Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Chapter 44

 44

 

“We held them at the pass and now we will fight them here.” Aurelius called out as he rode down the line of the army that had gathered there. He reckoned that they were about fifty thousand strong then reinforced by other Lords during the forced march there.

“They are across the fields in their depleted numbers.” It was seen that the Anglo-Saxons were lesser than the earlier two hundred thousand but they were still a formidable force.

‘They were defeated many times and will be once more.” Aurelius motivated his army of his. He rode towards Lord Eidol to plan the battle strategy.

‘Lord Eidol, we are a third of their numbers. We hold about half my number of riders from Amorica. They will be the attackers from the left, to avoid us in a pincer move. The mercenaries who are with us will be in the main formation in the middle I have a distrust of them and need watchful eyes on them.”

There were the Scots and Jutes that had offered their services. They were there for they were left out of the Anglo-Saxon land grabbing during Vortigern rule.

“They will fight for us, my King.” The Lord that brought them there firmed up the loyalty of the mercenaries.  “Long we have been enemies but now we have found one common enemy. They will battle. I promised them to loot after we defeated the Anglo-Saxons.”

“My King, there are more of the Lords riding here with more warriors. Should we not wait for them before we battle?” Another Lord had arrived pledging more of the army from afar.

“The battle is not of my call now. It’s the Anglo-Saxons who had lined up there, We have to defend or flee.” Aurelius pointed to the other side of the field. “We can delay the battle but it would be decided today.”

Aurelius looked at the sun and it was at midway. He then turned to Uther.

“You will take the right with the army under you. You will rush at them to create a pincer move.”

“No, my King. I am not on the call. I will suggest we stay together except for the riders, to form a wedge that will break the Anglo-Saxon into two parts from the middle. With that, we can break their will and win this battle.” Uther laid out his plan. “We are too small to be split into the pincer move.”

“Do as we did at the pass. Form a wedge to their advances.” Uther added.

“I may agree, my King.” Lord Eidol looked to the King. Aurelius was young and with some battle victories but he had never fought a bigger army in the fields. The Lord himself had done so and knew that Uther spoke the better strategy. It was also to delay the inevitable defeat unless they are reinforced in time.

"Send the scouts to guide our reinforcements here.” Lord Eidol added.

Aurelius remained silent and then he nodded. It was a better strategy and there was no narrow pass there. He was to call the movement when the call to battle was heard.

“The Anglo-Saxons marching.”

“Send the scouts now.” Aurelius walked his horse to the front. It was time to battle.

Across the field, Hengist had conferred with the other chiefs when they arrived at Conisbrougfh. The town was too small for a huge army, so they camped near it.

“Hengist, I am done to half my warriors. Do I need to bring in my womenfolks too?” Hengist was scorned by one of the Chiefs.

“Aye, I am down with lesser warriors. Are we to be reinforced?”

“Hold down, Chiefs of the Clans. We have lost some of our warriors, but we still stand strong to the other side.” Horsa addressed the chiefs.

“And our supplies? A season load of grains all gone.” Another chief lament on.

“We will wait no more. We will attack with our numbers today. I say we do it.” Hengist roared out.”For the pride of the Anglo-Saxons. “Óðinn á yðr alla (Odin owns you all) - A reference to Odin's self-sacrifice at Yggdrasil.

Hengist looked to the Chiefs for their reactions. They soon resonated with him.

The Anglo-Saxons charged at the Britons with their long lines at the formation. They move hard to create the pincer move on the Britons.

“Form the wedge!” Lord Eidol called out to the warriors. “Break into their middle.”

The core of the Britons army fought hard there to press the Anglo-Saxons into two parts. It was a desperate move. Aurelius was at the front slashing with his sword and defending with his shield. The young King was protected by a group of Briton warriors but he was ever moving forward.

