Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 02] Saxon Revenge Read online

  Saxon Revenge

  Book 2 in the

  Wolf Brethren series

  By

  Griff Hosker

  Published by Griff Hosker 2013

  Copyright © Griff Hosker Second Edition

  The author has asserted their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

  Dedication

  This is dedicated to you my readers. I am gratified that you continue to buy my books and, I hope, enjoy them. I will continue to write them, if only because I enjoy creating the stories and the characters and, I hope, bringing history to life. Thanks to my new readers in Canada and Germany; you are a new and welcome audience. Thanks to Eileen, my patient wife and editor.

  Table of contents

  Map Page 5

  Chapter 1 Page 6

  Chapter 2 Page 30

  Chapter 3 Page 49

  Chapter 4 Page 71

  Chapter 5 Page 94

  Chapter 6 Page 118

  Chapter 7 Page 141

  Chapter 8 Page 161

  Chapter 9 Page 184

  Chapter 10 Page 206

  Chapter 11 Page 229

  Chapter 12 Page 253

  Chapter 13 Page 276

  Chapter 14 Page 297

  Chapter 15 Page 312

  Chapter 16 Page 337

  Chapter 17 Page 358

  Glossary Page 372

  Historical note Page 375

  Other books Page 378

  Britain in the late 6th Century

  Chapter 1

  Hen Ogledd 587 A.D.

  Spring had come late to the last lands free from the domination of the Saxon and Angle invaders. The icy ground had remained hard, frozen and sterile while savage, vicious winds had ripped trees and homes into splinters. A late snow had killed many lambs and sheep and it would be a difficult summer with famine hard on the heels of hunger. Despite the problems he was suffering King Urien of Rheged had been adamant; he had promised King Gwalliog, his ally and king of Elmet, his aid against the Saxons who pressed his borders and he would send a force, even though it meant his own people would be hungrier as a result. That was King Urien’s way. It is said by the holy men of the White Christ that he was the last great British king and I believe them. He had the vision to see that the Saxons could only be defeated by the remaining British kings banding together. We had done so before the winter and destroyed the invaders who threatened us. Now we would launch our own attack and attempt to retake the land further south which they were threatening. We were no longer just consolidating, we were attacking.

  I looked around at my army. In truth it was little more than a large warband but they were all seasoned warriors and had fought with me for some years. I had thought that Prince Ywain, the son of King Urien, would lead the force but the king wanted his son to remain at Civitas Carvetiorum to learn how to govern the kingdom he would inherit one day. Ywain was not happy! But it mean much to me that the king whom I admired thought that I would be capable of the feat with such a small force. I had with me my brother Raibeart. He had married the daughter of King Gwalliog, Maiwen, and he was more than happy to be aiding his father in law. Maiwen, heavily pregnant, was with my wife and child at my stronghold, Castle Perilous. He led my troop of archers which had proved, time and again, superior to any archers the Saxons possessed. There were a hundred of them and they were all skilled fletchers and bowyers. We had pack animals with bundles of arrows strapped to their backs as we had learned, long ago, that you could never have too many arrows. My other brother, Aelle, would have commanded my slingers but he had lost an arm and now commanded the southern approaches to Rheged. The forty slingers we took were commanded by Raibeart.

  The rest of my force consisted of thirty mounted and armed equites and two hundred mailed warriors on foot. The archers and slingers might damage the enemy but it would be my oathsworn warriors who would defeat them. Garth, my lieutenant, walked at their head whilst Raibeart and I rode with the equites. I had long fought against this as I preferred marching with my men, but it was they who forced me to mount for I was their lord and their leader.

  The first week had been an easy journey as we had ridden south through a Rheged recovering from the hard winter. The hills which divided the island in two were sparsely populated and our scouts had an easy task. It had been cold as we breasted the hills which ran the length of the land, but now we were on the descent towards the east and the biting wind was a sign that we were now in greater danger, for the Saxons came from the home of the evil east wind; they would be close now and we did not want to fall foul of a roving band of raiders. Brother Osric, the priest, who ran Rheged for the king, had told me of the Romans who had built a camp each night when they marched in enemy lands. At first I had thought it unnecessary but now, as we headed closer to those lands captured many years ago by the Saxons I could see the wisdom. We did not make a camp as organised and as strong as those of the Romans, but we dug a ditch and embedded sharpened stakes around the perimeter. We all slept easier knowing that we could not be surprised. It did, however, slow us down and we were still at least a week away from the Kingdom of Elmet.

  Raibeart and I huddled in our wolf cloaks as the wind whistled around us. I was chewing on a piece of dried venison and I ruefully pointed west. “Just think, I could be in my comfortable castle with a roaring fire and my wife with me instead of freezing out in here in this land which is fit for nothing.”Raibeart was silent and I looked at him. He had taken my attempt at humour seriously and I remembered that we going to aid his family. “Of course, brother, when we do reach warmer climes we will become richer men when we plunder the Saxons we kill!”

