The Angry Mermaid 57.

Y Morforwyn Dicllon 57

Mabina. The youngest daughter and Twin to
Drustan Her twin brother.
Grandpa Erin the twins grandfather.
Giana The twins grandmother
Caderyn The twins father.
Herenoie The twins wise and beautiful mother.
Morgaran The Twins oldest brother.
Aiofe The twins oldest sister. Famous for her beauty.
Tara The twins second oldest sister. Famous for her grace.
Feidlim Twins aunt (Caderyns’ beautiful sister.)
Mogantu Twins uncle (Married to Feidlim.) Chief of the Gangani tribe.
Brun. Twins 2nd cousin and the Acaman clans’ blacksmith.
Feorin. Twins second brother. Also training to be a blacksmith.
Rhun Feidlims’ son and Feorins’ favourite 1st Cousin. (Both red-heads.)
Arina Child of a Demetae fisherman, (rescued by Aiofe, Drustan and Mabina.)
Penderol Dumnonii Minor chief.
Udris Young Dumnonii warrior.
Dryslwyn High chief of the whole Celtic nation. Dwells in Brithony.
Bronlwyn Dryslwyn’s wife (and queen.)
Magab The moor who taught numbers.
Eric Saxon galley slave rescued from Corsair pirates.
Carl Another Saxon galley slave rescued by Drustan.
Torvel Celtic galley slave rescued from the same captured corsair ship
Arton. Turdetani Chieftain Holder of Gibral Rock.
Carinia Arton’s wife.
Isobel. Arton’s adopted daughter.
Appotel King of the Turdetani Tribe. (Southern Iberia.)
Bramana Queen. (Wife of Appotel)
Pilus King of the Capetani.
Shaleen Pilus’s queen and sister to Bramana.
Pedoro Lord Marshal of the Southern border region.
Lady Shulaar Lord Pedoro’s wife.
Taan. The scullery maid.
Isaar. Pedoro’s oldest son.
Ferdie Pedoro’s 2nd son
Sular Pedoro’s 3rd son
Gontala Pedoro’s youngest son.
Shenoa Pedoro’s only daughter.
Portega. Tyrant King to the west.
Portua. Portega’s grandson.
Jubail. Old Fisherman.
Mutas Magab’s younger brother and usurper.
Walezia King of Malta.
Alviar Megalomaniacal bishop of Carthage. (Hates Drustina.)
Ethelia Female healer who treats Drustina during her pregnancy.
Seripatese Drustina’s faithful horse.
Astos & Amitor Minor royalty who govern Alexandria. King and Twin Queen.
Meronee Nubian Queen of Nobatia The northern Kingdom of the Nubians.
Horam The Egyptian master Boat builder.
Muraa King Astos’s male partner.
Tuk Makurian general.
Fantu. Makurian Captain.
Irene Emperor Leon’s only child.
Leon Byzantine Emperor.
Zano Byzantine general who defeats the Bulgars with Drustina’s help.
Urthos The Gaul elected captain of the 4th ship. Ex Barbary galley slave.
Horus Horam the boat-builder’s son.
Sister Catherine Leader of the pirate nuns.
Guthrun Jarl of Bornholm.
Etheline Guthruns’ wife the countess of Bornholm.
Seripatese Drustinas’ mare
Capenda Taras’ mare.
Athun Gay king of Dark Age Denmark.
Queen Elthorn King Athuns’ Consort.
Heingist. Drustina’s loyal Danish navigator and pilot.
Brendigan Athun’s older sister and queen of Svenland.
Iselda King Athun’s middle sister. (Only witness to Athun’s attempt to save
His younger brother Oswald.)

The Angry Mermaid 57

It was close to the middle hour when Drustina staggered uncertainly to her bed. As she picked her way to her allotted chamber several pairs of greedy eyes followed her progress and all had similar thoughts. Drunk she may have been but only slightly ...incapacitated, she certainly was not! As she slipped out of her britches and jerkin she felt for her familiar dagger and slipped it under her pillow. Then she laid her sword alongside her and flopped down onto the welcoming linen sheets. These precautions came naturally to Drustina; she had spent too many years alone amongst men. For fully a quarter of an hour she lay in the dark thinking about those years and Brendigan’s words,

‘You’ve packed an awful lot into such a short life.’

