CHAPTER VIII. HOW WE FARED WITH INGVAR THE DANE.
We came to the shores of a haven at a river mouth, and there we sawthe town clustering round a large hall that rose in the midst ofthe lesser houses, which were mostly low roofed and clay walled,like that of Raud, though some were better, and built of logs setupon stone foundations. The hall stood on higher ground than therest of the houses, so that from the gate of the heavy timberstockade that went all round it one could see all the windings ofthe haven channel and the sea that lay some half mile or more awayat its mouth. And all the town had a deep ditch and mound round it,as if there was ever fear of foes from shoreward, for these camedown to the haven banks, and the only break they had was where awharf and the ship garth were. There were several ships housed intheir long sheds, as I could see.
All round the great hall and the buildings that belonged to it wasa stockade of pointed logs, so that it stood in a wide courtyard onall four sides, and the great gate of the stockade was opposite thetimber porch of the hall itself. There were other doors in the sideof the hall, but they were high up, and reached by ladders; andthere seemed to be only one more gate in the stockade, leadinglandward, and both were such as might not easily be broken down,when once they were closed and barred with the square logs thatstood beside the entrances ready. And all the windows of the hallwere very high up and narrow, and the roof was timbered, notthatched.
This was the strongest house that I had ever seen, and I said toRaud as I looked at it:
"This place is built to stand some fierce fighting. What need haveyou of such strength?"
He laughed, and answered:
"Why, much need indeed! For when the ships are gone a-viking we areweak in men, so needs must have strong walls to keep out all comersfrom over seas. And we have an ill neighbour or two, who would fainshare in our booty. However, men know in Sweden, and Finmark, andNorway also, that it is ill meddling with Jarl Ingvar and hisbrothers."
We passed through the stockade gate, and went straight to theporch; all the woodwork of which was carved and gaily painted, andso were eaves and rafter ends and tie beams.
Two sturdy axemen stood at the doorway, and they spoke freely tothe brothers, asking questions of us and of our tale.
Then roared the voice of Jarl Ingvar from within, bidding the mencease prating and bring us in, and so we entered.
A great fire burnt in the centre of the hall, and the smoke rose upand found its way out under the eaves; and there were skins andheads of wild beasts on the wall, amid which arms and armour hungeverywhere, bright in the firelight. Yet the hall, though it wascarved on wall, and rafter, and doorway, was not so bright as oursat Reedham, nor so pleasant.
Ingvar and Hubba sat on one side of the fire, where the smoke wasdriven away from them, and before them was set a long bench wherewe should be placed. There Hubba bade us sit down, telling the twomen to go without and wait.
So we were left face to face with those two, and I saw thatIngvar's face was dark with doubt, but that Hubba seemed lesstroubled. Yet both looked long and sternly at us.
"Tell us this tale of yours," said Ingvar at last; "and lie not."
Now it seemed to me that it were well to get the worst over at oncewithout beating about beforehand. And now that the jarls knew thatLodbrok was dead, the hardest was to tell them how he died, and whyI was here thus.
"Well loved I Lodbrok the Jarl, and well do I love Halfden hisson," I said. "Have patience with me while I tell all from thefirst."
"Go on," said Ingvar, knitting his brows.
"Safely came Jarl Lodbrok to the English shores," I went on;"steering his boat through the storm as I think no other man might.And my father and I, lying at anchor for tide in our coasting ship,took him from the breakers. Some of his craft taught he me, elsehad I not been here today. So he bided with us until I went to sea,and there I met Halfden, and went on a raid with him, coming backfrom the South Saxon shores to wait at our place for his coming totake Lodbrok home. But he came not last winter, and so we waitedtill this spring should bring him. For my ship was lost, and noother came."
"What!" said Ingvar; "he died not of stress of storm, but lived solong! Then he has been slain!" and he half started from his seat inrage.
But Hubba, though his teeth were set, drew him back.
"Hear all," he said.
I went on without bidding, not seeming to note these things.
