The Dragon's Banner by Jay Allan Read Free Book Online

with an important task such as this.
    "Very well, father." Uther knew he could not
refuse. "I shall do as you ask of me. I shall go to Rome, and if
there are allies there, I shall find them."
    "Excellent." Constantine looked proudly upon
his youngest son. "You have my full confidence, Uther. And you
shall see many things, wonders that your brothers never shall. You
will be forever changed by this journey, my son. I know, for I have
been where you now go.”
    Constantine leaned over and put his hand on
Uther’s shoulder. "I have spoken with King Ogyruan, and Leodegrance
will join you on your journey. I wanted you to have a trusted
friend at your back. And Leodegrance will be a better king for what
he experiences on these travels."
    Constantine rose from his seat, the effort
clearly painful. Uther got up also, and the two men embraced
warmly. Uther had not mentioned Igraine to his father, for he
thought to wait until he returned. He did not want her to mourn him
if he was fated not to return from his great journey, though little
did he understand her feelings if he thought he could save her from
grief if he fell. He resolved to ride to her father's stronghold
and speak with her before he left, but he found himself compelled
to depart almost at once and lost the chance. Less than a fortnight
after his father bade him go, Uther was on the southern coast
boarding ship for Gaul. Igraine would have to wait until he
returned.

    Merlin stood on a bluff and watched Uther's
ship sail away. He spoke softly to himself. "There sails one of
your servants, the new God, and he is faithful to thee. I feel that
he shall be a mighty force in what is to happen, though I cannot
divine what role he is to play. He will suffer terrible torment, I
fear, and win great glory and power. I speak now to thee, oh God of
the Christians, I who am a relic of the old deities, whose power
was in root and branch and raging rapid from the dawn of time. Into
his hands, and those of his line, I shall place what remains of
that power, that new and old may be as one to heal the wounds of
this ravaged and bleeding land."

Chapter Two
The Great Journey

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The Narrow Sea

    Uther Pendragon was strong and powerful, and
despite his young age he'd slain many a foe in battle and never met
an adversary he couldn't best. Until now. For the Narrow Sea was
like no enemy Uther had ever encountered, and against its assault
he lay prostrate, leaning over the wale of the ship in such
distress as he had never known.
    Leodegrance at first made playful fun of his
friend, such a valiant hero reduced to infirmity. But so great was
Uther's agony that his companion soon ceased his amusement and
tried to sooth him any way he could. Leodegrance had spent many
days on the fishing boats along Cameliard's coast, and he was not
overly distressed by the sea's fury, rough though this crossing had
been.
    Uther's torment was prolonged by the need to
sail south as well as east, for northern Gaul was said to be
overrun by the Franks and, as such, too perilous a route for their
small band. To the south the Visigothic king held large sections of
Gaul and Hispania as Legatus of the emperor. Uther's father had
fought the Huns alongside Theodoric the Visigoth, under Flavius
Aetius. In the aftermath of battle, he had attended the great
Gothic king as he lay mortally wounded on the field of Chalons.
Likely they would receive welcome or at least succor in the court
of the Visigoths, where Theodoric’s son, Euric, ruled.
    They would travel by sea to Aquitania, then
across southern Gaul and through the mountain passes into Italia.
Uther would have sooner fought through the guardians of Hell than
stay onboard another moment, but he knew his duty, and he
endured.
    Through the intense discomfort he found
himself thinking time and again about Igraine. He could see her
coppery red hair as it lay about her shoulders, beautiful in the
sunlight. Her eyes, her lips, the sweet sound of her voice. He
couldn't banish