Beowulf - Curse of the Dreygurs Chapters 6 - 7

Chapter 6

“When I sent for you, my sons and I started out to confront the evil told to me by my people. I expect more Angles to join us, but they have not arrived yet. As I look at your men, I’m not sure what your small group can do.” Ida said with a thin smile.

“The number of these vicious monsters we battled last night was nearly overwhelming. And your overlord, King Heardred, sent me a leader who is younger than most of my retainers.”

A smattering of laughter from the Angle tribe broke out in the room. Tense mutters whispered among Beowulf’s men rose next among the Geats. Weohstan watched as his leader squeezed hard on the pommel of his sword. He feared a fight soon. But Beowulf’s face remained a mask. The expression eased his concerns as the warrior refused to take the bait offered by the king.

“My lord, don’t judge the size of one’s deeds by the look of their age. It was I who volunteered my Gedriht to your cause. These trusted thegns know how to fight. Our king accepted this decision with no reservations. Here in the wilds of Bernicia, you may not know of my exploits, but I have fought and destroyed a sea monster twice the size of this building. With my loyal men, I would put us against an army of ten times our number and wager we would defeat such a force.”

The murmur among Ida’s men rose at the bravado as Beowulf placed his hands on his hips. The old king raised his hand, and the rest of the room fell silent.

“My young nephew, I mean no slight to you or your men. It is a fact that you are inexperienced in this land, and you lack the number of warriors I expected,” the king replied.

His ragged cough broke out until he took a drink of mead. Beowulf noticed Glappa’s concerned expression while watching his father. Still, Beowulf’s temper rose at the indirect snubs coming from the king. He forced himself to remain diplomatic.

“Perhaps you can tell me more of the evil? Then you and I can decide if we cannot meet the challenge.”

His men heard the edge in his words. While beneficial in a fight, Beowulf’s quick temper got the better of him at times. They hoped he would keep his feelings in check.

King Ida gave a brief smile while enjoying the discomfort he saw in his cousin. He already knew of Beowulf’s travels and his heroic battle against the monster. The exploit already filled the lands of the Angles, Saxon, and Jutes. Ida knew more about the young warrior than Beowulf realized.

“They attacked us in the middle of the night while we were in the town. We’re fortunate to have been able to get to this fort,” Ida explained. “Foul monsters that stank of death swarmed over the village. When they attacked, they were nearly impervious to our weapons. Arrows and spears can’t take them down. My men fought them off as we moved up the trail to a better defensive position. However, several more bands set upon us before we got into the fort. Now I have only a small group of warriors left, scarcely enough men to travel with me as I raise more for the defense of my kingdom.”

“My men know of the damage caused by these creatures. We saw the destruction of the village where we docked before coming here,” Beowulf said with a quick glance at Ecgberht. “Do you know what these monsters are and where they come from?”

He recognized the surprise on Ida’s face at the news of another village lost to the monsters.

“This forces my hand. An elder told my son about these dreygurs,” said Ida. “These monsters move only at night when evil is at its peak. We are unsure why they have suddenly come into our lands. Removing their heads or hacking them apart will destroy them.”

“That explains what we found on the trail. Since it appears the monsters carry off their dead along with some victims, it would seem a straightforward task to follow them to their hideouts.” Beowulf declared with a confident nod to his men. “I assume your warriors have already followed the monsters’ trail?”

He noticed the sharp look that Ida gave his sons.

“No, I don’t have enough men to go after these creatures. Those still alive are looking after the dead and wounded. Many of the injured died of the terrible wounds inflicted by the savage beasts.” Ida stated.

Left unsaid was the reason the king kept his two sons close for the moment. Beowulf could only guess the reason came from the ill heal of their father.

“We’ll return to Bamburgh,” the king declared. “I’ll gather my remaining fighters in defense of Bamburgh.”

“I don’t understand,” Beowulf replied.

“Yes, there is a reason which gives me limited options.” Ida said with conviction.

Beowulf realized no further explanation was coming. While he knew the kingdom faced enemies from the south, the Geat believed in a more likely answer. The heirs to the throne knew their father was dying, and each man was determined to take over upon his death. The monsters were a distraction. Another fit of coughing from the king confirmed the man’s fragile condition. Beowulf waited until the king recovered.

“While it’s unfortunate your people did not find their lair; we should destroy these creatures,” he told him. “I doubt their trail will be hard to find, and there is plenty of daylight left. Let us ride to catch these monsters and slay them before they can commit even more foul deeds against your people.”

“You speak boldly for a man who has never fought this undead terror,” Appa interjected.

The second oldest son of King Ida swaggered over to stand in front of Ida’s men. His long, blonde hair and blue eyes gave him a look of a god. However, his smirking demeanor quickly changed Beowulf’s initial view.

“We had many a bold warrior who talked like you before night last, and now their bodies lay scattered on the trail. You act like you will destroy these monsters by yourself. I hear only words of a weakling.”

He looked down at his father’s men, who were sitting or kneeling on the hard floor. The men nodded their agreement at the challenge.

“That’s because the monsters have never dealt with me before,” Beowulf’s reply came with a deadly stare.

