King Cearl was taken aback. “I heard that Aethelfrith had killed him and your son.”
“Do not believe snakes, they lie but that one will lie no more for he died at my hand. Here is the Prince of Gwynedd and here is my son Gawan.”
King Cearl’s shoulders sagged. He was beaten. Two of the warriors stepped forwards. The taller one shouted defiantly, “No matter what the king does, I swear that we will have vengeance for the death of our father.”
That was the first time I saw Oswiu and Oswald although they would both become thorns in the side of Rheged.
“Your father had no honour I hope you have more.” I slid Saxon Slayer out and held it aloft. “King Cearl, if you withdraw and agree not to attack this land I will not invade and destroy Mercia. This I swear by Saxon Slayer.”
The two brothers began to argue with the king but I could see his dilemma. His plans, cunningly wrought, had failed and his ally, Aethelfrith was dead. By harbouring his sons he would now be the enemy of Edwin and he could not afford to fight Edwin and me. He silenced the two brothers with a wave of his hand.
“I will take you at your word but if any more Mercian land is taken then I swear I will not rest until Wyddfa belongs to me.”
As they began to leave the field Myrddyn said quietly, “A bold threat to make when so close to the mountain. And now, Warlord, let us get you to bed so that I can look after the king.”
I was feeling light headed and I allowed Gawan to lead me back to my quarters. The warriors on the walls banged their shields in time as we walked across the courtyard. Myrddyn had done it again. I watched his back as he headed to the king’s quarters. This would become another legend of the Warlord and Myrddyn; how the Warlord had been brought back from the dead. Even the warriors who were in the stronghold would begin to believe that story in time. Despite what the followers of the White Christ said people liked to believe in magic. I had to confess that it had not harmed my reputation either. I allowed my men to put me to bed, without the armour and as I closed my eyes I saw Gawan giving instructions to the guard on the door. I would not be disturbed.
I ached when I awoke and felt as though I had fallen down a mountain. I looked down at my body and saw the old scars, new scars and the black, almost green bruises from my fall. I was becoming too old to take this kind of punishment. I dressed myself, albeit awkwardly and surprised the guard at the door. “I am ready for food!”
He smiled at me; a mixture of relief that I was hungry and joy that I was still alive.
“I was ordered to bring you to the Great Hall. The others are there already.”
When I entered the hall was full with the leaders of the men who had fought. They all stood when I entered and applauded. Gawan and Prince Cadwallon came over to me to help me to a chair.
“I am not an invalid. I can still walk but I limp a little.” I smiled. Despite my words I was grateful for their support. I had not eaten for more than a day and I had lost much blood.
When I was seated I was brought beer, bread, cheese and cold meats. I was surprised that they had such supplies in Wrecsam. The king had shown great foresight.
I listened to the conversation between Tuanthal, Daffydd and the other leaders. They were all in high spirits. I suspect they had thought we would be defeated and the unlikely outcome would be the topic of conversation for a long time to come. I noticed that neither the king nor the queen was present and I turned to Prince Cadwallon. “How is your father?”
“Myrddyn is still with him. He will live but he was badly wounded.”
I could hear, in voice, how upset he was. I rose. “Take me to him.”
“No Warlord, you are recovering yourself.”
“I swore an oath to protect your father when he sought my help years ago. I would not let him down now, besides I have supped and I have eaten. I feel better.” It was a lie, of course, I felt dreadful. I was playing a part that they all expected. I was the one like the oak tree. So long as I was invincible then Rheged would survive. The fact that I had come so close to death and recovered would merely make me seem more resilient.
The queen was red faced and tearful. Myrddyn was examining the wound and the king was lying with his eyes closed. The queen said, “Oh, Warlord! Thank you for coming to our aid.”
I took her hand. “I will always come to your aid.”
King Cadfan’s eyes flickered open and he smiled, a little wanly it must be said. “I thank you too Warlord and thank you for making my son the warrior he is. My people on the walls said he fought like ten men and slaughtered the Saxons.”
“He is a powerful warrior and you can be proud of him.” He gestured to the bed and I sat down. I looked at Myrddyn, “Well wizard, will he live?”
Gawan was shocked, “Father you cannot ask that!”
King Cadfan smiled, “He is right to do so and I would know that answer too.”
Myrddyn was not put out by either response. “You will live your majesty but you will never use your left arm again and your leg may have to be amputated at some point. You will be crippled for the rest of your life.”
