The Angry Mermaid 82 or Y Morforwyn Dicllon 82

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Drustina eventually wins the arguments concerning her right to marry Carl but Bishop Celyn is enraged by Cardinal Craklow's use of political expediency to circumvent what Celyn believes to be rigid, biblical strictures about gender, faith and nobility. He plans to have the Cardinal murdered.

The Angry Mermaid 82
Or
Y Morforwyn Dicllon 82

That evening, while the Cardinal Craklow and Bishop Celyn had continued the argument about Drustina, a blizzard arrived. More wind-driven snow heaped up in drifts as the wind howled around corners and the fine crystalline snow searched through every little crevice. Carl cursed it as he sallied forth from the main gate and he reflected how he came to be out in such foul conditions at the dead of night.

He had left Drustina in her warm palace apartment with Tara and Sister Catherine for company. Drustina’s ‘bump’ was growing burdensome and she tossed and turned in the night with her efforts to get comfortable. That night, she had disturbed Carl in the middle hours and to avoid being disturbed by her again, he had slipped away to find a quieter bed. The storm had alerted him to possible dangers to their horses so he had left the king’s palace to check that their horses were properly bedded. The wind had risen to a tempest and the freezing crystals were stinging his face.

When the palace ostler had taken their horses away on their arrival, Carl had not immediately checked they were warmly bedded. He had scolded himself for failing to do so and after reassuring himself that the horses were warmly stabled, he had found himself facing the bitter wind and stinging snow crystals. To avoid the onslaught of the elements, Carl had chosen the high city wall battlements to return to the palace while avoiding the driving snow that now lay four and five feet thick on the ground between the drifts. Up on the battlements, the wind was stronger but he could duck from castellation to castellation while the walkway was swept clear of snow by the shrieking gusts that eddied between those same battlements.

As he picked his way like some sinister shadow he was challenged by a surprised sentry who resented being disturbed from his warm cosy little gate tower where he was settled beside his brazier while his comrades slept in bunks around the walls.

“Who are you?”

“Carl the Saxon, companion to the Lioness and guests of the king.”

“Oh. Thank the gods. I thought it was the captain of the guard come to check on us.”

“What! In this bloody weather?”

“Well that’s exactly what I was going to ask you about. Why aren’t you bedded with your wife? This is no place to be on a night like this.”

“Oh she couldn’t sleep. The baby lies heavy within her and she tosses alarmingly. I was looking for a quieter berth.”

“What, out here?”

“No. I’ve just been checking our horses and making sure they were properly bedded. I was using the walls as a short cut back to the king’s palace to avoid the deepening snow. In some parts it’s as deep as a man’s chest down there now and the drifts are impassable.”

“Well there’s a spare bunk by the door, that’s the coldest spot but it’s warmer than out there.”

“Thanks for the offer soldier but I think I’ve got a better, warmer berth back in my lady’s chamber. There’re some skins and a spare mattress I can use to sleep by the fire.”

“Lucky you, I’m here till the midday change of watch.”

“Well at least you’ve got the brazier, can I trouble you for some of that hot beer?”

The guardsman willingly poured out a generous serving then refilled his own tankard. The wind rose to a shriek and the two men exchanged wry grins as they edged closer to the watchman’s fire.

“Bugger this for a game of soldiers,” Carl grinned. “We’re a daft pair of buggers.”

The guard’s man nodded and turned to stare out of the arrow slot overlooking the main gate. Then he turned to face Carl and remarked as he jabbed his thumb over his shoulder towards the main gate below them.

“Not as daft as that silly bugger!”

“Who?” asked Carl as he turned to peer through the same arrow slot. “Well I’ll be buggered, what idiot would be abroad on a night such as this?”

"Well you for a start!” the Guard’s man grinned as he turned again to peer through the narrow slot.”

Carl asked curiously.

“How would he have got passed the main gate without being challenged?”

The guard shrugged then his shoulders stiffened.

“Oh-oh, that’s Lefty Tip-toe. He’s a sly, nimble little weasel. He could slip through a rat hole. What's worse, King Ethelred has been spending all the money on the great church so the walls are in a bad state. Lefty could have slipped through or over any number of places but wherever he slipped out I’ll bet he’s up to no good. Lefty’s like an acrobat; I’m surprised he’s even using the main road; he probably thinks we’re all huddled inside tonight, sheltering from this storm. I’ll rouse a couple of these sleeping beauties to follow him.”

Carl smiled at the guard’s man’s nick-name for the figure struggling through the snow but he continued watching the huddled struggling figure as the watch-keepers grumbled about being disturbed. The duty guard’s man scolded them as he warned them who was present. They stared sleepily then gasped at having such august company.

