Wulfric the Weapon Thane

by Charles W. Whistler

  CHAPTER X. WHAT BEFELL AT THE GREAT SACRIFICE.

  Very early in the gray morning Halfden woke me, and he was fullyarmed, while at the lower end of the hall the courtmen were risingand arming themselves also, for Vikings must greet Odin as warriorsready to do battle for him when Ragnaroek {xvi} and the lastgreat fight shall come.

  "Rise and arm yourself," he said; "here are the arms in which youfought well in your first fight, and axe and sword beside. Now youshall stand with our crew, and so none of them will heed you, forthey love you, and know your ways are not as ours. So will all bewell."

  Then I thanked him, for I surely thought it would be so; and Iarmed myself, and that man who had been my own shield man when Iled the midship gang helped me. One thing only I wished, and thatwas that I had the axe which Lodbrok made for me, for then, I toldthe man, I should feel as a Viking again, and that pleased him.

  "However," he said, "I think I have found an axe that is as nearlike your own as may be."

  And he had done so, having had that kindly thought for me. Then wewent out, for the horns were blowing outside the town in the ashgrove where the Ve, as they call the temple of Odin and Thor andthe other gods, was. And overhead, high and unseen in the air,croaked the ravens, Odin's birds, scared from their resting placesby the tramp of men, yet knowing that their share in the feast wasto come.

  I shivered, but the sound of the war horns, and the weight andclank of the well-known arms, stirred my blood at last, and when wefell in for our short march, Halfden and Thormod, Rorik and myselfleading our crew, I was ready for all that might come, if need fora brave heart should be.

  Silently we filed through the bare trunks of the ashes, the treesof Thor, where many a twisted branch and dead trunk showed that thelightning had been at work, until we came to the place of the Ve inits clearing.

  There stood the sanctuary, a little hut--hardly more--built ofash-tree logs set endwise on a stone footing, and roofed with logsof ash, and closed with heavy doors made of iron-bolted ash timberalso. This temple stood under the mightiest ash tree of all, andthere was a clear circle of grass, tree bordered, for a hundredyards all round it, and all that circle was lined with men, armedand silent.

  Before the temple was a fire-reddened stone, the altar. And on itwere graven runes, and symbols so strange that neither I nor anyman could read them, so old were they, for some men said that stoneand runes alike were older than the worship of Odin himself, havingbeen an altar to gods that were before him. And a pile of wood wasready on the altar.

  Beside it stood Ingvar, clad in golden shining scale armour, andwith a gilded horned helm and scarlet cloak that hung fromshoulders to heel; for as his forefathers had been before him,beyond the time when the Danes and Angles came from their fareastern home {xvii}, led by Odin himself, he was the "godar",the priest of the great gods of Asgard, and his it was to offer thesacrifice now that Lodbrok his father was dead.

  Now, as I stood there I thought how my father had told me that ourown family had been the godars of our race in the old days, so thathe and I in turn should have taken our place at such an offering asIngvar was about to make. And straightway I seemed to be back inthe long dead past, when on these same shores my forbears hadworshipped thus before seeking the new lands that they won beyondthe seas. And that was a strange thought, yet now I should knowfrom what our faith had brought us.

  In a little while all Ingvar's following had come, and there weremany chiefs whose faces I had seen of late as they came to plan thegreat raid that was to be when the season came. And the men withthem were very many, far more than we could have gathered to a levyon so short notice; and all were well armed, and stood in goodorder as trained and hardened warriors. No longer could I wonder atall I had heard of the numbers of the Danish hosts who came to ourshores, and were even now in Northumbria, unchecked.

  There was silence in all the great ring of men; and only the rustleof the wind in the thick-standing ash trees around us--that seemedto hem us in like a gray wall round the clearing--and the quickcroak and flap of broad wings as the ravens wheeled ever neareroverhead, broke the stillness.

  We of the crew for whose good voyage and safe return the offeringwas made stood foremost, facing the altar stone and the sanctuarydoor, and I, with Halfden and Thormod before me, and men of thecrew to right and left, stood in the centre of our line, so that Icould see all that went on.

