by Griff Hosker
This was where we had to be strong for the crews of the dhow would try to escape the attack from the steering board. The bearded warrior who turned to face me wore a helmet and had a small round shield. His sword was straight and not curved. He wore leather armour studded with metal. He held his shield tightly to him. I swung Ragnar’s Spirit from on high and he had to block it with his sword. Still holding Wolf’s Blood, I grabbed the edge of the shield and pulled. It took him unawares and, as the sinking ship shifted, he lurched. Wolf’s Blood darted forward and took him in the throat.
From our drekar came a cry from Sámr, “Jarl, the mast is going!”
The fore and back stays of the drekar had been severed and the hull damaged so much that the mast, yard and sail suddenly fell. It could have been the end of ‘Heart of the Dragon’ if it had fallen towards my ship but the Norns spun complicated webs and it fell on to the two dhows on the other side of the stricken drekar. The yard and the top half of the mast broke free. One dhow lost its own mast and sail. I took advantage of the distraction of the cracking mast to sweep my sword in an arc. Two men were gutted by the edge of my sharp blade.
“Jarl you must come back now.” I heard Erik Short Toe’s frantic plea.
The water was around my ankles. The attackers were fleeing and jumping into the remaining dhows. I saw, as they parted, that there were just four men left at the steering board. One was wounded. “Back to my ship!”
We waded through body littered water. The debris and wreckage were as dangerous as a sword. My ship’s boys had thrown ropes and we hauled ourselves up. I looked to the bow and saw that Olaf had led my men there to safety. Even as we watched the three undamaged dhows headed east. There were men in the water. A few hands waved and then they sank beneath the waves. The dhow struck by the mast was also sinking. I looked to see if I had lost any men. They appeared to be aboard but some sported wounds.
I wondered why Erik did not order the sail to be raised when he shouted. “Lars and Sámr, go into the water. I would have that yard. The Allfather has sent it to us.”
Sámr and Lars stripped off and dived into the water. The yard was still attached to the mast but the sinking dhow held it. I watched, with some trepidation as they cut the yard free and then began to haul it back to our ship. Arne Eriksson shouted, “Hurry! Sharks!” Attracted by the blood and the bodies, the fins of four sharks raced towards the debris. Siggi dived into the water to help the others. With eager hands we plucked the three of them and the yard from the sea. Thwarted the sharks ignored the living and feasted upon the dead!
I smiled at Sámr, “Do not tell your mother what we just asked you to do or we shall never be able to take you to sea again.” Aiden was tending the wounded warrior. “How is he?”
Aiden nodded, “He will live. I have to put in a few stitches. We cannot risk fire but the salt water will have kept it clean.”
The wounded warrior raised his good arm, his left one, “I am Sven Stormbringer. My brother, Beorn, was the captain of our ship. He is in Valhalla now.”
“Of that I have no doubt.”
“From your war cry you are the Clan of the Wolf. Do you know Jarl Dragonheart?”
Haaken One Eye put his arm around my shoulders, “This is he and I am Haaken One Eye.”
Sven said, “These are: Olaf Ulfsson, Sigiberht the Scar, Pridbjørn Ellesefsson, Leif Longshanks, Galmr Greybeard and Haldi Haldisson. This is wyrd. We had been raiding Wessex and sailed to the Land of the Horse. We met Jarl Hrolf the Horseman at his citadel, the Haugr. We raided with him and we heard of your exploits. We had known that there was a great warrior who lived south of the Picts and north of Mercia; we heard of his sword and we heard your name. We thought them legends. My brother believed they were stories told by a warrior who wished a name for himself.”
I saw Olaf Leather Neck bristle with indignation, “Peace, Olaf, it is understandable.”
The one called Leif Long Shanks took up the story, “We mean no offence. Sven Stormbringer is right, mighty one. Once we heard of your exploits we wanted to join you. Jarl Hrolf said that you had withdrawn into your home. You would not be raiding as much. He said the raid on Lundenwic had soured your appetite for battles.”
I nodded, “Aye for we fought with Danes and they are a treacherous people.”
Six of them nodded. Pridbjørn Ellesefsson cleaned his dagger on his kyrtle. He did not appear to agree with that statement.
“That I can understand. The jarl told us of your voyage to Miklagård and how you came back rich. We decided that we would venture there. We sailed too close to the coast and those Arabs and Moors sallied forth to attack us. We rammed one and sank it but they were like fleas on a dog. We slew many but they overwhelmed us. Had you not come then we would have all died and we would have been shark bait!”
“You are all welcome to join us for we go to Miklagård. If you wish me to put you ashore we can do so but it will be in Córdoba.”
Most of them shook their heads. “No lord we would not risk that land. We will sail with you.” Sven, who was obviously the leader said, “We are the last six members of the Clan of the Bear. I speak for the others when I say we would join your crew if you would have us. We would swear an oath.”
