Boundaries and Intrusions
11.
Lord Pendragon felt his mount reared its head while its tail swung when they climbed the hill. The rider patted the mount and then spurred it on. In his mind then the smell of the home grasses was always fresher. He looked over the hill and saw the castle. It was not much but it was a formidable place with its three towers and the high walls. In its better days, the castle could hold over a hundred warriors; archers and swordsmen with the twenty five horses. During his return, he reckoned there were only about twenty with the household of servants of about ten allowing that the castle was without its Lord. He looked back to his troupe of followers; ten warriors and ten servants with his loved one in the wagon. He ha recruited ten more mercenaries; he needed the extra warriors. His land was intruded on by the neighbours and the invaders for the Lord was away.
“My Lord, we have done our best.” The warrior reported to the Lord. “Welcome back.”
“I know you tried. I am grateful, Ban. And to your brother too, Bors.” Ban and Bors are twins; tall and slender unlike the other warriors but they are great fighters with the spears and shield. They had on the mail coat and their legs were encased in the leather lashing on the sandal.
“You may take a break. I am back. These are my new …. recruit. Get them into the barracks.” Lord Pendragon told the twins. “I got to take care of my love.”
“With respect, Lord Pendragon but we are not staying.” The leader of the mercenaries stepped up. “Our task was to protect you on your journey and that is completed. We would like to part with our coins paid today.”
Lord Pendragon looked to the mercenaries he had with him on the journey. He knew that they were not used to working as warriors in a castle. They are more suited for the war. He was short of warriors and offered them a better remuneration.
“Extra coins? We live to fight and its out there on the land.” The mercenary pointed to the north. “Here we may end up being …. With the servants. More so, the Anglo Saxons are paying well.”
Lord Pendragon heard of the Anglo Saxons. They are from the North and have been invading the south for some years then. That was one reason he came back to his castle. He has to defend it or lose them all.
“You will fight with the invaders?” Bors who was standing at the left side stepped up. “I will kill you now.”
“I am not of your land. I cared not of your land. I only work for coins, and the killings. Spare me your threats. We may meet one day.” The other leader replied in anger. Bors had to restrained by the others to avoid a fight then but the former was giving up. He was a fighter and backing down was an insult.
“Fight me in the duel by the clearing at the you sapling.” Bors called out the challenge. “Tomorrow after the sun has risen to our eye level.”The mercenary nodded and then took his men out. Lord Pendragon was to object but stopped when he saw his love alighted from the wagon by herself. She had waited too long on that. She refused his offered hand and made her inside. She walked past the servants and into the Hall. It was not huge but it held a high ceiling and there was the long table to seat twelve, with the high seat for the Lord at the end to the wall. Behind it was the castle crest; the double lion facing the crossed swords with the backdrop of the helmet that was the Lord’s. Below the crest was the words in Welsh; Y Llewod yr Amddiffynnydd Arglwy (The Lions the Protector The Lord of the Land).
“Do you like it? Lord Pendragon looked at her. She did not reply and moved on. She looked at the garish curtains that were draped over the walls or was it the other way around. She looked at the line up of sheilds missing the swords. She had stopped wondering for a long time on it. She took off on her way to the stairs that led upstairs and saw the signs. They were there to protect the households and the Lord in particular. She knew the Lord was obessed by the works.
Lady Igraine reached the Lord’s chamber and stopped. She was reluctant to go in. She turned and moved to the chamber further down. It was her own designated chamber. There was where she will rest. If he wants he can come there like what he did years ago. He had caused her pain. Her Lord then which she was wedded to as the young age. And then her seduction. It was forced action on her; an intrusion on her. He had disguised himself as her Lord and cliumbed into her bedding. She was intoxicated by the herbs placed into her drink and recalled not much but the long night of pleasures. She was mystified by it but the news of her Lord’s death soon after killed her desire. She knew that her Lord was murdered by Pendragon. He came for her soon after but she ignored him. She ignored him when he captured her several times. She ran away to escape from him and he still came. She was his regardless but the desire did not exist anymore. She turned from him most times.
“Take care of the Lady.” Pendragon told the maid servant. He then took leave. He will contact her family to assure them. It does not matter much for they don’t care for her.
Lord Pendragon went down to the Hall. He saw there were his trusted men; eight of them who had served him well and his father before. They are the elders. And they have failed him.
“None of you stopped the land grabbing.” Lord Pendragon looked at them. “You were my custodian. And yet you failed.”
“We did not fail, Lord Pendragon. We tried but were outnumbered and we are old.” The one elected to speak voiced out. “We ….”
“You could had fought them, as one but all of you were selfish. You protected that is yours only.” Pendragon told them off. “From today, we are no more allies. We are on our own. I will protect my own and beware I will come for yours too for it was mine to begin with. Now leave.”
“Utter Pendragon”, The elected leader confronted the Lord by his given name. “I have tended to you since you were a babe. I will not …”
“As you would, Lord Amish. I am coming for you first. Now leave or surrender your land to me.” Pendragon was clear on his threat. All eight of them left him that day in the Hall.
“My Lord, do you want us to double the sentries.” Ban had stepped in to ask the Lord. The later shook his head, and then told him to get more warriors.
“After you kill the bastard who challenged your brother. Then take his coins and recruit the others. They will join us.”
Everyone needed reinforcements then.
The Legion presence accounted for it.
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