by Simon Lister
‘We found more than Ethain. We found Merdynn.’
Chapter Ten
Morveren’s long hair fell down across Morgund’s face as she leant down to kiss him once more. What had started as a consoling embrace had given way to undeniable passion; it was if they needed to reaffirm both life and love amidst the memories of death and loss. As his hands caressed beneath her light tunic she tilted her head back in pleasure and saw before her the walls of Caer Cadarn. Abruptly she sat back on his thighs and brushed her hair away from her eyes, ‘Not here. We’re in full view of the walls!’ she said placing a hand on his chest and gently pushing him back down.
Morgund laughed and sat up as she climbed off his legs. She wiped away the last vestiges of her tears and stood up offering him her hand.
‘I’ll stay sitting for a short while,’ he replied.
She grinned and sat back down beside him placing her hand on his thigh. He gently lifted the hand and placed it on her own thigh. She laughed out loud and he felt delight at the sound of it. He had to fight the impulse to take her in his arms once more and sought around for a subject to distract him.
‘So, while we were massacring the Adren did you enjoy your ride through Wessex with Ceinwen?’
‘Gods! I forgot!’ Morveren said jumping to her feet, ‘Ethain, we found him and...’ she stopped herself just in time.
‘And what?’
‘And he’s here! At Caer Cadarn! Arthur will want to see him and I need to be there with Ceinwen!’
Morveren was already racing towards the gate so Morgund struggled to his feet and set off after her unsure which feeling was greater; relief that Ethain was still alive or irritation that clearly his reunion with Morveren would have to wait a little longer.
Morveren went straight to the hut where Ethain had made his home but he was not there. She searched the other dwellings with Morgund trailing around in her wake but Ethain was nowhere to be found.
‘He must be here somewhere!’ she said in frustration as she stood before the main hall.
Morgund gazed around the compound and shrugged wondering if it might be an appropriate time to remind her of other matters.
‘I’d better go and see Arthur,’ she said reluctantly and climbed the steps up to the hall.
Morgund resigned himself and followed her into the hall his thoughts now leaning towards a well-earned beer with Balor and Ceinwen. He almost bumped into Morveren who had stopped dead just inside the relative darkness of the hall. He saw immediately why she had stopped so suddenly; Ethain was sitting cross-legged on a table with his back to them surrounded by Anglian and Wessex warriors. He was relating the story of the Shadow Lands and they joined the back of the throng unnoticed by any except Aelfric who acknowledged them with a quick nod of his head. Some of the Anglians were asking Ethain how the others had met their fate.
‘Herewulf and Ranulf fell first,’ Ethain said, staring at the table’s surface as if collecting his thoughts, ‘We were making our way through a ruined city. It stretched further than I could see and it took us days to cross it. Ruins everywhere. Stone piled on stone as high as trees but no trees grew there, nothing grew there. Every ditch and vale was covered deep in snow and the wind tore through the ruins. The first we knew we were being watched was when the bells began tolling. Iron clanging on iron, some distant and some much closer. We thought it was the ghosts of the city wailing but it was something worse.’ He raised his eyes and stared at the silent faces before him as if he had forgotten they were there. He lowered his head again trying to hide his eyes from the searching gazes. He resumed in a quiet voice and the silence around him deepened as they strained to hear every word.
‘Merdynn called them the Irrades. They had lived there from a time before the city crashed in ruins. A host of ruined people poisoned for generations and scavenging a living from whatever they could find – and they had found us.
‘They must have formed some alliance with the Adren because together they had set a trap for us in the heart of the city. Cerdic and I charged the Adren shield wall...’ He bowed his head lower to avoid their rapt attention.
‘In truth my horse bolted but Cerdic stayed by my side and together we smashed their wall. When my horse was killed beneath me Cerdic dragged me up into his saddle and we fought our way clear.’
The warriors murmured their approval both of Cerdic’s bravery and Ethain’s understatement of his own part in it.
