by Griff Hosker
"Lundenwic. It is some years since we have been there."
"That is a mighty morsel! Will King Egbert be there?"
"I know not but I doubt it. Raibeart Ap Pasgen told me that he is in the west of Wessex still putting down rebellions."
Erik Short Toe, more concerned about the traitor and the danger it represented, asked, "Is the problem solved?"
"We hope that when we return this evening it will be."
"Problem?"
We told them what we had been about and the three of them were keen to accompany us. We stayed at the yard long enough to see that the work was almost complete. We would go back to Cyninges-tūn the day and prepare for a month or two of raiding. It was heading towards dark when we reached the shore. The very first boat was already making its way up the estuary. The catch was so large that the three men could barely lift it. "A good catch eh?"
"Aye Jarl Dragonheart. The gods have been kind to us."
"Were all the boats as successful?"
"All the ones who fished close by us." He laughed, "The Karlsson brothers sailed further south. They will return empty handed for the shoals were all close to the shore to the east. They were heading for Man." He shook his head, "They are good boys both of them but they are poor fishermen." He tapped his head, "They are not very clever for they always choose the wrong fishing grounds." He shrugged, "We have tried to tell them but some people are stubborn."
I looked at Aiden. This was further confirmation of their guilt. By the time the last boat had landed there could be no doubt for they did not return. Had we not been suspicious then I might have worried for them but our presence had alerted them. I was annoyed with myself. We should have been more subtle. We were hunters and we had spooked our prey. Coen said that, if they returned he would hold them for us to question.
Next day we returned to Cyninges-tūn escorting Coen's wife and some other ladies from his town. I knew that Brigid and Kara would enjoy the company. The women of Úlfarrston wore clothes which they had bought from traders. Our womenfolk made their own. I knew that we would be given a list of items which we had to bring back from our raid or our trade. I sent for Scanlan the headman and told him of the planned raid. He, more than anyone, knew what we needed and he gave Aiden and me a list. I asked Aiden to speak with Bjorn Bagsecgson; there were items he needed to make fine swords. The blades he could make but warriors liked fine and fancy adornments.
While they were away I sought out Uhtric my servant. "I need my mail oiling and my spare boots waxing."
"You go to sea, Jarl?"
"We go raiding, Uhtric."
"I will polish and sharpen your weapons. Will you be using the steam hut before you go, Jarl?"
"Yes, tomorrow Uhtric. Why?"
"I will put your wolf cloak in while it is heating up. The heat and the smoke will kill any wild life and cleanse it."
Like all those who lived in my Stad, Uhtric understood the importance of the wolf cloak. It made me who I was, the Wolf Warrior. "Good. I will need my spare cloak too. Nights at sea seem colder these days."
"It is age catching up with you Jarl." He seemed to remember something. He went to the room Brigid had had built at the end of the hall and returned with a long piece of stuffed cow hide. "I made this during the long nights. It will make sleeping on the drekar easier, lord. I filled the hide with sheep and goats' wool. It will resist the sea air and water for I have waxed it too."
Uhtric had been with me since Erika. We had grown older together and he felt what I felt. "That is thoughtful, Uhtric."
My jarls and hersir began to arrive. Some had long distances to travel. My son, Wolf Killer, came with his wife and son. I walked with Wolf Killer by the Water and we gazed at his mother's grave. The smoke was rising from the steam hut. It was good that Wolf Killer had arrived first. We would be able to share the steam hut with Haaken.
"It is good that you have named the child Erika, father. Mother would like it."
I nodded, "Your sister agrees. Will you come later this afternoon, to the steam hut?"
"I will. I must have one built close by me."
"We are lucky here for we have the Water. The river close by Elfridaby is not such a good site."
"No but it is easier to defend. We have spent some time this winter making it even better defended."
"Good for you face the Danes." I told him of the spies.
"We are ever vigilant and my men speak closely with all who pass through our lands. We have been hurt before and we are wary."
My son's caution was justified. The old Roman Town the Saxons called Eoforwic and the Danes called Jorvik was filling up with Danes. Soon there would be more of those warriors than Saxons. It was a threat we took seriously.
That afternoon I sat in the hut with Haaken and Wolf Killer. "Will you raid, Wolf Killer?"
"I think not. My warriors have all begun families. They wish to spend some time making their homes stronger and their farms more productive. We took enough treasure last year to keep us happy for some time." I nodded. Each of my leaders looked after their own clan as best they could. "Besides Elfrida is with child again. It is early days yet but I will see this child into the world. I am young and I have many more years raiding ahead of me."
Haaken laughed, "Meaning your father and I do not."
Wolf Killer took the bone scrapers we kept and began to scrape off the dirt and dead skin, "You two will never stop raiding. It is in your blood. Even though you need nothing that you will take from Lundenwic you will seek that which you do not have."
I was curious, "And what is it that I seek?"
"A link to the past and your ancestor."
"I see that Kara is not the only one who has inherited the gift from your mother."
"There was a time when my mind was closed to you and to Kara; the dark times when Angharad took my family. Then I saw nothing. Since we have become friends again I find myself dreaming of both you and my mother. You seek a link to your own mother's father. The warrior from the west."
