Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 02] Saxon Revenge (6 page)

Wach and his bodyguard formed up and I could see the anger and the hurt in their eyes.  They were but fifty paces from us.  These could not be damaged by Raibeart and his archers.  The best that the bows could do was to weaken their shields.  Tadgh and the other slingers had ended the threat of the enemy slingers and were adding their attack to that of Raibeart.  It kept the shields of the Saxons up and that limited their sight. We had a chance.  They would be expecting us to stand and take whatever they offered but we would take the attack to them.  “Wedge!” I felt the men behind me move and I shouted, “Buccina, sound the charge!” I raised Wolf Slayer and roared, “For King Urien and Rheged.” My men almost pushed me forwards as we raced across the body littered ground to meet their warriors.

Wach was not in their front rank.  There was a warrior with an open helmet while wielding a double handed axe. I feared him not.  I had already slipped a dagger into my left hand and my shield was studded with metal.  There was no axe made which could dent it but I would use it as a weapon. I watched him raise his axe to swing it at my head.  The man was brave but a fool. I ducked slightly and, as we met, punched hard with my shield.  The men behind him meant he could not go backwards and the blow took all of his wind. I was too close to use Saxon Slayer and I head butted him to the ground. As I stepped over him I stamped on his face and felt his nose and his skull crushed beneath my boot. Their wedge was no longer whole!

I heard Garth roaring encouragement to our men and felt the whole line lurch forwards.  Although they had more men to push forwards the constant barrage from arrows and stones was negating the effect of numbers as men tried to hide from the wicked barbs and stones which Raibeart and his men rained down upon them. As the men before us thinned a little I was able to swing Saxon Slayer over my head.  Few warriors owned a helmet which could withstand it and I cracked open the helmet and the head of the warrior who bravely faced me. Many warriors wished to be the one to kill the hated enemy of the Saxons, the Wolf Warrior, but they had neither the skill nor the weapons to do so.

Wach and his bodyguard were forming up as the remnants of their vanguard were vanquished.  They had endured much and, I suspect, had marched all night.  My men had had a hearty meal and a good night’s rest.  We could fight all day without tiring. Wach and his elite warriors would be a true test of the skills of the Wolf Brethren. Two of the Saxons came for me with Wach close by.  One had a spear which he jabbed at my eye while the other hacked over arm with his axe.  The rim of the shield deflected the spear but the axe struck at the same time.  I felt the spear head slice into my cheek. I raised the shield and thrust blindly with my sword. I felt it sink into flesh and saw the axe man’s eyes fill with fear as the sharpened steel entered his groin. I sensed, rather than saw, the axe as it scythed towards me and then Garth’s shield turned it away to embed itself in the dying axe warrior next to him. Before the warrior with the spear could strike me again I punched with my shield boss into his face.  He took the punch well but he opened his body slightly and I slid Saxon Slayer through the mail on his left side; the blood which dripped from my sword told me I had wounded him and he stepped backwards. We all knew that to step back in a shield wall was to invite death and so it was.  The warrior to my left pushed forwards and stabbed the wounded man in the throat.

Garth was busily engaged with Wach who was desperately trying to reach me.  I heard the clash of arms from ahead and heard the wail as King Gwalliog and his horsemen struck the men at the rear of the Saxon line and began to butcher them.  I noticed that the arrows were now falling further away and that meant that Raibeart could see the enemy lines faltering. “On, men of Rheged! One last push and we shall prevail!”

Wach’s guttural Saxon almost spat in my face. “Not before you die at my hands, killer of women.”

I did not bother to answer him and deny his lie.  He was angry and that was a weakness.  I slew the fierce faced swordsman who hacked at my shield and then turned to face Wach.  There were two of us fighting him; no honour in that but we not seeking honour, we were seeking victory. He could not stand against two of us and his men, desperate to aid him were hacked to the ground by my shield wall which still retained its integrity. It was Garth who struck the mortal blow.  As Wach’s axe embedded itself in my shield Garth’s sword took off his head. The Saxons who were oathsworn did not flee but pushed even harder to redeem themselves by saving their leader’s body.  They were slaughtered to a man. When we stood amidst the pile of bodies I glanced up and saw that Raibeart had led the garrison to pursue the fleeing Saxons.  King Gwalliog and his horsemen were hurtling towards the woods and the last of the Saxons. I could not have fought any more for my leg was sending waves of pain through my whole body.  All I wanted was to lie down and sleep.

