by Griff Hosker
“Well done Captains Miach and Tuanthal. Your men did well. Miach, take your men back to the bridge. Tuanthal, take your twenty horsemen and follow the ships until they are at least ten miles away. I want no surprises and then send for the rest of your equites and have them here ready to repulse any repeat of today.”
We had survived a second day. Tuanthal and his men were fresh and eager to emulate the rest of my force and this would be a good opportunity for the remainder of my men, I would have to put them into shifts- it would be a long night.
Chapter 12
After we had eaten I summoned the officers and we met in Prince Ywain’s quarters. He had been pining to be part of the action but Myrddyn would hear no more about it for his wounds had been serious. The young healer, reluctantly, allowed the prince to be part of the briefing but was adamant that he was some days away from moving. “We did well today but we have barely touched their army. They lost but four ships.”
Myrddyn was busy grinding a paste in a bowl and he muttered, “Just a drop in the ocean really.” I threw him an irritated look and he gave a half smile, “Sorry!”
“We have made them warier but they will try that trick again. I also think they will attack tonight. I would if I were the Saxon leader.”
Riderch laughed, “If they didn’t do it in daylight what makes you think they could do it at night?”
“They could make rafts and ship their men over. The darkness would hide them from our archers but in daylight they would be slaughtered. I want half of the warriors and half of the archers asleep within the hour. The rest will be on guard until well after midnight and then we will swap. I will wake with the second shift and Raibeart will be in charge until then. Miach and Angus you too will sleep. Riderch and Garth you will be with my brother.”
“Fire arrows.” This time there was no levity from Myrddyn.
“Fire arrows Myrddyn?” I knew he would have a good reason for his statement but I merely voiced the thoughts of the others.
“Your archers could loose a fire arrow into the air, to land on the other bank. If you had the archers counting to a thousand between each arrow it would illuminate the other bank consistently.”
“And what makes you think my men can count at all, let alone to a thousand?”
Everyone laughed but it was a serious concern. Myrddyn’s face was all seriousness. “I am sure we have two warriors who can count. We put one in each shift and they do the counting.” He shook his head and mumbled, “Who knows the rest might learn to count just by listening.”
Raibeart clapped his arm around Myrddyn. “That will work healer. It will eat into our supply of arrows but we can use the ones with damaged barbs we recovered and the pathetic ones the Saxons send at us.” He stroked his beard. “Of course it doesn’t stop the Saxons building boats or rafts up stream and floating down with the current.”
“No but that entails more risks for them. We could always have two archers, one upstream of the bridge and one downstream. We also need everyone who is on guard to be alert. If you have watched at night then you know how shadows can make you see something which is not there.” They all seemed happy and, as we would all be losing sleep, we headed off to our duties or our beds.
As I was heading for my quarters Adair was waiting for me. The slingers had been given the freedom to attack where they chose. They were not a large enough force to make a difference but they could annoy and they knew how to do that well. Adair led them well and, as chief scout, he often spoke with me. “My lord one of the slingers has a request.”
“Yes who is it?”
“Pol, son of Tadgh.”
“His father died today did he not?”
“He did and his mother fell ill and died this winter. He wants to serve you. He believes that he will be a better warrior if he serves you.”
“I don’t know.” I had never liked the idea of someone serving me. I liked my independence.
“My lord many of the men feel that you need someone to look after your weapons.” He pointed at Saxon Slayer. “I would bet that you have not sharpened that since before the Dunum and that you have barely eaten. Pol is a good lad sir and it will help both of you. He will not feel so alone and you will not have to worry about mundane things like eating and keeping your weapons sharp.” He took a deep breath, “I know that many of the warriors worry about you my lord. They do not want to lose the Wolf Warrior because he does not eat and forgets to sharpen his blade.”
There was an air of admonition which reminded me of Brother Oswald and Myrddyn. But I could not argue against it. “You are right and Tadgh was a loyal warrior. If his son is half the man his father was then I will have the better of the bargain. Very well send him to me tomorrow.”
Adair grinned and opened the door. “Why not now as he is already here?”
I threw an irritated look at Adair and then laughed. How could I criticise someone for having the wit and guile to do what he had. It was what I wanted in my scouts. “Bring him in.”
Pol was older and taller than the other scouts and his eyes were filled with a mixture of eagerness and hero worship. “You wish to serve me?”
“Yes my lord.”
“You know I am bad tempered and cantankerous and I shout a lot.”
“Yes my lord.”
“And you still wish to serve me?”
“Yes my lord. I would be a warrior like you, and until I am strong enough I will learn by watching over you and your weapons. I will stand behind you in the shield wall with Scean and watch your back.” He was so earnest it took my breath away.
“You had better get some sleep then for we will be up in the middle of the night. Where will you sleep?”
He pointed to the doorway. “Why there of course my lord then no-one gets in and if you leave I will wake and serve you.”
