by Griff Hosker
While still walking backwards we half turned so that every shield was locked with its neighbour. The front rank had no spears. We would have to rely on our comrades in the second rank. The Saxons stopped on the ridgeline. Once again there was someone giving orders. I saw the men of Wessex form the front rank and they too tightened shields. The delay enabled us to walk back to the archers and the ditch which surrounded the stad. As the Saxons began to move forward I heard Snorri snap out the order, "Release!"
Fifty arrows soared high into the air followed a heartbeat later by another fifty and then another. A hundred and fifty arrows falling on unsuspecting warriors can be devastating. Those with quick reactions were able to protect themselves with their shields. Those with mail had some additional protection but thirty odd warriors fell. Some killed and some wounded. The gaps created meant that another ten fell with the next flight and then they locked shields to protect them from all sides. We were in the position I wished us to be. We were anchored to the two sides of the stad. The slingers were now in the two towers while Aidan and his specially selected slingers were on the gatehouse.
I saw that the field had some of our own warriors lying upon it. They had lost more men but then they could afford to. Any loss for us was most grievous. The Saxons gathered themselves for their next attack. I knew when King Egbert had arrived for there was the sound of a horn and the Saxons formed a boar's head. It was a double wedge and the points would strike at Ketil and Ulf's men. Egbert had realised that the flanks held our best warriors. We had to hold them until Aiden and his men could use Dragon Fire.
As the Saxon line began to advance I heard, in the distance, the wailing of the dragon. I did not expect it and neither did the Saxons. They hesitated and it cost three men their lives as Snorri and his best archers targeted them. My grandson had taken it upon himself to inspire fear in the enemy. Wolf Killer's son was a true warrior. Then the Saxons hit us. They had many more men than we did and we felt the weight. Before the shields collided their spears darted out. They did not hurt us for we had large shields and mail beneath. I suspected that Ketil and Ulf's men would suffer more. We were being pushed back by sheer weight of numbers.
The spears in our second rank duelled with the Saxon spears. I held my blade low and waited for my chance. I began to bring it up. As the shield of the warrior facing me began to rise I pushed my sword and shield up at the same time. The warrior could not stop his shield from rising. The tip of my sword touched something and I pushed hard. It was the warrior's flesh. I punched up and my sword's tip appeared from his shoulder. I tore it out and he fell. The pressure lessened and, as his face slid down my shield, I punched with the boss at the man behind. It caught him square on and he reeled. We were not having it all our own way and I felt a spear head slide down the side of my helmet. The warrior who held it roared his delight until Rolf brought his axe over and took his head.
We now had a straight line. Sigtrygg was no longer the point and, in places, the line was one warrior deep. The archers were also scoring more hits than misses. It was at that moment that Aiden launched his Dragon Fire. It coincided, or perhaps he had planned it that way, with Ragnar and his Dragon Banner. They approached, this time from the west. I saw the flaming pots of death rise high above us. Aiden was taking no chances and he was aiming at the press of men at the rear of the huge wall of Saxons. The flames flashed and ripped through the rear ranks. We felt the wave of heat as it surged forward. I had never been as close and it was terrifying. It must have worried Aiden for there was no second shower.
"Fall back!"
We stepped back as one. The bodies of our slain lay before us but there were more bodies of the Saxons. I could see shields on fire and three unlucky warriors were like human candles.
"Lock shields!"
As we locked shields Aiden's slingers sent over their second wave of Dragon Fire. We saw it as it struck. Shields caught fire and were thrown away. Snorri and his archers used the opportunity to slay the ones who did so. I think Aiden and his throwers only hurled ten or twelve of the weapons but they broke the back of the Saxon attack. As the archers thinned out those who still stood we heard the horn sound and the Saxons fell back. Had we had more men we could have pursued them but we had lost warriors and I would not risk it.
"We hold what we have!"
As the Saxons fell back those in the stad and the army began chanting, "Dragonheart! Dragonheart! Dragonheart!"
