The following story did not make it into the novel, An Involuntary King: A Tale of Anglo Saxon England, but it remains one of my favorite treatments of the novel's heroine, Queen Josephine. The second, which did make it in, is the encounter between her and the mercenary Elerde in the woods near Keito Uxello. I had a lot of trouble warming up to Laura's Josephine, but the more Laura advocated for her strength, the more I liked the woman. To see how much she changed, take a look at the Old Stories at An Involuntary King: The Stories.
While there are still plenty of anachronisms in the story, you can see that I was beginning learn more about Anglo Saxon England at the point in 2006 that I wrote it.Queen of the AnglesPart 1
"Och, and are ye not the prettiest boy I have e'er seen?" laughed Shannon as he saw the Queen coming toward him, dressed in a shorter gown and leg wrappings. She had put her long hair into a knot as well, wanting to have as much freedom of movement for her sword lessons with Rory as possible.
Josephine smiled at him, but did not say anything, her eyes scanning the courtyard for her new teacher.
Shannon smiled, "He shall be here with ye momentarily, me lady. He did ask me to escort ye to the field of honor." He put out an elbow, but Josephine just started walking next to him to the area the King and knights used for swordplay.
Rory was already there, wearing a helm and a leather brigantine with metal sunbursts spaced all over it. The Queen could see he was testing the weight of some wooden swords. She had her own new sword sheathed at her side. "Well met, Rory," she called. "Are we not going to use real swords?"
Shannon had gone over the low fence that demarcated the fighting area and sat. "Och, me lady, if ye use real swords, ye might be cut, and I am thinkin' the King wouldnae be too pleased about that."
Josephine fool wed the comment with a counter suggestion. "Then what if you use a wooden sword, and I use my real sword?"
At Rory's look Shannon burst into laughter and almost fell over backward on the fence. "Nay, for ye might harm him! That it seems is his true purpose, I am thinkin'!"
Rory gave his friend an indulgent look. "Nay, beggin'' your pardon, me lady, but 'tis better to learn with a wooden sword first and master all the cuts and wards, then move on to lethal weapons. Believe me, we all learned this way, e'en the King I'll warrant."
Josephine accepted the explanation. "I can guess what a cut is, but what is a 'ward'?"
Rory came towards her, handed her a wooden sword and then took a firm stance. "A ward is the position ye take to be after gaugin' your opponent but not make yourself vulnerable to his blows. We shall work more with those when we add a shield." He gestured to his posture. "First, me lady, let us work on your stance. Try standin' as am I."
Josephine carefully examined how Rory was standing. She spread her feet for better stability then placed one slightly back and sideways. She bent forward at her hips and held her arms out and forward, the wooden sword in her right hand. Rory grinned. "Excellent, me lady!"
Rory came towards her. "I shall, if ye will forgive me, try to push you over." He saw her look of determination and proceeded. He moved to her side quickly and gave her a shove with both hands on her shoulder. She staggered sideways and almost fell. Shannon was back on his perch and smiling.
Rory said, "Now ye see what can happen. Ye must learn to stand even more stoutly. In many ways, a strong stance is the best defense.. and offense."
The Queen took another stance. "How is it an offensive advantage?"
Rory was looking at her feet and moving them with his own, tapping to indicate he wanted her to move slightly. "Ye must strive both to resist the force of the other man.. fighter, I am meanin'.. but also to be able to move quickly, either in offense or defense."
Josephine nodded. "I see."
Rory gave her a push again and this time she stumbled only slightly. "Much better. Much better. Keep practicing that, me lady."
"Now?" she asked.
"Now and forever," he answered.
Shannon had swung his lute off his back and was picking out a tune and some variations.
Rory proceeded to show the Queen several sword actions.
"A high cut, to split the skull" he stated and stood with his legs apart and his right arm straight up from his shoulder and the sword tip back. Josephine copied the stance. She mimicked the downward sweep of his arm.
Rory then moved his arm across his chest but still held the sword with the point up and back. "This cut is for hacking into the neck to remove the opponent's head." This time Josephine, her expression set firmly, followed Rory's slice forward and down, a backhanded blow.
