Wulfric the Weapon Thane

by Charles W. Whistler

  CHAPTER V. HOW WULFRIC, LODBROK, AND BEORN HUNTED.

  When morning came it was great wonder and joy to me to wake andfind myself in England and free, for indeed I had begun to think ofmy comradeship with the Danes as a sort of thralldom that I knewnot how to break. And now I longed to make my way back to Reedhamas soon as I might, for I had been many weeks away, though I havesaid little of all that befell in that time beyond what wasneedful. One thing saved me from grief that might have been, andthat was the knowledge that Ingild, the merchant, had not been toldto look for my coming, and that none at home would wonder if I werelong away, because of that plan of wintering our ship in theThames. And I knew that not one of my poor crew could have lived totake news of the wreck.

  That I must take back myself; and though I could not fairly beblamed for loss of ship and crew, the thought of having to breakthe tidings to those who would mourn for their lost ones was veryhard to me. But it must be done, and there was an end.

  Now came to me, as I thought of these things, my friend the Priorof Bosham, and he sat down beside me and asked how he could furthermy plans. He himself must go to Selsea, there to see the bishop andtell him all, not forgetting my part, as he said.

  I told him that I only needed a horse, and that then I should rideto London, where I had friends: and he asked me if I had moneywherewith to buy one, for he had none, else would he gladly do sofor me. And that reminded me of the bag which Halfden gave me, andI opened it.

  It was full of treasure--gold ornaments, and chains wherein wereset precious stones, and some gold coins and silver, and these werethe least value of all. But little pleasure had I in them, for Iknew too well how they came, and a thought came to me.

  "Father," I said, "this comes from ruined towns on yondershore--take it and build up Bosham again. Aye, take it."

  "Why, my son, here is treasure enough to build three villages likeours," he said quietly; "for timber houses cost but labour in thisforest land, and there was naught else worth taking in the place."

  "But your people are the poorer," I said; "I pray you take it fortheir need, and for a new bell, moreover."

  And so I urged him till he took the greatest gold chain, sayingthat in honesty he could no more, for that would surely make Boshamwish for more burnings if they turned out as this.

  "Keep the rest and buy a new ship," he said, "and forget not thatalways and every day your name will be remembered at the time ofmass in Bosham; and that may help you in days to come."

  So he blessed me and departed, and I think that both of us werelight at heart, save for parting. And I have never seen the goodprior again, though his face and words I cannot forget.

  Soon came one to lead me to the presence of the thane and his wife,and from them I found kindness more than I could have looked for.We broke our fast together, and then the lady asked me if I wouldaccept horse and gear for my journey from her, for she had heardfrom the prior that I had been shipwrecked, who had also told herall the story of our doings at Bosham.

  Thanking her, I told her that though shipwrecked, I was yet rich,having a store of wealth with me; for I thought that it was in theminds of these kind people that I was in need.

  "Be not proud," she said "bide with us for a while, and then takehorse and go. We hold that you have deserved well of all of us."

  But I told her of my mother and sister at home, and how I wouldfain be back with them, so she pitied me the more, saying that nowfor their sakes she would hasten me.

  "Aye, lad," said the thane, "we have sons of our own at court, andthe lady would that someone would pack them home on a goodhorse--so she must not be denied."

  Thus they persuaded me, and when I tried to thank them, the thanelaughed, and the lady said:

  "Thank me not but in one way, and that is by asking your mother tohelp homeward some other lady's son when need is. And that is all Iwould wish."

  And the end of it was that I rode away from Chichester town on agood horse and with change of clothes in saddlebags, and thoseworthy people stood at the gate to give me good speed.

  Yet that is not the end, for there are one or two who have riddenin like sort from Reedham since that day, and have borne home thelike message; so that I know not where the ending of that kindlydeed may be.

  Past the old Chichester walls I went, and out on the long line ofthe Roman street that should take me to London. And as I went Isang, for the green beechen woods were wondrous fair to me afterthe long weeks of changing sea, and it seemed to me that all wasgoing well, so that I put away for the time the grievous thought ofmy shipwreck, the one hard thing that I must face when I came homeagain.

  There is nothing to tell of that ride; for well armed, and rich,and with a good horse, what should there be? And at last I came toLondon town, and rode straightway to the great house of mygodfather, Ingild, that stood by London Bridge. Very strange it wasto me to look out over the Pool as I crossed, and not to see ourgood ship in her wonted place, for this was the first time I hadcome to London except in her.