"The jarl and I hunted together, and the chance of the day partedus, and he was slain; nor can I say by whom. But this man and I,being found with his body, were accused of the deed. And becausethere was no proof, our great earl, who loves even-handed justice,would have us cast adrift, even as was Lodbrok; that the guiltymight suffer, and the innocent escape."
Then Ingvar rose up, white and shaking with wrath, and drew out hissword. Whereon Beorn yelled and fell on the floor, grovelling withuplifted hands and crying for mercy.
But the great jarl paid no heed to him, and hove up the sword withboth hands over my head, saying in a hoarse voice:
"Say that you lie--he is not dead--or you slew him!"
Now I think the long struggle with the sea, or my full trust in theearl's words, or both, had taken away my fear of death, for I spokewithout moving, though the great blade seemed about to fall, andthe fierce Dane's eyes glared on mine.
"It were easy for me to have lied; I would that I did lie, for thenLodbrok would be living, and I beside him, waiting for Halfden myfriend even yet."
"Odin!" shouted Ingvar; "you speak truth. Woe is me for my father,and woe to the land that has given him a grave thus foully."
With that he let his sword fall, and his passion having gone, hesat down and put his face in his hands, and wept tears of grief andrage. And I, as I watched him, was fain to weep also, for mythoughts were akin to his.
Now Hubba had sat very still, watching all this, and he kept hisfeelings better than did his fierce brother, though I might wellsee that he was moved as deeply. But now he spurned Beorn with hisfoot, bidding him get up and speak also. But Beorn only grovelledthe more, and Hubba spurned him again, turning to me.
"I believe you speak truth," he said quietly, "and you are a braveman. There was no need for you to tell the accusation againstyourself; and many are the lies you might have told us about theboat that would have been enough for us. We never thought to hearthat our father had outlived the storm."
"I speak truth, Jarl," I said, sadly enough, "and Halfden will cometo our haven, seeking us both, and will find neither--only this illnews instead of all we had planned of pleasure."
Then Hubba asked me plainly of Beorn, saying:
"What of this cur?"
"No more than I have told you, Jarl," I said.
"How came he into the forest?" asked Hubba, for he saw that therewas more than he knew yet under Beorn's utter terror.
"Let me tell you that story from end to end," I answered.
And he nodded, so that I did so, from the time when I left the jarluntil Ulfkytel sentenced us, giving all the words of the witnessesas nearly as I could. Then I said that I would leave them to judge,for I could not.
Now Ingvar, who had sat biting his nails and listening without aword, broke in, questioning me of Halfden's ship for long. At lasthe said:
"This man tells truth, and I will not harm him. He shall bide heretill Halfden comes home, for he tells a plain story, and wearsthose rings. And he has spoken the ill of himself and little ofthis craven, who maybe knows more than he will say. I have a mindto find out what he does know," and he looked savagely at Beorn,who was sitting up and rocking himself to and fro, with his eyeslooking far away.
"Do what you will with him he will lie," said Hubba.
"I can make him speak truth," said Ingvar grimly.
"What shall be done with this Wulfric?" asked Hubba.
"Let him go with Raud until I have spoken with Beorn," answeredIngvar, "then we shall be sure if he is friend or not."
Hubba nodded, and he and I rose up and wen
t out to the porch, whereRaud and Rolf waited with the two guards. We passed them and stoodin the courtyard.
"I believe you, Wulfric," said Hubba, "for I know a true man when Isee him."
"I thank you, Jarl," I answered him, taking the hand that heoffered me.
I looked out over the sea, for the frank kindness moved me, and Iwould not show it. There was a heavy bank of clouds working up, andthe wind came from the north, with a smell of snow in it. Then Isaw a great hawk flying inland, and wondered to see it come oversea at this time of year. It flew so that it would pass over thehouse, and as it came it wheeled a little and called; and then itswept down and came straight towards me, so that I held out my handand it perched on my wrist.
And lo! it was Lodbrok's gerfalcon; and pleased she was to see meonce more, fluttering her wings and glancing at me while I smoothedand spoke to her.
