Chapter 2: The marshal Meryasek
While the war proceeds, a new marshal is hired by Maelgwn. The cornish noble
Meryasek Colvile, quite new at the court, shall stand against The Bruce. To keep him loyal, he is married to Derowen, Cadoc’s third daughter. Meryasek advises to retreat from Hampshire.
“The cornish troops must rally, if we want to win the war. Let the Normans come to our homelands. We will crush them at Exeter, my lord.”
Maelgwn withdraws in the mid-summer of 1086. He returns to Tintagel to lick his wounds. He gets a dental treatment; the broken teeth are removed. But a strong speech defect remains …
The painful therapy makes him soft. Lovingly consoled by his younger sister
Cryda, the two grow together closely … very closely. Although being siblings, they become a loving couple.
The rumors at the court get nasty.
Gwrgan, Maelgwns brother, tries to use the situation and claims the steward position. But Maelgwn exiles his ambitious and hostile brother, and although he returns after a month or two, Gwrrgan cannot hold up his claim on Maelgwn’s titles.
Anyway, Maelgwn understands that he has to hide his love affair with Cryda. So he agrees to a marriage with the lovely sister of the count of Essex,
Eadilberga – a good match,without question.
In 1087, the Normans break through to Exeter. As he said, marshall Meryasek easily defends the cornish bastion. There is no chance for Adhemar’s troups; the norman assaults are fierce, but all rollbacks are unsuccessful. The cornish soldiers are defending themselves, without attacking … and they slowly recover.
In August, the time has come to answer the aggression. Meryasek hires
1000 Catalan mercenaries. With their help, the vassal’s troups and Cornwall’s refreshed army, he starts his next attempt to win back Hampshire.
He breaks through to Hampshire and gains the victory against “The Bruce”. On November 13th 1087, Hamshire falls – the victory is near.
But the situation in Cornwall itself is critical. The mercenaries were expensive, and after calling the large contribution, stability sinks (In game terms: Stab – 3). Cornwall’s debts are appalling, and the vassal in Devon denies military help. On top of everything, some unpleased courtiers betray Maelgwn and depart to other courts; the most prominent is Cadoc’s philandering wife Marared. Do they doubt Cornwall’s destination?