“Let me be plain. My fighters know well the brave and difficult deeds I put upon them. None of my men hesitate since they understand the road to eternal life lies in everlasting fame, here and in the afterlife. They follow this path because we act as one.”

He moved to look around at the warriors in the room. Then he gave a dramatic pause before turning back to scowl at Appa.

“Plus, my thegns know I would not have allowed my men to die in the night while I still drew a breath.”

He slid his hand to his sword. The expected reaction from the king’s son came when Appa whipped out his sword. However, King Ida sprang from his seat with unexpected strength.

“Appa, your manner reminds me of an ass. Beowulf came as my guest. You will treat him as such,” the king roared as he stepped between the men.

Appa quickly apologized to his father and backed away while sliding his blade back into the scabbard. Beowulf recognized from the glare the man gave him he would not forgive the insult. Tension filled the room. To question the Angle leader’s courage in public was a serious affront.

“There is a need for diplomacy,” Weohstan’s whispered voice came to Beowulf as he stepped next to him.

At the same time, Glappa rose from his chair and stepped closer to his father, whispering into his ear. Nodding, Ida turned back to Beowulf.

“My apologies for overstepping my welcome,” Beowulf gave a slight bow to the king.

“You honor our kingdom by coming here. I would accept your service and those of your men in my realm on one condition,” Ida stated.

“You will need someone who knows this territory along with the lands of our enemies. These dreygurs remain close to our border, so I require caution. Bernicia cannot afford a war with our many enemies around us.”

“Yes, such travel would need guidance,” Beowulf nodded.

“My son, Glappa, would be an excellent guide to join your group.”

The king’s tone showed it was not an option. After sizing up his new partner, Beowulf gave a broad grin.

“I have heard great things about Glappa in the poems of the scops who travel our lands. I would be pleased to have the son of Ida at my side,” Beowulf declared. “Together, we will rid the lands of these monsters and add to the glory of our names.”

“You honor me with your words.”

Glappa’s expression remained neutral, but the tension in the room dropped. The Angle warrior extended his arm to Beowulf. While the men gripped the other’s forearm in a warrior’s handshake, they appraised each other.

“Let us find that trail now.” Beowulf stated with a confident smirk.

Their act sealed a temporary bond between new comrades.

Chapter 7

Glappa ordered his men to get his mount as he quickly stepped into the throng of Angle men, heading to the entrance. Beowulf turned to Ida and thanked him for the honor, bowing before he followed Glappa’s lead. The men following their respective leaders scrambled across the hall amid the din of voices and the yelling of orders. In a few moments, the room was nearly empty of warriors, leaving Appa with his father.

“Do you believe they have a chance?” Appa asked. Ida said nothing as he walked away, thinking about his decision and trying to stop his constant coughing. His son followed him into the back room, where a few slaves were attending to the warriors who survived. One slave came to the Appa, bowing before them.

“The men grow weaker. They need more help than we can give them, my lord. The scratches are like poison to them,” the slave lowered his voice.

King Ida nodded his head and told the slave to help them as he could. After the slave had left, Ida put his hand on his son’s shoulder, leading him out of the room.

“Tell those that can walk to get their mounts and gather all the equipment and horses from the dead. We will go back to Bamburgh, where I can gather more men. The next time we come against these beasts, we will destroy them,” the king insisted.

“And what of those that cannot go?” Appa wondered aloud. “I would expect the dreygurs might return.”

“Keep a slave with the men to help them meet the gods and let the slave know that when he returns to Bamburgh, I will give him freedom.” King Ida stopped and lowered his voice. “They don’t need to know that the monsters might return.” Appa nodded, coldly calculating, like his father, that the slave and wounded were being sacrificed. As they left the room, the son again asked about Beowulf leading the charge against the dreygurs.

“These Geats cannot destroy the monsters that roam this land,” Appa told his father. “Why are you sending Glappa along?”

“You would do well to observe those around you. Those men who follow Beowulf showed me skill and experience in their armor and weapons. Their hard eyes and visible scars reveal seasoned fighters. The fact they follow someone who is so young should give you pause. Your brother, Glappa, noticed this when he asked me to join them,” The old man said with a satisfied smile. He enjoyed the shocked expression that Appa gave him.

“I know if your brother dies along with your cousin, you will not shed many tears. But your belief that such men cannot defeat these creatures is troubling. You would be wise to learn from such warriors. A king must know how to protect his position. Before sending my message to King Heardred, I knew about that youth and his warriors. Beowulf has a claim to the throne. However, he submitted himself to Heardred’s rights as the direct heir to the king. For such an act, he became the champion of the Geats and his adventures come across the sea to us. If he and his men succeed against these dreygurs, Glappa will become quite famous as well.”

Ida chuckled to himself as he continued his slow walk.

“And you might consider this, my son. If they fail in their quest, you must answer to rumors of why you choose to stay behind with me?”

Appa’s expression soured when he realized his devious father had just put him in a precarious position. If Glappa died, the aldermen and other nobles of Bernicia would never trust Appa. Gazing after the king who left the building, Appa decided he must change the situation.