She had, of that there was no doubt and she wondered just how much more she would have to pack before she recovered her tribal lands; that was; if she ever recovered them. That little word ‘if’ counted for so much; her whole future no less. These thoughts left her restless and she was eventually alerted to somebody ... or bodies ... sneaking into her room.

‘Some things never change,’ she concluded with a silent, weary sigh as she reached for her dagger then slid silently off the bed to crouch low beside the bedpost in the shadow. Next she reached back under the bed-cloths to recover her sword then she waited. She sensed rather than felt the approach as the visitors whispered softly. Drustina smiled evilly as she heard the floorboard creak further along the floor as one of the visitors leant onto the bed. There soft creak caused the visitor to flinch as he or she felt nervously along the bed-clothes. Finally there was a shocked gasp as both visitors realised the bed was empty. The whispers became louder and more agitated as the visitors realised things were not as they expected. Finally Drustina recognised the voices as the jarls from Dane-mark.

From her vantage point low down in the stygian shadows, Drustina could make out their outlines in the northern, midnight semidarkness. She smiled inwardly as she watched their silhouettes stepping nervously around the bed until one of them was within sword-reach. There was no evidence of any weapons in their hands but Drustina reflected with no small amusement;

‘Men had other weapons to harm a girl.’

She gently thrust the sharp tip of her Toledo into the approximate position of the nearest jarl’s most sensitive spot and heard him squeal with fearful surprise as she hit the bull’s-eye.

“Move and I’ll geld you!” She spoke loudly.

The shadow pinned at the end of her sword froze and squealed again.

“Oww you bitch, you’ve spiked me.”

“Then you better hadn’t move had you; or you’ll wave goodbye to your balls. Tell your crony to light the candle. It’s on that side of the bed.”

The jarl squealed to his crony.

“Knud! Do as she says, her bloody sword will castrate me, she’s got it right in my balls!”

The pinned jarl stood frozen as his accomplice groped for a candle then took it outside to light it from one of the passage torches. He returned to bend over the bed using the candle to illuminate his friend’s plight. His friend was paralyzed with fear and now pinned against the end of the bed. Drustina had urged him gently sideways in the dark while the other jarl was lighting the candle. Even so, her persuasive sword had wrought more blood from the jarl’s groin and it stained his britches. She now had them where she wanted them and she ordered the second jarl to raise the alarm. To reinforce her words, she released an ear piercing female scream that would have awoken the dead.

The effect was electric and the second jarl dashed out into the passage hell bent on avoiding being caught in Drustina’s room. He left his friend to the tender mercies of Drustina’s sword and the approaching guards. His friend cursed him for his cowardice and turned to Drustina in some useless attempt to deny their intentions.

“We meant you no harm. We came unarmed.”

“Except for that!” She nodded significantly to the bleeding lump in his britches.

“I; ... no we didn’t, honestly.”

“Then why turn up at the middle hour in a ladies bedroom? Sorry jarl, that doesn’t cut it.”

With these words the guards arrived belatedly and stopped as they discovered the comical scene. A bare-breasted woman holding a jarl at bay by the simple expedient of pinning him by his genitals as his arse was pressed fearfully against the bed. The guards let out a snort of derisory laughter and promptly sheathed their swords. The jarl was bleeding from a modest wound to his scrotum but it was enough to immobilise him. Drustina spoke to the guards.

“Take him away; we’ll sort him out in the morning. Oh, and please ... post one guard outside my door.”

“Yes ma-am.”

With the precautions arranged, Drustina slipped back into her bed. In the darkness she reflected on the number of occasions she had dealt with similar incidents.

‘What was it with men ... ´ she wondered? ‘Where their brains truly in their dicks?’

She slept uneasily and was disturbed by a knocking on her door fairly early. It was Brendigan and her husband.

“Come in!” Drustina called as she slipped out of bed. Thus invited, Brendigan entered first while ordering her husband to wait.

She arrived as Drustina had just finished changing her pants. She gasped at the multitude of scars that covered Drustina’s feminine curves.

“My God woman! I thought your upper body was bad enough but your lower hide is like a badly whipped horse!”

With her back still turned towards Brendigan, Drustan simply explained.

“Battle scars my lady; yes I have a few. My reputation did not come cheap.”

“That huge scar; the one down the cheek of your arse. How came you by that?”

Drustina decided to play the trauma card. It usually worked with other women.

