when we find a smithy.”
I looked quickly at Aethelward
who just said, “Wyrd.”
“Did it go well?”
“Aye Ulf and my nephew helped to
carry it off. The monks believe that we are pilgrims and I
gave my name so that we should be remembered.”
“I still do not know why the
monks are important.”
“The King of Wales needs
credibility. He has only ruled this land of Wales for a short
time and needs the support of the church. This is the largest
and most important monastery in this heartland of Wales, in the
shadow of the dragon. ” I smiled as Ridley involuntarily shivered.
“The court of the King is at Rhuddlan and I know that men from the
court will visit the monastery before too long. The Welsh king will
keep patrols travelling along this road and they will bring news to
their king.”
“Which is why we will need to
avoid the road.” I saw the plan clearly.
“Precisely young Aelfraed and we
will head south eastwards towards the frontier towns. It would not
do to be seen as a party of four.”
With the pack horses loaded we
set off, Ulf as usual was at the front while Ridley took the
rear. He did not mind the pack horse for it carried his
precious armour and, hung from the pommel, was his helmet now
scrubbed and polished. I was a little envious. He was
already well on to the way to be coming a warrior and he was well
armed. I absent mindedly stroked the smooth shaft of the ash staff.
Ridley might have his armour but I had had my vision and I would
get armour that I knew.
“Well we know that he is to the
south of us. That means he will be with his army.”
“You are right Ulf for he has
only recently conquered that land. We will head for Morgannwg
which borders the lands of Wessex. We can watch for signs of war as
we travel south.”
We had been on the road for
seven days when we crossed the trail of the warriors. Ulf’s
sharp eyes picked up the signs and we halted. With the combined
attention of the two warriors we ascertained that at least a
hundred warriors had travelled south, in the same direction as we.
It was the first indication we had of warlike intentions.
“Well we can go to Earl Harold
now and tell him that there are warriors gathering on the
borders.”
Ulf laughed. “Would that it was
that simple. These warriors may be heading for the newly
conquered lands in the south of the country and there are but a
hundred. No it is a sign but we need to find out what it
means.”
I looked at Aethelward. “Then
how do we find out?”
“We visit the next town and
ask.”
“As simple as that?”
“No not that simple. We
will visit the town and listen for people talk and a hundred
warriors passing through will be an event worthy of
retelling. You, nephew, can tell of our visit to the
monastery and Brother Aidan. They will enjoy that news.”
The next town was in
Maelienydd. I could not begin to pronounce it but it was a
prosperous looking place with a wooden wall and armed guards at the
gates. When my uncle explained that we had been on a pilgrimage we
were allowed to enter but I could see that the guards viewed us
with suspicion until we dismounted and they saw my uncle’s
injury. It made them less suspicious. We headed for the
hut which had a crudely painted picture of an ear of barley
outside. Aethelward nodded towards it, “An alehouse. A good
place to begin. You need to listen although if they speak Welsh
then neither of us will understand them.”
Fortunately for us the woman who
owned the alehouse could speak easily with us. Our coins were
welcomed by her and made us even more welcome. There was
no-one else in the hut and we struck up a conversation.
Aethelward asked her if she had rooms and flourished a silver
coin. Her eager eyes lit up and she told us we could sleep
with the horses in her stable at the rear. I suspected that we had
paid too much for what would be basic accommodation but I knew that
we would be better off and warmer
I looked quickly at Aethelward
who just said, “Wyrd.”
“Did it go well?”
“Aye Ulf and my nephew helped to
carry it off. The monks believe that we are pilgrims and I
gave my name so that we should be remembered.”
“I still do not know why the
monks are important.”
“The King of Wales needs
credibility. He has only ruled this land of Wales for a short
time and needs the support of the church. This is the largest
and most important monastery in this heartland of Wales, in the
shadow of the dragon. ” I smiled as Ridley involuntarily shivered.
“The court of the King is at Rhuddlan and I know that men from the
court will visit the monastery before too long. The Welsh king will
keep patrols travelling along this road and they will bring news to
their king.”
“Which is why we will need to
avoid the road.” I saw the plan clearly.
“Precisely young Aelfraed and we
will head south eastwards towards the frontier towns. It would not
do to be seen as a party of four.”
With the pack horses loaded we
set off, Ulf as usual was at the front while Ridley took the
rear. He did not mind the pack horse for it carried his
precious armour and, hung from the pommel, was his helmet now
scrubbed and polished. I was a little envious. He was
already well on to the way to be coming a warrior and he was well
armed. I absent mindedly stroked the smooth shaft of the ash staff.
Ridley might have his armour but I had had my vision and I would
get armour that I knew.
“Well we know that he is to the
south of us. That means he will be with his army.”
“You are right Ulf for he has
only recently conquered that land. We will head for Morgannwg
which borders the lands of Wessex. We can watch for signs of war as
we travel south.”
We had been on the road for
seven days when we crossed the trail of the warriors. Ulf’s
sharp eyes picked up the signs and we halted. With the combined
attention of the two warriors we ascertained that at least a
hundred warriors had travelled south, in the same direction as we.
It was the first indication we had of warlike intentions.
“Well we can go to Earl Harold
now and tell him that there are warriors gathering on the
borders.”
Ulf laughed. “Would that it was
that simple. These warriors may be heading for the newly
conquered lands in the south of the country and there are but a
hundred. No it is a sign but we need to find out what it
means.”
I looked at Aethelward. “Then
how do we find out?”
“We visit the next town and
ask.”
“As simple as that?”
“No not that simple. We
will visit the town and listen for people talk and a hundred
warriors passing through will be an event worthy of
retelling. You, nephew, can tell of our visit to the
monastery and Brother Aidan. They will enjoy that news.”
The next town was in
Maelienydd. I could not begin to pronounce it but it was a
prosperous looking place with a wooden wall and armed guards at the
gates. When my uncle explained that we had been on a pilgrimage we
were allowed to enter but I could see that the guards viewed us
with suspicion until we dismounted and they saw my uncle’s
injury. It made them less suspicious. We headed for the
hut which had a crudely painted picture of an ear of barley
outside. Aethelward nodded towards it, “An alehouse. A good
place to begin. You need to listen although if they speak Welsh
then neither of us will understand them.”
Fortunately for us the woman who
owned the alehouse could speak easily with us. Our coins were
welcomed by her and made us even more welcome. There was
no-one else in the hut and we struck up a conversation.
Aethelward asked her if she had rooms and flourished a silver
coin. Her eager eyes lit up and she told us we could sleep
with the horses in her stable at the rear. I suspected that we had
paid too much for what would be basic accommodation but I knew that
we would be better off and warmer
Similar Books
