Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 02] Saxon Revenge (33 page)

“I do not like that your majesty; it was at best discourteous and at worst dangerous. We could be riding into a trap.”

“I think you are right Lord Lann.  We will keep our wits about us tomorrow and we will make sure we are prepared for all eventualities.”

We rode north the following morning; I do not know about the others but I wondered at this strange turn of events.  We were now in Bernicia; it struck me that we could have stayed at Dunelm and awaited their king there and I worried that we might be heading into an ambush of some type but, for the life of me, I could not work out the reason. “Myrddyn, do not take your eyes off Bladud and the others.”

“That will be easy to do if not very pleasant.” Garth and I smiled for Bladud was large and distinctive but as he rarely smiled his ugly features did not warrant close scrutiny. We saw the old fort loom up in the distance and we could all see that the Bernicians had repaired it and re-hung the gate.  King Morcant Bulc and his twenty bodyguards awaited us at a table erected beneath a canopy in front of the fort. I relaxed a little.  It would not be a trap after all. We could see all around the fort and there was no sign of Saxons.

King Urien and Ywain reined in close to a wood which would afford shade for the horses and the equites. I saw the two men walk towards King Morcant Bulc followed by six of the king’s bodyguards. “Tuanthal, Garth, come with me and Myrddyn.  Tell the men to be alert.” I looked at Pol.  “You come too and bring my bow.” I did not know why I wanted my bow but something smelled wrong and I needed to be prepared. “Stay close to me.  Understand?”

“Yes, my lord.” He looked determined and I was happy to be followed by four such loyal warriors.

King Morcant Bulc had a self satisfied and smug expression on his face as we approached.  There was a chair opposite him, presumably for King Urien but the Bernician made no effort to show respect to the man who had been elected the High King and he remained seated. Ywain threw me a look which showed that he was as confused as I was. The Bernician bodyguards formed a half circle behind their king and I saw that there was no Riderch; obviously he was still out of favour.

King Urien frowned as he sat down. “I am confused, King Morcant Bulc.  Why did you feel it necessary to meet with me and why here and why,” he spread his arms at the empty space, “why the formality?”

Morcant Bulc gave a silky smile which I did not trust for an instant and my hand went involuntarily to Saxon Slayer.  I watched the Bernician bodyguards but they made no movement and seemed amused by the events.

“As you may have heard King Urien my army suffered a defeat at the hands of the Saxons. I had thought that, as High King, you would have come to my aid.”

The three of us looked at each other.  I was about to speak but the king held up his hand. “Forgive me, King Morcant Bulc but may I ask why you did not defend your own land.  It seems to me that you could have prevented the Saxons from establishing a base on the Dunum.”

He affected a shocked look, “Oh, so it is my fault then? I should have fought the Saxons alone.”

“It would have been a first at any rate.”

King Urien threw me an irritated look and held up his hand to silence me but Morcant Bulc stared coldly at me.  “Ah the famous Wolf Warrior; still hunting glory are you?” If he thought to annoy me he had failed.  I was cold inside. But I could not work out what his intentions were. He leaned forward and glared at King Urien.  “You are not fit to be High King.  The High King would protect the whole of the land and not just his own.” Again, there was no answer to this nonsense and I wondered how long the king would suffer the abuse he was being dealt.  He leaned back and smiled. “I have decided that I will be High King now.”

I could not help myself and I laughed out loud.  Ywain and Urien still looked confused. King Urien shook his head.  “I did not ask to be High King.  That position was forced upon me by the other kings but I will serve as High King until they decide otherwise.” He shook his head. “Men have told me of your weaknesses King Morcant Bulc and I did not believe them.” He looked at me and gave me an apologetic nod. I was gratified by the look of hatred which erupted on the Bernician’s face. “However, I have my own kingdom to rule.  This journey was a waste and I am saddened by your attitude.  Had you given the same attention to the defence of your own land rather than this hunt for glory then perhaps your kingdom would be more secure. I will return home.”

He started to rise and I saw the look of unmitigated exultation on Morcant Bulc’s face.  I heard Myrddyn yell, “Treachery!” And I saw the sword in Llofan Llaf Difo’s hand stab down into King Urien’s back.

Suddenly the Bernician bodyguards formed a shield wall around their gleeful king.  Things happened really quickly.  I saw Myrddyn dive to the king’s side.  Bladud turned to strike his sword at a shocked Prince Ywain and the other four bodyguards rushed at me and my men.

“Pol, get the men!” My squire dropped my bow and quiver and ran shouting for aid.

I had Saxon Slayer out in an instant and the first bodyguard lost his head before he could even make a stroke. I ducked under Llofan’s blade and stabbed at Bladud, more in hope than expectation. I was lucky or perhaps it was wyrd but Saxon Slayer caught him behind his knee and his blow failed to strike the prince. He turned angrily towards me and swung his sword at my head.  I had no shield and I just dropped to one knee.  As I did so I stabbed forwards.  His sword swung harmlessly over my head and Saxon Slayer slid along the rings of his mail ripping open the rings and coming away red.

Bladud did not seem worried and he snarled at me. “There will be no one to save you this time.”