"This one may be more difficult for ye, me lady, until ye develop the best stance." She watched as Rory pointed the sword straight at her midsection and lunged forward. "Ye can do damage from the shoulder to the thigh." Josephine followed suit.
Shannon spoke from where he was still composing a jaunty melody. "Show the Queen the cut that kills generations."
"Generations?" she inquired.
"Come over here, ye grand joker, so I can demonstrate on ye then," Rory laughed. Shannon reluctantly set down his lute and came over. He stood with his arms limp at his side, a long suffering look on his face. Rory laughed again, "Then mayhap in future ye shall keep your mouth shut." Rory let his sword hand drop, then stepped forward with the sword aimed right at Shannon's groin. "The low rising cut," he announced.
The Queen laughed. "I see… no more generations."
Rory nodded, and Shannon pretended to stagger away, his hands covering his groin. "Fé amae! Am trú-sa trá!"* he moaned. Then he went back to his melody.
Rory had the Queen practice the various cuts and jabs, first on an invisible opponent, then on a straw filled dummy hung from a crossbeam. She put all her energy into the moves, growing hot and sweaty, but making obvious progress. Rory was beaming at how fast she learned.
Shannon mostly concentrated on his composition, but he did look up from time to time to watch the Queen practice. When Rory suggested they break off and continue another day, Shannon observed, "Congratulations, your grace, ye can now kill a straw dummy."
Rory quipped, "Or Shannon."
Part 2
The King was not at all surprised at his wife's persistence in learning the use of a sword from the former Irish soldier. He knew her better than anyone, saving her own brother of course, and knew how seriously she took anything she saw as important. She was stubborn, yes, but it was a stubbornness born of commitment, not contrariness. He admired how she practiced every day that she could, and sometimes he observed her secretly.
Josephine had, with Rory's help and Shannon's wry encouragement, advanced quickly in steadying her stance and perfecting the various cuts and jabs she had learned. Now she was mastering holding a stout but not overheavy shield in different positions to test their usefulness in deflecting an opponent's blows.
As she waited for Rory and Shannon in the practice area one cool late October morning she examined the shield she was using. She could not say what it was about it, but the shield fascinated her. It was made of lime tree wood with an iron boss in the middle. Rory had explained that the protruding boss was itself a potential weapon, though its primary use was to hold a firm metal grip on the user's side. She held that grip now in her thickly gloved hand. She thought perhaps what caught her interest was the damage to this shield, the nicks and dents in the wood and even one good scrape on the boss. Had this shield been used only in practice, or might it have saved some soldier's life at some time. She did not know. She did not ask. She wanted to wonder.
She saw Rory and Shannon coming towards her, the latter carrying his constant companion, his lute. He had continued his composing, leaving to practice words to a song he was writing. She and Rory were going to have to wait to hear the song until it was done and he was satisfied, as was his custom. They knew it would be well worth the wait.
"Me lady, well met!" Rory cast his sunlit smile at her. "Today we will fight with shield and sword!"
Josephine greeted her friends and the news with excitement. "Aye?! " She hurried to pick up the wooden sword she had been using.
When she returned to face Rory, Shannon had already taken his accustomed place on the fence. He had been so much happier of late than when he and Heather lived in the castle. Their small cottage on the edge of town had smoothed so many of the sharp edges of their marriage. Josephine knew that nothing could smooth them all, Heather being Heather and Shannon being Shannon, but it was nice to see them smiling at each other and to hear Heather singing quietly to herself in Scots as she worked around her home and played with Seamus. The Queen hoped and prayed this contentment would last.
When the Queen had advanced well enough with the shield positions, she had been surprised when the next time Rory handed her a helm to put on. She had to redo her hair in a lower bun to allow it to settled firmly on her head. She found the thing quite uncomfortable, but she resolutely bore the discomfort. She knew as soon as she saw the helm that they had come to the point when Rory was going to provide her with real cuts to ward off. Her excitement was almost palpable.
