M. K. Hume [King Arthur Trilogy 04] The Last Dragon Read online

  Copyright © 2014 M. K. Hume

  The right of M. K. Hume to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  First published as an Ebook in 2014 by HEADLINE REVIEW

  An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP

  Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

  All characters in this publication – apart from the obvious historical figures – are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library

  Epub conversion by Avon DataSet Ltd, Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

  eISBN 978 0 7553 7959 0

  Cover design © Larry Rostant

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Also by M. K. Hume

  Praise

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Dramatis Personae

  Map 1 – Myrddion’s Chart of Pre-Arthurian Roman Britain

  Map 2 – Myrddion’s Chart of The Celtic Tribal Areas

  Prologue

  Chapter I

  Chapter II

  Master Bedwyr’s Family Tree

  The Family Tree of King Bors Minor

  Chapter III

  Chapter IV

  Chapter V

  Chapter VI

  Map 3 – The Landscape of Crookback Farm

  Chapter VII

  Map 4 – The Saxon Attack on the Hospital at Caussenae

  Chapter VIII

  Chapter IX

  Map 5 – Plan of Warriors’ Dyke

  Chapter X

  Chapter XI

  Map 6 – Saxon Advances into South-West Britannia

  Chapter XII

  Map 7 – Taliesin’s Plan of Calleva Atrebatum

  Chapter XIII

  Map 8 – The Battle of Calleva Atrebatum – The Cavalry Charge

  Map 9 – The Battle of Calleva Atrebatum – Stage One

  Chapter XIV

  Map 10 – The Battle of Calleva Atrebatum – Stage Two

  Chapter XV

  Chapter XVI

  Chapter XVII

  Chapter XVIII

  Map 11 – Arthur’s Trek from Tintagel to Onnum

  Chapter XIX

  Chapter XX

  Postscript

  Author’s Notes

  Glossary of Place Names

  Glossary of Tribal Names Used

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  M. K. Hume is a retired academic, who is married with two grown-up sons and lives in Queensland, Australia. M. K. Hume completed an MA and PhD in Arthurian Literature many years ago and has previously written six magnificent novels: the King Arthur trilogy, Dragon’s Child, Warrior of the West and The Bloody Cup and the Prophecy trilogy about the life of Merlin: Clash of Kings, Death of an Empire and Web of Deceit.

  By M. K. Hume and available from Headline Review

  King Arthur Trilogy

  King Arthur: Dragon’s Child

  King Arthur: Warrior of the West

  King Arthur: The Bloody Cup

  Merlin Trilogy

  Prophecy: Clash of Kings

  Prophecy: Death of an Empire

  Prophecy: Web of Deceit

  Twilight of the Celts Trilogy

  The Last Dragon

  PRAISE FOR M. K. HUME

  ‘Hume brings the bloody, violent, conniving world vividly to life . . . will appeal to those who thrill to Game of Thrones and other tales of intersecting, ever-warring, noble lineages’ Kirkus Review

  ‘Hume deftly navigates the Arthurian legends, populating them with likable and despicable characters, and casting them in a fully realized historical setting’ Publishers Weekly

  ‘Historical fiction of the most bloodthirsty and roistering kind’ Australian Bookseller & Publishers Magazine

  ‘Exciting, violent and bloody . . . Up there with Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell’ www.lovereading.co.uk

  ‘It’s a slice of history that’s totally, utterly believable. Magnificent’ www.booksmonthly.co.uk

  ABOUT THE BOOK

  King Artor lies slain and Ector, a mere boy, is acknowledged as the legitimate heir to the kingdom. But the land of the Celts is weakened and Ector grows up torn between a sense of doom and duty.

  Meanwhile, in the Forest of Arden, it is revealed to young Arthur that he is the Bastard Prince, son of King Artor and Lady Elayne. Trained in the skills of a warrior, Arthur cannot challenge the position of his ruler and childhood friend, but nor can he stand back and watch Briton crumble under the threat of invasion. As the Last Dragon, he must ensure that his father’s legacy lives on . . .