I raised my helmet and Garth’s face filled with concern.  “You are wounded my lord.”

“I think it is a scratch.”

“I think not my lord, I can see bone.  Brother Patrick!”

The priests and women had also followed Raibeart and were tending to the wounded.  The young priest shook his head. “Are you determined to die Lord Lann? Your wife will not be happy when you return to Rheged.”

I gave a painful grin. “At least spare me the fire this time.” Suddenly my legs would no longer support me and I saw their faces get further from me as I slumped to the ground, to lie on the bloody, gore spattered ground.

Brother Patrick reached down and held a cloth to my face. “Garth, get your men to carry him.  He has lost much blood.  Another hour and he would be dead.” He shook his head.  “The sword may be magical my lord but you must remember that you are mortal.  Take more care.”

The last vision I had was of Raibeart’s concerned face peering over the priest’s shoulder and then all became black.

When I came too it was to see Brother Patrick and Raibeart still leaning over me but I was now in the priest’s hut.  Brother Patrick did not look concerned but Raibeart had the fearful look he had had when I had been stabbed in the leg.  “You will live Lord Lann. You are tough.”

“How long ...” I croaked.

“Just a couple of hours,” said Raibeart with relief in his voice, “but it seemed longer.  Brother Raibeart took his time with the stitches.”

The priest shrugged and gave me an apologetic smile.  “Having given you one scar I felt obliged to make the other as neat as possible.” He stood up.  “There.  I would tell you to rest but I suspect you would ignore me. Besides unless you laugh a lot you will do your face no harm.” So laughing he left.

“And the battle?”

“When Wach and his bodyguards all died the rest fled.  King Gwalliog and the horsemen are still pursuing them.  Our men are on the field, stripping the dead and despatching the wounded.”

I asked the next question not wanting to know the answer. “And our losses?”

“Fifty two of our warriors and three archers died. The wounded will recover.  We lost two boys. I know not of the horsemen for they are still with the king.”

Our losses seemed light but even one was too many for me.  I had fought alongside many of these men for some years and I would miss them.  Old friends were harder to replace and old warriors even more so. “I think our work here is done brother and we can return home.”

His face lit up.  “I had hoped that was the case but I fear that my father in law may wish us to remain.”

“There is little point.  With Wach dead and the army routed then the king’s horses can keep the Saxons at bay.  I will suggest strategies to him but we will be needed at home.  Besides I think we have shed enough blood for our allies eh?”

“You certainly have brother. Perhaps some mail beneath your helmet next time?”

“It is hard enough to move in my armour as it is.”

“Then keep away from the thick of the fighting. I feel guilty for I am never in danger and I am always at the rear with the archers but Garth and you are the ones the enemy try to kill.”

“And I am happy with that state of affairs.  One of my brothers has lost an arm.  I will do all I can to keep you safe.”

I did not know what the priest had given me to drink but I felt little or no pain from my wound. Raibeart helped me to my feet and I went to see the other wounded warriors. I felt guilty as they all expressed concern at my wounds and yet some of them looked to be in a far worse state than I was.  We went out into the courtyard and I could see that Raibeart had had the men clear all of the bodies but the dark patches showed where men had fought and died. Garth and my remaining warriors wearily marched into the settlement, laden with armour and weapons.  They added them to the pile near to the main hall.

“Good to see you upright my lord.  There was so much blood I feared you would never stand again.” Garth’s face became serious.  “I am sorry that I did not stop the spear.  I have let you down.”

I was going to shake my head and then remembered my wound. “You have no reason to reproach yourself, it was an accident and you managed to kill their leader.  That saved many men’s lives.  My brother has suggested some mail beneath my helmet.”

His face brightened.  “A good idea.  I will have the smiths make one when we return.” He paused.  “We are returning are we not my lord?”

