Saxon Bane (13 page)

I heard hooves behind me as Aedh and four of his riders rode up. Aedh was grinning. “That is a silver piece you owe me Dai.”

I saw a warrior throw a coin to Aedh. “What is that all about?”

“I bet Dai here that you would not only catch your Saxon but kill him too.”

“How is the young warrior who was hit?”

“He is more embarrassed than anything. He has a broken arm and hurt pride. He will be relieved that you live still.  He, too, was convinced that you had gone to the Otherworld.”

I mounted Mona which Dai held for me.  “Not yet, Aedh, not yet.”

When we reached the settlement the bodies were being placed on a pyre for burning.  As I had hoped our attack had caught them by surprise and no word had got out of our presence. The ones I had pursued had been the only ones to escape. There were prisoners; most of them were Northumbrian. I had Bors assemble a party of warriors who had been slightly wounded and they would escort them to Deva and then return north.

There were, however, six others who had been enslaved by the Northumbrians. Two of them were older women whose husbands had farmed to the north and their men folk had died at the hands of the invaders. Four of them were young women three of whom had come from Rheged but one, Morgause, had been taken from Mona during one of their raids.  She had been cruelly treated by both the Northumbrians and the other women. I wondered why for she was stunningly beautiful with hair the colour of a sunset over Mona. 

My attention was drawn to her by Morcar who had found her cowering in a hut, fearful for her life. “We should return her to our home, Warlord.  My mother could take her in and look after her.”

It was a thoughtful gesture.  “You are right nephew.  She can return to Deva with Bors’ men.”

“No! She will be mistreated. You cannot let a young girl be alone with warriors. She can accompany us. She is a healer too.”

Myrddyn suddenly took an interest. “How do you know?”

“She told me. She knows about herbs and the remedies from Mother Earth.”

Myrddyn always had a soft spot for the followers of the Mother cult. Some called them witches and perhaps that explained why the others did not like her.  “She may be useful.  An extra healer is always welcome.”

“Very well but you two look out for her.  I have no time for distractions.”

Morcar looked delighted. It was as though someone had brought him a puppy.  Morgause, for her part, was also overjoyed and the two became inseparable. They were good for each other and Lann Aelle and I noticed the difference in our relative.  He was now more like the Morcar before the abduction.

We pushed on north.  The other former captives would be returned to their homes. They came from the area just south of Wide Water, on the coast. I had never visited there but they told Hogan Lann that the river which flowed from Wide Water finished by their village. We decided that it might be a better way to Kay’s fort at the head of the lake. We reached their village as the sun began to set and the rain started to fall. The villagers withdrew, fearfully, behind their flimsy walls.  They would not have withstood an attack. Hogan Lann showed his qualities when he persuaded them that we were friends and we were welcomed.  We did not eat their food for we had brought our own.  We knew that these people lived a hand to mouth existence. We did however learn much about the people there.

They were the last remnants of the people who had followed Prince Pasgen north.  Whilst the equites who had survived had join Kay at Wide Water the rest of the men had taken to farming, hunting and fishing. Some of the older men came up to me and told me that they had served with me on the island of Mona and in the early campaigns. It made me feel my age for all the ones who did so were old men fit only for mending nets and herding cattle.

Prince Pasgen’s dream had been ended not by the sword but by disease and that was not the way a warrior should die.

The rain made the journey up the river valley an unpleasant experience but we knew that we only had a few hours of discomfort before we would be in Kay’s fort. He had been warned of our imminent arrival by Aedh’s scouts and we hoped that would ensure comfort, for a few hours at least.

I noticed that Myrddyn now travelled with Morcar and Morgause.  He seemed quite taken with the young girl.  If it had been anyone else I would have said that he was attracted to her but Myrddyn was like the priests of the White Christ and did not think of such things.  It was her mind and her skills which appealed to him.  He quickly discovered that she truly was a healer.  She even had one or two potions of which he was unaware.

