The Angry Mermaid 35 or Y Morforwyn Dicllon 35

Printer-friendly version

Author: 

Audience Rating: 

Publication: 

Genre: 

Character Age: 

TG Elements: 

TG Themes: 

Other Keywords: 

Permission: 

A Chapter where drustina and Arina have to spy out the land and determine the political mood in Makuria.

The Angry Mermaid 35.

Or

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 35.

Mabina. The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin the twins grandfather.
Giana The twins grandmother
Caderyn The twins father.
Herenoie The twins wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe The twins oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara The twins second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun. Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin. Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by Aiofe, Drustan and Mabina.)
Penderol Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris Young Dumnonii warrior.
Dryslwyn High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony.
Bronlwyn Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab The moor who taught numbers.
Eric Saxon galley slave rescued from Corsair pirates.
Carl Another Saxon galley slave rescued by Drustan.
Torvel Celtic galley slave rescued from the same captured corsair ship
Arton. Turdetani Chieftain Holder of Gibral Rock.
Carinia Arton’s wife.
Isobel. Arton’s adopted daughter.
Appotel King of the Turdetani Tribe. (Southern Iberia.)
Bramana Queen. (Wife of Appotel)
Pilus King of the Capetani.
Shaleen Pilus’s queen and sister to Bramana.
Pedoro Lord Marshal of the Southern border region.
Lady Shulaar Lord Pedoro’s wife.
Taan. The scullery maid.
Isaar. Pedoro’s oldest son.
Ferdie Pedoro’s 2nd son
Sular Pedoro’s 3rd son
Gontala Pedoro’s youngest son.
Shenoa Pedoro’s only daughter.
Portega. Tyrant King to the west.
Portua. Portega’s grandson.
Jubail. Old Fisherman.
Mutas Magab’s younger brother and usurper.
Walezia King of Malta.
Alviar Megalomaniacal bishop of Carthage. (Hates Drustina.)
Ethelia Female healer who treats Drustina during her pregnancy.
Seripatese Drustina’s faithful horse.
Astos & Amitor Minor royalty who govern Alexandria. King and Twin Queen.
Meronee Nubian Queen of Nobatia The northern Kingdom of the Nubians.
Horam The Egyptian master Boat builder.
Muraa King Astos’s male partner.
Tuk Makurian general.
Fantu. Makurian Captain.

The Angry mermaid 35.

Long before Dawn, Drustina and Arina arrived at the bank of the river and hid patiently amidst the reeds. Experience had long ago taught them caution and it always behoved them to make careful preparations. Their caution was rewarded for they saw the same captain who had met the ‘embraced couple’ last night as he arrived at the bank with himself and four soldiers.

“What do they want?” Wondered Arina.

“Don’t know. It could be some sort of trap or ambush for the general.” Drustina replied.

“But why?”

“I’m not sure, the atmosphere in the council chamber yesterday didn’t seem very cordial. Maybe this captain belongs to another faction. I just don’t know.”

The pair fell silent and waited thankful that they had brought warm cloaks to ward off the early morning chill. Soon dawn lit the sky; in these low latitudes both girls had wondered at the shortness of dawn and dusk as the sun seemed to rise and set so quickly. From their secret vantage point they watched the general striding boldly along the path until the captain and his four men sprang out to challenge him. The general was no mean fighter for he had won his rank in fair combat, not through royal favour. He drew his sword and challenged them as he backed against a palm tree while the five men faced him. The general recognised the Captain from the night before.

“Captain Fantu! What treachery is this?” He demanded.

“We might ask of you the same question General.” The captain replied.

“My business is not the domain of mere captains soldier. I’m here on matters of supreme urgency.”

“Urgent for whom.”

“The country of Makuria and peace along the whole river.”

“The king is dealing with that.”

“But at what cost? You know nothing of the demands the Alwans are making.”

“I know they are a powerful army and it behoves us not to anger them.” The Captain argued.

“And if they are not stopped, then they will overwhelm us. Then they will try to invade Nobatia and Queen Meronee will ally
herself with Astos of Egypt to stop them. Before you know it soldier, the whole river will be ablaze.”

“The king’s diplomacy will avoid that.”

“Only force will stop the Alwan king, I have met him and recognise him for a tyrant. His demands will not stop at river taxes. Already his Armies march north.”

“He has not yet invaded Makuria.”

“His troops are massed at our southern border. If he doesn’t receive an acknowledgement from Makuria in two days, he is invading. You are a mere captain lad, you did not attend the council meeting. Our army is ill equipped to stand against him.”

“He has to cross the river. We can hold him as he crosses.”

“Where lad? Where! The river is low and it can be forded at a thousand places south of Khartoum. He has hundreds of miles of river to choose to cross and we cannot patrol the whole length in strength. By the time we can respond, he will be across.”

