Wilmurin: Land of the Druids

by H. J. Cronin

  ‘We will stay there until we can find a ship that will sail. After that, who knows? Let us rest for now rather than dwell on it.’

  They waited in the abandoned castle until the sound of marching had faded. Once the area was clear they immediately made their way for the port town of Selarmus.

  12

  Fields of Blood

  Bethegar marched at the head of the long column filled with men from the Clan of the Bear; they marched towards the Black Panther Clan’s city, Perthyon. They had also lost a day's marching due to heavy rain but the sun now shone so they were on the move. There they would meet the Blank Panther king, King Persus, and King Wufclore and his host from the Clan of the Wolf. Together the three clans would make a stand against the Black Widow.

  Benning had brought him news that Flordonium had fallen and was in flames. The captain of the guards marched beside his king. Bethegar knew he would not have enough manpower to stop the Black Widow, but he had enough to stall her and for him to die a warrior’s death; his father would be avenged, he promised Drugar.

  The new king of the Clan of the Bear regarded his captain and nodded with satisfaction. Although Benning was not nearly as big as him, he was still a large man as far as humans go. He had long, blond hair and a beard that covered much of his face. Bethegar knew that he had strong and able men with him.

  ‘My king! A large creature approaches,’ announced one of the lookouts.

  Indeed, not so far away a large brown wolf was racing towards the column and stopped just before the king. Bethegar knew immediately who it was. He was about to greet the newcomer when the wolf took on its human form as a slender but rough looking middle-aged male, with bushy sideburns almost reaching his mouth and short hair which stuck up into the air. It was Felclore, King Wufclore’s son and Garpaw’s brother.

  ‘King Bethegar, my father sends his regards and well wishes at your new title. He is also thankful that you killed the usurper, King Brehan.’

  Bethegar nodded his greeting. ‘What brings you here, Felclore?’ he asked in his husky voice.

  ‘Our army is just a day’s march behind you. I have just returned from Perthyon and spoken to the Black Panthers. Apparently the Black Widow is on the move and is burning anything in sight. She will be at Perthyon within the next two weeks. I trust you have heard about Flordonium.’

  ‘Thank you for your information, and yes, I have heard the capital has fallen. Is there any news on High King Jasper?’

  ‘No one has survived, the entire city has been engulfed in flames. Count Darkool is not one to have mercy.’

  ‘It is a shame that nobody believed the words of my father. If the clans had listened to his plea then the Black Widow would not be up in the north and the army of Count Darkool would have been defeated.’

  ‘Hindsight is a tortuous thought, King Bethegar. We must deal with the now, and the now is that that bitch is heading this way to destroy us all.’

  ‘You are right. I pray to Drugar that we will live through this. With Flordonium in flames we are on our own in this struggle.’

  With that, Felclore took back on his wolf form and ran off down the column towards his clan. The army had passed through the Dark Wood and now made their way through the open land where they could see the tall black tower of Perthyon in the distance. Perthyon was a large city, not as big as Bemon but still large. The dark skinned clan had built their city around the Grand Tower where King Persus and his sons lived. The black panther was the most agile animal of all the clans, not as powerful as the bear nor as cunning as the wolf, but its speed made up for that.

  For another day they marched until they came so close to the city they could make out individuals manning the walls. Outside the city was an enormous camp flying the dark banners of the Black Panther Clan. A chosen few from the Clan of the Bear including Bethegar, Benning and a score of others were permitted inside the camp to treat with the king.

  King Bethegar entered the main tent accompanied by his captain, Benning. In the centre sat King Persus wearing his ceremonial black armour. He was flanked by his two sons, Parmeus and Paral. The dark skinned men eyed the newcomers.

  King Persus immediately stood up and held out his arms, ‘Greetings, new king, I am honoured to have you in my presence. It is sad news indeed about your father.’

  ‘Sad news it is, King Persus, sad news that would have been avoided if the council had listened. And my name is King Bethegar,’ Bethegar said, straightening his back.

  ‘I apologise for my doubt, King Bethegar. I guess we were all just afraid of the truth,’ Persus answered with sincerity.