‘Herewulf and Ranulf were not so fortunate. They were unhorsed and fought bravely taking down many of the Adren but they were outnumbered. Wolfestan went back to help them but all three were slain. When we got clear we found that his sister, Elfida had been mortally wounded. As she lay dying in Cei’s arms Cei told her that her brother was still alive and she died with some comfort even though the rest of us all knew that he too was dead.’
Again the voices of approval sounded around the table.
‘But we had not escaped the trap entirely. The Irrades were waiting for us and Leah and I became separated from the others. We fought back-to-back and this time it was Leah who saved my life. She fought like four warriors and held them at bay until Cei could come back for us. As we fought our way clear of the city Osla and Wayland fell to the enemy’s arrows.’
The voices grew louder again as Ethain paused in his story and the warriors shouted oaths of vengeance to each other and banged their fists on the table demanding to hear more. As Morveren gazed around at the warriors who were hearing for the first time what had become of Cei’s band she saw Ceinwen on the far side of the gathering. She caught her eye and Ceinwen glanced off to her left. Morveren followed her look and saw Arthur standing well back from the throng and staring intently at Ethain. This was the first detailed account that they too had heard from Ethain.
Ethain was staring at his hands as they twisted and rubbed together. The clamour rose around him as the Anglians urged him to tell them more of the tale. Ethain’s eyes flicked around them and he began again in a quiet voice. The others immediately fell silent.
‘We covered a great distance through the driving snow and frozen shadows but an ice storm fell on us. For days we struggled on but it was impossible. So cold. Always hungry. Leofrun died in the storm. She would not call for rest and nor did she lag behind but the storm was too much for her. If we had not stopped when we did then I too would have died just hours after Leofrun.
‘We built a cave in the deep snows and waited for the storm to pass. When it eventually did Cei and Merdynn decided we could go no further into the Shadow Lands, it was just impossible in the depths of winter. We made instead for the Breton coast where Merdynn knew of shelter and friends.
‘But the enemy had not given us up and through ice and storm they tracked us, hunting us down. It was impossible to track us through that storm but somehow they did. They caught us on the Breton coast on a headland just by the safety of the fortress. We were so close but they were upon us before we could cross the sea ice. And that’s where Cerdic saved my life for the last time.’
Ethain stopped and there was total silence in the hall. Everyone stood staring at him waiting for him to continue and the only movement was the twisting of his hands.
‘Three of us, Cerdic, Roswitha and I stood on the headland while the others raced down a cliff path to get to the sea ice. We held the Adren at bay for as long as we could. Roswitha was the first to fall. An Adren spear took her. Cerdic and I fought on. I received a deep cut on my head and Cerdic shouted for me to escape down the path. I was loath to leave him alone but I could hardly see for the blood and he pushed me back down the path. I’m ashamed to say I followed his order. He stood against the enemy by himself so that he could save me and the others.’
Ethain hung his head as if in shame but the warriors shouted that Cerdic was a hero and there was nothing else that Ethain could have done. In the uproar around the table no one noticed the small smile twitch across Ethain’s lips. When the noise began to subside they demanded to hear the rest.
‘Further down the path Thruidred and Godhelm were the next line of defence. They too died heroes as they held back the Adren long enough for Cei and the rest of us to reach the safety of the Breton fortress.’
Ethain took a deep breath. His mind was racing ahead to the conclusion of his tale and he was trying desperately to recall the version of events he had repeated over and over to himself.
A bead of sweat trickled from his temple as he continued, ‘Together with the Bretons we held the fortress all winter long. The Adren came at us again and again. Sometimes they attacked the high wall and sometimes they came across the ice to launch attacks up the cliff paths. Aelfhelm, Cuthwin, Leah and Trevenna were always in the thick of the fighting and Cei was everywhere. The Bretons were brave but they were just ordinary people, not warriors. They fought well and Cei was proud of them. But the Adren were too many. They were remorseless. Leah was mortally wounded. She and I, we were... I began to lose hope but Merdynn kept us going, kept me going.’