The captain hesitated. The general’s words were painfully true and he was forced to consider them. Then he made his first mistake. He decided to try and arrest the general. He gave a curt command to his men and they advanced with swords drawn.

“I am arresting you General Tuk, on suspicion of treason. We will let the king resolve this issue.”

“If you arrest me Captain Fantu, then Makuria will be a vassal state of Alwa inside of a year. I cannot let that happen.”

“Then I am forced to take arms against you to arrest you.”

“It will cost you dear lad. I cannot afford to let myself be arrested now.”

General Tuk stood en-garde and anticipated the attack.

In the reeds Drustina whispered to Arina.

“If they attack him we strike, okay?”

Arina nodded and copied Drustina’s actions by silently easing her sword from her scabbard.”

“I’m not as good as you with this thing.” She whispered.

“We’ll have the advantage of surprise, just emerge silently and quickly, don’t shout or give them any warning.”

As she said this two of the soldiers sprang forward suddenly to attack General Tuk. He managed to parry their attack but it was obvious he would soon be overwhelmed. Drustina recognised that the general was a powerful man with a strong sword arm but he lacked finesse and speed. As the second pair started their attack Drustina and Arina stepped out un-noticed from the reeds. They had commenced their attack before Captain Fantu realised he was confronting another foe.

The captain let out a curse and stepped forward to attack what he perceived to be two girls but he quickly realised he was ‘out-gunned’ and called to two of his men.

“To me! He has accomplices.”

Two men broke off the attack on the general and whirled around to see their captain facing two adversaries. For a moment they stood stunned and then plunged in recklessly. Their mistake cost them penalties. Drustina upped her ‘game’ and started to fight in earnest instead of just toying with the captain. She whirled around like lightening and caught one of the troopers a vicious stab in his sword arm. He let out a curse and dropped his sword immediately as blood started to flow.

“Damn you bitch!” He cried as he realised his adversary had been a woman.

“Curse me again like that and I’ll run you through.” Drustina warned him softly without any sense of fear or anger in her voice.

The man realised he had chosen to fight with somebody who knew their weapons. He himself was considered one of the better swordsmen in his company and she had easily disabled him. He called a caution to the captain.

“Watch her captain, she’s a tigress!”

Drustina turned to confront the second trooper who had been wrong footed by the speed of Drustina’s sword. She slipped her Toledo blade neatly into his thigh and brought him to his knees instantly as she warned the captain.

“Tigress or lioness, it makes no odds. Put up your sword captain I do not wish to kill any of you.”

The captain glanced at Arina who was still poised en-garde and Drustina spoke to her. I’ll tend to this gentleman, go and pull the other two off the general. The relief was clearly evident in the captain’s eyes for he had not expected it to come to blows. He had expected a simple and peaceful arrest. He spoke clearly.

“I yield to you tigress, if you’ll spare my men.”

“Agreed captain. Put up your sword but keep it.”

This clearly demonstrated that Drustina had no intentions of killing anybody. By letting Captain Fantu keep his sword she was honouring his rank and not insulting their honour. Captain Fantu shouted a halt to his two remaining men.

They pulled back from the beleaguered general and he finally was able to look around and see who had rescued him. His relief was evident and he touched his forehead with his sword in salutary thanks.

“Drustina, Arina, never better met my ladies. My heartfelt thanks.”

“General Tuk. We meet again. What will you have me do with these assailants?”

“Let them live. Captain Fantu is a fine soldier if a slightly misled one. After we have explained, I think they’ll change their views.”

The captain frowned and Drustina followed his gaze. The soldier with the cut arm was bleeding badly and the wound needed attention. Drustina signalled to Arina who nodded agreement and knelt to attend to the cut while Drustina turned again to the captain.

“Why did you attack your own commanding officer?”

“The Palace guard were warned he was impetuous and dangerous.”

“He doesn’t strike me as impetuous, he could have ordered you all executed here and now.”

“He is deemed dangerous, an impediment to the peace process.”

“Who told you that?”

“It is common knowledge. It is the word right through the army.”

Drustina smiled dangerously.

“I didn’t ask you who knew, I asked who told you.”

“General Dinla. The chief of staff.”

“Oh him,” Drustina scoffed, “the whingeing coward at the council table yesterday.”

“What! You were at the meeting?”

“Yes. As was general Tuk.”

“I know the general was there but what where you doing there?”

“I am the emissary from Queen Meronee of Nobatia. I am Drustina, Queen Drustina of Egypt, and the Lioness of Carthage’.

A stunned silence befell the captain and his men. Their faces paled as they made a salute.

“Y- Your majesty!”

She studied Captain Fantu thoughtfully, not sure to decide if the man was genuinely misinformed or he reflected the general mood amongst the Makurian army. She decided to test him.