“I never needed help against you.  You were always overrated and now I find that you are a treacherous traitor.  You will die slowly.” As we turned to face each other I caught sight of Garth about to despatch Llofan. “I want the killer alive Garth!”

Bladud took advantage of my inattention and swung his sword at my side. I wore my mail gauntlets and I grabbed hold of the blade.  It was not as sharp as mine but I felt the blood as it sliced into my palm. I was too close for a blow and so I head butted him.  I heard his nose break as blood erupted like water from a waterfall. I stepped back.  He now had three wounds and I knew that I would win for the blood loss would weaken him.  As we turned around each other I saw that my men had despatched the killers and Garth held his sword at Llofan’s neck.  The rest of my men stood between the Bernicians and their dying king.  I could now concentrate on the traitor I was about to kill.

Bladud did not look so confident and I caught him flick a glance in the direction of Morcant Bulc.  It confirmed my suspicions. I met Bladud’s next blow with Saxon Slayer and I saw chips of metal fly from his blade.  He saw it too and knew that mine was the superior weapon. My left hand was wet with the blood from my wound and I held it behind me. As Bladud swung again I pirouetted around so that he struck fresh air and Saxon Slayer hacked through the mail protecting his back. I heard the crack as bones were broken and saw blood once again. This time he gave a scream of pain and when he faced me, for the first time he looked afraid. “It will not be swift, believe me Bladud.  You are going to pay for your treachery!” He was moving slowly now and when his next clumsy attempt at a blow slid harmlessly off my sword I hacked at the leg I had not stuck. It sliced through the muscle and the bone and he collapsed in a heap, his weapon falling harmlessly from his hand.

I stood over him.  “Who paid you for this?”

I heard Morcant Bulc shout, “Kill the murderer!” I did not know if he meant me or Bladud but I shouted, “Pol! My bow!”

The bow was in my hand almost instantly and I notched an arrow and aimed it at King Morcant Bulc. “If any of your men move a muscle then you will die.” I grinned; it was not a happy grin but the grin of a wolf about to devour his prey.  “And you know I never miss!”

“You would threaten a king?” His voice sounded shocked.

I laughed a cold heartless laugh which echoed above the stunned silence of the moment. “No, I would kill a king and a piss poor one at that.” I did not look down but said, “Tell me who paid you Bladud and I will end your life swiftly otherwise you will die slowly.”

He spat blood at me.  “Fuck you!”

I could see that he would not speak and I went over to Llofan.  “You have the same choice traitor.”

His words sounded strong but there was no conviction. “Do your worst.”

Still aiming my arrow at Morcant Bulc I said.  “Garth, take down his breeks and castrate him. Let us see how he faces the next world without balls.”

“No, please, you wouldn’t!”

“Garth!”

Garth and Tuanthal pulled down his breeks and Garth grabbed his knife.  “It was King Morcant Bulc.  He paid us to kill the king.”

I drew the arrow back further and saw the terror in the Bernician’s face. I was a heartbeat from releasing when Myrddyn shouted, “The king says there must be no more blood.  He commands you to let him live.”

I saw that Myrddyn did not agree with the order but I was oathsworn. “Leave now Bernician but this is not over.  Watch for me in the night.  There will come a reckoning for this!” The cowardly king ran as fast as he could with his bodyguards retreating slowly. “Garth, find out all you can about the plot.”

“And then?”

“End it!”

I dropped my bow and talking my sword I cut Bladud’s hamstrings. I peered into his eyes. “You will lie here and die and I will watch you die and then we will strip your body, remove you dick and your heart and leave your body for the birds, the rats and the vermin.”

I saw terror in his eyes.  “Kill me now.  Let me die like a warrior.”

I laughed.  “You were never a warrior and you can now think of what you could have done as your life seeps into the ground.” I turned and dropped to King Urien’s side.  Myrddyn gave me a slight shake of the head, but I could see from the blood that it was a mortal wound. The king gave me a weak smile.  “We must not do the Saxon’s work for them. Lann, watch over my son and my kingdom and…” and then the last great king of Britain died, cradled in his weeping son’s arms. It was the end of any hope we had of defeating the Saxons and all of Morcant Bulc’s treachery brought him naught.

Prince Ywain looked as though it was he who had been wounded and not his father.  He was covered in blood. Myrddyn took off my gauntlet and began to dress the wound which I had forgotten. I heard the sound of Llofan’s throat being cut and then Garth stood next to me. “He confirmed what we thought my lord.  It was he who met with Bladud in the woods.  They had planned on killing you but the opportunity never arose.”

It was cold comfort to know that we had been right but at least we had Myrddyn’s warning which had saved the prince. “Let us take the king home to his queen.  The king is dead.  Long live King Ywain.”

It was a solemn and yet angry band of warriors who escorted the dead King Urien back to Civitas Carvetiorum.  We all knew, at that moment that the Saxons had won.  What irked and galled the most was that they had won through a king of Britain. King Morcant Bulc would pay for his treachery just as the poor land that had been Roman Britannia would pay for his perfidy as they succumbed to waves of Saxons who would claim the land for their own.

The End

Coming in Summer 2013- Part 3 Saxon Rule

Glossary

Characters in italics are fictional