“Aye.  For our work here is done.  We will leave within the next few days; as soon as more of our men are fit to travel.”

Raibeart was right.  When a jubilant King Gwalliog returned he was full of ideas for a war against the Saxons further away. “I am sorry your majesty but we will be needed at home.  Besides with your crops sown and your animals born you can use your ordinary warriors to rid your land of the last few Saxons.  We have much armour and weapons.  You will have an army as well armed as that of Rheged.  If you fortify and occupy Wachanglen then the enemy will be kept at bay. You will just need to be vigilant and use your horsemen to watch for the enemy.”

“Do not get me wrong Lord Lann.  I appreciate your ideas and I will implement them but my people like following the Wolf Banner as much as my own white horse.”

“And my own people feel the same.  We will fight alongside each other again your majesty and next time will be when we drive the Saxons back into the sea and finally defeat them.”

We finally left after a three day feast to celebrate our victory.  The King was as good as his word and his warriors now occupied Wachanglen.  The Saxons, who could, had fled and the ones who remained became slaves.  It was a cruel world. He also gave us some wagons for our wounded and our share of the enemy treasure.  Garth now sported his own helmet like mine which he had taken, as was his right, from the dead body of Wach as well as his axe.  The torc and his jewels we shared with the men.  We would all return to Rheged richer but we had laid aside much of the monies for the families of those who had died. It was one of the things which marked us as different from those that we fought. Brother Patrick gave me a small jar of salve for my wound. Raibeart told me that it looked red and angry but, as it was itching, I assumed that it was healing.

The king and Raibeart had private words before he left.  They had not known each other before our campaign but now the king recognised my brother as someone who could rule in his stead. My little brother would become a king one day and rule the land of Elmet. There were still five warriors who were not ready to travel but the king promised that they would be cared for and, when he came north to meet with his allies, they would accompany him.

We returned by a different route.  We headed due west over the tops of the high hills and then headed through the land of the lakes.  We both wished to see our little brother Aelle and we were told that it was a safer way for there were no enemies there.  The Saxons had yet to discover the fertile west of Britannia.

Spring had taken some time to come but now that it had the world was green and alive with life.  Warriors fight hard and know that death is just a blade away so we appreciate life more than the farmer or the merchant who just measures the quality of his life by possessions. We measured our success by enjoying life and the men laughed, sang and joked as we trekked back to our homes.  We remembered the dead in our songs and tales.  When we sat around our camp fires we made the songs to make the men live again. 

My wounds healed well and Raibeart took out my stitches, ten days after the priest had put them in as instructed by the determined young healer. The men all watched as each stitch was cut and gently removed.  There was a little pain but not much and I saw the sweat on Raibeart’s face as he cut each one as though his life depended upon it.  He sighed with relief when the last one came out. “Well you are no better looking brother but at least you are no uglier.  The scar will become invisible when your beard grows again.”

“I may not grow a beard.  I have quite enjoyed having a face free of hair.”

There was a gasp from Garth and the other warriors.  A beard was the mark of a man although King Urien and his sons had neatly trimmed beards unlike the wild ones of Garth and the others. Raibeart shook his head.  “I would wait until Aideen has made her mind up.  In my experience it is women who make those decisions not their men.”

Wide Water was beautiful in the evening sun as we crested the last ridge.  We could see the smoke spiralling from my brother’s stronghold.  We would sleep beneath a roof this night and enjoy hot food. We were more than a mile away when the thirty horsemen approached us.  “Hail Wolf Warriors. Lord Aelle has sent us to escort you the last part of the journey. My name is Scean and I am the leader of your brother’s horsemen.”

They formed a guard ahead of us and the leader rode next to Raibeart and me.” How did you know we were not raiders?”

He grinned and gestured at the standard. “Even without that we would have know you and your brother by your wolf cloaks.  Lord Aelle is forever boasting of his two brothers.”

Raibeart pointed at the escort.  “We could have found the fortress you know.”

“Perhaps but Lord Aelle has made traps and ditches to foil an assault.  Any enemy who tries to take our home will be defeated before he even gets to the walls. We did not wish you to come to harm.”