And she was not disappointed. Although cautious at first, Rory soon challenged her with quick and difficult blows to deflect. She had taken many bruises to her arms and legs but had done all she could to ignore her husband's worried and sometimes reproachful looks. The one time he had remarked on a large bruise on her hip, she had recalled what he himself had said when in demonstrating sword against gallowglass he had cut Rory. She paraphrased those words, ""Aye.. that's what wooden swords do." He had stared, then, remembering, smiled and she had smiled back.
She was ready to move on today, anxious to learn new skills. Rory had donned his own sword and shield. "Now we are getting serious," Josephine thought to herself.
He had her review all the cuts she had learned, all the while holding the shield in place. Then he had her show him the various ways of holding the shield at different angles, inside, outside, high and low.. describing the pros and cons of each. He had her practice moving the shield as if she was warding of multiple blows. She was learning fast as she went through this catechism that coordinating sword and shield would be her greatest challenge to date.
"Now, me lady, your lesson on wards," Rory grinned. "Wards are your approach to an opponent and combines what ye have learned so far."
"And sure and I have no 'wards' to describe it," Shannon punned, not even looking up from his lute.
After showing her the high ward, which was just the high cut with the shield ready but out of the way, Rory went on to show her the ox ward, with the sword held over the head, almost parallel to the ground. "Like an ox horn," Rory explained.
"One very odd looking ox, methinks," came the inevitable response from Shannon.
The side ward was simply holding one's sword a-ready at one's side pointing either up or down and bending the opposite knee for a lunge.
"This is the plow ward," Rory explained, as he held his sword at waist height towards her with its tip raised.
"Why is it called that?" the Queen asked. So used were they to Shannon's running commentary, that Rory and she just turned and looked at him. He looked up from his lute, gazing at them from under his eyebrows with a mischievous smile on his lips. "Me lady, it is called that because once ye have seen someone comin' at ye like that, ye will drop your sword and go back to your plow." They rewarded him with a delighted laugh.
This demonstration and a short practice was just a prelude to the real excitement for Rory then announced, "Ye cannae learn wards just by posing in them, but only by practicing against an attacker."
He had Josephine take her stance, choosing her shield and sword position, and then placed himself facing her . "Try out wards to see which gives ye the best judgment as to how I might be after attackin' ye.. then tell me which felt best." He proceeded to make cuts, jabs and other moves, including feints, towards her.
She found her heart racing as they engaged. The energy flowing through her reminded her of how she felt when riding a galloping horse. Her color was high, her breathing rapid.
"Och, so much violence," Shannon sighed melodramatically, "I shall go commune with the Muse in private to heal me tattered soul." Rory rolled his eyes, but he smiled and nodded as his friend took his leave.
"I think he has been composing a song about all this," Josephine suggested. "Heaven help us."
Rory laughed.
Through the rest of this day's lesson and through many a day of practice after, the Queen tried numerous combinations of shield, sword, stance and motion, slowly developing an instinct for gauging Rory's intent and finding her own advantage. He added to her knowledge that outsmarting an opponent with a feint can open up vulnerable spots. She laughed, "Mayhap 'tis good Shannon is occupied.. I can just see him 'fainting' to demonstrate a 'feint'". If anything their time together strengthened her and Rory's lifelong friendship.
The Queen had been able to tell that quickly Rory was not holding back, and she appreciated this and knew he was carefully enhancing her real skill. She was certain Lawrence could never have let himself make any actual blows. Choosing Rory had been the right decision. Rory had the sense to know she would learn nothing otherwise, and then someday if she needed the new skills she developed, she would be placed in the way of harm. Rory was protecting her by teaching her well to protect herself.
One day near the Winter Solstice, the days quite short and the air cold and crisp, Rory announced. "Me lady, 'tis time to fight in earnest."
"With real swords?" she asked.
He gave her a humorous smile. "That will come, but for now 'twill not be a lesson, but a true battle. I shall not hold back, and me lady, nor should ye." He looked at her in all seriousness.
