In Summer of the year 485 Sir Elad did bid the squires Arne, Riain, Saethwyr, Sisu, and Falcus to go from Castle Vagon to the village of Imber in pursuit of a beast sore afflicting the local folk, who claimed it to be ten foot in height and belching flame. There they did learn that many local men had been slain by the beast, which they reckoned in truth a bear maddened by disease or injury. None of the village-folk would venture into the fields or woods for fear of it.

The next day squires did pursue the beast through the forest. Squire Saethwyr cunningly set out a bait of old meat athwart the clearing in which the beast had last killed a villager, and straightaway the mighty bear was drawn to the bait. Squires Riain and Falcus came upon the bear as it paced about the clearing, and were sore beset by it. Quires Sisu, Saethwyr, and Arne came about straightaway to lend their assistance, but the bear through some base animal cunning laid low both Squire Saethwyr and Arne. Squire Sisu accompanied by Squire Falcus did bring the creature to ground where they smote it hard and with great vigor. Squire Sisu blooded the beast, and as Squire Riain rose up to lend his own hand and arm, Squire Falcus did smite it so with his lance that it was the work of minutes to pull the lance from the body of the bear afterward.

While returning to Vagon the squires saw a goodly farmer beset by brigands. They did ride upon them and did fearsome injury slaying two and sore wounding the others who were then captured and brought bloodied to Castle Vagon. On the squires' return Sir Elad showed great gladness and gave praise to all. The squires and their prisoners were brought to Sarum forthwith to give their report, and the Earl Roderick gave voice to gladness that the Squires had accomplished these things, and so ordered that two weeks hence they were to stand vigil and thereafter receive their knighthood, and afterwards there would be a feast of rejoicing in their honor, for the County of Salisbury was sore pressed for knights to fill its ranks, and rumor grew by the day of King Uther Pendragon desiring greatly to wage war upon King Ælle of Sussex.

Fortnightly, the squires were knighted. Sir Arne lay rightly in his bed and passed by the festivities, but the other knights were not so dismayed from their celebration. Sirs Riain and Saethwyr made advances towards the wooing of the Ladies Gwiona of Ford, and Indeg. The Lady Indeg was much pleased with the tales of foreign lands brought forth by Sir Saethwyr, and bid him join her in future to discuss such things more deeply. Sir Riain befriended Sir Gwerin of Ford, speaking of a merger of families and a control over a larger portion of the Bourne River. Sir Gwerin proved receptive to the idea and made known that he would consider such a merger of houses and lands to a knight who had proved himself in battle.

Dame Sisu was upbraided mightily by the brash Sir Malicon over a matter of weapon preference, and Sir Malicon, already somewhat in his cups, made the affair a matter of honor. The following day, they met in a dueling circle outside the Great Hall of Sarum, attended by many who were at the knighting feast, including Earl Roderick and the representative from King Uther himself, Sir Madoc, Bastard of Uther. As war loomed as Salisbury had few knights to spare, the Earl decreed that this duel be fought for love. Sir Malicon proved overrash, and in his blind charge at Dame Sisu overstepped his caution. Sisu stepped wide and smashed her pommel into his nose, smashing him to the ground and winning the duel. All who saw the duel were much impressed, and Sir Madoc himself commented approvingly upon her martial bearing.

The true purpose of Sir Madoc in Salisbury came then to light. He passed orders from the High King to assemble the knights of Salisbury with great haste, and join the army of the King that even now was mustering to make great war upon the encroaching Saxon threat. As the newest knights in Salisbury, Sirs Saethwyr, Falcus, Riain, and Dame Sisu joined the host, while Sir Arne remained behind, far from death, but far from good health as well.

They rode swiftly to the king's encampment some days distant. There they made their preparation, and found themselves placed along the front line under the charge of the Marshal of Salisbury, Sir Elad. There they rode upon the Saxons who were arrayed along the bank of the Mearcred Creek, where their charge did do great devastation to the enemy.