  ‘A fear that has cost many lives. Let us not dwell on this. The enemy approaches in great numbers. It is only we and the wolves who stand against the Black Widow who is bent on taking the north. I hope she has not heard of my brother’s death and so still believes the Clan of the Bear will fight for her – a deceit that could mean victory for us.’

  ‘What is your plan, King Bethegar?’ Persus asked intently, pouring himself a drink and offering one to Bethegar.

  Bethegar told him his plan and King Persus’s eyes lit up, not for one moment questioning the genius of the plan. Maybe victory could belong to the northern clans – just maybe.

  Two days later the Clan of the Wolf joined the army amassed outside Perthyon. The troops enjoyed drinks and feasts with each other. Old rivalries were forgotten and a new peace was found within the northern clans. Scouts had reported that the Black Widow’s army was a two day march away so the northern army prepared its defence.

  Their main advantage was that they had the choice of the battlefield, so they could set it up accordingly. The noise of blacksmiths and weapon practice filled the air, laughter and the odd squabble as thirty thousand men prepared for battle. Fletchers prepared hordes of arrows and peasants collected wood for defences.

  On the brow of a small hill the three kings looked out over the army. King Wufclore with his grey hair and bushy grey sideburns broke the silence. ‘A fine army indeed. I fear it is not enough to break the ranks of the Black Widow though. We will put up one hell of a fight but it will be a fight to our deaths.’

  King Bethegar sighed. ‘Your pessimism is not needed here, King Wufclore. I thank you to keep such opinions to yourself.’

  ‘Do not talk down at me, boy! As king you are my equal!’ Wufclore snapped back. ‘Even if your plan works we still have Count Darkool to contend with and his army is much larger than the Black Widow’s.’

  King Persus stepped in to avoid the situation from escalating. ‘We will do our best to help King Bethegar with his plan. If we are to win when the time comes then we can only do so as one. If we drift apart then the war is already lost.’

  ‘This will not be a long drawn out war like the wars of old, King Persus, it will be a slaughter,’ King Wufclore responded with a snarl.

  ‘An honourable death for a wolf, is that not?’ Bethegar asked Wufclore.

  King Wufclore finally smiled. ‘One thing that I am sure of, my northern brethren – if I am to die on this day then I will take as many of those bastards with me as I possibly can.’

  ‘Hear hear,’ Bethegar said and grasped Wufclore’s arm. ‘I am honoured to fight beside the Clan of the Wolf.’

  ‘As am I with the son of the late King Bemnom, may Drugar keep his soul safe,’ Wufclore said with a nod. With that he left the other two kings and returned to his camp.

  King Persus eyed him warily and then looked at Bethegar, ‘Do you think he will stick to his word?’

  ‘He has as much to lose as we do and he is an honourable king. I trust every word he has just said to us. I would bet my life on it,’ Bethegar replied, full of confidence.

  The land which lay before Perthyon was a vast open space; a large grassland that spread for hundreds of miles until it reached the River Flord and beyond that Flordonium. To the north of Perthyon was another huge green tract which eventually led to the Dark Wood. The vast plane was known as Drugar’s Fields after t
he druid god. It was here where the great host of the Black Panther Clan and their ally the Clan of the Wolf formed up and waited for the enemy. The Clan of the Bear amassed a mile in front of them.

  In the distance they could make out an extremely large mass approaching them, like a dark shadow on the beautiful green landscape. The men shuffled with nerves and a silence fell over the northern clans. The dark host drew closer and now Bethegar could make out the faces of the enemy. If his plan worked he would gain the initiative.

  The enemy army stopped a short distance from Bethegar, and he and some of his men and three women from the opposing side came forward. Bethegar could make out the red corset of the Black Widow and the two black ones of her daughters Selena and Katrina. The Black Widow did not yet know of Felecia’s fate. Bethegar smiled at the thought and walked towards the host with his men flanking him, his helmet obscuring his face.

  ‘Brehan! You have honoured your word!’ Selena immediately called out and walked towards him.

