The Paladins of Edwin the Great Read online

  CHAPTER III

  ALDBY

  The escort of the Princess, of Volisia, and the children leftStillingfleet next morning. In the van rode the older boys, Oswith,Coelred, and Forthere, all three well armed, followed by the twoladies, the children, and attendants, while Coifi, with the two youngerboys, Porlor and Hereric, brought up the rear. "The gleeman is to bea priest of Woden," said Porlor to his friend, "to whom it is notpermitted to carry arms. The defence of the rear depends upon us, so wemust be on our guard." All the lads had arms suited to their size, butnone of them were yet old enough to wear swords.

  After a mile's ride through the forest, they came to open moorlandwhere there was an outlying stockaded post of the Stillingas,afterwards called Moreby; and here they met the Heslingas, led by theveteran Ingeld, to whom the Princess gave fuller information than hadbeen brought by the messenger, and he pushed rapidly onwards with hismen, to join the Atheling. Riding on over moor and through forest,the ladies and their escort, after some hours, reached the banks ofthe bright river Derwent, where tall ash trees threw shadows overits surface, which was skimmed by water-hens, while now and then thebrilliant plumage of the kingfisher glistened under the sun's raysas it darted to its galleried nest in the bank. Soon the party camein sight of Aldby, the royal seat of the kings of Deira, on a slighteminence above the right bank of the river, the buildings appearingamongst clumps of tall trees.

  The Roman station of Derventio, on the Derwent, was twelve miles eastof York. When the English arrived, the buildings had been much injuredby invaders from the north, and by more than a century of neglect. Theywere in a ruinous condition, but they were still standing; and theyreceived the name of Aldby, or the ancient town, from the new-comers.The praetorium, repaired in many places with timber, still had a porticocomposed of pillars with composite capitals, and formed the guest-hallof the King of Deira. A villa, consisting of rooms built round threesides of a square, with corridors, and a temple, were also includedin the Deiran palace. The walls of the guest-hall were adorned withtapestry representing mythical beings from the Teutonic mythology, andthe floor retained its mosaic pavement. Although the boards or tableswere on movable trestles, there were fixed sideboards, with bowls ofbronze highly gilt and of very elegant forms, metal dishes, and horns,while a raised dais with a throne at one end gave some appearance ofregal dignity to the spacious hall.

  King Ella had marched away with a large force, but its place had beentaken by warriors from Driffield and from Godmundham, and Aldby stillhad the busy appearance of a royal abode, with yards and halls crowdedwith armed men, priests, and servants. The fugitives were cordiallyreceived by Ella's queen, the stepmother of the Princess Alca, whosename is not recorded in history. She had recently given birth to a son,who had received the name of Edwin, a child of destiny, round whoselife-story the events of this narrative will eventually centre. Thechildren were all eager to pay their respects to the young Atheling,the hope of the house of Deira, and Alca led them into the presence ofthe infant prince.

  There was much anxiety for several days, but at last the news camethat Elfric had relieved Ulfskelf and defeated the numerous butill-disciplined army of Britons. Their chief Certicus and his leviescommenced a retreat which the King converted into a rout when hefell upon their right flank in the swampy ground between Askham andBilbrough. Ella and his brother then formed a junction round the hill,now called Ingrish, and again fell furiously upon the disorganisedrabble. Certicus, with a small following, escaped into the forests ofElmet, but there was tremendous slaughter, and the place is calledHelagh to this day. The English outposts were again extended to theold Roman station of Calcaria, on the south side of the river Wharfe,facing the ford of Nehalennia. The King also restored the burg of theBillingas, and all due honours were paid to the remains of the chiefVidfinn, who had been a daring Viking before he established himself atBilbrough with his children Hjuk and Bil. Nine votive boats of puregold were deposited in his grave, and a lofty tumulus was raised aboveit, on the slope of the red sandstone hill which rises gradually fromthe Roman road between York and Tadcaster. Little Sivel, the onlysurviving child of Vidfinn, was adopted by Brand of Ulfskelf. A nephewof Vidfinn, named Saebald, surnamed Fairfax from his silver-whitehair, was elected to command the Billingas and to defend the restoredsettlement of Bilbrough.