The battle continued for many hours, and each knight overbore many foes. The first charge had bitten deep into the Saxon lines, and the knights passed through a horde of Wotan's Men who, shocked at the swiftness of their charge, scarce raised a weapon to defend themselves before being right ridden down into the mud. The Wotan's Men broke and scattered, and continuing their charge the knights found themselves suddenly intertwined with a group of hill men who fought in naught but leather hides, with the great skulls of horses as their only head covering. The bravery of the knights and their horses held firm, and as the horse-skull warriors were surprised as the knights themselves that the tides of battle had forced them together, the knights forced the horse-skull warriors to retreat away in confusion and terror.

Then it came to pass that the knights found themselves in a lull in the midst of chaos. Looking about, Sir Elad saw a group of warriors, polished weapons glinting in the light and with gilt clearly visible stamped into their helms, moving forward from the Saxon reserve and prepare to attack. Elad spoke to the knights saying, "Stay calm and hold here, for we can break these wealthy warriors. Heed not their gold, for glory is wealth beyond measure, and these warriors are the only line between ourselves and a great Saxon chieftain up there on the near bank of the creek. Win this battle and he is ours for the taking." And the knights were calmed, and the wealthy warriors attacked the knights with sound and fury and were repulsed, and were nothing.

The path now was clear to the chieftain, and Sir Elad spurred his horse on shouting, "Now! Have at them now! By god's grace we prevail!" The blue-cloaked bodyguard of the Saxon chief took the knight's attack, and spurred to vicious heights they were with loyalty for their chief, they could not prevail against the knight's down right blows. The knights seemed to bear a charmed life, which could not yield to someone Saxon born. Many of the Saxon guards were slain, Dame Sisu fought two at once. Sir Elad was toppled unharmed from his horse and fought on as though he hardly missed the beast. Sir Falcus was sore beset by a bodyguard and took injury, but prevailed. Sir Riain himself alone dueled the Saxon Chief, and as the pagan chief cried out a terrible curse upon the knight, Sir Riain split his head asunder down indeed to the nave of his belly.

The Saxon army, beset on many sides and pushed back into the creek, was already on the verge of flight. When it was known that the chieftain holding their right side had been slain, the army collapsed, First one, then a dozen, then a half hundred turned and ran for their lives. The Saxon army broke apart and scattered to the winds and one in three were ridden down like dogs and like dogs in the dirt they died, never again to plague civilized shores. Sir Falcus, suffering already from his earlier wound, was struck by a cowardly javelin thrown from inside a Saxon camp tent. He survived the battle and was recovered forthwith by his squire, and would remain bedridden for some weeks after the battle.

Much glory and loot was had of this decisive victory for King Uther, though the good news was tempered with bad. King Aethelswith it was said had sailed from Kent with his continental army and also many warriors from King Hengest. They landed near Maldon and pillaged widely until Duke Lucius did muster his army and met them south of Colchester. The fighting was said to be fierce, but the Saxons prevailed and the duke had to retreat to Colchester. British refugees fled into the Quinqueroi Forest but were pursued and enslaved by the hundreds.

The mood in the kingdom over Christmas was tense and changed daily between hopeful and somber. There was great joy for the mighty victory achieved by the knights of Salisbury, but all knew the fighting was no nearer to ending.

-END 485

In the year 486 of our Lord Jesus Christ the Salisbury companions visited about the county, where they comported themselves well and pursued friendships and courtships among the notables there. Sir Saethwyr did visit the Lady Indeg and share with her the entirety of his experiences from the continent, and was left much exhausted but held in high regard by the Lady. Sir Riain and Sir Arne learned to their mutual dismay that they pursued the same woman; Lady Gwiona, daughter of Sir Gwerin of Ford. The Lady was smitten by Sir Arne's charms and desired greatly to see more of him, but her father and Lord saw Sir Riain as a stronger match wherein a joining of families would benefit both and exert a strong control over the River Bourne. Dame Sisu met socially at Ford with Sir Ifon and Sir Cassian, both respected bachelors comfortable with a female knight, and came away singularly unimpressed with each man, though in a surprise to many without breaking either's nose. Sir Falcus himself asked after the Lady Arwen, making his interest plain and composing hymns to praise God in her name, hiring even a traveling bard to sweetly sing them. Perhaps the greatest surprise came from Dame Aelflaed, who upon meeting the Lady Elaine struck off immediately and powerfully with a mutual infatuation; the two were seen much in each other's company and the rumor of Dame Aelflaed's heresy was the talk of many tongues.

