Julius Caesar, in his writings, De Bello Gallico, tells of the Brittani coloring their bodies blue. We see this portrayed in the movie Braveheart as well. Marshall Best, in his series The Chronicles of Guiamo Durmius Stolo, has a new twist as to why these warriors painted themselves blue. Sreng, a member of the Fir Bolg had been a slave to the Fomori, forced to fight on their behalf to ensure the safety of his wife and children. After cutting Nuada's arm off in battle, he and several of his people were captured. Guiamo convinces him to fight with them to defeat the Fomori in the hopes that his family is still alive. In the excerpt below, Sreng accompanies Guiamo on a quest to free his family.
Excerpt from Book II of the Guiamo Chronicles, Cumoro by Marshall Best
Sreng mounted a
spare horse brought by Aoi and, carrying only his armor and ax tied up in his
bedroll, left his farm and hut behind to free his family with Guiamo.
When they
stopped each evening to make camp, Sreng sat with Guiamo drawing orc symbols
and explaining their meaning. Guiamo had
Sreng draw the symbol on leather sheets.
Next to each symbol, Guiamo wrote the meaning in Roman words and, again
using the Roman letters, wrote how to pronounce the orc word.
As they neared
home, Guiamo asked, “Sreng, I wish to make a blue dye. Do you know how to make such a color?”
Sreng replied,
“There is a weed in these parts whose dried leaves are ground to pulp and left
to rot. If it is prepared properly, it
will produce a good blue dye.”
Guiamo asked,
“How long does it take to make?”
“The first
steps require a fortnight, but it must be repeated to obtain a good color that
stays fast,” Sreng replied. “I saw it
made as a youth, but I do not recall all the steps. I do know this; there are no leaves in the
winter, so you shall have to wait until springtime.”
Guiamo replied,
“Then we shall have to find some already made.
Some villagers should have some, I should think, which I could
purchase. What is this plant named?”
Sreng replied,
“It is called glasen by some, but
others know it as woad.”
Guiamo’s head
snapped back in surprise as he remembered a portion of the oracle’s words.
O, Land
prepared, Romulus
follows.
The son of Mars comes!
Clad in woad,
He prepares the way.
“Tomorrow we
must search out a large supply of this blue dye, for I need it before we return
to Rí Tuaithe Etarlám,” he said.
For the next
three days, they asked every villager they encountered for a source of blue
dye. None could help, and most looked
oddly at the strange caravan which searched the world in the cold of winter for
blue dye. On the third day, a villager
took them to an old man living in a nearby village who had a supply of blue
dye. Aoi paid the outrageous price and
the old man was delighted with his unexpected profits.
In the morning,
as the men ate their first meal, Guiamo explained his plan to the warriors of
the caravan. In the bitter cold, Sreng
displayed his tattoos and brands to the men who watched in awe. Guiamo explained the orc practice of branding
and tattoos, and read out loud the many symbols.
He then told
the story of the slave and orc speaking of freedom. When he mentioned the words ‘blue waters’ and
‘blue skies,’ Sreng began to understand Guiamo’s intent.
Guiamo produced
the pot of blue dye. Opening his leather
binding of orc script, he turned through its pages until he found the word he
wanted. He painted a symbol upon Sreng’s
face and announced, “This symbol painted on Sreng’s face says that he has no
master!”
Flipping again
through the pages, Guiamo found a second symbol. He painted it upon Sreng’s chest, again
covering a tattooed orc symbol. “This
says Sreng is a great warrior who fights with an ax!” he shouted.
Guiamo found
more symbols and painted them on Sreng’s body, arms and legs, declaring, “I am
death to orcs!” “Avenger of evil!” and “Orc hewer!”
When Guiamo was
finished, the men no longer saw the orc tattoos, but a fierce blue-painted
warrior covered in wild patterns. Guiamo
called the men forward to join Sreng in the war against the Fomori. “We shall terrify the orcs with messages upon
our bodies!”
First came Aoi,
and all the others followed as the blue symbols became badges of honor and
courage. Guiamo painted late into the
night, and to the flickering light of great bonfires, the men danced as they
sang their traditional songs of battle, gore and the afterlife in the great battle
lodge of the valorous.
Proudly wearing
their armor and blue symbols, the troupe travelled two more days to the hall of
Rí Tuaithe Etarlám. Everyone was surprised to see the warriors
using Guiamo’s riding steps to dismount and the people were quickly informed
they were made by Guiamo, but what terrified the people were the painted
symbols upon their bodies. Aoi’s men
were greeted with some hesitation, for the king’s men were intimidated by the
warriors who rode with renewed purpose and grim, blue-clad determination.
They were ready
for war and Etarlám saw it. He saw it in
Aoi’s eyes; this renewed desire to do battle, and Etarlám wondered if his
favorite warrior was planning insurrection.
Guiamo put his
mind to rest when he stepped forward to announce, “My lord, I have brought to
you a new champion, Sreng of the Fir Bolg.”
Etarlám was
instinctively wary of Sreng, for he knew the man had removed Nuada’s left arm
with a single blow.
Sreng stepped
forward with strength, but politely bowed low to honor his host, the rí tuaithe.
Guiamo
explained the purpose of the blue symbols and Etarlám listened with eyes wide
with astonishment. When he had at long
last finished, Guiamo fell silent to await the king’s mind.
