Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Chapter 29

 29.

Hengist stared at the army gathered there upon their retreat from the battle. It was a series of hard battles, in every turn, his army was routed. He was with a strength of more than ten thousand but his foes of his were fighting for their land and honor. More to it, his army was with their dependents which they had moved ahead of the battles but the concern for them held in their mind. Not all the ones he had called on were fighting warriors but more settlers who sailed over to work on the new land.

“My warriors have to retreat. We are short of fighting warriors.” The chiefs raised their woes to Hengist. “There are ships at the coast for us. Our families sail with us.”

Hengist stared at the clans who had joined him at Kent, and for a while, all was fine, until the one named Vortimer rallied the Lords to his banner. It worked the young bastard of King Vortigern had the call to unite the Lords; not all but enough to mount the war on the Anglo-Saxons.

“Where is Horsa? Did he fare well against the rebels?”

“Horsa is with the healers. He was wounded in the battle with one named Catigurn. Their names will be remembered at the fireplaces for seasons to come.” The chief who was at the battle reported back.

“Horsa? Is he dying?” Hengist loved the other warrior.

“I am told he hovered near death but the Gods may not take his life just yet.” The same chief replied. “He is on the ship to return home. We may have to do so soon.”

Hengist remained silent while he contemplates the available options to him.

“Send a message to Vortimer. Tell him we want to negotiate a truce with them. Meanwhile, gather the families and move them to the ships. We will retreat also from Kent.”

“I will meet King Vortigern,” Hengist added at the last moment. Soon the King was in his conference with the Anglo-Saxon.

“What of the other Lords, Vortigern? Hengist had asked his blood relations then.

“They will not battle the other Lords. Their armies are of the same bloodline. The war is on the Anglo-Saxons or none” The King had then replied.

“What of you? Are you spared? Or my daughter?” Hengist asked.

“Your daughter will be fine. She is still my Queen, and as committed to me, that if I leave the throne, all who are in my castle are spared.”

“Spared of the killing but will she be handed to the thugs as a harlot?” Hengist voiced his anger at the King. “I regretted having wed her to you.”

“She will be fine. I will protect her with my life. We are not savages.” King Vortigern told the concerned father of his Queen.

“We are not all savages, Vortigern. The army you once led had done worse to my people. “Don’t deny that just because you are their King now.”

“That was the past. We were at war….” Vortigern tried to find the words to squirm his way out of the atrocities he had done before.

“At war, we were. We are all born and die as warriors by the sword. When we can survive the killings, we released our anger in other ways. It’s the war of the warriors.” Hengist defended the action of his warriors. “That drove us to fight better to ensure no one harms our families.”

“Yet you are defeated.” Vortigern strived to gain the upper hand on the matter.

“Aye, we are the ones in retreat but defeated we are not. The Anglo-Saxons will one day rule your land.” Hengist agitated by the words roared back. “I will leave your land once more including Kent, but in the knowledge that I will return to seek my daughter. If she is harmed, your life will rot by the days before your eyes.”

“Farewell, Hengist. May …” Vortigern swallowed his words at the sight of his once ally had taken leave. “You die at sea.”

The King returned to his castle to find it without the servants. Only a handful of guards were there. He was met by Lord Cornell who was accompanied by a group of Lords.

“Surrender and be spared of death.” The message was conveyed by Lord Cornell.

“The bastard threatens me.” King Vortimer looked at the Lord who was once his ally.”Do you stand with him, Lord Cornell?”

“I stand with the people. They want you to give up the throne. Never had the people revolted till now. Your action at the wedding of the pagan worshipper upsets them.” Lord Cornell stood before the King. He was with a group of Lords that refused to battle Vortimer.

“Cowardice, all of you. I regret to think that once I considered you all as my allies.” The King spat at them. “All of you claimed to be with our God, and yet you bedded many of the pagan’s women. You are all sinners.”

“King Vortigern, the House of God cannot be said in the same tone here.” It was the monk who had returned to the castle.

‘Gildas! You are here when once you shied from me. Where did you get the courage to step here?” King Vortigern looked to his guards. “Take the monk out and behead him.”

None moved not when the monk said that they will face the consequences when they meet the maker of their life.

“There is no sin that is heavier than the slaughter of the servants of God.” Gildas glared at the gathered. “I speak also for your soul.”

“Hesitate no more, King Vortigern. The curtain will not rise for you no more.” Lord Cornell looked to the King. “I have the assurance of Vortimer that you will be exiled and none of your ….families will be harmed including the …Queen of yours.”

“I will ….” King Vortigern spoke but the gathered were leaving.

“Do as needed, Vortigern. Do as once Constantine did with his sins. He repented and died peacefully.” The monk had remained behind to advise the King.

‘King Constantine died in pain.” Vortigern reminded the monk.

“Yes, he was with the plea to God to save his soul. He did not die like his son who had not the last rites read to him. Which do you want?” Gildas asked.

Later that day, the words reached the King on the departure of the Anglo-Saxons and the return of Kent was welcomed by the Lords. Vortimer was met by the young chief from the Anglo-Saxons who was also one of the sons of Hengist.

“You want to negotiate a truce with me?” Vortimer mocked the young chief. “Why should I when you are the one to be defeated?

“It’s the way of the war to negotiate a truce to avoid further bloodshed and to discuss the compensation to the parties.” The young chief had his words carefully laid out.

“Why should I negotiate a truce when I can just kill you now?” Vortimer looked at the Anglo-Saxon.

“My life is to die by the sword. I do not fear death but if my death was a dishonorable deed, then the one who kill me will be the one who suffered in his life.” The young chief looked at Vortimer. “Are you dishonorable?”

Vortimer was inexperienced and his lack of knowledge held his action. He decided to negotiate the truce then. It took time and soon the terms were agreed upon but needed the sanction of the clans. With the departure of the young chief saved with his life, Vortimer waited. Unknown to the young King to be, he was deceived by the young chief who had brought time for the Anglo-Saxons to regroup and took departure with the ships.

Vortimer upset at the deceit, marched his army toward the coasts to the castle. He received the message when he arrived.

“King Vortigern will step down as the King.”