Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Chapter 55

 55

Uther felt the victory was hollow with his brother having died when he returned with the news. He was told that he was to be the next King. The ceremony was to be held then, but Uther asked that it be given some time.

“I want the healer found. Searched the forests and shut the borders.” Uther was furious to hear the healer named Eopa was not seen. He then confronted the druid.

“On whose authority that you stop the news to reach me then”

“On the authority of King Aurelius. He told me when you are in battle, I was to hold back any news on his health.” The druid voiced out. “You were to battle there, while he battled here.”

“He died, druid. He was not battling…” Uther roared out.

“He was battling his illness then. He died as a result. If you had heard the news then, you would have died too. King Aurelius wanted you to focus on the battle. If you had retreated or worse defeated, half of Briton will be under the rule of Pascentius and King Gillomanius. Briton will be lost by the end of his season.”

“What happened to King Gillomanius?” Uther was asked.

“The King died fighting us. He was killed by the warriors there. It was a grand death for the King.” Uther spoke of King Gillomanius’s death. “I had his body returned with the defeated army. They will give him the needed send-off.”

“What of Pascentius?” Uther was also asked.

“The same as the Irish King. All that was wronged put to right.” Uther turned to look at the dead King. “Probably not all will be alright.”

Eopa was not found but rumors that he was killed at the borders, it was never proven then. However, the druid was singled out for bringing the healer.

“I did what was needed, Uther. I meant no harm to the King. Ask the healers, he was recovering but then his illness took on him.” The druid explained. “It was never claimed that Eopa killed the King.”

“Why do you accuse Eopa?” The druid looked to Uther.

“He was the healer with the King.” Uther struggled with the reply. “The other healers were not with the King.”

“Find Eopa and if dead, dig up his body/ I want to see his head,” Uther told the druid. It was their first and not the last disagreement on how things were to be handled.

Unknown to Merlin, Eopa have left the land of the Britons and was at the castle of Pascentius when he heard of the death of the latter. He approached the caretaker of the castle to seek clarification.

“Our Lord has died.” The caretaker told Eopa. “Be away, Briton. Your people killed him.”

“No, I killed him. I poisoned the King.” Eopa insisted the act was his. “I want my silvers now.”

“Silver? Here. I will give you thirty pieces of silver. That’s what you deserve.” Thirty pieces of silver were the price for which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, according to an account in the Gospel of Matthew 26:15 in the New Testament.^[1] Before the Last Supper, Judas is said to have gone to the chief priests and agreed to hand over Jesus in exchange for 30 silver coins, and to have attempted to return the money afterward, filled with remorse.

Eopa was added with a dagger in the chest. His body was then removed and fed to the carrions on the field.

That was why no one knew what happened to Eopa.

At that moment, a gathering at the castle of the new King was underway with the Lords at present.

“The Romans have abandoned Briton.” One of the Lords spoke. “I met the local Centurion in Londonium. He told me that Emperor Honorius tells the British civitates to look to their defense.”

The Romans had Briton divided into civitas, or towns loosely based on pre-existing Celtic tribal territories during their occupation. The civitates were independent administrative centers, governed by the Celts themselves, though under the supervision of Roman provincial administration based in Londonium. It was to make allies of possible enemies and at the same time avoided the expense of administering their new province on their own.

“Narry had I ever been concerned with them. Over the years, we fought off the raiders while these civitates hid behind the wall.” Another Lord echoed out.

The wall is known as Hadrian Wall or the Roman Picts' Wall. Its purpose was as a defensive fortification of the Roman province of Britannia, begun in AD 122 in the reign of the emperor Hadrian. It was run from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west.

“The Romans are contented with their provinces with the Roman Legionnaires to guard them. They remained behind the wall while we fought beyond it. They did it well, but of late, the legionnaires there have been lax for the raiders were coming over.”

“I was told that the Legionnaires are pulling. They have stretched too far apart on the wall. ” Another Lord spoke. “And more to that, Rome is fighting usurpers in the south of Gaul and trying to deal with the Visigoths who were in the very south of Italy. They are at war and the Legions send back.”

“They are always at war.” Another voice cut in.

“Rome was sack not long ago. The so-named Roman city was taken over by the Visigoths; once their mercenaries and ally, but now enemies. Constantine III of Rome held no real power.”

“Aye, they are split as I was told. to the East and West. Two empires with their emperors, and their designated successors.” Another Lord voiced out.

“Enough of Rome!” Uther then the newly crowned King called out.

“What of us? We have been battling our wars without Roman’s help. We are once more considered weakened by the barbarians. I heard reports that the Anglo-Saxons are preparing to battle us. We did give them concessions and now they want to do what their forefathers did.”

“War with us!” Uther was emotional. “I will not stand for that.”

The Lords remained silent at the ranting of the King. They have relished peace after the last war with Pascentius.

“So we wait for the barbarians, or do we attack them?” Uther looked to the gathered. He saw some supporters but many had the expression of declining the war. One of the gathered stood up.

“I am Lord Gorlois. I have come to offer you my services.”