Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 05] Saxon Slayer

by Griff Hosker

  He gave a disappointed, “Oh.”

  “The Emperor wanted your father to lead his armies and to fight the rebel Heraclius. He wanted him to abandon Mona.”

  “I cannot believe that. He seemed such a reasonable man when we were there.”

  “That was his plan. He tried to use you to get me to do his bidding. The Byzantines and the Greeks are complicated people. I prefer those who live in this island.”

  “Even the Saxons?”

  “Yes Pol, even the Saxons. You know where you are with them. They will not stab you in the back while pretending to be your friend. And tell me, how are our erstwhile enemies?”

  “The Hibernians have made overtures of peace. We have established some limited trade with them but we do not trust them.”

  “We?”

  He grinned in a self conscious manner. “Brother Oswald, Garth and Pol; they help me to reach decisions that are wiser than they would be.”

  “Good, I am pleased and now that we are back we can add Myrddyn to that group.”

  “I was joking before father. You will run things again.”

  “Eventually, yes, but I want a few days with my younger family. And the other enemies? What of them?”

  “The Saxons are up to something. They have been sending ships to watch our coast again but our own ships seem to make them cautious. As for Iago,“ he glanced at the prince next to him. “He appears to be building up his army. He sent some scouts into the Clwyd Valley but Prince Pasgen sent their heads back to him. I think that something may be building for the summer. Unless things have changed dramatically, I cannot see it being an alliance between the people of Cymri and the Saxons.”

  I turned to the prince. “What do you think your father intends?”

  “I think that he will try to conquer Ceredigion. That will make his southern border secure and allow him to attack Dyfed. He would then control the whole of the coast line except for this part and he would be able to control our, sorry, your trade.”

  Myrddyn nodded his approval. “Your father’s loss is our gain Prince Cadfan. For what it is worth Warlord, I agree. Having just travelled through those two countries and seen their armies I would say that he could defeat them easily if he chose. As for the Saxons; until they retake Chester they will not risk anything. We have shown them that our forts and our ships are more than up to defending against them. Their only chance is to cut us off and make Mona our only source of supplies.”

  I could see the fort and the bridge in the distance. “Thank you for the advice. Now we have a month or more to plan and I already have some ideas.” I turned to Daffydd. “I know that we were talking of your home there as though it was in danger but believe me, it will not come to harm. The Dux Britannica promises you that. Lann, when we reach home let Daffydd share your room with you.”

  Lann grinned; he could be a big brother to Daffydd now as Pol had been to him, “Of course Warlord!”

  The welcome I received from Nanna was worth a thousand storms. She squealed with delight when she saw me and threw herself at me. “I missed you!” She gave me a huge kiss and then added cheekily, “Did you bring me a present?”

  “I did and it is so big I couldn’t carry it so I sent it by ship.” I peered over her shoulder. “Isn’t it here yet?”

  She glanced around and then said, seriously, “You are teasing me!”

  Lann Aelle picked her up, “No, little cousin. I have seen it and it is on a ship and it will be here soon!”

  She kissed Lann and said, “I believe you,” she wagged a finger at me. “Don’t tease!”

  Myfanwy shook her head and embraced me. “I don’t know what we will do with that one when she gets older.” She kissed me. “I have missed you too and you are back sooner than I expected.” I moved away from her and affected a hurt look. “I am not complaining but I just wondered.”

  “Let us just say that the Emperor’s motives for the journey were less than honourable but it has all been resolved. I won’t be going away again soon!”

  “Good. I have organised a feast and invited your brothers for despite your words you will be Warlord again ere long.”

  “Not for a few days. I have told Hogan that, until the ship arrives with our chests then he can continue to run the land and I can enjoy my wife and children.”

  The hug I receive told me that I had given the correct answer. In truth, I enjoyed the next six days until I received a message that Captain Basil and his ship had been sighted from Myrddyn’s new Pharos. He had enjoyed building it and Brother Oswald, too, had been enervated by the project. For me, it was another sign that we were becoming an important place in the world. I reached Caer Gybi as the ship tacked in to the harbour which now looked tiny to me. Captain Basil was genuinely pleased to see me.

