The Poisoned Throne: Tintagel Book II Read online

  Copyright © 2015 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 2015

  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

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

  eISBN: 978 1 4722 1581 9

  Cover design © Larry Rostant

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Author

  Also by M. K. Hume

  About the Book

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Dramatis Personae

  Chart One – Major Roman Settlements in Britain

  Chart Two – Barbarian Attacks on Roman Britain

  Prologue

  Chapter I A Very Proper Wife

  Chapter II A Meeting in Deva

  Chart Three – The Town of Corinium and its Environs

  Chapter III Love and Marriage

  Chart Four – The Murder Site Outside the Walls of Corinium

  Chapter IV Out of Death Comes Life

  Chapter V A Dangerous Affection

  Chart Five – The Journey from Corinium to Tintagel

  Chapter VI A Hurried Journey

  Chart Six – The Attack on the Wagon Train

  Chapter VII Ambush

  Chapter VIII A Holy Place

  Chart Seven – The Flight from Glastonbury to Tintagel

  Chapter IX Union

  Chapter X trapped

  Chapter XI At Dice with Devils

  Chapter XII A Bitter Legacy

  Chapter XIII Destiny

  Chart Eight – The Journey to Venta Belgarum

  Chapter XIV Beginnings

  Chart Nine – Constantinus in the Cantii Lands

  Chapter XV A Saxon Summer

  Chapter XVI Ambition and Lies

  Chart Ten – The Battle at Portus Lemanis

  Chapter XVII To Gain an Empire

  Chapter XVIII To Serve in Heaven? Or Reign in Hell?

  Chapter XIX Beware the Man who Smiles and Smiles

  Chart Eleven – The Line of March from Gesoriacum to Italia

  Chapter XX A Woman’s Price is Above Rubies

  Chapter XXI The Boy with Grey Eyes

  Chapter XXII A Mother’s Curse

  Epilogue

  Author’s Notes

  Glossary of Place Names

  Glossary of British Tribal Names

  About the Author

  M. K. Hume is a retired academic, who is married with two grown-up sons and lives in Queensland, Australia. Having completed an MA and PhD in Arthurian Literature many years ago, M. K. Hume has now written a series of magnificent novels about the legend of King Arthur. For more information visit: www.mkhume.com.

  By M. K. Hume and available from Headline Review

  King Arthur Trilogy

  Dragon’s Child

  Warrior of the West

  The Bloody Cup

  Prophecy Trilogy

  Clash of Kings

  Death of an Empire

  Web of Deceit

  Twilight of the Celts Trilogy

  The Last Dragon

  The Storm Lord

  The Ice King

  Stormbringer’s Voyage (e-novella)

  The Last Dragon’s Voyage (e-short story)

  The Emperor’s Blood (e-novella)

  Tintagel Trilogy

  The Blood of Kings

  The Poisoned Throne

  About the Book

  A decade has passed since the death of Caradoc, King of the Dumnonii tribe, and his friend, Flavius Magnus Maximus. Britain is battered by Pict invaders, and centurion Constantinus and his legionnaires are fighting them to the death.

  Maximus’s daughter, Lady Severa, holds the key to the throne of the High King of the Britons and when she is threatened with abduction, Constantinus escorts her to the safety of Tintagel. Agreeing to marry her, he is crowned the High King, and Severa bears him two sons, Ambrosius and Uther. But, as the ruler of Britain, Constantinus is poisoned by greed and jealousy, and his thirst for greatness in the Roman Empire will cost him dear . . .

  This book is dedicated to my son, Brendan Niels Hume, with my love and best wishes.

  Brendan has experienced his fair share of life’s glories and adversities. With an adventurous bent during his youth, he lived the hard imperatives of military life and found a way to reconcile his ethical reservations about war with the demands of voluntary service in the armed forces. Later, he learned the harsh realities of surviving in the modern world of business and raising a family. Despite the difficulties he has faced, Brendan always reminds me of how much can be achieved if we nurture our ambitions and persevere with the pursuit of a good and happy life.

  I am so very proud of him.

  Ave, Brendan.

  M. K. Hume

  December 2015

  Acknowledgements

  As well as dedicating this book to my second son, Brendan, I would like to thank him for the enormous amount of his help with this novel. He has returned to the hearth at a time when I needed him most and assisted me with this book when I was lost in a wilderness.

  I must also thank the girls and guys from The Coffee Club of Albany Creek in Brisbane. On too many days to count, I would arrive with writing materials in hand, and then order a Brekkie Hot-Pot (hold the chorizo) and numerous cups of English Breakfast tea. For the next three hours or so, I’d work like a demon while the staff saw to my culinary needs. Their friendliness, support and pure niceness helped me over a difficult time. Ave, The Coffee Club.

  Clare Foss and Emma Holtz, my minders at Headline, have been very patient with me as this novel has unfolded. Unfortunately, I can’t flick the blame for my slowness on to the Roman, Constantine, because I’m afraid that the fault was truly mine. Although Clare and Emma could have been impatient at my tardiness, they have, as always, been wonderful. My thanks also go to the rest of the editorial staff, artists and cartographers at Headline who always manage to make sense of my meanderings. What can I say other than thank you!

