Saxon Bane (2 page)

“That is because I imagined it would a long time coming!”

“It might be.  Do not watch for death on your shoulder.  Be the Warlord feared by the Northumbrians and the Hibernians.  Be the warrior every young man aspires to be.  That way people will remember you.”

I took the bowl of food he passed to me. He was right, of course. He was infuriating like that.  He was always right! Besides I had always expected to die in combat.  I had been fighting since I had been little more than a boy. My brothers had given up the sword when they married but I had continued.  I resolved to get myself fit again so that I could, once again be Warlord.

Myrddyn smiled, “There, that is better is it not.  Now you are resolved and your dream will be sweeter.”

“When I get to the Otherworld I will ask the spirits how it is you can read my mind so easily.”

He gave me his enigmatic smile and poured me some of the wine we imported from Byzantium. “And I will ask how you manage to defeat every warrior you face, even when they have better weapons and are stronger.”

“Tell me why I must be sacrificed.” I held up my hand.  “I am not objecting but I would like to know the reason.”

“In the old days before the Romans came, the Druids,” he smiled, “that was the name they gave for wizards such as me, would ask for volunteers to be ritually killed and sacrificed before a battle. Their heart would be removed and their body plunged into a sacred pool or hole. The heart became a symbol of the sacrifice and would be buried in the centre of the village to protect it from the Romans.”

“Did it work?”

“It worked against others like them but when the Romans came there was great slaughter. The Druids became fugitives in their own land.  But those priests held them up for a long time. The Romans thought of giving up and returning home so great was the power of the Druids.”

“So I may die and it still might not save Rheged?”

“That may happen but I have dreamed and know that your sacrifice will not be in vain.  Besides, as you said when we were coming up here, you are old. You will not die by the sword for you are too great a warrior for that. You would not wish to slip away in your sleep like Raibeart would you?”

He was right.  I wanted a warrior’s death. We sat and talked until the sun had set completely on this, one of the shortest nights of the year. I reminisced about the adventures we had had and the things we had done. No-one had been with me as long as Myrddyn and he knew me better than any man.

When the time came to sleep and to dream I was ready. Myrddyn loaded the fire with the herbs and sweet smelling wood which enabled us to drift off into the land of the spirits. As I succumbed to the magic of Wyddfa I wondered if Hogan Lann or Gawan would dream here as I did. Gawan had already showed that he could dream and the spirits wished to speak with him.  Perhaps he would be the dreamer and Hogan Lann the Warlord. Certainly the injuries my younger son had suffered at the hands of Aethelfrith meant he would never be the warrior that Hogan Lann was. Thinking of my sons sent me into a deep sleep and I fell into a deep dark hole which seemed to have no bottom.

It was dark.  It was cold. I saw Hogan Lann and Gawan trying to reach me but I was falling. I turned and saw a face I knew. I felt a blade sinking slowly through my back and then it was black.  I heard my mother’s voice, “Come to me, Lann! I am here.”

I opened my eyes and my mother enfolded me to her arms. “Soon you will be here with me my son but your work is not done.  You need to find friends and allies.  You need to visit with the Irish; find new friends amongst your foes.  Not all Saxons are your enemies. Look to the south. You must risk all for your time in Rheged is brief. You are come so close and now is not the time to falter. Beware your blood!”

I fell, down and down.  I never reached the ground.  I saw a wall of stone and I remembered that it was the Roman wall.  I saw warriors hurtling towards me and, with Saxon Slayer held aloft I charged forward.  I looked and my hands became claws and I became wolf. When I looked again the wolf was my son and I was lying bleeding on the ground. I watched as Saxon Slayer was torn from my grip. My enemies fled and I was victorious and then the knife in the dark slashed down and all became black.

I looked around and saw the first glow of the new day peeping through the entrance of the cave. It lit Myrddyn’s face.  He was watching me. He nodded. “An interesting death.”

“Was it like that when you dreamed yours?”

He nodded.  “And now we must put on a face to meet the world and you must prepare answers for the questions we cannot give.”

“You mean lie to my family?”

He stood and stretched.  “What is the alternative? Do you tell them you are to die and have them worry?  Would you have Hogan Lann and Gawan so concerned with watching over you that they die themselves? The dream is a weapon just as much as Saxon Slayer but you need to use it wisely. It can hurt our own people as well as our enemies.”