His voice faltered and caught in his throat. The Anglians kept a respectful silence guessing that Leah and Ethain had formed a union. After a pause Ethain collected himself and continued.
‘The Adren smashed the Breton boats just as the sea ice was thawing. We only had one small boat left. Merdynn had hoped to use it to get to Wessex to bring back other boats so that we could all escape but it became clear we could hold back the Adren no longer.
‘They breached the wall and everyone knew the battle was finally lost. We fought a desperate rearguard back to the one boat. Aelfhelm fell during the chaotic retreat. He must have killed dozens of them during the winter months but they finally brought him down.’
The warriors turned their gaze to Hengest who hung his head at the news of his father’s death.
‘Cei and Trevenna fell on the steps before the boat, fighting to the last and taking down the enemy even as they fell side by side. Cuthwin and Merdynn were injured as they fought the Adren off the boat and as we pushed out to sea. I did what I could for them but we had no herbs or medicines and no food. I know nothing about healing. I failed them. Somehow Cuthwin directed us to Wessex but he died within sight of the shore. Merdynn was raving and beyond my help.
‘I don’t know why the gods spared me and me alone. I wish they hadn’t. Each and every one of the others were braver, stronger warriors than I, and I least of all deserved to escape the enemy.’
Ethain lowered his head and covered his face with his hands. He knew this was the critical moment when the warriors would either comfort and praise him or when voices would be raised to question his tale. Hands reached out to grasp his shoulders and slap his back. Voices of praise and oaths to honour the dead rang out around him. His shoulders gently shook to the genuine sobs that coursed through his body. The warriors crowding around him thought he cried for the dead but his tears were of relief.
Morgund joined the others pressing around him but Morveren took a faltering step backwards horrified as the realisation sank in. She knew he was lying and that he had been lying all along. Everything he had said had somehow been a twisted truth and each time he had twisted that truth it had jarred in her mind. She was somehow sure that it was he who had murdered Cuthwin in the boat and he who had tried to slay Merdynn, and all in an attempt to save himself from having to face the Adren again. He had condemned Cei and whoever else was left at the fortress to certain death at the hands of the Adren.
The absolute certainty made her feel sick and she stumbled backwards. Arthur caught her in his arms. She looked up at him surprised to find him by her side and tried to voice her certainty.
‘I know,’ he simply said, his gray eyes emotionless and flat, ‘When they finish hailing him as a hero bring him to my chamber.’
Arthur turned his back on the acclamations and returned to his room. He shut the door behind him and stood there resting his forehead against the rough wood.
‘One of your lost warriors?’
He turned slowly to see Gwyna lounging on the bed.
‘Yes. He was with a band in the Shadow Lands trying to stop the flow of Adren supplies.’
‘You don’t seem too pleased to see him,’ Gwyna said, swinging her legs off the side of the bed and sitting up.
Arthur sat in the low chair without replying, irritated that Gwyna was in the room; the fact that she had every right to be in his room only irritated him further.
‘He’s the only one to have survived.’
‘The sole survivor. He must be a mighty warrior,’ she said, handing him a cup of wine and helping herself to one. Her tone of voice clearly implied she thought quite the contrary.
‘You don’t think he is?’
‘There’s many reasons why only one should survive of many. He doesn’t look like a mighty warrior,’ she shrugged and added, ‘but then looks can be deceiving.’
They drank their wine without speaking while outside in the hall the noise from the warriors increased as more beer was consumed.
‘We’ve had no news from those shadowing the Adren army,’ Gwyna said, glancing at Arthur who nodded silently. ‘But you have had news from the Haven I hear.’
Arthur looked at her sharply. She avoided his eyes and sought around for a clasp to tie her hair back. Arthur continued to stare at her while she nonchalantly brushed her long red hair back into one pleat and pinned it in place.
‘I hear the Cithol girl gave birth to a child,’ she said, still fiddling with her hair and feigning distraction.