In late summer, the Companions were ordered to take themselves hence from Sarum and patrol the lands of Earl Roderick in search of Saxons, bandits and other miscreants disturbing the king's peace. While about their duties they spied an elderly peasant upon the road, rudely dressed and wild of hair. He prayed their indulgence to assist him in the recovery of a goat which they promptly agreed to do having little better with which to pass their day.

The companions mounted a nearby hill upon which the goat could be seen, but were puzzled by its unusual size suggesting an unnatural aspect to the beast. As they reached the summit the creature bounded off to a nearby woods. They made pursuit, but the goat vanished into the woods, gave out a great cry and suddenly a three-eyed giant lumbered forth holding the goat in one mighty fist.

The giant was some fifteen foot in height. The mighty creature he saw the knights and tucked the goat ever deeper under his arm, clearly intending to fight all assembled for his dinner. He hurled a rock which came so close to Sir Falcus that he could feel its breeze, then ripped a small tree from the turf and did press upon them. Those knights who were bravest counter-charged the onrushing leviathan, and a great battle was joined.

The battle waxed for some time. The knights pressed often, inflicting many wounds but little injury. Oft their shields bore the brunt of the giant's wrath, and oft did they turn aside the giant's blow with their own weapons, injuring and angering the giant still further. Dame Sisu did prick the giant's hand causing him to drop his tree-club and Sir Arne and Sir Falcus did wreak greater wounds upon the monster. Its blood flowed freely. In time the knights did smite the giant so frequently that his blood flowed turning the ground a red marsh. The giant dropped from weariness and wounds, and with much gladness the knights did home their weapons, bored of patrol no longer.

As they recovered, the peasant approached, threw up his hands and appeared clad in robes, with a shining skullcap and beard neatly trimmed. He identified himself as Merlin and as the Companions had proved their puissance ordered them to follow him and attend upon his needs. And thus the wizard and knights did proceed into the forest there to seek Merlin's unknown purpose. The way henceforth was tangled and grown over, so both horses and squires were left at the forest's edge.

The party continued on and came to a further clearing near a lake. A barge rested near the shore, and as Merlin proceeded to it he ordered the knights to protect him and pointed off towards the lake. From a copse of water-trees charged forth a horseman armed with sword in each hand, yet man, horse and swords were all green in colour. Though it was evident that no horse could easily pass such terrain this steed moved with unerring nimbleness, and as they advanced two further arms erupted from the man' sides and each held a sword as gleaming and deadly as the first. In desperate defense the Companions formed like unto a Saxon shield-wall between Merlin and their assaulter, a creature of the fae known to Sir Saethwyr as a nuckalavee.

The creature rode down upon the knights and they fought it long and hard. It bludgeoned and slashed mightily mightily about itself with its sword, dealing damage most cruel to Sir Saethwyr and Sir Falcus. As the battle progressed it became apparent that this was not horse and rider, but a creature partaking of both for the two were joined and in fact one beast. When cut it issued water in place of blood, and bellowed fury yet without speaking.

Weight of numbers and Sir Riain's desire to overcome his reluctance to fight the Giant did finally combine to slay the creature, which then dissolved into slime and water. Sir Saethwyr and Sir Falcus were most sorely wounded, and Dame Sisu and Sir Arne lent what help they may. Meanwhile they observed that Merlin had stepped into the barge which without pilot had moved into the middle of the lake. From there a hand came from the water bearing a gleaming sword. Merlin seized it and the boat returned him to shore. He tucked the naked blade into his robes and to each who bore wounds of the battle past he laid hands upon them and healed them in full.

Merlin led the knights back to their squires and left them there, pointing to a path from the woods and urging them not to leave it for fear of their lives. They did not, but when they emerged they saw and waved to their squires, and upon thanking Merlin for the quest they saw him naught, nor had any seen him depart. Such is the way of wizards.