"He is right Jarl Dragonheart. Why else would you keep that old sword in your hall? You can never use it and yet it is guarded as well as your family."
"Does everyone see so clearly into my mind?" I did not mind this interrogation. These were, along with Aiden, the men who were closest to me.
"Only those who know you well, father. You will search the seas and the hidden places until you discover whatever it is that tells you more and yet I fear that you will never know the whole story."
He was right. "You mean my Saxon father?"
"I have spoken of this with my sister. We have powers from your mother and from our mother. You have them from your mother only. Things are hidden from you that we see."
Haaken laughed, "And I, Haaken One Eye, see only great sagas and stories from these adventures."
I looked at my oldest friend. "And yet, Haaken, we are the last of those who went on those first adventures when the Ulfheonar were young."
"The day you begin to worry, Jarl, is the day you will die. Embrace the adventure."
Chapter 2
We had five drekar in our fleet as we headed south. Siggi had my knarr and we escorted three knarr from Úlfarrston. Nine ships would be too big a mouthful for any of the pirates who frequented this west coast of Britannia. Even Sigtrygg Thrandson had joined us. Ketil Windarsson sailed on board Olaf Grimmson's ship, 'King's Gift'. Olaf was not a warrior but one of the best captains I had. Mine was the largest drekar. Only Wolf Killer's 'Wild Boar', still in port and being cleaned, was almost as large. The rest were little more than threttanessa. However, between us, we had over a hundred and fifty warriors. There were still many at home to watch our families. Men like my smith, Bjorn Bagsecgson, could fight as well as most warriors. I did not fear for Cyninges-tūn.
Haaken was in good spirits and he led the crew in a chant to speed us through the sea. We led and I hoped that the ones who followed would be able to keep up.
The storm was wild and the gods
did roam
The enemy closed on the Prince's home
Two warriors stood on a lonely tower
Watching, waiting for hour on hour.
The storm came hard and Odin spoke
With a lightning bolt the sword he smote
Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night
It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright
The two they stood against the foe
They were alone, nowhere to go
They fought in blood on a darkened hill
Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still
Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar
Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar
The storm was wild and the Gods did roam
The enemy closed on the Prince's home
Two warriors stood on a lonely tower
Watching, waiting for hour on hour.
The storm came hard and Odin spoke
With a lightning bolt the sword he smote
Ragnar's Spirit burned hot that night
It glowed, a beacon shiny and bright
The two they stood against the foe
They were alone, nowhere to go
They fought in blood on a darkened hill
Dragon Heart and Cnut will save us still
Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar
Dragon Heart, Cnut and the Ulfheonar
Once we had passed Ynys Môn we took in the oars and let the winds from the west take us down the coast. We pulled in for the night at the island of the puffins; the one the Welsh called Ynys Enlli. It was uninhabited and the birds who nested there made good eating. I gathered the nine captains around me once they had secured their ships.
"Tomorrow we reach the Sabrina. There we leave the knarr from Úlfarrston. We will be away for twenty days at the most. We meet back on the Sabrina." The three captains from Úlfarrston nodded. I did not think they would risk sailing alone through the treacherous waters north of us. The alternative was to head for Dyflin where they would be afforded protection from Gunnstein Berserk Killer. However that would still leave them with the dangerous passage across the seas around Man. They would wait.
We bade farewell to them at the Sabrina and then we were able to sail faster. Siggi was the best knarr captain I had known. His only equal had been Trygg and he had been killed with his crew close to Olissipo. It had made Siggi a harder man and a better captain. Wyrd. The witch at Syllingar let us pass without a message. Aiden was the only one who was disappointed. Although she usually gave us good prophecies my men feared her power. The last time she had spoken to our young recruit Hrolf. He was now sailing with Gunnar Thorfinnson. That had been his destiny and I would not stand in his way.
Aiden pointed to the east as we passed Syllingar. "I wonder how Hrolf is? Gunnar said he would raid Neustria."
"I have a feeling that Hrolf has been chosen by the gods."
"A little like you, Jarl Dragonheart."
"Perhaps, although you have the mark of the Norns upon you. Think back all those years. Think how many other hostages died and yet you were chosen to live. You too were chosen. It does not do to inspect the Weird Sisters webs too closely."
We spent our second night on a deserted beach at Vectis. This was Wessex and we kept a good watch. The Norns smiled upon us for we had no trouble and were not spotted. We headed for the Tamese. There were many islands in the estuary mouth and our plan was to spend the night hidden among the mud banks and stunted trees. We would step our masts and be invisible. When we sailed up the Tamese we would use just oars. Siggi would bring his knarr sometime later.
We kept well out to sea. King Egbert had recently conquered this land and his thegns would have keen eyes watching to see for just such as we. Erik knew the waters well and we had maps which Aiden kept. Although there was some guesswork involved I was confident that we would find the estuary before dark. We had our ships' boys at the bow and on the cross tree. They peered ahead seeking out sails. If we saw one then it was likely it would be an enemy.