  This book is written in memory of my dear friend, Robyn Jones, who passed away on 29 December 2010. She pulled me up when I was at my lowest, and simply would not tolerate cowardice or giving up when the going became tough.

  She taught me that bullies only have power over us if we give it to them. At the table in her garden, she made me promise never to give up on myself, no matter what I was told – even when she was dying and my problems were as nothing to those she was carrying with quiet heroism. There are no words of sufficient eloquence that can repay such a gift.

  People such as Robyn are true friends: those who speak the truth in hard times, but stay by your side to hold your hand in times of need.

  My life is the poorer without you, my friend.

  M. K. Hume

  January 2014

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  When you write historical fiction, proof-reading is a long and tedious task that requires intense concentration. It’s amazing how any number of people can read a manuscript and miss ‘typos’ hidden away in all sorts of strange places, but these ‘bombs’ will be found as soon as the novel has been printed, released and displayed on the shelves of a bookshop.

  I try to get around this perennial problem by using (literally) a number of friends to do this difficult task for me, thus giving them an advance read of what takes place in the novels long before they are released for publication.

  This process serves two purposes. In the first instance, we pick up most of the ‘typos’ at the right time in the production of the manuscript. But then, and probably more importantly, I get feedback from superb readers on exactly how they feel about the content to which they have been exposed. Fortunately for my ego, their responses are usually favourable, but occasionally they come up with some major ‘boo-boos’ on my part, or sometimes on the part of Michael who handles all the editorial and production problems. I am always grateful for these discoveries, because repairs can be made before they become a source of acute embarrassment to me.

  As an example of ‘egg on your face’, I utilised potatoes as one of the ingredients in a stew in one of the novels, set in sixth-century Britain. As potatoes did not find their way to the British Isles until about AD 1500, my recipe was about one thousand years out. I was totally humiliated by this error, because I knew in my own mind that Europe didn’t have potatoes then. I just didn’t pick up on it while in the fren
zy of writing.

  I thanked my correspondent, red faced, and have tried really hard to remove potatoes from my diet since then.

  Similarly, I described the weaponry of Celtic warriors in another novel and mentioned that they were armed with the short Roman stabbing sword that had been used for many centuries by Roman legionaries. However, by the fifth century, the Roman legions were equipped with a longer form of the same weapon. Again, I was embarrassed by my own inadequacies. Fortunately, readers are nice people, so an apology was quickly provided to this knowledgeable critic.

  And so my proof-reading friends are very important to me when we are in the final stages of producing each novel. I would particularly like to thank the following for their assistance with proof-reading and constructive criticism: Sue Carpenter, David Hall, David Stephenson, Peter Campbell, Suzanne Beecham, Pauline Reckentin.

  To my publicist and source of corporate wisdom, Jolene Hill, my thanks.

  I also thank my lovely agent and friend, Dorie Simmonds, who always gives me the confidence to go on, hopefully to bigger and better things.

  And to the staff at Headline who always make me feel good about my work. Guys, the covers for the Prophecy trilogy were absolutely incredible. I thank you.

  My best wishes and my thanks go to you, my friends.

  M. K. Hume

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Aelle One of the Saxon thanes killed by King Artor. He was the father of Cymen (killed at Anderida), Wlencing (killed at Noviomagus) and Cissa who eventually became the leader of the Southern Saxons.

  Ambrosius High King of the Britons (Ambrosius Aurelianus or Ambrosius Imperator). He was the son of Constantine III and brother to Constans II and Uther Pendragon (all of whom were High Kings of the Britons). Constans II was succeeded in turn by Vortigern, Ambrosius, Uther and Artor.

  Anna (Licia) Queen of the Ordovice. She is the legitimate daughter of King Artor and Gallia, his first wife. Her identity was kept secret to protect her from those who would defile her and gain control over Artor. She was referred to as the king’s sister to disguise her true relationship with the Dragon King.

  Artair The king of the Atrebates tribe.

  Artor High King of the Britons. The son of Uther Pendragon and Ygerne (the widow of King Gorlois of Cornwall). He fathered Anna (Licia) on his first wife, Gallia. He also illegitimately fathered Arthur on Elayne. The Saxons refer to Artor as the Dragon King.