The Queen nodded, her breath already becoming quick. "Calm, calm, calm," she chanted to herself. She took her stance, shield inside and sword at side ward. Rory stood before her, gauging her stance as he himself held his shield low and his sword in ox ward. She made the first move.
Lunging forward, Josephine moved to jab at Rory under his shield. He deftly stepped aside and swung his sword forward and down. She raised her shield and caught the blow on it, pushing with it against his sword with all her strength. She thrust upward with her sword, trying to beat off Rory's own. He jumped back, and her sword cut nothing but the air between them. Instinctively, Josephine let the sword continue to go up, moving into a high ward and stepped forward to make a high cut. Rory raised his shield to defend his head, and Josephine completed the feint by stepping quickly to Rory's shield side and sweeping her sword down to the left to aim a blow at his exposed legs.
"Ho!" came the King's voice from behind and slightly to the right of the Queen. "Bravely done! Bravely done, my lady!"
Josephine dropped her sword to her side and turned to look at him amazed. "My lord, I did not know you were there!"
He glanced at Rory and made a gesture that said, "Be my guest" and before Josephine realized what it had meant, she found Rory's wooden sword coming down on the top of her helm, just hard enough to make a clang.
Lawrence walked up and putting his hands on his hips, he grinned at her.
"I know, I know, never turn your back on your enemy," she smiled.
He stood to attention and struck his chest with his fist in a sign of respect. "My lady, McGuinness told me you would be at your most impressive today. He was right."
Josephine looked at Rory, who had put down his sword and shield. "I wish you would have told me the King would be watching."
Rory smiled. "Nay, ye dinnae want to know.. 'twould have dampened your ferocity."
"Ferocity, 'tis just the word, I will warrant," Lawrence remarked. There was no mockery in his voice.
Josephine handed Rory her sword and shield, took off the helm, and handed it to him as well. She took her husband's arm and started walking with him towards the keep. "My lord, be honest. What do you think I must next work on? What are my weaknesses." She continued to pepper him with questions.
He answered as best he could. "I shall need to see you in more battles to say for certain, but I think I can give ye some tips." He was beaming,. He cast a happy look back at Rory, who bowed and looked satisfied.
Part 3
The Queen noticed how her royal gowns fit her differently now she had toned muscles in her arms and shoulders. The King seemed to like her this way. As the only man who saw her bare, he looked her over and nodded with approval. "This becomes you greatly, my love. Not the bruises, but they will fade."
She had settled into him as they stood and remarked, "I rather like it when you come to me bruised. It tells me you do not brook hesitation in your opponents." The comment had delighted him.
The evening of the day of the demonstration Rory had set up for the King, the feasting had been at least as merry as it have ever been. Josephine basked in the King's look of pride at her. It held something more as well, she thought, then realized that it was.. respect. The realization made her so happy she leaned and kissed him right in front of the entire court.
The royal couple was smiling and laughing with each other when Shannon appeared for his nightly songs and stories. All turned to listen.
"Sure and I have a special song for ye this night, me lords and ladies." He sat on the stool, one leg bent and the foot on one of the rungs, took his lute in his arms and strummed a few notes. Then he said, "This is for her grace the Queen."
He began to sing "Queen of the Angles".
Melody
"In some kingdoms I know the queens sit and sew And dream of their jewels and gold bangles, But in Linnis there be a sight ye should see, The sword-wielding Queen of the Angles!"
Josephine laughed and put her hands on her cheeks. She heard Lawrence laughing delightedly as well.
Shannon went on singing, softening his voice for lines referring to the Queen's beauty, but then shifting to a heroic tone when her fighting skill was described.
"Her stature is small but she gives it her all This sword-wielding Queen of the Angles. Her eyes blue and soft, 'til her sword is aloft And her enemy's shield wall she mangles!
"Her voice it is sweet, but bent on defeat, The enemy's war cry she strangles. She stands straight and square, with long golden hair, The sword-wielding Queen of the Angles.
"Warlords strong, stout and brave will she send to their grave, This sword-wielding Queen of the Angles. Their surrender demands while from one dainty hand Their very existence she dangles.
