3.THE MAN WHO SAT ON A HILL - PART 3
The magical power of the "sacred casket" continuing to protect and hide the community from the present day Tudor and Stuart inhabitants of the lands.
It was to his utmost surprise that Ceolwulf, Osberht and Aethelbald had disobeyed his direct orders not to venture beyond the boarders of New Mercia, and had ravaged and harried the hidden scattered settlements of Bern Umbria, Dail Strath and Umbria, which although protected by the magical powers of the sacred casket, were at more risk as the magical powers weakened on the edges of the hidden new Saxon settlements.
The location of his hidden Kingdom would only remain hidden if a strict set of rules were followed by the Angelcynn hoard who inhabited the scattered settlements. However, the action of Ceolwulf and his cohorts had endangered the very survival of Offa's kingdom, and could lead to its and its related communities ultimate and permanent destruction.
Aethelwulf and Henry Draper entered King Offa's encampment and sat before the jewel encrusted dagger that had been carefully placed on a large solid wooden table. King Offa reached down to his side and lifted a casket of relics on to the table in front of them. Amongst the relics was a large golden door key, with a scarlet cord attached to its shoulder.
Henry motioned towards the glittering key and asked the King of its significance. Offa looked at Henry with a fixed stare and whispered that that it itself was the fundamental means to an eternal life within the isles.
He went on to describe a hidden hallowed temple, that contained a vault that could only be opened by the golden key, but with the proviso that it had to be held by someone with direct links to the Saxon pantheon of Gods and had the blood and DNA of the gods flowing through his veins and arteries.
Offa was in full reverent verse about the sacred vault when the three princess who had earlier disobeyed the Kings orders not to raid the sub states neighbouring the Kingdom burst in to the room. Ceolwulf gained his breath first and exclaimed that ships had been sighted in the estuary beyond the hills and that a raiding party of some two hundred vessels was swiftly making headway against the outgoing tide. Although it could not be certain, he believed that the invading hoard were bearing the standard of a legendary warrior who had been discussed in saga's and folk law for decades, but who's authenticity was often doubted by those in authority.
Offa immediately signalled to his underlings that they were to muster there forces and go with an emissary to meet with the invading hoard at a point far away from there secluded encampment and settlement.
Ceolwulf, Osberht and Aethelbald sped away and briefly stopped in there tracks to ask Offa if he believed that the invaders were actually led by mysterious warrior from the saga's of the mead halls.
With this Offa stood tall in his leather and fur boots and cried that it was indeed "Gruffyd Brenin" the Welsh high King of the "Arcadian" lands that there ancestors had settled scores of years before, and that he had come home to claim his rightful pace as high king of the sacred isles.
To be continued.....
