Saxon Fall (16 page)

King Cadwallon had had his wounds dressed and he greeted us. I pointed behind at the mail which we had collected. “I would use the mail you recover, your majesty, to protect the warriors in the front rank.  It would save many casualties.”

“You are right Warlord.” He stood and clasped my arm. “Once again I am indebted to you. Penda and you saved the day.” He looked around.  “Where is my ally?  He has not been injured has he?”

I took his arm, “No, King Cadwallon.  He is on an errand for me.  Come and I will tell you all.” As we left I nodded to Pol. He and my equites were in position.  If the traitor tried to flee then he would be stopped.

When we were out of earshot I said, “Do not look around and show nothing.” He nodded.  “You have a traitor amongst your captains.  King Edwin was told that you were advancing today.  He thought you meant to attack and did not know that you were merely manoeuvring.”

He had his back to his captains which was just as well for his face paled, “Which one?”

“I know not but Penda is questioning a prisoner.” Penda had done this for us before and he could be quite persuasive. Most of the warriors had returned from the battlefield and we were about to start back to nearby Wrecsam when we saw Penda and his oathsworn approach.  They had a Northumbrian chief tethered and were leading him along. He had fine mail and a full face helmet.  Penda had managed to persuade a high status captive to tell us all.

Miach attracted my attention, “Warlord, see yonder Penda brings a prisoner.”

“Aye, Miach, I asked him to secure one who could tell us of Edwin and his plans.  He has found a good one.” I spoke loudly enough for the captains to hear me.

“That will indeed help us.”

Already men were beginning to move west to Wrecsam and Miach joined the other captains who were waiting together for orders from their king.

My equites looked as though they were doing the same. In reality they were on guard.

Suddenly Terif whipped his horse’s head around and burst away from the other captains.  He galloped not west but east. I needed no command for Pol and Llenlleog hurtled after him. They were both experienced riders and, within two hundred paces, they had caught him.  I watched as he raised his sword to strike at Pol.  I could not believe my eyes as Llenlleog reached down and hoisted Terif’s left leg up.  The traitor tumbled to the ground. As he tried to rise he found Pol’s sword in his throat.

Penda reached us as King Cadwallon said, “Terif! I would not have believed it.  He was one of my father’s oathsworn and was as loyal a warrior as I have in my army.”

He pointed to the captured Saxon. “It seems we need not his testimony now.”

Panda laughed and slit the bonds on the prisoner who threw off his helmet.  “And that is fortunate for he is one of my men dressed up.  We had to kill four prisoners and none would talk save to say that there was a traitor.  It was a trick.” He nodded towards me.  “I am learning much from the Warlord.”

When Terif was brought before us he looked angry. The king, in contrast, looked sad. “Terif, why?”

The former captain laughed sardonically, “You ask why? You pup! You could not defeat the Saxons.  You have sat for the last few years cowering behind your walls.  When the Warlord took the war to Edwin I knew that you would not be the one for glory nor for riches.” He shrugged, “I will be on the winning side and given the land that was formerly yours.”

The king shook his head sadly, “The only land you shall have will be the earth in which we cast your body.”

Penda said, “A simple death is too good for him, your majesty.  Cast his body to the four corners of your land and leave his head on a spear to warn others of the punishment for treachery.”

I think had Terif shown any remorse then the king might have given him a warrior’s death. The king nodded. Penda said, “Get me four ropes!” He and his oathsworn pinned the warrior to the ground while ropes were attached to his legs and arms. He then divided his warband into four and each took hold of the rope. 

I had never seen this done before but Terif must have realised what was coming for he began to scream. “King Cadwallon, I was oathsworn to your father!”

“And you are now foresworn.  I can do no more. Warlord?” He nodded towards Terif’s head.

I drew Saxon Slayer and stood next to the screaming Welshman. Penda’s men took the strain and began to pull.  I had heard of this being done by horses but that is quick.  The limbs are torn from their sockets and the warrior dies quickly. I heard the crack as each limb was first dislocated and then torn. The flesh held it together and the screams were horrific.  How he survived I knew not. King Cadwallon had had enough and he nodded to me.  I sliced down with Saxon Slayer and his head was removed in a single blow.  The silence was deafening.  Then the Mercians gave one almighty heave and his body was torn asunder. I picked up the head by the hair and walked over to where his standard had been plunged into the ground. I jammed the head, the eyes still staring onto the standard of the traitor. That marked the site of the battle for many years.  The birds picked the flesh clean and his whitening skull stood as a reminder of the payment for betrayal.

