23
“King
Constan is dead.” The call went out on the land.
The
next question was who killed the King.
“The
King is be avenged.” The call was heard.
“Please
remain calm.” Lord Vortigern pleaded with the gathering at the hall. The Lords
and allies of King Constan had arrived on hearing of the demise.
“Where
are the Anglo-Saxons? Why are they not here?” The gathered look to Lord
Vortigern.
“Yes,
where are your friends, my Lord?” The question was directed to Lord Vortigern
by one of the Lords. “Did you shield them?”
“The
Anglo-Saxons are not involved. The killers hung outside on the castle wall.”
Lord Vortigern appeased the gathered. “It was the foul deed by the Picts whom
we invited with trust.”
“Your
trust, my Lord.” The Lord who asked earlier added to the anger there. “You
brought them here. Like what you did with the Anglo-Saxons.”
“Lord
Bernstein, your words are insinuating treachery by me?” Lord Vortigern took
offense to the accusations. He reached for the hilt of his sword at the waist.
“Fight
me, Lord Vortigern. I do not fear you.” Lord Bernstein hit back. “I do not
stand alone here.”
It
was seen then Lord Bernstein was with his allies.
“The
curs have found their courage.” Lord Vortigern mumbled but he held back his
anger. He was to speak on but was interrupted by the appearance of Uther then.
The young prince was in the chamber with Aurelius watching the final
preparation for the dead King. Gildas the Monk was doing the prayers
there.
“Please
remain calm. The King is dead and let him rest in peace for today.” Uther
approached the gathered and stood after Lord Vortigern. “My brother is reunited
with his head. We found it in the adjacent chamber.”
The
servant who found the King reported that he was beheaded on his bedding with
his head missing. A search was conducted while the princes were alerted by the
servants. Lord Vortigern was the first to arrive at the King’s chamber and soon
after the Picts were rounded up. They were killed by the guards at the command
of Lord Vortigern. It was done rapidly and when the Lords arrived at the
castle, the punishment was done.
“Lord
Vortigern, why were we not told of the killings by you?” Uther had confronted
the Lord who was leaving the King’s chamber.
“I
was attending to the King and his killers.” Lord Vortigern glared at the
prince. “My responsibility is to the King first.”
“And
you are not the King.” Lord Vortigern added to his words before leaving the
prince standing there. He then left for the hall to meet the gathered. It was
later that Uther joined the Lord at the hall.
“My
brother, King Constan is dead. Both Aurelius and I will be mourning the death
of the King. We would like to request that the Lords present here stay united
and protect the kingdom.” Uther addressed the gathering.
That
address stunned Lord Vortigern for the attention was toward the prince then. He
was to wrest control of the gathering but he stopped when he saw the Lords
leaving. He looked for Lord Cornell and saw the former was the first to leave.
He called out to Lord Cornell to wait.
“Lord
Cornell, we need to talk.”
24
Uther
stood on the top of the hill looking at the forest. It was after dawn and the
ride there was done at a late sighting of the moon. He was with a few of the
men trusted by himself and Aurelius. It was a rush departure but the events
that unfolded over the last few days were equally risky.
“My
young princes, your lives are in peril.” Uther was told by Gildas. “I had
spoken to Aurelius.”
Since
the death of King Constan, the Lords were in the turmoil to grab power,
including Lord Vortigern. The influential Lord was to ally with a few others
including Lord Cornell. The Picts were back to warring at the borders alongside
the Anglo-Saxons.
“Do
we battle the Picts? The Anglo-Saxons? Or ourselves?” Lord Vortigern had
rallied the Lords to the cause although he was distrusted then. Some of the
Lords had doubts that Lord Vortigern was not involved in the killing of King
Constan, but their strongest ally, Lord Cornell had sided with the Lord.
“Lord
Cornell was his fiercest critic and today, he rides with the Lord.” Those were
the words of the lesser Lords on the shift of alliance. Unknown to them, Lord
Cornell was trapped by Lord Vortigern.
“Lord
Cornell, outside of the castle, the words are saying you and your allies killed
the King.” That was the core of the conversation between the two Lords after
the gathering at the hall that day.
“The
King lies dead unburied and you are here accusing me of the kill.” Lord Cornell
looked to Lord Vortigern. “Where is your decency in the matter?”
“It’s
more decent than the role you had in the killing of the King.” Lord Vortigern repeated
the words to the Lord. “I had the Picts killed to silence the accusing Lords.
They disliked you more than me. They may accused you in retaliation.”