We had not yet won but I could not see how Egbert could defeat us. Unless he had a vast army waiting to reinforce him he would struggle to take the stad. "Have the enemy bodies stripped of armour and weapons and then make a pyre of them on the banks of the river. Make sure the Saxons can see them."
"Aye Jarl."
"Snorri, take your archers and make sure that the Saxons cannot interfere."
"Aye Jarl."
"Aiden, see to our wounded."
I took off my helmet. I saw that all of my jarls were still alive. They were bloodied but alive. Ragnar rode up. His horse was lathered and close to exhaustion. "Well done, my grandson and bearer of the Dragon Banner. You had best dismount and let your mount rest."
He slid from its back and his father grabbed him and hugged him, "Well done, my son! You are a hero!"
"I felt scared when those horsemen chased me but I knew that Snorri and his archers would save me."
Wolf Killer smiled, "Then I owe Snorri an honour. I will order a fine quiver for him. It shall have a dragon on it."
I walked with Haaken and my jarls to view the Saxon position. "Things went better than we might have hoped, Jarl Dragonheart."
"They did, Ulf Olafsson, and we were fortunate that they tried to batter us with that huge column. Had they tried a long line first they would have found that it was only the centre which was slippery."
"What will he do now, father? You have fought him before."
I pointed to the bluff opposite. There was a heated debate going on. "I think that there is some disagreement over their plans. I am guessing that they are blaming each other. Coenwulf and Egbert were always going to be strange bedfellows. I think they will not attack again tonight and then we shall see what the morrow brings."
The Saxons did not bother to try to disrupt the funeral pyre. The bodies sizzled and hissed by the water. I had chosen that as the site for the fire deliberately. If they attacked the following day they would have to pass the ashes of their dead and it would be a clear reminder of how many men they had lost. Once the bodies were well alight we headed back to our camp. We had not eaten all day and we were hungry. Sigtrygg's ale wives had brewed fresh beer. It was what our warriors needed.
I had not lost any Ulfheonar but all of my jarls had lost warriors who would be irreplaceable. I made sure that the armour and weapons we had captured was shared out evenly. It was small enough compensation but it was all that we could do.
I slept well that night. We had held the armies of Wessex and Mercia. That in itself was a cause for celebration but we had done so while keeping my land safe. They had taken none of our soil, not one grain! We made sure that we were up before dawn. I expected King Egbert to try a sneak attack. As the sun rose the Saxons remained in their camp. Our sentries reported much shouting from their camp and the clash of weapons. It seems that discord was still in the air.
We had our weapons sharpened and we even had enough time to have our armour oiled. We had more barrels of water prepared to make their ascent of the hill as difficult as the day before. By noon it was obvious that there would be no attack. We knew that when we saw a peace emissary make his way to us. They sent a priest across the river to conduct negotiations. I wondered if they thought that we would show respect to his robes. We allowed him to approach. As he passed the still smoking funeral pyre he made the sign of the cross. He struggled up the hill which was now black with dried blood. When he reached us I could see that he was out of breath.
He attempted to speak to us in our language but he was not fluent. I stopped hi
m. "I speak Saxon as do most of my jarls. Speak your own language so that there is no mistake over the words used."
He nodded, "Thank you Jarl. I struggle with your language." He readied himself and then launched into his speech. "King Egbert and King Coenwulf have had enough of fighting and they wish to have a truce so that we can discuss peace."
I nodded, "As it is King Egbert and King Coenwulf who attacked us then why do they just not leave?"
He looked at me sharply, "They wish to speak with you about... perhaps if you would agree to meet at the river?"
"And what assurances do I have that there will be no treachery?"
"I will stay here as a hostage!"
I burst out laughing. "You think I value your life priest? I care not if you live or die. Tell your kings that I will meet with them. I would have a priest there too. No other warrior is to be closer than two hundred paces. I will bring my galdramenn and two jarls. Four on each side should be sufficient."
He nodded and scurried down the hill; grateful no doubt to be alive. "Do you trust them?"