With this the knight returned to Sarum the Earl was most amazed by their adventures, but cautioned the Companions to keep the tale to themselves, as Merlin would like as not prefer his comings and goings to remain secret to those he had not entrusted with his protection.

-END 486

In the year 487 King Uther did come to the Earl's court and a great Christmas feast, known to the world thereafter as the Great Sword Feast, was held in the early part of the year while winter still reigned. Many were the gifts that were given, King Uther knew each man by name and pressed each with reward taken from his own hand. The Salisbury Companions were given a place of honor in the ranks of Salisbury knights for their deed in helping Merlin and the glory of their victories against the Saxons had not yet waned, and in honor of their actions for his son at Mercred Creek Uther rewarded the Companions with Libra above and beyond their due.

As the feast proceeded and each gift eclipsed the last, Merlin entered the hall. He spoke in admiration of the treasures proffered the king, but sad that he had yet one further gift to bestow. Reaching under his cloak he pulled forth a blade that shone brightly in the light of the feast's candles. "Excalibur," he proclaimed, "the sword of victory!"

All cheered, and the Companions were pleased they had kept their earlier sighting of the sword secret from all but their liege, so allowing Merlin his moment of drama. The king spoke "Surely now," he said, "no one can stand before me."

"All you need do," replied Merlin, "is to remain just."

The Sword Feast lasted long into the night. Dame Sisu made generous assistance to those who needed it, and befriended a contingent of knights from Dorestshire. Sir Arne and Sir Riain made each advances towards Lady Gwiona and Sir Gwereth, as they sought the Lady’s hand in marriage. The evening for them ended with Sir Riain laying drunk upon a bench with Sir Gwereth near on to him, and Sir Arne with a better understanding of his lady but only somewhat closer to her hand, though unbeknownst to him she was deeply affectionate for the young knight. Dame Aelflaed made social graces through the evening until somewhat inebriated she met in the hall with Lady Elaine and did confirm the rumors of their relationship; their flirting turned public and much comment was made upon the impropriety, though much comment was also tinged with jealousy as the two left the feast early and together.

Sir Saethwyr seemed to steal the focus of the evening by brazenly proposing to Lady Indeg, who, appreciative of the knight and entertained by his company and courtship, did accept the proposal. It was however Sir Falcus who drowned all other comment. Early in the evening he did compose a heartfelt song upon his harp in honor of Earl Roderick and his sense of justice and fairness that was unparalleled among the kingdom that did occasion much applause and appreciation. His pursuit of the Lady Arwen was becoming known, and he found himself opposed by Lady Arwen’s chaperone, a formidable woman who considered him too libertine for her ward, stating that she was promised instead to Sir Jaradan. Indeed, when Sir Falcus asked the Lady for a chaste dance, Sir Jaradan showed his colors (known already to Dame Sisu) and interfered in the Christmas Peace, even insofar as striking a blow against Sir Falcus. The flagrant breach of etiquette rendered Sir Falcus speechless in mingled shock and righteous anger, and he warred with himself, for the answer to a blow was a sword, and Sir Jaradan was perhaps the best swordsman in the county. In appreciation for the earlier ode to his sense of justice and in anger at both the breach of Christmas Peace and of the way Sir Jaradan had been earlier rude to Countess Ellen, Earl Roderick at this time stepped in to the dispute, rebuking Sir Jaradan terribly and all but banishing him from court for the year.

Earl Roderick then apologized for Sir Jaradan’s conduct to save face before King Uther, and asked Sir Falcus if there was something he could do to right the wrong caused by the untoward blow. Sir Falcus asked the Earl simply for his blessing in the courtship of Lady Arwen, while everyone expected him to ask for her hand outright. Impressed at his generosity in even then giving the Lady a choice to reject his advances, the Earl granted his blessing, but Lady Arwen then astonished the court even further by telling Sir Falcus, “You need not pursue what you already have,” and the court rejoiced at a second forthcoming marriage.

As much of the focus had been on the Companions, those who were not love-besotted were asked by the Earl for a toast to close the evening. Dame Sisu made the place of honor by stating, “My boon companions, Saethwyr and Falcus, and the lovely ladies Indeg and Arwen, your nuptial announcements bring much joy to our feast. May your unions be fruitful, and may your issue live long to serve both Earl Roderick’s line and the House of Pendragon for generations to come.”