‘And what else would she give birth to if not a child?’ Arthur replied, barely keeping his smouldering anger in check.
‘I hear she gave birth to your child,’ Gwyna said suddenly fixing her eyes on him and sounding far from distracted.
‘It is of no concern to you.’
‘I’m your wife! Of course it concerns me!’ Gwyna spat back now standing before him.
‘This happened before we were betrothed.’
‘I demand you publicly disown both her and the child!’ Gwyna shouted at him.
Arthur shot to his feet forcing her backward. He towered over the furious Uathach girl, ‘Seren and the child are not of any concern to you and you demand nothing from me.’ His voice was low and even but there was no mistaking the controlled fury underlying the words.
Gwyna glared up at him, her green eyes suddenly filled with hatred, then she turned and stormed from the room. She nearly collided with Ceinwen who was about to knock on the door. They stared at each other for a moment and Gwyna’s eyes dropped to the axe that Ceinwen held half-concealed beneath her light cloak. For a second Ceinwen thought she was going to grab the axe from her hands but she turned away with a curse and strode from the hall.
Ceinwen had already told Arthur everything she could remember about the encounter with Merdynn. The relief and joy that Arthur had felt at hearing the news had gradually ebbed away as she had related everything that Merdynn had said. She knew how Arthur must be feeling because she had felt the same; Merdynn still being alive was the best news any of them had heard for a year but countering that was his conviction that Cei and Trevenna were dead. The quest east had truly failed and even though Merdynn was still alive he seemed convinced he had no further part to play in the defence of Britain.
Much of what Ceinwen had said had puzzled Arthur but of one thing he was absolutely sure; Merdynn’s preparation for leaving for the Western Lands could not be true. Arthur knew that Merdynn would no more abandon Britain than he himself would, and yet Merdynn was not going to stand alongside them in the defence of Britain. For the first time since the attack on Branque Arthur truly doubted if Britain could be saved. Despite the numbers facing them and despite the casualties they had already taken Arthur had still believed that victory was possible. He knew that ultimate victory could only be achieved in the East, in the Shadow Lands, but he had believed it possible to whittle down the Adren force that had invaded Britain until it reached a balance where he could finally defeat the enemy. Now he doubted
it.
There was still one plan available to him but it relied entirely upon fortune and timing and he could control neither. It was a plan he had discussed with Merdynn and one that they had been desperate not to have to use but there now seemed no other option. If Merdynn was looking towards the future, as Ceinwen had said, then perhaps it was because he had already abandoned the present. If this war was lost then perhaps Merdynn was already looking to salvage something for the future.
Ceinwen hesitated at the open doorway. Arthur was standing by the window with his back to her and his head was bowed as if lost in thought. She looked down at the axe she carried and wondered if she should just turn around and leave him alone.
‘No, come in,’ Arthur said distractedly as if he were answering an interrupting question.
She felt a shudder go down her spine but she stepped into the room and closed the door firmly behind her. She laid the axe on the table and reached into her pocket to withdraw the Elk Stone pendant. She watched it slowly spin on the twine, rhythmically flashing as it caught the sunlight from outside.
‘These are the possessions I told you about. The ones Merdynn gave me,’ she said softly.
Arthur turned to her and stared at the turning stone as it alternatively flashed reflected light across their faces. He reached out his hand and she gently lowered it onto his palm. His fist clenched around it and his eyes dropped to the axe lying on the table. He bent down and traced his finger over the design that was deeply etched into the iron blade - a longboat in full sail.
‘It is Cei’s war axe, isn’t it?’ Ceinwen asked quietly.
‘Yes.’
‘And that’s the pendant that Seren gave you. The one you gave to Trevenna.’
Arthur nodded in reply. Ceinwen sat down heavily and lowered her face into her hands.
‘So it’s true then. I knew it was but... they’re all dead.’ Her words were muffled but Arthur could hear the sad certainty in her voice.
‘All except Merdynn,’ Arthur replied sitting down opposite her, ‘And Ethain.’
