Gareth Ogilvie The Great Sea King

by J W Murison

  On his command arrows flew up and over the walls and into the massed ranks of the enemy, at that point they charged. Gareth ordered the Eagles to sweep in from left to right and drop their javelins on the enemy as they bunched up. Thousands of them began to sweep overhead. The crescendo of screams rose. It would have been at this point that Gareth would have called his men back if he was in command of the enemy. He didn't know if the enemy commander tried, or if it was just too damn late. His men were holding on the front wall and Gareth was impressed by their tenacity.

  As he predicted the enemy host was so big it swept round his flanks and they began to assault three sides at once. He didn't know what happened but suddenly on the east wall the enemy broke through. Graun tugged his sleeve to point it out. At first there were a dozen men then twenty then fifty suddenly about a hundred.

  Ronald was looking up at Gareth but he held a hand up. When they began pouring through he let it drop and Ronald screamed his war cry. The Highlanders charged. ‘Call the cavalry; tell them to sweep down the west wall. I want the heavy’s to swing wide and attack their commanders.’ The girls relayed his orders. Then he noticed about twenty men escape the charge of the Highlanders.

  ‘Get a hold of Commander Green on the south wall, tell him he has twenty of the enemy behind him and heading for his position. A dozen of them broke free and headed straight for Gareth. Aswari saw them and led a charge. His guards slaughtered them. The eight men that were left smashed into Greens party and wiped them out. The girl wounded one of them with her rapier then transformed. The men were left gawping as she flew over to Gareth's position. A dozen men challenged them and they cut through them, then another twenty were dispatched to deal with them. They were trying to cut their way through to the wall and back to their own forces but now they were being seriously outnumbered. Their commander took stock and called his men back. By now almost all the Highlanders were through the breach and he saw his opportunity. As they made for the breach they made themselves they were cut off by a contingent of Highlanders with drawn swords. They halted and looked around them; they were trapped and knew it. They looked to the centre, Aswari it and his men blocked the move. The ground trembled and the cavalry charged into the affray, the screaming reached a crescendo and men began to run. In the east the Highlanders had devastated the enemy force there and had turned south driving through the enemy forces, they too were beginning to run. More Eagles flew overhead carrying deadly loads, this time their target was a small force of cavalry the enemy commander hadn’t sent into the affray yet. This time they dropped pots of oil and set them alight stampeding the horses. The enemy was in disarray and Gareth sent Graun to take over from Green then to sally forth in support of the Highlanders and the cavalry. With a great roar they surged over the wall and sent the enemy into full retreat.

  Gareth turned his attention back to the small drama that was playing out no more than a hundred yards away. He turned to Lena, ‘tell Aswari not to kill them, fly. She took to the air and Gareth climbed down from the platform and made his way across to where Aswari waited. The other Eagle that had been with Green hopped behind him her rapier held in her beak. The ranks of the guard opened to let him pass.

  ‘They are dangerous men Sire,’ Aswari cautioned.

  ‘I know, but brave, that's why I would like to talk to them.’

  ‘Then let me go forward Sire and tell them you wish to parley.’

  ‘Ok.’

  Aswari ran forward and talked to the commander who stepped forward a dozen paces, slid his sword into the ground and placed his helmet on it. Aswari ran back to Gareth then accompanied him to the man. Lena and the other girl flew in and transformed either side of them, naked and with their rapiers in hand.

  ‘Stop here,’ Gareth commanded. He walked up to the man who was a head taller easily and broad but he didn’t have the depth of chest of a Highlander. His eyes kept flicking from Gareth to the girls.

  ‘Who are you?’ Gareth asked.

  ‘My name is Janson, what is yours general?’

  ‘Gareth Ogilvie.’

  The man stiffened, ‘the thief who stole a crown.’

  Gareth smiled, ‘not how I’d describe it, but close enough,’ he pointed to Janson’s men, ‘I have been watching you; you are the men who breached my wall.’

  He nodded, ‘it wasn’t too hard.’

