Arthur II Chapter 27

 

27.

Lord Pendragon called for a meet with his loyal vassals. The meeting is called at the Great Hall in the castle. In attendance were Lord Ban and Lord Bors with the seven Elders led by Lord Amish. They have pledged their loyalty to him and brought with them in the last two seasons; men and supplies to the castle. Lord Pendragon then held an army of a hundred then with the earlier group of twenty-five mercenaries. It was a huge army for his castle and he had built barracks outside the walls while a small settlement had formed there. Of the mercenaries that were previously under Bruce of the High was take n over by Lord Bors.

The Hall they were meeting in was adorned with the heavy draperies and lined with chairs on both sides. On the walls of the Hall, the amours and weapons of previous Lords of the land were displayed in their grandeur. Lord Pendragon himself sat on the high back seat facing the seated as if he was seated on the throne of his kingdom.

“With your return, the peasants have contributed their portion of their harvest for our protection.” Lord Amish reported. “However, we compete with other families. They carved themselves with their Roman Land rights. They show us the scrolls with their Emperor’s approval.”

Lord Pendragon heard of those scroll of rights which gave the right of the Romans to marked land borders of theirs but it had overlapped into the borders of the Elders.

“I say we defend our boundaries. It’s ours by the ancestry rights.” Lord Amish's words were resonated with the cheers from the six Elders who make up the rest.

“We shall, Elders. We shall but in my way.” Lord Pendragon replied. He cannot wage conflict with the families. Not even with the Marcellus and the Meleagant. He needed some discretion on the matter.

“Those lands beyond the wall can be ours to place our influence and boundaries.” Lord Pendragon looked to Lord Bors and Ban. “We can build an outpost there by relocating some of the men there. That will ease the pressure on the castle here.”

“I can do that. It may be a good idea for the Outpost can protect the peasants.” Lord Bors added in.

“Do it, Lord Bors,” Lord Pendragon gave the command. “The tract of land there is patrolled by the Romans, and with their battles ongoing further up, we can assume it’s safe to settle there.”

“What about the Roman families?” Lord Amish asked. “They are still a hindrance.”

“I will look at it.” Lord Pendragon dismissed the Elders and then held a private discussion with the two Lords.

“We need to hold our borders. Who is the weakest that we can move on?”

“I can think of the Marcellus.” Lord Bors voiced out. “I hear tales of the mother. She is a witch. If we stoke the flame of the news to the local peoples, they may take it up with the Marcellus family.”

It was also the same for the Prime when he gathered the army of his at the break of dawn. He wanted to brief them with the words of courage into them.

“Combined, we are the strength of the First Cohort. I have fought several battles with that strength.” Artorius looked to the gathered. “We have lost friends and brothers. Today, my scouts tell me that the Anglo Saxons are in the forest.” Artorius motioned to the forest around him. The forest was lined with the pine trees with the small creek that flowed like a path creating a boundary. The terrain of the forest was not flat but with small hills where the Equities were stationed as sentries.

“This is not Gaul but it’s similar to it. It’s not that dense in the foliage but we have fought in it. We have learned to fight in it and from it; we will win here as we did in Gaul.” Artorius looked at them for their reactions. He saw the rider coming down the hill. The battle they have anticipated was coming to.

“The enemy is here. I want the enemy at the creek. Move to the other hill and stationed there. Remember our wall. The higher level gives us leverage.” Artorius told the men. He then pulled Aubin to the side. “Move your men down to the creek. Your men are needed to be bait. When they come down, split the men upstream and downstream. Make it as if you are retreating. We will hit them when they are in the creek. Then your men can hit from the sides.”

Aubin nodded and deployed his men out. He knew the risk but he was obliged to follow the command of Prime.

“We are spotted, Hengist,” Horsa told his brother. “My scouts told me their riders were on the hill crest.”

“It won’t stop us. This is our forest.” Hengist replied. “Our druids have a spell cast for us. The Romans will see as banshees in their view.”

It was not new for the druids to participate in the battles with their potions and chanting. So was Merlin on the other hill. He had his glass orb to look at and then called on some powerful spells with the ancient words. The orb lighted up and then streaks of dark flowed out. It went straight into the wet ground beneath the tree trunks.

“What did you do?” Lawnslot confronted the druid. “You know I disliked such …. Acts.”

“Not a moment to lose, Lawnslot. The Anglo Saxons have employed the Picts druids to blind your men. I will counter it with mine. The trees will be our new allies.”

The battle started with the Anglo Saxons charging from the hillside towards the creek at the Sarmatians. Aubin saw the attack and shouted for his men to retreat.

“They run like the foxes before the hounds.” The Anglo Saxons laughed at the Sarmatians. The later as a planned retreat in both directions. Some were slower to cover the flank had to face the Anglo-Saxons which reached the creek.