“Shit!” seemed to be generally surprised consensus as wakefulness infected the whole watch.

Carl moved quickly to allay their fears.

“At ease men, I’m not here in any official capacity. I’m just curious about him.”

The men clustered to peer through the arrow slot then one remarked.

“Yes, it’s definitely Lefty. He looks as though he’s going to the Bishop’s palace?”

The man, who turned out to be the sergeant of the guard, turned to Carl.

“Something’s up. Lefty’s a sneaky one and for him to be out in this weather means something big is up.”

Carl felt a cold shiver snake its way down his spine as he asked.

“Is he capable of murder?”

“He’s been suspected of it before, but there was never enough evidence and he always had an alibi. Usually one of his cronies.”

Carl tensed then finished.

“Bring two men with you sergeant, follow me, and bring your swords.”

Even as the men girded for the weather, the duty watch-keeper kept peering through the arrow slit and remarked.

“He’s definitely heading for the Bishop’s palace.”

“Quickly men. Follow me!”

Thus Carl found himself wading through the deep snow with three cursing soldiers of the king’s guard. Fortunately, lefty’s tracks had broken through the snow and that made progress easier. Carl turned to silence them.

“Shhh! You noisy buggers, we don’t want the whole bloody town to know we’re here.”

Inevitably Lefty had left an unavoidable trail through the snow and the pursuers were able to tag him as he sneaked around the back of the Palace and let himself in.

“That door wasn’t locked!” The sergeant hissed.

“Which tells me this is some sort of inside job.” Carl replied. “Come on!”

The men wasted no time rushing to the same rear door and silently slipped through, only to realise the darkness had hidden any trail. There were only two alternatives so they divided up into pairs and crept silently forward. Soon Carl and his companion realised there was candle-light flickering under one of the doors and they crept silently to listen. Carl recognised Bishop Celyn’s voice while the watchman confirmed the other voice was Lefty Tip-toe. The pair kneeled very carefully down to listen under the door. Bishop Celyn was issuing instructions.

“I’m going to wake the housekeeper and prepare some warm wine. You wait until you hear me talking to her.”

“Then what?” Lefty asked.

“Do what I’m paying you to do. Have you got your alibi prepared?”

“Of course.”

“You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

“D’you think I’d tell you that?”

“Let me ask you another way. I don’t want the Cardinal to die immediately but be able to stagger to the parlour where I will be sharing my warm wine with the housekeeper. Can you wound him thus; fatally but so that death comes slowly? It gives you time to escape and the Cardinal time to stagger to the parlour and shout murder where it will be obvious that I or the housekeeper could not have done it.”

“Is there anything else?" Lefty asked irritably, "I want to get this done with.”

“This snow is the only problem. I never planned for this.” Bishop Celyn lamented.

“I’ll retrace my tracks, that way the trail will become blurred. When the hue and cry goes up, others will quickly rush to see what’s afoot and destroy my tracks. I will simply join the throng so that tracks from my hovel will be similarly trampled out of all recognition.”

“Good. Now go to it.”

“You haven’t told me which chamber the Cardinal sleeps in?”

“Where d’you think, you idiot. The main suite! He’s a prince of the church!”

“The one with the big brass door ring!”

“Exactly you fool. Now go to it!”

“Uuuhm, my money first.”

Bishop Celyn cursed as they argued about how and when to pay. To Carl’s delight this gave them time to slip away and warn the cardinal. As they crept towards the grand suite they met the sergeant and the other guard’s man. Quickly Carl explained then described how to trap a single assassin in darkness.

“It’s all about us knowing exactly where each other is and NOT moving until we have him. I plan to wait low down between the bed and the window. My leader the Lioness is a past master at these instances and she’s often discussed the tactics with me. Just do as I say.”

The men nodded as Carl eased the heavy door open.

“Who’s there?” Cardinal Craklow demanded as he was tapped gently on the shoulder by the sergeant of the guard.

“Sergeant Penstock of the royal guard, wake up.” He whispered

“I am awake you fool. What’s going on?”

“There’s going to be an attempt upon your life tonight. We are here to trap the assassin. We know who it is and who organised your execution. We have laid a trap so don’t move just pretend to be asleep.”

“What!!” Gasped the cardinal as he realised the need for silence.”

“More of that later. The assassin approaches, pretend to be asleep and keep silent.”

With these words, the heavy brass door ring creaked very softly and slowly. The Cardinal noted a shadowy figure slip into his room. The tension was intense and it was all the Cardinal could do not to shout a challenge and call for help. He bit his tongue desperately as the shadow approached his bed. Then to the Cardinal’s intense relief there was the tell-tale ‘swoosh’ of a sword blade and the shadow screamed in agony.