  Gareth grinned, ‘still you are the only one who managed.’

  He shrugged, ‘they aren’t the best soldiers I have come across in my time, neither are those I fight with, but my men are good.’

  ‘As I said I have been watching.’

  ‘Can I ask a question?’

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘What strange magic is this with the women?’

  ‘The Eagles?’

  ‘Women, Eagles, who cares, it is powerful magic.’

  ‘The most powerful in all the world, they call it earth magic. Tell me you haven’t heard of it.’

  He shook his head, ‘I haven’t.’

  ‘What rock have you been living under, don’t you know this is why we are fighting here, to free the Eagle people. This isn’t magic I have conjured with the help of a wizard. The Eagle people or the golden ones have been enslaved for thousands of years. I am married to one; we have children; that is why we are fighting here, to free my wife’s people.’

  He shook his head slowly, ‘no you are trying to steal as you did the crown.’

  ‘Take that ring off your finger and toss it over here.’

  ‘No.’

  ‘You have no real choice, obey or die.’

  Reluctantly he took it off and Gareth cut it and tossed it back, Janson was rubbing his temples and the cut parts bounced off his chest. He frowned at Gareth. ‘Give me a moment to collect my thoughts,’ Gareth gave him that moment but it didn't seem to help much, ‘sorry what were we talking about.’ He seemed distracted by the naked women.

  ‘My name is Gareth Ogilvie, I was explaining to you why we were fighting this battle,’ he nodded to the girls who changed back into Eagles.

  ‘It comes back, I'm sorry, my god they are real people! You mean they can change back and forth at will.’

  ‘The rings stop them from changing, enslaves them.’

  He nodded, ‘I see, and did you say you were married to one of these women?’

  ‘I did, not one of these you see here, my wife has just had two children, she’s ah, nursing them.’

  ‘Why are we talking?’

  ‘I admired your courage; I was going to give you a chance to live. You broke my wall remember.’

  He raised a finger, ‘that I remember, but that's what I am getting paid for.’

  Gareth smiled, ‘and just how much are you getting paid exactly, or should I say how much have you actually been paid.’

  ‘Lots, lots and lots, we are very expensive, we are professionals.’

  ‘You realise of course that once I have defeated your employer I will confiscate all his gold and you will get fuck all.’

  ‘We have been paid well in advance,’ with a smile he produced a pouch. The smile slipped as he weighed it in his hand. With his teeth he drew the string and tipped them into his open hand. A pile of coppers grew on it and the smile slipped farther. ‘What treachery is this, is this your doing,’ he growled at Gareth.

  Gareth shook his head and turned away, after a few steps he paused, ‘once you have sorted yourself out, come talk to me. Sheath your weapons and keep them sheathed or you will all be killed.’

  Janson returned red faced to his companions, ‘take your coin out.’ There were protests, ‘just fucking do it.’ They obeyed reluctantly. In each hand grew a pile of coppers, they were grinning like fools and the truth became clear to him. ‘What do you see in your hands?’ They all replied the same, they saw gold. He commanded them to remove the rings on their fingers and he cut them. Their smiles didn't last long.

  Janson approached Aswari, ‘I would talk to your king.’

  ‘Leave your we
apons here.’

  He followed Aswari to the platform Gareth stood on, the girls were dressed now but he didn't have eyes for them. A slow rage burned in his heart. Gareth was relaying orders and receiving updates on the battles. Jansen waited patiently wondering what the hell was going on. It soon became apparent that he was in some form of communication with others. He watched the battle unfold before his eyes and realised Gareth was conducting it like a great musician. Admiration grew as he watched the superior army he had fought for crumble. As parts tried to reform Gareth pounced with whatever forces he had available. High above squadrons of Eagles circled waiting for his command. They would attack first then the cavalry would race in and destroy any cohesion. After that ground forces would go in and mop up.

  Gareth snapped out orders and Janson saw the whole right wing of the army turn in the field and change direction. To him it was a thing of beauty. When Gareth was sure things were in hand he turned his attention back to Jansen.

