Duke of Normandy

by Griff Hosker

  “Before you agree to follow my banner I need to warn you that we are surrounded by enemies. We go to war with the Bretons soon and then we will fight the Franks. Your lands may become a battleground.”

  “You have given us the land. The least we can do is to fight for it!”

  “Then let us go and tell your men. If you are anything like your father you will wish to consult with them first.”

  “Aye lord.”

  His men were all of the same mind. I saw that all of them were of an age with Leif or perhaps younger. We took down the mast, spar and sail. We left them on the wharf. The holds had been emptied of half of the ballast. We would not need it on the short journey and all that remained were the men and their chests. As we prepared to sail upstream I asked him about that.

  “We had older men. Many were the men who had helped my father build ships. That is how the drekar lasted so long. She was repaired frequently. Gradually the older ones died. We picked up younger men when we landed at ports like Dyflin, Dorestad, Bruggas and Lundenwic. My father learned from the horseman and he chose wisely.”

  He saw that his crew were ready to cast off and he looked at me, “It is your ship and it is an honour to sail on her last voyage.”

  “Cast off!”

  As they rowed I saw some of my men on the walls watching her. They all knew what we were doing for I had told them. Harold Strong Arm had been particularly interested. For them this was a poignant moment. It was the death of a ship and yet the birth of a hall. Many wished to see the moment.

  As we headed upstream he asked, “Lord, are there many women in Rouen?”

  I nodded, “In Rouen and in the land hereabouts but we do not take them. We want no blood feuds. You will find that they are willing to choose a Viking for my men are all rich.”

  He nodded, “I saw their mail. Few of my men have mail.”

  “Do not worry, the Bretons do and I intend to enrich you and impoverish them.”

  We did not have far to row. There was no wharf and the ship’s boys simply held the ropes while we disembarked. The men carried their chests ashore and put them at the spot that we had chosen for the hall. It was on a naturally higher piece of land. The decking was taken up and laid like a road. Then we attached two mighty ropes to the dragon prow and we began to haul her out of the water. We had taken half of the ballast out to make this part easier. I joined them for this was something I had never seen before. I had heard of warriors who had done this as a statement. It meant they had left the sea. For Leif and his crew, it was not the same. This was a new beginning. We hauled. The crew had spread seal oil in the wood and the ship moved easier than I had thought. I saw the weed hanging from the keel and saw what Leif had meant. The ship was dying.

  We stopped shy of the place we would use and the men began to cut the turf. It was stacked soil to soil, grass to grass. It took most of the day to remove the turf and then we had to pull the drekar around and begin the hardest part. We took the last of the ballast from the keel. The stone would make the hall stronger. We would have to pull her over. Before we could do that, we had to remove the dragon prow. It would be reattached to the keel. We had to saw off the stern post. That done we pulled. Half of the crew held ropes to act as a brake. Once the ship was vertical then its weight would pull it over. Even though every man on both crews toiled it still landed heavier than we had hoped. Luckily, she was undamaged. We had almost done all that we could but we still had to embed her beneath the soil. The sun was setting as we trudged back through my gates. We would feast with my warriors and the two new crews. In truth they barely made one crew but until we had built their halls they would continue to be two crews.

  The feast was a success. Harold Strong Arm told some of the tales of Harold Haroldsson and we heard of the places they had visited. I saw him looking wistfully at Leif. His friend had had a son and Harold Strong Arm had no family at all. He looked over and saw my son, William, with Popæg smiling at the child. I think it made him yearn for something he had never had. William was allowed to stay up despite Popæg’s critical eye and he took it all in. “Father, can I come tomorrow when you finish the hall?”

  Padraig laughed, “I do not think it will be ready tomorrow, William.”

  I said, “You are wrong priest. Leif, Lars and their men will sleep inside the drekar hall tomorrow night.”

  “But how?”

  Leif explained, “First we cut two doors in the hull. We use the wood from the deck to make a floor. We know it will fit perfectly. We cut a hole in the keel for the fire and we will be ready. After that we use the turf to make the walls and the roof. By the end of a few days we will build our wharf and tie up ‘Dragon’s Eye’.”

