injuries.
We found Fiachra and most of the others just in the next high part of the mountains. They had slain some of the wolves but they had suffered wounds. Fiachra was nursing a leg savagely ripped by a wolf.
“My wizard can look at that.”
Fiachra looked a little worried until his brother said, “The wizard can help. He is a healer too.”
I suddenly realised that I could not see Morcar and the four warriors with him were missing. “Where is my nephew?”
Fiachra pointed to the south. “A few of the wolves escaped and they took after them.”
The king mounted his pony. “Do not worry Warlord. They will be safe.”
We rode south and crossed the high trails over the hills. The path took us between scrubby low bushes and rocks. It obscured the way ahead. I felt quite vulnerable despite the presence of Tuanthal and the king’s guards. I liked to have Aedh and his scouts ahead of me to warn us of danger. When we crested the rise we found the bodies. There were piles of bodies scattered all around. Two ponies lay dead.
I drew Saxon Slayer and spurred my pony on. I found the first cluster of bodies. It was the four warriors of mine who had guarded Morcar. Around them were spread eight whom I did not recognise. The king dismounted and searched with me. There was no sign of Morcar.
“These are not of our people. I do not recognise any of the clan markings.”
I sadly shook my head. “No they are Saxons. This is the work of Oswald and Oswiu.” I stared south as though willing them to come into view but it was empty. I turned to Tuanthal. “Put our dead on the ponies.” His face showed his distress. These had been his men chosen by him as being the best of the best. They had died doing their duty but that did not ease the loss.
“King Fiachnae mac Báetáin , where would they take him?”
He looked almost embarrassed. He pointed to the south. “There are forts in the south. They are their heartland.”
“Find where he is held for me, please.”
“I will send my best scouts. I should warn you, Warlord, that you may never see him again.”
I turned and smiled at the king, “Oh I shall see him again and he will be alive.”
“How do you know? Do you have the second sight?”
“No. It is logical. Had they wanted him dead they would have killed him here.”
“Perhaps they might want to torture him.”
“They would want me to see that and to suffer. This is to hurt me. Their father was a treacherous man, a nithing. The sons are the same. I need to speak with Myrddyn and my captain.”
When we reached the ring fort Myrddyn did not seem surprised by the actions of the two brothers. “They cannot hurt King Edwin over here and he is their greatest enemy but they can reach you through Morcar. They have something devious in mind, Warlord.” I knew that. First there was the attempt on my life and now this. They had known I would be coming here. The question was, how?
I went to the jetty to speak with Daffydd. “I need Aedh and his scouts here.” I told him what had happened and his face darkened. Morcar was a popular lad as was his cousin, Lann Aelle. “We will need more than one ship for we will need horses.”
“I will return as soon as possible.”
The king was waiting with Tuanthal and Myrddyn when I returned. “You are being calm, Warlord. If this was my nephew I would be raging.”
I shrugged, “And what good would that do. It would stop you thinking clearly.” I pointed to the wizard. “One thing this man has taught me is that every man has a powerful weapon; it is called his mind. In a battle you need your heart but before and after you need your mind. When the battle begins you will see my anger. When I can do something to those who did this then you will see anger. Until then I will work out what to do. As soon as your men find out where he is held prisoner then we can plan.”
We had a rough idea of where he
We found Fiachra and most of the others just in the next high part of the mountains. They had slain some of the wolves but they had suffered wounds. Fiachra was nursing a leg savagely ripped by a wolf.
“My wizard can look at that.”
Fiachra looked a little worried until his brother said, “The wizard can help. He is a healer too.”
I suddenly realised that I could not see Morcar and the four warriors with him were missing. “Where is my nephew?”
Fiachra pointed to the south. “A few of the wolves escaped and they took after them.”
The king mounted his pony. “Do not worry Warlord. They will be safe.”
We rode south and crossed the high trails over the hills. The path took us between scrubby low bushes and rocks. It obscured the way ahead. I felt quite vulnerable despite the presence of Tuanthal and the king’s guards. I liked to have Aedh and his scouts ahead of me to warn us of danger. When we crested the rise we found the bodies. There were piles of bodies scattered all around. Two ponies lay dead.
I drew Saxon Slayer and spurred my pony on. I found the first cluster of bodies. It was the four warriors of mine who had guarded Morcar. Around them were spread eight whom I did not recognise. The king dismounted and searched with me. There was no sign of Morcar.
“These are not of our people. I do not recognise any of the clan markings.”
I sadly shook my head. “No they are Saxons. This is the work of Oswald and Oswiu.” I stared south as though willing them to come into view but it was empty. I turned to Tuanthal. “Put our dead on the ponies.” His face showed his distress. These had been his men chosen by him as being the best of the best. They had died doing their duty but that did not ease the loss.
“King Fiachnae mac Báetáin , where would they take him?”
He looked almost embarrassed. He pointed to the south. “There are forts in the south. They are their heartland.”
“Find where he is held for me, please.”
“I will send my best scouts. I should warn you, Warlord, that you may never see him again.”
I turned and smiled at the king, “Oh I shall see him again and he will be alive.”
“How do you know? Do you have the second sight?”
“No. It is logical. Had they wanted him dead they would have killed him here.”
“Perhaps they might want to torture him.”
“They would want me to see that and to suffer. This is to hurt me. Their father was a treacherous man, a nithing. The sons are the same. I need to speak with Myrddyn and my captain.”
When we reached the ring fort Myrddyn did not seem surprised by the actions of the two brothers. “They cannot hurt King Edwin over here and he is their greatest enemy but they can reach you through Morcar. They have something devious in mind, Warlord.” I knew that. First there was the attempt on my life and now this. They had known I would be coming here. The question was, how?
I went to the jetty to speak with Daffydd. “I need Aedh and his scouts here.” I told him what had happened and his face darkened. Morcar was a popular lad as was his cousin, Lann Aelle. “We will need more than one ship for we will need horses.”
“I will return as soon as possible.”
The king was waiting with Tuanthal and Myrddyn when I returned. “You are being calm, Warlord. If this was my nephew I would be raging.”
I shrugged, “And what good would that do. It would stop you thinking clearly.” I pointed to the wizard. “One thing this man has taught me is that every man has a powerful weapon; it is called his mind. In a battle you need your heart but before and after you need your mind. When the battle begins you will see my anger. When I can do something to those who did this then you will see anger. Until then I will work out what to do. As soon as your men find out where he is held prisoner then we can plan.”
We had a rough idea of where he