Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 05] Saxon Slayer

by Griff Hosker

  Prince Cadfan and the men I had left at Nefyn had worked hard and there was now a low wall reaching from the side of the fort to the sea. It would not hold an enemy at the moment but, once it was the height of a man it would be an effective barrier. Hogan was stripped to the waist and labouring with his equites. We had learned long ago that physical labour made a warrior stronger. That was obvious from the sweat glistening on toned muscles and bodies.

  He paused and wiped his brow. “Welcome Warlord.” He pointed to the north. “The prince has decided to build a northern wall too. He lived with Prince Pasgen long enough to see the benefits of such a defence.”

  “He is wise then.” I gestured for Myrddyn to join us. “You know those mountains better than any, could Iago use the high passes to descend on this land?”

  Myrddyn shook his head. “Not from the north but from the south? Aye. That is the weak area. Between Cader Idris and Wyddfa there are many passes he could use.”

  “Then when he gets horsemen the prince will need to patrol them.”

  “Then there is a problem for we have barely enough horses for our own men. We can ill afford to equip another army.”

  “We shall have to get them.”

  Hogan looked at Myrddyn, “How? By magic?”

  “No, my lord. We shall steal them!”

  Although I was anxious to hear how Prince Pasgen and Mungo had fared in the north I needed to be there to support Prince Cadfan. The next morning I summoned Hogan. “I want you and Tuanthal to take your equites and join Prince Pasgen. Send Aedh ahead of you to find his whereabouts and then send Aedh to the horse lands to find us some Saxon horses to steal.”

  Hogan was happy to be doing what he and his horsemen enjoyed the most, fighting our enemies. “If we find Iago’s men then what?”

  “Defeat them or, if their numbers are too great send for Garth and my shield wall.”

  Hogan laughed. “Then Garth will have much time to build his little walls.”

  Garth snorted, “I can remember a time Lord Hogan when you were desperate to stand in my shield wall.”

  “And if I did not have a fine horse between my legs then I would do so again.”

  The banter was a good sign. It showed that my warriors were all in high spirits. After they had left I sought out Cadfan. Myrddyn was busily working to improve the defences while Garth and his men toiled with Cadfan’s new recruits. We stood on top of the hill and watched as the men worked below us.

  “How are the new men Prince Cadfan?”

  “They seem willing enough but compared with your men they appear to be almost unarmed.”

  I nodded. I had seen the envious looks his men had cast at the arms and armour of my men. “You will acquire better arms do not worry. You will need to find either trade or an income.” I pointed to ‘The Wolf’. “My ships will help you should you need them.”

  “How did you equip your men so well?”

  “We defeated warriors and then used their poorer armour and weapons to make better ones. Ralph can help you there. Miach can advise you on bows for your archers. That would be my first task. Bows can be made easily. We have plenty of yew stored at Caer Gybi but you need the men who are suitable to be archers.” I pointed to the short and stocky warriors who happened to be digging the ditch before us. “They would make good archers for they have powerful shoulders. With archers you can keep your enemy at bay. Ceredigion has fine cows. Trade their king for the leather. Leather armour can be useful until you have enough iron. We are planning on stealing some horses for you. These would give you scouts.” I pointed to the east. “Myrddyn has told me that there are many passes over which your father can travel and you need to scout them. As soon as this is complete I would appoint a trustworthy deputy to captain the garrison and then explore the area. Find what you have to trade. Get to know your people and convince them that you would make a better king than your father.”

  He looked crestfallen. “That sounds like a long list of tasks.”

  “It is. Being a leader is not as easy as it looks. You need a cleric as I have who can manage your lands. Ask Bishop Stephen if there is a suitable monk who would like to do as Brother Oswald does. It will make your life easier. I will see if we have any spare weapons we have taken from the Saxons and others we have defeated and send them to you.” I put my arm around his shoulder. “This is just the first step on a long journey. The others will be easier but do not count them for there will be steps beyond number.”