But Hubba cried out in wonder, and the men and Ingvar came out tosee what his call meant. Then they, too, were amazed, for they knewthe bird and her ways well.
I had spoken of the falcon once or twice, telling the jarls how shehad taken to me, and I think they had doubted it a little. Now thebird had got free in some way, and finding neither of her masters,had fled home, even as Lodbrok said she would.
"Now is your story proved to be true," said Hubba, smiling gravelyat me, but speaking for Ingvar's ear.
"Aye, over true," answered his brother; "serve this man well, Raudand Rolf, for he has been a close friend of Jarl Lodbrok."
"Then should he be in Lodbrok's house as a guest," said Raudstoutly, and free of speech as Danes will ever be.
"Maybe he shall be so soon," said Ingvar.
"I will bide with my first hosts," I said, not being willing tospeak much of this just now.
"That is well said," was Hubba's reply, and so we went to have thefalcon--who would not leave me--hooded and confined; and then Iwent with the two men back to their hut, and there they vied witheach other in kindness to me until night fell, and I gladly went torest; for since that night within Caistor walls I had had no sleepthat was worth considering. So my sleep was a long sleep, andnothing broke it until I woke of myself, and found only the greatdog Vig in the hut, and breakfast ready set out for me, whileoutside the ground was white with snow.
I was glad to find that no watch was kept on me, for it seemed asif Hubba's words were indeed true, and that the jarls believed mystory. And my dagger was left me also, hanging still on the wall atmy head where I had slept. Then I thought that the great dog wasmaybe bidden to guard me, but he paid no heed when I went outsidethe hut to try if it were so.
Ere an hour had passed Raud came back, and he had news for me.
"Now, friend Wulfric, I am to part with my guest, and not in theway that was yesterday's. The jarls bid me say that Wulfric ofReedham, Lodbrok's preserver, is a welcome guest in their hall, andthey would see him there at once."
"Nevertheless," I answered, "Raud the forester was the first toshelter me, and I do not forget."
Whereat Raud was pleased, and together we went to the great house,and entered, unchallenged. Hubba came forward and held out hisstrong hand to me frankly, smiling a little, but gravely, and Itook it.
"Beorn has told the truth," he said; "forgive me for doubt of youat any time."
"Aye, let that be forgotten," said Ingvar, coming from beyond thegreat fire, and I answered that I thought it not strange that theyhad doubted me.
"Now, therefore," said Hubba, "you yourself shall question Beorn,for there are things you want to know from him. And he will answeryou truly enough."
"After that you shall slay him, if you will," said Ingvar, in hisstern voice, "I wonder you did not do so in the boat. Better forhim if you had."
"I wonder not," said Hubba. "The man is fit for naught; I could notlay hand on such a cur."
I had no answer to make after that, for the warrior spoke my ownthoughts, and I held my peace as they took me to the further sideof the hearth, past the fire, beyond which I had not yet been ableto see.
Then I knew how Beorn had been made to speak the truth. They hadtortured him, and there was no strength left in him at all, so thatI almost started back from the cruel marks that he bore. Yet I hadthings to hear from him, now that he had no need to speak falsely,and I went to his side. The two jarls stood and looked at himunmoved.
"The justice of Ulfkytel is on you, Beorn," I said slowly; "thereis no need to hide aught. Tell me how you slew Lodbrok, and why."
Then came a voice, so hollow that I should not have known it forthe lusty falconer's of past days:
"Aye; justice is on me, and I am glad. I will tell you, but firstsay that you forgive me."
Then I could not but tell this poor creature that for all the harmhe had done me I would surely forgive him; but that the deed ofmurder was not for me to forgive.
"Pray, therefore, that for it I may be forgiven hereafter," hesaid, and that I promised him.
Then he spoke faintly, so that Hubba bade Raud give him strongdrink, and that brought his strength back a little.