In light of their service and a private accolade from Merlin on their behalf, the Companions were granted the privilege of either accompanying King Uther and Earl Roderick on their voyage north to the County of Lindsey to deal with a recalcitrant earl, or to accompany Prince Madoc on his raids against Saxon shipyards in the summer. Hating Saxons as all good Britons do, the Companions chose the latter, and joined Madoc’s Hearty Hundred, much the same band who had struck against the Saxons the year before.

The Hundred landed first at Pevensy and attacked the Saxons on the beaches. The Companions, under the command of Arne, slipped through a gap in the Saxon lines, cut down the surprised Wotan’s Men on board the docks, and were able to acquire some small trinkets and goods before lighting the ships and burning them to the waterline.

The next battle occurred just south of Dover, and the battle went ill for the Britons. While the Companions drove into the Saxon lines, their attack stalled, and the squires and sailors of the Hundred instead burned the ships of the Jutes by firing flaming arrows into their sails. Sir Arne and Sir Riain each took prisoner a wealthy Saxon warrior for later ransom. The remaining men of Madoc then set sail up the Blackwater River and landed at Maldon. Only a few Saxon ships were present, and were easily burnt without a fight, being abandoned by their guards at the sight of Briton sails.

The fleet set sail yet again, and in the bay where the Blackwater meets the Colne, they were themselves attacked from the fog by the fleet of the East Saxons, who set upon the Hundred while the Britons were unawares. Riain and Arne lay abed while the other Companions manned the deck. A Saxon landing boat crashed into the beam of the Companion’s ship. Sisu immediately gave orders to lay hands on axes and cut the grapples lashing the vessels together. The grapples were cut and the first wave of boarders, isolated from their comrades, was cut down by the defenders. The ships were re-grappled and the second wave leaped over the gunwales. Sir Falcus was sorely beset by many foes, but was saved by the rest of the Companions who slew the mighty Saxon Bear-skins and the other Saxons. As the fog broke it became clear that the fleet of Prince Madoc had secured a victory and the remaining Saxon ships fled and beached themselves upon the shore up the Colne River.

That afternoon the Hundred landed to attack and burn the last of the Saxon vessels, but the Saxons had called upon their nearby garrison for additional aid, and thus a genuine battle ensued. Prince Madoc seized the moment and charged his army forward as the two Saxon forces merged. Secure on the leftmost of Madoc’s force, the Companions found themselves facing surprisingly well-trained Saxon guardsmen. These drilled men gave the Companions a sore fight, and Sir Falcus was thrown down and dragged unconscious from the battle by his squire. The Companions broke free of these Guardsmen and bore down upon a group of Axemen unprepared for their assault and routed them to the winds. The breaking of the Axemen opened the way to the Saxon vessels guarded at the last by Wotan’s Men. The fight for the ships was hard-fought but the Companions triumphed and scattered the Men, plundering the supplies left by the vessels.

Returning in glory from their raiding, the Knights who had arranged for their marriages were granted that favor. Sir Falcus married the Lady Arwen, and Sir Saethwyr married the Lady Indeg. Sir Riain and Sir Arne required the intervention of Earl Roderick, both men pursuing the Lady Gwiona. Lady Gwiona insisted that she would throw herself from a tower were she made to marry a Christian due to the tragic fate of her previous four Christian suitors, and thus would not marry Sir Riain. Sir Gwerin insisted that she marry Sir Riain, caring not for her love for Sir Arne. Earl Roderick gently suggested that Sir Arne marry the Lady Gwiona and receive a single demense of her dowry, and Sir Riain marry Lady Signe, Gwiona’s younger sister, and receive both the other demense of Gwiona’s dowry and a demense of Earl Roderick’s enfeoffed to Sir Riain until the time of Riain’s death. All parties accepted the just compromise, and both Sir Riain and Sir Arne were married forthwith.

Three shocks awaited the Companions during the winter. Lady Indeg bore Sir Saethwyr a son, and Lady Arwen bore Sir Falcus twins, a son and a daughter.

