Cadfael Cewri and the Firebreathing Giant
The tale of Cadael, younger son of King Rhun ap Urien, called "Cewri" or Giantslayer, for his saving of Kadoc from the rampages of the shadow-cloaked Jotun menace Anadtan the firebreather. The tale of Cadfael is almost eclipsed by the tragedy of the life of his foe, whose identity is revealed to be from the age of Cadfael's great great grandfather King Arthwys.
Summary
Though told of still as a tale of valor, the tale of Cadefael Cewri is one that begins in the times of Cadefael's great great grandfather, the illustrious King Arthwys of Carfref. King Arthwys was a man around whom many rallied, countless pledged their banners to him and countless followed him into battle without fear. The tallest and strongest of this countless band was Carineas, a Synir half-giant, and son of the mystic Bǫlvadnir who was himself the son of the mighty giant of the Black Mountains, Svakaðr. At his birth, Carineas' father saw a vision in the nearby fire that spoke to him saying
Fearing his son and his future, Bǫlvadnir panicked and supposedly threw his son from the rocks of Mount Anywedd hoping to kill him. Carineas however, survived and lived among sheep and goats in the rocky outcropping of Anywedd for many years, becoming a feral and wild child. It was in a similar state that a young King Arthwys found the giant, herding goats in solitude, and where the fiery Carineas challenged the King to duel him. In the duel, Carineas' ferocity was no match for Arthwys' skill and he was humbled. Expecting death, Carineas was greeted with a gesture of friendship from the king, and from that day, Carineas was given a seat of honor at the King's side.
However, after the climactic Battle of the Bloody Field, Carineas found himself grief-stricken at the sight of his king and friend dead on the battlefield. Carineas accompanied Edeyrn in the procession that buried the King at Mount Anywedd but Carineas fell to madness and withdrew back into the wilds, his heart broken and ravaged with sorrow. In the woods, the cursed giant transformed into a vengeful and mindless monster, a figure known as Anadtan, the Firebreather.
Now decades later, Anadtan became a name known for his destruction and terrorizing glare which brought fiery death to whoever looked upon him. In these days, the final days of King Rhun, son of Urien the Generous, Rhun's son Cadfael was full of ambition and full of youthful gallantry. Cadfael's heart was filled with sorrow upon hearing the terrors of the countryside, he heard the pleas of the people and he felt his heart become sore. The young prince bid an audience with his elderly father and asked him for permission to arrange a hunt for the supposed beast of fire. King Rhun saw the goodness in his son's eyes and not only granted his request, but he also bestowed upon his son artifacts of renown, from the armory of his great grandfather, the spear Dilychwin or "Spotless" and the shield Arbedcalon, the Heartsaver.
With spear and shield in hand, the prince began his hunt yet soon did it come to a close as Anadtan was no small prey. After roasting the village of Kadoc, the two foes did battle with Cadfael's enchanted shield bearing the brunt of Adantan's great fiery gaze. returning his own fire, Cadfael emerged from behind his shield and threw Dilychwin with great speed, the spear pierced the neck of the firebreather but he did not die.
Instead, the giant retreated to a nearby cave, leaving pools of blood in his wake. Following, Cadfael entered the misty cave and heard the sounds of sobbing echoing off its walls. At the ready, Cadfael found not, Adantan the firebreather huddled in a soggy corner, instead he found a giant crying out and wailing in lament. Carineas had reemerged from his state of sorrow and found himself a century from the fall of his king and in a world, he did not remember. Carineas saw the speckled shield and spotless spear of the boy before him and remembered their old holder. In his daze, the giant pondered if this boy before him was perhaps Edeyrn, or perhaps one of Edeyrn's sons or one of Iaen's. Three names did the giant utter, first Iaen to which Cadfael did not respond, next Derun to which Cadfael again said nothing. Only when Carineas spoke the name of Edeyrn did Cadfael respond, asking why the beast spoke the name of his great grandfather.
Understanding what had happened, Carineas bowed his head and spoke to the boy saying how he came from the time of Cadfael's great great grandfather, how he served loyally, bravely, and with honor in those times yet dishonored himself in the lives of those he had taken. Now, old Carineas begged the great great grandson of the man he once served to end his suffering. With a solemn bow of his head, the prince of the House of Edeyrn thrust his spear through the heart of the once noble giant and his life came to an end there.
"Keep the little warrior's heart somber and tempered, for if fire ravages his soul, the little warrior will become a mighty and unstoppable drengr who's flame will need to be snuffed out."
