Saxon Revenge by Griff Hosker

Author:Griff Hosker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Sword Books Ltd
Published: 2013-05-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

“It was going really well, my lord. We charged them on the river bank and drove them back. Then they suddenly came at us from our flanks. They had landed men further up and we did not see them. We lost half a dozen before we extricated ourselves. The prince knew that we had to get through them and he led us west and around in a loop. We just didn’t see the warband who were waiting for us a mile away from here. There was so much confusion in the scrubland that we didn’t even know that the prince had fallen until it was too late and they had a shield wall around him.”

“But he lives?”

“Aye my lord; we saw him struggling with two of his captors and then he was struck on the head and he came still.”

“Where are they?”

He pointed to the south east. “They are two miles in that direction.”

“Garth, get the scouts to find out where the Saxons are but I don’t want them seen.”

Garth, Riderch, Tuathal and Miach looked to me; I knew that they wanted a decision but I was in a dilemma. Had it been any other warrior I would have left them to the Saxons and that included Garth but Prince Ywain was the heir to Rheged and I would not face the queen with news that another of her sons had died. What was galling was that we had achieved what had intended. We had inflicted casualties, made their retreat more difficult and avoided too many casualties ourselves.

“I will have to find him.” The looks they exchanged told me that they did not think much of that.

Garth was the one who took me to task. “My lord, you were charged by the king with leading this force. Who will lead it if you are not here?”

“You will. I have total confidence in you. I will just take two men and you can continue north to the Roman Road.”

“I think you are wrong my lord.”

It was a brave thing to stand up to me but I knew that Garth was both loyal and honest. “I may be, Garth, but Aella will have a bargaining chip if he remains in his hands. We have a short time to rescue him. If this happened just now then they will keep him with the warband and then tell Aella.”

“Then let us all go to rescue him.”

“No, Tuanthal, we still need to slow down the Saxons. I will take Ridwyn and Adair. They have both shown that they keep their wits about them.” They could see that I was not to be dissuaded. “Garth, keep the army going north until you reach the Roman Road and ambush Aella there, should I not return.”

The scouts returned and reported. “The Saxons have halted and are making camp my lord.”

I nodded to Riderch, “Good that means you should be able to get away unseen.” Adair and Ridwyn looked to be excited about the rescue attempt. “I will

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