Moving away from the fort at Segedunum, Beowulf and Glappa rode together. The group followed the trail of footprints. Their path led them into the lands inhabited by the Brythonian, the original inhabitants of Bernicia. Glappa briefly described with great pride how his father and his people drove out Morcant Bulc and his followers only a few years before. After the defeat, the Brythonian king resettled in the wilderness of Gododdin between Rheged and Bernicia. The area became home to many outlaws and raiders. It was a no-man’s-land between the Angles and the Brythonians.

The old cobblestone road quickly gave way to a rough two-lane path filled with ruts and mudholes. As the group crossed the river into the bandit area, every fighter understood their journey might be a one-way trip. The warriors formed into two lines as Beowulf sent Weohstan and Osberht ahead as scouts.

“The trail seems to lead us towards the Sigemund hills where they must be heading. I believe we should make camp soon. The hills are the evil place of a hægtesse, the worst type of witch,” said Glappa.

Beowulf noticed the change in Glappa’s tone. He shared his new comrades’ concerns. Witches were a demon in human form, able to bring plagues upon the lands. Most often, a hægtesse came forth in vengeance for some wrong committed in the past. Such a creature would bode evil for them, especially at night.

“Have you ventured into this area of Gododdin before?” Beowulf asked.

“No, King Ida has forbidden it. The Angles have kept away so not to entice our enemy to gather more allies. Morcant Blanc is a cagey overlord but lacks strength in numbers. We only have tales and rumors, but those people who have come from the areas all say his warriors remain away from the area.”

Glappa scowled lightly as he paused before continuing.

“Rumors came to us of a great danger from these hills in the north, near to a village called Routhebiria. The attacks from the monsters appear to be pushing villagers from the north into Bernicia. That is the reason my father asked for you and your men. To keep Morcant Blanc away, he considered it better to have an outsider enter this wilderness area first.”

He shook his head while Beowulf mulled over the words. The explanation gave him insight into King Ida’s thinking. Better to have Beowulf and his men to find out about the monsters. And it’s easier and better for the king to blame the Geats if something went wrong.

“Before the dreygurs attacked last night, I didn’t believe such monsters existed,” Glappa sighed, mostly to himself.

“I wonder if the villagers inside Routhebiria brought forth these creatures.”

Weohstan suddenly joined the conversation from his position on the other side of Beowulf. Glappa gave him a glare for interrupting, but the warrior simply smirked. Weohstan made it clear the king’s son would not intimidate him. His loyalty and deference remained with Beowulf.

“That is an interesting thought.” Beowulf, immediately attempted to lower the tension.

“I want to know why they are coming from this area. It might lead us to understand what is behind this. The gods don’t send monsters unless there is a reason.”

“That is what we thought of after they left this morning,” Glappa agreed as he turned his attention back to the road. “Our warriors know nothing of armor we saw on the undead.”

“According to Ecgberht, the creatures have Roma armor, and they carry ancient weapons. However, since the Romans burned their dead, he believes they must be bandits or outlaws, their bodies thrown in the mounds.”

“Still, these creatures don’t need weapons. Even with decaying bodies, the dreygurs did terrible damage with their teeth and their tremendous strength. What’s the reason for carrying them?” Glappa wondered aloud.

“Even if you die and come back to wander lands, would you forget your sword?” Weohstan asked.

Glappa shot him a glare before nodding slightly.

“I overheard your men talking about the bodies you saw at Caer Urfa,” he kept talking to Beowulf.

“These monsters attacked our lands at the place where my father would meet you. Plus, they nearly overran us at Segedunum. That is suspicious to me.”

“Too much to be a coincidence,” Beowulf agreed. “It appears someone knew we were coming. Whoever knew this planned to keep us apart.” He looked ahead with a gleam in his eye.

“Now, these creatures retreat into the lands of your enemy. Perhaps they wish to welcome us and lose their head?”

“It seems too unlike dwarves from what we know,” Weohstan grinned while shaking his head at Beowulf’s bravado.

“They have no powers of such foresight. Besides, they would bring their own attack coming from the underworld. My coins are on a hægtesse causing this trouble.”

Glappa remained quiet for a while. The sound of the rhythmic hoofbeats echoed in the ravine they rode through.

“A witch could be the cause, I suppose. But we’ve not heard of such a creature following the villagers who came into our lands.”

Glappa nodded to himself.

“Still, it seems unlikely. King Ida believes dwarves must be stirring up trouble. It’ll probably take a little gold placed in a gateway to make all of this go away. My father sent me several gold coins for this. Whatever we find, we must be careful once we cross into this wilderness area. The Brythonians have spies among the villagers. We cannot afford to run into Morcant Bulc and men.”

The men riding nearby were not sure if Glappa told them the full story as they shot knowing glances at each other. They questioned the Angles, who appeared too willing to let others do the fighting for them. Hushed conversations between the men left many of them with a bitter taste toward their new allies. As he rode in silence, Beowulf failed to catch the reactions of his men. His thoughts remained on the monsters and the glory of defeating them.

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