Saxon Bane (18 page)

Lann Aelle also knelt, “I too had better follow.  I do not have as far to ride but it would not do to be late. I would not wish to let you down, uncle.”

“You can never let me down Lann Aelle; you are just like your father.  You are like a rock on which I can stand. You are totally dependable.”

He left and headed after Pol. I turned to Bors, Kay and Daffydd. “You have the hardest task today. You must hold the enemy until Hogan Lann can launch his attack. I have no doubts that you will do so well.  You truly are great captains and you two are a credit to your fathers.” Bors and Daffydd stood a little straighter.

Kay said, “If they pass us it is because we are dead!” I nodded for I knew he meant every word.

King
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
and Penda exchanged a glance which showed that they had not seen such affection from warriors for their leader before. “And we may not be of Rheged but we will not let you down.”

“I am glad that spirits sent me to speak with both of you. It is
wyrd
. Remember it will appear hopeless but follow the plan and we will prevail.”

They both nodded and, clutching their protective amulets, left. King Cadwallon looked down at Myrddyn.  “I hope the old wizard pulls through.  Wyddfa and Gwynedd need him.  He is our link to the past.” He came to clasp my arm.  And I am pleased that you avoided the witch’s poison.  We could not do without the Warlord.”

“You are a great king, Cadwallon.  Your name will go through history as the warrior who defeated King Edwin; this I swear.”

He mounted his horse and rode off to join his men.  They would be behind Hogan Lann, hidden by a fold in the land.  They were the surprise I hoped the Northumbrians would not be expecting.

There was just me, my sons, Morcar and Myrddyn.  Hogan Lann was about to speak when Aedh galloped up and he looked distressed. “Warlord, it is Osgar; he has been murdered.  Someone slit his throat with a poisoned blade.”

Hogan Lann smashed one hand into the other.  “That witch!” He glared at Morcar.  “I will have her crucified when I find her.”

“Have you put another scout on her trail?”

“Aye, but he is no Osgar.”

“Mayhap he will become one.  Now you need to be in position too, Aedh.”

“I am sorry about, Myrddyn.”

“It was not your fault and he lives still. Take care.”

“I will my lord!”

Aedh was like Pol.  He was a member of my family. Hogan Lann shook his head.  “Things are going wrong, Warlord.  Perhaps we should not have begun this adventure.”

“It was not of our choosing, Hogan Lann.  It was the spirits. When you are Warlord they will speak to you and I will smile at the problems it causes.”

He laughed.  “Then I look forward to your smile.” He glared at Morcar. “Cousin, protect the Warlord.  His life is in your hands this day!”

The knoll upon which we waited suddenly seemed empty.  I could see the spearmen with their fine banners standing some four hundred paces below me on the plain. I saw Hogan Lann leading his fine equites, as they spread out further to the east.  I watched as Tuanthal joined him with his horseman who had been screening the army.  I watched as Hogan Lann pointed towards me.  Tuanthal put spurs to his horse and galloped up the knoll to join us.

“Your son sent me. King Edwin advances close to the hillside.  He is coming in a giant wedge.”

“Excellent. It is as we expected.  You have done well my old friend. You have come a long way from the young warrior who rode ponies and delivered messages to King Urien for me.”

He laughed, “Those were fine days.  I miss many of the warriors who fought with us then.”

I nodded remembering how close he and Garth had been.  “Aye we have both lost friends.  Hopefully, today will not be one of them.”

I caught a glimpse of the young pony rider from all those years ago as he trotted back to join his men.  I hoped he would be safe.  His lightly armed horsemen would have a difficult role this day. Morcar sat on his horse behind me. I mounted Nightstar.  This was a warhorse. I hoped I would not need him but if I did then I knew that he would fight as hard as any warrior. Saxon Slayer suddenly felt as light as a feather in my hand.  I held it aloft and a shaft of sunlight caught it. It must have been a coincidence, else it was the spirits, for the Saxons suddenly headed for the gap between Hogan Lann and my spearmen.  They had taken the bait!

My son had spread out his squires in front of his heavily armed and armoured equites.  The advancing Northumbrians would just see a thin line of lightly armed horsemen and a few spearmen.  There would appear to be no archers and none of the deadly warriors encased from head to foot in iron. Edwin would think it was as the previous day and we were trying to slow him down. He was pushing on to the river.

