Drustina is forced to consider alternative ways to reach a just peace in Dane-mark. Unusually, she find's herself getting entangled in politics and subterfuge. The sword is not enough.

The Angry Mermaid 54

Or

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 54.

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.
Irene Emperor Leon’s only child.
Leon Byzantine Emperor.
Zano Byzantine general who defeats the Bulgars with Drustina’s help.
Urthos The Gaul elected captain of the 4th ship. Ex Barbary galley slave.
Horus Horam the boat-builder’s son.
Sister Catherine Leader of the pirate nuns.
Guthrun Jarl of Bornholm.
Etheline Guthruns’ wife the countess of Bornholm.
Seripatese Drustinas’ mare
Capenda Taras’ mare.
Athun Gay king of Dark Age Denmark.
Queen Elthorn King Athuns’ Consort.
Heingist. Drustina’s loyal Danish navigator and pilot.
Brendigan Athun’s older sister and queen of Svenland.

Outside the tavern Drustina and her lieutenants took more parley with the king and the soldiers of the palace guard as Drustina explained the plan to King Athun.

“Each of my lieutenants will take a company of fifty men to scout the town. That is three companies of men commanded by Eric, Carl and Urthos. These companies will seek to create diversions, traps, ambushes and any other trick that might serve to reduce the jarls numbers and advance our ends. My lieutenants are skilled in these guerrilla tactics and co-ordinating their activities. We have well tested communication systems because my troops are truly battle tested. Sadly I cannot join with them this time. Heingist will stay with me because my arms are too injured to fight with much effect. You and Elthorn had best stay with me and the remainder of my men and your guard. Bjorn the guard Captain can delegate which of the guard are most knowledgeable of the town and its narrow streets. Our job is to somehow contact our ships. Carl and Eric have both left me secret signals to send to their ships to confirm who we are. I intend to contact our ships and use them as bait to set a trap for the jarls.”

“You are well organised Drustina.” Elthorn observed as admiration lit her eyes.

“We have been together through many trials milady. I know my lieutenants secret signals and they know mine.”

Queen Elthorn nodded and smiled for the first time in many months. It seemed at last that requital was coming for her and her
king. A requital in the form of a ferocious warrior queen and her ruthless army. Drustina turned again to discuss the tactics with her men and apologised for not being able to accompany them. Athun was impressed that the men all silently saluted her with their swords as they arranged themselves into three well organised platoons.

The three groups slid silently away in different directions and Drustina was left alone with a small band on the quay to contact the flotilla. Heingist took a fire-brand from the fire in the tavern hearth and accompanied Drustina to the top of a building on the quay-side. There they showed the fire brand five times and waited. For a brief period nothing happened and Athun became nervous as he watched from below.

Heingist repeated the signal again and finally, after another tense wait, the return signal of four flashes appeared from a small fire brand on one of the ships. Heingist then sent six flashes and a confirmation of three flashes from the ship confirmed everything was understood. Drustina heaved a silent gasp of relief as two of the ships set sail and approached the quay. At least now they had a means of escape. A chance to escape and fight another day.

As Athun watched the ships approaching, he turned to Drustina.

“Won’t these two ships attract the jarl’s attention? They are bound to send a troop to investigate.”

“That’s what we’re hoping Athun,” Heingist replied. That’s why we divided our forces. Each of the three groups will try to get the jarls to divide their forces, then, if we can, we’ll ambush one of their smaller detachments. Carl’s group however is the smallest and quickest so he will deliberately reveal his troop to the jarl’s forces. He will be watching the Jarl’s main force and when they realise the ships are coming into harbour, Carl will expose his force then pretend to run back to the quay as though he is going to board the ships and escape. Eric and Urthos will be waiting in the side streets to lay ambush to the jarl’s men when they reach the quay.”

Athun nodded his comprehension and realised that Drustina and her men were a well organised unit. There was also the detachment of men they had left in the castle. He smiled at Elthorn as both king and queen realised that here was a genuine force to give them hope. Drustina and her small troop settled down to wait and they did not wait long. They heard a commotion approaching through the streets and then a group of men appeared from one street and rushed towards the two ships that were but a few hundred yards away from the quay.

Athun recognised Carl as his group stopped at the quayside and turned to meet their pursuers in one seemingly last act of desperate defiance. The pursuing detachment of the jarl’s men emerged roaring victoriously from the same street and hurtled pell-mell along the quay bent on massacring the impertinent invaders. Such was their certainty of victory that they failed to notice that Carl’s men had arranged themselves behind a modest stack of baled wool fleeces that served to protect them from the sudden barrage of friendly arrows that brought destruction from the other streets leading down to the quay. Eric and Urthos’s troops had fired the first salvo of their ambush and wiped out about forty of the jarls’ pursuing troop at their first salvo. They had time to fire a second salvo into the jarl’s troops before the jarls had even properly realised what was afoot. About fifteen men were struck in the second salvo as the pursuers dived for what little cover they could find on the exposed quay. Suddenly the remainder of the pursuing band realised they were trapped on the quay and pinned down from all quarters. Their only escape lay in diving into the haven and that would necessitate them shedding their armour in order to swim away.

