The Last Dragon by M. K. Hume

Author:M. K. Hume
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books

Saxon Advances into Southwest Britannia

Chapter XII

THE CHURCH AT SPINIS

What I say is that “just” or “right” means nothing but what is in the interest of the stronger party.

—PLATO, The Republic, BOOK 1

In Roman times Cunetio had been a small, fortified town in the hills not far from the headwaters of the Tamesis River, but the long skeins of civilization had worn very thin in the century since the legions had left Britain’s shores, and now the ramshackle township had reverted to the tribal village it had once been. The meadows outside its low walls had been appropriated by foot soldiers and cavalry from as far away as the lands of the Selgovae, north of the Vallum Hadriani. Gawayne had finally succumbed to old age and death, and the new king of the Otadini was still feeling his way in his role, but he too had sent a small cohort of warriors as a reminder that all Britons should stand together against the Saxon interlopers.

Their banners flew in the winter wind, a little bedraggled by sleet and frost. On their stiff, frozen surfaces, representations of lions, leopards, griffins, serpents, sea monsters, and mailed fists rioted with other images and threatened the dark air. The largely illiterate foot soldiers and archers found their allocated areas by dint of these pictorial devices, while many other leveed troops wore their tribal devices on their ox-hide breastplates to identify them without the need for words. Although the encampment lacked the ordered efficiency of a Roman camp in that empire’s heyday, the Britons indicated their unity of purpose and the serious nature of the coming battle by the absence of tribal arguments over old, unforgiven resentments.

At first, the Brigante and the Deceangli had expected to be ostracized for their part in the rebellion against King Artor in the civil war, although they were among the first to answer Bran’s call to arms. However, the ever-diplomatic Ector gave express orders that the two tribes were to be treated as if no enmity had ever existed, and for the most part he was obeyed.

“We’re done with petty squabbles over right or wrong. Ancient Calleva is like to be destroyed by the Saxon invaders, so the past is the past, and any man who raises his hand against any member of these tribes will answer to me.”

Excited, but rather frightened, Arthur and his tutors had left the Villa Poppinidii to travel directly to Cunetio, judging the call to arms too urgent to detour via Arden. They would have ridden that evening, but Mistress Luned had insisted that they rest so their mounts would be fresh for the journey. When she produced a rough map that showed the Roman roads leading directly to their destination via the village of Verlucio, Lorcan was amazed.

“Ector Major, who was the patriarch of the family and King Artor’s foster father, developed a passion for maps when he studied with Myrddion Merlinus. When Artor fought his twelve great wars, Ector recorded the details for posterity. Mother said that Ector used to show her and Licia the places where the king had fought.

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