Saxon Fall (24 page)

“You were right, Warlord.  How could I have been so blind?”

“You were trying to save your son.”

We had not even arrayed in our battle lines when the Northumbrians began to break camp and head into the forest. We had more men than he did and he had no surprise. The priest had told him that the game was up and the cautious king was retreating. With the backs of his warriors to the forest he was inviting disaster if he stayed to face us.

“Pol, Lann Aelle, have Daffydd and his archers join us.” They galloped off. “King Penda and King Cadwallon, Edwin has a large burgh at Caer Daun on the other side of this forest.  He has more men there.  We need to stop him from gaining reinforcements from the north.  Take your armies and keep your swords in his back.  Do not try to bring him to battle for the forests will suit his lightly armed men. Give him no rest. We have fed well and he has not.”

“What will you do, Warlord?”

“I will take your equites and mine and we will get ahead of him. I will take my men through the forest and we will be waiting before Caer Daun for him.  We will end this there.”

Cadwallon nodded and waved forward Dai ap Dai. “Go with the Warlord!”

The leader of the equites of Cymru nodded. I could see the smile on his lips. He was one of us yet.

It was a mighty force of horse which I gathered. “Aed, take your scouts and find us a way through the forest.  Head to the west for I would avoid King Edwin and his army.”

“Aye Warlord.”

I saw Gawan looking annoyed, “What ails you brother?”

“That priest struck me and knocked me from my horse.  I will pay him back before too long.”

I laughed, “It does not matter.  He knows nothing. He can do us no more harm. Kay, have your banner as the rearguard.”

“What of the slingers, Warlord?”

“They can guard the burgh with the wounded. They will eat well at any rate.” Although many of the supplies had been divided amongst us there was still a hall full at the burgh. “Dai, you can ride with me for I would speak with you.”

We headed west in case there were any Northumbrian spies watching us.  We would enter the forests where the land began to rise.  I had no doubt that we would move as fast, if not faster than the Northumbrians.

“Tell me what happened to my sister, the Queen. Had she been ill for long?”

“No, Warlord.  She was in good health for a day or so before she and the Prince began to feel drowsy.  We thought nothing of it but then a day later they just slept.  It was then that the priest arrived. He spoke with the king and he sat, alone, with the Queen and her son.  A day later and the Prince awoke but the Queen did not.” He hesitated, “The priest said it was because she was a pagan and did not believe but Prince Cadfan did.”

“And what do you believe?”

“I believe in the old ways as the Queen did.”

“Did anyone leave the town at about this time?”

He looked at me in surprise. “How did you know?”

Gawan, who was behind us, laughed sardonically, “Perhaps my big brother is getting the second sight.”

“No but you have worked out what I have, Gawan.”

He nodded and Dai looked from one to the other, “What am I missing, Warlord?”

“Who left?”

“The Queen’s handmaidens were all upset by her death and there was much weeping and rending of clothes.  The king ordered us to let them grieve and two of them disappeared.  The others said that they were so upset by the Queen’s death that they took their own lives.”

“But you did not find their bodies?”

“No, Warlord, we searched but…” his shoulders slumped, “The Queen was murdered.”

I nodded, “Edwin must have planted the women some time ago.  The priest was sent to finish the deed.”

“But he is a priest of the White Christ!”

I remembered when I had been in Llenlleog’s country and I had seen the look of pure hate on the bishop there.  He had been capable of murder in the name of his church. I had no doubt that Paulinus would have done so in the name of the Pope. If I saw him again he would die. As events turned out I did not.  He fled back to Rome where he was lauded as a hero of the church for having converted two heathen kings. He would beg forgiveness for the murder and be absolved. That was the difference between our worlds.

Now that I knew the truth I could concentrate on the matters at hand. King Edwin had a well built stronghold and I had no doubt that the cautious king had left it well garrisoned. He would expect us to come after him and he would be prepared to defend and let us waste our strength on his shield wall. I hoped to be the surprise he had not anticipated.

Summer was on the wane but the leaves were still heavy upon the trees.  We rode through dappled sunlight.  We kept a steady rather than fast pace. I did not think we would have to fight when we emerged but it paid to be ready.  It took the rest of the day to pass through the oak and birch trees of Bilhaugh Forest. It was still light when we emerged well to the west of Caer Daun.