He closed his eyes briefly and then, when he opened them he took his wife’s hand. “But I will live and that is something.” He looked at Prince Cadwallon. “Son, I would ask a favour of you.”
The prince was almost tearful. He had grown up in the past few years but it was still a short time since he had been but a boy. “Anything father, anything.”
“I would that you would take over the mantle of king. I will retire and you shall rule as King Cadwallon.”
It did not shock me; I knew the king better than anyone but it was still slightly unexpected.
The prince looked at me and then Myrddyn. Myrddyn nodded and I said, as I bowed, “Your majesty I swear I will protect you and this land as I tried to do for your father. I think you will be a good king.”
Gawan and Myrddyn both bowed and, after what seemed an age, King Cadwallon also nodded and said, “I accept.”
We left eight days later after the coronation and after the walls and defences had been repaired. My daughter had arrived to be with her husband and she was overwhelmed with her new title. She was now a Queen. Myfanwy agreed to stay with her for a while and help her in any way she could. Our reunion was brief but loving. We had both nearly lost each other and, when she returned to our home we had much to make up.
We travelled back to my home, a little more slowly than we had arrived. The bodies of the dead Saxons still lay where they had fallen but they were now picked clean of flesh by the carrion birds. We had gained much metal and lost fewer men than we usually did but it had been a costly battle for us. We had lost a king and I knew that I would never be able to fight as I had that day before Wrecsam. The next time I fought I would die; even if Myrddyn had not dreamed my death. I knew it.
I turned to Gawan and Myrddyn as we dropped down the Clwyd valley under the shadow of Wyddfa. “When I am a little better I would go to the cave.”
“Why father?” There was fear in Gawan’s voice.
“Because I need to.”
“I think you are right to do so and I wish to communicate with the spirits too. I did not see as much as I should have and I believe that the spirit of the witch is on Mona. There is evil in our land and I fear it will destroy Rheged unless we can find it and destroy it.”
I smiled at Gawan, “And remember, my son, our family is sworn to protect Rheged, even if it cost us our lives.”
The End
Glossary
Name-Explanation
Aidan- one of Lann’s captains
Aedh-Despatch rider and scout
Aelfere-Northallerton
Aelle-Monca’s son and Lann’s step brother
Aethelfrith-King of Bernicia and Aethelric’s overlord
Alavna-Maryport
Artorius-King Arthur
Banna-Birdoswald
Belatu-Cadros -God of war
Belerion-Land’s End (Cornwall)
Bors- son of
Mungo
Byrnie – mail shirt
Caergybi-Holyhead
Cadfan- King of Gwynedd
Cadwallon ap Cadfan- Prince of Gwynedd
Civitas Carvetiorum-Carlisle
Constantinopolis-Constantinople (modern Istanbul)
Cymri-Wales
Cynfarch Oer-Descendant of Coel Hen (King Cole)
Daffydd ap Gwynfor-Lann’s chief sea captain
Daffydd ap Miach-Miach’s son
Dai ap Gruffyd-Prince Cadfan’s squire
Delbchaem Lann-Lann’s daughter
Din Guardi-Bamburgh Castle
Dunum-River Tees
Dux Britannica-The Roman British leader after the Romans left (King Arthur)
Erecura-Goddess of the earth
Einar- A Dane serving the Warlord
Fanum Cocidii-Bewcastle
Felan-Irish pirate
Freja-Saxon captive and Aelle’s wife
Gareth-Harbour master Caergybi
Garth-Lann’s lieutenant
Gawan Lann-Lann’s son
Glanibanta- Ambleside
Gwynfor-Headman at Caergybi
Gwyr-The land close to Swansea
Halvelyn- Helvellyn
Haordine-Hawarden Cheshire
Hen Ogledd-Northern England and Southern Scotland
Hogan Lann-Lann’s son
Icaunus-River god
King Cadfan Ap Iago-King of Gwynedd
King Ywain Rheged-Eldest son of King Urien
Lann-[1] Warlord of Rheged and Dux Britannica
Loge-God of trickery
Loidis-Leeds
Maeresea-River Mersey
Mare Nostrum-Mediterranean Sea
Metcauld- Lindisfarne)
Mungo-Leader of the men of Strathclyde
Myfanwy-Lann’s wife
Myrddyn-Welsh wizard fighting for Rheged
Nanna Lann-Lann’s daughter
Nithing-A man without honour
Nodens-God of hunting
Oswald-Priest
Penrhyd- Penrith,Cumbria
Penrhyn Llŷn- Llŷn Peninsula
pharos- lighthouse
Pol-Equite and Hogan Lann’s standard bearer
Prestune-Preston Lancashire
Prince Pasgen-Youngest son of Urien
Raibeart-Lann’s brother
Riemmelth- Prince Pasgen’s daughter
Roman Bridge-Piercebridge (Durham)
Roman Soldiers- the mountains around Scafell Pike
Scillonia Insula-Scilly Isles
Solar-West facing room in a castle