Morcar was definitely attracted to her and I think the feeling was mutual. It was good to see my nephew regaining his humour. I rode at the fore of the column now with Hogan Lann and Lann Aelle.

“It seems Morcar is smitten eh?”

Lann Aelle chuckled, “He is, Hogan Lann.  Perhaps coming back to Rheged will return the warrior we lost in Hibernia.”

I nodded to Hogan Lann.  “Hogan was abducted as was Cadwallon.  It did not make them morose.”

“Do not be hard on our cousin father, we are all different warriors.  I knew that my father would find me.  Morcar’s father was not there for him.”

Perhaps they were right.  I was being a little hard on Morcar.  He was a man but a young man.  He had not had the training that these two had. I decided that I would make allowances for him. But I had looked into his heart and it worried me.

Kay had grown in stature since he had come north.  He had been the reason we had returned to Rheged.  He had told Prince Pasgen that the people of Rheged still yearned for their own ruler. Sadly that had not lasted long for Prince Pasgen and the devastating plague they had suffered had hit Kay and his warriors too. I was pleased with his greeting. There was genuine relief that the Warlord had returned.

He knelt before me. “We have long waited for this day, Warlord.” I raised him to his feet and his face looked anxious.  “You will be staying?”

“I promise you that we are returned and we will hold what we take.” He suddenly saw Penda and his Mercians.  He frowned.  “These are friends, Kay.  These are allies, Mercians and not Northumbrians.”

Kay shook his head, “Strange times are come to pass then.” He waved his arm behind him.  “Where are my manners? Your quarters are prepared and we have a feast for you.  There is a field yonder for your men and their mounts.  We cannot accommodate them within our walls.”

The feast was a lively one. The men of Wide Water were lucky. There was plenty of game and fish, even in winter. The only thing they wanted was grain but, as we ate that night, Kay told me that some farmers had begun to sow rye in the northern valley just beyond the fort. “Soon we will rival Mona for its bread.”

“Good.  We will leave on the morrow and meet Gawan and the Hibernians.”

“I will bring some of my men.”

I looked at him in surprise.  “You do not need to.  I know that the plague killed many warriors.”

“This is our land.  If we allow you to fight for us then it will be as it was before you returned. We should own the defence of our land or we are not men. I will leave Wide Water well defended but we will bring a hundred warriors.” He smiled and toasted Penda.  “If the Saxons and the Hibernians fight for us then our people should too.  This land is worth fighting for!  We will not lose it a second time”

The feast was the first occasion where our men had supped together and it surprised me how well it went.  Hogan Lann and I had worried that it would result in drunken fights which might disrupt the harmony of the army. It did not and warriors found that they had much in common. I thanked the spirits again for their advice.

Perhaps the gods had watched our celebration for they gave us a sunny morning as we headed north for Civitas Carvetiorum. The first part was as hard as I remembered as we snaked our way along narrow passes with precipitous drops and threatening rock falls.  However it brought back the happy memories of serving King Urien and holding back the first invasions of the Saxons.

Penda commented on the land. “I see why it appeals to your people.  You tend sheep and you like mountains.  I cannot understand why the Northumbrians are willing to bleed for it.”

Hogan Lann smiled, “Oh we have made them bleed over the years and that is why they are a little more cautious these days.”

Our horsemen reached Civitas Carvetiorum before dark.  Gawan had left a small garrison of twenty men and we were welcomed. It was very late when the weary spearmen dragged themselves into its walls and collapsed into the barracks which had been there since the time of the Romans. The bright sunny day had turned into a chilly night and we were all grateful for a roof over our heads.

Aedh and his scouts left early the next day to await Gawan at the estuary. Myrddyn and I left the others to find Osric’s cell. We had hidden there before now when threatened by Saxons and so it was a place of safety for us both.  More than that, it was the depository for all things valuable. We went alone for we knew where the secret chamber lay. Brothers Osric and Oswald had told us that it went back to the time of the Romans and that the legions based there had secured their treasures in its vaults.  We used them now, ourselves.  When we discovered a fort we looked for the secret vault and used it.  We had treasure in every Roman fort we found. Hogan Lann would be given that knowledge when he became Warlord.

