Tales Of Gallanol : Ch.1 War Council

Deneldinhew addressed a council of the Kingdom of Baerwys, which included the High King’s advisors and chief ministers (those who supported Deneldinhew, that is. Some, known to favour Lewden of Paldein’s claim, had been taken out of the council). There were representatives from the few major cities of Baerwys and other towns (there were local merchants and civil servants). Kings or representatives of the Kings of Lanardein, Galdellyn and Falwent, generals and important officers of the gathered armies of the four contributing Kingdoms of Gallanol.

The large oval table seated the more important of these men and women, twenty seats in all, excepting Owen and Deneldinhew’s seats in the centre with their backs to the door through which they had entered. Deneldinhew’s mother Cythrin sat or his right hand side. She was the daughter of a rich Emywid merchant. Her two brothers sat on her right hand side. Her husband Deneldinhew’s dead father, had been the son of an uncle of Denhelew, (the late High King of Gallanol and King of Baerwys), and had therefore been one of Denhelew’s cousins (that made Deneldinhew the son of a cousin of Denhelew). Cythrin was an ambitious, intelligent and domineering matriarch in her late forties. Her attractive face glowed with pride as her son spoke of battle plans, preparations and foreign policy. Her two elder brothers were both in their fifties. They were the leading members of House Cadwallon, now by far the most eminent of rich Emywid families (particularly now because of Deneldinhew’s accession). Now that their father was a senile old man they had become the patriarchs of their House. Their names were Cadwallion Cadwallon and Rodin Cadwallon. At their right hand side were the two other influential Cadwallons, the two sons of Rodin Cadwallon, Roderic and Eric. Eric also had the position of one of the generals of the Baerwysian army. He had fought side by side with Deneldinhew and Owen in skirmishes with the Martainians on the on the borders within the last few years.

Beyond the Cadwallons to the right sat Jovian, an ambassador of Galdellyn, who represented that kingdom. He was a strange man, tall, athletic looking, in his late twenties and very handsome. His attractiveness was not at all delicate. His fine face was confident and strong. Power and intelligence radiated from him. His eyes were dark. Sinister and piercing. His brown hair was unusually long for a Gallanolian. It came well over his shoulders. It was not worn, however, in the predominant styles of the Norenicians, the Nardyrrians, or the southern Cinder Folk Naticns, parted in the middle and left to hang down the sides of the face. Jovian’s hair was brushed back over his head, behind his ears and back from his forehead. His tunic, his tights, his shoes and his cloak were all black. His appearance was menacing to some, and he created unease, in those who came near, who did not know him well. Jovian had arrived in Emywid only a couple of days ago to accompany the army northward. He provided a stark contrast with the comparative homely appearance of the Cadwallons, and many of the others around the table.

Next to Jovian was Macbeth, an oldish looking man in his early sixties who had served Denhelew loyally and had become chief minister under him, although he’d also served as a minister under two of his predecessors. He seemed ill at ease sitting next to Jovian.

Next to Macbeth sat Luneid Lenwar, another veteran of Denhelew’s closest council. He was dressed all in white, an average sized man, aged about forty with a short close cropped beard. He had briefly been Deneldinhew’s tutor six or seven years ago, during a short period when Denhelew had removed him from office because of some kind of scandal involving promotion of relatives.

On the opposite side of the oval table to Luneid sat Llewelyn, the King of Lanardein’s son, who was to command the troops of Lanardein. Next to him sat the King and Queen of Falwent, in person, Eocha and Bleddys, and also their son Duncan. Anarawd, the old grey haired General who had commanded the armies of Denhelew against the Martainians, sat next around the table, an old and respected warrior, who was too old to actually fight, but who would accompany the army to direct its actions as the chief advisor to Deneldinhew. Next to Anarawd sat Diarmid, a nobleman vaguely related to the House of the High Kings, a very capable statesman who was Chancellor of the Royal Purse, and with the consent of the Representative Council of Trade, was entrusted with the task of drafting decrees concerning the economic life of Baerwys, and sometimes all Gallanol where necessary. In between Diarmid and Owen sat six young men who, together with Owen made up the King’s Companions, a sort of elite bodyguard of best friends, who were all of a similar age and were sometimes referred to as Knights. Their names were Hew, Cynan, Idwal, Rhodric ‘bulls eye’ (a very excellent archer), Morgan and Bleddyn.