"With a weapon mysterious making foes quite delirious She leaves them with limbs all in tangles.. The fair lady I sing won the heart of a King She's the sword-wielding Queen of the Angles."
* Old Irish, "Woe indeed. I am a dead man for sure!"
Next: Shannon and Heather Start to Unravel
"Och, and are ye not the prettiest boy I have e'er seen?" laughed Shannon as he saw the Queen coming toward him, dressed in a shorter gown and leg wrappings. She had put her long hair into a knot as well, wanting to have as much freedom of movement for her sword lessons with Rory as possible.
Josephine smiled at him, but did not say anything, her eyes scanning the courtyard for her new teacher.
Shannon smiled, "He shall be here with ye momentarily, me lady. He did ask me to escort ye to the field of honor." He put out an elbow, but Josephine just started walking next to him to the area the King and knights used for swordplay.
Rory was already there, wearing a helm and a leather brigantine with metal sunbursts spaced all over it. The Queen could see he was testing the weight of some wooden swords. She had her own new sword sheathed at her side. "Well met, Rory," she called. "Are we not going to use real swords?"
Shannon had gone over the low fence that demarcated the fighting area and sat. "Och, me lady, if ye use real swords, ye might be cut, and I am thinkin' the King wouldnae be too pleased about that."
Josephine fool wed the comment with a counter suggestion. "Then what if you use a wooden sword, and I use my real sword?"
At Rory's look Shannon burst into laughter and almost fell over backward on the fence. "Nay, for ye might harm him! That it seems is his true purpose, I am thinkin'!"
Rory gave his friend an indulgent look. "Nay, beggin'' your pardon, me lady, but 'tis better to learn with a wooden sword first and master all the cuts and wards, then move on to lethal weapons. Believe me, we all learned this way, e'en the King I'll warrant."
Josephine accepted the explanation. "I can guess what a cut is, but what is a 'ward'?"
Rory came towards her, handed her a wooden sword and then took a firm stance. "A ward is the position ye take to be after gaugin' your opponent but not make yourself vulnerable to his blows. We shall work more with those when we add a shield." He gestured to his posture. "First, me lady, let us work on your stance. Try standin' as am I."
Josephine carefully examined how Rory was standing. She spread her feet for better stability then placed one slightly back and sideways. She bent forward at her hips and held her arms out and forward, the wooden sword in her right hand. Rory grinned. "Excellent, me lady!"
Rory came towards her. "I shall, if ye will forgive me, try to push you over." He saw her look of determination and proceeded. He moved to her side quickly and gave her a shove with both hands on her shoulder. She staggered sideways and almost fell. Shannon was back on his perch and smiling.
Rory said, "Now ye see what can happen. Ye must learn to stand even more stoutly. In many ways, a strong stance is the best defense.. and offense."
The Queen took another stance. "How is it an offensive advantage?"
Rory was looking at her feet and moving them with his own, tapping to indicate he wanted her to move slightly. "Ye must strive both to resist the force of the other man.. fighter, I am meanin'.. but also to be able to move quickly, either in offense or defense."
Josephine nodded. "I see."
Rory gave her a push again and this time she stumbled only slightly. "Much better. Much better. Keep practicing that, me lady."
"Now?" she asked.
"Now and forever," he answered.
Shannon had swung his lute off his back and was picking out a tune and some variations.
Rory proceeded to show the Queen several sword actions.
"A high cut, to split the skull" he stated and stood with his legs apart and his right arm straight up from his shoulder and the sword tip back. Josephine copied the stance. She mimicked the downward sweep of his arm.
Rory then moved his arm across his chest but still held the sword with the point up and back. "This cut is for hacking into the neck to remove the opponent's head." This time Josephine, her expression set firmly, followed Rory's slice forward and down, a backhanded blow.
"This one may be more difficult for ye, me lady, until ye develop the best stance." She watched as Rory pointed the sword straight at her midsection and lunged forward. "Ye can do damage from the shoulder to the thigh." Josephine followed suit.
Shannon spoke from where he was still composing a jaunty melody. "Show the Queen the cut that kills generations."