We spent a week in Wrecsam.  Each day we had forty riders patrolling the burghs to see if King Edwin would make another move.  Each day was one day closer to our survival. We knew that the Northumbrians had to ravage their own land for food. Their cereal crops were still to harvest and so they lived off the animals the farmers would need for the winter. Every time our scouts told us that the Saxons were preparing to move I led the combined equites of both of our armies, two hundred warriors and fifty mounted archers, to threaten them.  Our attack at the battle of Wrecsam had shown them that they could not fight against us if they were caught in the open.  When disease struck his burghs he departed north.  I led the mounted warriors and we kept our spears in his back all the way to Lindum where they trudged the survivors to safety. We had followed the trail of sick and dying from their ridge of burghs. Remembering the effect of the plague on my family we rode around the bodies. Their weapons, armour and bodies were left for the carrion to devour. It was the borderlands and their bones would serve to warn them if they came west again. We had won. 

Two months after midsummer’s eve I led my army back to the Clwyd.  The summer’s campaign might not have had the ending we wished for, a complete victory over Edwin, but we had bloodied his nose. My new equites and archers had fought well and we had not suffered many losses.  Our new foals would be born within a few months and we could build again, over the winter.

I arrived back to a wife who appeared to be ready to burst.  Myrddyn was with her as were Gwyneth and her women. I was about to become a father again.

As the father I was sent away from the birth.  It would not be auspicious. Lann Aelle had returned to see his father; my uncle had not been well recently and so I sat by the river with Pol watching the Clwyd drift gently to the sea. 

“Do you wish a son?”

“I do not know. I have changed over the last couple of years. If the spirits are right then it does not seem to matter if it is a boy or a girl so long as the blood is right.”

“You are thinking of the dark days after we lose?”

I nodded, “If we lose and we are captured then death awaits us; we know that.  However for the women, sometimes, often perhaps, they survive.  They might become slaves but they do not die and in life there is hope. We need to teach my children to hang on to life dearly.”

“Children?  You plan more then, Warlord?”

I laughed, “Aileen is young and fecund. She will bear more children.  She wishes to have many children. She is the last of her family and it weighs heavy upon her.  Like me she is aware of blood.  She is more like Gawan and Myrddyn than anyone I have ever known.  She speaks with the spirits.  She has not dreamed my death.”

Pol shivered even though it was a warm day, “I would not wish to know the day I am to die.  I would that it would just come and I would not like a lingering death such as your father suffered.  I would have a quick death in battle.”

“Do not rush such things, Pol.  I have need of you yet.”

Just then we heard the unmistakeable cry of a new born babe. “It seems you are a father, Warlord.  Let us go and greet the child.”

All had been cleaned by the time I entered Aileen’s birthing room. Myrddyn nodded and smiled.  He looked like a delighted grandfather. I though how sad it was that he had never fathered children.  Aileen looked a little worried.  Myrddyn shook his head, “It is a girl, Warlord and your wife worries that you might have sought a son.”

I went to my wife and picked up the child.  She was so small and yet appeared to be perfect.  She had down the colour of my wife’s hair upon her head and, as she opened her eyes to look on me she smiled.

“She smiled at me!”

“It is wind, Warlord! Every father takes wind for a smile.  It is a common error.”

“And what would you know old man?”

He chuckled as he left, “I know doting fathers, Warlord.  You are just like your father.  He was the same.”

Pol followed Myrddyn with the others and then we were alone.  I sat on the bed and gave the child to my wife to nurse. “She did smile.”

“I know. She is happy to see her father. Have you thought to a name yet, husband?”

“I had thought to name her Radha after my mother but she is so pretty and small that I cannot get the name Myfanwy from my mind.”

Aileen laughed, “And that was in my mind also.  The spirits must have put it there.  Myfanwy she shall be.”

My child’s eyes stared up at me as she fed. I stroked the top of her head. It was soft and felt like the silk I had seen in Constantinopolis. “And we shall teach you, my daughter, how to be as wise as your mother and how to survive in this world for you will grow in dangerous times.”

Aileen put her hand on mine, “But the spirits will watch over you always, my child, and they will guide you and your children, long into the future.”