I had not been here in many years.  I was not sure if Prince Pasgen had taken anything from it. I left Pol to guard the door and then we opened the secret door leading to the chamber. Myrddyn had a candle and it flickered in the musty subterranean air.  There were four large chests and one smaller one with a carving of one of King Urien’s equites upon its lid.  I did not remember seeing it before. We lifted the small one out, for it was locked and then opened the larger boxes. The first contained bracelets, jewels and torcs.  Some looked ancient and some looked Saxon.  They were worth a fortune. The second one was filled with gold and silver coins.  Many of them had the heads of Roman Emperors upon them. The final chest had the biggest surprises within.  There were maps, all written in Osric’s hand, and plans for weapons like the ballista and onager.

Myrddyn chuckled.  “Osric had more foresight than any man I ever knew.”

We clambered out and dusted ourselves down. Myrddyn examined the small box.  It was locked. He stroked his beard and then reached into his satchel.  He had various keys.  He tried them one by one.  The third one worked and it popped open. Inside there were the bones of a hand, a ring and a folded piece of calfskin. Myrddyn carefully took out the calfskin and laid it on the table.  He unfolded it as though it might tear. We both saw the signature at the bottom and looked at each other. Osric was speaking with us.

      I write this record knowing that my death is close at hand. I have served my masters well: I devoted my life to God, I helped King Coel and King Urien to protect the frontier and I kept alive the Roman ways. I have done my duty.

To that end I have hidden the treasure of Rheged in the old Roman fortress of Luguvalium.  The map will help someone to find it. I believe that God will direct some unborn hand to this end. I have buried it with St. Brigid’s hand and ring as a way of telling the finder of the treasure.  If the hand is not with this map then the barbarians have won and the treasure of Rheged is lost forever.

I go to God with a clear conscience,

Osric of Rheged

“But why, Myrddyn, did he leave the small casket here?  Surely it should be somewhere else ready to lead the finder here.”

“He must have died before he could do so but we can hide it for him.” Myrddyn searched around for some ink and a scribe.

“What are you doing?”

“Osric is not the only one who can tell the future. Find me some calfskin.  Osric always kept some hidden about the place.”

I rummaged around the drawers and cupboards which had been torn open by thieves hoping to find treasure.  They had not known how close they were to a treasure greater than any other. I found a few pieces of usable skin and returned to Myrddyn.

“Good, now while I write I want you to go into the chamber and bring up enough coins to fit in this. Make sure it is a mixture of all types.”  He handed me a leather purse.

I was not sure what he was up to but I knew him well enough to trust him. By the time I returned he had finished. He held up the second piece of calfskin and it looked identical to the first. “Why have you made a copy?”

“Read it and you will see it is not an exact copy.”

I write this record knowing that my death is close at hand. I have served my masters well: I devoted my life to God, I helped King Coel and King Urien to protect the frontier and I kept alive the Roman ways. I have done my duty.

The barbarians are coming and I fear that the Warlord will not be able to hold them back forever. I believe with all my heart that there will come a hero as Lann of Stanwyck came from obscurity to hold back the Angles and the Saxons.  It will not be in my lifetime.

To that end I have hidden the treasure of Rheged in the old Roman fortress of Luguvalium.  The map will help someone to find it. I believe that God will direct some unborn hand to this end. I have buried it with St. Brigid’s hand and ring as a way of telling the finder of the treasure.  If the hand is not with this map then the barbarians have won and the treasure of Rheged is lost forever. The priests in this church know not what I do and when I return north they will still be none the wiser.

The true hero will be from the same stock as Lann of Stanwyck and, in him, is the hope for Britannia.

I go to God with a clear conscience,

Osric of Rheged

“Why?”