"Generations?" she inquired.
"Come over here, ye grand joker, so I can demonstrate on ye then," Rory laughed. Shannon reluctantly set down his lute and came over. He stood with his arms limp at his side, a long suffering look on his face. Rory laughed again, "Then mayhap in future ye shall keep your mouth shut." Rory let his sword hand drop, then stepped forward with the sword aimed right at Shannon's groin. "The low rising cut," he announced.
The Queen laughed. "I see… no more generations."
Rory nodded, and Shannon pretended to stagger away, his hands covering his groin. "Fé amae! Am trú-sa trá!"* he moaned. Then he went back to his melody.
Rory had the Queen practice the various cuts and jabs, first on an invisible opponent, then on a straw filled dummy hung from a crossbeam. She put all her energy into the moves, growing hot and sweaty, but making obvious progress. Rory was beaming at how fast she learned.
Shannon mostly concentrated on his composition, but he did look up from time to time to watch the Queen practice. When Rory suggested they break off and continue another day, Shannon observed, "Congratulations, your grace, ye can now kill a straw dummy."
Rory quipped, "Or Shannon."
The King was not at all surprised at his wife's persistence in learning the use of a sword from the former Irish soldier. He knew her better than anyone, saving her own brother of course, and knew how seriously she took anything she saw as important. She was stubborn, yes, but it was a stubbornness born of commitment, not contrariness. He admired how she practiced every day that she could, and sometimes he observed her secretly.
Josephine had, with Rory's help and Shannon's wry encouragement, advanced quickly in steadying her stance and perfecting the various cuts and jabs she had learned. Now she was mastering holding a stout but not overheavy shield in different positions to test their usefulness in deflecting an opponent's blows.
As she waited for Rory and Shannon in the practice area one cool late October morning she examined the shield she was using. She could not say what it was about it, but the shield fascinated her. It was made of lime tree wood with an iron boss in the middle. Rory had explained that the protruding boss was itself a potential weapon, though its primary use was to hold a firm metal grip on the user's side. She held that grip now in her thickly gloved hand. She thought perhaps what caught her interest was the damage to this shield, the nicks and dents in the wood and even one good scrape on the boss. Had this shield been used only in practice, or might it have saved some soldier's life at some time. She did not know. She did not ask. She wanted to wonder.
She saw Rory and Shannon coming towards her, the latter carrying his constant companion, his lute. He had continued his composing, leaving to practice words to a song he was writing. She and Rory were going to have to wait to hear the song until it was done and he was satisfied, as was his custom. They knew it would be well worth the wait.
"Me lady, well met!" Rory cast his sunlit smile at her. "Today we will fight with shield and sword!"
Josephine greeted her friends and the news with excitement. "Aye?! " She hurried to pick up the wooden sword she had been using.
When she returned to face Rory, Shannon had already taken his accustomed place on the fence. He had been so much happier of late than when he and Heather lived in the castle. Their small cottage on the edge of town had smoothed so many of the sharp edges of their marriage. Josephine knew that nothing could smooth them all, Heather being Heather and Shannon being Shannon, but it was nice to see them smiling at each other and to hear Heather singing quietly to herself in Scots as she worked around her home and played with Seamus. The Queen hoped and prayed this contentment would last.
When the Queen had advanced well enough with the shield positions, she had been surprised when the next time Rory handed her a helm to put on. She had to redo her hair in a lower bun to allow it to settled firmly on her head. She found the thing quite uncomfortable, but she resolutely bore the discomfort. She knew as soon as she saw the helm that they had come to the point when Rory was going to provide her with real cuts to ward off. Her excitement was almost palpable.
And she was not disappointed. Although cautious at first, Rory soon challenged her with quick and difficult blows to deflect. She had taken many bruises to her arms and legs but had done all she could to ignore her husband's worried and sometimes reproachful looks. The one time he had remarked on a large bruise on her hip, she had recalled what he himself had said when in demonstrating sword against gallowglass he had cut Rory. She paraphrased those words, ""Aye.. that's what wooden swords do." He had stared, then, remembering, smiled and she had smiled back.