  Then, seeing that all was ready, Ingvar swung back the heavy doorof the shrine, and I saw before me a great image of Thor themighty, glaring with sightless eyes across the space at me. It wascarved in wood, and the god stood holding in one hand Mioelner, hisgreat hammer, and in the other the head of the Midgaard serpent,whose tailed curled round his legs, as though it were vainly tryingto struggle free.

  Then Ingvar turned and lighted the altar fire, and the smoke rosestraight up and hung in the heavy morning air in a cloud over theVe; and that seemed to be of good omen, for the men shoutedjoyfully once, and were again silent.

  From behind the sanctuary two armed men led the horse for thesacrifice that should be feasted on thereafter; and it was asplendid colt, black and faultless, so that to me it seemed agrievous thing that its life should thus be spilt for naught. Yet Iwas the only one there who deemed it wasted.

  Then Ingvar chanted words to which I would not listen, lest myheart should seem to echo them, so taking part in the heathenprayer. Over the horse he signed Thor's hammer, and slew it withThor's weapon, and the two men flayed and divided it skilfully,laying certain portions before the jarl, the godar.

  He sprinkled the blood upon doorway and statue, and then againchanting, laid those portions upon the altar fire, and the blacksmoke rose up from them, while all the host watched for what omensmight follow.

  The smoke rose, wavered, and went up, and then some breath of windtook it and drifted it gently into the open temple, winding itround the head of Thor's image and filling all the little building.And at that the men shouted again.

  Then Ingvar turned slowly towards the shrine, and drawing hissword, lifted up the broad shining blade as if in salute, crying ashe turned the point north and east and south and west:

  "Skoal, ye mighty Ones!"

  And at once, as one man all the host, save myself only, liftedtheir weapons in salute, crying in a voice that rolled back fromthe trees like an answering war shout:

  "Skoal to the mighty Ones!"

  But as for me, I stirred not, save that as by nature, and because Ifixed my thoughts on the One Sacrifice of our own faith, I signedmyself with the sign of the cross, only knowing this, that Thor andOdin I would not worship.

  Suddenly, even as the echo of the shout died away, and while theweapons were yet upraised, the thick cloud of smoke rolled back anddown, wrapping round Ingvar the godar as he stood between shrineand altar, and across the reek glared the sightless eyes of theidol again, cold and heedless.

  Now of all omens that was the worst, for it must needs betoken thatthe sacrifice was not pleasing; and at that a low groan as of fearwent round the host. Then back started Ingvar, and I saw his facethrough the smoke, looking white as ashes. For a long time, as itseemed to me, there was silence, until the smoke rose up straightagain and was lost in the treetops. Even the ravens, scared maybeby the great shout, were gone, and all was very still.

  At last Ingvar turned slowly to us and faced our crew.

  "The sacrifice is yours," he said, "and if it is not accepted thefault is yours also. We are clear of blame who have bided at home."

  Then Halfden answered for his men and himself:

  "I know not what blame is to us."

  But from close behind me Rorik lifted his voice:

  "No blame to the crew--but here is one, a stranger, who does nohonour to the gods, neither lifting sword or hailing them as isright, even before Thor's image."

  Then I knew that the worst was come, and prepared to meet it. ButHalfden spoke.

  "All men's customs are not alike, and a stranger has his own ways."


  But Ingvar's face was black with rage, and not heeding Halfden, heshouted:

  "Set the man before me."

  No man stirred, for indeed I think that most of our crew knew notwho was meant, and those near me would, as Halfden told me, saynought.

  Then said Ingvar to Rorik: "Point the man to me."

  Then Rorik pointed to me. So I stood forth of my own accord, notlooking at him, but at Ingvar.

  "So," said the jarl, harshly, "you dare to dishonour Thor?"

  I answered boldly, feeling very strong in the matter.

  "I dishonour no man's religion, Jarl, neither yours nor my own."

  "You did no honour to the Asir," he said sternly.

  "Thor and Odin are not the gods I worship," I answered.

  "I know. You are one of those who have left the gods of yourfathers."

  Then one of our men, who had stood next to me, spoke for me, as hethought.

