Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 06] Saxon Slaughter Page 8

  I was taken aback. His face showed that he would brook no argument. “Why? It is only a slight wound.”

  “It is not. Myrddyn is worried. You should just concentrate on getting home. Let me worry about protecting the animals and the men.” He swept his arm around. “You have them all worried. They do not want to lose their Warlord and I do not wish to lose my father. Let me take the burden of command.”

  And so, for the first time, I allowed someone else to lead my men. Had it not been Hogan I would not have agreed but he was my son and I knew he had the ability. I had had a close encounter with death and it had made me think. Over the next three days, as we headed back west through increasingly cold weather, I wondered if the gods were sending me a sign. It felt like it to me.

  Kay had not only trained his men while we were away he had had a warrior hall built for us. It made a difference for the autumn had begun on the way west and the wind wildly whipped us home. Myrddyn was concerned about my wound and made me undress completely when we were in the hall. “It is a little redder than it should be. We will have to watch it.” He shook his head. “If we were close to Wyddfa I would have you bathe in its waters; they have healing powers.”

  “There is water close by which has that power.”

  Myrddyn said scornfully, “You mean the Wide Water? I think not.”

  “No Myrddyn. Before you came to us my mother’s spirit came to me in Civitas Carvetiorum and told me to throw the sword in the lake by the fort. I did so and the sword came when I called for it.”

  I could see that he was dubious but the mention of my mother’s spirit swayed him. “If your mother’s spirit is associated with this water then perhaps there may be something in it. We will try it anyway.”

  We returned with Prince Pasgen and his men. The dead equites had been replaced by squires and the prince would need to begin to mould his new men into an effective fighting force. The journey north allowed us to talk.

  “You have now seen the problems of fighting without armour. I fear this means that we will not be able to enlarge Rheged. We will have to hold what we have.”

  “I know Warlord. The new fort we will build at Penrhyd will have to be the eastern border.”

  Myrddyn said, “You forget, Prince Pasgen, that your fortress at Civitas Carvetiorum is also on the eastern edge of Rheged now. You too will be the border. It is the land to the west which you will protect.”

  “It seems that Rheged will just be an island holding against a sea of Saxons.”

  I smiled, “Much as we have on Mona but we succeeded there Prince Pasgen. I have hopes that you too will prevail.”

  Myrddyn pointed to the sea.“You need trade my prince, you need to use your ports and create trade. You know how well it worked for the Warlord.”

  “And perhaps Alt Cult may rise from the ashes and resist the Saxon oppressor.”

  “You both sound hopeful.”

  “It is the only way to be. Doubt is a savage enemy and weakens worse than war.”

  Like Kay in the south Aidan had not been idle and the fortress had an air of power once more. There were only two or three guards on the walls but the gate was closed and Prince Pasgen’s dragon banner flew proudly from the tower. After the horses were stabled Myrddyn and I went to the lake. It was not large but it was deep. When Myrddyn saw it he nodded. “This would have been built by the Romans to provide fish for their fort. It may well have a link to your sword. Take Saxon Slayer with you.”

  I undressed and stepped into the icy water clutching my blade. As soon as the water touched the wound it seemed to numb it and it did not ache as much. I closed my eyes and let the water ebb around me. I wondered how long I should stay but I was in no hurry to leave. I felt at peace. Eventually Myrddyn said, “The water has had time enough. Come and I will examine the wound.”

  He was pleased with the effect. “It is less red and angry. How does it feel?”

  “It feels less painful and I can move a little easier.”

  The wizard looked at the water. “I will have to think on this lake. There may be a power here.” He looked around. “And yet I can see no reason for its magic.”

  “Perhaps there are older forces at work here Myrddyn.”

  Myrddyn was never afraid to admit to his failings and he nodded. “You are right. I suspect Osric and King Urien might have been able to shed some light on this phenomenon.” Sadly they were in the Otherworld and we would never know from whence the waters derived their powers but they had worked. My wound healed well from that day and I was just left with another scar.