Etarlám sat
quietly on his throne and looked into the eyes of his men. There was a new energy in their eyes, a light
which he knew would be extinguished if he demurred, but would blaze on if he
approved. He made his choice and
enthusiastically exclaimed, “By the gods, Cúmóro, you have an ingenious plan! All my warriors shall ride into battle
defiantly wearing the blue orc symbols in the color of freedom! The Regni of Rí Tuaithe Etarlám will lead the war against the Fomori and, by
Lugh’s beardless chin, we shall be victorious!”
All the men
burst out with a thunderous cheer, and a great feast was held that night to
honor Sreng and Guiamo. Word travelled
quickly across Íath of the Mighty Hundred of Rí Tuaithe Etarlám, all clad in blue and of the Druí boy who led them.
Cassivellaunus,
seeing the enthusiasm which surrounded the spreading tale of these men,
recognized that his own men admired them greatly. He feared his men would desert him to join
with Etarlám. He sent emissaries to
Etarlám asking for Cúmóro to teach his men about the orc symbols in blue. The men eagerly embraced Guiamo’s plan and
before long, Nuada informed Eochaid of the newfound practice of the warriors
spreading among the tribes.
Lying on his
sickbed, Eochaid listened carefully to Nuada’s tale. His physician, Dian Cécht the leech, busied
himself preparing a poultice on a small table beside the bed to treat Eochaid’s
fever. When Nuada had finished, Eochaid
brooded deep in thought. Finally, he
whispered, “We shall embrace this new way of warfare. I am mindful that this young Druí may gather a following to challenge
me. This I cannot allow. To suppress him, each rí tuaithe shall create his own troupe of one hundred mounted men
and choose a champion to lead them. In
this way, Etarlám’s men shall be no different than any other rí tuaithe. My slúaig
will grow stronger for it, but none shall stand up to challenge me. When great battles are to be fought, all my
warriors from every region shall wear the symbols of blue.”
Combining legitimate legends with actual historical events, Marshall Best weaves an epic story that portrays the ancient world as it might have been, a world which the ancient historians recorded as fact; a time when gods ruled the earth and strange creatures dominated the land. It is the era of civilized conquerors exploring distant and primitive new lands. Scant recordings left to us today only touch on the fringe of the fantastic and brutal reality that existed in those distant lands of the west. Into this age, young Guiamo enters the world stage as the great game-changer, and by his hand the gods and beasts become destined to disappear into myth and legend.
In 60 B.C., ten-year-old Guiamo Durmius Stolo, an exceptionally gifted Roman orphan, is abandoned in Gaul . Left to fend for himself, Guiamo is set onto a path of legend. Recognized by the gods as having world-changing talents, he is given a weapon that changes his destiny and the world’s forever.
Ebeth says, "In telling this story, Best is able to richly lay out the history of the land and the people - and he does so without confusing the reader. That is a gift and a talent."
Guiamo Durmius Stolo sails in 55 B.C. with Rome’s 7th Legion as Julius Caesar invades Britain. But Caesar has not before encountered the Fomori, a dominion of wicked creatures which wage war against the human inhabitants and dominate much of Britain. Armed with his god-made spear, Guiamo joins with the tribal kings against their Fomori foe when Caesar departs.
"Just finished Book 2. Any writer who wants to write about epic battles, should read the battle against the orcs. A great example of swordplay and magic combined!" - Mary Woldering
Having destroyed the Fomori in Britain , Guiamo Durmius Stolo decides in 51 B.C. to bring the Cruthin people, once slaves to the Fomori, to Ireland , but encounters the Fomori who reside there as well. Guiamo discovers that the gods venerated by the Druids are unworthy. The gods are displeased with him and begin to work against him.
The third book in an excellent series and again the authors understanding and research into the myths and legends add excitement and interest to the story.
The writer totally enthralls and absorbs the reader into a time gone by and again you feel you are there fighting and wanting to warn Morlanos of the danger he is facing.
Anyone who is interested in legends and has an vivid imagination and believes strange creatures and magic (or the belief that wizards/witches existed) governed the thoughts of the people and their lifestyles will find this an excellent read. - beckvalleybooks
In 50 B.C. Guiamo Durmius Stolo finds himself victor over the detested Fomori whose leader, Cichol, is slain and those few who survived are scattered. Guiamo explores the secret places where Cichol kept his most important secrets and discovers there the treasures of Cichol's master, the goddess Domnu.
Goodreads * Creatspace * SmashwordsThe author springs yet more surprises and again shows expert research and intense historic knowledge. - beckvalleybooks
The Author:
Marshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.
Marshall Best is an avid reader, father of six and business owner. In the past several years he has found his love of writing as well. What began as a desire to write a story for his children has evolved into a nine book series.
Marshall has done extensive research into the history behind the legends, people and places of England, Scotland and Ireland involved in his books. He loves being able to weave real people and legends into his stories making them come alive. He is definitely a writer that tends to the details often mapping out timetables, calendars, geneologies, etc. that pertain to his book to ensure that it is as realistic as possible.
Marshall also enjoys putting real life issues into his books, delving into a bit of philosophy while entertaining with orcs, dragons, magic and battles. He is someone who loves a grand adventure but makes sure it's not a shallow one.
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