What had started out as a pursuit to a seemingly certain victory, had in seconds, been turned to a rout as their situation deteriorated catastrophically. Within seconds the jarl’s men were being fired on from five sides; the men on the ships, Drustina’s group in the tall building, Carl’s group behind the wool bales and Eric and Urthos from the two adjoining streets. With a roar of despair they fell to arguing amongst themselves as to what to do. Already there was less than a score of them remaining and there had not yet been one incidence of hand-to-hand fighting.

Even as they struggled to regroup, the odd arrows kept whistling in and striking man as they exposed themselves. It became obvious to the commanding jarl that they were trapped and done for. Surrender was the only option.

Here though, they had misjudged the mood and implacable determination of Drustina’s limited forces. Drustina had already ordered her men to refuse to accept surrender. Every one of the pursuing troop would have to be killed. As Drustina confirmed her previous orders and intentions with a shouted command, Elthorn gasped in horror and dismay.

“Surely you do not intend to kill men who have surrendered!”

Drustina turned with a look of cruel resignation as she explained.

“We have not the wherewithal to take prisoners. Who can watch over the prisoners as we plan our next tactic. These are men at arms, killing is their business and they accept death as part of their wages. Believe me your majesty. They would do the same to us, or worse, make sport with the men’s captured bodies as they torture them to death. And as for you and me, well Elthorn; we are women ... need I say more? There is no other way!”

Elthorn swallowed distastefully as she was forced to recognise the awful necessity of Drustina’s predicament. They were still outnumbered even after enjoying two successive routs. It seemed the only thing in their favour was Drustina’s sharp mind and the excellent understanding of her battle proven lieutenants.

Eventually by means of a cruel and deadly attrition the Jarl’s men were cut down to the last five. These desperate few realised there was to be no escape and they gathered themselves for one last forlorn charge into the teeth of Drustina’s bowmen. Finally, the jarl himself, because he wore the best armour, was the last man standing. As he stood with suicidal bravery in the face of certain destruction, Drustina held her fire. The man realised he was somehow to be spared, at least for a brief while longer. Gasping with exhaustion and with blood seeping down his arm he stood defiantly awaiting his end. Drustina was forced to admire the man’s courage as he demanded to know why he was being spared.

“I will need you as a bargaining chip later,” Drustina called across the now eerily silent quay.

“Who are you Bitch? Are you some sort of sorceress?”

“I am your nemesis,” Drustina shrieked. “Put down your sword and you might be spared.”

“I’ll not surrender to that killer. He is not fit to be king!”

For a moment Drustina was non-plussed. ‘What did he mean by describing Athun as a killer?’ She wondered. She decided to present herself as the supreme authority ... which she was in terms of the military force and power. She took a gamble and replied.

“You’ll not be surrendering to King Athun. You’ll be surrendering to me, the Lioness of Carthage.”

The last words caused the jarl to widen his eyes in the faint hope of some form of survival. Drustina’s reputation went before her and it was one for courage, cunning, and above all magnamnity. Despite what he had just seen happen to his troop, he knew that to be war and in the heat of battle terrible things had to pass. The jarl set his sword point down in front of him and rested his hands on the finger guards.

“Ah, so that’s who you are. Then the rumours are true!”

Drustina confirmed it.

“I am she; do you yield?”

“Not to him. I want your word!”

“You don’t make the demands here traitor!” Athun bellowed back.

Drustina quickly nipped the dispute in the bud.

“No! I do! I’m giving him my word.”

Athun turned angrily.

“You cannot usurp my Authority. You said no prisoners.”

As he said this Athun motioned to Bjorn to draw his bow. Before the guard captain had even drawn the string, Drustina had severed it with a single slash of her Toledo blade. Her eyes flashed with incandescent rage as she quickly made it abundantly clear who was in charge.

“Do that again Athun, and I’ll run you through myself. My arm may be wounded but this Toledo steel is still certain death in my other hand. Now attend to your queen. I will interrogate this man and if he tells me the truth, I’ll spare him.”

Athun glared at the Lioness and stalked off angrily to join Elthorn. His queen frowned at him as she watched the Lioness step out to parley with the lonely jarl. Elthorn was impressed that the lioness felt safe enough to step right up within sword reach of the desperate jarl’s massive blade. But Drustina had her back to Athun and Elthorn. Only the jarl saw the steely strength in Drustina’s menacing glare that caused him to conclude

Here was one angry bitch not to be messed with!

Drustina whispered her invitation.

“Right butcher! An explanation please. What makes your king a killer?”

The jarl pulled a long face before finally revealing the story.

Apparently nearly a decade earlier, the king had a younger brother. When everybody had realised that Athun was not as other boys in as much as he favoured other boys to girls the jarls had realised that there was a strong possibility Athun’s father, the old king, might favour Athun’s younger brother. Oswald was a fine boy and very popular with the jarls and the men at arms. Athun was jealous and afraid he would lose his inheritance. The jarls believed he had left his younger brother to drown while he saved his younger sister. Drustina frowned.

