The Noble Warrior

The

Noble

Warrior

Michael O’Gara

Copyright 2014 - Michael O’Gara

All rights reserved.

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This is a fictional work coming from the author’s imagination.  Any similarity to actual persons, events, places, organizations and companies, is purely coincidental.

Published by Heartland Indie Publishing LLC

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 1 - Incursion

Colum was watching with almost contemptuous disdain as the young noblemen trained.   These young men had refused to continue to spar with Colum when he had reached his eleventh birthday, even though most of them were three to four years older than he was.  He had gone to the real warriors and found a master at arms to train him.  He knew Aet would have trained him for free because Colum was his father’s son.  Colum though had insisted on paying Aet.  Colum had been trained to kill, not spar, and he now appreciated the difference as he watched these pompous young men.  None of them would now last a minute against him and Colum knew it. 

Colum would not turn sixteen for several days and yet the seasoned soldiers were now sparring with him two on one and most often were getting the worst of the sparring and very quickly.  Colum had bruises, but not as many as those he faced.  He had gained the respect of the real fighting men of his father’s men-at-arms.

Colum thought about his older brothers Breet, Corman, Gordum and Vack and the foolish way they spent their allowances on wine, cronies and women.  Colum spent his money on the best training, chainmail armor, and spear.  He also was armed with the finest blades and owned two sturdy battle trained mounts.  What money he had not spent on things of lasting value, he had saved. 

Unlike his brothers he had not given in to the temptations of the young servant girls who had tried to seduce him.  Colum knew his brothers were soft, yet thought themselves great warriors.  Colum’s older brothers had highly inflated opinions of themselves.  Colum’s younger brother Krey was the invisible one who none of the brothers hardly saw.

Colum noticed Browd coming and greeted him, Hail, Captain Browd.

Browd laughed, Aren’t we formal this morning, friend Colum.   Though it was not proper for the Captain to address Colum so, they were in fact comrades at arms and friends.  Browd had taken a personal interest in Colum as his training progressed.  Browd and Colum had bonded in the way only fighting men do.

Browd watched the young nobles training.  He said, It is sad to watch.

Colum said, Yes.  It is sad to think my older brothers may be leading men into battle.

Browd spat and said, If they do command, I pray for their sakes and mine, it is from the rear.

Colum laughed, Well said, Browd.  Colum then added, I should not make light of it for it is a dangerous situation.

Browd said, A man cannot train for war by being coddled.

Colum nodded in agreement.

Browd said, Your father wants you to come to him.

Colum said, Of course.

Colum strode off to his meet his father.  Lord Dordun was a capable ruler and under his rule the land had prospered.  He was a respected warrior and had keen mind for administration as well as politics.  Dordun was no fool.  He had sired six sons and knew his seed had been wasted on all but two and they were the youngest, Colum and Krey.   Dordun thought it was unfortunate the line of succession did not run through young Colum or his younger brother Krey.  Dordun nevertheless had a plan for Colum and this would be the first step.  It was a risky path he would set his son on, but it was perhaps the only road that would allow him to survive.  Dordun could only hope Krey would stay invisible to his brothers.

Colum came into the room and took a knee and bowed his head, Majesty, you called for me?

Dordun smiled and sighed.  Dordun knew Colum was the only one of his sons who gave him a warrior’s respect and really loved him.  Dordun said, Stand up, my son.  I have a mission for you.

Colum stood, It is my honor to serve you, father.

Dordun said, It seems we have a problem with raiders near our border with Lord Raul.  I want a stop put to them.  I want you to take a dozen men-at-arms of your choosing and go to the border.  I know you are not yet sixteen, but you will be before you get to the border. In any case you are the only son I can trust with this mission.  Sit.

Colum did as he was told and sat.  Colum said, Father, if you are sending me that means you must suspect a lord is behind the raids and is hiding his intent.

Dordun nodded, You have a keen sense, Colum.  I suspect Lord Raul is behind the raids and is using mercenaries to test our strength and resolve.  My spies report the raiding band consists of twenty raiders.  If we defeat them with a lesser number led by one of my younger sons, it will discourage Raul from greater adventures which will be both costly and dangerous.

Colum said, When do you want me to leave, father?

Dordun said, Tonight.  Choose a dozen men knowing you will be fighting a larger number.

Yes, father.

Dordun said, You may keep all plunder you confiscate from the raiders, but that part is to be kept secret.  I will provide you with money for expenses.  Remember always that you represent me. 

I will, father.

Dordun smiled, Good, then be about your business of getting prepared and say nothing of this to your brothers.  I have a sealed letter for you.  Do not open it until your birthday.  The other you may open when you are away from here.  You may be about the business of ridding me of enemies. 

Dordun handed Colum the letters and a purse which Colum put in the case on his belt.

Colum said, Yes, Majesty, as he gave his father a head bow and left the room.

Dordun sighed deeply as Colum left the room.   He hoped his second youngest son was up to the challenge.  The whole plan depended upon his being able to complete this mission successfully.  If God was willing, Dordun’s plan for Colum might come to fruition.

Colum knew for the plan to be in accordance with his father’s wishes, it must be clear he commanded.  That meant that choosing any of the senior ranks was out of the question.  Colum went looking for Browd and found him standing alone on the walls.  He went and stood beside him.