  Bethegar took off his helmet and Selena stopped dead in her tracks. ‘Do not worry,’ he said, holding his hands up. ‘My brother has sent me here to do your bidding. He gives you these men as a gift,’ Bethegar said, pointing towards his large army.

  ‘I thought you died!’ Selena said with shock, and brushed her long dark hair from her face.

  ‘I know your mother was to have me killed, but I aided your sister and now I help my brother,’ Bethegar kept his cool as he could see his plan was working.

  ‘Good, now come over here and join us. You will form the vanguard.’

  ‘Very well, my lady,’ Bethegar said approaching Selena. He walked with her as his men formed up directly in front of the Black Widow’s host.

  The Black Widow herself approached him. ‘What of my daughter?’ She asked, clutching the whip at her side.

  Bethegar felt some nerves come over him but he quickly shook them off and smiled at the Black Widow, ‘Safe she is, mistress.’

  ‘I don’t believe you,’ the Black Widow said in a sinister tone.

  It was at that moment that Selena, who was next to Bethegar, reached for her dagger. Before she could even touch the hilt Bethegar drove a hidden axe up through her jaw and into her brain, killing her instantly. He looked up at the Black Widow and Katrina who stared at him with horror and anger. ‘You’re right, that bitch Felecia is now feeding the worms and so is my brother – your plan has failed, you spider bitch.’ Bethegar quickly turned to his men, raised his arm up into the air and with a loud voice that carried out over his army shouted, ‘Men! Fight, fight to the last man! Fight for your lives! Take up arms!’ As soon as he said that all of his men drew their weapons and charged into the Black Widow’s ranks.

  The enemy were so taken aback that the upper hand immediately fell to Bethegar, whose soldiers killed with a ferocity that even stopped the Black Widow’s thoughts for a moment. She shook off the shock and drew her whip, and immediately lashed out at Bethegar, disarming him with one lash. Bethegar took no time to take on his new black bear form and bellowed out the loudest roar anyone had ever heard. The Battle of Drugar’s Fields had begun.

  King Wufclore and King Persus looked on as Bethegar's army stopped just in front of the Black Widow’s army. They saw King Bethegar step forward and exchange words with the Black Widow.

  ‘I hope this plan works,’ King Wufclore said to King Persus, looking ahead.

  ‘I believe it will. The Black Widow doesn’t look like she has caught on that it is a trap,’ Persus replied with a smile of confidence.

  Wufclore stroked his thick grey sideburns and nodded, ‘I will go and get my men ready. King Persus, if we do not make it through this I must tell you it has been an honour to have known you and live in great peace with your clan.’ They gripped each other’s wrists and nodded at each other.

  ‘It has been a pleasure, wolf king,’ King Persus said as Wufclore turned around and walked towards his men.

  Moments later there were a few shouts and suddenly the sound of battle. Persus saw King Bethegar’s men engaged in combat with the dark mass of the Black Widows. Cries of wounded men soon filled the air and the sound of metal on metal could be heard. He could see the large black bear form of Bethegar stand up and give an almighty roar. That was the signal.

  ‘Archers! Forward!’ Persus called out and his archers instantly came forward as the order was relayed along the line. ‘Men! Shoot over the heads of our comrades into the packed ranks of those spider bastards.’ He raised his arm into the air. ‘Loose!’ he called out as he dropped his raised arm.

  With that order the air filled with arrows, causing a vast shadow over the beautiful green field. The arrows whizzed as they fell among the waiting enemy. Cries rang out from the vast ranks of the Black Widow’s army as men were struck. Some arrows fell harmlessly but most hit home. It wasn’t long before Persus ordered another volley, then another.

  After a dozen volleys Persus looked out at the struggle between the Clan of the Bear and the Black Widow Clan. Now was the time to make their move. With a loud scream of frenzy King Persus charged forward, followed by his sons and immediately after that the rest of his army. King Persus and his sons took on their shiny large black panther forms as they charged towards the battle.

  Parallel to King Persus’s army the Clan of the Wolf charged forward towards the raging battle. King Wufclore was in his grey giant wolf form as he led the charge, followed by his sons in their wolf forms. The two armies cheered with a thunderous noise as they approached the battle, eager to save their comrades.

