Chronicles of the Brittany Kings Chapter 40

 40

 

King Aurelius heard the call but he had his plans. He had arrived with an army of Amorica’s calvary; lancers on mounts that he had trained and used in battles. He found them versatile to move in formation when during battle.

“My King,” Uther addressed his brother. “The call of the Lords and leaders must be replied to soon. They await your command.”

“I am aware.” Aurelius then having reached adulthood, was poring over the strength of his army, then reinforced with the Britons’ own, and some of the neighbouring kingdoms. It was triple the numbers from what he brought in when the ships landed. The town of Totnes was accommodating to the army with some nearby villages offering their harvest and meats for the coins that were paid by the Lords and leaders. They were grateful to be given equal value for the supplies rather than be cheated by the Anglo-Saxons. Such was the mood among the people who had suffered much from the Anglo-Saxons.

“Your command is needed.” Uther was impatient to march to battle.

“It will soon, once I studied the land. We are new to this part of the land. We can’t march blindly unless we know where we must occupy to replenish our supplies and the terrain that suits our battles.” Aurelius had been consulting the local leaders for their ideas.

“A bear can face the wolves but if the wolves knew of the bear’s weak points, the bear will lose the battle. And perished.” Aurelius cautioned his brother. “You are a hunter. Have you lost your prey when you rushed to kill it? I am sure it happened. The doe that eluded you.”

“You listened too well to Gildas.” Uther recalled the doe that he was not to find then after his arrow had wounded it.

“No, not Gildas. I hardly listen to the monk. Both of you were seen by one another when you told Vortigern off.” Aurelius told the brother. “You were … brave or foolish then. Vortigern could have you killed then like Constan.”

“I do not fear Vortigern. If I am to meet him again, he will be killed by me.” Uther snapped in anger. “He and that Anglo-Saxon.”

“Emotions do not win battles. A well-planned strategy will do so.” Aurelius continued his study of the land. It was the servant called to announce the arrival of Lord Eidol and the Bishop.

“My King,” Lord Eidol addressed the King. He studied the young King, years younger than himself, who could have been his son by age, but the other was crowned King and he was not.

“Speak, Lord Eidol. I see you came with the Bishop of Auxerre.” King Aurelius addressed the two.

“How is the House, your Holiness.” The King remembered his manners then.

“It’s fine, my King. It would be better if we are without the threat of the Anglo-Saxons. They are not of the House.” The Bishop of Auxerre stated his call then before adding. “The King will be wise to seek the guidance of God in the matter.”

The Bishop of Auxerre had heard tales of the one named Aurelius dabbing in the realm of the dark arts, with the druids and others. That was not allowed by the House on its parish’ ‘It’s pagan arts those acts.”

“Your Holiness speaks for us too, my King. We need to remove the Anglo-Saxons. They are a …” Lord Eidol bowed to the King.

“The invaders will be dealt with but the immediate threat is Vortigern. He sits as the other King and held some followers among them Britons. Not all of them liked him but they need a new leader. I want to be that leader to avoid unnecessary bloodshed among ourselves. If we are to battle with our lives, then it’s toward the Anglo-Saxons and not our own.”

“I …” Lord Eidol was to question the King when Aurelius added then.

“We will remove Vortigern first. He is trying to garner his army as we speak. We will take him on before he consolidated his.” Aurelius gave the command. “We march at dawn.”

Lord Eidol and the Bishop of Auxerre stood there in silence and Aurelius added to his command.

“Lord Eidol, you will lead the command of the Britons. I will lead the calvary of mine,” Aurelius did not name as the Amorica’s army but as his calvary. “We will ride ahead and recruit more to our cause. The more we recruit, the less will fight us with Vortigern. We will snare Vortigern in his castle at Caer Guorthegirn. The spot on the map was marked by the dagger imprint there.

Meanwhile, at Caer Guorthegirn, Vortigern was upset that his call for the loyal Lords was hardly responded. Some ignored his call, while others found ailments or delays in replying citing their army was scattered.

“Cowards! Fools!” Vortigern was upset. “They whom I had protected from the Anglo-Saxons now deserting me when I need their support.”

Vortigern had heard of the new army led by the one, newly crowned King Aurelius. They have grown in strength and were marching inland.

“My King, the army marched toward us.” The scout reported to the King.

“The army as it’s the new invaders?” King Vortigern snapped at the scout. “Who was it? Where are the Anglo-Saxons?”

“The …. Invaders, my King. They marched strong at over ten thousand or more in numbers.” The scout explained. “As we know, more are joining them. There is another army from the north with half that number joining in. …and more from other directions.”

 “You are unsure. Maybe they are battling the Invaders? Maybe they are my allies? Or the Anglo-Saxons? Why would they abandon their borders? Don’t …” Vortigern was searching for answers to his mind, but there were none. 

“Have the Anglo-Saxons replied to my call?” Vortigern had sent words to Hengist for reinforcement. No scouts replied to his question. He dismissed them all and then turned to his advisers.

“If I am being challenged, let them come to me here. I want the castle reinforced and the walls to be strengthened. Bring in supplies inside.” Vortigern called out. “We will survive the siege here. We will await the army from Hengist.”