  “I worried that you would have been murdered on that treacherous coast my lord.”

  “It was a good journey and I have more trade for you. King Arthlwys of Ceredigion may well have much more trade for you in the future.” I leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Copper!”

  His eyes widened, “Truly?”

  “My wizard has seen it!”

  “Then it will be true! I thank the gods that I took you as a passenger my lord for the people of Gwyr would not take payment for the work on my ship. They said it had carried the Warlord.”

  I waved away the compliment. “You will get much more trade now and I will see to it that you are afforded special treatment. In return I ask a favour.”

  “Ask and it is yours.”

  “Our guide, Daffydd needs to be taken home and I would like the horses returned too.”

  His face lit up like Myrddyn’s new pharos, “I would be delighted for it would help me to repay the people of Gwyr.”

  That day we began a new trade which made all of us richer and impoverished Iago. I had not thought that trade could be a weapon but the journey from Gwyr to Mona showed me otherwise.

  I summoned all my leaders to meet with me in my great hall. Prince Pasgen and Mungo came from the Narrows and they all waited expectantly for me. I had had a table built, since I had returned, which accommodated all of my leaders but was oval so that we could all see each other when we spoke. I took my place next to Hogan and Myrddyn. Everyone looked bemused by the concept. I smiled, “It is good to see everyone’s face at last. This will be how we will talk from now on. We are all equal and I value all your ideas equally.” I paused and then added, “Of course, as Warlord, I can ignore your ideas but you know that anyway.”I put enough levity in my voice so that they all laughed. “Firstly I would like to thank you all for aiding my son, Hogan. He has done a fine job in running my lands with your help. I thank you.” Myrddyn nodded and so I knew that I had said the right thing. “I have learned much since I have been away. We cannot rely on free armour and aid from Constantinopolis. We have to be reliant on ourselves. That means that Ralph needs as much iron and metal as he can get his hands on. Brother Oswald, “ everyone looked at him, “and Myrddyn will need to be as clever as all of the scribes in Constantinopolis.” Brother Oswald blushed but Myrddyn nodded as though it was well within his grasp.

  “I have heard that King Iago may be planning an attack on our new allies in the south.” I stood and went to the table next to the wall. Myrddyn had placed the map there earlier. I picked it up and dropped it with a flourish on our table. “We will not let him do so. We will attack him and pre-empt his attack.”

  There was a collective gasp. I was pleased that the look from Hogan was one of admiration. I pointed to the peninsula to the south. “We have travelled this road. It is sparsely populated. There is one poorly defended fort at Nefyn. Garth and Hogan will strike there and work south so that we reach Ceredigion. Prince Pasgen and Mungo will strike along the Clwyd Valley and build a fort at the head of the valley. This will stop Iago from attacking along that route and give us early warning of a Saxon attack. “My brothers,“ I nodded to Aelle and Raibeart, “Will be responsible for protecting Mona, from the Na
rrows to Caer Gybi.” They both nodded their acceptance. “That is my plan for this year.”

  I did not know what I expected but it was not universal applause and the banging of hands on the table. Hogan threw his arm around my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “I am in awe of you father. I thought that I was ready to be Warlord but I can see that I have much to learn. It is a brilliant plan.”

  I looked at him. “Let us just say that a long sea voyage and a ride on a small horse, gives a man time to think. Never underestimate the power of thought my son.”

  There was a babble of voices and questions which either Myrddyn or I answered. Of course Myrddyn had had a great part in the planning and the idea. We were a good team. I held up my hands and there was silence. “You all have fifteen days to ready your men.” I held up my hand. “I know we all trust our men but remember the Saxon spies. Do not reveal your plans in detail until you are on the road. It is not that we do not trust our men but loud voices can travel far.”

