The Dragon's Banner (7 page)

They departed early the next morning after a
hurried but enjoyable breakfast. The trip to Toulouse was
uneventful, and Thudis had arranged to stop for the night at the
strongholds of other lords, so Uther and Leodegrance slept in beds
each night. After the travails of the sea voyage, this journey was
almost a rest for Uther, though they rode from dawn to dusk and
covered near twelve leagues a day.

The terrain became rockier and hillier, and
they passed within sight of several hilltop towns. Some of these
seemed to be abandoned, or nearly so, while others were surrounded
by hastily-built wooden stockades. The travellers came down through
a section of rugged hills along a winding dirt trail that
ultimately led to a paved road in the valley.

"This is the road to Toulouse." Thudis
gestured to the stone path. "We shall spend the night at the villa
of Lord Talric, a close friend of mine, and on the morrow we shall
reach the city before the midday meal."

Uther was excited to be so close to the first
major stop on his quest. This journey was the only thing of import
his father had yet entrusted to him alone, and he enjoyed the
feeling. Uther had also become friendly with Caradoc, Thudis'
youngest son, who had accompanied them on the journey. Both were
proud and brave, with ambitions more suited in that age to eldest
rather than youngest sons, and they found much to discuss.

The night was passed merrily, for Talric was
as gracious a host as they could have wished. After they feasted
heartily and drained several casks of wine, they sat around the
roaring fire and traded tales of battle until late into the
evening.

Dawn came far too soon after a late night,
and the band was ragged and tired as they set out from their host's
pleasant villa. Before they left, Talric presented Lord Pendragon
with a gift, for Uther had told the tales of his father's service
with Aetius and Theodoric at Chalons. Talric, too, had fought in
that epic battle, in Theodoric's guard, and he remembered the
Briton, son of an emperor, who had succored his dying king. To
Uther he handed a canvas wrapped bundle, which undone revealed an
old helmet.

"From a Hunnic lord, my friend Uther, whom I
slew on that very field not 20 paces from where your father fought
alongside my king. I pulled it off his head, which I had struck
from the body."

Uther was moved by the gesture, but
uncomfortable at the magnitude of the gift. "Lord Talric, your
generosity to a guest is magnificent, but I cannot deprive you of
such a trophy."

"Nay, Lord Uther, you must accept. For I am
an old man, and my sons are all slain in battle. The Lord has seen
fit to send me the son of another warrior who fought that great
day, for many now forget what grave danger the anti-Christ Attila
and his God-cursed horde posed to all civilization. Into your care
I will now pass this keepsake, for perhaps you can sit with your
father on your return and speak of the adventures of his youth.

Having taken warm leave of their host, the
party rode quietly through the early morning light. The road wound
between rocky hillsides and into lush valleys filled with farms and
vineyards. This close to Toulouse there were few abandoned areas,
and the homes and farms were richer and in better repair. Every
manor they passed was bustling with activity, for it was well into
harvest time. They made their way between a last pair of hills and
rode down into a large valley. Before them lay the vastness of
Toulouse, one of the great cities of the empire, and now the
capital of Euric, King of the Visigoths.

Uther and Leodegrance stopped and stared in
amazement, for city was like nothing they had ever seen, either in
life or the shadowy world of dreams. Even Londinium, which they
only knew as a nearly abandoned ruin, was at its peak but a small
town compared to the vast city spread out before them. Toulouse was
massive, surrounded by high stone walls and great bastions. From
their vantage point they could see the maze of streets and endless
blocks of buildings, the theaters, the fora bustling with cityfolk
and, nearly in the center, the massive structure that could only
have been Euric's palace.

The party rode swiftly down to the main gate.
The guards were alarmed at first to see so large a group
approaching, but Thudis and some of his men rode ahead, and spoke
with them, after which they stood aside to let the band pass.
Through the streets of the city they rode, and Uther, Leodegrance,
and their companions looked all around them in wonderment at the
structures and the crowds, so unlike anything they had before
witnessed. Uther's father had tried to prepare him for what he
would see in the heart of the empire, but still he found himself
awestruck at what cities men could build.