Behind the oval table, opposite Deneldinhew and Owen were seated about fifteen others, influential city leaders and officers of the army.

“We leave this afternoon,” Deneldinhew was saying. “We cannot hope to surprise King Lew, but speed is necessary. My agents tell me King Lew is unprepared for attack although he has been recruiting during the winter. His army is far smaller than ours, and therefore incapable of an attacking form of warfare. He will withdraw his troops to his cities and hope to receive aid from elsewhere. The faster we move, the smaller his army will be, and the more likely we can cut off the retreat of his army to Caerella and Morith. As you know I received final word from King Lew that he does not recognize me as High King, a few days ago. It seems that threats of conquest are not enough for the old fool. We are going to have to conquer him utterly. He, seemingly ignorant of the fact that my supporters are greater in numbers, and that five out of seven kingdoms support my claim, chooses to disrupt the unity and peace of Gallanol. He must, therefore, be replaced and the long rule of his royal house be ended.”

Owen smiled to himself. Deneldinhew, he knew, would seek to claim the throne of Elladein as his own, and so would increase his own power to rule a united Gallanol. He would have greater influence and control. Previous High Kings had been held back in their work by the division of power between seven kings in Gallanol. Disagreements were bound to occur sometimes and High Kings were not in a strong enough position to execute authority. A successful High King’s reign depended too much on trust and unity of ambition, too little on straightforward obedience to the High King’s decrees. Owen wanted Deneldinhew to be strong, for the sake of Gallanol’s unity against the common threat of the Martans. While Lew of Elladein and Lewden of Paldein were opponents of Deneldinhew’s High Kingdom authority, Gallanol was vulnerable from concerted attack from both inside and outside. The sooner the rebel kings were dealt with, the sooner the rift would be healed and a stronger Deneldinhew would be able to maintain a healthy power and protect Gallanol.

Macbeth began to speak now, slowly, with deliberation. His voice still had traces of the accent of Falwent even though it had been many years since he had left his home city of Wedol to enter the High King’s service. “The Royal House of Elladein has remained particularly stable for centuries, and it is popular, as the marriage of King Lew’s son Inalhearn a few years ago proved. The King, the newly weds and the whole royal family went on a royal procession through the towns on the banks of the River Ella to Morith. King Eocha, you and your Queen, and your son, joined King Lew at the beginning of that procession. Prince Llewelyn, you and your father and mother were also there, just as I was. You saw the popularity of King Lew and his family. It would be politically insensitive to the people of Elladein to remove the House of King Lew. Who would you replace them with? Which royal family? You would need to invent a new one or give the Kingdom to some distant relative of the royal family. It would upset the equilibrium of Gallanol if a prince of Falwent or Lanardein, or Galdellyn or Baerwys were put on the throne.”

Owen saw that Deneldinhew was uneasy. He was slightly red in the face, with what his friend interpreted as anger. Owen guessed Deneldinhew and Macbeth had had this argument before, but that Deneldinhew had not expected it to be continued in this way before this Council. A quick glance around the room showed the others were surprised at this sudden outburst from Macbeth.

Macbeth continued, “Or is it that you yourself would like to claim the throne of Elladein, which coupled with Baerwys would make the High King a much more powerful man?” He directed his speech towards Deneldinhew now. “I say the traditional balance of the High Kingdom would be broken if you did that. The present quarrel can be solved by a short campaign, although that is not certain. In the negotiations which follow both King Lew and King Lewden would soon be reconciled to your rule. The great task of a High King is to use tact and trust to unite and preserve the Kingdoms. Were you to cast King Lew’s family from their throne you would be promoting opposition. The present quarrel would be doubly intensified. Perhaps King Lew would turn to desperate measures, enlist the aid of Martainia, or Telmartan or Norenician mercenaries. The other kings in Gallanol; you Eocha; your father Llewelyn; King Alentin and King Rhodric would begin to wonder whether Deneldinhew had designs on your kingdoms. Even at his most harmless, that path would breed distrust. A swift campaign followed by reconciliation is all I ask for.”