This was the first battle where I was just an observer but I had an excellent vantage point. I could see the whole battle unfolding before me. It was as though I was in the hall at The Narrows and this was a map in front of me. We had just one reserve of horsemen.  They were away to the west.  Tuanthal’s younger brother Ardle led them. I hoped we would not need them. Everything else was planned.  Ardle was there in case Edwin outwitted me or the spirits were precocious.

As the Northumbrians closed I could see King
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
visibly retraining his men.  They were desperate, from what I could see, to hurl themselves at the advancing armoured giant. I saw Penda’s banner between Kay’s and Bors’.  They would be resolute but I worried about the Hibernians.  Suddenly the sky above my men became black as Daffydd and his archers showered the enemy with barbed death.  It was as though someone had hit the whole of the advancing wedge with a hammer.  It faltered and then stopped. The second and third arrow storm seemed to punch them back as they regrouped and reformed the wedge.  It was too much for the men of Ulaid.  They screamed their war cries and raced forward to engage with the enemy. It was a disaster.  We had barely begun to whittle down the enemy numbers. In an instant my reckless allies had made victory almost impossible. My death would be in vain!

At first the wild charge seemed to succeed and punched a hole into the side of the wedge. There were, however, just too many Northumbrians and the men of
Dál nAraidi
might have had better swords than before but they deigned to wear armour. The Northumbrians began to flood around the sides of the Irishmen and cut into their ranks. The shocked warriors did not fall back, they fled. I knew, as did my son, that fleeing warriors run until they feel safe. They would run until they reached the Dunum!

I heard the buccina sound as Hogan Lann tried to remedy the situation.  He led his horsemen forwards to hit the Northumbrians who were pursuing the fleeing Hibernians.  Ironically it was the lack of armour which saved the men of Dál nAraidi.  They were able to outrun the heavily armoured Northumbrians. It was with some relief that I saw the banner of the king rally his men behind those of Bors.  Daffydd’s arrows continued to fall. Hogan Lann and his equites had saved our new allies. My fingers tightened around the hilt of Saxon Slayer.  Could they extricate themselves?

I saw the dragon standard of Rheged and could hear its wail as Hogan Lann led the finest equites west of Byzantium. They thundered magnificently towards the disorganised Northumbrians.  It was then I saw King Edwin’s trap. He had many men hidden in the hills and the woods.  A red and green mass of humanity poured down on to Hogan Lann’s exposed flanks. The two forces of Saxons lapped around my son and his men to engulf them.  When I saw the standard fall I knew that he was in danger.  King Cadwallon was coming to his aid but he might not be in time.  Pol and Lann Aelle would, even now, be approaching the rear of the Northumbrians but they would be too late to save the next Warlord of Rheged.

I dismounted, “Gawan, take Nightstar and order Ardle and the reserves to go to your brother’s aid. Lead them, my son, and save your brother, the next Warlord of Rheged.”

“But Myrddyn?”

“I will watch him.”

He smiled, “You take care, father.  I will be back.”

He sprang into the saddle and galloped off. Nightstar was quick and the reserves just a few hundred paces from us.

“Morcar, keep the wolf standard flying high. Let the enemy know where we are.”

I watched as my son led our handful of reserves bravely towards the Northumbrians who had now totally surrounded Hogan Lann, Bors and Kay. I could do no more.  My plan had been good but one mistake had ended any chance of success we might have had.  I would be an impotent spectator.  I could do nothing.

I looked down at Myrddyn.  I thought I had detected a movement behind the closed eyelids.  Was he coming round?  I had done all that I could to help my son.  The battle was now out of my hands and my work was finished. I had to help my old friend. In the absence of a scabbard I stuck Saxon Slayer into the ground. I knelt and wet the wizard’s face with water.  Miraculously I saw his eyes flicker open and then close. I poured a tiny amount of water into his mouth. There was a movement and I felt his fingers as they touched the hem of my byrnie. His eyes fully opened and I saw a smile begin to appear upon his lips as he saw me. Suddenly the smile was replaced by a look of fear. “Morcar!”

I turned to see Morcar stab down at me with a dagger.  I put my hand up to protect myself and the blade burned as it slashed down my arm.  He pulled it back and changed the angle of attack. He thrust it towards my neck. Then he twisted the knife and I felt it slip between my armour and leather byrnie to sink into my shoulder. I had had worse wounds but this one burned as though he had heated the dagger in the fire first. I punched Morcar with all the strength I had in my left hand.  I saw him fall backwards. I tried to rise to my feet but I had no strength in my legs. I sank to my knees and began to roll backwards.