Word of the visitors spread quickly
throughout the city, and by the time they reached the palace there
was a crowd gathered. Uther and Leodegrance followed Thudis into
the palace, while the rest of the party waited. A rider had been
sent ahead to advise the court of the approaching visitors, so they
were not unexpected, and a richly-dressed chamberlain awaited them
just inside the palace gate.

Uther held a small box, brought as a gift for
the Visigothic king. It was the work of Powys' finest craftsmen,
wrought of gold and silver and inlaid with amethysts brought back
from the Pictish lands north of the great wall. Leodegrance carried
an offering as well, a golden goblet, equally fine work by one of
Cameliard's greatest metalsmiths.

They were led inside and down a long,
columned gallery. The vaulted ceiling was at least thirty feet
above their heads, and the walls and floor were of polished marble.
Their steps echoed loudly on the glossy stone tile as they walked
past large rooms on each side and stopped at a massive set of
double doors. The chamberlain asked them to wait and bade Thudis to
enter alone. Uther touched him on the shoulder as he turned to move
toward the doors and handed him the amulet that Constantine had
given him.

Thudis was gone for only a few moments before
the double doors swung open to reveal a large room with a ceiling
even higher than that in the gallery. On the walls hung tapestries
depicting scenes of war and banners displaying colorful coats of
arms. There was a central aisle, and on either side were small
clusters of men, dressed finely in a variety of styles. At the far
end of the room, seated on a large chair set upon a raised dais,
was a tall man of perhaps 35 summers. His tunic was spun from
golden fabric, and upon his head he wore a crown wrought from
silver and gold. His brown hair was long, pulled to the side and
fastened with a jeweled clasp.

They walked slowly down the aisle until
bidden to stop by the chamberlain. They found Thudis kneeling
before the king, but Uther and Leodegrance only bowed, for they too
were of princely rank.

King Euric motioned for all to rise. "Uther
Pendragon, greetings. You speak truth in what you have told Thudis,
for this is indeed my father's talisman. Flavius Aetius was both
enemy and ally to my house, but only to a friend would Theodoric
have given this." He held up the golden amulet, examining it
closely. "Thus I greet the son of my father's friend and ally. You
are welcome here, Lord Pendragon, and I gladly offer you safe
passage across my lands. Leodegrance, prince of Cameliard,
greetings to you as well."

He paused as if considering his next words
carefully. "But with welcome I shall also offer you tidings you may
find ill, for things are not, I fear, as you hoped to find them."
He paused again for a few seconds, seeking the words he wished to
say. "You seek, I presume, to obtain assistance, or at least
counsel, from the emperor to defeat your enemies and sooth the
wounds of your troubled land. But all lands are now in turmoil, and
the empire for which you search is all but lost. Indeed, where you
now stand is no longer a part of it, for the emperor has recognized
my independent kingship in return for the cession of Gallia
Narbonensis to his direct suzerainty."

Uther was surprised by what Euric said, but
he remained silent and listened as the king continued.

"This emperor, Julius Nepos, is little better
than a Dalmatian warlord, and the purple he owes to his wife and
her uncle, Leo I of Constantinople, a year now in his grave. Aid he
has naught to give, and to his counsel I would pay little heed. In
Ravenna you will find him holding court, for Rome itself is long
abandoned by the emperors. Twice sacked in living memory she is but
a shadow of past glories.”

Euric looked down at his guests, sympathy in
his eyes. They had travelled far, in his estimation, for naught,
and he found no joy in shattering their hopes. "You seek friends,
and indeed you may find some in your journeys. I daresay you have
found one in me, my lords. But allies with strength to aid you in
your struggle, I think shall be elusive prey. In the wake of empire
there is naught but strife and fear, and the lords who would assist
you in greener times have their strength now tasked to preserving
what they have, or seizing what they will from their
neighbors."