  We spent autumn travelling around Rheged and using the weapons we had captured to arm the men in each area. Prince Pasgen had used the ambush in a positive way. He threw himself into the raising of the army. As for me, I took the opportunity to allow Hogan Lann to organise my forces. It was he who supervised the patrols to the east as well as the building of the fort at Penrhyd. I was healing but it was slower than I would have liked. Myrddyn saw my problem and counselled me. “Warlord you have lived longer than most men. You are now of an age with King Urien, probably older than he was. Your days in the shield wall are gone and soon you will have to relinquish the power you hold.”

  “But I am Warlord and the people expect me to lead.”

  He looked at me with a world weary look. “It is a title. Could not Hogan Lann fulfil the same title?”

  It was then that I saw what was stopping me. It was not the title, it was the sword. Saxon Slayer was part of the Warlord; how could I give it up. I knew that it would go to my son but I felt that if I gave up the sword I was saying that I was no longer a leader. If I did that then what would I do? Would I spend the days bouncing Hogan Lann’s children on my knee? I could not give up the title for I was not finished yet. I had a promise to keep.

  I had forgotten how harsh the winters were in Rheged. The island of Mona was washed by balmy winds and seas, even in winter. The only time we saw snow was on the top of Wyddfa but here the land was buried by snow. The one consolation we had was that it prevented the Saxons from avenging our attacks and we could continue to train and arm the men.

  Hogan Lann and Prince Pasgen came to me after the first snows. “Warlord, we think you should return to Mona for the winter. You are serving no purpose here and we can carry on your work. Return again in the spring.”

  It was blunt and I was taken aback. “You do not need me?”

  “We did not say that. We said that you could return and be with Myfanwy, Nanna and Gawan.”

  I looked to Myrddyn for help. He smiled enigmatically. “It was my idea, Warlord and I will return with you. Daffydd is due at Alavna in the next week we can return with him and your wound will heal faster closer to Wyddfa.”

  I looked at my captains in turn and they all nodded. “It seems you all conspire against me. I will do as you wish but reluctantly.”

  Hogan Lann laughed. “So long as you do as we wish I care not.” He came and embraced me. “Take this as a sign of the love we have for you, father. We nearly lost you and we would have you lead us for some time to come.”

  “You do not wish to take over from me?”

  He shook his head. “I will always follow you wherever you lead for as long as you wish to lead us.”

  I left with Myrddyn the next day. Aedh and his scouts escorted us and we took the road over the high pass to Alavna. It seemed the weather was also against us for we had to travel through snow which came up to our horse’s withers but Aedh and his scouts made a path for us and soon we dropped down to the warmer coastline and the snow disappeared. I did not envy Aedh his journey back but he did not complain. They waited with me for the ship which arrived a day later.

  We took the opportunity of starting a defence force for the port as well as creating a headman to begin trading with other places. They were keen for the change. Fishing was an erratic business and trade would make them all rich. As I waved farewell to Alavna and Aedh I wondered if I would return and what changes I would see. My
wound had changed my life, of that I was certain.

  The voyage home was a stormy one in more ways than one. The fierce winds from the east which had battered us in our fort now forced us further west than we wished to go. The two horses were terrified as the winds buffeted and smashed into us driving us well off course. We struggled all afternoon and well into the night to control the bucking ship. When dawn broke we saw, alarmingly to the west, land. That could only be Hibernia. I knew that the Hibernians would dearly love to get their hands on me. I had bested them every time I had fought them. I had sailed into their heartland and killed one of their kings. We had to sail as far away from that place as possible. Daffydd headed east.

  When we saw the land appear to the east Daffydd looked worried, “I am afraid, Warlord, that we have sailed from one danger and into another. This is the island the Saxons call Man. They now control it. We will have to sail around the coast of this dangerous place and hope that they have no ships to chase us.”

  I knew what he meant. The Saxons used oared ships and, as we were sailing into the wind, they could easily catch us. I nodded to Myrddyn. “Let us man a bolt thrower. It seems we are not meant to have a leisurely journey to our home.”