  Within a short space of time the two northern armies crashed into the ranks of the Black Widow, joining their bear allies in battle. The tide of battle evened out for now, as the dwindling forces of Bethegar now had reinforcements which helped them drive on with a new-found ferocity.

  Bethegar, in his black bear form with blood dripping from his mouth, looked around the chaotic battle and felt a surge of hope as his allies came to his aid. He quickly shook off the thought; the battle was not won just yet. The big black bear charged into a throng of men surrounding some of his own men. With his great paws he swept the enemy men aside like sand in the wind; with one big whack he took a man’s head off, clean from his shoulders. He then felt a spear cut into his side, but so huge was he that it was a mere scratch; he turned around, eyed the culprit and pounced on the helpless man, tearing his throat out with sharp teeth.

  He looked around to see if he could see the other kings but he could not. His thoughts were quickly put aside as another man charged at him. The man was stopped by one of Bethegar’s men who stabbed him in the back, killing him outright. Bethegar nodded his approval and his man quickly rejoined the battle.

  The king of the Clan of the Bear suddenly saw a giant black widow spider coming towards him with deadly speed. It only had one red stripe which meant it wasn’t the Black Widow herself but one of her daughters, Katrina.

  The black widow spider was flanked by two rather large hairy brown spiders, each mounted by a soldier in dark armour wielding a spear. Bethegar had to think quickly – despatching the two spiders and their mounts quickly would even out the odds of his fight with Katrina.

  The trio came on with lightning speed. But Bethegar was prepared; he leapt into the air and, using his sharp claws, unseated one of the men who crashed hard to the ground. The other spider came fast at him. Bethegar managed to dodge would-be fatal blows from the long spear and eventually broke the long weapon with his strong paws. With another leap he flew above the man and bit his head off, leaving the body to fall limp to the ground.

  Now was the turn of the two hairy spiders to make their attack – they came on him very quickly and ferociously. Bethegar managed to jump on one of them pinning it down to the ground. He dug his claws deep into the monster’s abdomen releasing green blood. Using both of his paws he then dug his claws in and ripped the helpless creature in half. The other spider almost caught him off guard from behind before three of his men killed the
beast with their spears.

  Unbeknown to him, Katrina was eyeing him up; she was a lot larger than the hairy spiders and with a speed far greater than that of her minions she ran at him. Her large powerful body managed to knock Bethegar to the ground. With great speed and eagerness she attempted to bite and kill the king, but he managed to block her attacks.

  Bethegar, now beneath the giant black widow spider that was Katrina, dug his claws into the spider and she momentarily released her grip. With all his might he threw her into the air. She landed on her back with a thud and quickly regained her correct posture. She hissed and leapt at him with her abdomen pointed towards him. She shot a stream of web directly towards him which hit him in the face.

  Bethegar managed to pull the web from his eyes before Katrina could deal her final bite. He stood up on his hind legs, the black bear towering over the men fighting around him. The black widow spider, almost as big as him, hit him with a thump and the two great beasts wrestled on the ground.

  Nearly two hours later King Wufclore, in his wolf form, had just finished off a giant spider when he noticed a large black widow spider staring at him. With the two red stripes on its dark black abdomen he knew instantly it was the Black Widow herself. He gave out a howl which echoed throughout the battle. He didn’t wait for the leader of the enemy clan to make her move – he charged at her full steam.

  Easily, with her front two legs, the Black Widow pushed the king aside down to the ground. But Wufclore quickly regained his footing and attacked the Black Widow once again. This time he managed to sink his teeth into one of the spider’s legs and tore it from its body. The Black Widow recoiled for a moment, but one leg out of eight did not weaken her.

  Wufclore pounced onto the back of the giant black widow spider and clawed the beast with ruthless aggression. The Black Widow managed to flip, which resulted in Wufclore falling off of her back to the ground. She landed back on her seven remaining legs and slowly stalked towards the large grey wolf. Her fangs were not her only weapons; the tips of her legs were like swords.