by Griff Hosker
Rollo came out and mounted his horse. He shook his head. They were not within. He pointed his spear north west. I followed him as he led us towards the Danes. They had left the clearing and headed into the midge filled forest. We saw their tracks on the trail. They had not bothered to hide them. Once we found them then I would send Harald back to Cyninges-tūn with Gryffydd and summon the rest of my men. I would not risk my son further. He had learned enough on this scout. I think they were the first bodies he had seen. His mother would not be happy but it would stand him in good stead. For warriors this was a common sight.
When Rollo dismounted and waved his hand then I knew he had spotted something. I dismounted and went to Gryffydd. I whispered in his ear. "Hold my reins and stay here." He nodded. My son was learning quickly.
Harald and I knelt by Rollo. He pointed to the foot prints in the mud. We had seen similar for some time. They were fresh. Then Rollo pointed to a bush. The urine was still dripping from it. I could smell it. They had passed this way not long before. I was slightly behind the other two and I heard a noise from my right. It was faint. It was a foot stepping on to a twig and trying not to make a noise. I spun around with my spear at the ready and saw Sven Green Eye. It was Snorri's patrol. He looked as surprised as I was. He held up two hands and then one hand. He made the sign for Danes and then pointed ahead. I pointed to the farm and made the sign for fetch help. He nodded and left. I hoped he had the good sense to take my son with him.
He had been gone but a moment when Snorri and Erik Alfsson appeared. I headed after my two warriors. There were now five of us. Better odds but with no mail and spears and swords only we could not risk taking on fifteen warriors. We caught up with Rollo and Harald half a mile further on. They had moved quickly. The ground dropped away and Rollo urgently waved us to the ground. We said nothing and I listened. I could hear the Danes. They had obviously taken food from the farm for they were eating and discussing which direction they should take. I could not see them. They had chosen somewhere hidden by low scrubby bushes and straggly trees. These were scouts who knew their business.
I lost track of what they were saying as a number of them all spoke at once. Then a voice barked out, "Jarl Ragnar Halfdansson has put me in charge of this raid. We do not discuss. I decide!" There was silence. "We were told to find the weakness of the Norse who live here. You, Karl Fine Hair, did not need to kill the old man and woman. When their bodies are found then they will know we are here."
"Did you see any path leading to the house, Gurt the Silent? I did not. They were alone and we needed the food they had. If we had not killed them then they might have told others that we were abroad. No one will find their bodies ten years from now!"
"No one kills without my permission. We are not here for treasure. We will get enough of that when the Jarl has gathered his forces. We have a month to discover all that we can and a month to get back. We have been promised our own drekar! That is a reward worth a little hardship. Do not throw that away for a full belly!"
"We have only seen one place they were defending. That looks easy to avoid."
"That was the stad they call Elfridaby. The son of the Dragonheart lives there. Jarl Ragnar will not avoid it. But make no mistake that is a hard place to take. It has high walls and deep ditches He has plans for the one they call Wolf Killer and King Egbert has promised much gold for the return of his wife.."
There was laughter. "I hear he plans to have her boiled alive for the disgrace of leaving him for another man."
"I care not what is promised so long as we get our drekar. We will head to Cyninges-tūn. There is a headland across the Water. I have been there before. We can make camp and study the walls. They are well made but we can find a way in I am certain. That is why we come for so long. We will examine the walls and the defences at night when the people sleep. We go back to Jorvik through the big water. That is the last place we were ordered to scout."
"What about food!"
"We have seen plenty of game."
"But not ale!"
"Two months without ale is not much to ask for Einar Einarsson. When we have a drekar we can sail the length of this land. There are many rivers and we will become rich. Now leave no sign. If they do find the dead farmer I do not want them to find us."
I heard noise as they moved around the clearing and then the leader, Gurt the Silent, said, "Follow me. We are not far from where we can camp. I have been here before."