“Are you a coward captain?”

“Madam, please, that’s an insult!”

“I’m just testing you Captain. Would face me now in sword play?”

“But madam! You are a Qu-; you’re a queen and an emissary, a diplomat on a mission.”

“I am indeed Captain, and it’s my duty to find the truth for my leader Queen Meronee of Nobatia. Do you understand why I’m here?”

“You mean in the country as a whole ... or here, now, in the early morning on the banks of the mother river meeting one of our highest generals.”

“The latter one captain. Here and now ... on the river bank.”

“I should imagine it’s something sensitive. Some political intrigue.”

“It’s certainly sensitive Captain, but it’s not a plot or treason.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That’s because you are still inexperienced in the ways of kings and princes. Perhaps when you become a general, you might have learned. I am here to gather the opinions of all your generals, not just the feelings of a chief of staff who gained his appointment through royal connection and boastfulness. The Nobatians are not stupid Captain; Queen Meronee has not retained her crown through stupidity and ignorance. We knew full well that the Makurian high command and king were indisposed to facing the Alwans. What we needed to know is how many of your generals were prepared to face the King of Alwa and how many troops could they supply.”

The captain fell back to the original supposition.

“It’s pointless trying to fight them; the Alwans outnumber us three to one.”

Drustina smiled softly.

“Captain, d’you know by how many King Magab was outnumbered in Carthage?”

“I’ve heard it was ten to one.”

“Well like many, you have heard wrong. I was there; I am the Lioness of Carthage.”

“So what is the truth?” Captain Fantu asked.

“It was nearer to the odds your army faces, probably three and possibly four to one against. Those are not impossible odds.”

“His army is better prepared,”

“And it’s travelled a long way. Already his lines of supply are stretched.”

“But he is massed at our southern border. He is but six days south of Khartoum.”

“Six days when he has to march a gauntlet of ambushes and attacks at every twist and turn.”

“And who is to launch those attacks?” The Captain asked.

“Tell him General Tuk.”

The captain turned to his general who spoke softly.

“Captain, you know that Queen Meronee is marching South to assist us.”

“I do sir and I also know it is only a modest force that has yet to cross the mother river.”

“That is the easiest part captain. The hardest part was moving two hundred mounted Ta Seti troops. That meant moving two hundred horses and men all the way along the Nile river bank.”

“Mounted! What good is it mounting bowmen? They cannot shoot accurately.”

Drustina exchanged a knowing smile with Arina and turned to the captain.

“Captain Fantu, if I might demonstrate to you later today, will you believe me then?”

“What is your intention?”

“Would you ride with me after breakfast? Here in the park by the river bank. You may bring some of your lieutenants and sergeants if you wish.”

“What is your intention?”

“To show you accuracy with a mounted bow.”

This I must see,” The captain smirked.

“So must I,” General Tuk added. “I must confess to having heard of mounted archers but they were always too lightly equipped and the firing inaccurate.”

“Later gentlemen. After breakfast please. I must caution you though. I am five and a half moons gone with child and my belly swells. I will not ride as easily as I should but enough to demonstrate.”

The captain smiled and wagged his head.

“Your belly did not slow your sword madam. I will truly vouch for that.”

Drustina smiled and asked Arina to fetch their horses. She had a little trouble mounting and the captain was all attention as her belly hampered her movements.

“Ooof. Thank you Captain. Normally Captain, I would have leapt onto my beloved mare but as you can truly see, my belly makes me clumsy. After breakfast then. Here. Arina and I will bring our war bows.”

Later that morning, the Celtic girls were pleased to find that the soldiers had kept their promise. General Tuk, the two other dissenting generals, Captain Fantu and the junior officers of the guard were waiting under the trees as she and Arina arrived with their war bows unstrung across their saddles. They watched with fascination as the pair restrung their bows and each dipped to take an arrow from the pommel sheaths carried either side of their saddle. The saddle sheaths also provided extra cover for their legs whilst also providing two hooks to grip with their knees. The girls were now firmly attached to their saddles even as they started their run. Despite her swollen belly, Drustina was able to give a fair account of her skills. Even general Tuk
gave an oath as Drustina flew past at the gallop and hit two of the five targets set up to resemble men. She turned and returned to explain.

“My belly makes me clumsy; now see what my companion can do.”

She gave a signal to Arina who was determined to outshine her comrade in arms. Besides being unencumbered by pregnancy, Arina also rode a faster, more powerful stallion that Queen Meronee had given to her as a gift. As she streaked past the gathered soldiers with hooves thundering out a tattoo, she let out a victorious scream and pierced four out of the five figurines. The fifth arrow glanced off the last target but it was incredible shooting by any standard and the soldiers fell to muttering approval amongst themselves.

