by Griff Hosker
We had to be fast. I knew that the noise would attract the men at the ambush. I ran towards Lang Seax. He drew his long sword and hacked down at a body on the ground. He picked up Gawan’s head and threw it at me. Two of his men ran at me while the other two ran towards Agravaine and his horse. I ignored the head and swept my sword at one of the Saxons. He blocked it and stabbed at me with his dagger. Even as my own dagger tore into the thigh of the other Saxon I felt the seax pierce my right shoulder. I saw Lang Seax lumbering towards me. The arrow wound in his leg had slowed him slightly. That evened things up a little. I swung my head around and head butted the Saxon who had stabbed me. As he reeled I lashed across his throat. Even as he fell the Saxon I had wounded stabbed me in the side with his sword. I felt it scrape along bone. It caught and I stabbed him in the throat with my dagger. As he fell his sword was dragged clear. The pain was as bad as the spear wound to my knee.
Lang Seax saw the blood and thought that I was mortally wounded, “Soon I will have Saxon Slayer and then I will sail to Rheged and your land will be mine. I will be King! Your brother was just a wizard. When I kill you, there will be much honour and glory!” He laughed, “And the treasure you sent home will now be mine. You thought yourself so clever sending but three men with the gold Penda paid you! My men followed and they will already be on their way home with more horses and gold!”
“Kill me first and then boast!”
Lang Seax held his long sword in two hands. The sun was setting and I was silhouetted against it. He could no longer see the blood seeping from my wounds. He suddenly ran at me, a little lopsidedly, swinging his sword above his head to split me in two. I dived to my left and dragged Saxon Slayer along his thigh. It tore through the leather and blood spurted. I tried to get to my feet but I was slow. His sword came down for my head. It was my helmet which saved me. As I pulled my head away his sword caught on the metal which held my red plume in place. It tore the helmet from my head but it allowed me to get to my feet.
As I stood I saw that Agravaine’s horse was dead as well as the last two Saxons but Agravaine was not moving. There were just the two of us left but, in the distance, I could hear the sound of the other Saxons. They had heard the battle and were returning to their chief. We were both moving slowly now. My sword had ripped a deep wound in Lang Seax’s leg. Both his legs had a wound. I had no speed and little agility anymore. I had to use guile. I used deception. I bent over as though I could not breathe and he did as I had expected, he swung his sword at me. He expected me to either move away from the blade or not be able to move at all.
Instead of doing either of those things I stepped in closer to him. I held Saxon Slayer above my head. He would hit my sword and the power of the long sword might well force my weakened arm down but I had little choice. The blade hit but it was too close to him and my blade held his. I brought the seax I had taken from the Saxon in Rheged up under his left arm. There was no mail there. I felt the blade enter the hairy flesh and I pushed. Warm blood began to flow around my hand. I pushed and twisted. The seax had no hilt and my fist went into the hole I had made. I was close enough to him to see the moment of his death. My hand was almost inside his body and I gave one more push. The light went from his eyes and he fell.
I was exhausted but I could hear the sounds of men rushing to the aid of their chief. I sheathed my sword and taking the long sword rammed it between two rocks and I broke it. I dropped the hilt and ran to Agravaine. He was still alive.
“Come let us get away.” It was a lie for I was dying but he had to have hope. I helped him to his feet.
“No Warlord, I am hurt. You escape and I will hold them off.”
I shook my head, “No, Agravaine, this is the end. I will go and send the sword back to the spirits. Come with me.”
“Go, I will hold them off as long as I can.” His eyes told me that he was a dead man walking.
I clasped his hand, “I will see you in the Otherworld.”
“I will be waiting.”
I knew where the chimney of rock was and I headed up the trail. The sun was almost set now but there was enough light to see where I was going. The blood was pouring from my two wounds. As I recalled the pool was just above my head. I knew not where it was exactly and the question buzzed around my head, would I make it before I died or was caught? Below me I heard shouts and then the clash of steel on steel. A man cried out and there was more clashing of blades and shouts. There was a second cry and then a third and then silence. Agravaine had fallen. Each step was agony. I drew my sword and used it as a staff to help me up.
Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me. I turned. I was just int time to see one of the Saxons. My wolf cloak had hidden me and it was only when I turned that he saw my face. He was within two paces of me. I brought my sword across his neck. My blade bit deeply despite the fact that it had not been sharpened for days. I turned and hurried up the steep slope. I could barely get my breath and I felt blood flowing from my wounds. The Saxon voices told me that they had seen me. The pile of rocks ahead was a welcome sight. In my dream that was where the pool lay but footsteps behind brought another Saxon. This time, even as I turned, he rammed his spear into my middle. I had to use two hands to swing my sword. I hacked into his head. I pulled the spear from me. I saw entrails hanging down. I threw the spear into the dark and half ran and crawled to the rocks. I used my left hand to pull myself to the edge. Behind me I heard footsteps. I did not have long.
I remembered Myrddyn’s words, ‘Remember this pool. It is the home of the sword. This is where it must lie.’
“Father, Myrddyn, I have kept my promise. The sword will die with me until it is ready to be reborn.” I dropped the sword into the hole. I heard it clang off the side and then there was a splash as it hit the water. I felt an excruciating pain in my back and I closed my eyes. All was black and then I saw four shadows walking toward me. They were men. Three were dressed in mail. It was my father, Myrddyn, Gawan and Agravaine.
My father held out his hand, ‘Come my son, your work here is done. We have a place of honour for you. The sword is now safe until another comes to claim it.’
I stood and all pain was gone. My wounds were healed. I took my father’s hand and we stepped into the blackness.
Epilogue
Arturus’ Story
We waited six moons for my father and uncle to return after Geraint arrived and told us of the battle and my uncle’s last message. We still hoped that, one day, they would ride over the hill and back to our home. We knew they were dead when the Mercian, Egbert, sent us Pol’s horse and a message that Lang Seax was dead. His messenger recounted the events of the battle of the Dee and the disappearance of my uncle and Agravaine. King Peada had sent men to hunt down the mercenary Saxons. They had found bodies a few miles from the wolf cave that was Myrddyn’s tomb. The Clan of the Snake had left its lair.
We had also lost Llenlleog. When Pelas ap Tuanthal arrived back with his box of treasure he said that the three of them had been ambushed by the Clan of the Snake near to the Long Water. Llenlleog had led them up Halvelyn’s side to draw them off. Llewellyn and I had taken the equites to go to their aid. We found Llenlleog’s squire and their horses. They were dead and we found a trail of dead Saxons but we never found Llenlleog. It was as though the mountain had taken him. He had simply disappeared. We pursued the Saxons beyond our borders and slew them all. I placed their heads on spears at our boundary to mark that which was ours.
Rheged was bathed in sadness by our losses. We had many widows and orphans and we had lost our two rocks, the Warlord and my father. The gold we had been given and won meant that none went hungry but coins cannot buy fathers, brothers and sons. Only Gwenhwyfar seemed to be at peace. On the day that Pol’s horse was returned to us and all hope left us she sat in my hall feeding Myfanwy. She reached over with her free hand and touched mine. “Husband, I have a confession to make. I have known of your father and uncle’s deaths since they died. Their spirits came to me.”
/> I was shocked. My wife had kept something from me. “But why did you not tell me?”
“You have many in your land who are Christian. You are Christian. I did not want them to know of my powers. You and I now have a duty to hold Rheged together for as long as we can. Until Myfanwy is a woman we will be the glue which holds Rheged together.”
“How did they die?”
Her face clouded. “They died as warriors. They were both true to the end as was Llenlleog and Agravaine. Your grandfather trained his warriors well. The Wolf Brethren are all gone. The darkness is coming but your family has done that which was ordained.” She put Myfanwy over her shoulder and rubbed her back to wind her. “As for you and me? We have a different adventure in our future but we will face that future together. The handful of equites you have will need to do that which more than a hundred did in your uncle’s time. I must hold the people together and Myfanwy will be the hope of Rheged.”