  At the door of the courtyard, round which Ingild had his greatstorehouses and sheds for goods, I drew rein, and two serving menwhom I knew well came out. Yet they knew me not, staring at my armsand waiting for my commands.

  So I spoke to them by name, and they started and then laughed,saying that they must be forgiven for not knowing me in my arms,for surely I had changed greatly since two years ago, when I waslast with them.

  It was the same when Ingild himself came out, ample robed andportly; for he gazed long at my helmed face, and then cried:

  "Why, here is a marvel! Wulfric, my son, you have grown from boy toman since last we met; and you come in helm and mail shirt and onhorseback, instead of in blue homespun and fur cap, with an oarblister on either hand. How is this?"

  Then he kissed me on both cheeks and led me in, running on thustill a good meal was before me, with a horn of his mighty ale; andthen he let me be in peace for a little while.

  Afterwards, as we sat alone together, I told him all that hadbefallen, even as I would have told my father, for in my mindIngild, my godfather, came next to him and our king, and I lovedhim well.

  Sorely he grieved for loss of ship and goods and men, but he toldme that we were not the only seamen who had been hurt by thatsudden gale. Nor did he blame me at all, knowing that Kenulf was intruth the commander of our ship. Rather was he glad that it hadchanced that I had left her and so was safe.

  Then when I told him of my turning viking thereafter, he laughedgrimly, with a glitter of his eye, saying that he would surely havedone the same at my age--aye, and any young man in all Englandlikewise, were he worth aught.

  So when I had told him all about my journey, I showed him the bagthat Halfden gave me, and well he knew the value of the treasuretherein.

  "Why, son Wulfric," he cried; "here is wealth enough to buy a newship withal, as times go!"

  And I would have him keep it, not being willing to take so great asum about with me, and that he did willingly, only asking me to lethim use it, if chance should be, on my behalf, and making me keepthe silver money for my own use going homeward.

  "Yet I will keep you awhile, for Egfrid, the Thane's son of Hoxne,who is here at court, goes home for Yuletide, and so you can ridewith him. And I think it will be well that we should send word toyour father of how things have been faring with you, for so willyou have naught of misfortune to tell when you come home."

  I thought this wise counsel and kindly, for my people would besttell those wives and children of their loss, and so things would beeasier for me. And Ingild sent writing to my father by the hand ofsome chapman travelling to the great fair at Norwich; and with hisletter went one from me also, with messages to Lodbrok--for Eadmundhad made me learn to write.

  So after that I abode with Ingild, going to the court of Ethelredthe King with him, and seeing the great feasts which the merchantguilds made for the king while he was in London; with many otherwondrous sights, so that the time went quickly, and the more sot
hat this Egfrid was ever with me. I had known him when we werelittle lads together at our own king's court, but he had left to goto that of our great overlord, Ethelred, so that I had not seen himfor long years. And one may sail up our Waveney river to Hoxne,where his father's house is, from ours at Reedham, though it is along way.

  Now in the week before Yuletide we would start homewards, so withmany gifts and words of good speed, Ingild set us forth; and werode well armed and attended as the sons of great thanes should. Sothe way was light to us in the clear December weather, and if itwere long the journey was very pleasant, for Egfrid and I grew tobe great friends, and there is nothing more joyous than to beriding ever homeward through wood and over wild, with one whoseways fit with one's own, in the days of youth, when cares are noneand shadows fall not yet across the path.

  When we came to Colchester town we heard that Eadmund was yet atThetford, and when we asked more we learnt that Lodbrok was therealso with my father. So, because Hoxne was but twenty miles orthereby from Thetford, both Egfrid and I were glad that our way wasyet together, and we would go there first of all.

  One other thing we heard in Colchester, for we waited there for twodays, resting our horses. There was a wandering gleeman who cameinto the marketplace on the hill top, and we stood and listened tohim.

  And first he sang of how Danes had come and burnt Harwich town. Butthe people told him to sing less stale news than that, for Harwichwas close at hand. Now it was Halfden's ship which had done that,and the fires we saw before the fog came had been the beacons litbecause of his landing.

  Then he made a great outcry until he had many folk to listen, andthey paid him well before he would sing. Whereon, forsooth, my earstingled, for he sang of the burning of Bosham. And when he came tothe stealing of the bell, his tale was, that it, being hallowed,would by no means bear that heathen hands should touch it, so thatwhen it came to the deepest pool in the haven it turned red hot,and so, burning a great hole through the Danish ship, sank to thebottom, and the Danes were all drowned. Whereat the peoplemarvelled, and the gleeman fared well.

