Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Part 6

 6

Lord Vortigern sat up on his saddle and looked at the column of the army that was assembled by himself for the new campaign at the Northern borders. His army was already at the strength of three thousand, though only a fraction joined him there for the campaign. He placed them secured to hold their number.

“A fine column, Lord Vortigern.” Lord Anvil who contributed three hundred guards was beside the Lord in command looking at the parade. “How many are we in the numbers? Three thousand?”

The column was that number; one thousand lancers, five hundred archers, and the remaining foot soldiers and mercenaries. The area of the campaign was vast but the raiders are few. He needed the numbers to have some stationed at strategic locations while the others are in pursuit of the fleeing raiders.

“Where is Lord Cecil?” Lord Vortigern asked.

“I saw him riding back to his castle.” Lord Anvil said. “Probably he wants to hide his treasures.”

Lord Vortigern saw his apprentice approaching. He liked the young lad who was with him ever since he could wield a wooden sword, but of late he found the lad to be questioning the ways of the warrior. He had fought with King Constantine when the younger version took reign under the Dumnonia legacy. Vortigern then was a young lad like Constan and learn the skills at the battlefields. He fought hard and well to earn himself the rightful place next to the King. He was once saved by the King from a ragging mercenary they met in battle.

His loyalty extended to cover the acts of the King which many were of his character flaws. Constantine was a great warrior but he was also arrogant in his personality. He was like an untamed lion and refused to be told by others. He exerted his victory by taking the spoils of the conquest including killing the defeated’s family. He spared no one then, but over the years, he mellowed on his rage.

That day of the killing at the monastery plagued him for a long period. Vortigern stood outside with the guards and when he saw the King returning with bloodied hands, he took to send the King back with the guards, all sworn to secrecy. He had then visited the monks, including the Abbot, and told them of the retribution should they speak out of the incident.

“There is one other who is not of us but a guest.” Vortigern was told then. That was how he met Gildas who had rested there after a long journey. He approached Gildas for he feared the wandering monk will do more harm with the words from his voice.

“I shan’t keep silent on the atrocities caused by your King. He is an animal.” Gildas glared at Vortigern. “If you sanctioned him, then you are an animal too.”

Vortigern’s hand that held the hilt of the sword twitched then but his mind quell his anger. He pleaded with the monk not to take the words to the land.

“I may do so on one condition. I will come with you to the abode of the King. I shall stay with him to get him to repent his sins. He may be King but the sins of his are long recorded by many and eventually, upon his death, he will see the just punishment by the maker of life.” Gildas looked hard into Vortigern.

“Monk, we are warriors. We are …infected with rage, and rage drives our arms to kill. We stand to kill or be killed.”

“Warrior of rage, they are gifted with life, and only he who gives them that can take it back. You cannot do that. If you do, you stand with the Devil in our act. In Hell, you will burn for eternity.”

“Monk, we live different lives. Yours may be noble but we are ….seen by others too as noble” Vortigern encased his beliefs to the monk.

“And whoever you are, I will call you by one name; ‘superbus tyrannus’ for tyranny rules in you.” Gildas branded the warrior. “Desist my request, and your King will face an eternity of condemnation.”

It was a standoff then but Gildas won the challenge. Vortigern agreed with the monk to come to the castle; what was one more guest where others have overstayed? He reckoned that with the monk there, he could keep a watchful eye but the tale of the killings rippled from many sources that even the King or his Lords could not stifle them at all.

Vortigern was upset the one bad event supersedes all the better events of the King, but his action did keep the rumors to scant whispers and back talks. The King himself never spoke of the killings but he was besieged by the monk to repent.

“I ought to kill you, Gildas.” King Constantine had threatened the monk.

“My voice may die but the voice inside of you will remain to haunt you. Repent within yourself lest you are made to repent.” Gildas told him. “Life is a journey and it will end one day. Carry not your burden to the end.”

The King had approached Vortigern to remove the monk but was told otherwise.

“Gildas presence lends credence to your throne as you hold the advisor of God with you,” Vortigern told the King. “Do you want to be seen with witches and sorcerors?”

“No….I dislike them.” The King had his experiences with sorcery and witching. “Let it be then.”

Vortigern kept his peace with Gildas, but he saw the effect on the King. Constantine was aging and with it, insecurity creeps in. He felt the guilt of his sins although he shies from facing the truth, he kept his attention on the happenings in the land. He assigned the tasks to the Lords, including Vortigern. In doing so, he was getting weaker in his physical presence.

“Lord Vortigern, how will we appease the Picts?” Lord Anvil cut into his thoughts.

“Silence! The prodigal son approaches.” Lord Vortigern snapped at the other.