Ancient Banahgarian Chronicles

YEARS EIGHTEEN AND NINETEEN

YEAR 18

This year was cold, and the snow stayed on the ground for many months after Vetundaegher. Food was scarce and there was hunger across the land. There were battles between neighbouring tribes in Naen-Giata, and also in the Morr. The brothers Bjarn and Njall took their thanes to end the feud and made peace.

There were reports of travellers being waylaid and robbed. Masterless men roamed the country, heedless of the laws of the land.

A tale came to Ostrebrost, from an innkeeper who kept a tavern on the road between the town and the Morr. A lone traveller came to his inn and took a table facing the door. The innkeeper brought him a bowl of steaming broth and a mug of ale, and was thanked by the man. He noticed that he carried many fine weapons, a gilt-hilted sword and a fine long knife. This was clearly a man of wealth. Moments later, three wandering warriors followed him in, and took seats at a facing table.

These men were armed, and the innkeeper could tell that they were looking at the lone warrior with envious eyes. They noted his fine cloth and expensive weapons, and with their heads close together they made their plans to catch him unawares.

The warrior appeared not to notice the bandits, but slowly continued to eat his stew. It was the end of summer, and warm, and as he ate three black flies buzzed around his face. He ignored them and continued to eat in calm silence.

The masterless men at the other table decided to strike. They loosened weapons in sheathes and started to rise. At this moment, the three flies ceased their buzzing and landed on the table.

There was a flash of movement from the lone warrior, with a gleam of shining steel, and with sharp thuds he stabbed down onto the table three times with a knife that had not been in his hand a moment before. Each stab killed one of the flies.

The three bandits paused, having seen this display of speed and skill. They let their swords slide back into scabbards and quickly left the inn. The lone warrior calmly finished his stew and paid the innkeeper well.

As he reached down behind the table and picked up a long, scabbarded Greatsword, the innkeeper realised that the three masterless men had had a very lucky escape. For this man was Culain, son of Leowrac, one of the twelve brothers and one of the most powerful warriors in the land.

Culain slung his Greatsword across his back and left the inn. Bandits were cursing the land, and he had to ensure that the people were protected. Turning towards Ostrebrost, he set off towards the town at a steady jog.

He quickly sought out Kell, who was training with Narin, and told his younger brother this story. He also reported other stories from around the land of warriors with no lord, heedless of the laws of Banahgar and preying on the weak.

Kell listened closely, and nodded sadly at his brother's words.

"I know this. It cannot be allowed to continue. But it will not. Wait until Spring, my brother. I will call a witan and all must come. You will bring all your thanes who have studied and mastered the Greatsword."

Culain went away, back to his steading, and set his thanes to training hard through the winter.

And in the Autumn the Kotevari came again, marching up Ostrefjord and laying siege to Sudvirke.

Haell and Bran marched quickly south with their best thanes to give aid. And then they sallied forth, leading their men all armed with Greatswords, in a wide sword-wall. As Kell had taught, the well-wielded fence of swords outmatched the spear-ranks of Kotev. The spearmen were unable to thrust their sharpened iron into the Banahgarian forces, and the swordsmen came amongst their ranks, and slayed many, and they were dismayed and were routed.

YEAR 19

As Kell had decided the summer before, a witan was called in spring. And all the brothers came, and they brought sons and daughters who were now come of age. And they brought their most mighty thanes, Greatswords proudly on their backs.

Kell stood before them, as they were arrayed in many lines on the hillside of the Konnarstyrie. His brothers, these mighty men, stood alongside their warriors also. Kell was not their King but he knew they looked to him as a leader. He was the best of them, youth and strength in his hand, calm wisdom on his brow. And he spoke to them:

"I see you, my brothers. You have come, as I asked, and I thank you all. Before me I see armies, led by my brothers and by other mighty thanes. We are of one country but not of one army. The time has come to change that.

"I would ask for your oath. Not to me. Not to any of my brothers. Not to our King that was lost. No, I ask for you to declare an oath to your country. We will all swear and become one. One army, one brotherhood, one mighty sword to defend Banahgar.

"And it will be named the Claihed. Our mighty ancestors used this word for their swords, and the Greatsword we all now carry is the Claihedehmore. And this is how we will defend our land, against enemies from within and without, for evermore."

He unsheathed his mighty Greatsword, the first Greatsword, named Liosskurdthur, and held it aloft. Then he reversed it, resting the point on the ground with both hands around the hilt. Each man before him copied the gesture.

"So we will swear on our swords.

"This is my sword, named as Liosskurdthur,

"I am the sword of Banahgar, the Claihedehmore of the land,

"I will fight for Banahgar, and in battle I will be as Banahgar,

"I will not end my fight while I remain alive!"

And all the men before him copied his words. And once they had sworn he told his plans for them all. The Claihed would be formed, one mighty army to protect Banahgar's borders and to uphold the laws. The best swordsmen would instruct the others, and new fortresses would be built to house the many men and to provide places to teach, learn and practice. Members of the Claihed would go out abroad in the land and bring the masterless warriors, to join the Claihed if they would or to face justice if they would not.

All present saw the wisdom of Kell's plan, and there was a huge feast laid for all to celebrate the new army. But many men saw Kell standing apart from others at the feast, and his eyes looked down and his face was forlorn. And men wondered at his sadness but he would speak of it to no one.