Hengist knelt in prayer.
Though he was seen by the Romans as a barbarian—a pirate chieftain from the Germanic tribes—Hengist's people, the Anglo-Saxons, were more advanced in culture and civilization than the Celts.
After all, most of the Anglo-Saxons had converted to Christianity.
Christianity was truly the world's greatest religion, and by adopting it as the cornerstone of their culture, the Anglo-Saxons had surpassed many native tribes worldwide in terms of enlightenment.
As the leader of the Anglo-Saxons, Hengist and his brother held authority second only to the petty king. They wielded considerable autonomy, commanding the Anglo-Saxon tribes—chiefs that even the petty king, Vortigern, could not control.
But Vortigern didn't care. As the embodiment of Britain's fury, the last vestige of the Age of Gods, he loathed the outsiders from beyond the island. He believed fervently that the Age of Gods was in decline because of contamination from foreign cultures.
To Vortigern, the Anglo-Saxons were just tools—a convenient force to replace the dwindling numbers of his Celtic warriors. He turned a blind eye to how Hengist and his brother were consolidating power under his name.
As long as these two hounds obeyed, tearing into his enemies at his command, Vortigern couldn't care less about what schemes they might hatch behind his back.
Hengist was shrewd and ambitious. By acting as the intermediary of Vortigern's commands, he had, over a span of several decades, eliminated his rivals and centralized power. Recognized by the Roman Pope, he had risen to become the Archbishop of Britain, effectively a feudal lord.
His territories were heavily taxed, with only a portion going to the petty king. The rest was for his personal enjoyment. This brutal exploitation channeled the Anglo-Saxons' resentment toward Vortigern instead.
Why would Vortigern care, after all?
Religion controlled the spirit, while Vortigern's might enforced compliance.
How else could Hengist and his brother keep the dissatisfaction of tens of thousands of Anglo-Saxons at bay?
With Vortigern's invincible reputation, of course!
On the day of worship—the Anglo-Saxons' day of rest—even Hengist, a notorious slave master, allowed his people a brief respite. In a rare act of 'generosity,' he announced that on Sundays, there would be no tax collection!
Yes, Hengist taxed daily—not monthly or yearly. He treated the Anglo-Saxons like commodities, extracting every drop of wealth he could from them.
At the same time, Hengist had allied with a number of Anglo-Saxon captains, forming an emerging nobility within their ranks. These captains and tax officers would be the future lords of the land when the Anglo-Saxons eventually established their own kingdom.
Hengist stood with his back to the crucifix, a benevolent smile gracing his face as he addressed the captains and his loyal henchmen gathered in the church.
Kaelar's efforts to educate and reform had only begun a few years ago, while Hengist's indoctrination had been in place for decades.
Religion had always excelled at shaping minds, and not everyone was swayed by Kaelar's ideals.
Real transformation, at the very least, required a generation or two—or a cataclysmic upheaval.
"God loves all mankind, my children," Hengist intoned with a face full of pity, a far cry from the bloodthirsty pirate he truly was. But everyone in the church knew his true nature and awaited his next words in silence.
"We Anglo-Saxons are a united people. Every tribe from beyond Britain's shores is part of our great Anglo-Saxon alliance."
"Compared to the savage Celts who worship false gods, we are few in number. We must unite, rallying under the banner of the White Dragon, if we are to stand against Britain's Red Dragon."
Hengist emphasized the divide between the Anglo-Saxons and the Celts, then continued, "In the past two years, our seafaring expeditions have increased significantly, and our harvests have been bountiful. Yet Lord Vortigern remains dissatisfied, and I, too, have my doubts."
"Why is it that, the more we raid, the richer the lands of the Celts become?"
Hengist's eyes turned cold and menacing. "I have heard rumors that some among us have conspired with the Celtic lords, betraying the interests of the Anglo-Saxons. How should we deal with such traitors?"
It was no wonder Hengist was hailed as a ruler of his people.
He had single-handedly forged the concept of an "Anglo-Saxon" identity, uniting disparate European tribes under a single banner. In contrast, the Celts were still clinging to bloodlines and familial ties to distinguish friend from foe—a primitive mindset.
"Kill them!"
The captains and veteran sailors shouted in unison, "Chief, we must kill them!"
The hardened pirates eagerly suggested a slew of brutal punishments, each describing methods of torture favored at sea—dragging victims beneath ships, the nine-tailed cat, drowning...
Hengist smiled warmly. "My brother Horsa is quite skilled in the blood eagle... though it's been many years since he last performed it. I wonder if he's lost his touch?"
"Don't worry, dear brother!" Horsa replied with a cruel grin. "I will never lose my touch."
In front of most of the Anglo-Saxon assembly, Horsa flayed an Anglo-Saxon who had been spreading Kaelar's teachings, fashioning his flesh into a gruesome blood eagle...
As the religious leader of his people, Hengist was ever vigilant against new ideas that could threaten his rule. He decided to set a brutal example, traveling through his territories to find scapegoats for public executions, reinforcing the faith through religious ceremonies.
To quell any ideology that could disrupt his dominion, Hengist forbade all maritime ventures, intensifying his crackdown on Kaelar's doctrines. He bolstered the "Anglo-Saxon way of repentance," countering the subversive "foreign Celtic" ideology.
The essence of their culture of repentance was simple: No matter the atrocity, as long as one repented sincerely to God, all was forgiven. It created a perfect cycle of justification.
Hengist's harsh measures effectively eradicated the roots of Kaelar's influence. Numerous religious rites swayed the masses, strengthening their loyalty to the church.
Coupled with Hengist's swift and ruthless actions, as well as his severing of any contact between the Anglo-Saxons and Kaelar, fear reigned supreme.
Within mere months, the Anglo-Saxons dared not utter Kaelar's name. Those who believed in his ideals were swallowed by the fervor of the masses, brainwashed by Hengist and the Church's zealous propaganda.
But just as Hengist seemed to have snuffed out internal dissent, a command from Vortigern arrived—a decree that shattered his plans.
"All forces are to advance. Destroy Maple Ridge!"