"Not really, Haaken, but I will have Snorri two hundred paces from me. With his bow he can hit a target three hundred paces away. I will be safe. Wolf Killer and Sigtrygg, you come with me." I turned to Ragnar. "You stay here with my Dragon Banner. Leif will be by your side. Make sure the Saxons see your banners eh?"
"Yes grandfather."
"Good boy!" I waved Snorri over and told him what to do. He nodded. He would not miss.
We did not wear our helmets as we descended. We were going to talk. We reached the river before they did and we waited at the ford. The fourth member of their delegation was a Dane. He had his arm in a sling. He had been wounded in the attack and as he neared us I saw that his beard was singed. He had suffered Dragon's Fire.
I waited. King Egbert glared at Wolf Killer. There was little love lost there but Wolf Killer kept an impassive face. Anger was pointless at such times. King Coenwulf looked older. His helmet had hidden his features. It was many years since I had fought against him for King Egbert and now he was an old man. He looked unwell. I did not think he was long for this world.
Eventually King Egbert was forced to speak; if only to break the silence. "You raided my lands and stole a box of jewels from Radipole!"
I smiled, "We are Vikings it is what we do." I paused, "But I left the Lady Maud alive. Surely you, of all people, should be grateful for that."
He coloured, "If you had touched a hair of her head..."
"What? You would have brought an army here to my land to punish me?" I pointed to the pile of smouldering ash. "We see how that turned out. What is it that you want? Speak or let us get back to fighting. My men have not killed enough Saxons or Danes yet!"
The Dane pointed his good hand at me. "I am Thorir the Troll Burster. You killed Erik Skull Splitter. He was a formidable warrior. You seem to make a point of killing Danes. Halfdan the Black was a good friend of mine."
"And now he and his brothers are dead. Perhaps you Danes will think twice before you risk my wrath. Stick to fighting Saxons, Dane. You and your men will live longer." He thought to say something but realised that most of his men were dead. "And you, King Coenwulf, you have said little. What made you ally with a snake like Egbert? He cannot even lie straight in bed!"
"You go too far, Dragonheart!" King Egbert was not used to such insolence.
"This is my land and I go as far as I like. I answer to no king! You do not like my words? Then go and let us fight some more."
King Coenwulf coughed and a little blood came from his mouth, "I will speak, Dragonheart. You are a fierce opponent but a man can talk to you. I will speak plain and simple words to you. You have, in your possession, a red jewel. The jewel was taken from me." He glared at Egbert. "I am close to death and I would have it returned before I die."
"And you can have it."
Only Aiden was not surprised by my statement. "Truly?"
"Yes, truly."
"And what is the price?"
I turned to the priest who was watching it all with interest. "You, go and fetch a holy book or one of your relics; the most important you have with you." I turned to Aiden, "Fetch the chest."
Sigtrygg and Wolf Killer knew me well enough to stay silent but King Egbert was suspicious. "And what of my crowns? Do they get returned as easily?"
"Firstly you have not heard the prices yet and secondly only one is your property. The other two belong to Kent and Essex. I see neither of those kings before me."
Wolf Killer smiled. He began to see the direction in which I was going. Aiden reached us first. He was younger and we had placed the chest close by the Ulfheonar. The priest was older and slower. When he returned he had a small box in one hand and a large book under the other. He was out of breath and could barely speak.
I held up my hand, "Take your time." Aiden opened the box and I took out the red stone. "Is this the stone?" He nodded, "Then swear on," I pointed to the box, "what is in there?"
"The finger bone of St. Oswald."
"As he was killed by your ancestor I do not think that you will swear on that. " I pointed to the book, "Swear on your Holy Book that neither you nor your successor will ever make war on my people again."
"That is all that you want?"
"It is."
He put his hand on the book. "I swear that neither I nor my successor will make war on Jarl Dragonheart and the land of the wolf."
I handed the jewel over and said quietly, "Choose your allies more wisely next time, King Coenwulf."
King Egbert said, "And I suppose you want me to swear the same thing?"