I was nonplussed and had no answer. Adair grinned, “Goodnight my lord, see you in the small hours.”
When I was woken by Garth I was amazed to see Pol standing there with a highly polished and recently sharpened Saxon Slayer and an oiled and polished mail shirt. “Did you sleep Pol?”
“A little, it was enough.” He went outside with the pot we used for night water. He had taken to his job like a duck to water.
Garth smiled at the boy’s departing back. “No sign of the Saxons, my lord, although I think that the flame arrows are upsetting them.”
“Good, that is their purpose. Get some sleep, Garth, we will need our energy in the morning.”
I fixed Pol with what I thought was my most intimidating stare, ”I will not have you losing sleep just to look after me.”
He grinned back cheerfully, “Do not worry my lord, I am young and do not need sleep. Come, you need readying for war. Your food is outside.”
I could see that it was useless to argue and, after I had dressed and eaten my food, I did feel better. It was cold outside and I wrapped my cloak tightly about me as I joined Angus and Miach at the bridge. The flame arrows went off regularly and it was a satisfying sight and sound as they whooshed into the air.
Angus yawned, “I think we have lost sleep for nought. They will not come.”
Miach scratched his beard. “I think had we not done this then they would have come.”
We watched the opposite bank which was illuminated for an instant and then plunged into darkness. Suddenly Pol said, “My lord. There is movement in the water there!”
He pointed to the bank close to the bridge and I could see the movement he meant. It was too dark and the bank too entangled with bushes to see clearly but I grabbed Miach’s arm. “Fire arrows there! Now!”
He knew me too well to hesitate and within a heartbeat five fire arrows were loosed at the bank. One of them struck the Saxon who was standing on the bank but more importantly they showed the Saxons and how close they had come. Angus roared, “Saxons! Kill the bastards!” which effectively woke up the camp.
It looked like more than a hundred Saxons had drifted on rough rafts close
to our bank of the river, hidden from the light, and they erupted up the slippery bank. But for Pol’s warning we would have died however my men, refreshed by sleep, formed a shield wall around us while the archers stood behind us striking bare faces and bodies as they appeared from the dark. Saxon Slayer swept all before it and Angus stood by my side with his mighty war axe. We were aided by the sure footing we had and the slippery muddy morass they had to climb. Soon the only Saxons left on our shore were dead and the rest had fled, risking the river to reach safety. We had been saved by a boy who had joined me by chance… or was it?
When dawn broke we saw that it had been a warband of about fifty warriors who had died attempting to secure the bridge. I suspect others had been ready to join them but our illumination of the river had foiled them. We were tired but we had achieved our aim; we had held them off a little longer. The question, however, remained what would the wily king try next? King Urien and our reinforcements were still days away and we had heard nothing from King Morcant Bulc. Ironically my hope was that, as the Bernicians would have to travel towards Dunelm they would secure our left flank which was threatened by their fleet of small ships. Tuanthal had sent scouts north but, so far, they had seen no sign of the elusive king. Riderch was unhappy about the situation. He was Bernician and had sworn an oath to the king but he had watched as men from Elmet and Rheged had died for Bernicia and I could see that it did not sit well with him for he was an honourable and brave warrior who took oaths more seriously than his king.
Pol appeared at my side with some cheese and some bread, a jug of ale and a look which suggested that the Lord of Dunelm should eat. I could see the smirk on Myrddyn’s face and I wondered just how much he had had to do with Pol’s present employment. Raibeart joined me, yawning and stretching. “Losing half a night’s sleep does not sit well with me, brother, but,” he pointed at the bodies being piled up prior to burning, “I can see that you had even more exertions last night.”
“Aye, they must have crossed further upstream and made it down the bank unseen. We may have to use some sentries there tonight.”
“We are stretched thinly as it is. Now that the horse is on our left flank we have no reserves.”
I chewed glumly on the slightly stale bread.”It is hard to see what else to do. We have plenty of provisions and water but we have barely dented the Saxons. When they were content merely to try to force the bridge we had a chance but if they attack on our flanks then…”
“We need to make a stronghold here my lord.”
I looked around and saw that Myrddyn was by our side. “How?”
He pointed to the left and then the right. “The banks of the promontory are steep there. If we were to dig a ditch with stakes then any flank attack could be broken up. There is enough wood to make a wall behind the ditch and,” he pointed to the top of the hill behind us, “that would make a last refuge if they should break in. We could dig another ditch. We could pay them pay a heavy price for this little piece of land. We would always be uphill of the enemy and archers could use their bows over the heads of your warriors.”
“He is right Lann. You know how hard it is attacking uphill but my archers will need to make more arrows. We have the shafts, the heads and the flights but they must be made. I will let you have a third of my archers for digging if you need them.”
“You think it is a good idea then?”
“It is the only idea. No matter how tired our warriors are it will slow down the enemy and buy us the time King Urien needs to reach us.”
