by H A CULLEY
The two big merchantmen sailed down close to the coast of Rheged and the signal fire was lit. This time five birlinns sailed out of Douglas with the wind behind them. Three headed to cut the ships off whilst the other two headed north in case their quarries decided to turn and run for it. The merchantmen seemed to take alarm and there was a flurry on deck as they trimmed their sails to head closer inshore.
‘And a fat lot of good that’s going to do them!’ yelled one jubilant Mercian shipmaster across the sea to another.
Two of the pirate ships had flung grappling irons across to pull the merchantmen close to them so that they could board when a cry of alarm reached them faintly. However, they ignored it and swarmed across the gunwale onto the decks of the two merchantmen. As they did so armoured warriors appeared from under the aft and forrard decks and more jumped out of the cargo holds. The fight was brief and bloody. The pirates were outnumbered, unarmoured and taken completely by surprise.
Some tried to surrender but they were given no quarter. A few minutes later both boarding parties were dead and the Rheged warriors had captured the two Mercian birlinns.
The cries of alarm had come from the two pirate birlinns to the north. They had been watching what they thought was the capture of two easy prey when one of the crew shouted a warning as six large birlinns appeared from a cove to the east. Whilst the pirates had ten oars a side the new arrivals had between fifteen and twenty. Furthermore their crews were rowing hard whilst the Mercians still had their sails up.
In their panic it took them longer to get their sails furled and their oars in the water than usual and then the rowers had to get their static ships to move up to full speed, which took time. By then four of Oswiu’s birlinns had almost reached them. When they came alongside they didn’t bother to send away a boarding party but groups of men strained to swing out a boom carrying a net full of rocks. When it was over the Mercian vessels the net was opened and the rocks crashed down and stove in the planking below the water line.
Oswiu’s ships sped on to chase the one remaining Mercian birlinn which was heading back to Douglas as fast as it could go. It was heading into a strong breeze with twenty rowers to power it. It should have been much lighter than the larger ships but it was crammed with warriors and probably didn’t weigh much less than larger birlinns with their extra rowers.
They had nearly reached Douglas when another birlinn appeared from around a point called Little Ness a mile and a half south of Douglas. It had been waiting there since the previous night and now, sailing on a broad reach with a strong wind behind it and its thirty rowers adding to its speed, it was closing on the hapless Mercian ship fast.
The smaller birlinn knew that it was caught and the rowers stopped rowing. However, it didn’t save it. A third birlinn drew alongside and swung out it deadly boom with its net of rocks and another Mercian ship slowly sank beneath the choppy waters of the Irish Sea.
Leaving the crews of the two merchantmen to deal with the two captured birlinns, Oswiu swept on and into Douglas Bay. The large settlement sprawled around the bay with no thought to defence. When Oswiu’s fleet beached their ships and three hundred well-armed men leapt ashore the remaining Mercians decided not to put up a fight. A few fled into the interior where they were hunted down and killed by the locals. Man had been part of Dalriada before its capture by Penda and so the majority of its people were Scots from Ulster.
Oswiu was a popular conqueror and especially so when he announced that Man would now return to Dalriada. He sent a birlinn to let Fergus know what had happened and then, leaving the crews of two birlinns behind until Fergus could take over his new domain, he departed with nine birlinns, including the two captured ones, for Dùn Breatainn. The merchantmen that he’d borrowed returned to Caer Luel to load their cargo of wool, furs and gold before embarking on their last trading voyage before winter made sailing inadvisable.
~~~
Oswald had moved his base to Eoforwīc. He’d found that both Yeavering and Bebbanburg were too far north for him to keep track of what the wily King of Mercia was up to. Besides, Oswiu was now effectively his sub-king of the northern half of his extensive realm.
‘You’ve heard the latest tidings I suppose,’ he asked his wife, who was sitting sewing with Keeva in the hut that he’d built for them at Eoforwīc.