"Not quite. You may have the crown in exchange for an oath not to make war on my land and you will grant us trading rights with Lundenwic. My knarr and those of my allies will be welcome in your burgh."
"That is preposterous!"
"Then these talks are over." I turned and Aiden closed the lid on the chest.
"Wait! What of the other crowns?"
"Those are for sale. Do you wish to buy them?"
I had him beaten, I could see that. He was desperately looking for a way out which would save him face. There was no way out and his shoulders sagged, "Very well; I agree."
"A hand on the chest and another on the holy book." He flashed a look of pure hatred but he did as I asked. "Now swear."
"I swear that I will not make war on Jarl Dragonheart and the land of the wolf. I also swear that he and his allies have trading rights in Lundenwic." I handed him the crown. "And the others?"
"Have you fifty golden pieces for each one with you?"
He shook his head, "We came to make war and not to barter!"
"Then I suggest you come to barter next time for you are no General. Send a ship to Úlfarrston with the ransom and the crowns will be there."
He said, as he turned, "Then our business here is concluded."
The Dane asked, "I am curious. How did you make the river flood, the dragon roar and dragon fire?"
Aiden said, "Did you not know? Jarl Dragonheart is the Viking Dragon and we have the power of the dragon protecting our land. Remember that and fear its power!"
Epilogue
Seven days later as we marched north to Úlfarrston and then Cyninges-tūn, my men were still full of the victory. Haaken, however, asked, "Why did you not ask for King Egbert's successors to agree not to attack?"
"King Coenwulf will not live another year. I could see it in his eyes. King Egbert will keep his word but it will only last a year or two. His hatred for me and for Wolf Killer will fester. He will remember the humiliation. King Coenwulf's successor will be told of the dangers of attacking us. Egbert is Mercia's enemy and not us. It was why I could afford to be generous."
"And have we made an enemy of the Danes again?"
I shook my head, "You saw the Dane's reaction to the Dragon Fire. He did not understand it nor the flooding river. He will be our greatest ally for he will return to his land and tell all of the magic of the land of the W
olf. We will be safe. This winter we can hunt wolves and, perhaps, next year we can raid but some day the men of Wessex will remember us. When that day comes we will be ready."
The End
Glossary
Afon Hafron- River Severn in Welsh
Alpín mac Echdach – the father of Kenneth MacAlpin, reputedly the first king of the Scots
Alt Clut- Dumbarton Castle on the Clyde
Balley Chashtal -Castleton (Isle of Man)
Bardanes Tourkos- Rebel Byzantine General
Bebbanburgh- Bamburgh Castle, Northumbria Also know as Din Guardi in the ancient tongue
Beck- a stream
Belesduna - Basildon
Blót – a blood sacrifice made by a jarl
Blue Sea- The Mediterranean
Bondi- Viking farmers who fight
Bourde- Bordeaux
Bjarnarøy –Great Bernera (Bear Island)
Byrnie- a mail or leather shirt reaching down to the knees
Caerlleon- Welsh for Chester
Caestir - Chester (old English)
Casnewydd –Newport, Wales
Cephas- Greek for Simon Peter (St. Peter)
Chape- the tip of a scabbard
Charlemagne- Holy Roman Emperor at the end of the 8th and beginning of the 9th centuries
Celchyth - Chelsea
Cherestanc- Garstang (Lancashire)
Corn Walum or Om Walum- Cornwall
Cymri- Welsh
Cymru- Wales
Cyninges-tūn – Coniston. It means the estate of the king (Cumbria)
Dùn Èideann –Edinburgh (Gaelic)
Din Guardi- Bamburgh castle
Drekar- a Dragon ship (a Viking warship)
Duboglassio –Douglas, Isle of Man
Dun Holme- Durham
Dyrøy –Jura (Inner Hebrides)
Dyflin- Old Norse for Dublin
Ēa Lōn - River Lune
Ein-mánuðr - middle of March to the middle of April
Eoforwic- Saxon for York
Faro Bregancio- Corunna (Spain)