"I took your arrows at Thetford, and I followed you to Reedham.There I dogged you, day by day, in the woods--five days I wentthrough the woods as you hunted, and then you twain were far apart,and my chance had come. Lodbrok reined up to listen, and I markedwhere he would pass when he went back, hearing your horn. Then Ishot, and the arrow went true; but I drew sword, being mad, andmade more sure. That is all. Surely I thought I should escape, forI told no man what I would do, and all men thought me far away,with the king."
Then he stopped, and recovered his strength before he could go on.
"I hated Lodbrok because he had taken my place beside the king, andbecause his woodcraft was greater than mine, though I was first inthat in all our land. And I feared that he would take the land theking offered him, for I longed for it."
Then Beorn closed his eyes, and I was turning away, for I need askno more; but again he spoke:
"Blind was yon dotard Ulfkytel not to see all this; would that youhad slain me in the woods at first--or that he had hanged me atCaistor--or that I had been drowned. But justice is done, and mylife is ended."
Those were the last words that I heard Beorn, the falconer, speak,for I left him, and Raud gave him to drink again.
"Have you no more to ask?" said Ingvar gloomily, and frowning onBeorn, as he lay helpless beyond the hearth.
"Nothing, Jarl."
"What was the last word he said. I heard not."
"He said that justice was done," I answered.
"When I have done with him, it shall be so," growled Ingvar, andhis hand clutched his sword hilt, so that I thought to see him slaythe man on the spot.
"Has he told you all?" I asked of Hubba.
"All, and more than you have told of yourself," he answered; "forhe told us that it was your hand saved my father, and for that wethank you. But one thing more he said at first, and that was thatEadmund the King set him on to slay the jarl."
On that I cried out that the good king loved Lodbrok too well, andin any case would suffer no such cowardly dealings.
"So ran his after words; but that was his first story,nevertheless."
"Then he lied, for you have just now heard him say that his ownevil thoughts bade him do the deed."
"Aye--maybe he lied at first; but we shall see," said Ingvar.
Now I understood not that saying, but if a man lies once, who shallknow where the lie's doings will stop? What came from this lie Imust tell, but now it seemed to have passed for naught.
"Now shall you slay the man in what way you will, as I have said.There are weapons," and Ingvar pointed to the store on the walls.
"I will not touch him," I said, "and I think that he dies."
"Then shall you see the vengeance of Ingvar on his father'smurderer," the jarl said savagely. "Call the men together into thecourtyard, Raud, and let them bring the man there."
"Let him die, Jarl," I said boldly; "he has suffered already."
"I thin
k that if you knew, Wulfric of Reedham, how near you havebeen to this yourself, through his doings, you would not hold yourhand," answered Ingvar, scowling at Beorn again.
"Maybe, Jarl," I answered, "but though you may make a liar speaktruth thus, you cannot make an honest man say more than he has tospeak."
"One cannot well mistake an honest saying," said Ingvar. "And thatis well for you, friend."
And so he turned and watched his courtmen, as the Danes called thehousecarles, carry Beorn out. Then he went to the walls and beganto handle axe after axe, taking down one by one, setting some onthe great table, and putting others back, as if taking delight inchoosing one fittest for some purpose.
Even as we watched him--Hubba sitting on the table's edge, and Istanding by him--a leathern curtain that went across a door at theupper end of the hall was pulled aside, and a lady came into theplace. Stately and tall, with wondrous black hair, was this maiden,and I knew that this must be that Osritha of whom the jarl was wontto speak to Eadgyth and my mother, and who wrought the raven bannerthat hung above the high place where she stood now. She was likeHalfden and Hubba, though with Ingvar's hair, and if those threewere handsome men among a thousand, this sister of theirs was morethan worthy of them. She stood in the door, doubting, when she sawme. Sad she looked, and she wore no gold on arm or neck, doubtlessbecause of the certainty of the great jarl's death; and when shesaw that Hubba beckoned to her, she came towards us, and Ingvar setdown the great axe whose edge he was feeling.
"Go back to your bower, sister," he said; "we have work on hand."
And he spoke sternly, but not harshly, to her. She shrank away alittle, as if frightened at the jarl's dark face and stern words,but Hubba called her by name.