As ever, Arina had to give her powerful horse his head and the animal took a wide turn around the park before excising his energy. He finally rejoined the party snorting and prancing eagerly as though wishing to demonstrate his part in the display. As he reared and snorted and made high cacalorum, Drustina watched then turned to general Tuk and the Palace guard officers.

“Imagine another two hundred like that gentlemen. Appearing out of nowhere and disappearing as swiftly as they came. No army would march in safety and they will be seriously hampered.”

The whole assembly and Particularly Captain Fantu of the guard stood with wide eyed approval as Arina eventually calmed her furious stallion. She finally managed to approach them and find her voice, such had been the excitement.

“Well gentlemen. Does that convince you?”

General Tuk clapped approvingly and spoke.

“Bravo young lady. That was a stunning display. I’m not sure which was best, the horsemanship or the bowmanship.”

Drustina simply gaped stupidly at her companion before asking.

“Where the hell did you learn to shoot like that?”

“The Nobatian archers, the Ta Seti taught me.” Arina grinned. “I’ve not been idle while you talked with kings. The Ta Seti are fantastic bowmen.”

The captain nodded and agreed.

“They are you know, they defeated the Roman legions. It was Nubia’s proudest moment. With cavalry like that we stand a chance. Pity there are only two hundred.”

Drustina turned and remarked.

“It’s not just cavalry Captain. There are tactics and strategy to resolve. We must speak with Queen Meronee post haste.”

Thus convinced, General Tuk agreed to accompany Drustina to Meronee’s camp while Arina agreed to show the palace guard the rudiments of mounted archery. Drustina and General Tuk departed with the agreement of the other two dissenting generals and with the accompanying Captain Fantu now an eager convert.

They left Arina to explain and demonstrate to the guardsmen how the rider had to feel the horse’s gait and release the arrow at the exactly neutral points when all four hooves where off the ground. The conundrum was that the faster the horse galloped and the longer all four hooves were air-born, the easier it was to shoot and the more accurate the shot.
o-0-o

up
91 users have voted.
If you liked this post, you can leave a comment and/or a kudos! Click the "Thumbs Up!" button above to leave a Kudos

Comments

The Angry mermaid 35 or Y Morforwyn Dicllon 35

Love how Drustina is able to use her Title and skills to such good effect.

    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine
    Stanman
May Your Light Forever Shine

Spot on here

The conundrum was that the faster the horse galloped and the longer all four hooves were air-born, the easier it was to shoot and the more accurate the shot.

I can easily vouch for this. I was a Field Artillery Surveyor during Desert Shield/Storm. During this period while I was over there I had a Humvee assigned to me. I also had an idiot for an NCO with me as well. When I took him out cross-country for the 1st time I drove quite fast across the desert. This idiot of an NCO ordered me to slow the F down. I explained to him that there were two reasons I was going fast (at least 55 mph.) The 1st was that it smoothed out the ride. Before I got the chance to give the 2nd reason he again ordered me to slow down so I did. The ride immediately got VERY bumpy. Then I explained the 2nd reason. By going fast any unexploded ordinance such as mines would explode BEHIND our vehicle instead of UNDER it. He immediately ordered me to resume warp factor 5. Oh, and a smoothed out ride also means that we had a stable firing platform if we had been required to shoot while on the move.

You are absolutely right.

/

A Nice ride around Manchester to finish off the Sparkle weekend.

Whilst I cannot speak for vehicular progress accross rough terraine I know the theory holds true for horseback.

The Mongols, led by Ghengis Khan overwhelmed a whole continent of central Asia from Europe to China by the tactic of high speed mounted bowmen.
The mongols trained their horses to 'galumph' at galloping speed and thus provide a longer airborn interval of smooth progress that enabled them to release their arrows with much greater accuracy when attacking a foot column on open steppe (plains).

The foot column would naturally tend to 'bunch' for protection thus providing the horsemen with a larger stationary target whist each riding bowman remained a small, fast-moving, individual target that was very hard to hit with a bow and arrow or thrown spear.

That the tactic was suprememly effective is evidenced by Ghangis Khan's immense success.

The Mounted bowman was only effectively defeated with the advent of the accurate, repeating rifle as evidence by the virtual extinction of the native american tribes by the us military and 'white invasions' who destroyed their food supplies and 'habitat'.

Thanks for you observations though. It's always good to get anecdotal proof of such theories and stories. I would imagine 55 mph accross rough terraine would still be pretty hairy. 20 mph on an unsprung, old, mountain bike is frightening enough for me.

Hugs.

Beverly.

My old mountain bike, please note no springs but this makes it more stable on bends cos it doesn't 'hop' sideways accross the tracks.

bev_1.jpg