  Padraig shook his head, “Quite remarkable.”

  I turned to the two captains. “You will not have long to lay out your farms for we sail in twenty days. We have the longest journey of all of my ships and we gather at Ċiriċeburh.”

  Lars said, “Do not worry about us, lord. My drekar is a young one and there is neither worm nor weed in her keel. We will be ready. What our men lack in mail they make up in heart.”

  I smiled, “I never doubted it for an instant.”

  I did not get to spend much time with the two men for I had much to do. I was taking just two crews from Rouen. The rest would stay under the command of Harold Strong Arm. His leg had healed but I needed someone to command Rouen and he was the perfect choice. He would ensure that we were not attacked. Perhaps it was his reflective mood but he seemed quite content to stay in Rouen. Bagsecg and Bjorn the Brave would also stay at home and watch the border with Frankia. Petr Jorgenson and his archers would sail with me. With Leif and Lars, we would have ten drekar. Olaf Two Toes had died and the men from Djupr would be led by his son, Siggi Olafsson. There would be two drekar from there and two from Caen.

  The night before we left I spent with William, Padraig, Harold Strong Arm, and Popæg. I spoke to William but my words were aimed at the others. “William, tomorrow I go to raid the Bretons. I may be away for a moon but I will come back. If I do not it is because I am dead.”

  Popæg rolled her eyes and William gripped my fingers. Padraig said, “But your father will return.”

  “My son is a Viking. He knows that when you step out of your door then you are in a dangerous world. Do not tempt the Norns, priest and Popæg, do not roll your eyes at me. I hope to return. I want to return but if it is not meant to be then I will die with a sword in my hand and Harold Strong Arm will ensure that William Longsword becomes Lord of Rouen and leads the clan!”

  Popæg tutted, “And I pray that you return home too. The boy has lost his mother and it would not do to lose his father too.”

  Harold Strong Arm gently squeezed Popæg’s arm, “Our Lord is the greatest warrior in the land, any land. He leads the finest warriors. Odin will watch over him. He is just being careful.” She nodded and smiled at Harold. He looked at me. “You know that I will do as you ask, lord, for I have no children of my own. I will look after William as though he was my own son.”

  That pleased me and I changed the conversation to more pleasant matters.

  Erik Leifsson was now much more confident about sailing my drekar. We led and ‘Wolf’s Snout’ and ‘Dragon’s Eye’ followed. All three ships were in perfect condition. We had supplies for a month and plenty of weapons. This time we were not raiding. We were going to war. We were going to end the threat of King Alan. Thanks to Leif’s news and his meeting with Fulk le Roux I was more hopeful about our chances of defeating him. King Alan would have to divide his army and that gave us the chance we needed.

  We had benign winds and we reached Ċiriċeburh in a day and a half. Half of our fleet was already there. While the crews would sleep aboard the lords landed. We would stay in Ragnar the Resolute’s hall until Ubba’s ship and Saxbjǫrn’s joined us.

  Ragnar had regained some of his confidence. “We have many young men who wish to sail with us.” He looked at me. “It is like the old days w
ith your grandfather.”

  “If I was half the man my grandfather was then I would be happy.”

  Bergil laughed, “If we are talking of size then you are twice the man your grandfather was!”

  The banter was a good sign. Leif and Lars found themselves in a brotherhood. They said little but I saw their confidence grow. Sven Blue Cheek leaned over to me, “Lady Poppa and this priest, it is not your fault, lord.” I nodded. “Since you told me I have gone over all that you did. This was the work of the Norns. All those babies who died were a sign. You were meant to have one child and William Longsword, when we raise him, will be the leader to assume your mantle.”

  I smiled, “You said ‘we raise him’. You have sons of your own.”

  He smiled, “Lord I am but a warrior. I saw in you when first I met you someone who is greater than any other warrior I have ever met. The Norns put me here to guide you and to mould you. If I am spared then I will do the same for your son.”

  I nodded and told him what I had said to Harold and my son before I left. Sven smiled, “I do not risk the Norns but your thread is still strong. It will not be a Breton blade which cuts it.”