Sucellos-God of love and time
Tatenhale-Tattenhall near Chester
The Narrows-The Menaii Straits
Treffynnon-Holywell (North Wales)
Tuanthal-Leader of Lann’s horse warriors
Vectis-Isle of Wight
Vindonnus-God of hunting
Wachanglen-Wakefield
Wrecsam- Wrexham
wapentake- Muster of an army
Wide Water-Windermere
Wyddfa-Snowdon
Wyrd-Fate
Y Fflint-Flint (North Wales)
Ynys Enlli-Bardsey Island
Yr Wyddgrug-Mold (North Wales)
Historical note
I mainly used four books to research the material. The first was the excellent Michael Wood’s book “In Search of the Dark Ages” and the second was “The Middle Ages” Edited by Robert Fossier. The third was the Osprey Book- “Saxon, Viking and Norman” by Terence Wise. I also used Brian Sykes book, “Blood of the Isles” for reference. In addition I searched on line for more obscure information. All the place names are accurate, as far as I know, and I have researched the names of the characters to reflect the period. My apologies if I have made a mistake.
There is evidence that the Saxons withdrew from Rheged in the early years of the seventh century and never dominated that land again. It seems that warriors from Wales reclaimed that land. I have used Lord Lann as that instrument. King Edwin did usurp Aethelfrith. Edwin was allied to both Mercia and East Anglia.
There is a cave in North Yorkshire called Mother Shipton’s cave. It has a petrifying well within. Objects left there become covered, over time, with a stone exterior. In the seventeenth century a witch was reputed to live there. I created an earlier witch to allow the Roman sword to be discovered and to create a link with my earlier Roman series.
The Saxons and Britons all valued swords and cherished them. They were passed from father to son. The use of rings on the hilts of great swords was a common practice and showed the prowess of the warrior in battle. I do not subscribe to Brian Sykes’ theory that the Saxons merely assimilated into the existing people. One only has to look at the place names and listen to the language of the north and north western part of England. You can still hear anomalies. Perhaps that is because I come from the north but all of my reading leads me to believe that the Anglo-Saxons were intent upon conquest. The Norse invaders were different and they did assimilate but the Saxons were fighting for their lives and it did not pay to be kind. The people of Rheged were the last survivors of Roman Britain and I have given them all of the characteristics they would have had. They were educated and ingenious. The Dark Ages was the time when much knowledge was lost and would not reappear until Constantinople fell. This period was also the time when the old ways changed and Britain became Christian but I have not used this as a source of conflict but rather growth.
King Cadfan was succeeded by his son when he was still alive and he retired to a quiet life. I have used this battle with the Mercians as the reason for that retirement. It was also about this time that Aethelfrith was killed in battle. His sons, Oswiu and Oswald became famous and outshone their father and Edwin. King Cadwallon became the last great British leader until modern times. Alfred ruled the Saxons but no one held such sway over the country from Scotland to Cornwall in the same way that King Cadwallon did. Of course I have him aided by Lord Lann the Warlord.
The Warlord and King Cadwallon will return and they will meet the Saxons once more on the field of battle.
Griff Hosker February 2014
Other books
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Griff Hosker
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The Sword of Cartimandua Series (Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior
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Book 4 Roman Retreat
Book 5 Revolt of the Red Witch
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Book 8 The Last Frontier
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Book 3 Saxon England*
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* * *
[1] Lann means sword in Celtic
Table of Contents
Published by Sword Books Ltd 2014Copyright © Griff Hosker First Edition
Chapter 1Wyddfa 617
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
GlossaryName-ExplanationAidan-
Historical note
King Cadfan was succeeded by his son when he was still alive and he retired to a quiet life. I ...
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[1]