She was ready to move on today, anxious to learn new skills. Rory had donned his own sword and shield. "Now we are getting serious," Josephine thought to herself.
He had her review all the cuts she had learned, all the while holding the shield in place. Then he had her show him the various ways of holding the shield at different angles, inside, outside, high and low.. describing the pros and cons of each. He had her practice moving the shield as if she was warding of multiple blows. She was learning fast as she went through this catechism that coordinating sword and shield would be her greatest challenge to date.
"Now, me lady, your lesson on wards," Rory grinned. "Wards are your approach to an opponent and combines what ye have learned so far."
"And sure and I have no 'wards' to describe it," Shannon punned, not even looking up from his lute.
After showing her the high ward, which was just the high cut with the shield ready but out of the way, Rory went on to show her the ox ward, with the sword held over the head, almost parallel to the ground. "Like an ox horn," Rory explained.
"One very odd looking ox, methinks," came the inevitable response from Shannon.
The side ward was simply holding one's sword a-ready at one's side pointing either up or down and bending the opposite knee for a lunge.
"This is the plow ward," Rory explained, as he held his sword at waist height towards her with its tip raised.
"Why is it called that?" the Queen asked. So used were they to Shannon's running commentary, that Rory and she just turned and looked at him. He looked up from his lute, gazing at them from under his eyebrows with a mischievous smile on his lips. "Me lady, it is called that because once ye have seen someone comin' at ye like that, ye will drop your sword and go back to your plow." They rewarded him with a delighted laugh.
This demonstration and a short practice was just a prelude to the real excitement for Rory then announced, "Ye cannae learn wards just by posing in them, but only by practicing against an attacker."
He had Josephine take her stance, choosing her shield and sword position, and then placed himself facing her . "Try out wards to see which gives ye the best judgment as to how I might be after attackin' ye.. then tell me which felt best." He proceeded to make cuts, jabs and other moves, including feints, towards her.
She found her heart racing as they engaged. The energy flowing through her reminded her of how she felt when riding a galloping horse. Her color was high, her breathing rapid.
"Och, so much violence," Shannon sighed melodramatically, "I shall go commune with the Muse in private to heal me tattered soul." Rory rolled his eyes, but he smiled and nodded as his friend took his leave.
"I think he has been composing a song about all this," Josephine suggested. "Heaven help us."
Rory laughed.
Through the rest of this day's lesson and through many a day of practice after, the Queen tried numerous combinations of shield, sword, stance and motion, slowly developing an instinct for gauging Rory's intent and finding her own advantage. He added to her knowledge that outsmarting an opponent with a feint can open up vulnerable spots. She laughed, "Mayhap 'tis good Shannon is occupied.. I can just see him 'fainting' to demonstrate a 'feint'". If anything their time together strengthened her and Rory's lifelong friendship.
The Queen had been able to tell that quickly Rory was not holding back, and she appreciated this and knew he was carefully enhancing her real skill. She was certain Lawrence could never have let himself make any actual blows. Choosing Rory had been the right decision. Rory had the sense to know she would learn nothing otherwise, and then someday if she needed the new skills she developed, she would be placed in the way of harm. Rory was protecting her by teaching her well to protect herself.
One day near the Winter Solstice, the days quite short and the air cold and crisp, Rory announced. "Me lady, 'tis time to fight in earnest."
"With real swords?" she asked.
He gave her a humorous smile. "That will come, but for now 'twill not be a lesson, but a true battle. I shall not hold back, and me lady, nor should ye." He looked at her in all seriousness.
The Queen nodded, her breath already becoming quick. "Calm, calm, calm," she chanted to herself. She took her stance, shield inside and sword at side ward. Rory stood before her, gauging her stance as he himself held his shield low and his sword in ox ward. She made the first move.