The king’s hall had no private space, just a curtained off corner that did nothing to hide the sounds of forty warriors who lived in the hall carousing, farting and snoring.
‘What? That Æthelberht of Kent had died? Yes. What do you know of his successor, Eorconberht?’
‘Not much. I’m told he’s a devout Christian and he’s married to Sexburga of Ely, King Anna of East Anglia’s daughter, so that alliance should strengthen the opposition to Penda.’
‘But I thought that Eormenred was Æthelberht’s eldest son?’
‘And so he is, but the Witan of Kent chose the younger son; they must have had good reason.’
At that moment the sentry outside announced that Jarlath wished to enter.
‘Jarlath, what bring you to see me? I thought you were watching the young warriors train.’
‘I was, Cyning, but something has happened which I needed to discuss with you urgently. I apologise for interrupting, Síþwíf,’ he added looking at Cyneburga.
‘Well, what’s happened,’ he asked Jarlath as soon as the two of them had walked outside.
The captain of the king’s gesith looked around him to make sure there was no one within earshot.
‘King Cynegils is dead, Oswald.’
‘No! How do you know?’
‘A messenger has just arrived. He’d ridden hard and was nearly out on his feet so I said I’d tell you.’
‘This is very bad news, especially on top of Æthelberht’s death. Not only was Cynegils the queen’s father, but he was our most powerful ally against Penda. I can’t imagine that the pagan Cenwalh will be such an asset.’
‘No. There’s worse news. Cenwalh has agreed to become betrothed to Edith, Penda’s sister.’
‘You jest. She must be twenty years older than he is.’
‘Yes, hardly a love match.’
‘Obviously not. Cenwalh will have acted to secure his throne. With Penda as his father-in-law none of the other Æthelings will challenge him. It won’t last of course. He’s not very bright but he won’t like being treated like a vassal, which is what Penda will do. The lad is too headstrong to accept that. And he’ll want a wife to give him a son. Edith must be too old for childbearing by now, if she ever could. She never gave her first husband any.’
‘I have a bad feeling about this. First I lose Kent as an ally and now Wessex. It’s time to prepare for war.’ He sighed. ‘You had better summon the Witan.’
~~~
The arrival of Oswiu’s fleet off Dùn Breatainn caused something of a stir. He noticed with a wry smile that a small fort was being built at the bottom of the defile which had been set on fire when he was last there. It wouldn’t be so easy to capture the fortress next time. There were four birlinns drawn up on the beach when they arrived and one of these now made its way towards his ship. He hove to awaiting its arrival and signalled for the other birlinns to do the same.
‘What do you want here, Oswiu of Rheged. Have you come to try and burn us out again? You won’t find it so easy this time.’
‘My quarrel was with Owain, not with his son. I’ve come to negotiate with King Guret.’
‘Negotiate? Negotiate what?’
‘Peace. If you give me safe conduct I will come ashore to speak with him, if he’s here.’
‘I see. I’ll return shortly. Remain here.’
‘We’ll move a little closer inshore so that we can drop anchor.’
An hour later the birlinn returned. This time Guret was aboard.
‘I seem to remember that you once threatened to drop me overboard, Oswiu. I assume that if I come aboard again you won’t do that?’
Oswiu laughed. ‘It’
s good to see you again Guret. I’d say that I was sorry about your father but you know I’d be lying.’
‘At least I can’t blame you for his death.’
‘Come aboard so we can talk properly.’
‘I won’t ask for a safe conduct because I know you are a man of honour.’
‘Yes, but your advisors might not be so trusting.’
As he spoke he could see three men begin to argue with the young king.
‘If it makes those three any happier I’ll swear on the Holy Bible not to harm you and to allow you to return once we have finished speaking, or I can come aboard your ship.’
‘That won’t be necessary. I know you, they don’t.’
The smaller birlinn came alongside Oswiu’s ship and Guret leapt nimbly from one to the other. His three nobles followed, rather less nimbly.