Infuriatingly, he was right, of course. I could not burden my boys with the knowledge that I was to die. “And what of this Irish venture? The last thing we need is an alliance with those unstable wild men.  They are great fighters but they have no control.”

“The spirits know all.”

“And Saxons?  Can I ally with Saxons?”

He shrugged, “King Cearl of Mercia appeared to be a reasonable man.  He is south of here.” He waved a hand as though trying to rid himself of an invisible fly. “The spirits do not lay everything out for us.  We are expected to think for ourselves. Our world has changed, Lord Lann. Come let us eat.  Dreaming always makes me hungry.”

Myrddyn was a good cook and he soon had some food for us. I decided not to talk about the dream.  I did not like the thought that I would die soon.

“We will have to visit with Kay soon.”

“Aye.  There is an example of the spirits. They did not warn us that Prince Pasgen, his sons and his wife would all succumb to the plague. It is good that Kay rules there still.”

“If they had warned us could you have saved them, wizard?”

“Possibly.  The books we read in Constantinopolis gave some ideas on the matter. Perhaps when Gawan visits he can read up on the disease.” Gawan had shown some wizard like abilities and soon he would have to visit the east as his brother had.

“Kay is a stout warrior.”

“He is, Lord Lann, but the equites were laid low with the plague and they are few in number.  It is only the land which stops the Northumbrians from flooding over.  Kay is lucky to hang to what he holds.”

“Then the Irish plan might just work.  We will visit them first and I will see for myself what they are like.  They may not be as wild as they once were.”

As he packed away the pots and dishes we had used he said, “Perhaps you will be able to give them that control.  It could be that all that they need is a hero whom they can copy. Who knows?”

As we stood in the entrance to the cave I asked, “And this tomb of mine, when will I see it again?”

He looked at me sadly, “When you are dead.”

We had the long journey down from the cave for me to prepare my mind for the meeting with Myfanwy.  The rest of my family were not at home. Gawan Lann and Hogan Lann were on the borders keeping the Saxons in check along with Lann Aelle.  There was just Morcar of my family who was waiting for me. He did not know me well yet.  I would just have to deceive my wife. If I could fool Myfanwy then that would give me time to become used to the idea.

This was the first time that Gawan had been away for any length of time. It was that time in a young warrior’s life when he has to learn how to be a warrior.  Hitherto he had trained and fought in skirmishes but Hogan Lann and Pol would show him how to campaign. He would learn how to keep three horses in the field and to be as prepared as possible to fight.  Oft times it was dull work with no action, and that too was part of the process. His maimed hand would not stop him leading but he could never be the warrior that his brother was.  Myrddyn had hinted that he might become a wizard.

Myfanwy greeted me and I could see that was genuinely pleased to see me. “I have missed you, husband.”

I laughed, “I was away but one night!”

“I know and that was fine when the boys and Nanna were at home but this hall feels lonely and empty.” She nestled into my shoulder and whispered, “My heart aches for my children.” Hogan Lann had been the son of my first wife and although Myfanwy loved him as one of her own Nanna and Gawan were special.  I knew that, despite what she said, Gawan was her favourite. She and Nanna had butted heads too many times when my daughter was growing up but Gawan had been a delight.  He was polite, considerate and courteous.  When he had married, Myfanwy had scrutinised every uncia of Gwyneth before she approved. There was nothing to dislike about the personable young Welsh woman and those first years when we all lived under the same roof were a joy.  Now, however, Gawan Lann and Gwyneth lived to the north close to the monastery of St.Asaph. My wife could visit but it would be to another woman’s home.

I sighed, “I will be away again, my love.”

She pulled away and glared at me. “Why? Is it not enough that our sons campaign the whole time?  You are an old man and you should be resting at home.”

“If I rest I will die and besides I dreamed.”

“Your mother?”

“Aye she told me to seek out the Hibernians.”

Her hand went to her mouth.  “They are wild people and they tattoo their bodies. They are savages.”

“I know all of that and yet my mother’s spirit urged me to make the journey.  Has she ever given us false information?” She shook her head.  “Then I shall trust her still and go but I would be happier if you were with Gawan Lann and Gwyneth.  It will stop the pain you feel and there is a new grandchild for you to fuss.  I know that Gwyneth would appreciate the help.”

She appeared mollified by that and she kissed me on the cheek. “I still think that you deserve some time to yourself.  Just promise me that you will engage in no more fighting! You are too old.”

“I shall have Morcar with me.”