“That’s a long time ago my lady, I don’t usually talk about my wounds. Especially that one, I was very young and very frightened. Memories you understand, painful memories. Friends who died.”

Brendigan nodded understanding and quickly changed the subject.

“D’you usually sleep naked?”

Drustina continued presenting her back to Brendigan and was she already reaching for her britches as she quickly tucked her male appendage. Once the bulge was hidden she turned to face Brendigan with her breasts naked but with her britches hoisted up.

“Yes.” Drustina replied as she reached for her jerkin.

Brendigan saw more scars then noticed the firm orbs that showed evidence of having suckled a child and she frowned uncertainly as they quickly disappeared from view.

“Have you had a child?”

“Yes, my twins are awaiting my return back to Dane-Mark.”

“Twins!”

“Yes.” Drustina repeated as she finished tucking her jerkin and slipping her dagger into its hidden scabbard between her shoulder blades. Brendigan’s eyes widened again before she finally called to the king.

“You can enter now sire, Drustina’s decent.”

Drustina smiled at the formality of Brendigan’s address to her husband and she kneeled to tie her boots as the king entered.
“There’s no need to kneel my lady.” The king grinned.

“I was tying my boots sir. Now, I presume you’re here about last night.”

“Most certainly. My inquiries lead me to the fact that they hoodwinked the passageway guard and tricked their way to your chamber.”

“Well no harm came of it save for two punctured egos and one punctured ball-bag.”

“Well yes my lady. That little cameo is already the toast of the royal guard room. I don’t know how to apologise for this terrible breach of hospitality.”

“No apology is needed to me but those twerps need to be punished.”

“How?”

“That’s the problem, they need to return with me back to Dane-mark to witness Brendigan’s letter.”

“Would it help if I returned to my homeland with you?” Brendigan asked.

Drustina’s eyes widened with mild surprise as she hesitated thoughtfully.

“Well ... well yes it would but you’d need a full escort. Until some sort of order is restored in Dane-mark I could not guarantee your safety.”

“That can be arranged.” The king added. “I have a large fleet of ships to escort her.”

Once again Drustina weighed up the pros and cons.

“A large fleet might be misinterpreted as some sort of invasion. This is a delicate matter. It was my intention to somehow re-establish order by legitimate means; diplomacy and reason you understand.”

The three of them sat thoughtfully on Drustina’s bed as they considered the situation; finally Drustina ventured a plan.

“Perhaps if I returned first with some information and the first letter about Oswald’s death and if you composed a second letter explaining why the two jarls are being detained and that your are following a couple of days behind then I might be able to hold the ring until you reach the Cubenhavn."

The king sat digesting the plan and finally agreed.

“Bearing in mind you best understand the situation in Dane-mark, then I think it’s a good plan. You will be able to warn the Danes that my wife returns only as a diplomat.”

“Yes. My ship should arrive perhaps a day or even two days ahead.

The king stifled a small gasp of incredulity as he repeated.

“Two days! Is that possible. My longships are deemed some of the most powerful and speedy in all Scandinavia.”

Drustina nodded and smiled enigmatically.

“I built her myself your majesty, I know every single plank and nail. Only I and my sister know her secrets.”

“You have a sister?”

“I come from a large family sir. Three sisters and three brothers. I think all my brothers are dead or in slavery to the Viking pirates who raided our village. My sisters are all safe. This I know, I made them safe.”

“Remarkable, quite remarkable. Come, we must talk over breakfast.”

Drustina reflected silently on the risks surrounding her telling all. The truth surrounding her duality might escape if she told too much. Her diplomatic endeavours depended on somehow ensuring a succession to the Danish throne. If she was perforce to impregnate Elthorn secretly then she must do it secretly. Her duality must remain a secret.

Fortunately, the Svensk were more interested in her adventures in the Middle sea so Drustina dwelt at length upon these events except to briefly confirm that she was the child who had killed Blueface during the battle in Dumnoni peninsular. On learning of this fact the king ventured his opinion.

“If you are that child then you are called ‘Scar-arse’.”

“I was until my womanly nature arrived. Once I reached womanhood I made it abundantly clear that I found the name offensive and men who persisted with that offense would fall foul of my martial skills.”

The king backtracked as he realised no woman like to have attentions drawn to any disfigurement and to save further embarrassment Brendigan intervened.