We allowed them to move off and then I nodded to Snorri. He slipped through the undergrowth. A moment or two later he reappeared. "They have gone. I heard a little of what they said and, from their tracks I think they head for the head of the Water. It will be the place close to where we had our hall."
"I agree. Where are your horses?"
"Just a mile back. We left them there when we followed the Danes."
"Meet us at the farm of Satter. He and his wife are dead. We can take the road by the Water and make faster time. We might pick up the men I sent for."
When we reached the farm I was relieved to see that Harald had taken Gryffydd with him. My son would be safe. While we waited we put the dead farmer and his wife inside their hut. When time allowed we would bury them. We had just mounted when Snorri and his two warriors appeared. We rode down the slope and through the woods to the road by the Water. We were halfway there when we ran into Olaf Leather Neck and his two men.
"We met Harald. He has ridden for Haaken."
"We have found them. They are heading for the hillside above my old hall. There are fifteen of them."
Snorri said, "The leader and two others wear mail. I found their tracks and glimpsed them when we followed."
"We can still take them, Jarl!"
"There is no need to take risks. They do not know they are being followed. Let us do this right, Olaf Leather Neck. Your axe will taste blood. It can wait."
The road to the Water passed beneath the high crag and then it dropped sharply through a twisting forest trail. This was slightly better used than the other paths for hunters came here. We reached the road and I saw the sun beginning to slip behind Old Olaf. Snorri led us north. I heard hooves and we reined in with weapons ready. There were eight riders behind us. It was Haaken and Finni. Harald had used his head and found the nearest Ulfheonar. I saw Gryffydd flanked by two warriors. Haaken was taking no chances.
I quickly told them what we intended.
Olaf said, "Now we have enough Jarl. Even if they were all wearing mail then we could defeat them."
He was right. We had sixteen warriors. "We ride until we see Cyninges-tūn and then we walk the horses. Gryffydd and Karl Olafsson will watch the horses and we will approach them on foot. None must escape."
Haaken asked, "Do we not wish to know what they intend?"
Snorri said, "We heard what their plans are. If one escapes then they will know we are on to them and be on their guard. Is that not right, Jarl?"
I nodded, "It will be two months until they are missed. The gods have given us that time. We will use it wisely."
By the time we saw the glow from the fires of Cyninges-tūn it was dark. We dismounted and prepared for war. Although we wore neither helmets nor armour we had the night to help us and we knew this part of my land. My first hall had been less than a thousand paces from where we were and my first wife's grave was almost within sight.
I turned to Gryffydd. "You have done well this day. I am proud of you. You and Karl must guard our horses and watch. Keep your blade ready. There is danger all around. Karl will watch over you for me."
Gryffydd had a serious look on his face as he put his hand on Dragon's Tongue. I glanced up at Karl. He was one of my youngest warriors. He had only seen thirteen summers. He nodded. I followed the others.
Snorri led and my men moved in a long line. We were a net and we would trap the Danes. I was under no illusions these men we hunted would know how to hide and how to use woods. They were scouts. We moved up the slope. Snorri was using his nose and
his head. He knew where they would choose to watch. It was above the road and my old hall. We had cleared the trees from around the old palisade. The witch Angharad had burned my hall to the ground and now it afforded a fine view to my new hall. Our work had made it easier for our foes.
We moved slowly for we wanted no noise. The ground was still a little soft from the recent rains and the cushion of pine was spongy. The men I had chosen knew their business and they stepped carefully, measuring each step. There were clouds. The night was black and it was hard to see further than six paces. We were like a huge arrow with Snorri at the point. With Olaf, Haaken and me behind him the others fanned out on either side. Snorri held up his hand as we reached a high point. He used his spear to indicate that the Danes were slightly below us. He touched his nose with his finger. He had smelled them. I was jarl but we were in Snorri's hands now. He knew what to do. He pointed to Olaf and waved his hand to the north. Olaf nodded and, tapping his men as he passed them, set off. He did the same to Haaken and Finni, this time indicating the path we had just taken. That left just our men. He took out his seax and set off. All of us copied him. We would need two weapons.