“But if Athun could only save one sibling then why condemn him?” Drustina asked.

The jarl sneered and replied.

“Athun had three other younger sisters and an older one but he only had one brother. What better way to assure your inheritance than to let your brother die whilst making a show of saving the girl. He should have saved the boy, he’s more important; that would have ensured the royal line with a backup male heir.”

Drustina felt angered by the jarl’s evaluation of life;
‘Why should a boy child be deemed more valuable than a girl?’ She asked herself.

She struggled to contain her private anger as she pursued her line of questions. The first thing she had to do was to try and determine some facts, firstly by determining as much as she could about the circumstances.

“Did he have a chance to rescue his brother?”

The jarl spat contemptuously.

“Nobody knows. The only person competent to say cannot be certain. Athun’s older sister was playing on the beach with the youngest girls. Athun, Oswald and the second sister were amongst the rocks were the waves were biggest. By the time the oldest sister heard Athun’s shouts Oswald was drowned.”

“So there’s no hard evidence either way.” Drustina frowned.

“Yes. Isn’t that convenient?” The jarl smirked. “Handy that isn’t it?”

“What is convenient?”

“Oh come on!” The jarl sneered. “Everybody agrees he should have saved his brother. There were plenty of girls left to be married off. Oswald was the only other prince; he should have saved his brother.”

The jarl’s reinforcement of his belief in the worthlessness of girls stoked the flames of Drustina’s anger. She well knew the views of men and they often angered her. It had taken some hard battles and perilous dangers before her own lieutenants had come to completely trust her, support her, fight alongside her and above all, value her worth equal to a man. She wondered if she would have to once more teach these usurpers the old, old lesson that she had repeated often. Women were as valuable as men!

After getting as much information from the jarl as she could whilst still wrestling with the stress of immediate battle, Drustina handed the disarmed man to Heingist. She knew Heingist wanted a legal solution to the theft of his family lands and imprisoning a second jarl in addition to the thug who they still had captive on the ships would go some way to achieving that. Trying the jarls with Drustina’s strange methods of inquisition and close study of facts were a new and novel process to Heingist. Most of his life Heingist had watched disputes being settled by conquest, Drustina’s way although seemingly effete and complicated at least produced satisfaction. Heingist was beginning to hope that he would one day have his day before a fair and legal thing. The jarl was secured and despatched to the waiting ships whilst the companions reconvened for the next tactical plan.

They all knew that at some stage they would have to face the jarls in open hand-to-hand combat and it was something few wanted. Now, after two substantial attritions of the jarls and their forces, the odds were about even or even slightly in Drustina’s favour; but not for long. Every day the jarls were accruing more troops from their outlying estates. This could make the forthcoming battle even more ferocious and bitter as each side realised there was a real chance of victory for either side. At present the forces were pretty even.

Most of Drustina’s band of brothers simply wanted to reach their homes in Gaul and Saxony and Friesland and settle down to a peaceful life again. They had experienced enough of adventure and battle.

The more they discussed the options, the more Drustina realised it would be better if she could make parley with the jarls. She called each of her lieutenants then all the men and asked them all to vote on discussing terms under a flag of truce. Their vote was unanimous, talk!

Unfortunately King Athun proved to be less amenable and his objections had some justification. The jarls had usurped his authority once, there was no guarantee they might not do it again.

Drustina sagged with the burden of politics and entreatments. The effort was wearing her down, she only wanted to return to the clean open spaces of the sea she so loved. Finally, as King Athun squabbled with his wife Elthorn and Drustina’s lieutenants who each in turn tried to persuade Athun to settle for terms, Drustina lost her temper and slammed her sword on the barrels that had served as a round parley table.

“Dammit Athun! I don’t know how or why your brother died! The only solution as I see it is to convince the jarls that it was an accident otherwise there will never be any peace or trust! Where is your oldest sister now?”

“She is married to the king of Svenland.”

“Damn! What of the second sister, the one Athun rescued.”

“Iselda? She married a Frankish prince and lives some one month’s journey away.”

“Dammit! I can’t wait that long, I want to be in my homeland before the fall. We’d best speak to the oldest sister in Svenland so how bloody far is that?”

“About four days by ship if there is a good crew of rowers.”

Drustina did some quick calculations and guesstimated that would be about two and a half days in the Angry Mermaid. Perhaps if she could persuade the jarls to appoint one of their number to accompany her, back to Svenland in ‘Angry Mermaid’, she could get a firsthand account from Queen Brendigan the king’s oldest sister. Then she might be able to nail the issue even if she had to employ some subterfuge. With her nerves jangling from stress, she and Heingist set out to meet the jarls under a white flag of truce. After some hours of argument and negotiation she finally persuaded the remaining jarls to meet with King Athun, his queen Elthorn, her lieutenants Carl, Eric, Urthos and now Heingist to discuss her attempt at reconciliation.

Eventually, consensus was reached. Drustina, Heingist and two jarls; one of whom was the one who been spared on the quayside, were to visit queen Brendigan in Svenland. That same afternoon, The Angry mermaid was speeding east again. Drustina was secretly wondering if she would ever see her beloved Cymru again.