Empire's Edge, page 15
"Do you think Osian will take him back to Deva?" she asked.
"Likely yes; but there was also the fort at Canovium, that would be closer," Hugh replied.
"There was another one. The Romans who attacked Abria’s village for us mentioned it," Megan said.
"Segontium," Hugh said.
Megan wondered why that name rang a bell? Then she remembered. The trip with her mom and dad; there had been some ruins, barely anything left.
"Caernarfon," she blurted out.
Hugh smiled. "The scene of our great triumph with Prince Madog."
"Close to the castle; or at least where the castle will eventually stand. That is where the Roman fort is located."
"That would be closer than the others; perhaps he will take him there?" Hugh said.
"I wonder if it could be a spot of significance? Can you remember if that location was marked on Dafydd's map," she asked.
Hugh scrunched up his face trying to recall. It made him look even cuter, Megan decided. She glanced across at Isolda. Their guide was gazing at Hugh but averted her eyes when she saw Megan looking.
Hugh shrugged. "Perhaps. I actually think there was a location on this island, but in the northwest."
"You're right," Megan said. "It was marked with a star."
"Yes, it was. Maybe there was one at Caernarfon, but the only two I recall with any certainty are the Donjon at Flint Castle and the tower at Chester."
Megan sighed. "One of which won’t exist for hundreds of years, and the other requires us breaking into the main Roman fortress of Northern Brittania."
They sat beside the stream for several minutes, the calming sound of the water augmented by the occasional tweeting of a nearby bird.
"I say we go to Segontium," Hugh announced.
"Strong place," Isolda added.
"Have you been there?" Megan asked slowly; at the same time indicating with her hand vaguely in the direction of the Welsh mainland. Or at least where she reckoned it ought to be. Sense of direction not being one of her strong points.
Isolda nodded.
"That settles it then," Megan said, in as cheery a voice as she could muster.
Ω
Having doubled back they were heading for the coast. Although she had saved them, neither Megan not Hugh were entirely comfortable being so reliant on Isolda, but she was the one with the local knowledge. And without someone who could speak the language, Megan didn't fancy running into a group of local tribesmen any more than the Romans.
Megan wasn't sure if Isolda would take them close to her village for fear the Romans might still be in the area. The faint aroma of smoke drifting on the wind gave Megan her answer.
Darting from tree to tree, they approached the clearing. Megan didn't know what to expect. Before they'd turned and ran there were several huts still standing and quite a big group of villagers corralled together.
The first indication of what to expect came on the outskirts of the settlement. A young man, head slumped to his chest had been nailed to a tree. Isolda sank to her knees sobbing. Megan knelt beside her, wrapping her arm around Isolda’s shoulders, and indicating with her head that Hugh should explore further.
He returned five minutes later ashen faced and called Megan over.
"Not a stick left standing," he said somberly.
"Any people?" she asked, in hope more than expectation.
"I chased crows from the bodies."
Isolda took three steps toward the village, but Hugh grabbed her. He shook his head as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"No," she screamed and wriggled out of his grasp. Reluctantly Hugh and Megan followed.
Ω
The three of them piled wood and bodies high until their muscles ached and the sun dipped behind the trees. Logically, it made no sense to light a giant bonfire and announce their presence to any Romans that might still be in the area, but nothing in Megan’s entire life had made more sense than honoring these people in this way.
They held each other’s hands and watched the flames lick higher. In that moment Megan thought of Osian and wanted nothing more than to ram a sword into his belly.
"What am I becoming?" she muttered.
The twenty-first century, with its iPhones and electric cars seemed a million years away. Despite how sophisticated and civilized modern humans thought themselves to be. Were we all this close to becoming primal, she pondered?
One of the charred huts was not completely burned out and they settled down for the night huddled together to ward off the cold. Tomorrow was a new day; they could begin their search for Dafydd then.
CHAPTER 35 - What Next
Megan had endured a fitful night's sleep; images of charred bodies permeating her dreams. She wondered if her dad had ever experienced such nights. He surely must have done; she wished she could talk to him about it.
Hugh was ferreting around the remains of the village to see if the Romans had left any food, while Megan accompanied Isolda to the village well.
The bucket was still attached to the rope, and while Isolda turned the handle to lower it, Megan peered over the side into the darkness.
"Ugh, what is that smell?" Holding up a hand, she yelled, "Stop."
Isolda stuck her head over the lip and recoiled.
"Banwos," she muttered.
Someone had taken a shit in the well, and you didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out who. The well water was contaminated and undrinkable. For all their sophistication, the baths, the underfloor heating, and the saunas, Isolda was right, Megan thought. The Romans were pigs.
Hugh returned with the spoils of his expedition; a single stale loaf.
"No water," Megan said. "We think the Romans took a shit in the well."
Hugh took this disgusting news in his stride, perhaps it was not an uncommon tactic in medieval warfare?
"If we travel via that river where we had so much fun yesterday, we can collect drinking water from it," he replied.