  "I saw Wulfric sign Thor's hammer even now. What more does any manwant from a Saxon?"

  Thereat Ingvar scowled, knowing, as I think, what this was.

  "You claim to be truth teller," he said; "did you sign Thor'shammer?"

  "I did not," I answered.

  Then Halfden came to my side.

  "Let Wulfric go his own way, brother. What matters it what gods heworships so long as he is good warrior and true man, as I and mymen know him to be?"

  So he looked round on the faces of my comrades, and they answeredin many ways that this was so. And several cried:

  "Let it be, Jarl. What is one man to Thor and Odin?"

  Now I think that Ingvar would have let the matter pass thus, forthe word of the host is not lightly to be disregarded. But Rorikwould not suffer it.

  "What of the wrath of the gods, Godar?" he said. "How will you putthat aside?"

  Then was a murmur that they must be appeased, but it came not fromour crew; and Ingvar stood frowning, but not looking at me for aspace, for he was pulled two ways. As godar he must not pass by thedishonour to the gods, yet as the son of the man whom I had saved,how could he harm me? And Rorik, seeing this, cried:

  "I hold that this man should live no longer."

  "Why, what dishonour has he done the gods?" said Halfden. "If hehad scoffed, or said aught against them--that were a differentthing. And what does Thor there care if one man pays no heed tohim? Surely he can keep his own honour--leave it to him."

  "It is dishonour to Thor not to hail him," said Rorik.

  Now Ingvar spoke again to me:

  "Why do you no honour to the gods?"

  "My fathers honoured them, for the godarship was theirs, and wouldhave been my father's and mine, even as it is yours, Jarl Ingvar.For good reason they left that honour and chose another way and abetter. And to that way I cleave. I have done despite to no man'sfaith--neither to yours nor my own."

  At that Rorik lost patience, and lifting his axe, ground his teethand said savagely:

  "I will even make you honour Thor yonder."

  Now at that Halfden saw a chance for me, and at once stayed Rorik'shand, saying in a loud voice:

  "Ho! this is well. Let Wulfric and Rorik fight out thisquestion--and then the life of him who is slain will surely appeasethe gods."

  That pleased our crew well, for they had no great love for Rorik,who had taken too much command on him, for a stranger on board.Now, too, Ingvar's brows cleared, for he cared nothing for the lifeof either of us, so that the gods were satisfied with blood. And hesaid:

  "So shall it be. Take axes and make short work of it. If Wulfriccan slay Rorik, we know that he is innocent of aught to dishonourthe gods. But if he is slain--then on his head is the blame."

  Then he looked round and added:

  "Let Guthrum and Hubba see fair play."

  Now came Hubba, pleased enough, for he knew my axe play, and thatchief whom they called Guthrum, a square, dark man with a pleasant,wise face, and took four spears, setting them up at the corners ofa twelve-pace square, between the line of our crew and the altar.

  So now it seemed to me that I must fight for our faith, for truthagainst falsehood, darkness against light. And I was confident,knowing this, that the death of one for the faith is often thegreatest victory. So I said:

  "I thank you, Jarl. I will fight willingly for my faith."

  "Fight for what you like," said Ingvar, "but make haste over it."

  Then Hubba and Guthrum placed me at one side of the square, andRorik at the opposite. And I faced the image of Thor, so that underthe very eyes of the idol I hated I must prove my faith.

  Then came a longing into my mind to lift my axe in Thor's face anddefy him, but I put it away, for how should an idol know of threator defiance? Surely that would be to own some power of his.

  When we were ready, Hubba and Guthrum, each with drawn swords,stood on either side of the spear-marked square, and signed toIngvar to give the word. At once he did so.

  Then I strode forward five paces and waited, but Rorik edged roundme, trying to gain some vantage of light, and I watched himclosely.

  And all the host stood silent, holding breath, and the altar smokerose up over our heads, and the ravens croaked in the trees, andover all stared the great statue of Thor, seeing naught.

  Then like a wolf Rorik sprang at me, smiting at my left shoulderwhere no shield was to guard me. And that was Rorik's last stroke,for even as I had parried Thormod's stroke in sport, the man'swrist lit on the keen edge of my axe, so that hand and weapon flewfar beyond me with the force of his stroke. Then flashed my axe,and Rorik fell with his helm cleft in twain.

