Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Part 8

 8

The feast was called for when the army had routed the raiders to the land. Their leader was captured and brought to the huge campfire where the leaders of the campaign gathered. A herd of deer was gathered and slaughtered for the feast. The goblets flowed with the meads and joyous laughter resonated into the night. A huge fire pile was at a distance where the dead warriors were offered to the Gods.

“My Lord, we have removed the thorn from Lord Cecil’s rear-end.” Lord Anvil pressed on with the cynical remark. The ones who heard him roared out in laughter saved for the embarrassed Lord who had taken to join another gathering nearby.

“Yes, we won well today.” Lord Vortigern praised himself. He had split the lancers into two groups and herded the raiders from both sides, thus stopping them from escaping. The mercenaries were sent ahead and formed a barrier for them to escape back to the North. The raiders were then pressed on by the main army which were the foot soldiers who gave them no quarters.

“Young Constan proved himself in battle today.” The young lad was pressed on with the foot soldiers to meet the raiders. He did well with his fighting although the scouts told the Lord that the young lass was fighting but he held back on the kill. It was they who did the final blow.

“He is still raw at it.” Lord Vortigern defended the lad. He then looked at the other who was seated at the other side of the gathering nursing his drink while being praised by the other warriors. It was obvious that the others looked to the lad as their next King.

Lord Vortigern had his own servants in the castle. The health of the King was reported to him. He had seen the healers and they affirmed his concerns; the King is dying. He looked back at the lad there, his apprentice, nurtured since young and yet he finds the lad lacking in the needed quality to be King. The lad was of late with the influence of Gildas had been seen his time at the chapel. The lad was reported to be drawn to the faith of the Book than to the sword.

If the throne was to handed down it will be Constan. Lord Vortigern was advised by his advisers that the succession of the throne was by birth right and may not always be by seniority.

“He may the eldest but the rightful one may be the one that could unite the Lords.” Thus, those words made Vortigern to think further into the ability of his apprentice. . He had looked at the other two siblings; Aurelius and Uther.

Aurelius had some promising qualities as a warrior; his fighting skills were admirable for his age, and keen study with the elders on the strategy of war. Uther, the youngest had much to learn with the siblings and spend his time with the other lads playing more than training.

Both of them are still young and if need be, they can be his replacement for the eldest. Only matters to him was the power and influence.

“My Lord, the Chieftain is here.” Lord Vortigern heard his guard who had brought the defeated leader to the gathering. The leader was spared of the slaughter and was to be made an example for his action.

Lord Vortigern looked to the chained leader then covered with wounds from his captors and was made to kneel before the Lord.

“Beli as I was made to know is your name, though you prefer the title of Chief Caer.” Lord Vortigern looked at the stocky built frame there. “I was told that you are a mixed….”

“Spare me your words, Brittany. I am ready to die.” The defeated Chieftain snapped at Lord Vortigern. He was kicked at the chest by one of the guards for snapping out.

“Silent, you cur for …”

“Let it be, Marcus. The Chief need not be reminded of his ancestry now.” Lord Vortigern motioned to his guard to back off. “Beli, you have caused us great pains with your raids and much of the harvest taken from …”

“My people need to be fed.” Beli roared out. “You ….”

“I did not steal what I did not reap. You did.” Lord Vortigern was upset then. “I will punish you now. Throw him into the pit and be buried with his dead warriors.”

The Chieftain was hauled up but Constan intervened. He approached Lord Vortigern holding the dagger in his right hand.

“I…. I want to kill him for he had done to many of my …men.” Constan spoke to the Lord. “He deserved his death at my hands.”

That call surprised Lord Vortigern who was least expecting the young lad to do the killing. He looked at Constan. If he were to deny the lad, the consequence of it was the lad will be humiliated. If he allowed the killing, the lad will be seen as one who can be King. He then consented to the lad.

Constan approached Beli and leaned over to whisper to the Chieftain.

“I will grant you a swift death.” Constan stabbed the dagger into the throat of the Chieftain stopping him from uttering any words. The gathered roared at the killing by the young lad who had raised the dagger covered with blood for all of them to see. He then walked away from the gathering.

“The lad showed some promise to his character as King.” Lord Anvil spoke to Lord Vortigern who remained silent while he looked at the departing lad.

“He can be King but won’t be long.” Vortigern mumbled to himself.

At a distance hidden from the gathered, Cosntan leaned by the tree trunk and threw up the content of his stomach. He felt sickened by the killing; his first intended act. He did it to spare the Chieftain of  a prolonged dying.

With that, Constan took his talking to God that life is a gift of God, and should be preserved till God calls its return. What he had done was a merciful death act.