  I suppose that the flashing of the great bell that I had seen gaverise to this tale, and that is how men tell it to this day. And Icare not to gainsay them, for it is close enough to the truth, andfew know that I had so nearly a hand in the matter.

  So we rode to Thetford, and how we were received there is no needfor me to tell, for I came back as it were from the dead, andEgfrid after years of absence. And there with Eadmund were myfather and mother, and Eadgyth, and Lodbrok, and Egfrid's folkalso, with many more friends to greet us, and the king would haveus keep Yuletide with him.

  It had been in my mind that Halfden would have come to Reedham, andat first I looked for him, but he had not been heard of, so thatnow we knew that we should not see him before springtime came, forhe must needs be wintering somewhere westward. Yet now Lodbrok wasat ease with us, seeing the end of his stay, and being in highfavour with our king, so that he was seldom away from his side inall the hunting that went on.

  That liked not Beorn, the falconer, and though he would befriendly, to all seeming, with the Dane, it seemed to me that hisfirst jealousy had grown deeper and taken more hold of him, thoughit might only be in a chance look or word that he showed it as dayswent on.

  But one night my father and I rode in together from our hunting,and there was no one with us. We had been at Thetford for a monthnow, since I came home, and there was a talk that the king would goto the court of Ethelred at Winchester shortly, taking my fatherwith him for his counsellor, and so we spoke of that for a while,and how I must order things at Reedham while he was away.

  "Lodbrok, our friend, will go back with you," he said. "Now, haveyou noted any envy at the favour in which he is held by Eadmund?"

  "Aye, Father," I answered, "from Beorn, the falconer."

  "So you, too, have had your eyes open," went on my father; "now Imistrust that man, for he hates Lodbrok."

  "That is saying more than I had thought."

  "You have been away, and there is more than you know at the bottomof the matter. The king offered Lodbrok lands if he would bide withus and be his man, and these he refused, gently enough, saying thathe had broad lands of his own, and that he would not turnChristian, as the king wished, for the sake of gain. He would onlyleave the worship of his own gods for better reasons. Now Beorncovets those lands, and has hoped to gain them. Nor does he yetknow that Lodbrok will not take them."

  Then I began to see that this matter was deeper than I had thought,and told my father of the first meeting of Lodbrok and Beorn. But Isaid that the falconer had seemed very friendly of late.

  "Aye, too friendly," said my father; "it is but a little whilesince he held aloof from him, and now he is ever close to Lodbrokin field and forest. You know how an arrow may seem to glance froma tree, or how a spear thrust may go wide when the boar is at bay,and men press round him, or an ill blow may fall when none may knowit but the striker."

  "Surely no man would be so base!" I cried.

  "Such things have been and may be again. Long have I known Beorn,and I would not have him for enemy. His ways are not open."

  Then I said that if Beorn was ever near Lodbrok, I would be nearer,and so we left the matter.

  There was one other thing, which was more pleasant, which we spokeabout at that time. And it was about the betrothal of my sisterEadgyth. For it had come to pass that Egfrid, my friend, had soughther hand, and the match pleased us all. So before the king and myfather went to Winchester there was high feasting, and those twowere pledged one to the other. Then was a new house to be built forthem at Hoxne, where the wedding itself should take place.

  "Maybe Halfden will be here by that time," said Lodbrok to me. "Iwish, friend Wulfric, that honest Egfrid had not been so forward,or that you had another fair sister."

  Now though that saying pleased me, I could not wish for the wildviking as husband to our gentle Eadgyth, though I loved him well asmy own friend. So I said that I thought Halfden's ship was his onlylove.

  "Maybe," answered the jarl; "but one may never know, and I think itwould be well for English folk and Danish to be knit together moreclosely."

  But when I asked him why this should be so, he only smiled, andtalked of friendliness between the two peoples, which seemed alittle matter to me at that time.

  Now when the time came, my father having gone, we two, Lodbrok andI, went back to Reedham, while my mother and Eadgyth stayed yet atThetford for the sake of Egfrid's new house building, for he wouldhave it built to suit her who should rule it.

  Strange and grievous it was to me to see our shipyard empty, andsad to have to tell the story of the good ship's loss to thosewhose mourning was not yet over. Yet they were sailors' wives andchildren, and to them death at sea was honourable, as is to awarrior's wife that her husband should fall in a ring of foes withall his wounds in front. And they blamed me not; but ratherrejoiced that I was safe returned.

