Read Online The Beast of Caer Baddan by Rebecca Vaughn - Free Book Online
Authors: Rebecca Vaughn
Ads: Link
the announcement, the emperor gathered the last Roman legion that was left on the island and departed for the continent, never to return. Albion was left unprotected but for a few auxiliaries scattered across the land.
Owain was undaunted, however, and built up from nothing the Army of Albion. He defended his father’s kingdom of Glouia from the invading Eire and then crossed the waters into Eirenn and attacked his enemies on their own land. Some valuable crystals and other spoils of war that he had taken back from Eirenn he ordered sold in the market in Caer Gloui. With this income, Owain had outfitted his men with new armor and weapons and refortified their barracks in the greatest city on the island.
He then reinforced the auxiliaries and saved undefended kingdoms from other foreign invasion. Everyone of power soon recognized Owain as the dominae, and all of the common Britannae called him their hero.
For years after that, Owain went wherever he wanted to, doing whatever he wished, and gaining much praise for it. His enemies revered him, and only his closest friends dared criticize his actions.
Here in the hall at the castle of Atrebat, Owain leaned back in his chair, comfortable and at ease, and his unmoving confidence seemed to fill them all.
Chapter Eight: Of Servants and Kings
The sounds of laughter filled the mead hall. The warriors, men of all the towns of the countryside, gathered around the tables that stretched the length of the large room. A blazing fire went down the center towards the far back of the hall, where Sigbert Earlmann of Holton sat on his wooden throne, surrounded by the banners of the land.
“Today is a great day for us, Saex of Gewisland,” he said, raising his cup of mead. “Here sits with us our brave ruler, the great Giwis Cyning of Tiwton!”
The crowd erupted with cheers for their most powerful prince. He was praised even before the Saex had directed their long boats to that island. They had even taken to calling themselves by his name, the Gewissae.
“The mighty Wigmund Earlmann of Anlofton!”
The men of Anlofton shouted their approval of their distinguished ruler.
Sigbert Earlmann continued to announce eaach of the earlmenn by name, and the warriors for the different towns yelled and pounded the tables for their leaders.
“And all the warriors of the Saex!” Sigbert Earlmann cried.
Once more, men yelled so loudly, the whole hall trembled at the noise.
“We have gathered to strike off this long held yoke and stand free men of Gewisland!”
He took his seat again, as the warriors chanted his name.
“Hale Sigbert Earlmann of Holton!” they cried. “Hail Sigbert Lord of the Town of Hol!”
Giwis Cyning rose from his chair and put up two hands to quiet the crowd. “Long have been the years of servitude to these Britisc. Short shall be this war of freedom. Tomorrow, we shall spill Atrebat blood. Tomorrow, we shall burn Atrebat land. Tomorrow, we shall topple Atrebat walls. Tomorrow we shall stand victorious over their gods!”
“Hale Giwis Cyning of Tiwton, Cyning of tha Saex!” the warriors cried. “Hail Giwis King of the Town of Tiw, King of the Saxons!”
“Tomorrow, my brothers,” Giwis Cyning said, “Uuoden King of the Gods shall give us victory!”
The whole room erupted with the yells of praise.
Leola stood in the far back in the shadows of the banners, her blue eyes fixed on the men who crammed into the mead hall. She had spent the whole afternoon scrubbing the hall clear for the arrival of some five hundred warriors from all over Gewisland. Now that it was evening, her shoulders ached, and her hands were rubbed raw. Thus after the initial serving, Leola had found comfort and solitude along that darkened far wall, out of the glaring eyes of the other servants.
“Where is Leola?” one such servant asked another.
“She’s around here, somewhere,” the other replied, with a baffled look.
Leola was silent, not willing to reveal her
Owain was undaunted, however, and built up from nothing the Army of Albion. He defended his father’s kingdom of Glouia from the invading Eire and then crossed the waters into Eirenn and attacked his enemies on their own land. Some valuable crystals and other spoils of war that he had taken back from Eirenn he ordered sold in the market in Caer Gloui. With this income, Owain had outfitted his men with new armor and weapons and refortified their barracks in the greatest city on the island.
He then reinforced the auxiliaries and saved undefended kingdoms from other foreign invasion. Everyone of power soon recognized Owain as the dominae, and all of the common Britannae called him their hero.
For years after that, Owain went wherever he wanted to, doing whatever he wished, and gaining much praise for it. His enemies revered him, and only his closest friends dared criticize his actions.
Here in the hall at the castle of Atrebat, Owain leaned back in his chair, comfortable and at ease, and his unmoving confidence seemed to fill them all.
Chapter Eight: Of Servants and Kings
The sounds of laughter filled the mead hall. The warriors, men of all the towns of the countryside, gathered around the tables that stretched the length of the large room. A blazing fire went down the center towards the far back of the hall, where Sigbert Earlmann of Holton sat on his wooden throne, surrounded by the banners of the land.
“Today is a great day for us, Saex of Gewisland,” he said, raising his cup of mead. “Here sits with us our brave ruler, the great Giwis Cyning of Tiwton!”
The crowd erupted with cheers for their most powerful prince. He was praised even before the Saex had directed their long boats to that island. They had even taken to calling themselves by his name, the Gewissae.
“The mighty Wigmund Earlmann of Anlofton!”
The men of Anlofton shouted their approval of their distinguished ruler.
Sigbert Earlmann continued to announce eaach of the earlmenn by name, and the warriors for the different towns yelled and pounded the tables for their leaders.
“And all the warriors of the Saex!” Sigbert Earlmann cried.
Once more, men yelled so loudly, the whole hall trembled at the noise.
“We have gathered to strike off this long held yoke and stand free men of Gewisland!”
He took his seat again, as the warriors chanted his name.
“Hale Sigbert Earlmann of Holton!” they cried. “Hail Sigbert Lord of the Town of Hol!”
Giwis Cyning rose from his chair and put up two hands to quiet the crowd. “Long have been the years of servitude to these Britisc. Short shall be this war of freedom. Tomorrow, we shall spill Atrebat blood. Tomorrow, we shall burn Atrebat land. Tomorrow, we shall topple Atrebat walls. Tomorrow we shall stand victorious over their gods!”
“Hale Giwis Cyning of Tiwton, Cyning of tha Saex!” the warriors cried. “Hail Giwis King of the Town of Tiw, King of the Saxons!”
“Tomorrow, my brothers,” Giwis Cyning said, “Uuoden King of the Gods shall give us victory!”
The whole room erupted with the yells of praise.
Leola stood in the far back in the shadows of the banners, her blue eyes fixed on the men who crammed into the mead hall. She had spent the whole afternoon scrubbing the hall clear for the arrival of some five hundred warriors from all over Gewisland. Now that it was evening, her shoulders ached, and her hands were rubbed raw. Thus after the initial serving, Leola had found comfort and solitude along that darkened far wall, out of the glaring eyes of the other servants.
“Where is Leola?” one such servant asked another.
“She’s around here, somewhere,” the other replied, with a baffled look.
Leola was silent, not willing to reveal her
Similar Books