In the year 488 the Spring Court was declared to be held in Winchester, and thus the Companions bade farewell to their families and babes new-born and journeyed east as the foremost of Earl Rodericks van. Their arrival at Winchester was well-heralded, and they took notice that for a third time, the flag of Duke Goloris of Cornwall was absent. There was a great muttering amongst those at court, and it was oft-said that the time of reckoning against the oath-breaker was nigh, but other affirs great and small would first be put right.

At court King Uther declared to all that he was held counsel with Praetor Syagrius, ruler of the city of Soissons in Neustria in the Northern Frankland, who had been overthrown by the barbarian tribes and beseeched Uther’s aid. King Uther had decided that as the Saxons still held little strength since their defeats in previous years, he could spare Prince Madoc and half his knights to assist the Praetor and strengthen the bonds between the lands. Earl Roderick then gave his newest Banneret – Lord Falcus – the choice of joining him on the expedition, or remaining behind to guard Salisbury. Falcus spoke bravely for the Companions and volunteered them to the Continent.

The Channel Crossing went forward apace, with calm seas and fair winds, and all gave grace to God for this rarity. Lord Falcus’s eschille landed early and took up quarters in a fishing village named Peres. They had scare made themselves comfortable when a messenger from the Earl found them. Praetor Syagrius wished to take state of the countryside, and rouse his supporters to his banner; the Earl was asked by Uther for some trusted knights to protect the Praetor on his travel, and the Earl had volunteered the Companions. Thus it was they took their leave of the army’s camp and they, and their squires, and the Praetor, and the Praetors few men, and rode off into the Eastern Wastes.

The Companions came early across the camp of a great many of the Praetor’s knights, though in the years in which the Praetor had journeyed in Britain for help most had become unhorsed. Sir Belemy, their commander, exclaimed that with the help of the Companions, he believed that they could take the village of Blessin and its breeding stables, and at once secure the line of march for Prince Madoc’s army and secure a great many mounts for his knights all in one stroke. The Companions debated long this question, for the oath had been laid upon them to let no harm come to the Praetor, and he himself would be riding south-east upon the morning to the Odon Valley to raise more men under his banner. The issue was decided when Sir Belemy declared that his men with mounts would accompany the Praetor, and the Praetor would raise more forces when traveling with his own men than a foreign lord’s.

The following day, bright-eyed and ready for the knights had not drunk to excess in the French camp, they made their way towards Blessin. Dismounting and removing their armor, they approached the village and saw that it was as yet lightly defended, though it controlled the road from the coast to Bayeaux. The lances of perhaps a half-dozen Frankish Knights flew afore the common hall of the town. With the smell of the horse-stables strong in their noses, the Companions recovered and approached the town openly and in parlay, intending to allow the Franks to surrender the village or retreat in good order as the mood took them. The Franks saw their approach and sent themselves a single rider out to meet them. In the no-mans-land, thus, it was Sir Arne and the Frankish knight who discussed the fate of the village.

But unbeknownst to the Companions, the other Franks in treachery had sent the knight out only to delay the Companions, for they hastily donned their armor and sent their squires scrambling to other buildings, raising the alarm to the Frankish Foot as they may. The Frank thus bought dearly the time for the other Franks to defend themselves, and when he felt that his countrymen had had sufficient warning, he suddenly became insulting and condescending to Sir Arne. He demanded a day for the Franks to decide to surrender or fight, intending to send for reinforcements from Bayeaux, but in his rudeness he pressed Sir Arne too hard, and Sir Arne’s pride bade him end the parlay and call for the attack.

So it was that the Companions and the unmounted knights of Sir Belemy attacked and took the village, overmatching the French Foot and the knights who defended it. Though some of the Companions were hard-pressed, none took serious injury, and the Franks were slain to a man. Dame Aelflaed even lanced with and defeated a Frank Viscount of some renown, and kept his shield with his arms as a trophy to hang above the triple bed at her estate. It was good for the knights that they had not decided to use Sir Saethwyr’s plan to use pitch barrels and burn down the palisade, for the town was dry and the thatch like tinder, and the entire village may well have gone up in flames and the valuable horses lost. Sir Arne, for his part in taking the town, claimed a pair of Andalusian-bred Chargers, which he planned to take back to his own estate and pair with his British-born horses.

