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    Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part Two; The Druid's Plan.)
    Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part Two; The Druid's Plan.)
    Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part Two; The Druid's Plan.)
    Ebook134 pages2 hours

    Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part Two; The Druid's Plan.)

    By Ian Hall

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    Caledonii 2.
    This the second part of the Caledonii series. (It’s best to read part one first, but not essential.)
    The year is 74 AD. The Druids’ attempt to unite the clans against the oncoming Roman threat has failed. Dashed to pieces by ancient tribal squabbles.
    Calach of the Caledonii, and Finlass of the Meatae, both chief’s sons, have hatched a plot to unite the clans despite what their fathers decide.
    Calach is summoned to the Arch-druid, in far distant Votadin lands. He is accompanied by Sewell, his own clan druid. It is essential that Calach keep his plan from the druids, and learn as much as he can on his first journey outside Caledonii lands.
    Thus begins Calach’s adventure, as he takes the first steps on a path he cannot retreat from. As their plot grows, the clans come together, and the traitors come out of the bracken.
    This is Part Two of a series, to be released in Novella length pieces.
    Part Two is over 130 pages, and runs over 35,000 words.
    Comments by readers are welcome.
    Ian Hall, the author, spent his childhood 10 miles south of Edinburgh, Scotland, and played in a 2000 year old Roman encampment as a boy.
    The Roman story is in his blood.

    Part one is entitled; Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part one; The Great Gather), available on Kindle.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherIan Hall
    Release dateNov 26, 2011
    ISBN9781465867599
    Caledonii: Birth of a Nation. (Part Two; The Druid's Plan.)
    Author

    Ian Hall

    I am Scottish, born in Edinburgh, and spent the first 41 years of my life not far from my fair and bonnie "Athens of the North". I now live in Topeka, Kansas with my wife (bless her), no pets (don't like 'em), no children (all moved out), and with many gallons of home-made wine bubbling as I write. I love to write, and enjoy literary challenges of all kinds. I'm not confined by genres, having equal success in Historical adventure, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Horror and hard hitting gritty crime. I watch far too much football (Don't even think of calling it 'soccer'.) and at times chase a dimpled ball along carefully manicured countryside, with a collection of calibrated, graphite-shafted sticks. I play guitar and sing in a folk/rock band, and would love to have enough money to tour the world's archeological sites until I'm too old to walk.

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      Book preview

      Caledonii - Ian Hall

      This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

      Copyright © Ian Hall. Hallanish Publishing at Smashwords Inc..

      All rights reserved, and the author reserves the right to re-produce this book, or parts thereof, in any way whatsoever.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Caledonii: Birth of a Nation.

      By Ian Hall

      Part Two: The Druid’s Plan.

      Contents.

      Chapter 5. Kheltine’s Summons. Summer, 74AD.

      Chapter 6. Kat’lana. Summer, 74AD.

      Chapter 7. The Conspiracy. Early winter, 74AD.

      Chapter 8. Calach Begins a Journey, Summer 75AD

      The Story so far…..

      The Romans invaded England in 43AD, colonized for thirty years, and have turned their heads northward. They built two long roads north, ready for invasion.

      The Norlands dhruids tried to unite the separate clans, but the ‘great gather’ broke down due to petty tribal squabbles.

      In secret, the chief’s sons have allied together, determined to unite the clans against the oncoming Roman threat. Calach of the largest clan, Caledonii, and Finlass of the Meatae are the principle conspirators.

      Chapter 5.

      Kheltine’s Summons.

      Summer 74AD.

      As Calach browsed the market, a firm hand grabbed him by the shoulder, almost making him drop the length of leather he was examining.

      By Lugh!

      He squinted smartly into the morning sun to confront the owner of the offending hand. What do you think you’re doing.....? He snapped, then curtly bit his tongue as he recognized Sewell, the Caledonii clan dhruid.

      I want a word. Sewell took the leather out of Calach’s hand and gave it back to the bemused vendor. In private!

      What have I done now?

      Sewell led him to a quieter part of the market and leant forward, almost whispering.

      Kheltine has asked to see you immediately.

      What? Calach said in bewilderment, turning to face the dhruid.

      The Arch-druid! You have been summoned to his side.

      Me?

      No other; he asked for you by name! Sewell glanced from side to side. Come on, pull yourself together.

      Calach’s first emotion had been absolute panic, and he strove to calm himself.

      Kheltine can’t know of our plan for the clans already! Surely not!

      But, Sewell. His protest died on his lips as he realized he had nothing he could say.

      The Arch-dhruid is not the kind of man to be refused. Sewell began to push Calach towards the centre broch ring. We leave immediately.

      Calach stared at the dhruid in disbelief as he shook his head, and made for the gates.

      Right now?

      We ride before the sun moves one more jot in the sky! Sewell snapped.

      Calach tried his best to use his appearance of confusion to mask his deeper thoughts.

      The plot’s hardly been hatched yet, there’s nothing to hide; nothing for us to be ashamed of and certainly nothing for the dhruids to be angry about.

      As the pair walked briskly towards the broch gates, Calach realized that Sewell was watching him. Aware that his facial expressions could have been giving a lot away since Sewell had accosted him, Calach forced a smile.

      I’m less green than I was ten days ago!

      As they walked, Sewell’s eyes were thin and cold, staring into his.