  These administrative arrangements occupied some time, during which thelads at Aldby hunted in the forests between the Derwent and the footof the Wolds, sometimes pursuing their game far into the chalky hills,and often ascending Garraby, which rises to a height of nearly 800 feetabove Aldby. Their evenings were passed in games with their sisters, orin conversations with Alca, varied by listening to the wondrous talesof Coifi or to the folk-lore of another race preserved in the memory oftheir mother Volisia.

  One day the five boys went with Coifi to Godmundham to visit thetemple which contains the sacred images brought from the old homeon the continent. A space was encircled by a quickset hedge, andwithin there were three lofty elms, under which the idols were setup. Hard by were the ruins of the Roman station of Delgovitia, someof the buildings having been roughly repaired to serve as dwellingsfor priests and servants. Coifi localised his beliefs. According tohis creed, Woden and Thor were within this enclosure at Godmundham,or at all events he held that this was their favourite home, whereworshippers must seek their help, and where priests must observe allthe ceremonies connected with their cult. He told the boys the historyof the creation, and all the strange legends which had gathered roundit; and he narrated the myth of Balder's death and of Freyr's love forGerdr. He attended the sacrifices of bullocks, and remained long athis devotions. But he never could derive either power or inspirationfrom his prayers to the gods, and he rose from them with an expressionof discontent and impatience. The boys were glad to return to Aldby,dissatisfied also, and eager for some more sympathetic teaching. Thisthey found in the Princess Alca, who to them was the type of perfectbeauty and goodness.

  Princess Alca Telling Stories to the Boys]

  They had attended her on an excursion to the foot of the Wolds, andrested on a rising ground under the spreading branches of a tall ashtree, with Aldby in sight beyond the river, and a mass of wavingfoliage at their feet. The sun was still high, the stillness onlybroken by the songs of birds. Alca sat on one of the projecting roots.The boys were lying down at her feet, surrounded by leaves and flowers,which they had been collecting to decorate her bower. Porlor broke thesilence by asking the Princess to teach them the story of Balder, andits meaning. "Porlor," she said, "was right to be the spokesman, forhis name should make him a student of Balder's lore. But I see by youreyes," she added, "that you all wish me to talk to you of the Son ofGod. Listen, then, to one who seeks, though with little help and intwilight, to learn and to show to others the true meaning of hiddenmysteries. Balder was the son of the All-father, of the Creator ofgods and men. He was the god of light, and grace, and manly beauty.His brow was white as the chamomile flower. Through him deeds of truebravery were done on the earth, the weak were protected, virtue waspractised, and justice was maintained. But a prophecy that Balder wouldperish afflicted the gods. Then Frigga, the spouse of Woden, took anoath from all created nature that no individual thing would harm thepride of Asgard, the beloved of gods and men. But the goddess made afatal omission. She forgot a sprig of mistletoe. Being invulnerable,Balder allowed the gods to use him as a target. Now Loki, as you know,was born among the yotuns. He was false and full of wickedness, fatherof the terrible wolf Fenris and of Hela, ruler of the dead. Loki putmistletoe into the hands of the blind god Haudr, and with this he slewthe best and greatest of Woden's sons, who descended into hell. TheAll-father himself went down into the dark abode of Hela, to persuadeher to relinquish her prey. She agreed, if all created nature wouldweep for Balder. All nature did mourn for the loss of the god ofgoodness and beauty, save one old crone. 'What have the gods done forme,' she said, 'that I should weep for Balder? Let Hela keep her dead.'Thus Balder's fate was s
ealed, and with it the fate of the world;for justice, mercy, virtue, and true bravery ceased to prevail withBalder's death, though they did not entirely cease to exist. I knownot why the All-father, in his wisdom, has submitted to this evil. Butit can only be for a time. The Son of God will rise again in triumph.I sometimes think that he has risen, though as yet we know it not."Then the far-off look came again into Alca's blue eyes, and during therest of her speech she gazed into the heavens. The boys listened almostbreathless.