Many warriors fear the night. It is unknown and there are hidden dangers. My warriors relished it. We used it as an ally and so it was this night. I smelled their smoke. The Danes were confident enough to light one. I had no doubt that its flame was hidden from view but the smell of the smoke could not be hidden and it drew us like moths to a candle.
We moved together and when Snorri stopped, we all stopped. I saw him lay down his spear and move towards something I could not see. Then I heard the hissing sound of a Dane making water. Snorri moved so quickly that it was a blur. His left hand went up and he pulled the Dane back as he ripped his seax across his throat. It happened so quickly that the Dane was dead before he had finished making water.
Snorri picked up his spear and we continued down the slope. It was not easy. You had to pick your way around trees, rocks and loose pine needles. Although they had hidden the glow of the fire from Cyninges-tūn it was not hidden from above and we emerged just thirty paces from the dell in which they sheltered. Their leader had indeed been here before. It was the place I would have chosen. When daylight came they would be able to look down on my walls and my ditches. I did not think we had any weak spots but Gurt the Silent and his Danes would be able to discover those that they saw.
We halted, hidden by both the trees and the darkness. The fire cooked the Danes' food but it also spoiled their night vision. I counted the men around the fire. There were twelve. We had killed one and that left two sentries. Haaken, Finni and Olaf were there to mop up any sentries on their sides.
I watched as a warrior stood and said, "Olvir is taking his time!"
Another chuckled, "Perhaps he has found a sheep. Olvir has no taste!"
They laughed and the mailed warrior, I took him to be Gurt the Silent snapped, "Silence! Your voices will carry!"
"Not across the Water. I will go and find him. He might need help." The warrior came towards us. There was no way we could stay hidden. We had to time out attack well. The camp was thirty paces from us. When the Dane who was seeking Olvir was ten paces from us I waved my men forward. Snorri hurled his spear into the warrior and I ran past him.
Gurt the Silent did not panic. "Shield wall!"
His men had shields and they turned to face our attack. All that they saw were seven men. There were eleven of them. Even as they hurried to lock shields I threw my spear. I was but ten paces away from the Danes and I had practised throwing a spear since I was the same age as Karl Olafsson. It struck a Dane in the side and penetrated deeply. He pulled out the spear and I saw blood pouring from the wound. I sheathed my seax and drew Ragnar's Spirit.
The shield wall would not be solid for there were too few of them. My other men appeared and Olaf brought his men from behind the Danes. It was then that the locked shields to their front became a liability. Olaf's axe swung around in a wide arc. He knocked two men to the ground both had their backs ripped open to their spines. Just at that moment Haaken and Finni approached from the Water. I used my sword to counter the Dane who faced me. I grabbed the edge of his shield and pulled it towards me and then pushed. The sudden movement overbalanced him and he toppled backwards. He fell and I put my foot on his shield, pinning him to the ground before plunging Ragnar's Spirit into his chest.
Our sudden attack from three sides had taken them by surprise and they all lay dead. All that is save Gurt the Silent who faced Olaf leather Neck. None would interfere. This was warrior combat and interference would risk the wrath of the gods. I looked to Haaken with a question on my face. I held up two fingers. He pulled a finger across his own throat. The two sentries were dead and we were safe.
Olaf did not have a shield and the Dane did. The Dane wore mail and Olaf did not. It should have been an unequal contest but when Olaf's mighty blow struck the Dane's shield and cracked it then we all knew it was a case of how long the Dane would survive. For a big man Olaf was remarkably light on his feet and he danced away from the sword thrust of the Danish hersir. He then spun around and brought the axe in a wide arc. The Dane knew it was coming. He braced himself and his shield. This time the blow not only cracked the shield but I think the blow broke the Dane's arm.