My nephew rose and grabbed Saxon Slayer. He sprang on to the back of his horse. Even though I knew he would be the one I had to know the reason. “Why Morcar?  Why?”

“I will be king! I am not content to serve another.  I will either rule or have nothing! You were a fool who sacrificed everything for another.  I am not a fool and I will be King of Rheged! I have Saxon Slayer!”

He wheeled his horse around.  I tried to go after him but I could not move my legs.  Suddenly the sky was above me. Myrddyn’s face appeared. “Why, Myrddyn , why?”

He looked at me sadly.  “You knew it would be him, Lann.  You expected this.”

“I will just rest awhile and I will feel better in a moment.”

He shook his head and I saw a tear appear.  “No, my old friend; that was a poisoned blade.  I can smell the poison. This is your time. You are dying”

I nodded,  “Watch over my family.”

He smiled, “I heard you when I was in the spirit world.  I will do all that you asked and more. Go with honour my dear friend.  You have done more than the spirits expected of you and they will be waiting for you in the Otherworld e’en now. Go with your head held high for no man could have done more than you did.”

He knelt forward and kissed my forehead. I tried to speak but it all became dark and the pain stopped. I was dying.  I had thought I would die in battle defending Rheged from the Saxons.  Instead I was slain by my nephew.  I was being sacrificed so that Rheged could rise again.  I was content.

There was blackness as in my dreams and then I heard my mother calling me from afar. Why could I not see her?  Suddenly the sky became blue and I saw my mother and father.  Aideen was with them and there was King Urien dressed in his armour.  I was lifted to my feet by my parents and I looked down and saw that I was wearing gold. King Urien said, “Welcome my Warlord of Rheged.  Welcome to the Otherworld.”

I am Hogan Lann and when King Edwin sprung his trap I thought that I had lost the battle which my father had so carefully planned. When the Hibernians had attacked I saw the hands of the gods putting challenges in our path. I had thought to save the day by rescuing the wild men of the west. We had carved and scythed a path deep into the heart of the Northumbrians but that now worked against us.  We were being pressed tightly together. When I saw the wave of Northumbrians pouring down from the hillsides I saw that King Edwin had planned as carefully as we had. He looked to have as many men on the hillside as before us.

Before all movement was impossible I roared, “Wedge!” Llewellyn, the standard bearer, began to drop back as my heavy horses moved together to give mutual protection. A spearman stabbed at his right hand and the dragon standard of Rheged fell.  I could almost feel the wave of horror which came over my men.  If the standard fell then the battle was lost. Llewellyn was a mighty warrior and he leapt from his horse and swung his mace to demolish the head of the spearman who had dared to stab him.  He picked up the standard and waved it one handed.  It began to wail and the Saxon warriors closest to him fell back in fear.  He regained his mount and dropped into the space behind me. Once we had the continuity of horses and shields we could begin to defend ourselves once more.

I hoped that King Cadwallon would soon be joining me.  The surprise of his sudden appearance might just carry the day.  We had to use our strength and power to move on. If we stayed still then the hordes of humanity pouring from the hills would overwhelm us.  Our powerful mounts would have to carry the day.

“Rheged! Charge!”

It was little more than a fast walk but our heavily armoured horses moved inexorably forwards. I held my sword behind my shield in my left arm and I levelled my lance.  I punched at each face I saw and then withdrew it. Even those who had a face mask on were felled by my triangular shaped lance. Its head had been forged and tempered by the best smiths we had and was superior to the flimsy metal it encountered. Those at the front of the wedge all held lances and we drove all before us. Amazingly we suddenly began to pick up speed as the Northumbrians fell back and fled the field. I wondered why and then I saw my brother, Gawan, leading the reserves into their flank.  Bors and Kay were leading the spearmen in a controlled charge but racing ahead of them were King
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
and Penda screaming savage war cries as they closed with the Northumbrians.

I stabbed at the nearest heavily armed warrior and my lance struck him in the face and then shattered as another warrior struck the wooden shaft.  I cast the wooden haft aside and picked up my mace. I swung it and finished off the job started by my now broken lance.

The wedge had now become a line as the Northumbrians began to flee. Our squires, riding lighter horses began to outstrip us but they were just as deadly as we were; their swords raining death on unprotected backs. Then King Cadwallon was next to me and our two dragon standards were side by side. The wailing standard of Rheged inspired fear in our foes and they started to discard weapons. I saw that they were heading up into the hills. The wild charge down the hill had isolated warriors who were now faced by heavy armoured horsemen. My father’s plan would have worked completely and we would have cut them off but for the premature attack by King
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
and his men.  We would win the battle but King Edwin and many of his men would escape. Our heavy horses would not be much use in the woods which rose steeply to guard the escape route of the Northumbrian.  My father had been correct about King Edwin’s choice of battle field. Just one mistake was going to stop total victory; the mistake of an ill disciplined ally. My father would be Warlord for a little longer.