Fearing his son and his future, Bǫlvadnir panicked and supposedly threw his son from the rocks of Mount Anywedd hoping to kill him. Carineas however, survived and lived among sheep and goats in the rocky outcropping of Anywedd for many years, becoming a feral and wild child. It was in a similar state that a young King Arthwys found the giant, herding goats in solitude, and where the fiery Carineas challenged the King to duel him. In the duel, Carineas' ferocity was no match for Arthwys' skill and he was humbled. Expecting death, Carineas was greeted with a gesture of friendship from the king, and from that day, Carineas was given a seat of honor at the King's side.
However, after the climactic Battle of the Bloody Field, Carineas found himself grief-stricken at the sight of his king and friend dead on the battlefield. Carineas accompanied Edeyrn in the procession that buried the King at Mount Anywedd but Carineas fell to madness and withdrew back into the wilds, his heart broken and ravaged with sorrow. In the woods, the cursed giant transformed into a vengeful and mindless monster, a figure known as Anadtan, the Firebreather.
Now decades later, Anadtan became a name known for his destruction and terrorizing glare which brought fiery death to whoever looked upon him. In these days, the final days of King Rhun, son of Urien the Generous, Rhun's son Cadfael was full of ambition and full of youthful gallantry. Cadfael's heart was filled with sorrow upon hearing the terrors of the countryside, he heard the pleas of the people and he felt his heart become sore. The young prince bid an audience with his elderly father and asked him for permission to arrange a hunt for the supposed beast of fire. King Rhun saw the goodness in his son's eyes and not only granted his request, but he also bestowed upon his son artifacts of renown, from the armory of his great grandfather, the spear Dilychwin or "Spotless" and the shield Arbedcalon, the Heartsaver.
With spear and shield in hand, the prince began his hunt yet soon did it come to a close as Anadtan was no small prey. After roasting the village of Kadoc, the two foes did battle with Cadfael's enchanted shield bearing the brunt of Adantan's great fiery gaze. returning his own fire, Cadfael emerged from behind his shield and threw Dilychwin with great speed, the spear pierced the neck of the firebreather but he did not die.
Instead, the giant retreated to a nearby cave, leaving pools of blood in his wake. Following, Cadfael entered the misty cave and heard the sounds of sobbing echoing off its walls. At the ready, Cadfael found not, Adantan the firebreather huddled in a soggy corner, instead he found a giant crying out and wailing in lament. Carineas had reemerged from his state of sorrow and found himself a century from the fall of his king and in a world, he did not remember. Carineas saw the speckled shield and spotless spear of the boy before him and remembered their old holder. In his daze, the giant pondered if this boy before him was perhaps Edeyrn, or perhaps one of Edeyrn's sons or one of Iaen's. Three names did the giant utter, first Iaen to which Cadfael did not respond, next Derun to which Cadfael again said nothing. Only when Carineas spoke the name of Edeyrn did Cadfael respond, asking why the beast spoke the name of his great grandfather.
Understanding what had happened, Carineas bowed his head and spoke to the boy saying how he came from the time of Cadfael's great great grandfather, how he served loyally, bravely, and with honor in those times yet dishonored himself in the lives of those he had taken. Now, old Carineas begged the great great grandson of the man he once served to end his suffering. With a solemn bow of his head, the prince of the House of Edeyrn thrust his spear through the heart of the once noble giant and his life came to an end there.
Cultural Reception
The tale of the curse and fall of Carineas is a tale told among the dozens if not hundreds of tales about the deeds and lives of those in the days of King Arthwys. Carineas' tale is of tragedy and of the fall of those capable of great deeds but prone to evil and misdeeds.
In Literature
The tales of King Arthwys' descendants are told until the reign of King Rhudwyn Braff. At Rhudwyn's court, poets were told to have sung short laments about Carineas. These short poems were called "Llefain y Cawr Carineas" or "Cries for the Giant Carineas". The most famous and well documented poem is detailed below
Carineas lead our king's bandsWith him, the king won his lands,A land from the mountains to the seaa place the folk came to beBut upon the death of the kinga monster from within did it bring,Sweeping death and a fiery glarewas all the giant did now shareWhen Cadfael did ride awaytracking the monster he was to slay,They did battle, the two fought onWith throat pierced, blood was drawnThe giant of the bandsDid find blood on his hands,Sorrow replaced his fiery heartWith a thrusted spear he did depart
(Battle between Cadfael and Anadtan)
Date of Setting
Early 2nd Century A.E
Related Ethnicities
Related Species
Related People
(The once noble and virtuous Carineas)
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