“My lord prince,” he said, “you are needed in the castle. Lord Ieuan sent me to find you.” Gawain nodded and regained his balance. The colour returned to his cheeks. He shook his head to clear it and looked at me again.
“What was I saying?”
“You wanted to ask me something?”
“Did I?” he paused for a moment. “I can’t remember. If it’s important, I shall send word. Good day, Anselm. Don’t forget what I said.” He took to his heel and strode off.
“Good day, my Lord,” I muttered and bowed to his back. I went back to join Owain’s company. The King was still in good spirits. He expressed his hope that the two of us had resolved our differences, to which I gave a bland reply. Owain mounted a horse, as did the Queen, who was wearing a thick cloak against the cold. She was accompanied by her ladies, as usual.
“I’d offer you a horse, Magister, but I know you’d refuse it. Wouldn’t you?”
“I would, sir. I prefer to keep my feet firmly on the ground, but I thank you for the thought.” Owain laughed more than the joke deserved and we set off out of the gate and down the hill.
I looked out for the hut with the sick child and saw the old woman sitting outside on a low bench rocking a bundle of rags on her knee. I went over to ask after the boy but I didn’t need to: he was lying in her arms, looking weak and pale but his eyes were bright and his colour much closer to normal. The improvement seemed nothing short of miraculous, but I wasn’t surprised. I’d seen the results of Ieuan’s work before. The woman and I exchanged a smile and a brief greeting. I gave them both my blessing before I walked on.
I looked around for other children as I hurried to catch the others up and saw several, enough to ease my earlier concern somewhat although I still thought that they were a little thin on the ground. I didn’t have a chance to look any further as I was called to hurry and catch up with the company following in the King’s wake. It was made up of merchants, traders and itinerant artisans, numbering about two dozen in all. They had different destinations but a family totalling seven, including parents, their two brothers and children down to a babe in arms were heading for the Melrose fair, which would be taking place in just over a week. They were carrying all their wares on the backs of the four adults. We would travel together for some time, a prospect that quite pleased me. Most of my journeys, down the years, had been solitary and sometimes I was alone for weeks at a time in the wilder and more desolate places.
All of us had been delayed at Dumbarton by Owain’s order. He had assured us that we would reach our destinations in time but the others were getting restless. Time was short, distances great and the King seemed unconcerned as he led us down the hill and across the fields to the bank of a tributary of the mighty Clyde river, which gave the kingdom its name. The River Leven was tidal but less open than the estuary into which it flowed. There was a lot of activity on a recently-constructed jetty. Work was still going on; it looked like it was being extended and its capacity greatly increased. The jetty I had seen turned out to be one of two, which reached into the river and were clearly intended to provide shelter for a large number of rivercraft. Were there really enough fishing-boats for what was beginning to look like a significant port?
There, like a child with a new toy, Owain showed us three large, open boats. They were ready crewed and were to be our transport for nearly thirty miles up the tidal stretches of the River Clyde, deep into his territory.
“The wind is favourable, the tide’s on the turn. In half a day, my friends, you’ll travel as far as you would in a day and a half. There is room for you and your goods, plenty of it.” He was right, the boats were significantly larger than the usual fishing smacks. They were as big as a war-craft - in fact, it occurred to me that they were war-craft but without subsurface rams and war crests. This was an innovation, and had its attractions for peaceful waters. The only ones that matched that description were tidal stretches of rivers well within the borders of settled kingdoms - like the Clyde. “Have a good journey, and come back and tell me whether this idea is useful. If it is, we will charge passage, but this trip is free. Visit us again soon.” The passengers clambered suspiciously aboard, some quite alarmed at the unsteady motion of the vessels as they moved around. Most of them had hardly set foot on a boat before, confining their trading trips to areas that could be reached by trails across solid ground. Their idea of a river-crossing was a sturdy bridge. The navigational experience of most of my fellow-passengers was limited to a dinghy rowed across a river or a calm, narrow loch.
A shriek of fear threatened to turn apprehension into panic. Authority was needed and it came immediately from Owain. His was a voice used to being obeyed.
“Sit down where you are!” All aboard did as they were told. “Follow the instructions of your pilots! You have no need to fear if you do as you are instructed,” he continued more quietly, when he had their attention. “The boats are stable but you must remain seated, otherwise the motion will be unsettling. You’ll be on board for only a few hours, then you’ll be on your way as normal.” The passengers settled again but were still nervous.
I would be the last to board the third vessel. I wasn’t perturbed at the prospect of water travel. I’d crossed rougher channels than the Clyde and in smaller vessels including the ubiquitous coracle, in which St. Columba and his friends had crossed the North Channel from Erin to Dalriada.
The Queen came to take her leave, followed by her two kinswomen.
“I wish you well on your journey Anselm, and on your mission to Whitby. I look forward to your return. Olwen and Morag insist that you come back soon, too. Owain likes you. You aren’t what he expected; neither the serious, dour sage nor the warrior. He prefers you the way you are. So do I.” I was pleasantly surprised at her familiarity and found myself liking her very much. I thanked her for her courtesy and returned good wishes to all of them, before making my way down the short jetty to where Owain was still giving orders as the first boat cast off. I managed to attract his attention.
“Anselm! I’d forgotten you. Quick, get aboard before your boat leaves without you.”