  As always the covers for these Tintagel novels are a dream!

  My beautiful agent, Dorie, is always in my thoughts and I miss her gorgeous smile. Talking on a phone isn’t as nice as face to face chats.

  My thanks also go to my older son, Damian, and my friends Pauline, Penny and Roger who helped to keep me sane during the hard times when t
he going got tough.

  I also thank my little dog, Rusty, with lots of smiles and love. When the days were hard to face, Rusty’s unconditional love gave me the heart to enter the world of the Dark Ages.

  That which doesn’t kill us, friends, makes us stronger.

  Ave.

  M. K. Hume

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Adolphus (Father) The healer from the religious community at Glastonbury.

  Aeron Aeron ap Iorweth. The king of the Dobunni tribe. He is married to Queen Endellion, and is the son-in-law of King Caradoc, the deceased king of the Dumnonii tribe. He is the father of Pridenow.

  Andragathius A senior officer who served in Gallia under Flavius Magnus Maximus.

  Ardunn (Queen) The wife of King Cadal, King of Cornwall. She resides at Tintagel.

  Cadal The king of the Dumnonii tribe. The son of King Caradoc, he is married to Queen Ardunn. He rules Cornwall from Tintagel.

  Cael A wagon driver who is hired for the journey from Corinium to Tintagel.

  Calindre A special knife given to Severa by Cael for her protection.

  Caradoc Caradoc ap Ynyr. The deceased king of the Dumnonii tribe. He is the father of King Cadal, Prince Cadoc and Queen Endellion.

  Cassivellaunus An advisor appointed by Tribune Maximo to assist the newly crowned Constantinus in his role as High King of the Britons.

  Cledwyn The son of Conanus and, later, the ruler of Armorica (Brittany) in Gallia.

  Clidna The madam at a Corinium brothel where Marcus Britannicus is murdered.

  Conanus A British survivor of Maximus’s campaigns in Gaul who becomes the ruler of Armorica (Brittany) in Gallia. Severa’s uncle, he is the father of Cledwyn.

  Constans The eldest son of Constantinus who is domiciled at the legion headquarters in Cymru. He moves to Venta Belgarum to live with his father when Constantinus becomes High King of the Britons.

  Constantinus Later, Emperor Constantine III. As a centurion in Roman Britannia, he is appointed as adjutant to Marcus Britannicus, the original suitor of Lady Severa. Constantinus accompanies Marcus to Corinium and assumes command of the detachment after Marcus is assassinated.

  Constantius The general who escorts Constantine back to Ravenna. He kills Constantine on the orders of Emperor Honorius.

  Crispus One of Constantinus’s junior officers.

  Dilic Severa’s serving-maid after she arrives in Tintagel.

  Drusus A Roman scout who accompanies Constantinus and Severa in their escape from Glastonbury.

  Elen (Queen) Deceased wife of Magnus Maximus. She is the mother of Severa.

  Endellion (Queen) The wife of King Aeron of the Dobunni tribe. She was the illegitimate daughter of King Caradoc and Saraid, the Wise Woman of the Red Wells.

  Gerontius One of Constantine’s ex-Roman generals in Gallia.

  Gregorius An advisor appointed by Tribune Maximo to assist the newly crowned Constantinus in his role as High King of the Britons.

  Gregory (Father) The abbot of the religious community at Glastonbury.

  Gwennan A prostitute in the brothel where Marcus Britannicus is murdered.

  Hibernians The native tribesmen of Ireland.

  Honorius Western Roman Emperor from 393AD to 423AD.

  Jesus of Nazareth Icon of the Christian Church. He is reputed to have travelled to Britannia as a child with Joseph the Trader.

  Joseph the Trader Joseph of Arimathea. A Jew who travelled throughout Britannia and is believed to have spent some time in Glastonbury. His wooden staff is believed to have been the source of the famed thorn tree of Glastonbury.

  Justinianus A Frank who joins Constantine’s revolt against the power of Rome.

  Lachie The kitchen-hand at the brothel where Marcus Britannicus is murdered. He is the brother of the simple-minded Nudd, one of two guards at the brothel.

  Llian (Queen) The widow of King Llew ap Adwen of the Dobunni tribe. After Llew’s death, she continues to live with King Aeron’s family as a dowager queen.

  Macsen Wledig The Celtic name for Flavius Magnus Maximus.

  Marcus Britannicus A Roman aristocrat who serves as a senior officer in the legions. He is selected as a candidate for marriage to Severa, the only daughter of Flavius Magnus Maximus, who is unwed. If successful, Marcus will be entitled to claim the vacant throne of the High King of the Britons and, hopefully, unite the British tribes. Marcus is assassinated at a brothel in Corinium.

  Maximo A tribune and commander of the Roman forces in Britannia. The superior of Marcus Britannicus.