  ‘So where do you stand now?’

  ‘I stand before you like a fool, we have been duped, we thought we were getting paid in gold, instead we were paid in useless copper. The contract with our employer is broken.’

  ‘You are paid swords.’

  ‘We are mercenaries, paid to fight by whoever offers us the most money, but once contract is taken we fight to the end. I am saying we have never changed sides before and despite the fact we have been duped have no real wish to do so now.’

  ‘You will not turn for a better offer of coin?’

  ‘No, we have some honour, besides we know where there is plenty gold buried around, we would take from that to compensate ourselves.’

  ‘You couldn’t get near it you would fall victim of its magic.’

  He smiled, ‘we would find a way.’

  Gareth had no doubt he would and smiled, ‘I’m sure you would, but the fact remains, your employer had broken your contract to you, so will you surrender yourself and your men willingly and sit the rest of this battle out.’

  He looked round, ‘well you do have us surrounded.’ The two men laughed and Janson nodded, ‘aye we will surrender and take no more part in the battles that follow, if when you are done you release us with our weapons.’

  ‘You have my word.’

  ‘Then you have mine Sire,’ he offered his hand and Gareth shook it, ‘if you don’t mind me saying you don’t look like a King.’

  ‘You met a lot of King’s.’

  ‘A few, aye.’

  ‘I'm a sword master by trade, a maker of fine swords.’

  ‘You have the build for it.’

  Gareth smiled, ‘Tell me, where you learnt to breach a wall so quickly.’

  Janson smiled, ‘here and there, my father was a mercenary, he taught me most of what I know.’

  ‘If when the battle is over and you seek employ come talk to me.’

  He sighed, ‘I was going to retire after this job, no more blood and guts for me. Never mind have you some battle in mind for me.’

  ‘As far as I know this will be our last battle for a while, I hope so anyway. No I was going to offer you your own regiment, your own men as officers in the regiment and you would teach them how to breach walls and assault fortifications.’

  Janson regarded Gareth coolly, ‘seriously, a whole regiment just taught to breach walls.’

  ‘That would be its main purpose aye, a specialist regiment.’

  Janson thought it over for a moment, ‘I have never heard of the likes before, but it has merits, you have a standing army?’

  ‘I will have after this, not a large army, not too big anyway. It will be made up of a core of professionals like you and your men. If anything comes up it is you who will fight, however if we find ourselves in a conflict where we need to recruit a large force then you will become a training unit responsible for training those men put in to your command.’

  Janson shook his head, ‘this is something new to me, I will discuss it with my men and we will think it over. What is pay and conditions like.’

  Gareth shrugged, ‘you will have your own barracks to play with, I believe they normally come with accommodation for the officers outside the barracks but close enough if they are needed. As for pay, I have no idea, the money thing is still pretty new to me and I have never given it much thought. Food clothing and arms will all be provided of course, there will be no to rent to pay or anything like that and you get to keep two thirds of anything you liberate in battle.’

  ‘Not all,’ he smiled.

  ‘Don’t push it Gareth,’ grinned, ‘the pay thing we can work on. Now if you don’t mind the battle needs my attention.’

  Janson saluted and returned to his men. He checked his wounded man first but it was only a flesh wound and the man had dressed it himself. He put the proposal to them and they discussed it heatedly for hours. Most thought it too good an offer to be true. In the end they agreed to it on the condition there was no contract and if they wished they could leave anytime they wished. Jenson went back to Gareth and Gareth agreed there would be no contract however a period of notice would have to be given and it would have to be penned; and no man would be allowed to leave on the eve of battle or conflict. They all agreed and they were given food and a place to rest.

  CHAPTER 25

  Graun watched the Tyrannies gorge themselves on the large grey beasts. His men moved with caution past the feeding reptiles. With their riders dead and their belly’s full they would probably wander off. They would have to keep an eye on them. He turned to his Eagle girl, ‘ask Gareth what he wants to do about those beasts?’

