by Griff Hosker
Haken frowned, “Save that you do not ride to war on a horse.”
Æbbi Bonecrusher said, “But we are the Clan of the Horse.”
“Led by a lion! Think how many times our lord fights alone and for us. I think it would be a better sign for you, lord.”
“I am loath to change my standard again.”
“No matter what the standard we will always be the Clan of the Horse. You should consider it, lord.”
“I will, Haaken the Bold, but we have, I hope, a year at least before we need to go to war again.”
The three horses were tethered in the centre of the drekar close to the mast. We had lost men in the battle. We only had forty men left aboard and we were not as crowded as we might have been. We were heavily laden. Erik had had to remove some of the ballast. It was fortunate that we did not have far to go for a storm would swamp us. I made plans to land at Ċiriċeburh, Carentan and Caen if there were problems. We would not risk either the ships, the crew or the animals. The Allfather had sent the horses for a purpose. There was a stallion and two mares. Erik Gillesson and his son would be able to breed horses capable of carrying mailed warriors. Nor was there any rush to reach home. I had no wife waiting for me. William would have missed me but soon he would join me when I sailed or rode to war. I did not have his mother to prevent him becoming a Viking. With that in mind I sought out Godwin. He and Egil were examining the treasures they had taken from the battlefield. They had both taken fine scabbards from dead Bretons as well as daggers. Egil also had a good sword.
They looked up as I approached. “I would have the two of you watch over the horses on the voyage back. If they look to become anxious then calm them.”
“Aye lord.”
Godwin nodded astern. We had just left the estuary but there was the faintest of glows from the burning town and wharf. “I recognised some of those who fought with Beorn Straight Hair. They were Godfrid’s men.”
“Then I hope that is the end of them. The last thing we need is a blood feud with Vikings.” He nodded, “You still wish to serve me?”
“I do lord. I have not disappointed you have I?”
“No Godwin. I am well pleased with you. I would have you be as a bodyguard to my son, William. I will not leave him at home but I am Lord of Rouen and I command men. When he comes with us I would have you watch him and ensure he comes to no harm.” I smiled, “Either from another or from himself.”
He laughed, “William is a lively boy. I will be honoured lord.”
“That makes you oathsworn to the two of us.”
“I do not mind, lord.”
“There may come a time when you do. If you wish to wed or to leave me then just ask and I will release you from your oath.” He nodded. “This means that you must sleep in his chamber. I will speak with Popæg when we reach Rouen.”
We left the protection of the land and our motion became livelier. I joined Godwin and Egil and we quietened them. Godwin began to sing to them and that helped. He sang a Saxon song. It had the desired effect and despite the movement of the drekar they seemed happier. I went to Erik, “We will put in at Ċiriċeburh. It will do the animals good and I think this storm may become violent.”
The other captains, except for Saxbjǫrn, must have had the same idea. Luckily for us Ċiriċeburh was one of our larger ports. Two stone arms made a breakwater and a safer anchorage. Ragnar had improved the defences since the Breton attack. Our caution was justified when the lively weather turned into a full storm. The animals we had brought back, horses, cows, pigs and sheep were all housed within the walls of Ċiriċeburh. Had they not been then we might have lost them. Ragnar sent riders to Valognes and the other settlements to announce the news of our victory. He, Ubba and Saxbjǫrn could now begin to reclaim the land lost to the Bretons. They had sworn to allow us to hold the Cotentin. This time Bárekr’s haven and Benni’s Ville would be built more strongly. When war with the Franks came Ragnar would bring just one large warband. We would not let go of what we had gained so easily.
We sat out the storm and then headed home with a fresh but benign wind from the south west. Gradually the other drekar slipped away to return to their homes and Gandálfr, Lars, Leif and myself continued to Rouen. We had to take to the oars once we reached the river. It added half a day to our journey for we had fewer crew and we were heavily laden. We did not reach Rouen until dusk. I was relieved to see that my standard still flew. I had thought on the words of Haaken the Bold. Perhaps there was something in what he said. A golden lion appealed to me.
Harold Strong Arm had had men watching the river and by the time we tied up the wharf was crowded with families waiting to see their menfolk. The tears marked those whose men had died. Fortunately, there were not many. None of my dead oathsworn had families. William and Popæg, along with Harold Strong Arm, were there. We did not need to tell Harold of the loss of hearth weru. He saw just Æbbi Bonecrusher and Haaken the Bold. As William ran to me I saw Popæg squeeze his arm. Had the Norns been at work?
I swung William up into my arms. He shouted, “You have giant horses! Did you win?”
“Aye, I won!”
“I missed you!”
“I shall not leave without you again. You shall come with me.”
“Truly?”
“Aye, but there are conditions!” He nodded, somewhat fearfully, “You must be able to ride a pony.”
“I can nearly do that now!”
“And Godwin Red Eyes will guard you. You obey him as though I had spoken.”
He seemed relieved, “That will be easy! I like Godwin.”
I turned to my son’s nurse, “Popæg, Godwin will need to sleep close by my son. Is that a problem?”