      Again the possibilities multiply beyond counting; if Sewell knows the reason, he’s disguising the fact well. If he’s as much in the dark about it as I am, it opens up more areas for questions; direct questions.

      Where are we headed? Calach asked, keeping his eyes on the tricky muddy footing near the gates.

      Venicone lands. Sewell walked into the courtyard. We will meet Kheltine there.

      How did the word get here, to Sewell?

      Calach smiled slightly, trying to conceal his epiphany, showing excitement in the prospective journey.

      I’m travelling outside Caledon for the first time in my life!

      Does Ranald know? He asked, this time it was Calach’s turn to watch Sewell’s expression.

      Your parents have been approached, and their permission given. Your presence has been requested by the Arch-dhruid; the senior dhruid in the Norlands. If chief Ranald refused to let you go, it would be seen as a personal insult to Kheltine.

      So Ranald has no say in this.

      Sewell had placed his hand in the centre of Calach’s back, propelling him quickly towards the family broch. I would just hurry along and get ready for a long journey.

      By Lugh! For the first time I’m going to be away from Da’, and directly under the control of the dhruids.

      Calach stopped. Two horses were being brought out into the courtyard, saddles already on their backs.

      "We are waiting on you, Calach."

      When did the messenger come in? Calach looked around, feigning surprise. I’ve been around here most o’ the morning; I’ve seen no-one.

      Calach watched as Sewell took a deep breath, impatience beginning to show. When Kheltine has urgent need, he has no requirement for messengers. He pushed Calach towards the door. Go and get your belongings together. Now!

      The dhruid was clearly flustered; Calach had never seen him so tense.

      By all the Gods I know, and more besides! This is an adventure and no mistake!

      One last thing. Sewell’s tone of voice brooked no argument. Tell no one else of your destination! We ride alone and our destination is known only to ourselves and your parents.

      Calach was left running up the spiral stairway with his thoughts in turmoil. The more he hypothesized, the more he concluded that they had done nothing wrong yet.

      Sewell had stated quite clearly that no messengers had arrived this morning. Finlass was right; the dhruids could communicate with each other over distances.

      He was determined to find out more.

      ~ ~ ~

      It only took a moment to put some clothes and a sleeping roll together. He tied it tightly and swung the bundle over his shoulder, then looked around for his bow. He fastened the quiver to his waist, on the opposite side from his sword, tucked two dirks into his belt and ran down the steps into the large courtyard of the inner circle. When he walked out into the sunshine again, his mother was there, in conversation with Sewell.

      He watched Mawrin turn and was unnerved by her expression of pain and worry. For all he felt grown up, he knew that his mother still saw him as her little boy. Ranald was nowhere to be seen.

      Is that you ready, Calach? His mother came close to him, brushed his long brown hair with her fingers, and fastened his clothes tighter, smoothing away imaginary wrinkles. It’s not taken you long. Have you got everything? Have you got enough clothes? Have you got something to eat?

      He endured the palaver for his mother’s sake, knowing that if he complained, he would just offend her.

      She may just be my mother, but she’s also the Matriarch of the clan.

      Stepping closer still, she reached up to him and kissed his cheek.

      Watch the dhruids! She whispered gently as she kissed him. Watch them, for they seek a hold on you!

      The remark from anyone else would have been brushed off easily, but from his mother, who rarely commented on dhruids at all, Calach took the advice seriously.

      Mother! I’m only going on a short journey; a couple o’ days at the most.

      I know son. She said, a lump firmly in her throat. Kheltine’s no’ far away, Sewell’s told me.

      I’ll be back before you know it.

      I know son, I know. She walked him to the horses, where the two clansmen were securing saddlebags with provisions on either flank. Two goatskins of water were tied together and laid over the front of each saddle. Calach threw his bedroll to one of the men, who tied it behind one of the saddles.

      Where’s Da? Calach looked round the courtyard of the inner ring.

      He’ll wave from the broch as you go. Then she leaned closer and whispered again, He didn’t exactly agree wi’ this, but even he wasn’t going to refuse Kheltine. So he’s in one o’ his moods.

      No’ again. We were just getting back on speaking terms.

      Aye. Remember an’ wave goodbye to him, won’t you!

      Aye, mother, I will. He whispered closely in her ear. An’ I’ll watch out for the grey-robes, never fear.

      Sewell had mounted his horse and indicated Calach should do likewise. Calach kissed his mother again and quickly threw himself onto the saddle.

      He immediately felt strange on the horse; its mannerisms were unfamiliar. Not my normal mount.

      We’ll be changing these soon anyway. Sewell pre-empted any further complaint. With a shout to clear the way, he wheeled his horse’s head round and kicked it on through the gates. Calach urged his horse to follow, soon catching up with the dhruid.

      As Calach rode out of the gate, he saw Ranald on the battlements. He raised his hand in salute.

      Calach swore he saw Ranald nod his head.

      ~ ~ ~

      Sewell kept up a good pace for the rest of the day, saying virtually nothing at all to his young warrior companion. They rode steadily south-eastward, following the natural glen of the Tayme River, which at first flowed south, then south-east through Caledon lands. They made good time by way of well-worn paths which ran down the side of the river, first one side then the other, as the hills on either side dictated. Sewell led the way as they rode along the paths and crossed the shallow parts of the river, but asked Calach’s advice on the best places to ford the faster flowing parts. When they were forced to leave the river banks because of the steep terrain, they were slowed down

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