He shifted in his chair, but his gaze
remained fixed on his guests. "Thus is my counsel to you, and also
this - that you stay with us for time in Toulouse as welcome
guests. Our fathers were friends, and while yours yet lives, mine
is long dead on a glorious field of battle. Allow me to honor him
by feasting the son of his ally. Long has been your journey, and
great pains and strife lie ahead, I fear. For now, I offer a brief
respite. Let us eat, drink, and toast our ancestors."

Uther had remained silent, respectful of his
host, for though he was also of royal blood, this was Euric's house
and kingdom. The great Visigoth king spoke well and was obviously
learned and wise. Here was a monarch of such majesty and power that
the kings of Britannia seemed but petty lordlings in
comparison.

"King Euric, for your kind words and warm
welcome we thank you. We dared not hope for such hospitality on our
long journey. For your wise counsel we are grateful. We shall
consider it seriously, though still we are bound by our oaths to
seek an audience with the emperor, whether our task be hopeless or
no. You hospitality we shall gratefully accept, for our travels
have been long, and are not yet ended. Your counsel on how best to
reach Ravenna we would also request." He stepped forward and placed
the small golden box on the edge of the dais in front of Euric. The
warriors flanking the king tensed when Uther first moved, but held
when they saw his purpose.

Leodegrance followed Uther, and placed the
gift from Cameliard next to that from Powys. "These small gifts we
bring as tokens of our respect and gratitude.”

Euric motioned to one of the warriors, who
retrieved the gifts and handed them to the king. "Your gifts are
indeed magnificent, and they are happily accepted. Henceforth they
shall be treasures of my house. But now, I speak too long, for you
are guests tired and worn from a long road. Rooms are prepared for
you. Go. Rest and refresh yourselves, for tonight we shall sup
together and speak more of things."

Euric motioned to several men standing off to
his side, and they stepped forward to guide Uther and his
companions to their chambers. They were led deep into the great
palace to large rooms, richly appointed. Hot baths had been drawn,
and their own servants had been given admittance and awaited their
commands.

When they had settled in and rested a bit,
and washed away the dust from the road, Uther and Leodegrance spoke
of what Euric had told them. If the empire were indeed on the verge
of collapse, what purpose could be served by their continuing on?
Should they trust Euric's word? Even if he were trustworthy, did he
read the situation truly? Perhaps one great victory in the field
would restore the empire's position, as it had a generation ago
when Uther's and Euric's fathers had fought on the field of
Chalons?

They were still speaking of such when they
were called for supper, though such is a poor name for the feast
that awaited them. At a great long table they were seated, with
Euric at the head and Uther and Leodegrance on each side of the
king. Thudis and the other lords sat next in line, in order of
rank, Uther supposed. The tablecloth was woven of silken cloth, and
the settings were of solid silver and gold. Many courses were
served - soups, bread, venison from the king's own forests, game
birds, wild boar roasted with onions. Long into the night they ate,
and even longer they drank, draining cask after cask of the king's
excellent wine.

They spoke of many things, for Euric's
grandsire was the great Alaric, who had sacked Rome itself in
vengeance after the emperor Honorius massacred the families of the
Goths serving in the imperial army. This was the same emperor who
had recognized the claim of Uther’s grandfather's to share the
purple, only to betray him to some unnamed murderer's blade.

They decided that Uther and Leodegrance would
remain as Euric's guests for ten days and then continue on to
Italia, for they concluded that whether they had hope of success or
not, they must follow their task through to its completion. Before
they left, they would join a great hunt ordered by Euric in their
honor.

For three days they rode far into the
country, and slew many stags and two large boar, and Uther and
Leodegrance became close friends with King Euric. Leodegrance asked
many questions, for the kingship of Cameliard would be his one day,
and he would learn what he could from such a mighty monarch. Uther,
too, began to understand the difference between a powerful warrior
and a great king. Though he did not expect ever to wear a crown,
Uther swore to see Britannia united under the Pendragon. He would
be more than a great fighter, he would study the arts of war and
learn how to lead armies, for he could see now that there was more
to achieving lasting victory than cleaving a few foes at close
quarters.