  Daffydd looked genuinely upset, “I am sorry Warlord.”

  Myrddyn answered for me, “It is wyrd, captain. We can do nothing about it but just the best that we can. Do not worry, the Warlord and I have faced dangers like this before. We will survive.”

  Myrddyn had an optimism I did not share. We had just four warriors on board and only two bolt throwers. If more than one ship came to capture this valuable prize then we would be dead men. I felt better as we took the canvas from the bolt throwers and prepared them for action. It gave me something to do and I felt useful once more. As we checked the tension on the war machines I glanced over to the hump of an island which rose menacingly to our right. I could see smoke from their fires and, as we passed the northern tip, I saw fishing boats in the small bay. Perhaps we would have some luck and it would just be fishing ships that we saw.

  Our progress was slow as the wind was coming from the east and Daffydd was fighting both wind and tide. I was glad when the island became slightly smaller as it showed me that we were moving away from the danger. I saw a larger village and, with a sinking feeling I saw the two larger ships. There were Saxons there. Perhaps they would not have noticed us or would not be able to man the ship in time. Myrddyn and I stood and stared. Myrddyn shrugged as he said, “They are coming. It would be best to put your mail on Warlord.”

  He was right, of course. It was unlikely that it would make much difference but at least with mail I might survive long enough to give the others on the ship a chance. We were tantalizingly close to the sanctuary of Caer Gybi. I could see, just on the horizon, the white tipped top of Wyddfa. It might as well have been on the other side of the world for the Saxon ships were being rowed hard to catch the prize that was my ship.

  When I had armed and donned both cloak and helmet I stood again at the stern with Myrddyn and the captain. I could see that the two ships were closing rapidly and we were barely moving. I looked at Daffydd. He had been my captain since he had been a young man and he was a good seaman. “Well Daffydd, if you have any tricks up your sleeves now would be a good time to try them.”

  He smiled and looked up at the pennant on the mast head. “We could gain some speed if we sailed with the wind on our quarter but that would mean heading back to their island for a short time. Once we were beyond the southern tip we would have sea room.” He pointed at the ships, “They cannot keep this speed up for long but they will catch us soon unless we do something.”

  Myrddyn rubbed his hands together. “Then turn the ship and we will try the bolt thrower. The gods help those who help themselves.”

  It was a move the Saxons were not expecting. I tried to picture what they would see. Instead of our stern, heading fearfully away they would see us beam on. They would think we had panicked. As the ship heeled over and the wind suddenly caught us we had to hold on to the bolt thrower to keep our balance. Myrddyn aimed the bolt thrower as one of the Saxon ships shifted course to try to intercept us.

  “Have another bolt ready Warlord.”

  I knelt down to pick up another of the deadly missiles. Myrddyn released the bolt. It flew across the water and smashed through the rail at the bow. I heard screams as splinters of wood struck the rowers and then saw the boat yaw as the bolt embedded itself in one of the men steering the ship. It slowed, not by much but enough to allow me to load the Roman weapon again. The second boat increased the rate at which the oars struck the water and it followed our turn. It was safe from our bolts so long as it stayed there.

  Myrddyn changed the trajectory of the second bolt and we struck the Saxon ship just below the water line. As I loaded again I watched. There appeared to be no effect at all and then, suddenly, they stopped rowing. I saw the bows of the ship dip as the crew fought to seal the breach our bolt had created.

  “Warlord, let us get to the other bolt thrower.” There were two on each side. Had the ship been fully crewed for war there would have been extra men on board to man them. Daffydd had not expected trouble and was travelling lighter.

  I could see that we had passed the southern tip of the island and Myrddyn shouted to the captain, “Put her hard over captain.”