“Pol and Dai rest the men here. I will ride with the scouts to spy out the burgh.”

“You cannot go alone.”

“No Pol. My brother and cousin will escort my squires and myself. Fear not I was not meant to fall before Edwin dies.” I had no idea what put that thought into my head but I was learning to trust these feelings which had recently come into my head.  I wondered if Nanna’s death had aught to do with it. As dusk descended we approached the river north of Caer Daun. I was going to head south when I saw that the Northumbrians had arrived and they were setting up camp in the bed of the river.

I was curious. There was a perfectly good burgh some two miles away and yet the king had chosen the bend of the river for his men to camp and, presumably, fight.  Why?

“Dai, ride to Pol and have him bring the equites here.  We will camp on this high ground.  There is shelter from the eyes of the Northumbrians but tell him no fires.”

He rode off. “And what do you intend, brother?”

“I intend to go down and inspect his camp after dark. This Edwin is cautious.  Why has he chosen here to defend?” I pointed to the forest to the south.  “If we had followed him north then when we came from the forest we would not see where he has camped.  It is in a hollow and hidden.  Why does he hide?”

There were six scouts with us. As darkness fell they led us down the slope towards the camp. The Northumbrians had lit fires and were cooking. We halted half a mile from the camp and leaving Llewellyn and two scouts to watch the horses we made our way toward the river. We had not gone far when I discovered why he had chosen this site. The ground was swampy and although we did not sink into it I knew that horses with mailed warriors upon them would struggle. They would, at best, go so slowly as to be rendered ineffective and, at worst, they would sink into the swamp.

Suddenly we heard the sound of hammering ahead.  We crept closer. The fires of the Northumbrians lit them and the darkness hid us. I saw, just fifty paces away, the warriors hammering sharpened wooden stakes into the soft swamp.  They were there to catch our horses. I had seen enough.  I led my men back to the horses.  We waited until we were well clear from the Northumbrian camp before I spoke.

“He has chosen this so that he can slaughter our equites. If we tried to charge then our horses would sink in the mud or be impaled upon the stakes.  Even the fyrd would be amongst us and their knives would make short work of heavily mailed warriors floundering in the swamp. He is a cunning opponent.”

“Then what can we do?”

“I will sleep on it, brother.”

We were awake before dawn. I sent two of Aed’s scouts with the news of the Northumbrian’s dispositions. The two kings would have to bring their army further north. I led the equites to the north of the camp and positioned my warriors across and along the road.  We waited.

Dai asked, “Warlord, why do we wait here?”

“Your king and King Penda will take most of the day to reach here. I am waiting for King Edwin to send a rider north for reinforcements.”

“But he will see us!”

“I know. I wish him to.”

It was mid morning when the five riders crested the rise.  They saw a mighty host of horsemen. We had well over a hundred equites and with the twenty squires and sixty archers we filled the road between the trees. They turned and fled.

“Good, now we can advance on the Northumbrians.”

Gawan rode next to me as we trotted south down the old Roman Road. “You have closed your mind to me brother.  I cannot read your thoughts.”

“I am sorry, Gawan.  I did not know I had. Perhaps I am gaining powers I did not know I could possess.  I seem to be able to read Edwin and his purposes.”

“You have a plan to deal with the swamp?”

“I have. He is counting on the fact that the river will protect him. I intend to use that misplaced confidence. He also thinks my horsemen cannot attack him or if we do then it will be a disaster.  I will have my horsemen ride at him as though we are meaning to attack and then pull back.”

“How will that help?” I smiled and told him. He nodded appreciatively. “A cunning plan.”

“Not an original one.  I read of this when I was in Constantinopolis.  I was not certain how I would manage to use it but Edwin has given me the opportunity.”

I called for Daffydd and gave him his instructions.  He rode north along the Roman Road.  I knew he could be relied upon.  He would not act rashly.  The buccina and the dragon standard were all that he needed.

We reined in a mile from the Northumbrian lines.  It was impossible to see the strakes and the swamp.  It looked like a grass covered bend in the river. The area just behind was covered in warriors. They watched us but made no move to form a shield wall. He could see that our numbers were too few to attack. King Edwin was waiting for our foot to arrive.

“We will camp here.  Let us rest the horses.  Tomorrow we will begin our attack.”