I slowed my mount down.  He was a fine warhorse as were all my horses but it did not do to push them too far.  A broken warhorse would never recover. I pushed my helmet back to allow cooler air on to my face and to afford me a better view of the battlefield. The equites and squires led by Pol and Lann Aelle approaching from the south had joined with Gawan and closed the circle around the Northumbrians.  The spearmen were eager to join in the slaughter and they would soon be despatching those pockets of oathsworn Northumbrians and east Angles who fought to protect the lives of their lords. I could see the movement up the slopes which marked the fleeing Northumbrians.  I could just make out the standards which showed where King Edwin and his bodyguard were. There seemed to be many Northumbrians still behind them.  The king had moved swiftly to escape capture.

Gawan reined in next to me.  His bloody sword showed that he had fought this day.  I clasped his arm. “A timely arrival little brother.”

“It was father. He saw the problem and sent me to bring the reserves.”

I turned to view the knoll.  “I cannot see him now.”

Gawan laughed, “You know how his leg aches.  I daresay he is sat with Myrddyn. The view from the knoll would show him that we had won.  He has fought his last battle as Warlord.”

“No, brother.” I pointed to the hillside.  “King Edwin lives still.  He will make it to the Roman fort at Eboracum and from there he can sail to King Raedwald and safety.”

“Even so his army in Northumbria is finished.”

King Cadwallon reined in next to me. “A great victory!”

“But not the one my father planned.  If the men of Dál nAraidi had not attacked early then none would have escaped.”

Cadwallon smiled, “They fought well and their ferocious attack, whilst premature, broke the backs and the hearts of the Northumbrians.  They were beaten from the moment that you and your horsemen charged.”

Why could these two not see what was clear to me?  They were younger I knew but it should have been obvious that my father had planned the perfect battle.  It would have been the battle to end this war once and for all in this fertile plain.  Now we would have to winkle out pockets of Northumbrians. We had had them all before us for one brief moment in time.  The net had been closing as my father had planned. One thing was certain.  I would tell my father that he would be Warlord no longer.  I would still need his advice but I would not risk his life again. I shook my head in wonder at his plan.  Had we all done as he had ordered then we would have won. Perhaps the spirits had been wrong to send him for our new allies.

I pointed up at the hills. “Our foot can pursue them that way as well as the squires.  Let us take Tuanthal and his men, head south and cut them off when they head for Eboracum.”

“A good plan.”

“Llewellyn, the signal.”

My standard bearer sounded the buccina and the commanders of horse joined me. “Pol and Lann Aelle, we will take our men south.  Have your squires pursue the Northumbrians along with the foot. Tuanthal, join with us.  Aedh, take your scouts and find where the Northumbrians will emerge from this high ground and watch them.”

Aedh waved his acknowledgement and then he and his scouts flew like the wind to head south.

Cadwallon gestured to the spearman most of whom were now half way up the hills.  “And those?”

“Tuanthal send a rider to pass on the orders to the king, Bors and Penda. They are to keep their swords in the backs of the Northumbrians”

“What about the Warlord?”

I laughed, “He said he needed sleep; he and Myrddyn can sleep the day away and young Morcar can watch them.”

We had lost equites.  Not all were dead but it was just over one hundred and sixty equites who followed me south. I left a handful of my equites, the ones whose horses had been injured, to gather the wounded and take them back to the knoll.  If Myrddyn recovered then he would be able to heal them.

We were going only slightly faster than the few Northumbrians who had taken that route but we were saving the horses. It was a slow pursuit but we caught them, gradually. We killed all those that we caught. There was no point in being merciful. Northumbrians were like rats; if you left one to breed then there would be a dozen within the year.

We paused near to the stream called Cod Beck and watered our horses.  There Aedh’s riders found us. “The leading warriors are less than ten miles from Eboracum.  King Edwin is amongst them. We have seen his standard.”

“Then we must hurry.”

Before we could move I heard a commotion behind me. I saw Scanlan, one of the equites who had been wounded.  He was not in armour and he was riding a spare horse. “My lord! My lord!” His voice carried over the vale as he urged his horse on towards us.