  The answer wasn’t long in coming, ‘track them and then deal with them in the coldest part of the night, or we can leave them to die in the winter.’

  ‘Contact the scouts get Billy on to it.’

  They were beyond the enemy’s encampment now and perusing them as fast as they could. After a few more miles his men began to flag. He exhorted them to better effort and they caught up with a group of about fifty. Graun soon found himself on his own as he ploughed through the enemy. The sword Gareth made for him sang in his hands as he struck them down with mighty blows that cut men in half. He was almost disappointed when they began to throw down their weapons.

  His men looked as tired as the enemy did and it angered Graun as he saw the Highlander’s race away. ‘Gather them up,’ he roared, ‘take their weapons, search them.’

  He looked for Wynona and she came into land beside him, ‘you are a Lion in battle,’ she greeted him.

  Graun stared at her for a moment, ‘that's a big pussycat isn’t it?’

  She opened her mouth then shook her head, ‘one day you will see.’

  ‘Tell Gareth that my troops are almost done and our own people are almost out of sight. The enemy has abandoned the field.’

  ‘He wishes me to see what your people are chasing so far ahead.’

  ‘Go but be careful, don’t go too far.’

  ‘I won’t.’ She wasn’t long. ‘They pursue a group of about five hundred men. They have caught up with them but they do not stop and fight, they just keep on running.’

  Graun grunted and spat, ‘did you look ahead of them?’

  ‘I did, there is nothing as far as the eye can see.’

  He nodded, ‘which is a damn sight farther than my eyes can see. What is Gareth saying now?’

  ‘He wants that group of five hundred decimated so he will let your people run for now. He says to consolidate on the enemy’s position, he will meet us there.’

  ‘Tell him no, it will be safer returning to the fort with those Tyrannies still fucking about.’

  Her eyes flickered, ‘he has agreed, return there.’

  It took him longer than he would have liked to get everyone organised and the prisoners marched back to the fort. He joined Gareth who was having something to eat. He offered the plate and Graun snatched a piece of meat of it and stuck it in his mouth.

  ‘What’s going on,’ he asked with gravy r
unning down his chin.

  ‘I'm calling everyone back now. We carried the day but there are still thousands of them running about out there. I have no doubt they will find their way back. He told him about the new recruits, ‘go talk to them and find out what you can will you.’

  ‘Where’s Billy and Scout?’

  ‘Billy’s still out there but Scouts not far away, you want him.’

  ‘Aye please. Hey who the fuck cooked this?’

  Gareth frowned, ‘Lena is it, aye Billy’s one.’

  ‘Fuck she can cook.’

  ‘Best kept secret in the Eagle world, no wonder he keeps her close.’

  ‘I take it he’s within the web.’

  ‘Is now aye, they are still digging up gold rings, which reminds me take a couple of trusted men and get the rings off the fingers of those prisoners, they are still dangerous and I don’t want the troops stealing them and putting them on.’

  ‘Fuck never thought of that, we will end up fighting our own men. I will do that first I think.’

  They got to work; Graun found a barrow and had the prisoner’s line up. They tossed their rings into the barrow and when it was full they were tossed into a big cauldron on a brazier which melted them down. Using a soup ladle Gareth took a ladle full of molten gold and dipped it into a bucket of water. A sharp knock gave them a funny ingot of gold and they were tossed onto a pile on an old leather to cool properly. They had to keep replacing the water as it boiled.

  A fight broke out amongst his men and when he investigated he realised that some of them had been looting the dead for their gold rings. He had to get the Highland archers to search the dead and return the gold to him. He got his own men to begin digging a large pit into which the dead were placed. It kept them all busy.

  Gareth soon had to hand his job over to one of the Eagles as his attention was demanded elsewhere.

  By nightfall everyone had returned, the last of the stragglers came in and Gareth made sure guards were posted. They Tallied their dead and wounded and that of the enemy. Men screamed in agony through the night until the last of them were safely returned home. The enemy dead and wounded far outstripped their own but Gareth still didn't like the numbers.