“Dear husband, I have seen that scar, or at least a substantial part of it. Shall we not dwell upon it. Drustina has already told me it’s an uncomfortable issue.”

Drustina flashed a smile at Brendigan.

“Thank you sister. I’ve other scars enough to count for my identity. I can’t hide this one for example, except by wearing long sleeves. Now in summer, I bare my arms and it is there for all to see.”

She twisted her bare arm and wrist to reinforce her words as the arrow flensing gash was fully revealed. It was always visible but by twisting her arm the scar’s full extent and ugliness became clearly apparent. The king and queen fell into a thoughtful silence which Drustina broke with a change of subject.

“Now shall we move on to a strategy to deal with the Danish coup.”

“Have you a plan then Drustina?” The king asked.

“Essentially it’s to first clear Athun’s name then to see Elthorn put with child. If I can prove Brendigan’s brother to be a suitable king, the jarls will have to accept his legality and subsequent authority.”

“But first you have to prove it,” the king cautioned her.

“I’m on shaky ground there. I hope Brendigan’s letter and presence will suffice at the forthcoming hearing that I shall organise. In truth your majesty, the jarls have been disempowered by my small successes in holding their forces at bay. I don’t think all the jarls will have the stomach for a full blooded fight if their arguments are based on further uncertainties. There’s going to be a lot of wheeling and dealing plus a lot of bluff.”

“And my wife is expected to go into this arena with little more than her word and your sword.”

Drustina nodded somewhat apologetically. The king wagged his head and turned to his queen.

“Well Brendigan. How do you feel about it?”

“The jarls are unlikely to harm me even if they cannot agree on my evidence. I am after all their kinsmen. I’m only there to bear witness. I have no part in the contention. That falls to Drustina.”

“It all sounds pretty shaky to me. I’ll send an extra flotilla of ships to reinforce your safety and demonstrate Svensk power.”

Drustina was secretly glad that she had inadvertently screwed a larger fleet out of the Swedish king. If push came to shove and her diplomatic entreaties failed utterly she might yet be forced onto the battlefield. If the Svensk perceived any enmity as a threat to Brendigan they would probably move against the jarls. They would be a useful addition to Drustina’s meagre forces. Drustina had little doubt that the jarls would have been reinforcing their forces during her short absence.

On this uncertain note, the king and his guests spent the rest of the day visiting the city of Stack-holm..

~~~~oo0oo~~~~

The following dawn found Drustina preparing to leave. She concluded that she would take the jarls back with her for she had enough men at arms to contain them if they decided to try and escape. With this decision made, the two intended rapists were delivered to her care and ‘The Angry Mermaid’ bid farewell to the king and his queen Brendigan. The king’s eyes scanned the ‘Mermaid’s’ departure enviously as the ship virtually flew out of ‘The Sund’ the moment her sails caught the wind. He turned thoughtfully to Brendigan.

“What I could do with a fleet of ships like her dear wife. I could rule all of Scandinavia.”

“Then it’s a good job The Angry mermaid’s secrets are locked up in the Warrior Queen’s head dear husband, for I’m sure every king would love to learn her secrets. It’s best if she enjoys the reputation that that fine ship brings her. She has proven she has no ambition to usurp other kings or steal any crowns throughout her adventures all over Europe.”

“Yes,” The Svensk king confessed ruefully. “In truth, that’s the only reason I trust her.”

“Come dear husband,” Brendigan finished. “We must make haste with our own preparations if we are to reach Dane-mark in four days.”

While Brendigan and the Svensk fleet prepared hastily, ‘The Angry Mermaid’ was making excellent time. Once on passage, Drustina occupied herself with steering and squeezing every ounce of speed from the Mermaid’s hull whilst Heingist spent his off-watch time ribbing the jarls.

“I warned you two idiots not to try anything with her. What in the God’s names made you think you’d get away with such a stupid endeavour?”

The jarls scowled with embarrassment as they fidgeted with the single manacle that bound them together. Drustina had not even bothered to secure them to a mast-step just to demonstrate how much she held the pair in contempt. She also had the full confidence in her loyal crew who she knew would be watching them constantly. She believed there was no danger from the dishonoured pair and she was proven right. Throughout the speedy voyage, the jarls caused no trouble. Mainly because they knew justice would be speedy and final.

They arrived in Cuben-havn late in the evening of the second day.

~~ooo000ooo~~