by Griff Hosker
“If you have not found us within a day I will return for you.” He nodded and left riding Raibeart’s old mount and leading the injured pony with Wolf in his wake. I wondered would I ever see him again. Had I betrayed my father’s trust? And then I knew that father would have wanted Aelle to follow his own destiny; just as we were following King Urien Rheged.
There seemed to be stations of rank within the warriors and we rode at the rear. That suited both of us for it meant we could talk. The meeting and the events had been so unexpected that we had not had time to plan for them. I had thought that we would, soon, return to our hidden house and continue our war. I now saw that that had been doomed to failure from the outset. The enemy had been looking for us and it would only have been a matter to time before they would have found us and killed us. Someone or something was watching out for us. Wyrd!
“You know, of course, brother that we are no longer masters of our own destiny. We ride and serve another. Would our father have approved?”
I honestly did not know. I had not wanted to be given the responsibility of my brother’s lives but it had happened anyway. “I know not, Raibeart, and this meeting may prove ill but had we not stumbled upon the king then we would now have been dead. But our father did urge us to continue the fight and this seems the best way.”
“I know but this seems so strange to be serving a king; until a short time ago we did not even know that we had a king.”
I leaned over to Raibeart, “I suspect that king is a grand title. He may just be a lord of part of the land but at least he is of our people.”
We rode in silence and I was able to examine the men who rode a few paces ahead of us. They had taken off their helmets when we rode away from the battlefield. They all had long plaited hair; some of them had pieces of bones and jewels woven into them. They all had a cloak of the same faded red colour. Their armour was the mail armour which Raibeart and Aelle wore and I suspected that it had originally been Roman. Their helmets certainly looked Roman. Their swords were as long as mine and they all carried spears. Their shields were not round as ours were but oval and painted the same red colour as their cloaks. In the middle of each one was painted a crude dragon much like the standard carried by Bladud. It was their horses which marked them as true warriors for they all rode tall horses. Even my horse seemed smaller by comparison and I looked enviously at Raibeart’s borrowed mount.
It was heading towards dusk when we rode along the old Roman road and into the deserted fort which stood next to the stone marker which showed the end of the Roman world. It seemed they used this frequently for part of it had been repaired and made secure; much as we had done with out home. We were largely ignored as the warriors dismounted and took off the saddles. They all seemed to know what to do. We too dismounted and I watched the men as they led their mounts to a building which had a crude roof on it. We followed and left our horses and saddles in the same stable. We tethered them to a long pole which was attached to the wall and then gave them water from the buckets the others had used. The warriors left before we did as we were just copying them. “What about food for them?”
I looked around and saw a bier containing the last of the summer hay. I took two large armfuls and dropped them in front of the horses and they gratefully ate it.
By the time we had left the stables the warriors had a fire going and were busy preparing the evening meal. I felt helpless. I normally did not rely on others to provide food. Then I remembered that we had brought food with us and it was in our saddlebags. “Let us take food. We would not be seen to be beggars eh brother?”
Raibeart grinned. “Especially not in front of Bladud.”
We still had the two hind legs of the boar and we each took one to the pot. The warriors were busily stirring a cauldron filled with water and what looked like some cabbages and onions. I winked at Raibeart as I said, “Could we share our food with you? Perhaps this might enhance the taste of the cabbage soup.”
Bladud threw us a look of pure hatred but the rest smiled and then welcomed us. The best way to ingratiate yourself with a warrior is to give him food, preferably meat. A rotund warrior took a large butcher’s knife from his belt and strode over to us. “I am Tadgh and as you can see I enjoy my food and so they let me cook. If you would hand over your bounty I will make sure it goes as far as the feast of Christ did when he fed the five thousand.” He took one of the legs and began to skilfully slice it into long slices which he dropped into the soup. When the bone was bare he dropped that in too and then proceeded to do the same with the other.
As he wiped his knife clean Raibeart asked, “Who is Christ and what is his feast?”
Tadgh seemed to see us for the first time. “You are pagans then?” We both looked at him blankly, we did not understand the term. “You do not worship the White Christ?”
We shook our heads at the same time. “We have many gods we worship.”
“We worship the one God and when he walked the earth he fed many people with a few fish and some bread. That is the Christ feast. There are other stories about him but that is the one I like the best.”
Before we could talk further, Urien wandered over to speak with us. “My men appreciate your gift. Come and sit with me for I have many questions. He led us to a log by the fire and the warriors there vacated it as we approached.”We had heard stories of how the Saxons had been attacked by warriors; how did you do it?”
I was confused. “We fought the Angles.”
The king laughed, “They are the same people and they speak the same language. They are the Angles and the Saxons but we call them Saxons. How did you defeat them?”
“We used bows and slings and ambush.”
“Ah. That is good. Did you fight from the backs of your horses?”
I shook my head. “We are not horsemen. We used the horses and ponies to escape.” I looked at the king and saw that he had leather boots which would have protected his legs when riding.”You fight from horses?”
“Aye. It gives us an advantage over our enemies but our ancestors who lived here in the times of the Romans fought on horses and held back the barbarians.” He gestured towards my sword. “May I see the fine blade you bear?”