To Oswiu’s surprise Guret came and embraced him with a smile. He took the opportunity to whisper in his ear ‘I could do with a friend just at the moment. Don’t trust these three,’ before stepping back to introduce his companions.
‘This is Brandon, Cunobelinus and Nechtan.’ He introduced each in turn. ‘They are my council of regency who are to advise me until I am old enough to rule on my own.’
His tone of voice told Oswiu exactly what Guret thought of the arrangement.
‘What do you want here, Oswiu? What tricks are you planning this time?’ Cunobelinus asked.
‘No tricks,’ he replied, trying to hide his annoyance. ‘This is Beorhtric, Eorl of Dùn Èideann and the captain of my gesith, Ceadda. Shall we sit?’
The ships boys brought them a few empty barrels and covered them with animal pelts so that they could sit down, then Oswiu continued.
‘Strathclyde is exhausted by war and Dalriada even more so. Rheged and Bernicia, in contrast, have prospered over the past few years. My army is strong, well trained and well equipped. I could, if I chose, march into Manau and even Lorne and restore it to Dalriada, as I have just done with the Isle of Man.’
‘You’ve captured that nest of pirates from Mercia? How?’ Nechtan asked.
‘It must have cost you a lot of men. Was it worth it if you gave it away to Dalriada?’ Brandon commented, almost at the same time.
‘I lost precisely two men and a few wounded, but I’m not here to talk about that.’
‘Anyone who has the cunning to capture Dùn Breatainn and Man with scarcely any losses is a man worth listening to. What do you propose, Oswiu?’
With one sentence Guret had put his council in their place and asserted himself as the person who would do the negotiations. Oswiu had to hide a smile as the others realised what had just happened.
‘Thank you, Guret. I propose a treaty between us which establishes our borders as they are now and by which you undertake not to engage in any further conquest of Dalriadan territory, or indeed any incursions into either Rheged or Goddodin. Nor will our ships engage in combat with each other at sea.’
‘That’s all very well, but such an agreement is worthless unless the Picts agree to something similar,’ Cunobelinus pointed out.
‘Talorc sent my nephew, Talorgan, to me some time ago proposing an alliance between Northumbria and the Picts, to which Oswald has agreed, so I don’t think that will be a problem.’
The three advisors looked at each other nervously. They didn’t like the way that this was going.
‘How do we know we can trust you?’ Nectan said. ‘You could be luring us into a false sense of security just so you can invade and take us unawares.’
‘That’s enough,’ Guret snapped. ‘I trust Oswiu and that’s what matters.’
‘You’re still a boy,’ Nechtan sneered. ‘You have no experience. Leave these matters to older and wiser heads.’
‘Older yes, but not wiser,’ Oswiu murmured. ‘You have a choice. Either you support your king and show him proper respect or Strathclyde will be torn apart through weak rule.’
‘Yes, you were out of order Nechtan.’ Cunobelinus agreed. ‘We are the king’s advisors, not his rulers. You should apologise.’
Nechtan went red in the face and Oswiu thought that he was going to refuse, but then Brandon put a warning hand on his arm and the man made a visible effort to calm down.
‘I’m sorry, Brenin. I spoke out of turn,’ he said formally.
‘Thank you Nechtan. I know that was difficult for you.’
‘However, Nechtan has a point, Guret. Strathclyde and Rheged have never been friends, nor have we and Northumbria,’ Brandon said.
‘That doesn’t have to continue,’ Oswiu replied. ‘In the past Rheged and Strathclyde have fought over who owned Galloway. It has been part of Strathclyde for decades now and I’m content to accept that.’
The three nobles looked pleased at that but Guret decided to try and resolve another bone of contention from the past.
‘What about the borders with Goddodin and the rest of Bernicia? Our eastern border has never been well defined.’
‘I suggest that we each nominate five commissioners to inspect the border and agree where it should run. Is that acceptable?’
Guret looked at his three advisors and then each nodded.
‘That seems very sensible. I am grateful to you for what has been a most useful meeting.’