  Arthur The illegitimate son of King Artor and Lady Elayne. She is the wife of Bedwyr, the Arden Knife, who fosters Arthur at King Artor’s request. The boy becomes a warrior in his own right.

  Bedwyr Master of Arden Forest, and a member of the Cornovii tribe. Taken as a slave by the Saxons in his youth, he was instrumental in defeating the Saxon forces at the fortress of Moridunum. Later, in company with Galahad and Percivale, he became one of the three warriors who took part in the quest for the Bloody Cup. Married to Elayne, he has five children – Arthur (sired by King Artor), Lasair, Nuala, Barr and Maeve.

  Blaise Youngest daughter of King Bors Minor of the Dumnonii tribe and betrothed to Gilchrist (a grandson of King Gawayne), who will become a future king of the Otadini.

  Bors Major King of Cornwall. Nephew and successor to King Gorlois.

  Bors Minor King of Cornwall. The son of Bors Major and great-nephew of King Gorlois, he is a life-long ally of King Artor and, later, King Bran.

  Bran King of the Ordovice tribe. He is the son of Anna and the grandson of King Artor. He becomes Dux Bellorum of the West after the death of King Artor.

  Cadwy Scarface A notable Brigante warrior who was wounded at the battle of Moridunum. He served under Modred at the battle of Camlann and, later, fights in the battle of Calleva Atrebatum.

  Caius The foster-brother of King Artor, he is a famed warrior and also a psychotic who kills randomly. When found out, he is killed by Myrddion Merlinus with poison to avoid having to be tried by King Artor in open court.

  Causus Gallio A citizen of Deva when it was sacked by the Brigante tribe and the Pictish allies of Modred shortly before the battle of Camlann. He later becomes the Magistrate of Deva.

  Cerdic Thane and Bretwalda of the West Saxons.

  Cernunes The stag-horned god of Celtic polytheism. He is the leader of the Wild Hunt.

  Cissa Saxon king and Bretwalda of the Southern Saxons. His death was marked by a period of civil war in the south.

  Crookback Ednyfed and Cathella Crookback are peasant farmers on Bedwyr’s lands inside Arden Forest. They and their family are killed by a band of pillaging Saxons.

  Cymen Son of Aelle, he is one of the influential Saxon thanes.

  Cynric Son of Cerdic, Thane of the West Saxons. Later to become a bretwalda in his own right. He captures Portus Adurni and Venta Belgarum in his father’s name.

  Deinol ap Delwyn A Deceangli nobleman, kinsman of and successor to King Mark.

  Don The Celtic goddess representing the Mother. Out of superstition, her name was rarely spoken aloud. She develops some of the characteristics of the Roman goddess as well.

  Eamonn pen Bors Son of King Bors Minor and Queen Valda of Cornwall.

  Ector Son of King Bran, and great-grandson of King Artor.

  Elayne Wife of Bedwyr. Erstwhile confidante of King Artor. After a single liaison during a snowstorm, she becomes pregnant and bears Artor’s child, Arthur. Bedwyr and Elayne raise the bastard child.

  Enid (Queen) Wife of King Gawayne. She is Gwyllan’s mother.

  Flavius Aetius The last great general of the Roman Empire, he was murdered by the Western Emperor, Valentinian. With a coalition force of 200,000 Visigoth, Frank and Roman warriors, he fought an army of twice that size under the command of Attila the Hun at the battle of the Catalaunian Plains near Châlons. The battle took approximately one day, and he fought Attila’s forces to a standstill in one of the great battles of all time.

  Frith The slave of Livinia at the Villa Poppinidii. She is the minder of King Artor’s first wife, Gallia, and dies with her when the villa comes under attack.

  Fortuna The Roman goddess of chance or luck.

  Gallia King Artor’s first wife, a woman of Roman lineage.

  Gareth Major The bodyguard of King Artor.

  Gareth Minor Son of Gareth Major. He becomes the confidant and bodyguard of Prince Arthur.