  That night there was an air of excitement and expectancy that I have rarely seen before. I had decided that the Empire was a distraction. I would take whatever they offered but it was not as important as Mona and what we could do. I had decided to see Gwynfor and Gareth and increase the trading links whilst adding ships to our fleet. I was not ignoring the Hibernians. If they thought I was looking east then they would attack and I wanted to be prepared by taking the fight to them. We had four ships now; by the next year we would have six and we would sail as a fleet to stop the Hibernians from slaving. I would take my role as Dux Britannica seriously.

  Basil had sailed south and I had sent messages for both kings warning them of Iago’s plans. I did not tell them that I would be taking action; it would have done little good anyway. Their armies were too inconsequential at the moment. Once we had traded weapons to them and trained their men then they would be the allies I wanted. As things stood it would be my army who took the risks and fought Iago. I was counting on the fact that he would have no idea of my aggressive intentions.

  Brother Oswald’s face lit up when I handed him the bag of coins. “This is a wonderful bounty.”

  He hesitated. I shook my head. “Go on, and speak. If you have a thought then let it have air.”

  “Do you remember when King Urien, at Brother Osric’s behest, minted those coins of Rheged?” I nodded. “We now have enough here to mint a substantial quantity of our own coins; besides these are too large to use.”

  He was right, of course, they were too large. The headman at Gwyr had struggled to find enough coins to pay me the change. “Can we do that?”

  “Ralph can make them and Myrddyn and I can make the moulds. Yes my lord.”

  “Then let us do it.”

  And so we began to mint our own coins. At first it was just gold but as we acquired more silver and copper we minted those two. I refused to have my image on them but I allowed them to have Dux Britannica put on them along with a sword, Saxon Slayer. Perhaps I was getting ahead of myself but now that we had allies I saw this as a way of uniting us through currency rather than power and military might. Their use would also spread our name and might increase trade as they would appear all over the world. Gareth was positively overflowing with joy when he told me of the increase in shipping since the pharos had been built. I shook my head when I heard that. It was such a simple thing and we benefited by having early warning of danger. I had Pasgen and Mungo do the same at their end of the island so that seafarers would be safe, but we would be even safer.

  My brothers had been at the meeting with the rest of the leaders but I visited both of them separately to ensure that they understood their role while we were campaigning. I visited Lann Aelle’s father first. My brother was impressed by his son’s growth both in size and maturity. He now towered over his father. “I will have to watch my son now that he is such a warrior.” He was proud of his achievements. I had told him of his bravery in the attack on the Emperor and on the road.

  “You will have to spread your men a little more thinly brother. I will leave three ships to patrol and watch for the Irish and I will take ‘The Wolf’ with me.”

  “That is a worry Lann; what happens if we succeed in defeating Iago? We do not have enough warriors to hold on to what we have.”

  “And that is where Hogan, Tuanthal and Pasgen come in. They each have twenty to forty heavily armed equites. I have seen the rest of the land and there is no force which can match them. They can control large areas of land. If we build forts at strategic sites then we can manage any incursions. I am hopeful that my two allies will improve their warriors so that they do not need us. Remember when King Urien took us on. We were untried, untrained and raw but with guidance we became adequate warriors.”

  Aelle laughed, “Do not do yourself a disservice brother; you became a great warrior.”

  I ignored the compliment for there was no answer to it. “You will watch Castle Cam will you not? I am leaving Ridwyn to guard it with twenty of my warriors but it is a large castle. We will need the beacons.” The beacons were fires manned by farmers and they were across the land. If any invader approached then the whole of the island would know within the hour. Castle Cam could be reached by both of my brothers in less than three hours.

  Raibeart was pleased with the responsibility too. “I thought I was tired of war but hearing of your adventures make me regret sheathing my sword and hanging up my bow.”

  “I find myself yearning for those days; but I fear they are some way off for me and my son.”

