Free Hosker, G [Wolf Brethren 02] Saxon Revenge by Griff Hosker Page B

find that the land is now richer than it was and, if we can avoid war for a while then we will be even richer next year.”
    I put my arm around him.  “I am pleased with your efforts and hopefully we will have a year of peace.  We paid for it with our men’s lives.”
    “Garth told me what you did for the families of the dead.  It cannot make up for the loss but it can ease their burden.  It was a very Christian thing to do.”
    I wagged an admonishing finger at him.  “Then you do not know the old gods for they advocate that too.  It seems there are many similarities in our religions Brother Oswald.”
    “And for that I am grateful, my lord.”
    The next few weeks were blissful.  My wounds healed and the land flourished.  Aideen was soon with child and I found Castle Perilous to be more precious than I had ever dreamed possible. Brother Osric had been correct in his predictions and young men flocked to join the Wolf Brethren.  Some had come from Bernicia and remembered me from Metcauld.  A few came from Elmet; while others were Rheged men.
    Garth and I interviewed them when they arrived to find out how they left their lords.  The last thing any of us wanted was an irate lord or king complaining that we had stolen their young warriors but all appeared to tell the truth and said that they had left with their lord’s blessing. We divided them into three groups; horsemen, archers and warriors. The bigger men were put into either the warriors or the archers.  We decided which the best option was when we had seen them work.  With the training of the new men and the building of the warrior hall we were kept busy.
    Brother Oswald proved his value when he advised us on the construction of the stables and escape tunnel.  His wide reading had given him an insight into how it was done in the past and we were soon finishing off the stables and beginning the construction of the hall. The priest wanted an internal stairway but Garth and I dismissed that idea.  Brother Oswald looked perplexed.  “But it will mean you can move from the stables to the hall in winter and stay dry and warm!”
    “Aye and if we are attacked then it allows our enemies into our building.  With an external staircase one man can hold off an army.” He had shaken his head, he understood the logic but it merely demonstrated the futility of war; he was a practical man and would have put comfort ahead of defence.
    I had managed to avoid letting Aideen see my leg. Its appearance had not improved since the burning; the red, angry line snaked down my calf and the muscles had been ripped giving it a bumpy and uneven look. However we had one of those rare nights in Rheged when the night is hotter than the day and we both slept naked on the bed, allowing whatever breeze there was to wash over us. I must have been sleeping on my front when she awoke and as she stood in the first light of dawn she saw the savage scar which snaked from my knee to my ankle.  Her gasp awoke me.
    “When were you going to show me that?”
    I rolled over on to my back.  “I didn’t want to upset you and you could do nothing about it anyway.”
    “That is not the point.  We can have no secrets from each other.” She ran a long finger down its length. “Does it hurt?”
    “No but it aches in the wet weather.”
    She laughed, “Then we live in the wrong place, husband, for Rheged is wet almost every day.”
    “I know,” I said ruefully.
    The best parts of the day were those spent with my warriors.  The recruits were each placed under the care of one of my more experienced warriors. This was where I missed Raibeart for he was the greatest teacher of the bow.  I could also teach the bow but, as Garth pointed out, I needed to have a wider view.  He tried to do all those tasks which he felt was beneath the Wolf Warrior. Tadgh had grown bigger over the summer; in fact he had grown almost a hand span and broadened out considerably, to join the ranks of the warrior.