  I was relieved to see a smile break out on his face. “Aye brother, I am pleased that our enemies like to fight with their riches and treasures about them.”

  One reason for our success as an army was that King Urien used the treasure we collected to pay the men and to arm them well. It meant that most of our warriors had mail and helmets as well as shields. The Saxons liked to spend their treasure on bracelets and armlets to show their prowess in battle. Traders now brought their wares to Rheged for they knew that they would be given coins of silver as payment and not the barter of other kingdoms. Civitas Carvetiorum was a beautiful city and not a shell as many of the other Roman settlements had become. The riches we had accrued made us a popular market and was one of the few places left on the island to attract merchants from as far away as Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire.

  “What of King Morcant Bulc?”

  Raibeart’s words cut like a knife. King Morcant Bulc was, supposedly, our ally but he had shown a reluctance to fight. I suspected that he had deliberately delayed when we had fought King Aella in the hope that he might achieve a victory at the expense of our warrior’s bodies. He was part of the alliance but he had not offered any troops to aid King Gwalliog. I shrugged, “He is what he is and we do not trust him. If he fights for us then it is an unexpected surprise and if he stands and watches then we will not be disappointed.”

  Raibeart shook his head and spat out a piece of gristle. “No I meant about Bladud and him.” Bladud was King Urien’s champion and he hated me. I kne
w that one day I would have to kill him but King Urien valued him too much. For myself I thought that he was a snake and untrustworthy. Bladud had been with the King of Bernicia when he had delayed his attack and we both suspected some collusion and perhaps conspiracy, although we had no proof.

  “I can do no more. King Urien still thinks that Bladud is a loyal warrior. At least he is now at Civitas Carvetiorum with the king and no longer with Morcant Bulc.” I knew that Bladud was a good warrior and Rheged would be safer now that we had taken so many men to aid an ally. The equites of King Urien and Prince Ywain were sound warriors, much feared by the Saxons, but they were few in number. They were constantly on patrol seeking Saxons who were raiding our lands.

  Elmet was but a short ride from our childhood home of Stanwyck but the warriors of Elmet had been busy fighting to the east of their land and left the north to the privations of the men from the sea. The first time we had met any of their warriors was when they visited King Urien. Both kings felt that it would not take much to secure Elmet’s safety and then the alliance could close around the small Saxon kingdom of Deira and drive them back into the sea. The plan showed King Urien’s vision for it would unite the last British kingdoms into one block and could halt the invasion.

  One of the scouts, Adair, galloped up. “My lord I can see the stronghold.”

  I turned to Raibeart, “Then we will not have to dig a ditch this night and we shall taste your father in law’s hospitality.”

  Raibeart gave a weak smile. He had only known King Gwalliog for fourteen short days and did not know him. He knew that he was not born of noble blood and was anxious to show that he was a warrior who deserved his daughter. For my part I had no doubts that the king would be impressed with my brother. I had heard other men, and not just his blood kin, speak of his valour and cunning on the field of battle.

  Elmet’s stronghold, Loidis, had a good position on a hill above a fast flowing river. They had cleared an area of forest all around its perimeter and it had a commanding view of the surrounding land; it could not be approached stealthily. It was not ancient, as were Civitas Carvetiorum, Stanwyck and Eboracum. It had been built neither by the Romans nor the ancient ones but the men of Elmet had been forced to build it when the Saxons came. It looked new. The palisade was sound and, doubtless, still a little green. The wooden buildings within still looked fresh and the ditch which surrounded it had sharp edges and fresh stakes in the bottom. The Saxons would not find it easy to take such a fortress.

  King Gwalliog and his lieutenants were pleased to see us. A new warrior hall had been built at one end of the fortress and we could still smell the animal dung which had been mixed with the mud and straw for the daub. My warriors would not baulk at the smell; it meant they had no walls to construct and would sleep in the dry and warm beneath a roof. Raibeart and I left Garth to see to the men while King Gwalliog took us to his Great Hall. I know that the Elmet king was proud of his hall but, having lived at Civitas Carvetiorum and seen what a magnificent hall could be, it seemed primitive by comparison. I chided myself. I had grown up in a wattle and daub roundhouse and, if my father were alive, I would have received a clout around the ears for my uncharitable thoughts.

  “Come, Lord Lann and Raibeart, my son. Sit and enjoy some ale. We have much to discuss.” He and three of his leaders sat with us around a huge table laden with jugs of ale and cold meats.

  King Gwalliog was not a young man and the years of fighting had taken their toll. His hair and beard were white and he had the gaunt look of a man who has seen four of his sons die. Raibeart could be the next king of Elmet if his last son fell and that was a sobering thought. The ale was good and we were both ready for it. Raibeart was still nervous and remained silent. “You have a fine fortress here King Gwalliog. The Saxons would lose many men trying to take it.”

  “What you say is true but it is the only one we have and the Saxons raid with impunity. It is why we, as your king does, use mounted men to hunt them down.”