  “Thank you, Warlord. I know that I sound ungrateful.”

  “No, you are young and new to this. You will learn. I did.”

  I took my men and we headed back to the Narrows the next day. The fort was now defensible and the men were being trained already. I left Miach’s son to help train his archers while ‘The Wolf’ returned to Caer Gybi for bows and spare weapons. I hoped that King Iago would take time to seek revenge but there were now over a hundred warriors defending the fort at Nefyn.

  When we reached the monastery we camped. I had not seen Bishop Stephen and I was anxious to find out how the new monastery of St David was faring. As usual he made us welcome but he had some disquieting news for the three of us as we sat with him in the newly built herb garden. “I was pleased when you sent Prince Pasgen for the Saxons have begun raiding south of the Dee. King Iago’s men at Deva just hold the bridge and the rest of the river can be used by the raiders. They have taken slaves from north of here.” He pointed at the new roundhouses. “Many have taken refuge here.”

  That was a disturbing thought and reminded me of my own family’s fate. “Prince Cadfan is looking for settlers at Nefyn if they wish to journey there. It is a good land and there are few people living there.”

  “Thank you for that Warlord. Our resources here are stretched a little.”

  As we spoke I wondered what had happened to Prince Pasgen and my son. I would have expected to hear from them but the lack of news of any sort was disquieting. “Hopefully we will be able to establish a presence at the head of the valley and that should prevent incursions. If you built a beacon then we could reach you sooner. You are a little isolated here.”

  He spread his arms. “We are in God’s hands, Warlord. I will build one at the coast.” He smiled, “Otherwise no one could see it.”

  I would have to see to it that Mungo and his men had a sentry on their tower which faced the monastery.

  We left before dawn the next day as I was eager to reach my son and the rest of my warriors. Aedh’s scouts found us. “My lord, the Prince has been ambushed. He was saved by the arrival of your son.”

  “Were many lost?”

  He shook his head, “Five equites and three horses but the men of Gwynedd escaped without loss.”

  I was desperate to find out how the disaster had occurred but I would have to wait. “Take us to them then.”

  As we rode I turned to Myrddyn and Garth, “What do you think happened?”

  Myrddyn closed his eyes and put his arms out before him. “I am sorry Warlord. It is hidden from me.” He began laughing and Garth smiled too. “We will have to wait to find out. Speculation will get us nowhere despite your worries for your son who will be safe.”

  “You are right to mock me. I should be where the fighting is not enjoying the company of monks.”

  Garth shook his head, “You are wrong to berate yourself so Warlord. You are the leader of our warriors but we have others who can do the fighting. Whatever happened to Prince Pasgen and Mungo will be a lesson to them. They will learn from it.”

  We reached the scene of the ambush. There was a small valley which led from the Clwyd into the hills. There were many trees, hedges and rocks. It was not the country for equites. That was my fault. I had sent equites because I wanted speed. Hogan and Pol rode up to me.

  I dismounted, “Tell me.”

  “Prince Pasgen has a broken leg.” He looked at Myrddyn who nodded and left immediately. “Five equites died and six others suffered wounds. They were led into an
ambush by Iago’s men feigning a retreat. They had dug pits and the horses fell into them. The warriors who were killed were attacked as they lay on the ground. The warriors of Mungo were too far behind to help. We happened along and I took my men and we scattered the attackers with arrows but this,” he pointed to the rock strewn hillside, “is not the country for horses.”

  Garth smirked, “You mean slow and cumbersome warriors would have been better?”

  Hogan had the good grace to smile. “No, archers and lightly armed skirmishers such as they have in the east would have been better.”

  I waved my arm irritably at the two of them. “This is not the time for bickering or recriminations. We need to salvage something from this. Garth take the warriors up that shallow valley and make sure that there are no others waiting to attack us. Hogan, take your men to the north. Look for Saxons. Bishop Stephen said that there are warbands operating there.”

  He grinned as he rode off, “That is better Warlord, action at last!”

