Arthur II Chapter 11

The Land

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 there without its Lord. He looked back to his troupe of followers; fifty warriors of which half were mercenaries and ten servants with his loved one in the wagon. He had recruited the mercenaries during his ride there. His land was intruded on by the neighbors and the invaders when the Lord was away.

“My Lord, we have done our best.” The castle warrior reported to the Lord. They numbered about two dozen and half of them were without armors. “Welcome back.”

“I know you tried. I am grateful, Lord Ban. And to your brother too, Lord Bors.” The two Lords are Ban and Bors; not of the same mother but they are of the same father. Both were 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 …. recruits. Get them into the barracks.” Lord Pendragon told the twins. “I got to take care of my love.”

Lord Pendragon saw then the twenty-five mercenaries had stepped aside to face him.

“With respect, Lord Pendragon but we are not staying.” The leader of the mercenaries named Bruce of the High, stepped up. “Our task was to protect you on your journey and that is completed. We would like to part with the balance of 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 where the pillage and looting can be done. He was short of warriors and even offered them a better remuneration.

“Extra coins? We live to fight and it’s 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?” It was Lord Bors, Lord Pendragon's aide, and friend. He was standing at the left side stepped up. The warrior was a seasoned fighter and has stood by his Lord for years. “I will kill you now.”

“I am not of your land. I cared not for 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. Lord Bors had to be restrained by the others to avoid a fight then but the former was not giving up. He was a fighter and backing down was an insult.

“Fight me in the duel by the clearing at the sapling.” Lord Bors called out the challenge. “Tomorrow after the sun has risen to our eye level.”The mercenary nodded and then took to his men. Lord Pendragon called for his bursar to pay the mercenaries.
“Pay the men. They are leaving soon.” The bursar nodded to the Lord’s request. Lord Pendragon then turned to look at the mercenaries. “Ride north and you will not be welcome here.” 

Lord Pendragon’s words were ignored. He then turned to Lord Bors and told him the instruction. 

“Watch the walls for their return. They will be not welcome anymore.”

“It’s Bruce. I will challenge to death.’ Lord Bors replied. 

“Good, but bring the others back. We need them.” 

“If they resist?” 

“Let them go. But bring back our coins. I am short of it in the bursary.” Lord Pendragon told Lord Bors. Lord Pendragon was then distracted and saw his love alighted from the wagon by her. 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's 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 shields minus 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 on each door to the chambers. They were there to protect the households and the Lord in particular. She knew the Lord was obsessed with the works of witchcraft. He had his encounters with them before. 

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 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 was Gorlois then which she was wedded to as the young age was the rightful Lord but Lord Pendragon with the assistance of magic had forced his action on her; an intrusion on her. He had disguised himself as her Lord and climbed 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 Lord Gorlois' declaration of war against Lord Pendragon. 

It was a brief war and then died soon after killed her desire. She knew that her Lord was murdered by Lord 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 to win eventually but the desire did not exist anymore. She turned from him most times.
“Take care of the Lady,” Pendragon told the maidservant. He saw then the lady that was to follow Lady Igraine. He had asked of her name but she will not tell him. He then asked Lady Igraine.

“It’s not of your concern, My Lord. She will serve me and only me.” Lady Igraine told the Lord. 

“She looked familiar to me as if I had known her.” Pendragon was never much with his own family except for his love for Lady Igraine, he had hardly known many ladies from the courts. 

Lord Pendragon went down to the Hall. He saw there were his trusted men; seven of them who had served him well and his father before. They are the Elders. And during those recent times, 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 named Lord Amish 

spoke out. “We are no longer young and our men are too few. We guarded what we could …. More to it. Lord Ban and Bors were with you. We were powerless.”

“Your own homes, and left my fields to take. You could have 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 named Lord Amish 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. 

“Lord Pendragon…. Utter. I am not begging but you are alone. We can still be your allies to help. We can do what you alone cannot do. We can rally the people to your name. We are still respected as the Elders.”

Those words rang deep into Lord Pendragon's ears. He knew the Elders though powerless still held an influence on the people. They will rally to the call if the Elders are seen with a stronger leader. He needs them still with the Romans on the wall. 

“So be it. You may keep what is yours. Return mine to me. Now leave us.” All seven Elders left him that day in the Hall. 

“My Lord, do you want us to double the sentries. I will recruit more men.” Lord Bors had stepped in to ask the Lord. The latter 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 them others. They will join us.” Everyone needed reinforcements then. The Legion presence cannot be accounted for to fight his cause. He needed his warriors.