“Aaargh, my bloody wrist!”

“Step back,” roared Carl while the other soldiers remained totally silent and didn’t move as per the plan.

Lefty continued moaning whilst holding his injured wrist but Carl was not to be fooled; he turned to the Cardinal still in his bed.

“Can you raise some light?”

“I’ll have to call the house keeper. Shall I fetch her?”

“Don’t move! The moment another person moves he can use the confusion to slip away or hurt one of us.”

Carl spoke loudly for the benefit of the other soldiers. Much battle experience had taught Carl about the advantages a single person enjoyed in total darkness. To the single assassin, everybody else was the enemy and much confusion or mayhem could be created to enable escape. Instead, Carl pushed his sword harder into the moaning shape and pinned him against the wall. Then he spoke to the guards.

“Arthur, you were with me earlier. You’ll probably find the house-keeper with the Bishop, take Derek with you and bring back some light. Sergeant will you stay with me to be a witness? Don’t approach this rat, he might still have his weapon handy, it’s too dark to see if he’s seriously hurt, I only used the flat of my sword because I want him alive.”

The two men slipped out and the Sergeant suggested that he stood by the door. Carl agreed because he still had Lefty pinned by sword to belly. Once the sergeant had positioned himself by the door Carl spoke again, mainly to maintain order and stillness. Until there was light it was foolish to try and do anything. Lefty started moaning louder but Carl was not to be fooled or distracted. He pressed his sword slightly harder into lefty’s hard, muscular belly. Even through the blade of his sword, Carl could tell that Lefty was a tough, wiry little individual so he kept his point firmly lodged where he could instantly pierce his captive if he moved unexpectedly. Lefty realised his captor was no tenderfoot. The sharp point in his belly was a clear message.
After a couple of minutes, light under the door announced the guards return with bishop Celyn and house-keeper. When the door was opened the two guards stood illuminated by their candelabras before Carl granted entry.

Carl then realised there were also two other men behind the bishop who Carl didn’t recognise but presumed were the bishop’s men. He promptly ordered them to guard the outside of the door. The Bishop’s protest told Carl that the Bishop was probably hoping to get his men on the inside; possibly to silence Lefty before he could speak. With the room now lit by the two large candelabras that the guards had grabbed from the dining table Carl could go forward. Firstly he had the guards secure lefty and search him for hidden weapons. To their surprise, they found only one dagger but several thin sharp spikes like extra long nails. Carl recognised them immediately and explained.

“They are assassin’s tools I’ll explain and demonstrate some other time. This bastard is not some common or garden thief. Look, there’s a similar one between the folds of the cardinal’s blanket.”

Carl turned to the shocked cardinal and tapped the spike with the tip of his sword. He then motioned towards the Cardinal’s chest with his sword indicating the two feet gap.

“That was the weapon this bugger was holding when I struck his wrist. You came that close to a slow, lingering death. I believe your bishop may know something about this.”

The Cardinal released a very unholy curse and turned to Bishop Celyn.

“What evil is this?”

Bishop Celyn stammered for a moment as he tried to gather his wits. The sergeant stepped forward as though to arrest the bishop but Carl simply motioned for calm whilst putting his finger to his lips and nodding towards the bishop.

“Let his lordship explain.”

This was a ploy to let the bishop incriminate himself for he had no idea how much Carl and the guards knew. The more lies they could trap the bishop in, the easier would be the prosecution.

~~oo000oo~~

Gazette of Characters etc.