The next day I took Llewelyn and Pelas ap Tuanthal. We went with our squires and we rode to Halvelyn. We passed the empty shepherd’s cottage where we had found Warrior. He had not returned and I guessed he was dead too. We left our horses there and walked to Halvelyn’s peak. Standing there I raised my hands and closed my eyes. I shouted, “Spirit of Llenlleog, I know you are close, speak to me.”
The wind answered me by whistling around my ears. I remained still. My only movement caused by the wind itself. I though he would refuse to speak to me for I wore a cross about my neck. I took the cross from my neck and held it in my hand. The wind itself seemed to speak to me. ‘Arturus I am at peace. I died well even though I was alone. Rule this land well. Become the Warlord!’ Then the wind settled and became flurries of gentle air. I lowered my arms.
Ban asked, as we descended, “Lord why did you take off your cross? Are you no longer a Christian?”
I did not answer until we reached the horses. Then I put my cross about my neck again. “There are times when I will be a Christian but, in this land, there is an older force. If I am to be the Warlord then I need the land to aid me. I need the people to be behind me. I am no longer the golden child who returned from Constantinopolis full of himself. I have changed and I have grown. My father, my uncle and my wife have moulded me. I will be the last Dux Britannica. When we last equites die, we will become as my uncle, Llenlleog and my father. We will be legends who will keep hope in hearts which have little else.” I mounted my horse, it was my uncle’s, Copper. I stroked its golden mane. Drawing my sword, the sword my uncle had taken from King Oswald’s hand, I raised it high, “This sword will light the darkness for as long as we shall live.”
The five of us headed north to the last bastion of the old Roman Empire in Britannia, Carvetitas.
The End
Glossary
Anglo-Saxon months
January, is Æftera Geola, or After Yule—the month, quite literally, after Christmas.
February was Sōlmōnath, a name that derived from an Old English word for wet sand or mud, sōl; it meant the month of cakes, when ritual offerings of savoury cakes and loaves of bread would be made to ensure a good year’s harvest.
March was Hrēðmonath to the ancient Anglo-Saxons and was named in honour of a little-known pagan fertility goddess named Hreða, or Rheda.
April was the Anglo-Saxon Eostremonath, which took its name from another pagan deity named Eostre.
May was Thrimilce, or the month of three milkings.
June and July were together known as Liða, an Old English word meaning mild or gentle, which referred to the period of warm, seasonable weather either side of Midsummer.
August was Weodmonath or the plant month.
After that came September, or Hāligmonath, meaning holy month, when celebrations and religious festivals would be held to celebrate a successful summer’s crop.
October was Winterfylleth, or the winter full moon.
November was Blōtmonath, or the month of blood sacrifices.
And December, finally, was Ærra Geola or the month before Yule.
Name-Explanation
Abbatis Villa- Abbeville –Northern France
Aengus Finn mac Fergus Dubdétach-Irish mercenary
Aelfere-Northallerton
Aelle-Monca’s son and Hogan Lann’s uncle
Aileen- Fergus’ sister, a mystic
Aelletün- Lann Aelle’s settlement
Alavna-Maryport Cumbria
Artorius-King Arthur
Banna-Birdoswald
-God of war
Belerion-Land’s End (Cornwall)
Bilhaugh Forest –Sherwood Forest
Bone fire- the burning of the waste material after the slaughter of the animals at the end of October. (Bonfire night)
Bors- son of Mungo war chief of Strathclyde
Bro Waroc'h- one of the Brythionic tribes who settled in Brittany
Byrnie – mail shirt
Caedwalestate-Cadishead near Salford
Caer Daun- Doncaster
Caergybi-Holyhead
Cadwallon ap Cadfan- King of Gwynedd
Caldarium- the hot room in a Roman bathhouse
Carvetitas – Camelot
Ceorl- Commoner, ordinary soldier
Chonoc-salchild -Knock (Cumbria)
Civitas Carvetiorum-Carlisle
Constantinopolis-Constantinople (modern Istanbul)
Cymri- Welsh
Cymru-Wales
Cynfarch Oer-Descendant of Coel Hen (King Cole)
Dál Riata-land on the south west of Scotland
Daffydd ap Gwynfor-Lann’s chief sea captain
Daffydd ap Miach-Miach’s son
Dai ap Gruffyd-King Cadfan’s squire
Delbchaem Lann-Lann’s daughter
Din Guardi-Bamburgh Castle
Dùn Èideann -Edinburgh
Dunum-River Tees
Dux Britannica-The Roman British leader after the Romans left (King Arthur?)