  Then roared our crew, cheering me:

  "Skoal to the axeman! Ahoy!"

  But I looked at Ingvar, and said:

  "Short work have I made, Jarl."

  Whereat he laughed a grim laugh, only answering:

  "Aye, short enough. The gods are appeased."

  Then I went back to my place beside Halfden, and our men patted myback, praising me, roughly and heartily, for it is not a viking'sway to blame a man for slaying a comrade in fair fight and for goodreason.

  Now Ingvar stood before the shrine, and called to the gods to beheedful of the blood spilt to purge whatever dishonour or wrong hadbeen done. And he hung up the weapons of the slain man in theshrine, and after that closed its doors and barred them; and wemarched from the Ve silently and swiftly, leaving the body of Rorikalone for a feast to the birds of Odin before the dying altar fire.

  Now was I light hearted, thinking that the worst was past, and soalso thought Halfden, so that we went back and sought Osritha, whowaited, pale and anxious, to know how things should go with me, andwhen we found her I saw that she had been weeping.

  "Why, my sister," said Halfden, "hardly would you have wept for mydanger--or weeping you would be from my sailing to return."

  But she answered not a word, and turned away, for his saying madeher tears come afresh.

  "Now am I a blunderer," said Halfden. "If there is one thing that Ifear it is a weeping maiden."

  And with that he went from the room, leaving me.

  Then I took upon me to comfort Osritha, nor was that a hard task.And again I would have gone through this new danger I had faced,for it had brought the one I loved to my arms.

  Not long might we be together, for now the feasting began, and Imust go to Halfden and his brothers in the great hall. And thencame remembrance to me. For now must I refuse to eat of the horsesacrifice, and maybe there would be danger in that. Yet I thoughtthat no man would trouble more about me and my ways, so that I saidnaught of it to Osritha.

  So I sat between Halfden and Thormod at the high place, and thewhole hall was full of men seated at the long tables that ran fromend to end, and across the wide floor. The womenfolk and thrallswent busily up and down serving, and it was a gay show enough tolook on, for all were in their best array.

  Yet it seemed to me that the men were silent beyond their wont,surly even in their talk, for the fear of the omen of that eddyingsmoke was yet on them. And
presently I felt and saw that many eyeswere watching me, and those in no very friendly wise. Some of themen who watched were strangers to me, but as they sat among ourcrew, they must be the rest of the saved from Rorik's following.Others were men from beyond the village walls, and as Rorik's menhad some reason and the others knew me not, I thought little oftheir unfriendly looks.

  At last they brought round great cauldrons, in which were fleshhooks; to every man in turn, and first of all to Ingvar himself. Hethrust the hook in, and brought up a great piece of meat, cuttingfor himself therefrom, and at once every man before whom a cauldronwaited, did likewise, and it passed on. They signed Thor's hammerover the meat and began to eat.

  Now after Ingvar had helped himself, the cauldron came to Guthrum,and then to Halfden, and then it must come to me, and I had heapedfood before me that I might pass it by more easily, knowing thatthis was the sacrificed meat of which I might not eat. But the menstayed before me, and I made a sign to them to pass by, and honestThormod leaned across me to take his share quickly, and they passedto him, wondering at me a little, but maybe thinking nothing of it.They were but thralls, and had not been at the Ve.

  But Rorik's men had their eyes on me, and when the cauldron passedThormod, and I had not taken thereout, one rose up and said,pointing to me:

  "Lo! this Saxon will not eat of the sacrifice."

  At that was a growl of wrath from the company, and Ingvar rose,looking over the heads of my comrades, saying:

  "Have a care, thou fool; go not too far with me."

  Then Guthrum laughed and said:

  "This is foolishness to mind him; moreover, he has fought for andwon his right to please himself in the matter."

  So too said Halfden and Thormod, but against their voices were nowmany raised, saying that ill luck would be with the host for longenough, if this were suffered openly.

