by Griff Hosker
Miach and Tuanthal proved themselves to be invaluable as they trained the archers and the horsemen leaving Garth and me to work with the warriors. The two had seen how men could die from poor training on the battlefield and both were determined that they would not fight with half trained men. All of my captains were happy now that I was warlord as it meant others would not make the rash decisions which they thought had cost men their lives.
By the time autumn had come we had thirty horsemen, fifty warriors and twenty archers. It was too large a force to be supported by such a small burgh but Osric provided extra money, armour and weapons. Myrddyn told me that he saw me as the gate to Rheged and he would make it as strong as possible. My wounds, from the previous year, and Garth’s from the recent one had healed up completely but we both had the look of battle scarred veterans. The men found it reassuring that warriors could suffer such horrendous wounds and not only survive but become better warriors.
One autumn evening, when we had lit our first fire of the year in the solar, I sat with Oswald, Garth and Myrddyn. We enjoyed this pleasure two or three times a week. Sometimes we talked of important things but at others we just told stories and remembered the dead, as warriors do. Brother Oswald had just told a ribald story about one of the village girls and an old me and we sat in companionable silence. There had been an itch I wanted to scratch but I had been unable to. “Garth, who do you think our spy was?”
He shrugged. “I have thought of that many times my lord but I cannot honestly say that I have any idea. I still cannot believe that one of the men who fought so hard beneath our banner could be an enemy and certainly not a Saxon lover.”
“That is my opinion too.”
Brother Oswald drank a little of the mead he had made with his precious honey. “I think, my lord, that some men are more devious than others and can hide their feelings and their intentions well.”
“Myrddyn?”
“I think I know who it was, is.”
We all stared at the young man who had a propensity for making statements which made your jaw drop. “Well do not keep us in suspense. Who?”
“It was quite obvious who it was when the spy stopped meeting in the woods. You remember, my lord, that we talked, last winter, each week about the spy and suddenly there were no more signs. I had worked out that the spy was not spying for the Saxons but for someone else. All of the trails which led to their meeting place came from the north or the west.”
I suddenly realised he was right and I had missed that important fact. “If not the Saxons, then who?”
”It occurred to me that one of our allies or someone who fought for Rheged might have an ulterior motive. I just didn’t and still don’t know what. I deduced then that there were three possibilities: the spy had stopped his spying, he had died or he had left. The first I dismissed as nothing had changed here or in Rheged to make one of our allies stop requesting information. No one died during that time which left one possibility. Someone had left.”
“Llofan Llaf Difo.”
It was Myrddyn’s turn to look at Brother Oswald in amazement. You are right but …”
He waved a dismissive hand, “I keep the records and he was the only name I had to scratch out in red.” He saw my curious look and added, “Black is for those who have died and red for those who leave us. His is the only name with a red line through it. Each time I write in a new name the red line jumps out at me.”
It was my turn to make the connections. “Which means it was Bladud who sent him here.”
“That was my assumption too, especially as he rejoined Bladud and the king’s men. Perhaps Bladud had him here to kill you or hurt your family.”
The thought made me shudder. “But we have no proof.”
Garth’s voice was tight with anger. “No my lord but there is much evidence. Remember how the two of them and two others held back at the battle. The king nearly died.”
“My lord, you should tell the king.”
I shook my head. “No Oswald for he would not believe me. All of this evidence is like Myrddyn’s magic; it is hard to see clearly.”
Myrddyn smiled and gave a slight nod of his head. “And I believe I know their paymaster.”
In my heart I knew the answer before he uttered it but I did not want to hear it for it was like the knell of doom on the last of the Britons. “Who?”
“King Morcant Bulc. Llofan came from Bernicia and we know that Bladud and their king are close. You are the danger to him; you and King Urien.”
“That is what I feared. But now that we know we will watch them all much more closely. Perhaps now that I am warlord we can keep a better eye on Bladud and our spy.”
In my arrogance I believed that I was the one who could control events but, as Myrddyn pointed out some time later, there were higher forces than we who were manipulating our lives. Wyrd was the thing which meant I could never believe in the White Christ for wyrd was unpredictable and even the gods could not make it bend to their will. But I was puissant and I had never been bested, I thought it would remain that way forever. What did not change was my attitude towards Bladud and Llofan; I now knew, even without hard evidence, that they were working, certainly against me and probably against Rheged.
When autumn came we received the bad news from Elmet that the Saxons were pressing their borders. Raibeart did not ask for help and I could detect, from his messages, that he had stiffened the defences and the Saxons would not find Elmet an easy nut to crack. King Gwalliog had made a series of forts and fortifications which circled his stronghold and he used his horse warriors to keep the Saxons at bay. With winter approaching then they would be safe but I hoped that they would use the cold times well for the Saxons would return in the spring.