"Stay, Osritha; here is that friend of our father's from over seas,of whom you have heard."
Then she looked pityingly at me, as I thought, saying very kindly:
"You are welcome. Yet I fear you have suffered for your friendshipto my father."
"I have suffered for not being near to help him, lady," I said.
"There is a thing that you know not yet," said Hubba. "This Wulfricwas the man who took Father from the breakers."
Then the maiden smiled at me, though her eyes were full of tears,and she asked me:
"How will they bury him in your land? In honour?"
"I have a brother-in-law who will see to that," I said. "And,moreover, Eadmund the King, and Elfric, my father, will do him allhonour."
"I will see to that," growled Ingvar, turning sharply from where hesought another weapon on the wall.
Not knowing all he meant, this pleased me, for I thought that weshould sail together to Reedham for this, before very long. ButOsritha, knowing his ways, looked long at him, till he turned awayagain, and would not meet her eyes.
"Now go back to your place, my sister," he said. "It is not wellfor you to bide here just now."
"Why not? Let our friend tell me of Father also," she saidwilfully.
"Because I am going to do justice on Lodbrok's slayer," saidIngvar, in a great voice, swinging an axe again.
Then the maiden turned pale, and wrung her hands, looking atIngvar, who would not meet her eyes; and then she went and laid herhands on his mighty arm, crying:
"Not that, my brother; not that!"
"Why not?" he asked; but he did not shake off her little hands.
"Because Father would not have men so treated, however ill they haddone."
"Aye, brother; the girl is right," said Hubba. "Let him die; foryou gave him to Wulfric, and that is his word."
"Well then," said Ingvar, setting back the axe at last, "I will notcarve him into the eagle I meant to make of him. But slay him Imust and will, if the life is yet in him."
"Let Odin have him," said Hubba; and I knew that he meant that theman should be hanged, for so, as Halfden's vikings told me, shouldhe be Odin's thrall, unhonoured.
Then the maiden fled from the hall, glad to have gained even thatfor the man, instead of the terrible death that the Danes keep fortraitors and cowards.
Now Ingvar put back the axes he had kept, saying that the girl everstood in his way when he would punish as a man deserved. After thathe stood for a while as if in thought, and broke out at length:
"We will see if this man can sing a death song as did Ragnar ourforefather."
And with that he waited no more, but strode out into the courtyard,we following. And I feared what I should see; until I looked onBeorn, and though he was yet alive, I saw that he was past feelingaught.
They bore him out of the village to a place just inside thetrenched enclosure, and there were old stone walls, such as werenone elsewhere in the place, but as it might have been part ofBurgh or Brancaster walls that the Romans made on our shores, soancient that they were crumbling to decay. There they set him down,and raised a great flat stone, close to the greatest wall, whichcovered the mouth of a deep pit.
"Look therein," said Ingvar to me.
I looked, and saw that the pit was stone walled and deep, and thatout of it was no way but this hole above. The walls and floor weredamp and slimy; and when I looked closer, the dim light showed mebones in one corner, and also that over the floor crawled reptiles,countless.
"An adder is a small thing to sting a man," said Ingvar in his grimvoice. "Nor will it always hurt him much. Yet if a man is so closeamong many that he must needs tread on one, and it bites him, andin fleeing that he must set foot on another, and again another, andthen more--how will that end?"
I shuddered and turned away.
"In such a place did Ella of Northumbria put my forebear, RagnarLodbrok; and there he sang the song {xiii} we hold mostwondrous of all. There he was set because he was feared, andNorthumbria knows what I thought of that matter. But Beorn goeshere for reasons which you know. And East Anglia shall know what mythoughts are of those reasons."
Then two men seized Beorn and cast him into that foul pit, strippedof all things, and the stone fell.
But Beorn moved not nor cried out, and I think that even asUlfkytel had boded, stripped of life itself was he before thebottom of the pit was reached.
So the justice of Ulfkytel the Earl came to pass. But the liesspoken by Beorn were not yet paid for.
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