Jack Finn: We Will Never Pass This Way Again

We Will Never Pass This Way Again

Aelwyn leaned heavily on his birch staff, running his hand over the crude carving of a crow’s skull as he watched the muscular warrior run up the wooded path of the hilltop. Cawrdaf and the two young warriors running behind him held swords glinting brightly in the moonlight. By long-held tradition, no Celt would brandish a weapon in the presence of a druid on the island of Ynys Mon, their sacred stronghold, but Aelwyn knew tonight was unlike any other.

The druid could see the men’s swords were slick with gore, and their black tunics glistened wet with blood. The large, bearded warrior crested the top of the hill and fell to his knees before the druid, gasping for air.

“Aelwyn, ” the man looked up with eyes brimming with tears. “We have failed you. Legatus Paulinus has won the day; the Romans have taken the beach and driven our people back. ”

“You have not failed me, Cawrdaf, ” the druid urged the man onto his feet, smiling kindly at the exhausted warrior. “Until the end of time, the gods will sing of the valor and bravery of this day. ”

“Einion still holds the high ground, ” one of the warriors, a young dark-haired boy of no more than fifteen, held his chin up proudly. “He will delay the Romans long enough for the elders to escape. ”

“We have boats waiting to take you to safety, ” Cawrdaf gestured to the two young warriors. “My sons will row you and the others to safety. ”

“And what of you, Cawrdaf? ” the ocean breeze blew Aelwyn’s long gray beard as his green eyes searched the warrior’s face.

“I will fight beside Einion and die with my brother, ” there was steely resolve in Cawdraf’s voice. “But not before I make many more Roman widows tonight. ”

“You and your brother are like sons to me, ” Aelwyn put his hands on the warrior’s shoulders. “I watched you both play in these woods when you were no taller than my knee. It grieves my heart to no end to know that Einion will pass from this world tonight. So this is my last command to you, Cawrdaf, take your sons and flee Ynys Mon. Be my voice; tell all who will listen of the brave deeds that you witnessed here. Tell them of Einion, Gwaednerth and Gwalchgwyn, Meilyr, and all the others. ”

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https://medium.com/@TheRealJackFinn/we-will-never-pass-this-way-again-bb0bb225df99

Twitter: @TheRealJackFinn
Folklore & Fantasy author living in the PNW. Life long believer that the Tooth Fairy is proof that body parts can be traded for cold hard cash.