Browd said, I enjoy coming here to just to appreciate the splendor of God’s creation.

Colum nodded.  He waited a minute then said, My father is sending me on a mission and my leaving is to be kept from my brothers until I am gone.  I will be taking twelve men of my choosing.  We leave a nightfall when everyone is dining.  I want Aet and Herewell.   I also want the nine I spar with regularly as well as the young Malvit.  I want them to have extra mounts.

Browd asked, Are you sure you want Malvit.  He is young and untested.

Colum said, Yes and so am I, but we will do what is required.

Browd nodded, I’ll have them assembled and ready at the appropriate time.    

Browd watched Colum stride away and thought the young lad has a keen mind.  The soldiers he is taking know he is capable and they will be more likely to trust him.   Malvit would be motivated because he knew this was his chance to prove his worth.

Colum went to his rooms and laid out his things.  He packed his bags and included the copies of the maps of the northern roads.  He took his personal savings from his hiding place and put it in the special belt he’d had made.  He put the belt on under his clothes and went to the chapel where he spent time in prayer.  Colum and Krey were the only brothers who could truly be said to be Christians, though his other brothers pretended they were.  Colum knew they were as much heathens as the raiders who travelled up the rivers.

At the appointed time, Colum was at the stables ready to leave. He greeted those going with him silently with arm clasps.  He saddled his primary mount and put a lead rope on the other.  They led their mounts to the gate where Colum embraced Browd then led his party through the gate.  Outside the walls they mounted and quietly rode off.  No one would know they were gone until the next day. 

The road they were taking was good and they rode until early morning when a guard was set and they had a dismounted rest without making camp.  They were on the road at dawn and rode all day.  That evening Colum found a very defensible place and they made camp.  Colum gathered everyone.

The men sat on the ground as Colum spoke for the first time other than to give orders.  He looked around at the band, Lord Dordun has sent us on an important mission.  Raiders have been striking at the northern border.  We are going to put a stop to them.  Colum paused.

The seasoned men looked around at each other. 

Colum continued, I intend for all of us to come back in one piece.  To that end we will fight at a time of our choosing and strike with surprise if possible.  It is no accident that four of you have been extensively employed as scouts and we have extra mounts.  When we get close to the enemy, we will become shadows being everywhere and nowhere.  It is not enough that we defeat the raiders.  We must strike fear into those who may escape so they spread tales of the fierce warriors who serve Lord Dordun.  Enjoy the fires tonight because it may be a while before we have campfires again.  Now eat and sleep.  We will need our strength.

The band set out in the morning.  For two days they travelled north searching for the raiders.  On day three they saw the smoke.  Colum hid the band and sent out scouts.  The first scout came back within an hour, The raiders burned and sacked a village.  They are headed east.  There are about twenty according to villagers I found in the woods.

Colum pulled out his maps, There is a village to the east, but it is small.  To the southeast there is a more sizable town, and there is a monastery and shrine there.  It would be where I’d go if I was a raider.  We move east. 

Everyone knew the other scout would catch up.

The band moved slowly knowing they had less distance to travel than the raiders and they could conserve their horses.  They had been travelling for twenty minutes when they heard a rider coming and set a trap.  It turned out to be their scout.

Colum asked, What did you learn?

About fifteen are headed for the monastery and five toward the small village.

Colum turned to Aet, Take two men and fall on the five.  Slaughter them as an example, take spoil, and then join us.  I will take Herewell and the others to the monastery to slay the rest.

Aet said, Yes, sir.

Colum motioned forward and they set off at an increased pace.  Close to the monastery Colum sent Herewell out to scout.  He came back and reported. 

They have not reached the monastery yet.  I found a good place for an ambush, but we’d better hurry.

The place Herewell had chosen was a very good spot.  The woods on either side were dense and the road narrow.  The band hid their mounts and set their ambush.

Colum said as the men were readying to take positions, Make quick work of it so we can reinforce Aet, though I doubt he’ll need us.  Do not attack until I give the war cry.

The men nodded understanding.

The raiders came.  Two riders led and the rest were on foot.  Colum was in a position to take the rider on the left.  When the rider was almost parallel to him, Colum broke from cover and, giving a war cry, speared the rider from his horse.  Herewell took the other rider with a spear.  Colum’s sword was out and he was into the two men behind the riders before they had realized what was happening.  He killed the first man before he drew his sword. The second man, though strong, was no match for Colum’s speed and he fell quickly.  Colum looked around but there was no one left to engage because the raiders were all dead.  The raiders were just bandits and not up to engaging trained warriors.  One was moaning and one of Colum’s men looked at him and Colum nodded.  The man was executed.  

Colum heard riders coming and said, Shield wall with spears.   The men formed a barrier across the road as Aet and his two men rode toward them.  Colum walked from the line, Greetings, Aet.

Aet smiled, I see you didn’t need us, My Lord.

Colum turned, Is anyone wounded?

The men all looked around and Herewell said, No.

Colum turned and ordered, Strip these men of valuables and hang their bodies from the trees for the birds.   It will be a warning for other raiders.

Aet said, For a quick and painless death, one of the raiders told that there was another party about to the west.

Colum sent two scouts on fresh mounts telling them they would follow to the west shortly.  He set guards and the men gathered the spoil and it was packed for later distribution.  The band finished their work and then headed north to the western road.  They had been riding for about two hours when the scout