  I had learned not to hide my words when speaking with kings; if they were good kings then they valued the truth and if not then it did not matter anyway. “Unless you have an army of horsemen you can never defeat the enemy, your majesty.”

  He nodded, sadly. “I know Lord Lann and I hope that your warriors and my son’s famed archers can swing the war in our favour.”

  I saw Raibeart begin to smile and sit a little straighter in his chair. He was still my little brother. “How many men can you field?”

  “When the crops are sown and the lambs born then a hundred mounted men and a thousand warriors.”

  I took a deep breath. “And what if we attacked them now? The soil is still cold and the lambs are unborn. I think the Saxons will be too busy to have begun the wapentake.”

  A frown creased the brows of his leaders and they began to murmur but he held his hand up. “What Lord Lann says is true. It will be a month before we can move such a number. Today, Lord Lann, we have the horsemen and three hundred warriors available.”

  I nodded, “Would I be right in saying those were your best warriors; the warriors of your household?”

  “Aye they would.”

  “And they would all have a helm, arms and armour?”

  He smiled proudly, “They would indeed, every one of them.”

  “Then we have an army my lord, for the Saxons will have the same problems as we do; frozen ground and inclement weather. They will not be mustered. We strike now for the men we lead, although small in number, will be worth ten of those we meet.”

  “But that would be less than a thousand men!”

  “Eight hundred and seventy by my count,” I smiled apologetically, “plus the six warriors beneath this roof.”

  He laughed, “Well that makes all the difference.” He slapped Raibeart about the shoulders. “If you have balls the size of your brother’s then I will have many fine grandchildren, my son.” He became serious. “Are you sure that less than nine hundred will suffice?”

  I had made the bold statement and now I needed to back it up. I saw the look on Raibeart’s face and knew that I could not let my brother down. “Where is their nearest settlement?”

  “There is the settlement of Wachanglen which is close to the Calder River. It is but half a day south of here. The chief there is a young warrior called Wach and it is said he is the son of King Aella.”

  Raibeart threw me a knowing look and I nodded. “I know Aella; we have fought him before. He is a wily king.”

  One of Gwalliog’s lieutenant’s said, “You defeated him last year did you not?”

  “I was part of the army which defeated him yes, but it was not an easy win and he showed great cunning. His son may have inherited some of his father’s skill.” I remembered how close we had come to losing and how it had cost my little brother, Aelle, his arm. “Is the place defended?” I swept my arm around the hall. “As well defended as this, perhaps?”

  The King beamed at the compliment and shook his head. “No. It is close to the river on one side and has a palisade as high as a man around the rest. There is a ford close to the settlement.”

  “Warriors?” Raibeart ventured.

  There was an embarrassed silence around the table. They had not scouted it out and showed that they were fighting a defensive war; holding on to what they had. “No matter. Raibeart and I will take our men and scout it out. If you have your men to prepare to leave in three days we will give this Wach a bloody nose and then see who else we can upset.”

  King Gwalliog stood and embraced me. “I can see why King Urien values you, Lord Lann. For one so young you have a clever mind.”

  I hated compliments and praise and I felt myself colouring. “Have you someone who can show us this place?”

  One of the lieutenants stepped forward. “I am Aiden and I lived close by until the men from the sea came. I will take you.”

  We found Garth who was organising the sleeping arrangements. “My brother and I will be taking the equites to scou
t the enemy. Have the men prepare for battle. We will be fighting soon.”

  Garth grinned. “Excellent. I hate them sitting on their arses too much; it makes them soft!”

  Garth was a hard task master but a fierce warrior. When he guarded my right I never feared any danger. I told the equites that they would not need mail. Raibeart and I took our bows. This was a mission when we needed to be invisible but, if we were spotted, then we could delay any pursuit.

  The land we had to cross was heavily wooded and that was a good thing. We could feed ourselves and remain hidden. However if they had scouts out then we could be ambushed. I sent four men forwards as scouts ahead of us. I turned to Aiden. “How do the people there live? Is it the same way you and your people did?”

  His face became hard and cold as he remembered his childhood. “They fish the river and they tend animals such as cattle, goats and sheep. They have cleared much of the forest and they plant crops. My people were hunters and Vindonnus was good to us.”

  I had learned much from his words. He was, as were Raibeart and I, a follower of the old ways and he would be skilled with a bow and a javelin. These things were good to know. “So they are likely to be spread outside the walls?”

  Raibeart looked over at me and grinned happily as he understood my words. “They will be as we were in Stanwyck with a few people remaining in the village while the rest work beyond its walls?”

  “Yes and I am now wondering if these were the same warriors who destroyed our home for it is almost as close to Stanwyck as it is to Loidis.” Aiden’s face creased into a frown. “Do not worry, warrior of Elmet. We do not seek revenge. Those who did the deed are dead. We saw to that.”

  “The stories are true then, my lord, that you and your brothers, when little more than children killed a warband?”

  “It wasn’t a very big warband.” I could see that he was impressed but, at the time, we had not thought of our own survival, just hitting back at the enemy.