Aed’s scouts returned. “King Penda and King Cadwallon will be here by dark.”

“Good.” We had already laid out the camp for our allies.  The slightly higher ground meant we could peer down upon them. I went with Lann Aelle and Pol for a closer inspection of the Saxon defences. We halted just four hundred paces from them. I knew that they could ride at us if they chose but we could easily outrun their ponies. They would have to watch us and grind their teeth in anger.

We sought the banners.  I spotted King Edwin’s and his two sons.  They were in the bend of the river.  To the south were the men of Eadfrith. I also saw the banners of Eabald of Kent. On the extreme southern flank were the men of Dál Riata. To the north were Aethelfrith’s sons.  They were a formidable army.  The fyrd was spread out in a long line in front of the housecarls of the leaders. We would have to cut our way through them first. King Edwin was hoping that I would be foolish enough to attack my heavy horses and then his wild fyrd would deal with us.

We returned to our lines and I lay down to sleep.  My side still ached and I would need to have all of my strength for the battle to come.

King Penda and King Cadwallon came ahead of the long column of warriors and joined me to view the Northumbrians. I told them of the trap which Edwin had planned.

“And what will you do, Warlord?”

“Why I will charge him as he expects me to!” Penda looked at me as though I had taken leave of my senses.  King Cadwallon was more like his old self and he smiled. “Trust me I will not fall into his trap but I want him to commit his men to attack me.  They will allow your warriors to cut their way through Eadfrith’s men.  We will have him between us.” As with Gawan I took them into my confidence and gave them the details of my plan. They were both happier when they knew that I had thought this through thoroughly.

That evening we gathered the Mercian archers, of whom there were just a handful, and the Welsh archers who numbered more than a hundred together to give them their instructions. As the Northumbrians’ fires burned the archers crept close to the swamp.  Llenlleog led them for he had been there with me. We watched from the hillside although there was little to see.  We could hear, however.  The archers began to loose flight after flight of arrows into their camp.  We heard the screams and shouts as warriors were struck. After ten flights of arrows I heard Llewellyn sound the buccina and they withdrew. Three hours later, as the moon rose, they returned to send another ten flights over. Once that was done they enjoyed a rest.  The Northumbrians had no rest for they expected to have their sleep shattered by a further rain of deadly arrows.

When dawn broke we saw the bodies huddled in little groups.  The Northumbrians began to clear them and we prepared for battle. We left the squires with the horses and we joined the equites of Dai ap Dai.  Llewellyn was the only one of my men who was horsed for he carried the dragon banner. Dai’s squire carried my shield and I held his stirrup.  The hard part would be reaching the battlefield.

Dai led his men from the north so that we, running on the right of the horses, were hidden.  At the same time King Penda and King Cadwallon led their men in a long line to the south of us. The horses cantered but we had to run hard to keep up with them. I heard the Northumbrians horns as the men were called to arms. The fyrd would already be moving close to the stakes. We were just thirty paces from the stakes and the swamp when Llewellyn halted.  The squire handed me my shield. The well trained Welshmen halted as one. With the exception of Llewellyn they turned and rode back up the hill.  We ran towards the fyrd.  They were well in front of the shield wall.  Llewellyn rode his horse up and down making the dragon standard wail.  We ran forward. The fyrd suddenly saw not horsemen charging them but mailed men on foot. The stakes could easily be seen and avoided. I lowered my sword and the buccina sounded. I could see, from the other side of the river, Daffydd and my archers as they rode to the eastern bank of the Daun where they would soon begin to rain death on the warbands of Aethelfrith’s sons.

The fyrd were caught in two minds.  Did they do as they had been ordered and come towards us or retreat because their plan had failed?  They panicked and looked for instructions. I brought Saxon Slayer around in a wide arc and decapitated the first warrior. I punched a second with my shield and, stepping forward stabbed down on his middle.  We had to get as close to the shield wall as possible. The farmers who faced us stood no chance and they did what any sensible man would do in that situation, they ran. They hurtled towards the shield wall which was advancing towards us. Oswald and Oswiu’s men would not let them through.  To do so would invite us to close with them.  They all knew how good my equites were.  Some of the fyrd perished at the hands of their own countrymen.  They began to tear their way through the shield wall to reach the safety of the river.