‘If it brings peace to my borders, then it was time well spent.’
He didn’t add that he had a feeling that Oswald might need his services in the not too distant future and he needed to make sure the North was at peace first. There remained the problem of the duplicitous Picts but there was nothing he could do about them for the moment.
CHAPTER ELEVEN – THE WAR CLOUDS GATHER
Summer 642 AD
Oswiu returned to Rheged well pleased with himself. However, his mood changed as soon as he landed. An agitated servant ran to meet him as soon as he’d disembarked at Caer Luel.
‘Brenin,’ the man cried. ‘Thank heavens you’ve returned. We sent a messenger in a currach to find you several days ago.’
‘Well, he didn’t find me. What is it? Spit it out.’
‘It’s the queen, Brenin. She’s very ill.’
‘Rhieinmelth? What’s wrong with her?’
‘She gave birth to a healthy daughter but her attendants haven’t been able to stop her bleeding. She’s very weak now.’
Oswiu gave a cry and ran towards the hall. They might not love each other anymore but he didn’t want her to die.
‘You mustn’t go in, Brenin,’
‘Get out of my way woman.’
The king brushed past the servant and rushed into the bedchamber.
‘Oswiu, I think you may have come just in time,’ his wife said weekly, gasping for each breath. ‘Just in time to say goodbye,’ she managed to finish before she closed her eyes.
‘No, don’t go. I’m so sorry for not trying harder to love you.’
‘Me too. Don’t worry. I’m close to dying, but I can last a little longer I think.’ This came out in gasps interspersed with long pauses for Rhieinmelth to gather her strength. ‘Isn’t she beautiful?’
Oswiu hadn’t noticed the cot and went over to look at his daughter.
‘She is. What shall we call her?’
‘Alchflæd I thought,’
‘Yes, I like it.’
He went back over to the bed and kissed his wife’s deathly pale forehead.
‘Is there nothing anyone can do for you? If only Aidan or Ròidh were here. They both trained as infirmarians.’
‘Oswiu, hold me. I think my time is near.’
‘Have you been shriven?’
She nodded weekly. ‘Yesterday,’ she whispered.
He was still holding her tightly when he felt her body go limp as she exhaled her last breath.
He stayed with her for a long time, quietly weeping, before Ceadda came in and gently led him away so that her women could prepare her body for burial.
It was only then that he thought of Elhfrith. The boy was too young to have been co
mpletely weaned, and he’d obviously need a wet nurse for Alchflæd. He needn’t have worried. An hour later a woman came up to the hall who had just given birth to twins and volunteered to nurse his children.
Oswiu went to find his other son, Aldfrith, and found the boy sitting disconsolately outside the hall looking at the distant hills.
‘Is it true father? The queen is dead.’
‘Yes, I fear so.’
‘What will happen to me now?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I lived in the queen’s chamber with Elhfrith.’
‘Ah, I see. Well, he and your baby sister will be going to live with a wet nurse until they are both weaned. You can stay on in my wife’s chamber for now and I’ll find you a slave to look after you. Would you prefer a boy or a girl?’
His son looked thoughtful for a while.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘a girl would look after me well but I might enjoy the company of a boy.’
‘He’s there to look after you, not be your friend.’
‘But Jarlath used to be King Oswald’s body slave and he’s his closest companion now.’
‘Yes, you’re right.’ Oswiu smiled. ‘You’ve given me an idea.’
Jarlath and Keeva were brother and sister and they had both looked after his brother until Keeva became Oswald’s lover. Perhaps the answer would be to find a pair of siblings to serve his son. He went to see Ceadda.
‘How many children did we bring back from Douglas?’
The families of the Mercians who were killed or who surrendered had been captured and, together with the surviving men, were destined to become slaves.
‘We captured about sixty but all of the men and women were either sold on the island of sent on the two merchantmen for sale in Frankia. I think we brought no more than a dozen or so children back here because no-one wanted them. They’re all too young to work in the fields or the mines. Why?’