I looked at the seven of them, “Which one is not of the Clan of the Bear?”
As I had expected it was the sour faced Pridbjørn Ellesefsson who raised his hand. “I was with six shield brothers. Our jarl was killed in the north of the land of the Angles. We had lost many brothers in the battle and in the journey to find a ship. Jarl Beorn took us on. I am the last. If you do not mind, Jarl Dragonheart, I will not swear an oath. I will row for you and I will fight for you but I cannot swear another oath until I have wreaked revenge on the man who slew my mother.” He smiled, “You understand such an oath do you not?”
“I do. I will honour your wishes. It will be a long voyage. Choose your own oar brothers and put your goods where you will row.” I pointed to the two chests of David ben Samuel. “You can use two of those if you wish and there is another spare with the war gear of the ship’s boys.” I looked at the pennant. “It seems to me that we will all be rowing sooner, rather than later.”
Aiden said, “Sven Stormbringer will not be rowing for at least a moon.”
The rescued man said, “Then I will stand a watch at the steering board. I am a navigator!”
“Good then it is wyrd for we only have Erik and his son. This will make life easier for all.” Even as I said it I could almost hear the webs being spun.
While they moved the chests Olaf Leather Neck came over, “That Pridbjørn Ellesefsson seems a little ungrateful!”
“We have both had oaths to keep. I understand him. Besides the alternative is to find a deserted place and land him. At least this way we have another sword should we be attacked!”
Aiden explained to David why we needed the chests. He nodded, “They will not need to try to open the chests, will they?”
Aiden shook his head, “Until they get some gear of their own they have nothing to place in the chests.” He looked at the two chests. “Besides they are locked are they not?”
David ben Samuel smiled. “And the keys are around my neck. They can use the chests. I will have more room to sleep.”
The rescued men had just eaten and drunk some of the ale we had taken from the village in Vasconia when Erik shouted, “Man the oars. The wind is shifting.”
It seemed to me that the Allfather had stopped the wind helping us just so that our new men could row with us. Haaken chose a chant to start the rowing which would help to do just that. We had passed Syllingar and the witch was far away. It was the song of Ylva and her rescue.
The Dragonheart sailed with warriors brave
To find the child he was meant to save
With Haaken and Ragnar’s Spirit
They dared to delve with true warrior’s grit
With Aðils Shape Shifter with scout skills honed
They found the island close
by the rocky stones
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
Beneath the earth the two they went
With the sword by Odin sent
In the dark the witch grew strong
Even though her deeds were wrong
A dragon’s form she took to kill
Dragonheart faced her still
He drew the sword touched by the god
Made by Odin and staunched in blood
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
With a mighty blow, he struck the beast
On Dragonheart’s flesh he would not feast
The blade struck true and the witch she fled
Ylva lay as though she were dead
The witch’s power could not match the blade
The Ulfheonar are not afraid
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
And now the sword will strike once more
Using all the Allfather’s power
Fear the wrath you Danish lost
You fight the wolf and pay the cost
The Jarl and Haaken will bravely roar
The Jarl and Haaken and the Ulfheonar
I watched the new men listen to the words and smile. Haaken sang it four times but that was not enough for the new men to learn all of the words. They all sang the chorus. It was a start. When the command was given for one of each pair to stop rowing then they stopped singing too.
With the wind against us we could not row through the night and these waters were unfamiliar to all of the navigators. Only Erik had sailed them and that had been many years ago. We hove to and dropped two sea anchors. We kept just a deck watch of two men. Aiden decided that as there were no chests at the prow he could share the awning with David. That allowed Sámr to join me at the steering board. Before we slept he went over the battle and the rescue of the yard. “Haaken says he will put that in a saga!”
I laughed, “Do not forget he still has to compose the tale of Sámr and Ulla War Cry. Do not be so greedy for fame. It will come.”
He pulled his cloak a little tighter and mumbled, “By the time you were my age you had already slain a wolf and achieved fame.”
“Do not be envious, Sámr, the Norns have influenced my life too much. I often wonder what might have happened had I not become the Dragonheart.” I was not speaking that which was untrue. I often wondered of the life I might have led as just a warrior. Would I have even become a jarl? I doubted it. When the Norns had plucked me from that river they had ensured that my life would never be normal.
Over the next three days we used sail but the journey was interminable. The winds were not strong and they shifted. We could have used oars but that would have exhausted the men. With just over forty-five days left we had to conserve the strength of our rowers. The fact that we had six new ones pleased me. We could rest rowers more frequently. The coast of Córdoba was inhospitable. It was green enough and there were rivers but there were also galleys and citadels. We heeded the warning of the Clan of the Bears and stood well out to sea. When we passed through the patch of water David and Aiden called the Pillars of Hercules, we would have no choice. We would be close to our enemies on both sides. Córdoba and Africa!
