A Land Divided by K. M. Ashman

Author:K. M. Ashman [Ashman, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: BluA
Published: 2015-09-30T23:00:00+00:00

An hour later, Gruffydd ducked into Tewdwr’s command tent and looked around the concerned faces of the officers and sergeants within.

‘What is wrong?’ he demanded. ‘Why was I summoned here?’

‘Lord Gruffydd,’ said a voice and the sea of bodies parted to reveal Tewdwr standing behind a table, ‘there have been developments and they are not good.’

‘Enlighten me,’ said Gruffydd.

‘Caradog is aware of our presence,’ said Tewdwr, ‘or at least he will know before this day is out.’

‘How?’ shouted Gruffydd. ‘Have our ranks been infiltrated by spies already or do we have a traitor amongst us?’

‘No,’ said Tewdwr, ‘my messenger was captured on the way to the cathedral and made to talk. Luckily he escaped to give us fair warning.’

‘I hope you had him flogged,’ growled Gruffydd, ‘for he might have just got us all killed.’

‘It was unavoidable,’ said Tewdwr, ‘and any man would have acted in a similar way.’

‘Where is he now?’

Tewdwr looked to one side and the men moved out of the way to reveal a young boy sat upon a chair, his face frozen with fear.

‘Be calm, Gruffydd,’ said Tewdwr, ‘for he is yet a boy and knows not much about the ways of war.’

Gruffydd grunted and walked towards Langdon.

‘Stand up,’ he said.

The boy got to his feet yet stared at the floor.

‘Look at me,’ commanded Gruffydd, ‘for you are amongst men and how you hold yourself could decide whether you are hanged or not. Now, tell me what you know.’

‘My lord,’ stuttered Langdon and proceeded to tell him everything that had happened near the cathedral.

‘Did they say anything else?’ asked Gruffydd.

‘I heard them say that Caradog had three armies under his command,’ said Langdon, ‘and they could mobilise within a few days.’

‘A few days?’ said Tewdwr, joining Gruffydd. ‘That means Meilyr and Trahern must be nearby.’

‘Not really,’ said Gruffydd, ‘a well-trained army can march ten leagues in a day. They could be anywhere.’

‘No, my lord,’ stuttered Langdon, ‘they are nearer than that, for I know where my captors headed after I escaped.’

‘Where?’ snapped Gruffydd. ‘Spit it out, man.’

‘A place called Mynydd Carn.’

‘Mynydd Carn!’ gasped Tewdwr. ‘That is no more than five leagues north. His army must be encamped under our very noses.’ He turned to one of his officers. ‘Gerald, pass the word to the men, we move out before dark.’

‘To where, my lord?’

‘I know not,’ said Tewdwr, ‘but we can’t stay here, we are trapped against the sea and will be slaughtered.’

‘Hold that command!’ shouted Gruffydd, and he turned to face Tewdwr as the tent fell silent. ‘Now you listen to me. I have not come all this way only to turn and run at the first opportunity. We have sat on this sand for too many days waiting for your reinforcements to arrive. Without question I have taken your word that they will be here, all the time knowing that for every day we delayed we ran the risk of being discovered. Well, that day has now come but if you think I am going to shrink back from it then you are mistaken.

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