Prince Madoc and Praetor Syagrius arrived at Blessin, and they were much pleased at its taking, for this accelerated their plans. Prince Madoc had expected to find Blessin held in strength against him, and congratulated the Earl on having such fine servants. The Companions, being gifted with the second-best building in which to take their rest while the army marched through, thus inadvertently overheard Prince Madoc conference with his Earls that evening. Voices ebbed and flowed in conversation. One voice rises loudly and forceful. A second speaks, they laugh. The third is sarcastic. The fourth is angry. Exchanges of anger and sarcasm but no insults. Finally, the nobles are loud enough that they can be heard clearly.

The prince slams his hand on the table and says, “Four weeks or one city, no more.” The council fell silent.

Later Sir Riaine found his father-in-law, and asked him about the events of that night. "Dear father, is it not against the king's will? Are we not to free Syagria from the Franks?"

Sir Gwerin flinched, a rarity for the straightforward and stalwart Lord of Ford. "Prince Madoc's council is not to be shared with the likes of you, nor I, nor any not invited to his table. Speak not of it again. Besides," and his tone softened, “the prince knows the King’s mind more than anyone.”

The army now marched forth. Upriver they travel and besiege to the city of Bayeaux. Summer rains drench the besieging army. Mud cakes everyone and everything. Prince Madoc, Praetor Syagrius, Earl Roderic, and the Companions all wait out the siege on the hill above Bayeaux's northern gatehouse.

The delay become long, and the Companions wished for somewhere else to be, and so they volunteered to accompany foragers and keep them safe while they found food for the army as it waited out the mud. They rode long, and upon the second day of their travels came upon a light emanating from the treeline of a dark and tall forest which they did not know. The light came from a great glass, emplaced above the door of some ancient fallen church of chapel, now lone and forgotten at the edge of the wood. Leaving the foragers on the hillside, the Companions rode forward to investigate.

Inside the chapel they heard a growling of many voices, and they girded themselves for combat, but the sound turned out to be only a pack of wolves which fled into the dark under the trees as they caught the scent of the approaching knights. The roof and much of the chapel’s walls had fallen, and the pews long since rotted into uselessness, but a stone altar still stood at the far end of the chapel. Riaine and Sir Saethwyr investigated the altar and a strange algae-choked pool in front of it, while Sir Arne moved about examining the boundary between the ruined walls of the chapel and the forest itself. Dame Sisu examined the marvelous glass, while the remainder waited outside for security’s sake. Dame Sisu saw that the glass was nearly perfectly clear; it had focused the late afternoon sun in such a way that it shone directed upon their path as they had been riding by and that light attracted their attention. The glass was perfect, save for one small flaw; a small round silver piece, the size of a coin, reflected a tiny ray of sunlight back inot the chapel.

Sir Arne noticed a gleam on the ground alongside the wall. As Riaine began demolishing the pagan altar and Sir Saethwyr extracted from the pool a brackish human skull, Sir Arne stepped near the gleam and a wet crack was heard through the chapel. Sir Arne fell through the floor and was lost to sight in the darkness. The Companions quickly found light and torch, and found that Sir Arne had fallen into a room, now almost knee-deep in water, which held two chests on small plinths, no doubt the treasure of the chapel’s long-lost inhabitants. Several Libra of Frankish silver was recovered, along with Sir Arne. Sir Riaine, meanwhile, discovered for himself a ruby-and-gold symbol – a bent cross – inside the altar, an icon of a dead religion which he kept as trophy for his own. The Companions returned to the encampment with what food and treasure they had recovered, just in time for the rains to have ceased long enough for the mud to harden and the true Siege of Bayeaux to begin.