“Retreat on!” Aubin was at the rear and he fought the enemies there. He was armed with the curved scimitar sword and rounded shield. He stood his ground to challenge the Anglo Saxon who had swung the mallet at him. Aubin blocked the mallet with his shield on his left arm while his right arm with the scimitar swung in from the left side. The blade cut past the thick furs to wound the warrior scout in the left ribs.

The overzealous Anglo Saxons rushed into the creek and waded through the flowing stream. Horsa was still descending with his bad leg but his brother Hengist had reached the creek. He saw the Romans are still on the other side holding their ranks.

“Hold the line!” Artorius at the helm on the crest of the hill called out.  It was then the Legionnaires heard the shrill of the banshees.

“Demons!” Some of the legionnaires called out. Some wanted to retreat but Prime stopped them.

“Hold the line. You are the Roman Legion. A scream or even the demons will not make you yield.” The Prime walked down the line with his hard glare on the men. He saw Lawnslot was having the same concern. He saw then the druid running at the line and calling up loud chants which seems to counter the banshees’ screams. The screams soon ended but the men were still shaken.

“Legion, to me.” The Prime took to move down the hillside. Some of the Legionnaires paused and then charged with anger or courage on their expression.

“Charge, Legionnaires!” The call went out and Lawnslot men also add to the charge.

Unnoticed by men, there was confusion among the Anglo Saxons. They saw the Anglo Saxons battling the tree trunks and branches.

“It’s alive!” The horrifying calls were heard among the Anglo Saxons but there was nothing there. It was by then the Sarmatians men have returned from their retreat and attacked the Anglo Saxon’s front scouts. They were led by Aubin once more with the battle cry to rally them forward.

“Move to kill them!” Lawnslot voiced cracked the stunned men of his. “For our land!”

The battle cries went out with Lawnslot leading the men to battle. The legionnaires were next with the Auxiliaries shoulder to shoulder.

“Spare no mercy!’ Artorius called out while he swung the gladius at the Anglo Saxon in the chest. The Anglo Saxon still shaken by their sights of attacking tree branches and trunks were the pushed back with many wounded or dead.

“We retreat, brother,” Hengist called on his brother. “They have used sorcery on us.”

“No, I will fight.” Horsa still distorted by the spell was slashing at the tree trunk. “These are Roman demons. They brought their demons here.”

Hengist saw madness in his brothers’ eyes. He had not seen the full visions for he wore the talisman from another druid. What he did see was glimpses of it and he knew that it was the works of druids. He tried to pull Horsa away but the other was in the realm of madness. Hengist saw the Romans charging down the other hill. He knew he had to escape or death awaits him. He turned and ran with silent prayers for his brother.

Horsa did not see the pilum that was thrust into his back but he felt the pain that coursed through his body. His arm stopped the swing of the mallet at the tree trunk that he saw as a monstrous demon. The pilum was drawn out and then thrust into the back of his neck. He died then with his face on the tree trunk.

Artorius stepped up to the Legionnaire and pushed him ahead.

“The enemy is there. Don’t stop just yet.” The Prime saw his strategy had worked. His legionnaires were pursuing the Anglo Saxons up the hill then. The Sarmatians in their bloodthirsty desire have reached the crest and were cutting a line through the retreating Anglo Saxons. It was truly a bloody battle but one where they have broken the enemy of its strength. He saw Lawnslot and approached the warrior. He saw the sword held by the warrior was covered with blood dripping into the ground.

“A good battle, Ghost,” Artorius spoke to Lawnslot. “We lost not more than half the men.”

The biggest losses were on the Sarmatians who were down to the last twenty then.

“A battle won by deceit,” Lawnslot replied. “They cast us a hex and we returned it.”

“Hex? What hex? You mean that eerie sound. I heard it’s the demons of the hills. Banshees they are called.”

“Aye, and we snapped back with our too,” Lawnslot replied. “The druid had done you well, Roman. He called up demons to snap the Anglo Saxons.”

“Was that why they cut at the trees?” Artorius asked. Lawnslot did not reply and climbed the hill. He does not want to be denied his victory by sorcery. He wants a clean battle. Artorius turned and returned to the other hill where he met the druid.

“Did you cast a spell on the enemy?”

“Yes, I did. It was to counter theirs.” Merlin replied.

“Druid, don’t ever do that again. I am a Roman legionnaire and we fight clean. No more spells or it will be your head on the ground.”

“Did you see the sword held by the Ghost?” Merlin changed the subject.

“It’s a fine sword.” Artorius looked at the druid.

“It’s named Arondight. It’s rivaled by another. A sword befitting a King.” Merlin looked at Prime. “Do you want one, Arthur?”

“I am happy with my gladius. Be away, druid. I have to check on my men now.” Merlin looked at Prime making his way back to battle.

“You will not be when Excalibur is held in your hand.” Merlin smiled and walked back to the other hill.