by Griff Hosker
The sky was darkening behind us when Erik returned. “I am ready, lord.”
“I would have us turn when there is still enough light in the sky for the Saxons to see us. I will have the men ready with their oars. Turn when ‘Fafnir’ hides the sun from view but there is still a soft glow ahead.”
“Aye lord. I will not let you down.”
I joined my men. Harold Strong Arm handed me some pickled fish and the last of the bread. I ate. Haaken passed me the ale horn. When I had finished I said, “Get your oars from the mast fish but do so discreetly. Do not let the Saxons see what we do.”
I stood and wiped my hands on my breeks. I lifted the first oar and held it horizontally. I walked to my chest and sat on it. I laid the oar next to the side. One by one my men did the same. All the time the sun was getting lower. While I waited I wrapped linen around my palms. I was the front oar on the steerboard side. Even if others were changed or stopped rowing I would not. Harold Strong Arm would be opposite me and we would be the last two to cease rowing. When we were all in position I put the oar so that the blade was at the port. Harold’s oar rested upon my knee. I watched Erik. I could not see the sun setting. All that I could see was the darkness to the north east and the sails of the Saxon. Erik nodded. It was time. I shouted, “Out oars!”
Erik shouted, “Come about!”
The ship’s boys were already at the spar and they began hauling up the canvas almost as soon as Erik began to turn us. The motion was uncomfortable as the drekar lurched from side to side. Some of the women screamed and the animals began to complain. I pushed the oar out and, like the others, held it horizontally. Erik had never done this before. He would shout the signal to row and then it would be up to us to take us between the Saxon ships. I knew when he would shout for we suddenly became still as he completed the turn and the sail no longer propelled us.
“Oars!”
I looked at Harold and, as one, we put our oars in the water. The rest followed and then I began the chant. The chant dictated the speed. I chose the song of our old drekar. It had a regular beat. We needed a long steady row for we were single oared.
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a ship that sings
With soft, gentle voice of a powerful witch
Her keel will glide through Frankia’s ditch
With flowing hair and fiery breath
Skuld the Dark will bring forth death
Though small in size her heart is great
The Norn who decides on man’s final fate
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a sorcerous ship that sweetly sings
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a sorcerous ship that sweetly sings
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a sorcerous ship that sweetly sings
The witch’s reach is long and her eyes can see through mist
Her teeth are sharp and grind your bones to grist
With soft, gentle voice of a powerful witch
Her keel will glide through Frankia’s ditch
With flowing hair and fiery breath
Skuld the Dark will bring forth death
Though small in size her heart is great
The Norn who decides on man’s final fate
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a sorcerous ship that sweetly sings
Skuld the Dark sails on shadows wings
Skuld the Dark is a sorcerous ship that sweetly sings
The witch’s reach is long and her eyes can see through mist
Her teeth are sharp and grind your bones to grist
At first, we seemed to be barely moving. When the two Saxons ships slid down our side I knew that many of the newer men would think we had misjudged it. That was not so. The Saxons had not known what we intended. When they saw us stop and turn they would have parted so that they could block our move one way or another. I saw that the one on my side was a hundred paces from us. Even as we moved north east I saw her as she began her turn. I watched as oars were run out. Our pace picked up as the oars bit into the sea. There was still just enough light in the west for me to see that the Saxons had managed to furl their sails and run out their oars. They were at least ten lengths behind us and they were stopped. They would be able to see us for some time but once the darkness fell all that they would have to follow us would be the white from our stern where we had made bubbles. Eventually they would lose that too and they would have to guess our course. I was now in the rhythm. The chant helped. I had longer arms and I was stronger. If I had rowed at a pace I could manage then the others would have struggled to keep up. By the time we stopped chanting we had the rhythm and Harold and I kept a steady pace for the others to emulate.
Lars came with ale. I shook my head, “Keep an eye on the captives and animals.” He nodded. “Did we lose any in the turn?”
He laughed, “Two women brought forth their supper, lord but we lost none over the side.”
It had been many years since I had taken a turn at the oars. I felt muscles I had forgotten I had. I knew that the new men would be finding this even harder. I could just make out the two Saxon ships for they were silhouetted against the last glow from the sun. As soon as we lost them I would know for Erik would turn us and then, a short while later, he would lower the sail. We would not stop rowing immediately. We would put sea room between us and the Saxons. As I rowed I told myself that from now on I would double crew my drekar. With a double crew we could have taken on the Saxons and beaten them!
Chapter 4
It took us two days to reach home. Despite the fact that we had been forced to run from two Saxons the raid had been successful. We had the wind with us for the last day and as we edged up the river, I divided the coins and animals. Some men, like Siggi, wished animals in lieu of the coin we would get from the slaves. First choice of the female slaves would go to Dómhildr. Her ale was popular and kept men happy. She provided barrels for our voyages. It made sense. The rest would be assessed by Ágáta. When she had been alive Gefn would have done so. I missed my adopted step mother. Poppa found the whole issue distasteful. The captives had come to accept their fate once they saw the coast of Frankia. The fact that they had been treated well and fed helped. The matriarch, Popæg, proved to be a rock. She was calm and reassuring. The children nestled close to her when the ship rocked. I would mention her skills to Ágáta. I saw a role for her in Rouen.