“Of course, your majesty.”
He took it and began to examine it. “My men only called me by my title when we are amongst others. This is an old blade. You say it is a family weapon?”
I shrugged, “Before my father died he told me to go to the house of my grandfather and we found this buried with the armour. If it was my grandsire’s house I assumed it was his.”
“Then he was a mighty warrior. What was his name?”
“I know not.” I suddenly thought how little I did know. There were many questions I would have asked my father now, were he still alive, but those questions would have to remain unanswered now; for my brother and I were the last of the line.
He handed me back the sword. “The armour is old but it will protect you well.” He gestured at Raibeart’s, “Our men wear much as you do but it is newer. Still that should suffice for a while; it is well made and will protect you. Yours is good armour, Lann, son of Hogan. If that was your grandsire’s then he was a leader of men. It is a good sign.”
Raibeart chewed his lip, a sure sign that he had a question on his mind. “Will we have to fight on horses then?”
He smiled. “No, only my bodyguard fight on horses. I am going to raise an army and we are going to war in the spring. We will drive the Saxons from the northern part of the land.” I must have shown my disappointment for he patted my arm. “I have allies north of the Dunum, King Morcant Bulc and King Rhydderch Hael who will go to war with me and we can recover the gains from north of the Dunum. When I have built up my army and defeated those enemies who live north of the Dunum then we will drive them from your lands.”
“The Dunum?”
“It is the Latin name of the river which runs by the fort not far from where you live.” Icaunus had repaid me for my sacrific
e of the deer heart and brought this king to our aid. We just called it the river but it was good to know it had an old name, a name my ancestors might have used. It connected me and made me feel more secure.
“Food is ready!” Tadgh’s voice boomed out and we wandered over.
I could see that each man had his own bowl. “Let us get our bowls from the stables.”
“I am glad that we do not have to fight on horses. I prefer the ground beneath my feet.”
“As I do.”
Tadgh had waited to serve us and he winked as he ladled the soup with plenty of meat into our wooden bowls. “I made sure the providers of the meat should get their share.” His face turned serious. “Do you hunt then?”
I smiled, “We are good hunters, all three of us.” It was not a boast, it was the truth and father had always taught us to speak the truth.
The beaming smile and the huge hams on our shoulders confirmed his words, “Then I shall be your best friend and I will save some for your Saxon friend too.”
We learned over the next months that Tadgh was a good cook and we had not eaten so well since mother had been killed. We were just wiping the last of the juices with our fingers when we heard the clop of hooves and the baa of the sheep. Although the warriors looked over at the sound, the sheep told them there was no danger. We joined Aelle. “Any problems?”
“No but as I headed away I saw a warband scouring the woods. I fear our hidden home is no more.”
“We are warriors now and we will not need our hidden home again. Come and we will take you to the food.”
Tadgh was ready with his ladle. He nodded to the sheep. “They are for the pot?”
I smiled, “They are yours but the skins are ours.”
“I can live with that trade.” He fished out the bones and threw them to Wolf. “And as the watchdog hound I will look after you too.”
The sheep did not delay us as we headed for the King’s stronghold. This too was a Roman fort and this one had been repaired and strengthened. The towers had guards upon them and there was a drawbridge over a ditch. It stood out on a hill as we approached. It was faced with white stone and seemed to gleam. The towers were manned and there were standards fluttering from their tops. This made a statement to the enemies of Rheged. The Saxons would struggle to overcome this bastion!
The King waited for us as we entered. “I will leave you with my son Ywain. He is the commander of my forces.” A tall young man, almost the double of his father walked over. “These are three brave warriors who have killed many Saxons. They are joining our army. They are archers and they can handle swords too.”
Like his father he had the most engaging of smiles. “Archers! Then you are welcome for we have few skilled with that weapon.”
Aelle suddenly looked shamefaced. “I use a sling my lord.”
The king clapped him about the shoulders, “Aye, but you are the one who can speak the Saxon and as such you are more valuable than ten archers.”
Ywain nodded his agreement and Aelle’s face lit up. Urien had a way of making all men wish to follow him. He was a leader men knew would lead them well and, when we fought under his banner, we were never bested. Ywain led us to a long building. “This is the barrack block for those not in my father’s guard. As yet it is largely empty but we have the winter to bring more men to our banner.”
I saw the dragon standard flying from the top of the tower. “I have never seen this before.”
“It was the sign of the Roman Sarmatae who rode beneath it. My family is descended from their leader, Arteros and it brings fear to Saxon hearts.” When we entered we could see wooden slatted beds. It looked as though half were occupied for they had belongings upon them. “Choose any that are unoccupied and when you have stowed away your belongings and stabled your mounts then you can meet me in the Principia.” He saw our confusion. “The big building in the middle. Today we begin your training.”
We left Wolf in the barracks and approached the imposing stone building in the middle. There were two guards outside and they crossed their spears when we approached. “We were told to report here,” I added lamely, “we are new.”
They both looked stern and then grinned. “Fresh meat!” The taller one nodded to the door and said, “In you go!”