The message spurred me to accompany Tuanthal on his patrols. We had learned our lessons and we varied our route in case any scouts were watching. I could not confide in Miach and Tuanthal that I suspected Bladud but I managed to watch the land to the north and west as well. We rode without armour but with javelins and shields. We had tried to use bows from the backs of horses but it was unsuccessful; the bow was too big. Brother Oswald’s research mentioned horse warriors from the east, Parthians who destroyed thousands of Romans with their bows but they were shorter and their design unknown to us. My men could, however throw a javelin and we all carried three with the last used to strike at men who cowered on the ground. We saw no Saxons but there were bandits and brigands who preyed on the isolated farms and farmsteads. When we found them we left their heads on poles at crossroads to warn others the penalty for robbery in Rheged. Gradually they moved elsewhere, I suspect to Bernicia where King Morcant Bulc still squatted, like the over grown toad he was becoming, in Din Guardi. Already the Saxons were encroaching back towards the Dunum and much of our hard fought gains were lost. We patrolled as far as the Roman Bridge and then south towards Elmet. King Gwalliog had a fort at the old Roman town of Cataractonium. Sometimes we met Elmet warriors close to the old hill fort where my family died. The Saxons did not come near us.
We were supposed to visit the king for Yule again but the weather intervened. After the bone fires the snows came early and the ground was frozen solid. Normally it meant that it would thaw and brighten but this was the year of the wolves and it did not. The snow grew deeper and we were almost besieged in our castle by snow. We took to patrolling closer to home, just to make sure that the villagers and farmers did not suffer. There were plenty of forests and wood aplenty but food was scarce. Brother Oswald’s goat and sheep cheeses became valuable sources of food and my men hunted whenever possible.
We called it the wolf winter for the wolves returned. I had not seen them in large numbers since my parent’s deaths but I still recalled the death of the young family. My men took the opportunity of wolf hunting for they all wanted a wolf cloak such as I wore and Garth. They knew that any man could wear one as long as he had killed the wolf himself. It was a week before Yule and I joined the ten warriors who had been se
lected to hunt the wolf. We took a variety of men each day, some archers, some warriors and some horsemen. It helped the men to feel part of my army. We also took a slinger or a despatch rider to teach them the skills of scouting which they would need.
As the men checked their equipment I turned to Brother Oswald. “Who is the young boy? Is he a despatch rider? He looks familiar.”
The priest looked sad, “That is because he is Aedh, the younger brother of Adair.”
Now it made sense. I could see the brave dead despatch rider in his hair and his eyes. I knew he had had a brother but thought he was too young to fight. Then I remembered Aelle and Raibeart fighting when they were even younger. No-one had a long childhood but I would watch Aedh; his family had sacrificed enough for me already.
One of the archers led us out. The wolves hunted at night normally but the snow meant that they had become bold. They still liked to have a lair in the rocks which they could use for shelter. We headed towards the east and the rocky crags above the deep forests. If we found their lair we might kill any cubs and females whilst still enabling us to track them through the snow. I walked in the middle and Aedh was in front of me; it was not an accident. A couple of miles from the castle we came upon tracks. They were not fresh but they led to the south and a tumble of rocks known locally as Fainch’s Den from some ancient witch who had lived there before the Romans. I did not need to give a command for the men knew what to do and they formed a thin line. I was on the extreme left.
As we neared the rocks the musky, pungent smell of animal and death drifted towards us on the wind. We had, through good fortune, approached upwind. Most of us had bows which we now strung but two of the horsemen had their javelins with which they were more familiar. The closer we came to the den the slower we went. There were five paces between each man to enable us freedom of movement in case they attacked.
At thirty paces from the rocks we halted and two of the more experienced archers slithered forwards on their bellies. They went to the left and the right, seeking slightly higher ground where they could look down into the tumbled rocks. When they were in position they waved and we moved forwards. The two archers lay down on the rocks so as not to give themselves away. We were ten paces from the rocks and the two archers were rising when disaster struck. One of the warriors slipped on the snow and his bow fell with a crash to the rocks at his feet. In an instant there were blurs of fur as the six wolves, which had been sheltering in the rocks, leapt over the tops at us. Brave Aedh did not run but aimed his bow at the nearest wolf and released. The arrow glanced off the thick fur and the wolf turned to attack the threat. I pulled back and aimed for the head; if I struck anywhere else then the boy would be dead for even a wounded wolf can rip a throat out in a heartbeat. It had to be an instant kill. Nodens was with me for the arrow went through his head, the force taking him away from the shocked Aedh. I closed my eyes to say a silent prayer of thanks for my aim. It had been close. As I scanned the rest of my men I saw that only one wolf had escaped whilst one had sunk its teeth into the arm of one of the archers. It was a wound which would take some healing.
Aedh turned to me, his face drained of blood, “My lord, I owe you my life. I thought he had had me.”
I smiled and ruffled his hair. “Next time aim for the chest. If he moves left or right you still have him. You did well Aedh, brother of Adair.”
His eyes opened even wider. The warlord knew his name. “I will do better next time.”
“I know you will. Remember keep practising until; you feel you cannot practise any more and then do another hour!”
The men had put the dead animals onto their javelins and carried them between them. I looked at the dead wolf. “Come then Aedh or would you have your lord carry our kill by himself?”