Megan slapped herself on the head. Duh. Why hadn't she thought of that? So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours, she was a little discombobulated.
Ω
Megan washed down the last piece of stale bread with some water, while staring at the village that stood at the end of the path they'd been following. It had been a long day and her feet were killing her.
The village was surrounded by a log palisade and there were several plots spaced carefully around the perimeter. They watched a young girl tug at some green leaves, yanking a root vegetable from the soil — it looked like a turnip. Not Megan’s favorite, but even turnip soup sounded pretty good at that moment.
She whispered to Hugh. "So, what's the plan?"
He shrugged, so she turned to Isolda and pointed at the village. "Deko?" she asked, accompanied by a thumbs up.
Her face was non-committal. Megan was pretty sure she'd used the local word for good, but wasn't certain.
Megan mimed walking with her fingers and once more pointed towards the village. This time Isolda shrugged.
She finally said. "We need to get to the river past the village. At dawn we can walk over it."
"Walk over water?" Megan exclaimed "That can’t be right, can it? "
"What did she say?" Hugh asked.
"Some nonsense about walking across water."
To Megan’s surprise, Hugh didn't laugh. "So, the stories I heard as a young boy were true," he muttered.
"What stories?" Megan asked.
"How, early in the morning people were able to walk on the sands from the island across to the mainland."
’Sweet,’ Megan thought. They wouldn't need a boat, that was good news. It remained unclear where they would be spending the night though.
The path ended at the village and Megan guessed there would be an entrance at the other end facing the water. She wondered if they could just wander through. On reflection it seemed unlikely. Worst case scenario, they'd have to leave the path and fight their way through the undergrowth. It was that or backtrack and try to find an alternative route.
She glanced at Isolda and Hugh; both seemed frozen by indecision.
"Fuck this," she muttered, and strode toward the village.
"Megan," Hugh hissed, but she didn't glance back and was pretty sure he would follow her.
She heard hurried footsteps and smiled as he drew level.
"Glad you could join me; is Isolda staying put?"
Hugh glanced over his shoulder. "No, she's coming."
The man at the gate couldn't hide his surprise at their approach. With spear in hand, he snarled, "What do you want?"
Isolda stepped forward. "Shelter for the night; we plan to cross the sands at dawn.
He looked them up and down. "And where are you from?"
"The village of Gildas," Isolda replied.
"You lot normally keep to yourselves; why do you wish to travel to the mainland?"
What was this, Megan thought. Twenty questions? He was starting to get on her nerves.
"The Romans destroyed our settlement and killed everyone," Isolda said, blankly
The man stepped through the gate, and there was a yell. He re-emerged, and they stood and waited.
It wasn't long before another man appeared; tall and broad, with straw colored hair that tumbled over his shoulders. He held a chicken drumstick in his right hand and didn't look best pleased to have been disturbed mid-meal. His penetrating blue eyes scanned the group.
"Why does he carry a Roman sword?" he asked.
"He took it from a dead Roman," Isolda replied. The man's eyebrows arched momentarily.
"Did he now?"
Isolda nodded. "And this one killed him." She shoved Megan forward.
He ran his eyes over her. His gaze so intense that Megan felt vulnerable, almost naked.
"Did you indeed?"
She nodded.
"And how did you do it, exactly?"
Megan mimed thrusting a sword at Hugh's neck.
He nodded in apparent approval. "Can she not speak?"
A grinning Isolda shook her head. "She comes from a far-away land."
The man smiled. "She'll need food and shelter then."
He turned and took two steps into the village before casting a glance over his shoulder. "Well, do you want some food or not?"
Ω
The man who had invited them to dinner was the village chieftain, Tanguy. He rubbed his chin. "So, you think your friend has been taken to Segontium?"
Megan and Isolda nodded.
"Getting in won't be easy," he added.
Megan counted on her fingers and mimed stabbing someone with a spear or sword. He chuckled and addressed Isolda.
"I presume your friend is asking how many soldiers are in the fort."
That's exactly what Megan wanted to know. Maybe a career as an actor beckoned if she ever made it out of Roman Britain.
"There are many. At least ten village’s worth."
Judging by the number of huts they had seen on the walk in, Megan reckoned there were sixty, maybe seventy people living in this village. If he was correct, the three of them would never get into the fort. At least not by force.
Tanguy continued, "There is a village nearby that trades with the Romans. The chief is a man by the name of Cardew; he is known to me. Perhaps he might be able to help?"
Megan smiled and nodded.
"What was all that about?" Hugh asked. Megan filled him in on the details and his face scrunched into a frown.
"If this Cardew is friendly with the Romans, why would he help us sneak into the fort and find Dafydd. If he is even there."
That thought had crossed Megan’s mind too. What if Dafydd was already back in Deva and they were about to embark on a wild and dangerous goose chase?
"We should at least travel to this village. If Dafydd was taken to the fort, surely his arrival would have been noticed? We could find that much out without trying to enter," Megan said.
Hugh shrugged. "And if he is there?"
"Then we formulate a plan to get him out. One thing at a time Hugh."