Edwin-King of Bernicia, Deira and Northumbria
Eoforwic - York (Eboracum)
Erecura-Goddess of the earth
Fanum Cocidii-Bewcastle
Fiachnae mac Báetáin- King of Strathclyde
Fiachnae mac Demmáin - King of the Dál Fiatach
Freja-Saxon captive and Aelle’s wife
Gammer- Old English for mother
Gareth-Harbour master Caergybi
Gallóglaigh-Irish mercenary
Gawan Lann-Lann’s son
Gesith- Saxon chieftain
Glanibanta- Ambleside
Gwynfor-Headman at Caergybi
Gwenhwyfar- Guinevere
Gwyr-The land close to Swansea
Hagustaldes-ham - Hexham
Halvelyn- Helvellyn
Haordine-Hawarden Cheshire
hearthweru - King's bodyguard (the precursor of the housecarl)
Hen Ogledd-Northern England and Southern Scotland
High Divide- The Pennines
Hogan Lann-Lann’s son and Warlord
Humbre (Anglo-Saxon) Hwmyr (Welsh) – River Humber
Icaunus-River god
Iedeu – Jedburgh
Ituna- River Solway
King Ywain Rheged-Eldest son of King Urien
Lann- First Warlord of Rheged and Dux Britannica
Lincylene -Lincoln
Llenlleog- ‘Leaping one’ (Lancelot)
Loge-God of trickery
Ladenses- Leeds
Loidis-Leeds
Maeresea-River Mersey
Maes Cogwy- Maserfield (the present-day Oswestry – Oswald’s Tree)
Manau- Isle of Man
Mare Nostrum-Mediterranean Sea
Metcauld- Lindisfarne
Myfanwy-the Warlord’s stepmother
Myrddyn-Welsh wizard fighting for Rheged
Nanna Lann-Lann’s daughter, wife to King Cadwallon
Namentwihc –Nantwich, Cheshire
Nithing-A man without honour
Nodens-God of hunting
Oppidum- hill fort
Paulinus of Eboracum- The Pope’s representative in Britannia
Penrhyd- Penrith, Cumbria
Penrhyn Llŷn- Llŷn Peninsula
pharos- lighthouse
Pol-Equite and strategos
Prestune-Preston Lancashire
Roman Bridge-Piercebridge (Durham)
Roman Soldiers- the mountains around Scafell Pike
Rhuthun -Ruthin North Wales
Scillonia Insula-Scilly Isles
Solar-West facing room in a castle
Spæwīfe- Old English for witch
Sucellos-God of love and time
Táin Bó- Irish for cattle raid
Tatenhale- Tattenhall near Chester
Tepidarium- the warm room in a Roman Bath house
Tomworðig- Tamworth (Capital of Mercia)
The Narrows-The Menaii Straits
Treffynnon-Holywell (North Wales)
Tuanthal-Leader of the Warlord’s horse warriors
Vectis-Isle of Wight
Vindonnus-God of hunting
Virosidum- close to Middleham in North Yorkshire
Wachanglen-Wakefield
Walls of Brus- Wark on Tyne (Northumberland)
War shits- dysentery
Wrecsam- Wrexham
wapentake- Muster of an army
Wide Water-Windermere
Wyddfa-Snowdon
Wyrd-Fate
Y Fflint- Flint (North Wales)
Ynys Enlli- Bardsey Island
Ynys Môn- Anglesey
Yr Wyddgrug- Mold (North Wales)
Zatrikion- an early form of Greek chess
Maps