“You could use the villagers as well my lord. I am sure they would do everything in their power to prevent the Saxons taking this place.”
“I am decided! Riderch, Garth.” The two warriors joined us. “We are going to dig two ditches one there to the left and the other there to the right. Use the villagers and half of the warriors. The other half will be with me and Miach’s archers at the bridge. Cut down trees and build a wall behind the ditch.”
They both nodded. It took more than this to surprise my men. “How deep my lord?”
“As deep as you can make it and put some surprises in the bottom. When you finish you can try to do the same up there near to the top of the hill. We need defences behind which we can shelter. The kings are coming and we need to hold this crossing until they arrive.”
I was down to a hundred and fifty warriors to guard the bridge. They were all tired and needed a longer rest than I could give them. The fifty archers I had was also the smallest number we had used against the Saxons. I hoped that our enemies were as tired as we were and would not attack. I was wrong.
They came soon after my men had begun work on the ditches. It was a huge wedge. The frontage was the same but I could see its tail trailing back up the hill. Aella could see into our defences from his lofty position and knew how few we were. I stood with the second rank of replacements. The men of Strathclyde formed the front three ranks while Angus and his hammers waited behind them. Our archers and slingers made little impression on the wedge as the Saxons had learned how to protect themselves. Our only advantage was that their measured approach meant they could not run at the Strathclyde warriors and strike them with their combined armour. The weight of men began to press the ranks back slowly and I nodded to Angus. He and his men began hurling their lethal weapons. Soon gaps appeared behind the point of the wedge and our line stabilised.
I could see the front rank taking casualties and I gave the order to change. Angus and his men threw their last hammers and the spearmen jabbed and I found myself in the second rank; this time with Pol and Scean behind me. Pol had armed himself with a seax we had found on the body of one of the Saxons from the night raid. It was shorter than a sword but longer than a dagger and perfect for the close fighting of a wedge. I hoped that he would not be needed.
The warrior who hurled himself at me, even though I was in the second rank, had no shield but he whirled a mighty two handed war axe above his head. He detached himself from the wedge and threw himself at our line. I raised my shield as the long axe sliced and hacked down. The blade caught on my shield but, such was the force, it tore itself free and took off the head of the warrior who stood before me in our front rank. Saxon Slayer was at my side and, as soon as I saw the gap where the Strathclyde warrior had stood, I stabbed upwards. The blade entered his ribcage, ripped through his heart and emerged from his neck. Pol had sharpened it well. As I pulled it out his entrails dropped to the floor. The wedge struck our line but the dead had made the floor slippery and cost the first two warriors in the Saxon line, their lives as they rushed to get at me; they fell before they could swing their swords and were easily despatched. Their deaths allowed me the freedom to swing Saxon Slayer at head height and there are few warriors who will willingly walk into the scything death of a long sword. The pressure from the warriors behind pushed three warriors into the arc of death. Miach and his men now had targets as the gaps appeared and took a great toll on the warriors behind the front rank. Despite the numbers of men pushing forwards, it was obvious that the wedge had failed and I heard their trumpet sound and the Saxons retreated. They must have been given better instructions for they retired in good order with shields held high and Miach was unable to score many casualties but we had driven them back. My men moved forwards to clear the bodies and retrieve arrows and weapons.
“Hold! Just take the weapons and armour, leave the bodies there.” They looked at me in surprise. Hitherto we had cleared the bridge of the bodies but I had just witnessed the benefits of leaving the bodies there. They would form a barrier which the Saxons would either have to clear or surmount. Whichever course they took would suit us.
I turned to Pol and Scean, “So Pol. You survived your first action.”
His white face showed how terrifying it had been but he gave me a weak smile.”I thought the man with the axe was going to kill us all.”
“He was a brave man. He knew he would die and was willing to sacrifice himself by killing me. He thought to end
this as they did in the old days by champions.” I saw Angus who had just collected the bodies of his dead warriors. They had died well. “Angus. I want a wooden wall building here at the end of the bridge. I want it as high as a man, three paces wide with a step half way up to allow us to fight from the top.”
He nodded his approval. “That’ll slow the buggers up!”
“I have had enough of playing into Aella’s hands. He thinks to wear us down man by man. Now we will let him bleed.”
Aella saw what we were about but he was helpless to do anything about it. He tried two furious rushes of warriors to disrupt the building but they did not even make it half way for Miach’s archers stopped them. By evening the ditches had been built and there was a wall around. We would need to lose sleep again but another day had gone by and that meant King Urien was but three days away. They would be three long days.
Our night of interrupted sleep was fruitless for they did not come and I wondered if they had given up but, as I peered across the river I saw their camp still standing and their warriors with their shields still facing us. Raibeart and Garth joined me. “Is it my imagination or are there fewer warriors there today?”
They both looked. “Perhaps, Lann the others are preparing an attack somewhere else.”