After a week with my family I decided to visit my uncle Aelle.  The fact that Lann Aelle had not returned made me fear that there was something more serious. I took Myrddyn with me. He would heal Aelle if that were at all possible.

The ride around Wyddfa made all of us silent.  Llenlleog was looking forward to the winter solstice when Myrddyn had promised him he would take him to my father’s tomb. Pelas was just in awe of the whole building.  To Myrddyn it was even more special; he had had workmen building his own niche in the cave for his tomb.  For me it just brought my father closer to me. I still regretted not saying goodbye to him. I know that events mean I could not have done so but the regrets remained. King Cadwallon was still at Wrecsam and his fort had the half deserted feel which I did not like.  That was how it had been when I returned to find my family dead.

Once we reached Mona all of us talked more. I felt a little disquiet about the fort at the Narrows.  It seemed sparsely defended. I would have to speak with King Cadwallon.  My forces were stretched too thin and we needed his warriors to add to its defence.  If it fell then his fortress would be in even greater danger. Rather than using the Roman Road across the centre of the island we rode along the northern coast. It was here that the Saxons would attack. Our towers stood yet but the walls of the forts seemed thinly defended.  When we reached Ynys Mon I was already unhappy even before I met with my uncle.

I let Myrddyn go in to examine him before I did.  The ride had made me too irritated and I needed to speak with Lann Aelle and Tuanthal.

Tuanthal looked old. “How goes it captain?”

He gave me a wan smile. ”I grow old, Warlord, and I am no wizard who can heal himself.”

“The warriors you trained fought well.”

He nodded, “I have the next batch ready.  They can travel back with you.”

“Would they not be of more use here?”

He smiled, “Your father made me captain of the horse for he always preferred fighting on foot. We found that living, riding and working together made the horsemen better warriors. The sooner the new ones meet the experienced riders like Pol, Kay and Bors, the more rapid will be their improvement. Besides the land in the Clwyd suits horses better.” He took a drink of wine. “And the ones who are recently trained tend to be disparaging about the new youths who have just started training.”

“I bow to your wisdom.  Lann Aelle, I know it is not your doing but, this fort apart, the island seems ill prepared. I saw few men in the towers and on the walls.”

“It is harvest time, Warlord, and they are set in their ways.  They have all been safe for many years. They think that you over react!”

I felt myself becoming angry.  “I will show them when I over react! King Edwin and Aella are no fools. They will sense weakness and strike.”

“Aengus is a good commander.  He has taken charge here and this is like a rock now.”

“Ynys Mon was always the easiest to defend but it is a barren isle.  Mona has the grain.  It will do us little good if this survives an attack and the rest of the island falls.”

I felt a chill along my spine which I could not explain. I walked to the window which faced north. “When it is collected I want half of the grain taking to my new home on the Clwyd.”

“Aye Warlord, as you command but why?”

I shrugged, “I know not but I am learning to use the feelings I cannot understand. And I would like a jetty building here, close to the fort.”

“But it is not a sheltered anchorage.  Caer Gybi is a much safer harbour.”

“Humour me, cousin.  I want an escape should the worst come to the worst.”

He nodded.  “I will arrange your accommodation.”

Myrddyn came over to us and Lann Aelle halted. “Well?”

He looked at Lann Aelle.  “Your father is dying.”

“Can you not heal him?”

“It is something which grows inside of him.”

“Cut it out as you did with Aileen!”

“I had read of that and knew what to do.  I am only surmising that the hard lump I felt in his side is something unnatural. Besides,” he put his hand on Lann Aelle’s shoulder, “he is not young.  Aileen was young and healthy.  Your father is older than I am.  He should be allowed to die peacefully.”

I could see that Lann Aelle was upset, “How long has he, Myrddyn?”

“If he lasts until Yule then I will be surprised.”

Lann Aelle nodded, “I will see to your accommodation.”

“I will go to see him.” I turned to Pelas, “Would you like to come and speak with your grandfather?”

“I would see him but I fear that if I try to speak then I will unman myself and weep.”

I smiled, “That would not distress your grandfather but, as you will.”