We were seen when we were still downstream of Rouen and the families of the men we had taken flocked to greet us. There were also those who sought to make money. There would be slave traders and merchants eager to buy from us. They would have to wait. I was Lord of Rouen. I was the one who made those decisions. Poppa, of course, was absent. That was no surprise. Padraig was there but not my wife. I did not expect her but it would have pleased me had my son seen me arrive. Every day he was growing further from me. Each moment away from me he was falling under the influence of Æðelwald of Remisgat. As soon as I could I would take him to sea with me. One day he would come to war with me too.
I took the chest of parchments from the ship myself. I was the first ashore and was greeted by cheers. As the animals and captives were unloaded Padraig spoke with me, “I am pleased you had a safe and successful voyage, lord.”
“Aye Padraig, the gods smiled on us.”
“Lord you overestimate your so-called gods and underestimate yourself.”
I smiled. I enjoyed these debates with Padraig. We differed in our views on the world but we agreed to differ. We both agreed that his God and the Allfather were probably the same Supreme Being. With Æðelwald of Remisgat it was different. To my wife’s priest it was as though the differences were a chasm which could not be crossed. I knew that he influenced my wife and that was why she had drawn apart. I had thought to take another wife. Many warriors did so but Gefn had liked Poppa and I would not
be disloyal to Gefn. I handed him the chest. “The abbey we raided was Frankish and there were documents. One was a sealed letter. When you have time read them for me and let me know if there is aught I need to know.”
“Aye lord.”
“We met King Alfred’s ships. He has learned from us.”
“He is a clever man.”
Just then the captives were unloaded. Popæg stopped and spoke, “You kept your word and the fact that you speak with a priest bodes well. You may rise in my opinion, Lord Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson.” She followed the others and I saw Padraig smile.
I shrugged, “She was useful on the voyage and, to speak truly, I admire her courage and stoicism.”
“No, lord, I smiled because you are the most feared Viking Warlord and yet you let a slave speak to you as though you were equals. It is remarkable.”
When Siggi passed me, he was leading the cow and the calf. That and a purse of coins was all that he had taken. “Will you be coming to Carentan with me, Siggi? You are a good man in battle.”
He looked at the cow and calf. “I now have a cow. The calf is a heifer too. We can produce milk. I can buy some seed with the coin. When do you leave, lord?”
“Harpa.”
“Eight days then.” He looked reflective. “That should be enough time and there may be more treasure for me there.” He smiled, “Unless disaster awaits me at my farm I will be with you!”
When the crew had left I walked with Padraig and my oathsworn to my hall. Padraig asked, “Why did you ask Siggi? Why not command?”
“I have decided to ask each man who lives in Rouen to give me thirty days service. It would seem reasonable.”
The priest smiled, “Forty days is too Christian for you?”
“No, but thirty is a twelfth of the year. A man can serve more but I would have a minimum. That would go for those who live within my walls.”
He looked surprised, “Merchants? Swineherds? Farmers? Fishermen?”
“All. It is the price they pay to live under my protection. You have often told me how prosperous the people are under my benevolent rule. It is worth such a price, is it not?”
“To me it seems eminently reasonable but then I would not have to serve.”
I stopped, “Of course you would and Æðelwald of Remisgat. You would not need to fight but you are both healers! You can come to war!”
He laughed, “That is a wonderful jest! For myself I do not mind for I can minister to men’s souls anywhere but Æðelwald of Remisgat likes his comfort. I pray you let me be there when you tell him.”
“I intend to convene a meeting of the town’s men. When I tell them of their tax commitment I will tell them of this.”
“And if folk refuse?”
I smiled, “The world is broad and there is room for all of them. It will just be beyond my borders! I intend to tell my lords that I require the same from them.” We walked inside. I knew that my lords would be more than happy about the arrangement. They could ask for the same from their men. It was fair because all had the same duty, lord and labourer, poor man and priest.
My wife and her priest with William in tow met me at my hall. My men and Padraig parted. “I will read these, lord and speak to you later.”
I nodded. I would rather they had stayed than Æðelwald of Remisgat. He had an oily voice, “Papers lord? Perhaps I could read them for you.”
“Why? Padraig is doing so.”
Poppa frowned, “Because Padraig is a wild Celtic priest and Æðelwald here knows more of the world.”
“Padraig suits me. I like his honesty.” I bent down to pick up William. “You are getting bigger. What say we go to my ship|? It is time you saw her.”
Poppa shook her head, “I would rather he stayed here. The sun is bright and there are many common folk outside. I would not have him catch some disease.”
“The sun will do him good and he will lead these people. Let them see him.” She did not look happy. “And you should know that next spring William will be coming to sea with me. It is time he learned of his heritage.” If I had slapped her she would not have looked more shocked. I left before she could say more.