  When the last ship arrived, it was Saxbjǫrn’s, we held a counsel of war. I spoke and they listened. “We will land at the Blavet river. There is a small village there and we can make a longphort in the river. We will advance across the Breton heartland. Each warband will raid alone but we will be close enough to each other to combine when the Bretons come.”

  Saxbjǫrn asked, “Can you be certain they will come, lord? Perhaps they know of our plans and will be raiding our homes.”

  I knew that the battle where he had lost so many men had had an effect on Saxbjǫrn. He had brought just forty men. He had to have left twice that number in Carentan. I saw Sven, Bergil and Sámr, scowl at Saxbjǫrn the Silent.

  “Saxbjǫrn did you know where I intended to raid before we met here?” He shook his head. “The guards who watch our doors are Ragnar’s oathsworn and they sail with us.”

  Ragnar growled, “And if any man suggests that my men are foresworn they will answer to me.”

  “None does that, Ragnar. Saxbjǫrn had a traitor in his camp. That traitor is still alive. I believe he is with King Alan.” I saw Saxbjǫrn ’s eyes narrow. “We are threatening King Alan’s home. It is well defended from the sea. We will hurt the people who are closest to him and he will come. As soon as he does then we combine to make one warband. We bring him to battle and end this in the Breton heartland. The more you take from those in the Blavet valley the sooner the Bretons will come and we will fight them on ground of our choosing. We will be neither tricked nor trapped this time. They will not know where we strike. We will have the advantage and we will retain it!”

  Sven, whom all respected, nodded, “It is a good plan. If there is a flaw then it is in the resolve and discipline of each of us.” He glared at each lord. “We keep in touch with each other and when we are summoned then we make haste to join Lord Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson.”

  We spent some time speaking of the signals we would use. When all was settled then I stood, “We leave after dawn. We sail up the river at night. I know that we do not know the river but I want surprise to be on our side. Lars Bjornson has the smallest drekar. When we reach the river, I will transfer to his ship and we will lead the way upstream.” I saw the pride on Lars’ face which was quickly replaced by worry. Moving from drekar to drekar at sea was never easy. I smiled. I had no fear of the sea.

  I sought out Saxbjǫrn. “Saxbjǫrn I know that you are worried about this raid. If you do not come then there is no dishonour.”

  He shook his head, “If I do not go then I might as well hang up my sword and become a farmer. I am fearful and that is not the way a Viking should go to war. Besides if Beorn Straight Hair is there then I can avenge my shield brothers.” He lowered his voice, “Lord, I have been troubled by dreams. Halfi Axe Tongue and Nefgeirr were as close as brothers. All the men who died were close to me and each night I am haunted by their faces.”

  “It was not just down to you, Saxbjǫrn, you were betrayed.”

  “And that is why I must come for when I have slain Beorn Straight Hair then the dead might let me sleep.”

  I led a mighty fleet west from Ċiriċeburh. There were two rivers closer to Vannes and I could have used either of them but I wanted to ravage the Breton lands as much as I could before battle was joined. We would be twenty-five miles from Vannes. I counted on at least one and perhaps two days grace before King Alan knew where we were. In that time, we could lay waste to that most valuable of assets the Bretons had; their land. Now was the time they would be ploughing and seeding. Now was the time when their animals would have young. I would be hurting King Alan’s people’s ability to make war. I would also be encouraging his rivals to topple the King from his throne.

  The wind was gentle and we did not move as fast as I would have liked and so we had to row for part of the voyage. It was not arduous and helped to prepare our crews. The wind brought their chants to us in drifts. Each crew had songs which helped them. As the coast drew near and the sun began to set we pulled next to ‘Dragon’s Eye’. The two ships were secured by ropes and then a bridge of oars was made so that I could walk over. The oars sagged alarmingly when I reached the middle but they held and I saw Lars sigh with relief when I jumped down to his deck. I waved farewell to my crew. I knew that my oathsworn were unhappy that I was to sail with another crew but it had to be. We headed for the river. The Norns had spun and I had cast the bones.