  Gawayne Son of King Lot and Queen Morgause, brother of Agravaine and Geraint. He is the king of the Otadini tribe.

  Gerallt ap Cadwy A Deceangli nobleman.

  Germanus A Frankish mercenary who is hired as arms master by Bedwyr to train young Arthur.

  Gilchrist The eldest grandson of King Gawayne, and heir to the Otadini throne.

  Glynn ap Myrddion Son of Myrddion and Nimue, and brother of Taliesin. His skills lie in medicine.

  Gorlois The Boar of Cornwall, king of the Dumnonii tribe. He is married to Ygerne, and is the father of Morgan and Morgause.

  Gwyllan King Gawayne’s second daughter. Her name means ‘Seagull’, and she is the only one of her generation who suffers from the ‘Sight’.

  Havar Commander of the Jute forces who fight alongside those of Thane Cerdic at the battle of Celleva Atrebatum.

  Hengist A Saxon aristocrat who serves under Vortigern as a mercenary for a number of years. He eventually rejoins the Saxons and becomes the Thane of the Kentish Saxons and, later, rules the lands to the north of the Wash.

  Horsa Brother of Hengist.

  Idris ap Cadwy Born Idris ap Gerallt, he has been fostered by Cadwy Scarface. He serves as his foster-father’s equerry.

  Ifor Son of King Leodegran. He is the brother of Queen Wenhaver, the father of Tewdwr and the grandfather of Mereddyd.

  Iseult Wife of King Mark of the Deceangli tribe. The lover of Lord Trystan, she commits suicide after her capture while eloping with Trystan.

  Lasair Eldest son of Bedwyr and Elayne. Half-brother to Arthur, natural son of King Artor and Elayne.

  Leodegran Father of Queen Wenhaver and King Ifor.

 
Licia Alternative name for Anna, daughter of Artor and mother of King Bran. She is Arthur’s half-sister.

  Lleywd Master of the Villa Poppinidii.

  Lorcan ap Lugald Father Lorcan. A priest recruited to christen Bedwyr’s newly born daughter. He becomes Arthur’s tutor.

  Lot King of the Otadini tribe. He is killed by Modred with his wife Queen Morgause.

  Luned A descendant of Livinia. She becomes mistress of the Villa Poppinidii. She is the daughter of Livinia Minor and the wife of Llewyd.

  Maeve Youngest child of Bedwyr. She accompanies Blaise to Onnum when Blaise travels to become Gilchrist’s bride.

  Mareddyd Great-nephew of Queen Wenhaver. Heir to the Dobunni throne, he is the sworn enemy of Prince Arthur.

  Mark King of the Deceangli tribe. He is a co-conspirator with Modred in the war against King Artor. He deserted his army after the battle where Modred lost his life.

  Mark Bishop of Glastonbury. He secretly buries King Artor at the church, and later allows Arthur to see the site of the grave.

  Mary Martha Abbess of her convent. She is Wenhaver, the widow of King Artor.

  Modred The Matricide. He is King Artor’s nephew, the son of Queen Morgause, and is killed by Artor at the battle of Camlann.

  Morgan le Fey Elder daughter of Gorlois and Ygerne, sister to Morgause and half-sister to Artor, who becomes High King of the Britons.

  Morgause Daughter of Gorlois and Ygerne, sister to Morgan and half-sister to King Artor. Wife of King Lot and mother of Agravaine, Gawayne and Geraint.

  Myrddion Merlinus Merlin. He is named after the sun, and his name means Lord of Light. He is often referred to as the Demon Seed. He is a famed healer and is the confidant of King Artor and other influential rulers of his time.

  Nimue The Lady of the Lake. She is the widow of Myrddion Merlinus and the mother of Taliesin, Rhys and Glynn.

  Nuala Third child of Bedwyr and Elayne.

  Pelles Minor Son of Pelles Major. Commander of the archers in King Artor’s army. He also serves King Bran.

  Rab Son of Crookback, a peasant farmer in Arden Forest, who is murdered by Saxons. He is Arthur’s childhood friend.