Once I left my hall Harold and Petr fell in behind me. William giggled, “Your men are following us, father!”
“They are my oathsworn and when you are a warrior then you will have your own oathsworn.” He nodded. “You want to be a warrior do you not?”
“Wear a helmet and mail? Carry a shield and a sword? Of course!”
I put him on the ground and took his right hand. “Good. We will see my ship first. We go to war on a horse or in a ship.”
We walked towards the river, “Father Æðelwald says war is a bad thing and men who fight will go to hell.”
“We believe that warriors who fight and die with a sword go to heaven. Which sounds better to you? To fight or to spend your life on your knees?”
He screwed up his face as he thought. “Fight!”
“Good. Soon you will have your first sword and my men will teach you how to use it. I have men who will show you how to use a bow too.”
He stopped and looked at me, “I would rather you taught me!”
My heart swelled with pride, “Then it shall be me!”
Erik and the ship’s boys were busy cleaning the drekar. The captives had cleaned as much of the animal waste as they could but it had not been complete. Erik was proud of his ship. William asked if he could help and he was given a mop. I knew his mother would be apoplectic with rage for his clothes would be both wet and dirty. I did not care for he was enjoying his time with the ship’s boys all of whom made a great deal of fuss over my son. William was the one who was sorry when the work was finished. His threatened tears did not come for Lars took him on tour of the drekar. I spoke with Erik.
“Now that you are safe in port have you considered if you sail with me again?”
“You would have me again? Even though I had to ask many questions?”
I laughed, “Had you not asked questions then this would have been our last voyage. I am happy with you as are the crew. You made no bad decisions and you handled our escape from the Saxons well. You cannot learn to be a drekar captain overnight. You will grow in confidence. Our next voyage will be but a few hours.”
He held up his chest of coins, “If I can gain rewards like this then I will be happy.”
“Sometimes we take nothing.”
“It will balance out. It is good. My boys and I learned much. After we left the Saxon shore we thought we were safe and we learned we were not. Next time we will know what we have to do.”
William was animated as we headed back to the hall. He chattered non-stop and I felt, for the first time, like a real father. That ended when Poppa saw him. Æðelwald made the mistake of tutting. I erupted for he ruined the moment, “You are an apology for a man! This is my son. Get out of my sight. Ask permission to be in my presence from now on!”
My two men smirked and William grinned but the look Poppa gave me was one of pure hate. Æðelwald went white. He bowed and hurried out as quickly as he could. Poppa took William away and I knew that I would pay for my outburst.
“My lord?”
I turned and saw a grinning Padraig, “I thought to speak with you but if you are in the mood for tearing off priest’s heads then…”
I laughed, “Get in here! Have you read the letters?”
He nodded and laid them out. “Most are just about goods which have been ordered and there is one from the monastery at Saint Denis asking for a list of the brothers who have died. But this,” he held up one with a broken seal, “is the most important one! This is a letter sent from King Charles to King Alfred and it concerns you, lord.”
I was intrigued. “Then the sisters sent me there for a purpose.”
Padraig sighed, “Or perhaps it was just a lucky accident.”
I smiled, “The same thing. What does it say?”
“King Charles asks King Alfred for help. There are those li
ke Count Odo of Paris who think he is too weak and the problem appears to be Vikings. He needs his ships. King Alan of the Bretons is beginning to eat into Frankish land. The Count of Anjou is also being threatened by the Bretons. King Charles suggests an alliance of the three men to defeat King Alan and then turn their attention to you.”
“I am mentioned by name?”
“They call you the barbarian.” He gave me a questioning look.
“Speak the truth. They are not your words and I will not be offended.”
“He says he has tolerated you but you are an abomination.” He put the letter down. “He says he knows he can weaken you for he has a man in Rouen who reports all that you do.”
I picked up the letter. I could not read it but I wanted to look at it. “And we know who that is.”
Padraig shook his head, “You cannot be certain, lord. There are many men in this town who have links to the Frankish court.”
“And all profit from my town. There is only one who wishes me gone and that is Æðelwald of Remisgat.”
“But you cannot prove it!”
“I am lord of Rouen. I am a Viking, I do not need to prove it.”
Padraig slapped the letter, “And when you have him hanged or murdered you confirm the view that you are a barbarian. If it is Æðelwald… “
“We both know it is.”
“We both suspect it is. Then we try to trap him. When you come back from this Breton raid feed him or your wife false information.”
I whipped my head around, “My wife?”
“She is under his spell lord and we cannot deny it. If you can feed them false information then you will have your proof.”
I shook my head, “I need no proof.”
He said, patiently, as though talking to a child, “Yet if you wish to be a legitimate leader then you must prove it to the other kings and princes.”
This was the one aspect of being a leader I did not like. I could no longer be as honest and forthright as I had once been. I sighed and nodded. I would play this game of power until I was strong enough to fend off any enemy or foe. I would be my own master and make my own decisions.