  I found Myrddyn tending to Prince Pasgen. The prince tried to stand. “You have a broken leg. Lie there and let my wizard heal you.”

  “I am sorry my lord, I have let you down.”

  “You have learned a lesson Prince Pasgen. The equites are good but they cannot do it all alone.” Mungo approached us, “Did you lose any?”

  “No, my lord; I am sorry, my men were not quick enough to keep up with the horses.”

  “It has cost us but not as much as it could have done.” I looked around the valley. “Have you found a site for a fort yet?”

  He spread his arms. “This looks to be the best place. The valley leading south is shallow. If we dig a ditch and use that to build a mound then we will be higher than the hills and we can control the valley. There is water and there is wood.” He pointed ruefully at the rocks, “And as we found out there are plenty of stones.”

  “Excellent then something good has come from this. We will build a fort here. Mungo make a start.” I looked over to Myrddyn. “When can the prince travel?”

  The prince tried to raise himself up. “I can travel now Warlord!”

  Myrddyn pushed him down, none too gently. “You can travel when I am happy that the leg is mending. A wagon would help.”

  I smiled, Myrddyn was not one to mince words when it came to healing. I waved Prince Pasgen’s lieutenant over.

  “Yes my lord?”

  “Aidan, take four men and ask the Bishop if he has a wagon you can borrow. Use two of the horses of the men who were wounded. Bring it back here. When Myrddyn gives permission you can take him back to the fort. Until then you are in command of the equites. The prince can enjoy a rest and run the fort rather than the equites.”

  I could see that Aidan was happy but Pasgen scowled and glared pure hatred at his broken leg. We all began to help Mungo to build the fort. Time was of the essence. When Garth returned his men joined in too. “We found nothing my lord but they were watching us from the rocks and crags. There was little point in pursuing. Your son was quite right, this is not the country for armoured men.”

  “I know. We will have to recruit lightly armed men for this fort. I do not intend it to hold large numbers but to deny the enemy the free run of the valley.” I shouted over to Mungo. “I want at least one tall tower so that we can signal danger.” He nodded and began to give orders.

  I mounted my horse, “Come Lann we will ride around and pretend we are an attacker.” I knew that whoever would man this fort would be isolated. If I was Iago or Aethelfrith how would I assault it? I was pleased to see there was no steep slope down which an avalanche could be started. Mungo was already cutting back the tree line to provide timber and we could cut it back even further. The stream could be used as a ditch and the natural slope would enable us to make it surround the fort. It would not stop an attacker but it would slow them down. As we rode higher up the slope I could see many rocks which were small enough to be carried by a warrior and used for building. The more stone we used then the more secure it would be. I looked to the north. We could have used the slope there to build the castle but it was a gentler slope. The site I had chosen was steeper and protected the valley from Saxon attacks too. I estimated that we were ten or twelve miles from the monastery which added protection for the monks. It would do. The problem would now be to find warriors to garrison it.

  I was pleased, when we returned, to see that the mound was rising as the first of the ditches was being deepened. I waved Myrddyn over, “See if you can divert the stream to give added protection to another wall.”

  Rather than being daunted by such a task the wizard rubbed his hands together. He gestured to my nephew. “Come Lann Aelle, this is good for you. We will use your mind and see if it matches your arm.”

  He went with the wizard happily. Myrddyn was a good teacher and knew how to engage young minds. Hogan’s intelligence owed much to my wizard.

  It was approaching dark when Hogan rode in and I could see from his face that it was not good news. “We have a problem, Warlord. There are Saxon warbands swarming all over the country. King Iago’s men are hiding behind their walls at Deva and Wrecsam. We are the only warriors who can do aught about them.”

  Chapter 8

  We ate frugally that night and we kept many guards around the perimeter. I did not worry that we could be beaten by these warbands but we had suffered too many casualties already. I sat with my leaders. I smiled at Pasgen’s frustration. Myrddyn had agreed that he could return with the other wounded the next morning. He was annoyed that he would be missing from what was likely to be a campaign against the raiders.