  Now a Dane or Norseman takes no heed of the religion of other folkunless the matter is brought forward in this way, too plainly to beoverlooked. But then, being jealous for his own gods, whom he knowsto be losing ground, he must needs show that he is so. Nor do Iblame him, for it is but natural.

  So to these voices Ingvar the godar must needs pay heed, even ifhis own patience were not gone, so that he might not suffer thatone should sit at the board of Thor and Odin, untasting andunacknowledging.

  He called to two of his courtmen.

  "Take this man away," he said, very sternly, "and put him in wardtill tomorrow. Today is the feast, and we have had enough troubleover the business already."

  The two men came towards me, and all men were hushed, waiting tosee if I would fight. As they came I rose from my place, and theythought I would resist, for they shifted their sword hilts to thefront, ready to hand. But I unbuckled my sword belt, and cast theweapon down, following them quietly, for it was of no good to fighthopelessly for freedom in a strange land.

  Many men scowled at me as I passed, and more than one cried out onme. But Halfden and Thormod and Hubba, and more than were angry,seemed glad that this was all the harm that came to me just now.And Ingvar leaned back in his great chair and did not look at me,though his face was dark.

  They put me into a cell, oak walled and strong, and there left me,unfettered, but with a heavily-barred door between me and freedom;and if I could get out, all Denmark and the sea around me held meprisoner.

  Yet I despaired not altogether, for already I had gone through muchdanger, and my strength had not failed me.

  Now, how I spent the daylight hours of that imprisonment anyChristian man may know, seeing that I looked for naught but death.And at last, when darkness fell, I heard low voices talking outsidefor a little while, and I supposed that a watch was set, for thecell door opened to the courtyard from the back of the great house.

  Now I thought I would try to sleep, for the darkness was verygreat, and just as I lay down in a corner the barring of the doorwas moved, and the door opened gently.

  "Do you sleep, Wulfric?" said Halfden's voice, speaking very low.

  "What is it, brother?" I asked in as low a voice, for I had notbeen a viking for naught.

  I saw his form darken the gray square of the doorway, and he camein and swung to the door after him; then his hand sought myshoulder, and I heard a clank of arms on the floor.

  "See here, Wulfric," he said, "you are in evil case; for allRorik's men and the men from outside are calling for your death;they say that Rorik had no luck against you because the Asir areangry, and that so it will be with all the host until you have paidpenalty."

  "What say you and our crew?"

  "Why, we had good luck with you on board, and hold that Rorik haddone somewhat which set Thor against him, for he got shipwrecked,and now is killed. So we know that your ways do not matter to Thoror Odin or any one of the Asir, who love a good fighter. But weknow not why you are so obstinate; still that is your business, notours."

  "What says Ingvar?" I asked.

  "Naught; but he is godar."

  "Aye," said I. "So I must die, that is all. What said RagnarLodbrok about that?"

  And I spoke to him the brave words that his forefather sang as hedied, and which he loved:

  "Whether in weapon playUnder the war cloud,Full in the face of DeathFearless he fronts him,Death is the bane ofThe man who is bravest,He loveth life best whoFurthest from danger lives.Sooth is the saying thatStrongest the Norns are.Lo! at my life's endI laugh--and I die."

  "Nay, my brother," said Halfden earnestly; "think of me, and ofOsritha, and seem to bow at least."

  That word spoken by my friend was the hardest I ever had to bear,for now I was drawn by the love that had been so newly given me.And I put my hands before my face and thought, while he went on:

  "If I were asked to give up these gods of ours, who, as it seems tome, pay mighty little heed to us--and I knew that good exchange wasoffered me--well then--I should--"

  I ended that word for him.

  "You would do even as your father, and say that unless for betterreason than gain--aye, however longed for--you would not."

  "Aye--maybe I would, after all," he answered, and was silent.

  Then he said, "Guthrum and I spoke just now, and he said that yourfaith must be worth more than he knew, to set you so fixedly onit."

  Now I would have told him that it was so, but there came a littlesound at the door, and Halfden went and opened it. Across its halfdarkness came a woman's form, and Osritha spoke in her soft voice.

  "Brother, are you here yet?"