After three days of feints and posturing, Prince Madoc gives signal to attack. Arrow fire concentrates on the gatehouse below the knights. Expendable Irish kerns assault the walls with ladders and spears. First one and then another mounts the city wall. Kerns take the gatehouse and begin to open the city doors. Fighting rages behind the door as it slows to a halt, still half opened. Madoc calls for a charge. Earl Roderick's battalion is first to reach the gate, with Lord Falcus in the place of honor and leading the charge. The fearful Frankish peasantry holding the gate looks to the field, sees the charging British forces, drop their weapons and run. The Companions formation largely disintegrates as they eagerly chase the fleeing Franks back into the city. Luck smiles upon them and they pull their lathered horses to a halt all at roughly the same time, though Sir Riaine was cut off from them, and angrily pulled back to camp when he realized he would never be able to make his way back through the twisted streets to find his companions again. Once they regrouped, it was a slow slog for the remaining Companions to the inner Donjon of the city. They fought elite foes, and Sir Saethwyr notably captured a banneret of the Franks at much peril to himself. The battle drew to its inevitable conclusion; the Franks in the streets were massacred, and the Franks in the donjon surrendered to Prince Madoc and the Praetor.

Bayeaux had fallen. The Britons sack Beyeaux. The great tapestry guildhalls and shearing houses are plundered. Irish kerns take to the streets pillaging and raping, broaching cask after cask of potent Calvados' distilled liqueur. Throughout the night revelry was punctuated by screams of a local woman in distress or a Frank being tortured and killed. The grisly scene churned until morning.

The noble knights stood above most of the rioting. The richest goods were looted from the church and town houses of the wealthy. Guard was set for higher personages. By midmorning of the following day our knights were once again in the courtyard of the donjon, loitering between duty and wondering when the army would set out for Soissons or Paris. A trumpet blast announces the arrival of Praetor Syagrius, resplendent with a retinue of knights bedecked in Roman gear and the eagle standard of the Empire. Syagrius rides up to Prince Madoc, who walks out of the donjon to greet the gallic king.

Praetor Syagrius rides close to Prince Madoc and dismounts dramatically as his fancy Roman bugler sounds the governor's call. Praetor Syagrius kneels before Madoc and with dramatic voice shouts, “Battle awaits us, Sire! The Franks march on my army at Rouen. Let us meet them and destroy them as your father swore!”

There is a moment of silence.

“We will not,” says the Prince, self-assured. “We have enemies at our borders and traitors in our west. We depart with the next tide.”

Syagrius is dumbfounded. “Your father swore…”

“I am not my father,” shrugs the prince regally.

The praetor seethes a moment, but then rises heroically and cries out, in Latin. “Then Victory to the Honorable! We go, and leave poison behind us.”

On the journey home, the ships filled with captured booty, the Companions realize with shock that Earl Roderick had boarded their vessel, encloaked so as not to be known, and asks to speak privately with them but a moment. “I may not agree with the Prince in all things, but I am a loyal servant of the crown, and in the King’s absence, the Prince is the crown. He does know best the mind of the King.”

King Uther holds Christmas Court in London. Rather than showing displeasure at abandoning Praetor Syagrius, King Uther and Prince Madoc toast each other throughout the winter months. Frankish booty fills Logres' coffers. Losses from the invasion were kept to a minimum. The Saxons were held at bay and Duke Cornwall refrained from any deviltry throughout the year, though clearly the time was nigh to bring the Duke to heel. A great Christmas feast is held and there is a great rejoicing that the fortunes of Logres seem now steadily on the rise. Of note at the feast is that Dame Sisu talked at length again with Sir Jareth, of the Manors Chevrell in northwest Salisbury. Already impressed with her prowess and the last son of a dying lineage, Jareth ended the evening with an impassioned proposal of marriage between their families, which Dame Sisu accepted, though as the lead in the relationship, and thus it would be her arms and line which would continue.

To close out the year, a Royal Hunt was held in the snow, for a boar kept healthy and fed in the castle for such an occasion. Tragedy nearly struck the Companions, however, for the wrong track was found and Sir Arne, Sir Saethwyr, and Sir Riaine found themselves, instead of cornering a boar, once again in near proximity to a hungry and angry bear, though one not nearly so large as the last. They slew the beast and took trophies of its teeth, claws, and pelt, and brought what meat there was back, to the general accolade of all.

Lady Ingrid, wife of Sir Saethwyr, bore yet another child, but died in childbirth and half her lands returned to the holding of Earl Roderick.