  Everyone on board knew how clever Myrddyn was and yet it seemed to go against common sense. We would be heading into the wind and we would be almost stopped. I nodded to Daffydd who put the tiller hard over. We ran to the other side. The machine was ready to send its deadly missile across the water. The Saxon ship was going at full speed and was slicing through the sea. As we turned the bow of our ship raised and then dipped as we stopped. It was bizarre; we were in the path of the Saxon ship. Their captain had a quick decision to make. Did he ram us and risk sinking the ship with whatever cargo we carried? He chose the alternative and turned slightly. It was the opportunity Myrddyn had been waiting for and he loosed the bolt. Without waiting to see the effect he ran to the second thrower as I reloaded the first. I watched as the bolt crashed through the sides and the rowers. The mast shivered on the Saxon ship as the bolt smashed into it. The second bolt hit the ship at the stern. The tiller shattered and the Saxon ship was dead in the water. Myrddyn reached me as I had just readied the first bolt thrower and he sent the last bolt into the ship’s bowels. It began to take on water.

  Daffydd’s men cheered and we resumed our course. I could see the Saxons as they began to bail out their ship. The two ships would survive but they would take some repairing. I saw the captain of the second ship staring across the water. I took off my helmet and stared back. He would know the prize he had missed. Any Saxon would sacrifice two ships to get their hands on Lord Lann, Warlord of Rheged and Wolf Warrior. They had come close again but failed.

  We headed for the landing stage close to my home. Wyddfa looked welcoming despite the snow on the top of its craggy peak. As we gently bumped into the wooden jetty I said, “I think that, from now on, we will man our ships fully, no matter what the journey. I would not have us lose a ship. Until today I had not thought that the Saxons were so close. We will need to watch them.”

  “Aye Warlord. I have already increased the number of bolt throwers at Caer Gybi. I wish to discourage any attacks from the west.”

  We rode the short way to the gates of the fortress. No-one knew we were coming but my horse and my armour were recognised. Myfanwy’s face showed her concern and was echoed by her words. “Why have you returned my love?”

  I briefly thought of lying but I knew that when she found the truth there would be a bigger price to pay. “I was slightly wounded and my son thought that it would do me good to recover here.” She nodded and held my hand. “Besides it will do him good to lead men.”

  She led me indoors. Myrddyn called, “I will speak with you later Warlord. I have much to do.” We had spent some of the journey working out better ways to protect our men
and to fight our foes. Myrddyn and Brother Oswald would put their heads together and provide solutions. That I knew.

  Once we were in our quarters she said, “Show me the wound.”

  I had learned, over the years, not to argue with Myfanwy. I could get away with many things but this was not one of them. She frowned as she saw the cauterised wound. “Is it sore?”

  I shook my head. “The sea voyage hardened it up a little.”

  She ran her fingers over the wound. “Why did the wizard not stitch the wound?”

  “It was too big.”

  “And I assume you were not wearing your mail?”

  “No, but we were not expecting to fight.” I saw her opening her mouth and her eyes widening. I held my finger to her lips. “I have promised Hogan that I will wear my mail at all times from now on.”

  She snorted, “A little late for that. Anyway you had better bathe. King Cadfan visits on the morrow. I did not know you were coming home so it will be a surprise for him too.”

  I could hear the reproach in her voice. “Perhaps I should have stayed away then.”

  She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head on one side. “Listen to me Warlord, I am pleased to see you home and I would like you to stay. Let us leave it at that.”

  I grabbed her and kissed her. “The bath can wait.”

  “And what about the wound?”

  “I am a warrior!”

  Later when I had bathed and dressed I felt much better. The sea voyage was long forgotten. It was quiet around the table that night. Nanna and her mother had been arguing and there was a frosty silence. Gawan was keen to hear about the battles but his mother forbade such talk at meal times. I winked and said quietly to him, “Later, I will tell you.” That satisfied him and I ate a hot meal in a comfortable room. I was getting too old for campaigning.

  After the meal I told Gawan of the raids and the skirmishes. I realised that soon he would need to begin his training in earnest. He would have the skills with a sword soon but a warrior needed more than a sword. I would have to find a good warrior to help me. There had been a time when I would have relished the role but I had too many responsibilities. Even Hogan and Pol had too much to do. Perhaps Lann Aelle would be the best choice, but he was in Rheged.