She smiled and said, “Not a problem my lord. I will have another cot placed within and I will find another chamber.” She seemed quite happy at the thought.
“Harold, we have lost oathsworn. Haaken and Æbbi will speak with you. How goes the river and my land?”
He nodded to the river. “We have counted the ships which ply our waters. More sail upstream than stop here.”
“So if we halted trade then the Franks would suffer more than we?”
“They would.”
“Good. I will see to the unloading of the horses and stable them. Have the rest of the treasure we took taken within. Tomorrow we hold a feast. We have to celebrate the victory and sing of the dead!”
That evening William was so exhausted that he fell asleep in my arms. Popæg brought Godwin who picked him up and carried him to bed. Padraig had been nervous all night and as soon as we were alone I asked him why.
“Lord, while you were away I had a letter from the Lady Poppa.”
I sat up. “It was addressed to you and not to me?” He nodded. “What did it say?”
“She begged me to intercede on her behalf. She said that she missed her son and daughter. She knew that she had made a mistake and wished forgiveness. She asked for a second chance. She said everyone is allowed one mistake and you must forgive her.”
His voice and his eyes pleaded with me. I nodded. “Interesting. Not once does she speak of me. It is her son and daughter she misses. I daresay that she misses the life style she enjoyed but I am not in her thoughts. If she came back how could I trust her?”
“Lord, Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek and to forgive our enemies. She was never your enemy. Surely you can forgive her.”
“If I was a Christian then perhaps I might forgive her but I am not. She conspired against not only me but all the people who follow me. I cannot forgive her even if I want to and I do not want to. She made her bed when she coupled with that priest. Now she reaps the reward. Go to the nunnery and tell her my decision. I want no more missives from her. Is that clear?”
“Yes lord. You are a hard man.”
“I am a Viking and this is the way we are.”
“And you will now live alone?”
“I am not alone. I have my son. Gerloc is a pleasant child, you, when you
are not preaching, are also good company. I have my warriors what else is there?”
“What about women, lord?”
I laughed, “If I wanted a woman I could have a dozen with the click of my fingers. You manage without a woman. Why should not I?”
“Lord, I am a priest. I serve God and the church.”
“And I am Lord of Rouen. I serve my people.”
Chapter 16
William rode with me when I went to see Erik and Bagsecg. I still had just two oathsworn and I took Egil and Godwin. William had shown that he was a good rider. With Egil and Godwin flanking him then he was safe. We took with us the three horses I had captured. They had been cosseted in my stables. The grooms thought them better than any horse they had seen save Gilles.
Erik ran his eye over them. He was impressed. “We now have stock to breed a powerful horse herd but it will still take three years or more before we see results.”
“We may have that and more. What have you learned about the Franks? Are they preparing for war?”
He smiled, “There are three King Charles. Or at least there were. The Emperor Charles the Bald has now declared that Young Charles, they call him Charles the Simple, is to be the new King of the West Franks. He has appointed the Duke of Aquitaine to guide him. Charles the Fat is either dead or so close to death as to be no use as a king. There are two kings of the West Franks at the moment. Charles the Simple is young and so is Ranulf Duke of Aquitaine. Ranulf is seen as the military mind who can teach Charles how to defeat you. Odo, whom we know from the siege of Paris, is not happy and so until the political situation is calmed then the Franks can do nothing.”
“What if we attacked?”
“Then that might be the one event which unites the Franks. Count Odo hates you and would put aside his own ambition to defeat you.” I could see that Erik was right. He was half Frank and knew their ways better than I did. Poppa had also understood them but that bridge had been burned. “The Franks look in and not out. They are wary, even afraid of us. Only Odo, who has called himself King for a year, is ready to war with you.”
I smiled, “Then I like his honesty. It is these dissemblers I dislike. This new King, he is young?”
“Barely twenty.”
“Do you have spies still?”
“You mean William?” I nodded. “Aye, I do.”
“Then have him visit Paris and discover all that he can. These Frankish politics are complicated. I need to know more about this new King.”
“The rumour has it that he is not yet crowned for Odo clings on to the crown.”
“Rumours are no good to me. I need facts. Where is this Charles the Simple! What of this Ranulf of Aquitaine? And where do the Bretons fit into all of this.” Even as I spoke I wondered about Fulk le Roux. Charles the Fat had been a supporter and ally. If Fulk was defeated then Alan of Brittany might choose to ignore the promises made by his son. “I will ride to Bjorn the Brave and stay this night in his hall. As soon as William the One Arm discovers any news send it to me.”
“Aye lord and I will let you know when your new stallion has covered the mares!”
The road to Bjorn’s hall was much easier knowing that there was anarchy in Frankia. The Empire was not the powerful force it had been during the reign of Charlemagne. The Franks seemed to think that simply by naming a man Charles he would inherit the qualities of that fearsome Emperor. It was obviously not true.
The farms which lay between Montfort and Bjorn’s lands were all prosperous. I saw crops in the fields and there were many animals. Bjorn was a Viking without a drekar. The river lay well to the north but he and his men were a new breed. They were ship less Vikings. Unlike most of my warriors they were happy to use horses. Being so close to Erik and Bagsecg gave them an ample supply of hardy horses and they used them. They still fought on foot but, if they had to, then they could use stiraps and fight from the back of a horse.
