Caradoc of the North Wind - By Allan Frewin Jones Page 0,17

of snow, she thought she could see a moving darkness. An oncoming clot of night, pulsating with danger.

‘How many riders?’ shouted Dera.

‘Caw! Caw! Caw!’

‘A score counted twice,’ called Blodwedd. ‘They are at the gallop.’

‘A scout must have espied us,’ shouted Captain Angor. ‘How far is it to Pengwern? Can we outrun them?’

Branwen stared out ahead, trying to orient herself. The land rose before them in a long-backed hill. Patches of dark woodland stood atop, the trees huddled together as though in some strange tryst. She knew this place!

She pointed. ‘Pengwern lies half a league beyond the hill!’ she called.

‘Then we must make all speed!’ retorted Angor. ‘The dying girl will hold us back no longer! We must race for the hill – for the safety beyond! By all the saints, this cannot be countermanded!’

There was consternation among the riders. Branwen heard the scrape of swords being drawn. Meredith gave a sob of fear. Dera’s horse reared and neighed as she struggled to bring it out of line, pushing through the snow to get to Branwen.

‘Take the princesses away from here at all speed,’ Dera said fiercely. ‘I’ll stay behind with Linette and Iwan. We will hold the Saxons back for as long as we can.’

‘I’ll not desert Linette!’ boomed Aberfa.

‘Nor I!’ added Banon.

Branwen hesitated, torn by indecision.

‘By Saint Cadog!’ howled Angor. ‘Would you have us all slaughtered, fool?’

His hard words cut through Branwen’s moment of doubt. ‘Dera – come closer,’ she called. ‘You must take Meredith from me!’

‘No!’

‘Do as I say!’ Branwen commanded. Her eyes burning, Dera urged her horse to come alongside Branwen’s. ‘Meredith – go with Dera. She will see you safe to Pengwern.’

Awkwardly, the girl clambered from Branwen’s horse on to the other.

‘Angor? Go now with Dera! Your men may go with you if they wish. We will follow as we may!’

Angor stared at her. ‘Yours will be a pointless death!’ he said.

Branwen returned his gaze. ‘Just be sure the king leaves the gates of Pengwern open for us,’ she replied.

Angor gave her a final look then slapped the reins upon his horse’s neck. ‘On!’ he roared.

The horse broke into a canter, and then to a gallop. Dera was close beside him, and the four men of Doeth Palas not far behind, their horses slowed by the double weight of men they had to bear as they made for the long hill.

Branwen saw Meredith look back as they came to the rise, but she was too far away for the princess’s expression to be guessed at.

‘Do we stand and fight or do we flee?’ called Iwan.

Branwen turned her eyes to the approaching Saxon riders. Their galloping horses had already eaten up half the ground between them. She could see axes and swords being brandished, cloaks cracking, bearded faces fierce and wild under iron helmets.

To stand or to run?

A dismal choice, and either could mean Linette’s death.

CHAPTER SIX

‘We run while we can!’ Branwen called, urging Terrwyn back down the broken line of horses. She leaped from the saddle, her sword in her hand. ‘Help me with Linette – cut the stretcher loose. She must ride now, no matter what the cost!’

In an instant, Aberfa and Blodwedd were with her in the snow. The thongs were cut and the stretcher lowered to the ground. Branwen tore the blankets away and sliced through the bonds that held Linette safe on the stretched cloaks.

‘Iwan shall bear her before him,’ shouted Branwen. ‘Iwan, take these thongs – tie her to you so that you can fight if needs be.’

Aberfa helped Branwen raise the limp girl up into the saddle. Iwan threw the leather thongs around himself and tied them tight under Linette’s armpits. He looked down at Branwen, his sword in his fist. ‘While I live, so shall she!’ he said, his eyes afire.

‘Banon! Use your bow as you may,’ howled Branwen, leaping back on to Terrwyn. She raised her sword to the sky. ‘To Pengwern! None of us shall die this day! Branwen of the Shining Ones swears it!’

A moment later, all were mounted again and so the mad race began. Branwen knew that her great bay destrier could have gone like the wind had she given the noble beast its head. But she had no intention of outriding her comrades. To arrive safe at Pengwern and leave her friends as corpses in her wake? It wasn’t to be thought of. So she held back a little, letting Iwan take the lead, Banon and Aberfa half an ell behind, Rhodri and