would be a way of making them care.  If each had a son who was an equite then they were part of the fight.

We reached King Cadwallon’s stronghold during a torrential downpour. It took away all the good feelings we had had. The King was equally concerned over the setbacks. “Penda is urging King Ceorl to fight against Edwin but the Northumbrians have grown strong. They are building forts, called burghs, all along the border.  We think it is not to keep us in but to provide refuge for the warriors who will raid our lands for slaves and cattle.”

I looked up.  “Has he started yet?”

“Not yet but the forts are in the early stages of construction.”

“Then we attack now! The more we can delay the building of them then the more we delay the raids.”

The king smiled sadly, “Warlord your heart may be willing but your flesh is not.  I watched you and your men as they rode in.  They are exhausted and you cannot fight until you have rested. I will lead my equites and we will delay them.”

I knew that he meant well but compared with my men his were half trained. They had neither the discipline nor the aptitude.  His warriors were the finest archers and the doughtiest of spearmen but horsemen they were not.  He was, however, a king and I could not gainsay him. “I urge you to use archers too.  The Northumbrians have yet to learn their value.”

“As you know, Warlord, our archers are second to none.”

As we headed, the next day, across the island, I spoke of my fears to my two closest friends. “I am not certain that the Cymri will be able to do what their king has in mind.”

“Even if they do not succeed they may well slow down the building process. He was right, Warlord, we are in no condition to fight. We need until the New Year to recover and rebuild.”

I stared south. If I was to be inactive then I could do something useful. I had no family to tie me to the land. “Pol, we will travel to Frankia and buy horses. I had thought we could not afford the time away from Mona but if the king can buy us some time then Tuanthal can train the equites while Lann Aelle here can help his father improve the defences.”

Pol brightened, “I have heard that the Barb horses from North Africa are the best.”

“That would mean visiting the Muslim world and even the Byzantines fear them.  We will try to trade for them but from a safe distance.” I had no wish to suffer at the hands of that cruel people.

The last ten miles to my home were spent in working out the finances needed for such an expedition. The simple fact of bringing them back would cause us problems but it would exercise my mind.  Since I had heard the news of the demise of my allies I had found my thoughts becoming darker and darker.  It was as though I was falling into a tunnel and there was no escape. Planning gave me hope.

My sentries cheered me as we rode through the gate. I did not know why for we looked like bandits rather than equites. We all took our mounts to the stables.  There we were able to give them grain and rub them down.  After we left them I noticed that my men had smiles upon their faces.  Our animals were like our family. Caring for them gave them good feelings. Pelas helped me to change from my mail. I put on a tunic and headed for the bath house. It would clean my body and purify my heart. “Pelas, do not bother with the armour and the sword today.  Tomorrow is soon enough.  You have done well on this, your first campaign, go to your family and enjoy yourself.”

He looked at me seriously, “I am your squire, Warlord.  I will take the sword and your mail to the smith.  When they are repaired I will clean them and sharpen Saxon Slayer. Then will I be able to enjoy myself without the burden of my work hanging over me.”

“You are a good squire and I bow to your dedication.”

The bath house was empty.  My warriors were cleaning their own weapons and armour.  It allowed me the luxury of solitude and I could think. I was in the tepidarium when I heard them enter, led by Pol.  Osgar saw me and began to back out, “I am sorry Warlord; we will come back later.”

“No, come in now.  We are all warriors together.  We share the same hardships, we should share the same pleasures. Besides, I have almost done and then you younger warriors can talk without worrying about me.”

I lay in the lukewarm water and listened to the good natured banter between the equites in the caldarium. It would do them good to let off a little steam in the bath house. I slipped away without saying farewell.  I could have sent for a servant to dress me but I was enjoying the solitude. I slipped out of my room and went to my solar.  Times past I would have shared a goblet of rich red wine with my father and perhaps Myrddyn and Brother Oswald. I poured a goblet and stood looking out of the window to the south. Was Pol right? Should we try to get the best horses possible? The problem was we would have to negotiate the Barbary pirates and some Muslims were fanatics.  They hated Christians; who knew what they felt about those of us who worshipped the old ways? I would ask Myrddyn and Gawan.

There was a knock on the door and a slave stood there.  “Warlord, Myrddyn asks if you would join him in the infirmary.”

I sighed and swallowed my wine.  My solitude was ending. “I will be there momentarily.”

I contemplated tying my hair back or even plaiting it but it was clean and it was lustrous, I would leave it about my shoulders. I had no wife now to tell me it did not suit me.

The infirmary had been Brother Oswald’s idea.  It was a building separated from the others.  Ironically it had been completed too late to save him.  He had said we could use it for those with the plague or other infections.  They could be cared for without infecting others. Had it been finished on time he might have been spared, along with my family. Myrddyn was waiting at the door. “Come Warlord, Aengus is between life and death and I do not know if I can save him.  He must speak with you before he goes to the Otherworld.”

