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The pass near Maisbeli was guarded by Lord
Eidol on the instruction of King Aurelius. Archers were deployed on the high
ground on both sides of the pass, while the main army remain in the narrow
pass. King Aurelius soon arrived and met Lord Eidol. He was short in the
numbers in his army compared to the Anglo-Saxons. The army he brought there to
the pass after the attack at Vortigern was reduced although he had recruited
Britons on the victory.
”Leave for Cunungeburg with the main army.
Leave me a detachent of the calvary.” Aurelius told Lord Eidol. “We can’t march
the army past here. It’s too narrow. We will defend it, while the main army
will attack the flank of the Anglo-Saxon from there.”
It was a sound strategy for Hengist had massed
up to two hundred warriors, and the terrain after the pass to Maisbeli was flat
fields. Even if Aurelius had moved the army then past the narrow pass, his army
was still below the strength of the Anglo-Saxons for a full battle.
“We need more warriors and that will take place
if we win here or make a decisive battle. Once you cross over, I have the other
Lords there awaiting you. That will give us the numbers.”
“My King, you will be left with a smaller army
while we take the route past the mountain here.” Lord Eidol told the King. “Let
me be the one here while you lead the main army.”
“I will be fine. My calvary will be with you so
they can be more versatile. Spare me the archers to defend the pass. March the
army as instructed.” Aurelius explained his strategy. “I need to be seen in
battle. With that, more Britons will join you at the fields. Ride with my
brother, Uther to victory.”:
“What if you are overrun by the Anglo-Saxons?’
“I will be fine. I will hold them to give you
time to reach their flanks. Once you
reached their flanks, the Anglo-Saxons will retreat, They will probably move to
…Cunungberg.” Aurelius looked at the map. “I would for there I can occupy the
castle there to gather my army.”
“What if you are to be defeated?” Lord Eidol
pressed on.
“I will be fine, as I have said. I will retreat
the army to the rear. If the Anglo-Saxons followed on, they will face the same
issues as us.” Aurelius assured Lord Eidol.
“What if they ignored you?” Lord Eidol had his
concern.
“I am the bait that Hengist will not ignore.”
Aurelius laughed. “If I am ignored, I will attack from the flank, No army will
battle when their flanks are attacked. It will jeopardize their retreat and
their supplies will be cut off.” Aurelius further explained his strategy. “The
Anglo-Saxons are fierce warriors but we will battle on our strengths and
stealth.”
The strategy was adopted and Aurelius took
command of the army to which he was assigned. He told that his strength was ten
thousand against the two hundred thousand marchings there.
“Warriors of Briton. We are to create an event
that will be remembered for generations. We are to hold the advances of the
Anglo-Saxons. It stops here in this battle.” Aurelius was nervous but he remain
confident that the event will be in his favor.
“We ate outnumbered but we defended our land.
Our people and our pride as Britons.” With that, his words resonated to the
hearing of those there,
“For Briton!” The call went out.
For Hengist, it was a march of long columns of
warriors bearing the Anglo-Saxon banners. The chiefs replied to Hengist and
soon they marched as one.
“Never will we turn our back on the land we
have settled here. We will fight to defend our rights here.” Hengist rallied
the clans.”We taught the Britons once and will do once more.”
Hengist looked to the younger warriors there
including his son, Octa standing beside Horsa. His blood relative Eosa stood
there behind Horsa.
“Today, our young ones will join us in battle.
Father and sons will be in the fight. Fight well for your family. Fight well
for your mother awaits you at home,” Hengist called out. He was proud of the
gathered for they numbered about two hundred thousand. He did look for more but
some of the chiefs are far or looking to see Hengist will fare. Nevertheless,
it was a huge army and from his scouts reports, the other side was less than a
tenth of his army.
“The main army had marched off north, and we
are trailing them.” Hengist heard the reports. He did wonder why the Britons
split their forces. He was expecting a full army to match his. He heard reports
of the death of Vortigern.
“Was Rowena there?” Hengist asked.
“Yes, she was there before the siege took
place. She may have died in the fire with her lover.” Hengist sighed when he
heard the news. He has many children and Rowena was one of his favorites, as
her mother was to him.
“Rowena was a brave lady. She was also strong
like her mother.” Horsa heard the news and consoled Hengist.
“It’s better that she died by her lover’s side
than to be ravished by the wolves.” Hengist swallowed his emotions and then
rallied the army to march.
“We will meet them in battle.” Hengist took to
the lead, while Horsa manages the wagons and carts carrying the supplies. He
assigned Eosa to guard the convoy trailing the main army.
“In a war, the supply of our army is crucial.
Send out scouts to look for any enemies on the flank.” Horsa looked to the main
column ahead. He was concerned about the hunger of two hundred thousand who
will be on the trail for days. It was different when they were raiding the
villages then. The numbers were few and the fights brief.
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