His face showed his distress even before he reached us.  My mind ran through the problems which might have caused it.  Perhaps we had been attacked by a second force of Northumbrians. It could be a trick of King Edwin’s.  It could have been that some had made a stand on the hill. It is what I might have done.

“My lord!” He leapt for his horse and abased himself. “The Warlord has been murdered.  He is dead and Myrddyn says you are now Warlord.”

I felt the whole world spinning.  It could not be true. I stared at Gawan whose face showed his distress.  “I should never have left him!”  My brother’s voice sounded like the wail of the dragon standard.

I shook my head.  “You obeyed orders.  No warrior is wrong if he obeys orders.” I turned back to Scanlan.  “Who did this?  Saxons?”

He looked up the distress clear on his tear stained face, “No, Warlord;  Morcar, your cousin.”

There was a stunned silence. This was treachery of the worst kind.  He was family; he was of our blood! We had taken in that arrogant youth and my father had tried to make a man of him.  His repayment had been an untimely and treacherous death. I looked to Gawan, “We must return.”

King Cadwallon said, “But you are Warlord.  King Edwin remains at large.”

I clenched my fists in anger but I heeded my father’s words when he had spoken to me in the solar. He must have known then that his time was short. All of our recent conversations came flooding back and I realised that he had been preparing me for this moment. Every word he had said had been measured; he was telling me how to lead. I was now Warlord.  I needed to think before I spoke.  I forced myself to breathe a little slower. “I will just take Tuanthal and his men.  I am sure that the warriors I leave can complete the task. Pol, you and Lann Aelle command the equites in my absence.”

“We will, my lord.” Both of my father’s former squires showed that they were trying to contain the emotion that they felt. They had grown up as I had in the shadow of the greatest warrior Rheged had ever produced. I suspected my face looked the same as theirs.

I saw Cadwallon’s face soften as the news of my father’s death sank in.  He too, as his father before him had been trained by the Warlord of Rheged and he was now gone.  Just his shadow would remain. “You are right, Hogan Lann, and I am sorry for your loss.”

I felt the anger come again and I fought to control it.  My words came out tight and cold, “It is Rheged and Gwynedd which has lost more for he was ever the hope for a free Rheged. I fear that dream lies on that knoll along with my dead father.”

I whipped Star’s head around and dug my spurs in. I regretted it immediately. My horse was not the cause of my father’s death and he did not deserve ill treatment. That was down to a witch and a treacherous cousin.  Both would pay. Gawan and Tuanthal appeared on either side of me.

“I am sorry I left him, Hogan Lann.” Gawan’s face was filled with pain and something more; was it guilt?

I said nothing for I was still angry.  I was not angry with Gawan but I knew that if I said anything then it would sound as though I was criticising him. I meant what I had said.  He did right to obey orders and no-one could have known of Morcar’s treachery.  I had seen no sign of it. He had deceived me.  How had he deceived Myrddyn and my father?

“I have served your father for longer than almost any.  He would not want any blame placed at anyone’s door. He would say it was
wyrd
.  He would say that it was meant to be.” Tuanthal and Aedh had served my father since he had held the Castle Perilous.  He knew him.

I noticed a guilty look on Gawan’s face.  What was he hiding?  What did he know of all of this? I shook my head.  I was becoming suspicious and I had no right to be.  I knew that my brother was innocent.  I could not allow Morcar to make me mistrust everyone. “Tuanthal is right.  Did you not notice that since his midsummer vigil he had changed?  He had a dream in the cave which affected him greatly. Perhaps he dreamed this.”

“Then Myrddyn, too, must have known of his imminent death.”

Gawan nodded. “Of course he did.” I saw the hesitation on Gawan’s face. “Last night as we watched Myrddyn he told me that Myrddyn had dreamed his death and he was ready for it.” I saw that he was becoming upset. “He gave me the scabbard for Saxon Slayer.  I am to ask Myrddyn where the hidden chamber lies at Civitas Carvetiorum. I am sorry I should have spoken but he swore me to secrecy. He said it was ordained by the spirits. I was torn, brother.  I wanted to tell you but I had sworn an oath.”

My poor little brother was about to break. I saw why he had had the guilty look on his face.  It was because he thought he had let me down. I suddenly realised that I was the head of the family now.  I not only had my own sons and children to care for but the rest of the family too.  I had to be careful with Gawan; I did not want him to break. That thought made me think of my step mother.  She would need help too for her heart would lie broken when she found out. I would have to tell Myfanwy.  Her world would be destroyed.