Arthur, King. William Speir

his escort, and the northern armies left Carn Fadrun the next morning and traveled the same roads that the northern army had taken to reach Gwynedd. Ambrosius spent a day with King Mor in Ebrauc before heading north to Bryneich.

      Several days after leaving Nudd-Lludd’s kingdom, Ambrosius crossed into Gododdin. Messengers had already notified Ygerna and Merlin of Uther’s death, and the people of Din Eidyn lined the streets leading to the hillfort’s causeway out of respect for their fallen king and for the High King of Britain.

      Merlin’s left leg troubled him, so he leaned on his staff as he waited at the gates, watching Ambrosius and Galerius approach the top of the causeway. The two men dismounted and greeted Gododdin’s regent. Merlin returned the greeting and then looked at Uther’s coffin, lying on the cart and draped with Uther’s standard – the gold boar on the field of dark blue. Merlin hobbled and clutched his staff as he escorted his guests and the cart carrying Uther’s coffin to the great house, where Ygerna waited with Arthur and Anna.

      Ygerna did her best to remain composed when she saw the coffin, but Uther’s death had hit her hard, and seeing the shrouded wooden box was almost more than she could bear. She greeted the High King and General Galerius, and she led them to the great hall for refreshments while Uther’s guards and servants prepared for the burial.

      “He died saving my life from an archer,” Ambrosius said to Ygerna and Merlin once the children had been taken to the nursery. “His sacrifice must be repaid.”

      Ygerna, looking distressed, suddenly stood. “My King, please forgive me. I need to be with my husband right now. Merlin, please take care of our guests until I’m able to return.”

      Ygerna left the great hall.

      “I’m sorry if I distressed her,” Ambrosius said to Merlin.

      Merlin shook his head. “She and Lord Uther loved each other very much. In an age where most marriages are arranged to benefit the parents, theirs was a love story like no other. It may take quite some time for her to recover from the loss.”

      Ambrosius nodded.

      “You were speaking about repaying Lord Uther’s sacrifice,” Merlin said.

      “Before I do that, I’d like to offer my sincerest condolences on the loss of your sons, Lord Merlinus. I can’t think of a more tragic loss than what you’re experiencing now.”

      “Thank you, my King. I know the soldier’s life, and they were proud to serve in Uther’s cavalry. Oh, and please call me Merlin. Most people do.”

      Ambrosius nodded and gestured to Galerius. “When I spoke with Ceretic after the siege at Dinas Emrys, he expressed concerns about keeping the northern borders safe without Uther. As I understand it, you’re no longer able to fight, and Uther’s master-at-arms was also killed in the fighting. That leaves you with no one to command or train Gododdin’s soldiers. General Galerius, here, has expressed an interest in becoming Gododdin’s new master-at-arms. In that position, he can train Prince Arthur in the arts of war, train Gododdin’s foot soldiers and cavalry in the same way my southern armies are trained, and lead Gododdin’s forces in battle. He’d make a fine commander for your army, and his knowledge of strategy and tactics is unrivaled.”

      Merlin looked at Galerius and Ambrosius. “I’m honored at the suggestion, my King. But I assume that your reasons for making this suggestion are not just out of an obligation to Lord Uther’s sacrifice.”

      Ambrosius smiled. “I’d heard that you were clever, Merlin. Yes, I do have an additional motive for wanting one of my generals posted in the north. For too long, the northern kingdoms and the southern kingdoms have had little to do with each other. It’s rare that we fight the same battles and celebrate the same victories. I need men in the north who will help bring both ends of Britain closer together. General Galerius can help me do that, with your help, of course.”

      Merlin nodded. “General Galerius, how do you feel about being posted this far north, away from your home?”

      “My home is with the army,” Galerius replied. “I go where my King commands.”

      “That’s not what I asked,” Merlin said. “Do you think you’d be happy here in the northern kingdoms?”

      Galerius nodded. “I spent time here as a boy – mostly in Strathclyde. I love all of Britain, from the southern coasts to the wild forests here in the north. I look forward to serving you and Gododdin.”

      Merlin nodded. “Then you are most welcome.”

      Ambrosius remained at Din Eidyn until after the funeral. Uther was buried next to his father on the ridge overlooking the village. Ygerna remained cloistered in her private chambers or with Uther’s coffin for most of the time that Ambrosius was there.

      After the funeral, Ygerna apologized to the High King for her absence. Ambrosius understood.

      Two days later, Ambrosius and the bulk of his escorts left Gododdin to return south. Two squads of foot soldiers and cavalry remained with Galerius to help train Gododdin’s soldiers and their future king.

Part II The Bear of the North

      Chapter 8

      Merlin limped along the corridors of the great house, concerned for the health of his queen. Less than three months after Uther’s funeral, Ygerna wasn’t herself. She barely ate or slept, and she cried often. She increasingly let Merlin handle her duties to the kingdom, in addition to his own duties as regent, while she remained cloistered in her apartments. The only thing that seemed to bring her any joy was the time she spent with Arthur and Anna.

      The Picts, upon learning of Uther’s death, wasted no time. Less than a week after Ambrosius left Din Eidyn to return to the south, the Picts descended on the villages along Gododdin’s northern borders like packs of wild dogs. They expected little resistance in light of Uther’s death. They weren’t prepared for General Galerius, Gododdin’s new field commander.

      Merlin and Galerius were in the great hall when the messenger arrived with news of the invasion. Galerius immediately left Din Eidyn, along with the cavalry forces housed in the hillfort and the two squads of foot soldiers and cavalry that Ambrosius had assigned to him. Riders were sent to summon the rest of Gododdin’s forces.

      Galerius knew that any delay in attacking the Picts would benefit the invaders and make it harder for Gododdin’s forces to push them back. He also needed a quick victory to prove to the Picts that Uther’s death didn’t leave Gododdin defenseless. Galerius weighed the risks and decided to attack, even though he was outnumbered by a considerable margin.

      He and his men from Din Eidyn slammed into the left flank of the horde of Picts attacking a village in northwest Gododdin. The men were anxious to punish the invaders for disturbing them during their time of grief, and they fought ferociously.

      The Picts tried to surround Galerius and his men, but the Gododdin cavalry simply rode through the invaders, turned around, and attacked from a different direction. The cavalry repeated this maneuver several times. The Picts, suffering terrible losses and unable to use their numbers to any advantage, panicked and ran. Galerius and his men pursued, leaving a trail of dead and dying Picts that stretched to Gododdin’s northern border.

      By the time the first squads of foot soldiers arrived, the Picts were in full retreat back across the border. Galerius thought about following them, but he decided that it was unwise to risk fighting the Picts on their own lands. He ordered the arriving foot soldiers to secure the border, help rebuild the villages, and tend to the wounded Gododdin people. Once he was satisfied that the Picts weren’t coming back anytime soon, he led the cavalry back to Din Eidyn.

      Merlin and Ygerna were in the great hall when Galerius returned a few days later and reported what had happened. Ygerna thanked the general for his swift action to save her people. He bowed and left the great hall to check on his men.

      Merlin looked