"Land to the west, captain!" Thorir Svensson's thin voice barely carried to us but Erik heard and he pushed the steering board over as he led our fleet towards the land of the East Angles. We would use the north shore of the Tamese. Lundenwic was well defended but Wessex lay to the south. Since King Eadwald had been killed by King Coenwulf of Mercia it was a weaker kingdom. I had heard that Athelstan, Eadwald's son, was trying to gather warriors but they would not worry us. Wessex and the garrison of Lundenwic was our enemy.
We edged towards the swampy, muddy north bank of the Tamese estuary. The sun was setting in the west and we would be hidden, in the dark of the east. It took some hours to finally reach land. As soon as we touched the banks Snorri and Beorn leapt ashore. They wore no mail but had their wolf skins about their shoulders. They would have to navigate the marshland as best they could. Their job was to make sure there were no enemies close to us. My captains had the masts of their drekar taken down and laid on the mast fish. Siggi's knarr did not but a merchant vessel seeking sanctuary in the reeds would not alarm any. It took time to take down the sail, the cross tree and the mast itself. Dawn was almost upon us by the time we had done so. We ate cold rations and then slept with a good watch.
I did not sleep. I watched with Aiden and Erik. Although my scouts were good I still fretted while they were away. It was with some relief that I saw them returning. They did not come directly towards us. The tide was now in and they had to navigate the small patches of dry land. The last part necessitated them wading towards us through the muddy pools.
We hauled them on board. They were covered in mud. "We found no Saxons nor men of Essex nor the East Angles nor Wessex. The land is too desolate for farming."
Snorri poured a pail of river water over his head to wash off some of the mud, "But we did find a monastery just along the coast. It took us longer to reach it than it will the drekar. It is just around the bend in the river. It is on the only solid land that we found. It may have been an island in the past but now it sits above the river."
"Is there a wall?"
"Aye but not a big one." Beorn grinned, "It will not keep us out!"
"Then we sail there and attack it after dark. We can carry on to Lambehitha. There is another church of the White Christ there and the halls of Lundenwic will be filled with goods."
Aiden added a word of caution. "Do not forget, Jarl Dragonheart, there will be a garrison at Lundenburgh."
"There will but I doubt that there will be enough of them to worry us. My fear is that they try to trap us in the river."
Aiden nodded, "If the monastery is, as I suspect, at Tilaburg, then the river is quite narrow there. They could block it."
"Then we leave Raibeart ap Coen and his men there. We will hold the monks as hostages."
Aiden said, "We could sell them back to the men of Wessex. It would save us selling them at the slave market."
"We will do that. Aiden, go and tell the jarls and hersir what I intend. I shall sleep now that Snorri and Beorn have returned."
Snorri looked surprised, "You were worried, Jarl Dragonheart?"
I smiled, "There are few of us left from the days of Man. I worry about all who are not within sight of Ragnar's Spirit."
I slept and my sleep was untroubled by dreams. I was far from home and surrounded by enemies but I had rarely had such a large number of warriors at my command.
Aiden shook me awake in the late afternoon. "They are ready, Jarl. Siggi will remain here and sail after dawn to Tilaburg. Raibeart can guard him until we have what we need."
"Good." I washed and swallowed some small beer. I donned my mail and applied the beetle juice to my eyes. Haaken ensured that the new warriors who were with us knew what they were to do. My seax and Ragnar's Spirit were sharp enough to shave. Finally I combed my hair and moustaches before tying them into neat tails. With my shield slung over my back I was almost ready for war.
As the light faded in the west we began to row silently downstream. Snorri an
d Beorn replaced the ship's boys. They knew the precise location of the monastery. I waited at the steering board with Erik and Aiden. It was our noses which alerted us to the presence of the monastery first. It was the smell of wood smoke and the hint of perfume. Some monks burned rosemary and thyme to make their churches smell more pleasant. We knew when we were close. The word was passed down from Snorri and finally reached us. "Oars in. Begin to head to shore." I donned my helmet.
Erik was a master sailor. He could feel the water beneath our hull and seemed to have a sixth sense which stopped him from grounding us. We gently nudged the bank. Snorri and Beorn were already ashore and, when my crew had stored their oars, we joined them. The monastery was half a mile away on the top of a low rise. It was well away from the water. I could see the glow of lights within the buildings. I did not wait for the other crews. We could probably take this monastery with just my men. Snorri and Beorn bounded off to cut off any escape from the far side of the monastery. Olaf Leather Neck and Haaken followed close by me.
Although we were quiet our armour would make a noise. No matter how much oil was applied it always creaked slightly. If they had sentries or sharp ears then we would be heard but we were fortunate. The Norns did not place anything in our way. I heard chanting. The monks were at one of their many services. I saw the wall loom up and I waved forward some of the younger warriors. They stood in pairs with their shield held between them. Olaf, Haaken and myself ran at the shields, jumped on them and, as we did so, we were hoisted over the top of the wall. When we landed we made a noise. It could not be helped but the three of us were on our feet in an instant and we ran for the door which we saw ahead of us. No one inside the church heard us. They were still chanting and singing.