He swept an arm east as he explained, “I have my men ride the borders of their land as least once every seven days. They look for that which has changed and they look for signs of change. Apart from the attack on the noble from Anjou it has been quiet hereabouts.”
“Then perhaps we can delay war for a little longer. You have young men who are being trained to fight?”
“We have and all of us have sons who will fight one day.”
“You know of this Charles the Simple?”
He shook his head, “Not as much as we should. He is the son of Louis the Stammerer. His title does not suggest that he is a great man and we know he has yet to be given the crown. He is King but not yet anointed and crowned.”
“And could you defend your hall?”
“We have a palisade and we have a ditch. The ditch is filled with water and there are stakes within it. We have a well and thanks to Petr Jorgensen we have good archers. If they attack us they will have to fight tooth and nail to reduce our walls.”
William enjoyed being with the young families of my warriors. In Rouen he had few children with whom to play. Those who had families lived beyond my walls and had farms. I was tempted to stay longer but I still had much to do in Rouen. Lars and Leif had a home but it was not yet defensible. When the Franks made war, their halls would be the focal point of any attack. I wondered if that thought had been planted in my head by the spirits when I suggested that they build there. It was the sort of thing my grandfather would have done. I owed it to Harold Haroldsson’s son to keep him as safe as I could.
On the way back to Rouen, William was chatty. The loss of his mother did not seem to have bothered him, in fact he was far more outgoing than he had been. “Now that I ride with you, father, will I be given a sword and mail?”
I laughed, “Mail would be a waste. By the time it was made you would have outgrown it. If you wish to feel like a warrior we can have the tanners make you a leather jerkin and cap.”
He looked disappointed, “A sword then.”
“You could not lift a sword. Let us say a seax.”
“They will be a start. And do we go to war soon?”
“We have no need to for our enemies are not yet ready to threaten us. We will make war on them before they can take our land from us.”
“Mother said that this land was not ours. She said we had stolen it and that the rightful owners wanted it back. What did she mean the rightful owners?”
“This land has been fought over by many people. It is the strong who hold on to it. We hold it and that makes us the rightful owners.”
He seemed satisfied by my answer. “I like this land.”
“Good, for one day you will rule it.”
“After you are dead?”
“Probably.”
We rode in silence for a while. Then, out of nowhere he said, “Will Harold Strong Arm marry Popæg?”
We all turned in surprise, “What makes you say that?”
“They kiss a lot and hold hands. She laughs when he is in the room.” He shrugged. “I would not mind.”
I looked at Egil and Godwin. Egil said, “I knew nothing, lord.”
Godwin said, “I know nothing either lord save that they do seem to cast affectionate glances at each other. Is it forbidden?”
“It is not forbidden it is just that I am surprised.” I knew I would have to ask Harold when we reached Rouen but I was uncomfortable bringing up the subject.
It is strange but as soon as I entered my hall and saw the two of them in the same room I knew that William had not misunderstood. This was something I had not expected and so I sent for Padraig. I met him in my private chamber where I could study maps and plan. I spoke first about the Frankish King. “What is it that you know, Padraig? I have rumours and inferences but you are a learned man. Other priests pass through my town and I know that you will have spoken to them.”
He nodded, “King Charles, also called the Simple, is the Emperor’s choice of King. Odo Count of Paris has declared himself King. At the moment Odo has the support of Paris and that is all. I have
heard,” he smiled, “from merchants and not priests, that a group of nobles is gathered at Rheims to have him crowned and anointed.”
“And what do we know of this Frankish King?”
“That he is young and has little experience. He is not a warrior. I think that is why the people of Paris preferred Odo. He is the warrior who saved Paris from the Vikings.”
“Then I have time before he can mobilise against me.” Padraig hesitated. “Oh, come now Padraig. You have read the letters and you have spoken to the priests.”
“With respect, lord, that was Charles the Fat and we know not what this new King will do. Either he is nothing like Charles the Fat and will not break the treaty or he is in which case he will have to secure his own country first.”
The priest was right. There would be no attack this year and probably not the next year either. I had time. “Good. Now what do you know about Popæg and Harold Strong Arm?”
I saw that I had taken him by surprise for he flushed and then smiled, “He is an older warrior and despite her manner Popæg is still capable of bearing children. They are comfortable together and I believe that they would wed but…”
“But for Göngu-Hrólfr Rognvaldson whose feet are so large that he tramples on people’s feelings!”
“I did not say that lord but…”
“Send him to me and I will speak with him.”
“My lord…”
“He was my oathsworn. We have seen friends die and we have stood side by side. Words cannot hurt either of us. Send him to me.”
When he entered he was nervous. Had Popæg been with him I would not have known what to say but this was Harold Strong Arm. I spoke to him the way I always had, bluntly. “I understand you wish to marry Popæg?”
His mouth opened and closed and then he smiled, “Aye lord.”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I am oathsworn and…”
“And we have agreed that you will not fight in a shield wall. You will be keeper of my hall. Marry her!”