Erik had decided to ration our water. We might not be able to find a river until we were in the Blue Sea. This is where David ben Samuel, our passenger, became invaluable. He knew the land and he knew the sea. He could now speak our language much better than he had and Aiden was convinced that he was more important than a merchant.
One night as we bobbed at anchor, Aiden, Erik and I sat with him and a chart. We had risked a candle to illuminate it. “Avoid Africa. On both sides of the straits the land is controlled by the Caliphate. I would head north. There are islands close to Frankia and there is Sicily. The Moors and the Empire fight over Sicily. It is possible to land there.”
Aiden stared at the chart, “We would have many days sailing across the Blue Sea and we would have nowhere to land.”
“Then you need to take what you can before you cross the sea.”
I looked at him, “Then you are saying we raid the Caliphate.”
His eyes were a door into his mind. He was telling the truth, “I would. On the other side of the straits their vigilance is more relaxed. If you can get through the straits unharmed then there are rivers just north of the straits and there are villages.” He smiled, “I confess I would like more mutton but I speak the truth.”
I believed him. “Then we must row through the straits. Can we do so at night?”
“I would not recommend it. Try dawn. The Arabs and the Moors like to pray. When you hear their Mullahs calling them to prayers then that is a good time to risk the straits.”
The new men fitted in well. The exception appeared to be Pridbjørn Ellesefsson. Even those from the Clan of the Bear appeared to find it hard to get on with him. It upset my crew. I spoke to Olaf and Haaken when they complained about him. “We cannot like every warrior. Perhaps we have been lucky and the Allfather has sent us warriors whom we get on with. Let us regard this as a test from the gods.” I knew I had not convinced them but they did not argue. I suspect it was my illness. They were walking around me as though I was surrounded by cracked eggs. There was only Aiden and Haaken who ignored my ailment.
The weather and the air began to change after we had fought the dhows. The air became heavier and the weather warmer. The sea to the west was still grey and white flecked but, inshore it looked calmer. It would soon become too warm for wolf cloaks and seal skins. Aiden was already preparing potions and salves. We had sailed these waters and we knew the effects of the hot sun and the wind which came from Africa.
The day before we risked the straits we stood at the steering board. The rest of the crew were asleep. I spoke to Haaken and Aiden. “I do not wish to be treated as something different. I am still the Dragonheart. I do not want the crew to view me as a walking corpse!”
Haaken laughed, quietly, “Then you are a fool, Dragonheart. Men think that because of the sword you are immortal.” He held up his hand. “We know that is not true but these warriors believe that they are stronger because you cannot die. Why do you think that so many men offered to come? It was because the clan cannot afford for you to die. You are, truly, the heart of the clan.”
Aiden nodded, “The blow hard is right. You can do nothing about this. Ignore it if you can and if not then pretend to ignore it. Our voyage will be hard. They will need you and your skill before the journey is over.”
Even when Sven Stormbringer took over the watch I still stared east. When I first found the blood, I should have ridden off and found someone to fight. I would have died with a sword in my hand and saved my people all of this distress. I had lived long enough.
The crew were ready for the straits. The wind was with us in as much as it was not coming directly from the east but they would need to row. Erik enlisted the help of the ship’s boys as well. We needed as much speed as we could. We had anchored off the small settlement David told us was called Tarifa. It was a fishing port and had no wall. Further to the north lay Algeciras. That had a wall. There would be galleys and dhows there. We knew we had to sail to the south of it. We would have a hard row to get through the fifteen or so miles until we hit open water. Then we could turn north and seek liquid gold, water. Every oar was manned as we waited for dawn. Erik had decided that we could not risk waiting for a call we might or might not hear. We would rush through at dawn.
As soon as we saw the first thin sliver of light Erik shouted, “Now Haaken!”
Haaken had chosen his chant well. It was a chant of the clan’s darkest hour when we had almost succumbed to the Skulltaker. We had fought back and we had won.
The Danes they came in dark of night
They slew Harland without a fight
Babies children all were sl
ain
Mothers and daughters split in twain
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Across the land the Ulfheonar trekked
Finding a land by Danes' hands wrecked
Ready to die to kill this Dane
Dragonheart was Eggles' bane
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
With boys as men the ships were fired
Warriors had these heroes sired
Then Ulfheonar fought their foe
Slaying all in the drekar's glow
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
When the Danes broke their leader fled
Leaving his army lying dead
He sailed away to hide and plot
Dragonheart's fury was red hot
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Then sailed the men of Cyninges-tūn
Sailing from the setting sun
They caught the Skull upon the sea
Beneath the church of Hwitebi
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Heroes all they fought the Dane
But Finni the Dreamer, he was slain
Then full of fury their blood it boiled
Through blood and bodies, the warriors toiled
With one swift blow the Skull was killed
With bodies and ships the Esk was filled
Viking enemy, taking heads
Viking warriors fighting back
Viking enemy, taking heads