  Maximus Flavius Magnus Maximus. A deceased Roman tribune who became the Roman governor of Britain. He eventually became the Emperor of the Western Empire in Rome and was assassinated by Theodosius, Emperor of the Eastern Empire in Constantinople.

  Nebiogastes A Frank leader who joins Constantine in his revolt against Rome.

  Nudd A simple-minded guard who works at the brothel in Corinium where Marcus Britannicus is murdered.

  Paulus Constantinus’s decurion.

  Picts The native population of Northern Britannia.

  Pridenow The son of King Aeron and Queen Endellion of the Dobunni tribe. He is an important personage as his line will lead to the birth of King Artor, High King of the Britons.

  Rusticus (Decimus) A Praetorian who replaced Apollinaris as Constantine’s prefect.

  Saraid The Wise Woman of the Red Wells. She is the birth mother of Queen Endellion but abandons the child as an infant. She is a white witch and a notable healer.

  Sarus A Visigoth commander who fights for Emperor Honorius and Rome.

  Severa The daughter of Flavius Magnus Maximus and Queen Elen. She marries Constantinus and bears two sons, Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon, who become High Kings of the Britons. Later, as a widow, she marries Vortigern, who also becomes the High King of the Britons. She bears him one son, Vortimer.

  Stilicho A distinguished Roman general in the service of Emperor Honorius. He fought at the battle of Valentia in Gallia.

  Vortigern A young British soldier of the Demetae tribe who serves under Constantinus. He later becomes the High King of the Britons.

  PROLOGUE

  ‘My hands are filthy,’ Constantinus observed as he stared down at them, crusted and sticky with half-dried blood. The battle madness was gradually fading from his eyes as they scanned the field with the constant vigilance of a trained Roman cavalryman.

  Critically wounded soldiers were moaning and twitching around him as large snowflakes began to fall and nature blanketed the gore and the filth of the pitifully small expanse of ground where the Picts had made their final charge. The commander rose slowly to his full height, stretching his back and shoulder muscles, cramped from crouching in the front line of combat for many weary hours. His sword arm was so tired he could barely raise it, but he masked his exhaustion. Erect, his tall frame towered over those of his soldiers who were still standing. Around the Roman fighting square, the defensive formation called the Tortoise, a swathe of Pictish corpses were lying in untidy piles.

  ‘Stand down!’ Constantinus ordered in a clear, steady voice, indicating he was in total control of the situation. ‘Drink and eat while you can. Paulus! Take four men and clear a path so we can carry our wounded on to solid ground.’

  Several of his soldiers snapped to attention and began to clear a walkway through the tangle of corpses. As Constantinus calculated the numbers of enemy casualties, he estimated that the Picts had fielded a force of a thousand warriors. However, many of that number were lying dead on this small expanse of firm earth, surrounded by a dangerous expanse of swamp and sucking mud. Quickly, the disciplined legionnaires constructed a path through the corpses to allow the survivors of Constantinus’s three centuries to drive their trembling muscles into a determined trot.

  A few cris
p orders from the commander and his surviving men moved stolidly through the muck as they followed a pathway that Constantinus had marked out earlier in the day with strips of cloth torn from his own red cloak. When he had realised the size of the horde aligned against his force, he had selected the best place available for their stand, although many of his infantrymen were nervous about defending a solitary patch of firm ground so close to quicksand and treacherous swamps.

  Only an experienced commander such as Constantinus, an officer who had been promoted through the infantry ranks, would have the imagination to appreciate the tactical advantage of such an unpromising area. Fortunately, his men trusted his agile mind and courage, so they had followed him into the defensive positions he had selected. Constantinus had always led his troops from the van so, like those legionnaires who preceded them in the days of the Caesars, these well-disciplined soldiers were prepared to follow their centurion to their deaths.

  This strategy had provided his outnumbered force with a slight edge that had served them well against the sheer size of the Pictish army and the resources available to their king. Rome’s last major garrisons, apart from Venta Silurum in Cymru and the legionnaires of the reinforced Dracos Legion, had already been stretched thin when Constantinus made his valiant attempt to prevent the northern invaders from tearing the south of Britannia to pieces. The number of trained soldiers available to his command was insufficient to provide any worthwhile opposition to the Pict advance, or so it had seemed, so he was well aware of the inadequacies of his tactical position. Three hundred legionnaires, plus seventy-five native auxiliaries, were unlikely to mount a successful defence against a horde of victorious Picts who had gained confidence with each battle, destroying every town and hamlet in their wake.

  The Picts had charged at Constantinus’s defensive lines in wave after wave as they tried to smash their way through the interlocked shields of the Tortoise manoeuvre in a vain search for weakness. It was one of a number of tactics that had served the Romans well for centuries, but it demanded grit, patience, stolid discipline and grim determination. During the many hours that they had spent in the cramped positions demanded by the Tortoise manoeuvre, Constantinus’s foot soldiers had proved themselves to be indomitable. Once again, their commander had demonstrated his ability to lead from the front.