The Dane thought he had the advantage as Olaf stood below him. With no helmet and no shield Olaf looked to be vulnerable. As the Dane raised his sword for a mortal blow to Olaf's head, my Ulfheonar swung his axe at knee height, below the mail. The axe sliced through both legs as though they were pine logs. The surprised look on the Dane's face lasted but a moment before he went to Valhalla. He had been brave but he had faced an Ulfheonar. There was no contest.
Chapter 10
Harald Einarsson had died and two other young warriors had both wounds and scars which would mark them as warriors but we had done better than we might have hoped. By the time we had stripped the bodies and made a pyre on which to burn them it was almost dawn. We headed home and wearily trudged through the gates of Cyninges-tūn. The fire of the dead would tell the other search parties that the threat was over. Even before I had greeted my wife I had sent a rider to tell Wolf Killer the outcome. When time allowed I would need to visit with him. He was in danger.
Brigid grabbed Gryffydd and hugged him. The look she threw at me would have turned a mortal to stone! I smiled. It was the best defence. "Our son did well. He saw the dead and did not shirk. He will be a warrior!"
Gryffydd's grin was worth the harsh words I would have to suffer later on. "Uhtric, taken him indoors and bathe him. It is bed for you! Out all day and all night!"
Gryffydd ran to me and reached up for a hug, "Thank you, Jarl Dragonheart. I will work even harder to be a warrior. I liked Harald."
He had learned a valuable lesson. Death was indiscriminate. Gryffydd had liked young Harald Einarsson but he had been taken. Brigid grabbed our son's hand and dragged him indoors. Aiden and Kara had joined me along with my Ulfheonar.
"We have two months before the scouts are missed. We must strike before then or they will be forewarned."
"Raibeart and Siggi are not back yet."
"It matters not if they are back. We now know the plans of Ragnar Halfdansson. The gods have given us a gift. We will not spurn it. We make preparations and we move in the next ten days. Haaken, send riders to Sigtrygg, Ketil and Ulf. We hold a council of war here in three days."
"Aye."
"For the rest, you know what to do."
I was left with Scanlan, Kara and Aiden. "You have a plan already, father."
It was not a question. She had seen my thoughts. "I do. I cannot do as I had planned. I was going to take five drekar and attack with all of my warriors. There is a risk now that Ragnar Halfdansson may attack while we are at sea. I will take 'Heart of the Dragon' and 'King's Gift' with me. I will double crew them. The rest can keep watch on this land. I will take only volunteers." I pointed to the old hall, now visible in the early mo
rning light. "We need settlers yonder. Old Satter and his wife are now dead but they had the only farm we passed. Any enemy can pass through that land unseen."
"It is poor farmland. There are just trees, Jarl Dragonheart."
"Then let us use that, Scanlan. Bjorn needs charcoal and there are trees there. Encourage charcoal burners. Pay them a good price for their wares. We need their eyes and we need their charcoal. It is a wise investment. We can always get coin." I pointed to Harald Einarsson's dead body. "We can always get more gold but brave warriors are harder to find and more valuable than jewels."
When Scanlan had gone Aiden pointed across the Water. "Even though she is gone your wife watches over us still. To kill fifteen Danes and lose but one warrior is good."
"Perhaps but Harald showed me that he would have become a warrior for a shield wall. He would have been as a rock and now he is gone."
Kara shook her head, "He is not. His spirit is around the Water. The more that die the stronger the land becomes." She smiled, "My little brother showed his mettle today."
"He did but Brigid is not happy."
"No mother is happy about her son going to war. She will learn to accept it."
All of my jarls came. Wolf Killer brought Elfrida and his family. The encounter with the Danes had been a warning and it did not do to ignore such an omen. We gathered in my hall. I allowed young Ragnar and Gryffydd to attend but the women all gathered with the babies in Kara's hall. Kara would deflect my wife's fears.
I told them what we had overheard. "We have bought almost two moons, perhaps a little more. I had intended to journey before Yule but we may have to go just after the harvest is in. We are in the hands of Siggi and Raibeart now. We will sail as soon as all of our preparations are made and the men are gathered. We sail even if our knarr have not returned."