My uncle looked older and paler than I had remembered but I smiled as I entered.  He shook his head and chuckled, “There is no need for illusion, nephew.  I know I am dying.  Myrddyn is an old friend and old friends do not lie to each other.” He held his good hand out for his grandson.  “And you, Pelas, shed no tears for I have lived a good life and I look forward to seeing my wife, Freja, and my brothers in the Otherworld.” He looked up at me. “I am resting only.  Myrddyn gave me something for the pain and it makes me sleepy but I will be up and about soon enough.  I am well aware that I have let you down and not finished the defences.”

“You need not worry about that, uncle.  Your son will do all that is needed. Why not return with me to my home?  I have a daughter now.  Aileen would like you there.”

“A kind offer but if I cannot die in Rheged then I will die here where I have lived for most of my life.” He held up his hand as I began to speak. “Myrddyn thinks it for the best too. Let an old man go.  It will not be soon but I am prepared.”

The three of us spoke for some time.  If you had asked me, as soon as I had left the chamber, what about, I would not have been able to tell you.  We just spoke. Most of the time, I was remembering him as the rock on which my father had depended. He was my father’s half brother but seemed closer than Raibeart had been. Perhaps that was
wyrd
for it had been Raibeart’s son who had slain my father.

The next morning I spoke first with Aengus and Lann Aelle. “We must make this into a citadel.  When the Northumbrians come the islanders will flee here.  Lay in food and make sure you have a good water supply. The well of Ffynnon y Wrach has never let us down but we need to build a cistern to catch the autumn rains.  It cannot hurt.”

“You think it will come to that?”

“I do cousin, and even if they do not come this year then they will the next so let us prepare for the worst and then we can be relieved when it does not come to pass.”

I left and took Llenlleog and Pelas to the port. Old Gwynfor had died some years ago but Gwynfor ap Gwynfor, Daffydd’s younger brother, was an able harbourmaster. As it happened Daffydd was in port.  It was he who greeted me.  “Warlord, I have just returned from the land of the Bro Waroc'h. I have four more mares for you.  They were happy to trade them for the blue stones.”

“Good.  Next time you go take some gold and see if you can get a stallion.  It does not need to be one of the better ones.  A young one would be acceptable.”

Llenlleog laughed.  “You would not prise one from the horse master.  You were granted one of the great sires.  I would not expect more.”

“I will Warlord.” Daffydd knew me well and sensed that I had more than that on my mind.  “What is it, Warlord?”

“We need to keep an eye on the Northumbrians.  I fear an attack. I have asked for a jetty to be built close to the fort.”

“It is not a good anchorage.  Porthdafarch is better.”

“I know but I need somewhere inside the defences. Have we a spare boat?”

Gwynfor said, “A couple of fishing smacks and the Saxon ship Aengus used.”

“I want a good crew for the Saxon ship.” I looked at Daffydd.  “Did we name it?” He shook his head, “Then that might explain why we did not do better on Manau.  The gods do not like such things.”

“I know Warlord. We did not remember.”

“Then name her ‘
Aelle
’ after my uncle. I would have her crewed by good and reliable sailors.  She is to be used to communicate with me on the Clwyd. I wish her to travel back and forth passing messages.”

“Is that all?”

“It may be the most important task of all. Have the fishing smacks watch for the Saxons.  When they begin to stir then let me know! And we will need another ship like ‘
Gwynfor
’. I would have more trade with our allies and a means of moving people from one part of our land to another.”

I could see that they were both worried. Daffydd asked, “How is your uncle?”

I paused and glanced over to Wyddfa. “He is dying.”

“That explains much.  Fear not, Warlord, we will not let you down.”

“And I would not have you two sacrificed. If things become desperate then get to the fort. I need both of you and your people. Take the mares to the Clwyd and  tell Pol that I will be here for a little longer.”

As we rode back Pelas asked, “Are things that bad, Warlord?”

“I do not know but I am Warlord and it is up to me to find solutions to problems that we have yet to meet.”

I stayed another two weeks and I only left when I saw that the jetty and the cistern had been built. The farmers all came to see me to complain about my high handed attitude and the removal of half of their grain. I was not gentle with my words and I spoke to them as naughty children caught stealing cakes from the fire.

“If you had done as I commanded and improved your defences then I would not need to do so.  You have done nothing! The Northumbrians could take this island with one warband. I am trying to save you by keeping one half of your grain safe.  It is not for us.  It is for you.  If the Saxons have it then we suffer and they gain. Your crops are gathered. Prepare for the worst!”