Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Chapter 41

 41

 

Aurelius’ cavalry rode ahead and in their path, they routed the Anglo-Saxons while Britons came to the banner. The words were the same.

“My main army will march by here. Wait for them and joined with their banners.” Aurelius left words to the Britons that met him. “We will win this war.”

“Where are you off to, my King?” Aurelius was asked many times.

“To kill the one named Vortigern.” Aurelius found the hatred of the people was more toward Vortigern. He told them to remain there for the army, He rode on and looked at the path ahead. When he came close to a place named Maisbeli, he was attacked by a group of Anglo-Saxons who had gathered there.

“Charge at them, my calvary.” That was the call of Aurelius. The cavalry charged at the Anglo-Saxons but found their path hampered by the narrow passage there.

“Retreat!” Aurelius called on the cavalry.”They are well protected.”

Aurelius then consulted the locals who explain to him on the pass there.

“It’s narrow, but we have paths on the sides that can go over.” Aurelius was told and they offered to take the battle to the Anglo-Saxons. The King agreed to it and rode to his destination.; Caer Guorthegirn.

The Britons at the pass were soon reinforced by the gathering Britons, Some of them took to the mountain paths to go past the Anglo-Saxons. The main group pressed on at the pass battling the Anglo-Saxons. Soon the Anglo-Saxons found themselves in a pincer move and surrendered. It was a small victory but it yield information that Aurelius was find useful.

“My King, we have besieged the castle. Vortigern has collected his people into the castle with many supplies.” Aurelius heard the reports of his scouts. With his calvary, he had stopped the reinforcement to the castle.

“We have stopped the others from joining into the castle. Some of them have changed sides on hearing that it was you who is the King.” Aurelius smiled on hearing that. It may be that the words of his return have not reached there, or these leaders feared for their lives.

“Assemble them to the direction of where the Anglo-Saxons may reinforce Vortigern. There they will prove their loyalty to me or switch sides once more.”

Meanwhile, at the pass near Maisbeli, the Briton army of King Aurelius had arrived there but was told to wait for their King.

“Lord Eidol, the King has asked that you wait here. Beyond the pass lies Maisbeli but the main force of the Anglo-Saxons there outnumbered us.” Lord Eidol was frustrated but he knew that he was to adhere to the command. He waited there and gathered more of the Britons who came to the cause.

“My King, we have besieged the castle with our army.” King Aurelius was told after several attacks on it were repealed. “The castle walls are stronger than what we were expecting.”

Essentially there are three main ways of attacking a castle and, of course, the defenders knew this and so developed counter-measures to each. These were getting over the wall into the castle, going under the wall, and battering a way through the wall to get inside. When all else failed, it was to lay siege on it. The siege was to starve the defenders when they run off supplies or they may revolt from within.

“How else can we break the walls down?” Aurelius asked.

“Fire, my King.” That advice came from a druid who came there to heal the wounded. Aurelius turned to look at the other. It was his once faithful adviser.

“So shall it be,” Aurelius called on the archers to release their arrows with the tips coated with oil and weeds or anything that will burn when lighted with fire. The archers released the flaming arrows and some struck the wooden structures or the hays that fed the horses. Some arrows went past the wall openings and ignited the tapestries.

“Send forth the carts with the burning leaves to smoke the defenders.” The carts laden with dry leaves were dragged to the wall, and set alight to create huge smokes over the ramparts,

“Set it to the castle gates. Burn them all.” King Aurelius was merciless then. His anger was at Vortigern who was his enemy.

“Pour it on. We cannot delay the siege.” Aurelius called on the army. He knew that the delay will give time for the Anglo-Saxons to arrive and reinforce Vortigern.

“Where is Uther? “Aurelius called on his brother.

“I am here,” Uther replied. “I was with the archers.”

“Prepare thyself. Once the gates are breached we are riding in.” Aurelis told his brother. “Vengeance is ours.”

Once those words were spoken, the call was heard.

“The gates are breached!” It was the call for the army to push into the castle ground. King Aurelius mounted his horse and led the cavalry into the breach. Uther followed on with the foot soldiers and archers.

The defenders were routed from the ramparts and courtyard while some were still loyal to Vortigern barricaded in the castle towers.

“My King, they are in the towers. I saw Vortigern there.” The calvary reported to the King.

“Burn the castle towers. Nothing shall remain.” Aurelius gave the command. “Anyone leaving is to be killed. Women and children.”

Aurelius then looked at the wall opening on the tower.

“Vortigern, you will burn in Hell.” Aurelius rode off from the castle. He will not look at the condemned who does not deserve his mercy.

Merlin stood behind to look at the burning castle. He saw some monks offering their prayers to the ones inside.

“I do not know if Hell resembled that.” Gildas had approached Merlin from the rear. “You may not know of Hell for you are not our faithful.”

“Hell as I was told is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death.” Merlin voiced out. “We call it Hades. The soul departs from the body, and first, it will meet Thanatos, the God of Death. A lock of your hair will be cut off. Yours are aplenty. Then Charon will take across the river….”

“Cease your prattling like a child. I know of the Greek’s Hades.” Gildas stopped the druid.

“Then why do you want me to listen to yours?” Merlin looked at Gildas. “We will all die, and let the soul be on its way to wherever it was to go. It does not matter.”

“May you rot in Hell,” Gildas cursed at Merlin.

“Will we meet there?” Merlin asked. “I hoped they roast you.”

Gildas had walked away then from the druid. Merlin looked at the burning tower.

“I smell roasted meat, but without the herbs, it won’t quell my desire,” Merlin muttered.