She snorted, “He is too much in love with himself that one.  He likes prettier clothes than any woman.”

“Now then.  He is the son of my brother and he is a good warrior.”

“There is still something about him.” She shook her head.  “I am getting to be a grumpy old woman.  Perhaps I do need to visit with my grandchild.”

I found Brother Oswald with Tuanthal in the main hall.  They were poring over maps. Tuanthal was still a young man in my eyes but the leader of my horse was now nearly as grey as me. He rose and smiled and I saw the young boy in him still. He asked, “You dreamed?”

Brother Oswald crossed himself.  He always did that when the Otherworld was mentioned.  He never commented but I knew that he did not approve.  He had told me that I was a Christian, I just didn’t know it. I was not sure.  I liked many of the Christians.  Old Osric and St.Asaph had both been good friends of mine but I still believed in the old ways.  I was still what the Christians called, a pagan.

“Aye I did. I would pick your brains.  What do we know of the Hibernians?”

Tuanthal shook his head, “They are a wild and ill disciplined race of warriors. This is fortunate for us for if they could be controlled they would be more dangerous than the Saxons.”

I had learned nothing there.  I looked at Oswald.  In answer he went to one of the maps he had collected over the years and brought it to the table. He pointed to the island of Ireland and I saw that there were many red crosses dotted about it. Oswald smiled, “They are a Christian people.” I heard the snort of derision from Tuanthal. Oswald ignored it. “They have, there, many churches and the church has a great influence on their leaders.  The people, largely, grow cereals.” He frowned.  “You are not thinking of stealing from our neighbours are you?”

“I will do as I see fit, priest.  Continue.” I noticed that Myrddyn had come in.  He and Oswald got on well despite their religious differences.

“They also prize cattle but they raid them from each other. They have few towns but their kings, and they have many of those, live in large ring forts.  They are built in much the same style as the one in Stanwyck.”

“Good.  Now tell me about their kings.”

“There are three main families.  The Eóganachta rule the south or at least the males of that family contest the south and only join when there is an enemy from the north. Then there is the Uí Néill.  They rule in the middle and northern part of the land. They are the same as the
Eóganachta
in that they fight amongst themselves unless they are threatened.”

“You said that there were three families.”

“Yes there are the people of Dál nAraidi who live in the north and east.  Of late they have begun to flex their muscles so to speak.  They have even raided the Saxons and established themselves in the old kingdom of Strathclyde, where King Riderch Hael held the Saxons at bay for so many years.”

“That is interesting.” Could this be the connection my mother had wanted me to make?  I caught Myrddyn’s eye and he spread his arms as he gave me another of his enigmatic smiles. I ignored it.  “And who is their leader?”

I am not certain but the family are the Ulaid. As to their present king I am afraid I do not know.”

“Daffydd ap Gwynfor would, Warlord.” Myrddyn’s mind worked quicker than most.

“Then send for him. Tuanthal, I need some warriors to take a trip with me.  Just a bodyguard.  We are not going to make war.  We aim to make friends instead.”

Tuanthal nodded. “We have some young warriors who are keen to impress the Warlord.”

“I do not want any headstrong young men keen to show off.”

He laughed, “Do not worry they know what sort of warrior you would choose.”

“Good and have one of Aedh’s riders take a message to Daffydd.  I would have him come to us so that I may consult.”

After all of the business had concluded and we had eaten I went to my solar.  I would watch the sunset, on this longest of days, from my favourite room.  Having told my wife of my plans she would be busy packing for her trip to St.Asaph.  It might only be a few miles up the coast but to her it would be like another country.

I sat in a comfortable chair and watched Mona in the distance as it glowed, seemingly green, like an emerald against the gold of the sun. This might be my last midsummer.  What if my death were to come in the next few days? I realised how much time I had wasted lately.  I had important things to do before I died or rather before I was killed. I now understood Myrddyn’s words. I could not look at every person I saw as a potential killer. I had to put such thoughts from my mind and deal with everyone as though they had not changed.  Indeed they had not changed. The only change was within me; that had to remain secret.

There was a knock on the door.  I sighed with impatience; I wanted to be alone. In an instant I laughed at myself.  Soon I would have all the loneliness I could wish for. “Come!”