Deneldinhew looked angry, but his voice spoke with calming intensity and enthusiasm, which revealed his belief in what he was saying. He was making a great rhetorical attempt to persuade others. “Macbeth, we have spoken of this before. Who doubts that I am the man to become High King? King Lewden is old and without a suitable heir for the High Kingdom. King Lew also is old. His close personal friendship with King Lewden makes him biased towards his faction. But all of Lewden’s faction can hope to create is ill feeling within Gallanol. That is, they may say, not their intention, but that is the only possible outcome. King Lew is very popular in Elladein, but in this he is sacrificing his popularity. As our army approaches King Lew may capitulate, in which case we will be able to maintain his family’s rule. If, however, we must lay siege to Caerella or Morith, we must be seen to be resolute in our victory, so that no man or kingdom may ever again disrupt the unity of Gallanol.”

It was a sharp, concise speech, which Owen could see seemed to carry the approval of most of those gathered. Macbeth looked resigned, as if he knew that he had done all he could, but would now go along with whatever was decided, as nothing more could be done.

Luneid Lenwar began to speak in support of what Deneldinhew had just said, his soft lilting voice seeming to smooth over all disagreements and create compromise. “You, Macbeth, are a great statesman. You understand that what Gallanol requires is a balance of royal power. Seven kings to rule, and one of those to lead and coordinate the policy and rule of the other six. It has been that way for centuries now, and it has worked well, but recently Gallanol has become threatened. From outside, on our northern and western borders the Martan peoples have settled. They are numerous, warlike, and increasingly organised. The Kingdom of Martainia in particular is in a position of great strength. King Catorn is a mature and strong leader of his people. He has dared to organise warfare against us in recent years, and we have refused between ourselves to carry warfare farther into Martainia. We have allowed him by our weaknesses to retain his strength.

“The system of rule which has been efficient and good in Gallanol until now is proving less than perfect now, in time of threat. The High King needs to be able to muster all the resources of Gallanol at any time. The High King Denhelew was faced with this problem. When he called for support he got it, but he did not receive the all out support which he desired. When did Lewden of Paldein or Lew of Elladein ever come to war in person? You, Macbeth, are a veteran of Denhelew’s Council. You yourself campaigned for a war to end all wars with Martainia. But Lewden and Lew, and even Rhodric were loth to agree and full scale warfare was never attempted. It is stunningly obvious that the High King needs greater powers to rule in unity.”

This last statement was said with great emotion and power. Luneid’s voice was no longer soft. But immediately he settled back into his calming voice again. “As if to answer our questions about the unity and strength of rule in Gallanol a crisis has occurred, which both proves our present weaknesses and brings an opportunity to redress these ills, to build a stronger Gallanol, which is adequately protected, to protect its people from Martainian harassment.

“Two claimants put themselves forward for the High Throne. Most of Gallanol supported our beloved Deneldinhew, because he is a youn man with the charisma, character and intelligence to unite and rule Gallanol, and resist Martainia. Those who supported Lewden of Paldein did so because they were Paldeini before Gallanolians, or because they knew they would gain personal favours from him. King Lew is one of Lewden’s closest friends. Thus we have a faction of greed as it were who seek the High Throne for themselves. They are undermining Gallanol’s unity by not coming into line with the obvious rights of Deneldinhew and the obvious wishes of most of Gallanol. I sympathise with your protestation, Macbeth, but do say that it is an idealistic and dated argument. You should know better. Lewden and Lew must be brought into line forcibly if they will not cooperate for the sake of Gallanol. They deserve to lose their thrones as a punishment, and as a warning to other Gallanolians that unity must be preserved. Deneldinhew should receive the crown of Elladein because it will increase the unity of Gallanol.”

When he stopped talking there was silence for about a minute. Macbeth looked uncomfortable, but he said nothing. King Eocha nodded his head in agreement. Deneldinhew looked pleased and relieved. His mother Cythrin looked extremely pleased. Indeed she was smiling slightly. Jovian sat unmoved and unconcerned by the speech. Owen found him curious.

Presently Deneldinhew again began talking about preparations for the journey north and about battle plans. Finally he gave orders to some of his Companions, to Anarawd and Eric Cadwallon, and the Council split up.