Mabina.... Ch 1 The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan.... Ch1 Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin.... Ch1 The twin’s grandfather.
Giana.... Ch1 The twin’s grandmother.
Caderyn.... Ch1 The twin’s father.
Herenoie.... Ch1` The twin’s wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran.... Ch1 The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe.... Ch1 The twin’s oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara.... Ch1 The twin’s second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim.... Ch1 Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu.... Ch1 Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun.... Ch1 Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin.... Ch1 Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun.... Ch 2 Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina.... Ch 4. Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by the three siblings.)
Penderol.... Ch 6 Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris.... Ch 6. Young Dumnonii warrior. Ch 6
Dryslwyn.... Ch 7 High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony. Ch 7
Bronlwyn.... Ch 7 Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab.... Ch 8 The moor who taught numbers.
Eric.... Ch 9 Saxon galley slave rescued from Corsair pirates.
Carl.... Ch 9 Another Saxon galley slave rescued by Drustan.
Torvel.... Ch 9 Celtic galley slave rescued from the same captured corsair ship
Arton.... Ch 7 Turdetani Chieftain Holder of Gibral Rock.
Carinia.... Ch7 Arton’s wife.
Isobel... . Ch 7 Arton’s adopted daughter.
Appotel.... Ch 9 King of the Turdetani Tribe. (Southern Iberia.)
Bramana.... Ch 9 Queen. (Wife of Appotel)
Pilus.... Ch 10 King of the Capetani.
Shaleen.... Ch 10 Pilus’s queen and sister to Bramana.
Pedoro.... Ch 10 Lord Marshal of the Southern border region.
Lady Shulaar.... Ch 10 Lord Pedoro’s wife.
Taan.... Ch 11 The scullery maid.
Isaar.... Ch 11 Pedoro’s oldest son.
Ferdie.... Ch 11 Pedoro’s 2nd son
Sular.... Ch 11 Pedoro’s 3rd son
Gontala.... Ch 11 Pedoro’s youngest son.
Shenoa.... Ch 11 Pedoro’s only daughter.
Portega.... Ch 14 Tyrant King to the west.
Portua.... Ch 14 Portega’s grandson.
Jubail.... Ch 15 An old Fisherman.
Mutas.... Ch 16 Magab’s younger brother and usurper.
Walezia.... Ch 18 King of Malta.
Alviar.... Ch 21 Megalomaniacal bishop of Carthage. (Hates Drustina.)
Ethelia.... Ch 21 Female healer who treats Drustina during her pregnancy.
Seripatese.... Ch 21 Drustina’s faithful horse.
Astos & Amitor.... Ch 26 Minor royalty who govern Alexandria. King and Twin Queen.
Meronee.... Ch 28 Nubian Queen of Nobatia The northern Kingdom of the Nubians.
Horam.... Ch 30 The Egyptian master Boat builder.
Muraa.... Ch 31 King Astos’s male partner.
Tuk.... Ch 35 Makurian general.
Fantu.... Ch 35 Makurian Captain.
Irene.... Ch 41 Emperor Leon’s only child.
Leon.... Ch 41 Byzantine Emperor.
Zano.... Ch 41 Byzantine general who defeats the Bulgars with Drustina’s help.
Oraxyis Ch 42 Supreme commander of the Bulgar forces.
Urthos.... Ch 46 The Gaul elected captain of the 4th ship. Ex Barbary galley slave.
Horus... . Ch 46 Horam the boat-builder’s son.
Sister Catherine.... Ch 47 Leader of the pirate nuns.
Archishop Craklow Ch 47 Archbishop of Warsaw, later Cardinal Craklow.
Guthrun.... Ch 49 Jarl of Bornholm.
Etheline.... Ch 49 Guthruns’ wife the countess of Bornholm.
Capenda.... Ch 49 Taras’ mare.
Athun.... Ch 52 Gay king of Dark Age Denmark.
Queen Elthorn.... Ch 52 King Athuns’ Consort.
Iselda... . Ch 55 Athun and Brendigan’s, younger (middle) sister.
Heingist or Hengis..... Ch 52 Drustina’s loyal Danish pilot who becomes her 1st Mate
Brendigan..... Ch 54 Athun’s older sister and consort queen of Svenland.
Bjorn.... . Ch 53 The captain of the Palace Guard. King Athun’s gay partner.
Morgan and Amethyst.....Ch 56 Drustina’s twin children.
Dalcimon..... Ch 62 Queen of West Friesia.
Andrar..... Ch 62 Prince of West Friesia (Dalcimon’s son.)
Harald Cold Blood.... Ch 63 The Viking King, father of Gisela
Jupus..... Ch 69 Carl’s stallion.
Heliox..... Ch 69 Drustina’s second mate and deputy navigator (Ex Belgiie fisherman)
Gisela..... Ch 70 Viking princess captured after the Battle of Godwin Sands.
“Althred..... Ch 71 Young Saxon Naval commander who allies his fleet with Drustina
Symone.... Ch 73 Young teenaged rape victim who join’s Drustina’s band.
Edburg.... Ch 72 The Angry mermaid’s cook.
Edrinor.... Ch 80. The Mercian King.
Princess Sonala.... Ch 80 Edrinor’s daughter
Celyn.... Ch 80 Saxon Bishop of Winchester.

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Comments

What evil lurks in the hearts of men?

The Shadow knows and so does Carl. It appears that the Bishop will have to atone for his sins.

This is a wonderful story, Bev, and it keeps getting better.

Much Love,

Valerie R

Carl shows yet again that

Drustina has surrounded herself with worthy companions.