  Hogan made his report. “I sent Tuanthal and Pol to the east and the west and I headed north. I counted six warbands. There were no more than fifty in each band. I found houses and farms burning. The men were dead and I think the families had been taken as slaves. We reached Deva. There is a Saxon army there but it is no more than two hundred men. They have ships in the estuary. Tuanthal and Pol reported another eight warbands in the east and the west. They are stripping the land of people and animals. Iago’s people are suffering.”

  I sadly shook my head, “No, my son, it is our people who are suffering. I am Dux Britannica and all the people are my responsibility.”

  I stared into the fire as I formulated my thoughts. “Warlord?”

  “I am thinking, Myrddyn, but I would welcome ideas from any of you.”

  Myrddyn coughed and began, “When the fort is finished it will need to be manned. That will take away some of our warriors. We only have twenty archers.”

  “Nineteen.”

  “You are correct Miach, Daffydd is with Prince Cadfan. When Prince Pasgen returns to his fort we will have sixty equites. We can defeat the individual war bands but should they join together …”

  I had come up with a plan even as I was assimilating what Myrddyn was saying. “Hogan, did you see any sign of the families?”

  “No Warlord.”

  “I saw some to the west, close to the river. They looked to be penned and guarded.”

  “How many were there Pol?”

  “I would estimate a hundred or more.”

  “They obviously have a problem moving them. Deva stops them crossing the river and while they can bring more warriors in by boat, it is difficult to transport families. We start with the families. We must save them. Aedh I want you to send a rider to ‘The Wolf’. I want all four ships to be off the coast near to the monastery by the day after tomorrow. Hogan, we will take our equites and begin a sweep from here to Deva and kill or capture as many Saxons as we can. Garth and Mungo we will leave a garrison here but you will take the warriors to the aid of the slaves. Pol will guide you. I want all of us to converge on the Dee in three days time. Our ships can attack at the same time that we do. I want those families saved.”

  Their faces told me that they approved the idea but Myrddyn came up with the problems. “What about the fort? It will not be finished.”

  “I know but the men
we leave here must finish it.”

  “You didn’t mention my archers Warlord.”

  “No Miach. Until we have recaptured the slaves I want you in command here. Your archers can help to build the fort and then defend it with the garrison.”

  He smiled. “A nice rest for me then eh?”

  Miach was the most solid and dependable of my captains. He would do whatever I asked and I knew that I could rely on him. “Aedh your scouts will be vital. You have to keep everyone in touch with each other and find the enemy,. You will need to be in two places at once.”

  He kept a serious face as he said, “So there will be no change for us then?”

  Everyone laughed and I knew that, despite the apparent mountain we had to climb, we now, at least had a chance. “And what of Iago?”

  “I think Myrddyn that he will be trying to out guess us. By now he will have heard that his son is raising an army. He may think we are stretched. Prince Pasgen, when you return to your fort you will need to warn the prince that he may be in danger and you will need to use your scouts to warn all of us about any danger in the mountains.”

  The prince was eager to make up for what he saw as his failure. “I will not let you down again, Warlord.”

  “You did not let me down. The enemy is learning to be cunning. We just have to adapt and become cleverer ourselves.”

  The next day we sent Pasgen back to his fort with his equites. If Myrddyn was correct then there was greater danger to Cadfan than to us. We would have to make do with thirty equites. Lann and I rode with Hogan, Pol and Tuanthal. Myrddyn stayed at the fort to aid Miach with the defences. This would be the first time I had fought as an equite. I felt inadequate as I rode next to Pol and Hogan on their fully armoured horses, with their long spears in their hands. They had much smaller shields than I did for their armour was more effective than mine. At least my helmet was the same as theirs, having been a gift from Andronikos.

  Aedh himself had led the scouts and he galloped towards us. “My lord, there is a warband and they are attacking Yr Wyddgrug.” He pointed behind him. It is half a mile ahead and is in a valley close to a river. There is no wall.”