  "Aye, sister, both of us--come and persuade this foolish Wulfric."

  Then I spoke quickly, for it seemed to me that if Osritha spoke andurged me, I should surely give way.

  "Nay, but you must not persuade me--would you have had usChristians bid your father choose between death and gain for thesake of winning him to our faith?"

  Then said Halfden, "That would I not."

  But in the dark Osritha came to my side and clung to me, so that Iwas between those two whom I loved and must lose, for Halfden heldmy right hand, and Osritha my left, and she was weeping silentlyfor me.

  "Listen," I said, for the speaking must be mine lest they shouldprevail. "Should I die willingly for one who has given His life forme?"

  "Aye, surely--if that might be," said Halfden.

  "Now it comes into my mind that hereafter you will know that I donot die for naught. For He whom I worship died for me. Nor may Irefuse to spend life in His honour."

  Then they were silent, until Osritha found her voice and said:

  "We knew not that. I will not be the one to hold you from what isright."

  At that Halfden rose up, for he had found a seat of logs and sat byme on it, sighing a long sigh, but saying:

  "Well, this is even as I thought, and I will not blame you, mybrother. Fain would I have kept you here, and sorely will Osrithapine when you are gone. But you shall not die, else will thejustice of Ulfkytel come to naught."

  Then I heard again the clank of arms, and Halfden bent dow
n, as Imight feel.

  "Can you arm yourself in the dark?" he said.

  "Why, surely! It is not for the first time," I answered.

  He thrust my mail shirt against me, and laid a sword in my hand,and set my helm on my head, all awry because of the darkness.

  "Quickly," he said.

  Then a new hope that came to me made me clasp Osritha's hand andkiss it before I must see to arming myself; but she clung to meyet, and I kissed her gently, then turning away sorely troubledwent to work.

  Soon I was ready for Halfden's word, and Osritha buckled on mysword for me, for she had felt and taken it. Halfden opened thedoor and went out into the night, speaking low to one whom I couldnot see; and so I bade farewell to her whom I loved so dearly, notknowing if I should ever look on her again.

  But she bade me hope ever, for nor she nor I knew what the days tocome might bring us.

  "Ready," said Halfden; "follow me as if you were a courtman till wecome to the outer gate."

  Then with Osritha's handclasp still warm on mine I went out andfollowed him, and she sought the maiden who waited beside the door,and was gone.

  When we came to the great gates, they were shut. The sounds offeasting went on in the hall, and the red light glared from thehigh windows. Forgotten was all but revelling--and the guard whokept the gate was Raud the forester, my friend. He opened the gatesa little, and we three slipped out and stood for a moment together.The night was very dark, and the wind howled and sang through thestockading, and none seemed to be about the place.

  There Halfden took my hand and bade me farewell very sadly.

  "This is the best I may do for you, my brother. Go with Raud to hishouse, and thence he and Rolf and Thoralf your shield man, who alllove you, will take you even to Hedeby, where there are Christianfolk who will help you to the sea and find passage to England. Andfare you well, my brother, for the days we longed for in your landwill never be--"

  "Come in the ship to England, that so there may be good times evenyet," I said.

  "Aye, to England I shall surely come--not to seek you, but atIngvar's bidding. Yet to East Anglia for your sake I will notcome."

  Then he grasped my hand again in farewell, and he went inside thegates and closed them, and Raud and I went quickly to his place.

  There we found those two other good friends of mine waiting, andthey told me that all was well prepared to save them from the wrathof Ingvar, for they had been bidden to carry messages, and othermen of the crew who lived far off would do this for them, for Ifeared for their lives also when the flight was known.

  Long was the way to Hedeby, where Ansgar the Bishop had built thefirst church in all Denmark. But we won there at last and insafety. And there Ansgar's folk received me well, and I parted frommy three comrades, not without grief, so that I asked them to takeservice with us in England. Almost they consented, but Rolf andThoralf had wives and children, and Raud would by no means leavehis brother.

  Now in a few days, a company of merchants went from Hedeby withgoods for England, and with them I went; and in no long time I cameinto Ingild's house by London Bridge, and was once more at home asthe second week in May began.