Morcar came in. Each time I saw him I was reminded of his father, my younger brother. They had the same build, the same eyes, even the same voice. The differences were subtle.  Morcar laughed less than his father did and when he did it was never with his eyes.  He was also far more serious about being a warrior and a leader.  Raibeart had never wanted to be a leader such as me.  He had been a good warrior but it was not in his blood as it was with Pol, Hogan Lann and Lann Aelle.

Morcar was ambitious and he was a good warrior.  His cousins had trained him well.  He had been the youngest and they had passed all of their skills on to him. He could ride as well as Pol, use a sword as well as Hogan Lann and a bow as well as Daffydd ap Miach, the captain of my archers. He was desperate to be a captain such as Lann Aelle.  The peace of the last few years had not suited him.  My captains did not die and there would be no place for him to win honour. He had begged to be allowed to accompany my sons to the border.  The simple answer I gave him was that he was not needed there and he still had much to learn from Myrddyn and Brother Oswald.

“I hear we will be going to Ireland soon.”

I gave him a sharp look, “Have you been gossiping?”

“No, Warlord, I was asked by Oswald to put some maps away and I saw that they were of Hibernia and then I heard that you had sent for Captain Daffydd.” He shrugged.  “It seemed obvious to me.”

He was an incredibly clever boy.  I had thought to send him, as I with Hogan Lann and Pol, to Constantinopolis.  It had made them much better leaders and they had learned much about the Roman ways of fighting.  However the intrigues of that Eastern court made me wish to spare the boy.

“Aye well you are right and we will visit with them.”

“Shall I come with you?”

“Would you wish to?  It will be a peaceful mission.  We go not to fight.”

He grinned, “Perhaps not this time but may be in the future?”

“We have enough enemies of our own on this side of the water without annoying our near neighbours.”

“But Warlord, Saxon Slayer has never tasted defeat.”

“And that is because I only choose to fight battles that I can win.”

“I heard that the battle in which you hurt your leg was one where you were heavily outnumbered and you nearly died. Did you choose that one?”

“Perhaps not all of them then.  But I choose to try to use the peaceful approach when I speak with the Irish.”

He could see that I wished to be alone, “I will leave you then Warlord.” He paused at the door.  “I am learning much from you.”

And then he left. He was far more serious about being a leader than either Lann Aelle or my sons had been.  They had been keen to be warriors.  Hogan Lann and Pol had only become more serious about being a leader when they returned from the east.  Morcar appeared driven. Perhaps it was the death of his father which drove him on.  I know that the two of them had had words before Raibeart died and they had had no chance to take them back.  There would always be the memory of words unspoken for Morcar. You could not unsay cruel words but you could regret not speaking how you felt. Both of my parents had been taken when I was young.  My mother’s spirit still spoke with me but, as the years went on, I found it hard to remember my father’s face and his voice was lost to me. I wondered how Morcar felt about his father.

Daffydd’s ship pulled in the next day.  He had renamed it ‘Gwynfor’
in honour of his father.  She had been an Irish ship we had captured years ago.  Although she was old, Daffydd looked after her as though she was the most precious thing in the whole world. Each winter she would be hauled on to the beach and all of the weed and sea life removed.  Planks would be replaced or repaired and she had a new set of sails each year. The result was that she still sailed faster than those pirates who might try to catch her and she could sail through storms which would keep other ships in harbour. He usually traded with the kingdoms of the Welsh although he had sailed to Byzantium before now.

He looked expectantly towards me as I strode down to the wooden jetty which jutted out into the sea. “You look well Warlord.”

I snorted, “What you really mean is that you are pleased I am still alive.”

He laughed, “You sound like my father when he grew a little older. I suppose it will come to all of us that we do not wish to grow old.” He saw Myrddyn behind me.  “Of course there are some who will never grow old.”

He was one of the few who could banter with Myrddyn.  Most feared the wrath of the wizard. He chuckled, “Why grow old, Daffydd? It is better to stay as young as possible for as long as you can.”

Since our visit to the cave I was constantly aware of the passage of time.  I needed to get things done quickly.  “Walk with us, Daffydd.  We need your mind.” We left his crew unloading supplies for the fort. “What do you know of
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
, king of the
Dál nAraidi
?”

He looked surprised, “Hibernians? You normally shun them.”

I smiled, “I know but humour me.”

“This
Fiachnae mac Báetáin
, he calls himself king of the
Dál nAraidi
but others dispute it. He is one of the few Irish kings who ventures beyond their shores.  He has raided Strathclyde before now and attacked the Saxons.”