  Chapter 14

  At its mouth the river was over half a mile wide but it gradually narrowed. From the Breton maps we had taken we estimated it to be an eight-mile row. We had not stepped the mast but we had furled the sail. I stood at the prow with Arne, one of the ship’s boys. The river was far straighter than we might have expected. We were forced to slow where it narrowed and there were three turns in quick succession. The crew were keen to impress their new lord and the oars slid silently through the river. They seemed to sigh and did not splash. Arne and I used hand signals. He suddenly tapped his nose and pointed to the steerboard bank. I sniffed. It was wood smoke. We were nearing a settlement. I had been estimating the time and this would seem to be eight miles up the river. It was hard to see in the dark but I thought that the river was about seventy paces wide. It would be perfect for a longphort. I waved to Lars to put the steering board over. Leaving Arne to continue to watch I went down to the steering board. ‘Fafnir’ was very close to our stern and I signalled to Egil at the prow. We were landing. I donned my helmet and slung my shield over my back. As the steerboard oars were slid in I peered over the side. The river bank looked to be mud with overhanging trees. We would be able to tie the ship to them.

  When the ship’s boys jumped so did I. I landed ankle deep in soft, sucking mud. I dragged my boots from the slippery bed and used the overhanging branches to haul myself up the bank. Once I was on solid ground I listened. I could hear cattle and I could smell smoke from further upstream. Leif joined me with his oathsworn. I pointed upstream and, nodding, he loped off. I would join him soon. I turned to watch Erik bring my drekar next to Lars’. She was a little bigger but it would not be a problem. She began to tie up. ‘Wolf’s Snout’ was next. The longphort was being built. This would be a temporary one to help us land our men quickly. More men landed and I drew Long Sword and ran off up the trail towards the smell of smoke.

  Hennebont proved to be bigger than I had expected. Leif and his men waited two hundred paces from the first building. He had done the right thing. Had he gone charging in then many of the Bretons might have escaped. I leaned in and spoke to the two leaders quietly, “Leif, take your men and cut them off from the north. Lars take your men and do the same from the east. I will wait here for our warriors.” The two chiefs led their men east and I was left alone.

  Gandálfr and Æbbi Bonecrusher brought the two crews to join me and I was not alone for long. Lars and Leif’s men
were not mailed. The ones who joined me were and I had more than eighty men. Eighty Vikings were a force to be feared. I pointed with my sword. “We have the town surrounded. We hit them and hit them hard!”

  I turned and began to run. Inevitably we were heard for mail made a noise. Boots pounded and the alarm raised. This was a small settlement and most people had cows which needed milking. Bread would have to be baked. We were on the outskirts when we were seen by a farmer. His cry of “Vikings!” rang out and woke the village.

  I swung Long Sword at the farmer who shouted. My sword bit into his arm and then his side. He fell writhing to the ground. “Egil, Godwin! Search the farm!” It was important to get into the homes before the treasure each family had hidden could be moved.

  There were more cries as my men spread out. In the distance I heard shouts as some people tried to escape and give warning to the farms, churches, villages and towns which lay close by. The centre of the settlement had a tower. Einar Arneson fell clutching his shoulder. He had been hit by an arrow.

  “Petr!”

  Petr Jorgenson and his archers hurried forward. The archer and his companion tumbled from the tower to crash on to the cobbles. There was also a hall, and half a dozen warriors led by a lord rushed out. “Æbbi Bonecrusher, shields!” With my oathsworn around me we advanced on the lord. More men poured from the hall. They had taken the time to don mail and helmets. These would need us to fight them. I did not bother with my shield. The Breton lord had a spear which he lunged at me. I flicked the head aside with my sword and my long legs took me closer. The Breton’s head only came to my chest. I could not head butt him. Instead I rammed my knee up between his legs. He grunted and doubled up. I brought the pommel of my sword down upon the back of his neck, just below his helmet. He dropped to his knees and I reversed my sword and stabbed him in the back of the neck. His warriors fought even harder when their lord died but Haaken the Bold and Æbbi Bonecrusher were more than a match for them. I swung my sword across the backs of two men. My sword bit through leather, flesh and bone. I swung it the other way and my sword went through the back of a warrior’s neck.