  Now without thought of any foe, or near or far, Lodbrok and Ihunted and hawked over our manors, finding good sport, and in alittle while I forgot all about Beorn, for I had seen him go in theking's train as they rode out to Winchester.

  Out of that carelessness of mine came trouble, the end of which ishard to see, and heavily, if there is blame to me, have I paid forit. And I think that I should have better remembered my father'swords, though I had no thought but that danger was far away for thetime.

  We hunted one day alone together, and had ridden far across ournearer lands to find fresh ground, so that we were in the wideforest country that stretches towards Norwich, on the south of theYare. Maybe we were five miles from the old castle at Caistor.There we beat the woods for roebuck, having greyhounds and hawkswith us, but no attendants, as it happened, and for a time we foundnothing, not being far from the road that leads to the great cityfrom the south.

  Then we came to a thicket where the deer were likely to harbour,and we went, one on either side of it, so that we could not see oneanother
, and little by little separated. Then I started a roe, andafter it went my hounds, and I with them, winding my horn to callLodbrok to me, for they went away from him.

  My hounds took the roe, after a long chase, and I was at work uponit, when that white hound that I had given to Lodbrok came leapingtowards me, and taking no heed of the other hounds, or of the deaddeer, fawned upon me, marking my green coat with bloodstains fromits paws.

  I was angry, and rated the hound, and it fled away swiftly as itcame, only to return, whining and running to and fro as though todraw me after it. Then I thought that Lodbrok had also slain adeer, starting one from the same thicket, which was likely enough,and that this dog, being but young, would have me come and see it.All the while the hound kept going and coming, being very uneasy,and I rated it again.

  Then it came across me that I had not heard Lodbrok's horn, andthat surely the dog would not so soon have left his quarry. And atthat I hasted and hung the deer on a branch, and, mounting myhorse, rode after the hound, which at once ran straight before me,going to where I thought Lodbrok would be.

  When I came round the spur of wood that had first parted us I wasfrightened, for Lodbrok's horse ran there loose, snorting as if interror of somewhat that I could not see, and I caught him and rodeon.

  When I could see a furlong before me, into a little hollow of theland that is there, before me was a man, dressed like myself ingreen, and he was dragging the body of another man towards athicket; and as I saw this my horses started from a pool of bloodin which lay a broken arrow shaft.

  At that I shouted and spurred swiftly towards those two--lettingthe other horse go free--with I know not what wild thoughts in mymind.

  And when I came near I knew that the living man was Beorn, and thatthe dead was Lodbrok my friend.

  Then I took my horn and wound it loud and long, charging down uponthat traitor with drawn sword, for I had left my hunting spear withthe slain deer. He dropped his burden, and drew his sword also,turning on me. And I saw that the blade was red.

  Then I made no more delay, but leapt from my horse and fell uponhim to avenge myself for the death of him whom I loved. Would thatI had had the axe whose use he who lay there had taught me so well,for then the matter would have been ended at one blow. But now wewere evenly matched, and without a word we knew that this fightmust be to the death, and our swords crossed, and blow and parrycame quickly.

  Then I heard shouts, and the noise of men running behind me, andBeorn cried:

  "Stay us not, I avenge me of my friend," whereon I ground my teethand pressed on him yet more fiercely, wounding him a little in theshoulder; and he cried out for help--for the men who came wereclose on us--and the well-cast noose of a rope fell over myshoulders, and I was jerked away from him well-nigh choked.

  Two men ran past me and took Beorn, throwing up his sword withtheir quarterstaves, and it seemed to me that it was done overgently. Then they bound us both and set us on the ground face toface.

  "Now here be fine doings!" said a man, who seemed to be the leaderof the six or seven who had ended the fight.

  "Aye, 'tis murder," said another, looking from Beorn to me and thento Beorn again; "but which is murderer and which true man?"

  Now all these men were strangers to me, but I knew one thing aboutthem from their dress. They were the men of mighty Earl Ulfkytelhimself, and seemed to be foresters, and honest men enough by theirfaces.

  "I am Wulfric, son of Elfric of Reedham," I said. "The slain man isLodbrok, the Danish jarl, and this man slew him."

  "He lies!" cried Beorn. "It was he who slew him, and I wouldrevenge myself on him, for this Lodbrok was my friend."