Once inside we were greeted by an old man who had a shaven head and a brown shapeless tunic. His fingers were blackened and he held a quill. He did not look up but asked, “Name?”
“Er Lann, son of Hogan.”
He scraped away. “Yours?”
“Raibeart son of Hogan.”
“Next! Come along now we have not got all day.”
“Aelle, son of,” Aelle’s face filled with confusion.
“Son of Hogan,” I added and Aelle and Raibeart smiled gratefully at me.
The old man looked up for the first time. “Strange that someone does not know their father? Still I can see that you are brothers even if you had not the same mother.” We looked at each other in shock. Was this a witch who could discern such things? “I am Brother Osric and I keep the records of the king. As king’s men you will be fed and you will share in any booty you capture. We have a smith should you need your armour repairing.”
“Have you a fletcher?”
He leaned back. “I see the king has begun to recruit warriors who can think unlike the lumps like Bladud.” Already I liked this old man if only for the fact that we shared a dislike of the standard bearer. “No we do not but I assume you can make arrows?” I nodded. “Good then tell me what you need and I will acquire them for you.”
“Goose feather or duck for the flights, but goose is best. Straight wood and iron barbs for the arrows.”
He scribbled away. “I will let you know when I have them. There will be payment for the ones you make.” He saw our excitement, “I should warn you that so far we have yet to gather any booty to share and to pay smiths and fletchers. But the good lord will find us some I am sure. You are now to go out of the north gate and you will find Lord Ywain there with his warriors.” His head dropped and we were dismissed.
It was easier getting out of the gate than getting into the Principia. If I thought Lord Ywain would have a huge army I was in for a disappointment. There were forty warriors on the grassy plain. I could see a couple of targets with archers loosing arrows and the rest were using wooden swords and shields. Lord Ywain saw us and said something to one of his men and then strode over to join us. He was an astute man and none of us were adept at hiding our feelings. “It is not much of an army I know but it is a start. Until last month we had just my father’s bodyguards.” He looked at Aelle. “We have some slingers.” He pointed to a knot of boys somewhat younger than Aelle. “I know that the king has plans to use your talents as a Saxon speaker but I would be grateful if you would command them and give them some sort of discipline. My father said you have fought and killed Saxons which gives you more experience than any here, including me!“ I think Aelle was even more surprised than any. Ywain thought the confusion was over command and so he continued. “We use the old Roman system of command. We have a warrior in command of ten and ten tens are commanded by a captain of a hundred.” He waved a self deprecating hand across himself. “I am the only captain of a hundred. There are twelve slingers so you would be leader of ten.”
“I would be honoured.”
“Good then you can take command.” He leaned over to say confidentially, “I know you have killed in battle. These have slain squirrels and wild cats. Be firm with them.” As he walked over I wished I could be there to help him and then I saw that that would do him little good. If he was their leader then he had to command. “And let us see what kind of archers you two are. Although, to be honest, we have so few that anyone who has a bow is welcome.” He looked at mine. “Yours is longer than the ones we use and the one your brother has.”
“My father was a fine archer and he taught me from an early age. You need greater strength to pull a longer bow such as this.”
We had reached the others and they stood in silence watching us. “These are two new archers, Lann and his brother Raibeart.”He pointed to a young man about my age, the one he had spoken to before meeting us. “That is my cousin Gildas. He commands ten swordsmen and we are the only two commanders as yet. The field is yours.”
I walked up to the targets and removed the arrows from two of them, placing the spent arrows on the ground. Then I paced out a hundred and fifty paces and turned. I knew I could hit the target from a greater distance but Raibaert’s bow was not as powerful and I did not want to make my younger brother look foolish. I winked at him as he joined me. A crowd gathered behind me and Ywain said quietly, “That is much further away than they were standing.”
I smiled, “Do not worry my lord. When I aim and loose I hit the target.”
I looked at Raibeart who nodded confidently and said, “We both do.”
We both took aim and loosed an arrow each at exactly the same time. Both struck the targets in the centre thudding in unison. I heard the collective whistle of approval from the archers behind us. I decided to show off; father would not have approved I know but I wanted to show this young prince what we could do. I stuck five arrows in the ground. Raibeart grinned and did the same. “Sometimes, the enemy attacks so quickly that you have to loose quickly, like this…”
The two of us notched and loosed five times in quick succession. I knew that it looked impressive having watched my brother complete the same action himself. All ten arrows were embedded in the targets although not all in the centre. Ywain and Gildas rushed over to clap us on the back. “I think we have our two leaders of ten.” He looked at me curiously, “Your bow has a longer range. How far away could you hit the target?”
“Raibeart, remove our arrows.” I paced out another one hundred paces. Raibeart ran up to me and handed me my five arrows. He said quietly, “You can hit further than this brother.”
“I know but we want these men to achieve this some time so let us give them an achievable target.” I chose my straightest arrow and I licked my fingers to smooth out the flights. I held up the wetted finger to ascertain the wind and then I notched it. I kept my breathing smooth as I pulled the bow back, almost to its maximum and then I loosed. The arc of the arrow was true and it flew up into the air and then plunged down to strike the target dead centre.