“You
silenced the Picfs to avoid them telling the truth about you.” Lord Cornell
retorted. “I did not kill the King.”
“Tell
it to the others that heard your intentions to topple the King. They are upset
about the King’s death and vengeance is on their mind. You were the castle
then. And your name stands out.”
Name them, Lord Vortigern. I will meet them in
battle.” Lord Cornell turned to leave. “My loyalty shall never be questioned.”
“Shall
or will never be? I think you need to hear me out.” Lord Vortigern looked at
the turning Lord who stopped in mid-stride. “You are not with many friends.
Your words with some of Lords’ had put you in doubt.”
“I
did not…”Lord Cornell paused in his explanation while turning to address the
other Lord. “It was a …”
“A
private meeting but are your allies in coordination with you, Lord Cornell?”
Lord Vortigern frowned at his facial expression. “We lived in thriving times
now. More so when the borders are overrun by the barbarians.”
“Those
are your barbarians.” Lord Cornell reminded the Lord.
“They
may be …mine but they had served their purpose. I gave them wealth to stop the
war. Now they are accused of the killing, and war will resume. If the Lords are
not united, then we may all perish in the coming battles. And it won’t be the
Picts alone that will take our land. The Anglo-Saxons and Jutes, and then on
the Danes, and the …”
“You
made your point to me. How can I avert such calamities?” Lord Cornell knew he
was cornered.
“Leave
the land now. I will speak on your journey to battle the Picts but you may go
North to build new lands.” Lord Vortigern looked at the other. “If you
remained, be my ally, and we need not choose sides.”
“Allies,
Lord Vortigern?” Lord Cornell asked. “You are a bastard.”
“Call
me names, Lord Cornell but I am a survivor among the Lords. Do what is needed
to avert a war between us.” Lord Vortigern did not hide his threat then. “It’s
your call here.”
Lord
Cornell knew he was with few choices. He allied with Lord Vortigern to quell
any rebellion talks among the Lords, but he also arranged with the young
princes an alternative plan. That plan was to begin from the hill where Uther
stood to look at what was his before.
“Leave
the land, my princes.” Lord Cornell looked to the two young lads. “The demise
of the King has left the Lords with differing loyalties not. Some may take to
your side, or none at all, and war will split the kingdom. With that in place,
the raiders at the borders will take the opportunity to invade us. We …Or
rather you will lose it all.”
“I
will remain to defend the throne,” Uther announced his intention.”I will not my
back on the people.”
“Brave
words, Young Uther.” Lord Cornell looked to the young lad. “What I am to know,
Lord Vortigern is all-powerful but even then he could not battle all the
Lords.”
“What
of you, Lord Cornell?” Aurelius asked the other.
“I
am to …stand with Lord Vortigern to bring peace to the land. When the emotions
of the Lords are pacified, then I will invite both of you back.”
“You
are asking us to leave while you share the throne with Vortigern?” Uther looked
at the Lord. “That’s treachery.”
“Not
true, my prince but a needed respite to avoid bloodshed.” Lord Cornell replied.
“I am not afraid of my death, but aimless deaths can be avoided. We need to
bide our time.”
“The
Lord is right. We are to live to fight another day.” Aurelius looked to Uther.
“We are still young and with our name, we can rally the other kingdom to assist
us. I will be King then.”
“Another
of your prophecy with the druids, brother?” Uther was disgusted with the
cowardice. “I want to …”
“Stay
your anger, young Uther. You have neither the army nor the support of the Lords
now.” It was Gildas the Monk who intervened. “The young cub has to grow to
become a fearsome predator to hunt.”
“Monk,
have you no monastery to seek refuge? Your King is dead.” Uther was defiant.
“Where were you when he was killed?”
“I
was in the Chapel for my prayers,” Gildas replied. “I was …”
“Your
prayers had not worked.” Uther glared at the monk. “It won’t work here too.”
“Fight
we will, but we must fight to win.” Aurelius cut in. “Many wars are fought with
ill-prepared plans. We must strengthen and strategies our plans. Let us ride.”
“Argh….”
Uther stomped his feet. “You are the next in line. I will respect your call.”
Uther gave up. He then turned to Lord Cornell. “We will ride but we shall
return. You are either at our side then or battle us.”
“I
will ride with you when you return, my young princes.” Lord Cornell bowed to
the two lads. “Please take care on your journey now.”
“Where
are we headed, brother?” Uther asked.
“We
sailed for Amorica.”
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