“You can save him!”

“I can try but his wounds are serious; they could be mortal.”

The bed in which the Hibernian lay was away from the rest of the sick.  He had heavy bandages covering half of his face. He had lost his right eye. His right arm had been removed and his right leg was heavily bandaged too.

He gave me a weak smile as I approached. “Warlord, I am glad that I saw you before I went to the Otherworld.”

“You must fight, Aengus.  I would have you stay here with us.”

He gave a hollow laugh, “A one eyed, one armed warrior is no use to anyone.”

“That is for me to decide.  I want you to cling to life.  Myrddyn is here now and he is the greatest healer that ever lived.”

“I will try but if this is my time I need to speak with you before I cross over.”

“Go ahead then.”

Myrddyn said, “I have other charges.  I will see to them while you talk.” He touched Aengus’ hand. “I will do all that I can to save you.”

“Your wizard is a good man, Warlord.  I used to fear him but now I do not.” He winced as pain struck him. Opening his eye he said, “My men and those of Fergus fought well.  I would have you know that.”

“I believe you.”

“I know that we came to you with a poor reputation but you gave us honour and we tried all that we could.” He closed his eyes as another spasm of pain coursed through his body.  “We did not have enough discipline. I have spoken with the men who survived, and the women.  They all wish to serve you still.  I beg you to let them and to care for them. Like your wizard you are a good man and one we would follow.”

“Of course but you said women?”

“Aye they would not be left behind and they came with us.  They fought alongside us and some died but they died happy for they were with their men.”

“If that was your only worry then I can put your mind at rest.  I will watch over your people and they can fight for me still. Now you get well.  That is a command.”

Myrddyn waved me over.  I saw a woman.  I thought that she was dead for she was so still. It was Aileen, Fergus’ sister. “It is the woman who thought little of you, Warlord.  Apparently she thought enough of you to accompany her brother to Manau and to fight the Saxons there.”

“What is wrong with her?”

Myrddyn pointed to her middle which was heavily bandaged.  “She received a sword thrust to her vital regions.” He shook his head, “I had to work hard for there were serious wounds there.  But it is her head which poses the greatest risk.  She has received a blow to the side of the skull.  I believe that there is a fluid just inside the bone and it needs draining.”

“You are jesting!”

“No.  When I visited Constantinopolis with your father I read of Greek surgeons who had relieved such pressure. I also spoke with the Greek healers.  They wished to learn of my skills and I shared theirs. They drill a small hole where the pressure is and relieve it. I am confident that I can do it.”

“But if you fail!”

“Then she will die but will she be any worse off than this life of the living dead?”

“You will do this? You will drill a hole in her skull?”

He looked at me with his old sad eyes.  “Yes Warlord, but you must assist me.  I need another pair of hands to hold her still and I believe there is a connection between the two of you.”

“She hates me!”

He nodded, “And that is the connection; love and hate are closer than many think.”

I would have to do it.  To refuse would be dishonourable. “When do we do it, tomorrow?”

“Now! Every moment we waste makes it less likely that we can call her back from the other side. Even now she is speaking with her brother, Fergus.” I was stunned. “Wash your hands and use vinegar to do so.”

“Vinegar?”

“Warlord, just do it.”

When returned he had a small hand drill ready; it looked like an auger used in shipbuilding but was much smaller. “You must hold her head as still as you can.  One slip from you and she could die.” He smiled as he said it. I placed my hands upon her head.  I noticed how beautiful she was. Her hair shone and her skin was as clear as Roman marble. She was a brave young woman and needed to live. I held her head tightly.

“Move your left hand a little.  I must drill there.” He looked at me and he gave a sad smile, “I pray you Warlord, hold her as tightly as you hold Saxon Slayer in battle for we battle death.  I have never done this. One mistake from either of us and this brave young girl will die.”

“Do it wizard. I will keep her still.”

I concentrated harder than at any time in my life before.  I noticed that he had cut away some of her long, red hair so that the bruised skin was visible. It looked harmless enough; it looked like my body after a battle.  The bruises normally went away after a couple of days.  Perhaps the head was a more dangerous place for such a bruise. Myrddyn took out a sharp knife and made a slit in the flesh at the side of her skull.  He carefully parted the skin and, after examining the flesh, began to turn the drill. It made a strange whirring noise but I could not see it working. How could it get through bone? I glanced at him.  “I am drilling through the skull. It takes time and I have to be careful. I can only hope that it is not as thick as yours Warlord.”

I focussed on the girl’s face.  She could be no more than eighteen summers.  From what I had been told she had fought against the Saxons. I knew young warriors who would not have survived such an encounter.  There was something about this young woman which intrigued me.