  Now I held my peace, keeping back my wrath as well as I might, forI began to see that Beorn had some deep plot on hand, thus tobehave as if innocent.

  "Why, so he cried out as we came," said one of the men when heheard Beorn's words.

  "Maybe both had a hand in it," the leader said, and so they talkedfor a little.

  Then came two of my own serfs, who had followed me to see thesport, I suppose, at a distance, as idle men will sometimes, whenhunting is on hand, and with them came Lodbrok's dog, the same thathad brought me. And when the dog saw Beorn he flew at him and wouldhave mauled him sorely, but that the earl's men beat him off withtheir staves; and one took the leash that hung from my saddle bowand tied him to a tree, where he sat growling and making as thoughhe would again fly at the falconer.

  "Whose dog is this?" asked the leader.

  "His," answered the serfs, pointing to Lodbrok.

  "Dogs might tell strange tales could they talk," said the earl'sman; "I misdoubt both these men. Let us take them to the earl forjudgment."

  "Where is the earl?" I asked.

  "At Caistor," answered the man shortly, and I was glad that he wasso near, for the matter would be quickly settled and I could gofree.

  "Unbind me, and I will go where you will," I said, but at thatBeorn cried out.

  "Loose him not, loose him not, I pray you!"

  "Tie their hands behind them and let us be gone," was the answer,and they did so, loosing my feet, and setting us on my horse andLodbrok's. And some of the men stayed behind with my serfs to makea litter on which to carry my friend's body, and follow us toCaistor. So as I went I cried quickly to those two men of mine thatthey should go in all haste to Reedham and tell what had befallenme to our steward, who would know what to do.

  "Reedham is too far for a rescue to reach you in time," said theleader of the earl's men grimly; "think not of it."

  "I meant not that, but to have witnesses to speak for me."

  "That is fair," said the man, after a little thought, "we will nothinder their going."

  Then they led us away, and presently reached that place where I hadseen the broken arrow, and one picked it up, saying that here wassurely the place where the deed was done, and that the arrow wouldmaybe prove somewhat. And I think that here Beorn had shot thejarl, for all around those other marks on the grass were thehoofmarks of the rearing and frightened horse, and there were manyplaces where an archer might lie unseen in the thickets, afterfollowing us all day maybe, as Beorn must have done, thus to findfitting chance for his plan when we two were far apart. And surely,had it not been for the dog, I think the fate of Lodbrok would havebeen unknown for many a long day, for but for him Beorn would havehidden his deed and ridden off before I had known aught.

  Now, as the man handled the broken arrow, walking beside me, I sawit plainly, and knew it for one of my own, and one of four that Ihad lost at Thetford, though I did not know how.

  At that I seemed to see all the plot, and my heart sank within me,for this Beorn was most crafty, and had planned well to throw doubton me if things by ill chance fell out as they had, and so I rodein silence wondering what help should come, and whence. And Ithought of Halfden, and what he should think when he heard the talethat was likely to be told him, and even as I thought this therewas a rushing of light wings, and Lodbrok's gray falcon--which Ihad cast from my wrist as I fell on Beorn--came back to me, andperched on my saddle, for my hands were bound behind me. She hadbecome unhooded in some way.

  Then Beorn cried out to the men to take the falcon, for it was his,and that he would not have her lost; and that angered me so that Icried out on him, giving him the lie, and he turned pale as if Iwere free and could smite him. Whereon the men bade us roughly tohold our peace, and the leader whistled to the falcon and held outhis hand to take her. But she struck at him and soared away, and Iwatched her go towards Reedham, and was glad she did so with a sortof dull gladness.

  For I would have no man pass through a time of thoughts such asmine were as they took me to Caistor--rage and grief and fear ofshame all at once, and one chasing the other through my mind till Iknew not where I was, and would start as from a troubled dream whenone spoke, and then go back to the same again as will a sick man.But by the time we reached Caistor I had, as it seemed to me,thought every thought that might be possible, and one thing onlywas plain a
nd clear. I would ask for judgment by Eadmund the King,and if that might not be, then for trial by battle, which the earlwould surely grant. And yet I hoped that Beorn's plot was not socrafty but that it would fail in some way.

  So they put me in a strong cell in the old castle, leading Beorn toanother, and there left me. The darkness came, and they brought mefood, so I ate and drank, being very hungry and weary; and thatdone, my thoughts passed from me, for I slept heavily, worn outboth in body and mind.