“Nay!” Aurelius denied the blow by the battle axe of the Anglo-Saxons when he thrust his sword into the left side of the other. His sword was stuck by the coat of fur with the flesh beneath, so he dropped his sword to pick up the axe. It was heavy in his grip but he swung it at the next attacker. The axe cleaved the anglo-Saxon in the left forearm before Aurelius kicked him to the side to be killed by the others. He attacked on and then received a gladius; the Roman sword. He gripped the familiar hilt and continued on his attack.

“Protect the King!” The call went out from the group that was assigned to Aurelius. The Anglo-Saxons heard the call and were attracted to it, they clamor to fight the King.

“They are coming at the King!” The Britons also fought to gather near the King. Lord Eidol heard the call, and also fought his way there. He was wounded in the right forearm but gripped his sword to continue the fight.

Hengusty was bust at his attacks. He deflected the slashing sword with the handle of his battle axe while his left hand reached out to grip the neck of the attacker. He held firm his grip with the left hand and pulled the other to his face. He then smashed his head at the attacker’s face. The other reeled back with a bloodied nose. He did not stop there and swung his battle axe at the other’s nack.

“Die, Briton!” Hengist roared out.

“Your back, Hengist!” Hengist heard the warning but that slash did not cut into his back. The backstabber was taken care of by Horsa who stepped in to cut the Briton on the left side of the waist.

“Aye, I am unprepared.” Hengist took a step back while rubbing the blood off his face.

“We are all getting careless with age.” Horsa stood next to Hengist. “Watch my back, while I do yours.”

They heard the call of the King nearby but the swarm of fights prevented them from getting to the King. It did not deter Lord Eidol to look for the Anglo-Saxon chief. He fought hard on seeing the King was protected. He then saw Hengist in the distance and rushed there, stepping over the wounded and dead. He soon reached Hengist and challenged the other.

“Fight me, Hengist. I am here to avenge my friends killed by you. You are a coward then and still in my eyes.” Lord Eidol looked at the other.

“Let me fight him, Hengist.” Horsa offered to step in but Hengist stopped it.

“It’s my fight, Horsa.” Hengist gripped his battle axe. “The day I back from a challenge will be the day I am to die.”

Lord Eidol and Hengist clashed, sword against axe, shields clanging on the deflection but no one intervened in the duel. Lord Eidol was younger but his skills were below par with Hengist.

“You are reckless to fight me, Briton.” Hengist used the flat base of the axe to hit the other on the left shoulder. “I could have taken your shoulder off your body.”

Lord Eidol stepped back in pain with the shoulder then feeling numb. He dropped the shield and gripped the hilt of the sword with both hands. Hengist roared at the other and charged but the Lord had sidestepped the charge., He had turned his body and swung the sword low with force. The blade of the sword slashed into Hengust’s left thigh with blood spurting from the main arteries.

It was Hengist’s turn to stagger back, and Lord Eidol pressed on. The sword slashed at the groin of the Anglo-Saxon but that was deflected by Horsa who came to the aid of Hengist.

“Leave us be. It’s our dual.” Lord Eidol stepped back. “Where is your honor in the duel?”

The honor was met by the attack of another Anglo-Saxon who charged to challenge the Lord. The attacker’s charge was met with the sword deflecting it and with a twist of the arms, Lord Eidol removed the head of the attacker.

“Fight me like a true Chief.” Lord Eidol glared at the other. “Don’t send the lackey to fight me.”

Hengist was helped to his feet by Horsa had used the axe to balance. His wound was hastily wrapped with the cloth. He pushed Horsa aside.

“I won’t be dishonored anymore.” Hengist staggered to approach the Lord. “Let us end this.”

Lord Eidol charged at the chief and thrust his sword into the other in the waist. Hengist stood there facing the other.

“You win, Lord of the Britons, ” Hengist muttered to the other. “I die today.”

The death throes of the Anglo-Saxon chief soon overshadowed when the others called out for more Britons have reinforced their numbers.

“The horns have sounded!’