He grinned and grabbed a javelin. I smiled as he struggled to push it through its mouth. I shook my head. “Up its arse. I can open its mouth and make it easier for you to get it out.” Understanding flooded his face and soon we had it between us. There was a height disparity which meant that I had the heaviest load to carry but I did not mind. It had been a good day. The meat would feed many farmers and villagers and, more importantly, there were fewer wolves to prey on my people.
As we entered the gate we were cheered by the guards and I saw Aedh swell with pride. Pol was waiting anxiously. He had wanted to join us but I was strict; only one young warrior was allowed with each patrol. As Aedh had discovered, hunting the wolf was a dangerous occupation. The young rider turned to me. “Can I help you prepare your wolf skin my lord?”
I affected a serious look. “Do you think the one I wear is threadbare and needs replacing?”
He looked confused. “No my lord I …”
I relented and smiled, noting the annoyance on Pol’s face. “I was just teasing you Aedh. I need not the skin and you were brave not to run. You may have the skin but you cannot wear it until you become a warrior.”
The delight on his face was like a breath of sunshine on this cold day. As he ran off to get a skinning knife Pol said, somewhat peevishly, “That is not fair my lord. I should have been the one to kill the wolf.”
“Fear not Pol, your day will come. Let Aedh have his day.” My face became serious. “Adair was his brother and this may go some way to making up for the loss.”
Understanding flooded my squire’s face. “I am sorry my lord. I should have known that you would be making a wise decision. Please forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive; now take my weapons. I shall be with Lady Aideen.”
The snow lasted for many weeks and, despite all our efforts many people died. The fact that they were the old, the young and the sick made it harder for the warriors to take. Famine was an enemy it was hard to defeat. The men who survived were angry and frustrated that, in spite of their efforts against the Saxons to protect their families, they had still suffered. Brother Oswald was saddened because many of the followers of the White Christ reverted to the old pagan ways arguing that this benevolent god had done little to help them in their time of need. The messages from Aelle were also disturbing; like us he had suffered deaths but his mighty defence, the Wide Water, had frozen over. Had there been Saxons around they could easily have taken his stronghold. He would have to strengthen in the summer for who knew if we might suffer another winter as bad.
As soon as it thawed and the roads became usable I took Pol and half a dozen men and rode to Civitas Carvetiorum to consult with the king. He looked as grey as the land when I saw him. “It has been a hard winter for our people Lann. Many have died.”
“And with me also.”
“Ywain’s son was taken. He is deeply saddened for he is now without children.” I could not conceive of a pain as deep as that suffered by my friend. If I lost Hogan I would not want to live. I would have to find the time to speak with him. He was a deep thinker and I knew that he would brood on the death. He gave me a wan smile. “But I suspect that you too have had your problems eh?”
As he walked with me to his hall I told him of Aelle’s problems, the reversion to paganism and the wolf hunt. “But our losses were neither as severe nor as personal as yours your majesty.”
“Still it is strange that the wolf plays such a large part in your life. I can see why your warriors feel that there is something mystical and magical about you, your sword and your healer.” He gave me a curious look. “They say that your Myrddyn is a wizard or a witch and can make himself disappear.”
I laughed. “Men talk your majesty. He is clever and resourceful and he does use the old ways but I have yet to see him disappear.” As we sat before the roaring fire I asked him of news from beyond our borders.
“You know of Elmet’s woes but your brother is preventing any losses. However it is the Bernicians who perplex and confound me. Why they did not fortify the high ground south of the Dunum I have no idea. They would have been able to deny the Saxons the use of that river; as it is they now defend north of there and that puts us in danger.”
“We patrol as far as the Roman Bridge but there are many miles twixt there and my castle. The Saxons could capture that land if they chose and it would not take much effort.”
“I know but I feel that they will see Bulc as the weak link and will strike there first.” I stopped with the beaker of warmed ale half way to my lips. The king gave me an apologetic look. “I know that does not sound like me but we have gone to the Bernicians aid on three occasions and they still do not take responsibility for their own defence. I fear that they are a lost cause. I also fear that the winter deaths have taken many who might have swelled the ranks of our warriors in future years, this may be a bigger disaster than losing a battle.”
When I returned home I was even more worried than when I had left. We felt like an island surrounded by enemies from another country who did not want our way of life and wanted to replace it with their own. This would be a fight to the death and only one culture would survive. Unless we could end this strife then the land would be devoid of the people who had lived here since before the Romans.
When the weather became better I doubled our patrols. I asked Aelle to patrol to the east and I used Garth, Tuanthal and myself to send out patrols every day. It meant that we only had one day in three to rest but I wanted advance notice of the enemy. If they were to return, then now would be the time. We kept the same men with us. I was able to leave Ridwyn in charge of the castle during our absence as he had proved himself to be a valiant and reliable warrior. Besides which Miach and his archers provided a solid force of sentries to protect our families, all of whom now lived within the castle and its periphery. I took Aedh as my scout and kept Pol with me.
