Read Online Saxon Bane by Griff Hosker - Free Book Online Page B

they brought good information.
    From the scouts’ report there appeared to be thirty Saxons with the sons of Aethelfrith.  The Irish had around sixty warriors with their king. The hill fort was not as good a site as the one we were in and relied mainly on twisting ditches, mounds and swamp to protect it.  As far as the scouts could ascertain Morcar was being treated well and seemed to be moving freely around the fort albeit with a guard.
    King Fiachnae mac Báetáin was not happy about taking on this rival king.  “He is not a threat himself and his army are like the rats who scavenge in the ditches but he has powerful connections.  I dare not attack him for fear of reprisals.”
    “I would not ask you to undertake such action.  Your warriors will be needed for the attack in the east; the attack against Edwin.  My men and I will deal with this.”
    It was six days before our ships returned. They were both riding low in the water as they approached. Myrddyn and Tuanthal watched with me. I saw Aedh on the deck and also Pol and Lann Aelle.  Hogan Lann had sent me warriors who could aid me.  I had been happy to do this with just my scouts but Pol and Lann Aelle were reassuringly experienced.
    Forty warriors and horses disembarked.  I saw that they had brought Nightstar for me.  That was good.  I would need a reliable mount and Nightstar was just such a horse. I greeted my nephew and Pol as Aedh ensured that the horses were all safely ashore.
    “Have we any news Uncle?” Lann Aelle and Pol were more like sons to me than a nephew and a former scout.
    “We know where they hold him. They wanted a ransom which is due in four days time.”
    Pol nodded, “Of course we will not pay the ransom.”
    “Of course not.” I looked up as the horsemen began to adjust saddles.  They would be ready to move in an instant. “You brought more than scouts.”
    “Aye we brought equites but without armour.  We could have brought five times this number for all wished to come.”
    “We will not need more.  There are only ninety warriors and sixty of those are the Hibernians.” I lowered my voice.  “I have discovered that their swords are of poor quality.  They bend and break when struck by our weapons. They appear to have no archers.”
    Aedh had joined us and heard the last comment.  “The eighteen scouts I brought are all fine archers.”
    I looked up in surprise, “You have left few scouts with Hogan Lann then?”
    He laughed.  The campaign was almost over and he said he did not need us.  He would have come too.”
    I spread my arm.  “This is more than enough.” I noticed that there were two spare horses. “Let us ride and we will pick up Myrddyn.”
    Lann Aelle chuckled, “He will not be happy about being on the back of a horse for four or five days.”
    Pol shook his head, “Do not let him hear you, Lann Aelle, or I may be taking a small toad home with me.”
    The king stood with Myrddyn at the gate. “You would go with just these few warriors?”
    Myrddyn slowly mounted the horse which Aedh held for him. “They have a wizard with them so they need fear not.” He flashed a look at Pol. And I can turn people into more than toads.”
    I could see the twinkle in his eye but Pol and Lann Aelle took him seriously. They gripped their amulets as though their lives depended upon it.
    “We will return when we have rescued Morcar.”
    “I will wait with my army at the Lough. It marks the edge of the land of Dál nAraidi.”
    “It is good of you.”
    We had been told where the hill fort was and Aedh himself led ten scouts out to find it. I was not afraid of being seen.  We rode better horses than any I had seen up to now and Aedh would warn us of any warriors we might encounter. As we rode Lann Aelle told me what had happened in the campaign.
    “The Saxons did not appear to have their heart in defending the land north of the Maeresea.  We lost remarkably few men.”
    “And King Edwin?”
    “There was no sign