Lunging forward, Josephine moved to jab at Rory under his shield. He deftly stepped aside and swung his sword forward and down. She raised her shield and caught the blow on it, pushing with it against his sword with all her strength. She thrust upward with her sword, trying to beat off Rory's own. He jumped back, and her sword cut nothing but the air between them. Instinctively, Josephine let the sword continue to go up, moving into a high ward and stepped forward to make a high cut. Rory raised his shield to defend his head, and Josephine completed the feint by stepping quickly to Rory's shield side and sweeping her sword down to the left to aim a blow at his exposed legs.
"Ho!" came the King's voice from behind and slightly to the right of the Queen. "Bravely done! Bravely done, my lady!"
Josephine dropped her sword to her side and turned to look at him amazed. "My lord, I did not know you were there!"
He glanced at Rory and made a gesture that said, "Be my guest" and before Josephine realized what it had meant, she found Rory's wooden sword coming down on the top of her helm, just hard enough to make a clang.
Lawrence walked up and putting his hands on his hips, he grinned at her.
"I know, I know, never turn your back on your enemy," she smiled.
He stood to attention and struck his chest with his fist in a sign of respect. "My lady, McGuinness told me you would be at your most impressive today. He was right."
Josephine looked at Rory, who had put down his sword and shield. "I wish you would have told me the King would be watching."
Rory smiled. "Nay, ye dinnae want to know.. 'twould have dampened your ferocity."
"Ferocity, 'tis just the word, I will warrant," Lawrence remarked. There was no mockery in his voice.
Josephine handed Rory her sword and shield, took off the helm, and handed it to him as well. She took her husband's arm and started walking with him towards the keep. "My lord, be honest. What do you think I must next work on? What are my weaknesses." She continued to pepper him with questions.
He answered as best he could. "I shall need to see you in more battles to say for certain, but I think I can give ye some tips." He was beaming,. He cast a happy look back at Rory, who bowed and looked satisfied.
Part 3
The Queen noticed how her royal gowns fit her differently now she had toned muscles in her arms and shoulders. The King seemed to like her this way. As the only man who saw her bare, he looked her over and nodded with approval. "This becomes you greatly, my love. Not the bruises, but they will fade."
She had settled into him as they stood and remarked, "I rather like it when you come to me bruised. It tells me you do not brook hesitation in your opponents." The comment had delighted him.
The evening of the day of the demonstration Rory had set up for the King, the feasting had been at least as merry as it have ever been. Josephine basked in the King's look of pride at her. It held something more as well, she thought, then realized that it was.. respect. The realization made her so happy she leaned and kissed him right in front of the entire court.
The royal couple was smiling and laughing with each other when Shannon appeared for his nightly songs and stories. All turned to listen.
"Sure and I have a special song for ye this night, me lords and ladies." He sat on the stool, one leg bent and the foot on one of the rungs, took his lute in his arms and strummed a few notes. Then he said, "This is for her grace the Queen."
He began to sing "Queen of the Angles".
"In some kingdoms I know the queens sit and sew And dream of their jewels and gold bangles, But in Linnis there be a sight ye should see, The sword-wielding Queen of the Angles!"
Josephine laughed and put her hands on her cheeks. She heard Lawrence laughing delightedly as well.
Shannon went on singing, softening his voice for lines referring to the Queen's beauty, but then shifting to a heroic tone when her fighting skill was described.
"Her stature is small but she gives it her all This sword-wielding Queen of the Angles. Her eyes blue and soft, 'til her sword is aloft And her enemy's shield wall she mangles!
"Her voice it is sweet, but bent on defeat, The enemy's war cry she strangles. She stands straight and square, with long golden hair, The sword-wielding Queen of the Angles.
"Warlords strong, stout and brave will she send to their grave, This sword-wielding Queen of the Angles. Their surrender demands while from one dainty hand Their very existence she dangles.
"With a weapon mysterious making foes quite delirious She leaves them with limbs all in tangles.. The fair lady I sing won the heart of a King She's the sword-wielding Queen of the Angles."
* Old Irish, "Woe indeed. I am a dead man for sure!"Lots more stories, many from the 1960s, even more from 2006-2007 at
An Involuntary King: The Stories. The site will contain all the stories that did not make it into the novel and all of them that did.
Q: How many historical novelists does it take to change a light bulb?