CHAPTER 36 - Deja Vue
Megan glanced back at the village. Although she had questioned Isolda's sanity after her comment about walking over water, they were in fact on firm damp sand crossing the straits that separated the island from mainland Wales; or at least what would be called Wales in years to come. For now. It was the first leg of a journey that would take up most of the day.
As well as provided provisions, Tanguy had loaned them a guide — a young man named Iden. He would also serve as their introduction to Cardew once they arrived at the village near the fort.
Megan decided to practice her Brythonic on Isolda as they walked along together. She pointed at the sea in the distance and said, "Lendu?"
Isolda smiled and nodded. Megan was slowly picking up the language. It was a struggle though, and had more to do with the crystal hanging around her neck than any linguistic talents.
Hugh was a little way ahead of them and Megan quickened her stride to catch up with him.
He started when she touched his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Yes and no."
"What's up?"
He looked perplexed. "The sky, birds."
Megan’s face cracked into a smile; even after all this time they still had their communication challenges. "What I meant to say was, what's troubling you?"
"Where we are heading to. I cannot help but recall the last time we were there."
Megan nodded. "A hell of a couple of days."
Hugh stopped walked and pulled his shoulders back. "A great triumph."
"That it was," she said. Although it struck Megan that Prince Madog's troops had more or less done to the town of Caernarfon and its inhabitants what the Romans had done to Isolda's village. She remained silent though, knowing that Hugh tended to slip on his rose-tinted glasses when talking about Madog and the uprising.
"I wonder if they rebuilt the castle?" He muttered.
"Who?"
"The prince of course."
Megan knew that King Edward's forces eventually re-took the castle, and that Prince Madog was captured and spent the remainder of his days in the Tower of London. She decided not to tell Hugh as he seemed sad enough already.
"Perhaps we can find the same vantage point that overlooked the town," she said.
He smiled. "That would be most agreeable."
She kissed him on the cheek.
♛
They had stopped under some trees overlooking the body of water separating the mainland from Anglesey.
Hugh pointed at the opposite side bank. "Look, a second man with a spear has joined the first."
Megan paused with the apple a few inches from her mouth. "They don't look very friendly."
Isolda spat on the floor. Megan couldn't tell if she knew them or not.
Megan pointed down the coast and said, "Kelso?"
Instead of replying Isolda turned to Iden. As they spoke, Hugh asked, "What did you say to her?"
"I think I asked her how far we had to go, but I can't be sure."
He smiled. "There do seem to be less words in common with my language than we first thought."
"No kidding."
Isolda turned back to Megan. "He says it is not far."
Megan got up, took a final bite of the apple and tossed the core into the trees.
With Iden leading, they headed up a dirt track. Megan waved to the watching men, and the one on the left gesticulated toward her with his spear. A gesture as pointless as her own.
It was no more than fifteen minutes later when they came across the spot Megan had hoped to find.
"That's it Hugh," she said.
He looked in the direction she was pointing. "What?"
Megan ran over and skidded to a stop.
"The spot where we stood with the prince. This is it, I'm sure of it."
A skeptical Hugh walked over, while the other two looked on bemused.
Hugh and Megan stared down at a wide spit of land jutting into the water.
"At the mouth of the river, that's where the castle will be. You can see it surely?" Megan asked.
Hugh contemplated the view for a few moments, then with a barely perceptible nod of the head, he said, "Yes, I see it now."
Megan hooked her arm through his and spoke softly.
"We'll get you back to your own time Hugh; I promise."
For some reason Megan was sure they would get out of this. It was almost like a sixth sense; maybe it was alien intuition? She wondered how long her gran had known, and if she’d told Megan’s mom? So many questions. And unless they found Dafydd not many answers.
Iden pointed in the opposite direction. Megan followed his line of sight and there on a modest hilltop, was the Roman Fort of Segontium.
It stood out like a sore thumb amidst the vegetation and grazing land. It was a rectangular shape with a tower on each corner. There were four gatehouses, one in the middle of each side. Just like Deva, only smaller.
The surrounding woodland had been cleared for a five-hundred-yard radius around the structure.
On seeing the fort in the flesh, Megan was even less confident about getting Dafydd out? First things first though, they had to discover if he was even in the place.
Iden set off down the hill and the others followed.
CHAPTER 37 - Knock Knock
"His name is Dafydd," Megan said.
Hugh coughed.
"I mean Ansgar," she said, quickly.
Iden relayed the information to the man standing in front of them. Supposedly the key to finding Dafydd, Cardew was short, and unlike most village leaders they had encountered, not physically impressive. No broad shoulders on display here. ‘Weasel looking’ had been Hugh's comment — Megan decided he had a point.
"And the Roman in charge would have a vivid scar here." Megan traced a line across her left cheek.
She thought there was a brief spark of recognition in Cardew's eyes, but it disappeared so quickly she couldn't be certain. He shook his head.
"Haven't seem either of those men. You are welcome to stay the night here in my village though, as a courtesy to Tanguy."