  The army gathered at Prince Pasgen’s fort. We were not stripping our defences but I was using my leaders. Prince Pasgen and Mungo would lead forty equites, forty warriors and ten archers to the head of the Clwyd Valley. Theirs was the harder task for we had no idea what they would encounter. If I had been Iago I would have protected my lines of supply to Deva. If the land was free of enemies, Iago’s men or Saxons then they would build a fort there. If there were enemies then they would harry them. I wanted Iago’s attention to the north of his kingdom so that we had a free hand in the west and south. We watched them go while we waited for the arrival of ‘The Wolf’. I had charged the captain with keeping us supplied and watching for good sites for a port. Nefyn was our first target and I had high hopes for that as our southern base. Prince Cadfan was with me and he was vital to our plans. We had just thirty equites; Hogan and Pol with their twenty and Tuanthal with ten of his. The rest we left at Mungo’s Burg as a reserve. Miach had twenty archers and Garth had just fifty warriors. As an invasion force it was pathetic but I did not want my allies to feel intimidated by the size of my army. Besides which I was confident that we could manage to defeat whoever we met with the forces at hand.

  We headed along the coast; Myrddyn and Hogan were at my side. “We will see it before too long. I do not think they will have reinforced it yet. Inevitably we had Aedh and his very reliable scouts spread out ahead of us. They rode back within two hours of leaving us. “They have men in the fort my lord. They did not see us.”

  “Good. Ride around the fort and scout out the land to the south. I want to know what lies ahead. The land was empty when I travelled but they may have reinforced the Llŷn. Then return to Nefyn.”

  It was a cold day but the sky was clear and our archers, although few in number, would not be hampered by inclement weather. I turned to Hogan. “If I am able I intend to take this fort without a fight. I wanted Prince Cadfan with us as he is our secret weapon. I spoke with the men who defected to us here and they told me that there is a great deal of sympathy for the young prince. He fought valiantly for his father and they believe he has been unjustly punished. We can use that disquiet to our advantage.”

  Myrddyn laughed, “A few weeks in Constantinopolis and you become more cunning and devious.” My expression must have surprised him for he held up his hand. “I mean no insult and it is a compliment. You were the complete warrior and now you are becoming a leader as great as King Urien.”

  “I do
not think I am even close to King Urien but I accept your apology. Perhaps I am thinking more like that wise king. It must come with age. These grey flecks in my beard must show that I am becoming wiser.” I waved Lann forward, “Unfurl the banner. Let them know we are here.”

  We rode around the curve of the road. It was not Roman and had many twists and turns in it. When the fort came into view I could see the dragon standard still flying and the walls bristling with warriors. I wondered what they would be feeling when they saw the banner. The last time I had been there I had had but twenty men with me and we had come away victorious. This time our armour sparkled and shone in the sunlight. Hogan and Pol ensured that their men polished their armour every day and it shone like gold in the noon sun.

  When my army was arrayed before the gates which rose into the air some fifty paces higher than us I rode forward with Prince Cadfan and Lann. Behind me the two wings of our force were composed of equites. The shield wall was in the middle and the archers were behind them. It must have looked like an army of solid iron which faced the defenders.

  “I am Lord Lann, Warlord of Rheged and Dux Britannica. I call upon you to surrender to your rightful ruler, Prince Cadfan ap Iago.”

  The prince rode forward. “I know that my father has promised you a victory but you will not withstand these warriors.” He pointed at my army. “I have fought with them and I know. I do not ask you to surrender. I will not dishonour you. I ask, instead, that you join me and the Warlord to bring peace to our land again.”

  He rode back to my side and I shouted again, “You have until my shadow reaches yonder rock to decide. If the answer is no then we will destroy you.” I turned to Lann. “Leave the banner with me and bring Miach’s son; I think we can persuade them to cooperate.” I pointed to ‘The Wolf’ which was now less than forty paces from the shore. “There is one of my ships. There are others.”

  There appeared to be fewer warriors on the walls and I took that as a sign that there was dissension within the walls. When Miach’s son arrived I leaned down to him. “Have an arrow ready. I may ask for a demonstration of your skill.” He grinned at me. He had been with Hogan and Pol when they had visited the Emperor and it had increased his confidence immeasurably. He was as good an archer as I had ever met.