  "I think that God has risen to redeem the world," she resumed. "I amimpelled to this belief, though I know not why, or by what guidingpower. But misfortune and sorrow will not end--not yet. Coelred,Hereric, Oswith, Forthere, Porlor, I love you as very dear brothers.It is perhaps by reason of my love that insight is given to me. Thereis borne into my mind a feeling that some great calamity is impendingover you all, and that it will fall upon you together. In this thereis a ray of comfort." She paused, and Coelred said, "If misfortuneovertakes us, O Princess, we will strive to meet it as Englishmen, assons of our brave fathers, ever victorious in battle!" "And," saidOswith, "in all our troubles we will ever remember the goodness of ourbeloved Princess." Forthere spoke words like those of Coelred, whichwere echoed by the younger boys.

  "Of that I am certain," continued Alca. "You will quit yourselves likemen--above all, like Englishmen. If you are together in your trials,Coelred will be your leader. The fearless Oswith will be your support,and will help to form your plans. Forthere, too, will be a trustyfriend. Porlor will be most shrewd as an adviser, and his rede shouldbe followed; and my sweet cousin Hereric will enlighten counsels by hisimagination. O my boys! remember that if sorrow comes, Alca is prayingfor you and thinking of you. Always act as if the Son of God had risen.Be brave. Love one another. Love truth. Be just and merciful. If youhear that God has truly risen, then remember my words. Be true toyourselves, and you will triumph in the end. May the gods watch overyou!"

  There was a long silence. Alca rose and turned homewards, surrounded bythe boys with their sweet burdens. Anxious to turn their thoughts fromthe solemn and depressing theme on which she had been led to dwell fora time, by a force beyond her control, the Princess sang them a merrysong, and talked to them of the return of their victorious fathers,which was expected on the following day. When the party reached Aldbyall were chatting and romping, and the boys turned into an inner courtto exercise themselves in feats of strength.

  Next day the King arrived. Ella was a large man, like his brother,but he looked much older, worn with illness, and his expression wasmelancholy and somewhat stern. Elfric rode by his side, Seomel,Guthlaf, Brand, and the other chiefs followed, and there was a goodlyarray of English warriors. They dismounted at the Roman colonnade,and were soon surrounded by wives and children. The great feast thatnight in the old praetorium was ordered and arranged like that ofSeomel, but on a much larger and more regal scale. The Queen herselftook round the mead-cup to the guests, and when she retired there weresongs of victory, and the harp was passed from one to another. Onewarrior had recited the events of the campaign, and received greatapplause. Another told of the surprise of the Billingas by the crueland treacherous Certicus. Late in the evening Coifi took the harp, andselected for his song the warning of Hrothgar to Beowulf on the frailtenure of human life. This choice was resented by some of those presentas being intended to have reference to the King; but Ella himselfapproved, and the gleeman continued as follows:--

  Soon will it be That sickness or the sword Shall part thee from power; Or clutch of fire, Or wave of flood, Or gripe of sword, Or javelin's flight, Or ugly age, Or glance of eye Shall oppress and darken thee.

  This melancholy dirge concluded the feast, and before another year hadpassed King Ella was in his grave.

  The time of parting came only too soon. The Lady Volisia, with herdaughters and the children of Elfric, returned to Stillingfleet. TheAtheling himself, with Seomel, proceeded to York to make furtherpreparations for strengthening the frontier posts, and it was arrangedthat Seomel should go thence, with supplies of weapons and stores, toBilbrough, Calcaria, and Ulfskelf, before returning home. He was totake a large escort of Stillingas, and, to their great joy, the threeelder boys and Porlor were to accompany him.

  The Atheling and those who were to go with him to York took leaveof the King and Queen. But when the boys came to say farewell to thePrincess Alca their hearts were too full for words, and tears were intheir eyes. They loved and worshipped her, they would all have died forher, but not a word could they say. She spoke very gently and calmly,repeating what she had said yesterday. "Remember my words. Be true toyourselves, and may the gods watch over you."

  After the cavalcade started, the boys looked back again and again,waving their caps, until the graceful form under the colonnade was lostto sight. When would they see her again? Ah, when!