by Griff Hosker
I did not want my young warriors to die needlessly. "Behind me and watch my back!" The two guards had spears and oval shields. I did not stop but swung my sword overhand at the man to my right as I punched my shield at the one to my left. As my sword struck and then shattered his helmet and skull I felt his spear slide across my mail. But for the high quality mail I would have had a spear in me. As it was the sentry was knocked to the ground where he lay dying. Hrolf leapt on him and dragged his seax across his throat. I did not break stride. With Rollo at my side we ran towards the two priests trying to open the gate.
"Just knock them out! They are valuable!"
I brought the flat of my sword across the back of the head of one of them while Rollo used the shaft of his spear to lay out the other.
"You have done well. Rollo, guard this door and let no one leave!"
"Aye Jarl."
I pointed my sword at Hrolf, "Today you became a man. Take the sword of the man you slew. It is now yours!"
I ran to the side of the settlement where Olaf had led our men. I could see flames and hear a great clamour. I knew the new warriors would be busy taking the treasure that they found. My Ulfheonar would be securing the town. It was the difference between my oathsworn and the rest. As I raced around a corner of the church I saw horses. There were stables and some of the nobles must have reached their horses. They were charging Olaf Leather Neck and his men in an attempt to reach the gate.
Olaf had men around him who wore no armour. I caught sight, from the corner of my eye, Beorn and Snorri as they raced to help Olaf and the six men he led. The four horsemen had spears as they charged. I raised my sword and roared as I ran to their aid. Olaf Leather Neck was a doughty warrior. He swung his long two handed axe as the horsemen charged. The two young warriors next to Olaf fell to spears which threw them to the ground but Olaf's axe bit into the neck of the first horse. It severed it in one blow and the horseman fell to the ground. Olaf was not a novice. He ignored the stunned man, leaving him to the young warriors around him. Instead he swung his axe at the next man. He missed the horse's head but hacked through the noble's leg and into the side of the horse. The last noble had to stop his horse to prevent it from falling. There were dead animals before him. I swung my sword hard into the rump of the horse. It bit deeply and the horse fell backwards. The noble was pinned beneath it and I swung my sword to take his head. We had fought horsemen before. A dead horse made a horsemen helpless.
As Olaf was pulling his axe from the dead horse a warrior ran towards his unprotected back with his spear ready to kill my Ulfheonar. Rolf Eriksson raced between them. He smashed the spear in two and then backhanded the spearman with his sword. Olaf nodded his thanks and retrieved his axe. The last two nobles who tried to flee on their mounts were slain by Snorri and Beorn with their arrows.
I ran to Olaf, "We should name you Olaf the Mighty! I have never seen such blows. Two horses with two strikes!"
He looked sadly at the two young men who had fallen next to him. "I would that they had lived. They were fearless and stayed by my side. They will be in Valhalla."
"Truly!"
Olaf turned to Rolf and said, "You have saved my life young Rolf." He took his Danish war axe. He had captured it when he had slain its owner two winters before. "Take this as payment for my life."
"I cannot take your axe!"
I smiled, "Do not insult Olaf, Rolf. Take it."
He did so. It was right that Olaf should pay for his life. It pleased the Gods and ensured that others would do the same in the future. Olaf would capture another fine weapon soon enough.
"Olaf, have your men search for treasure. Have the dead horses butchered. We will eat well tomorrow. Meet me at the main gate."
I was confident that we had won. The nobles would not have fled had they thought that we could be defeated. As I walked through the streets I saw many dead. Not all were warriors. In the dark my men would have killed first and asked questions later. Haaken and my other Ulfheonar had already gathered the captured monks and the riches from the church. I saw three Holy Books. Those along with the metal from the church had made the raid profitable already. The weapons the nobles had had were also a boon. And the coins and food we would take back would also make my men rich.
"Haaken, have everything gathered here. I will see Erik Short Toe. We can use the men who guarded it to begin loading. I would head downstream as soon as we can."
"It was a good haul. If all of the men hereabouts are as poor as this we could conquer it in a matter of months."
I shook my head. "If you wish to stay and conquer this land then do so but I intend to go back to the land which Olaf the Toothless and Prince Butar chose for us."
"Aye you are right. But we have no worthy subject for a saga."
"Speak with Olaf Leather Neck and you may have one. Great deeds were done this night."
In the event the sun had broken by the time we were ready to return to our camp. We were so laden that I had to send forty warriors along the southern river bank on foot for our ship was overcrowded. When they reached the coast Erik would ferry them across. Snorri and Beorn led them. They would use the opportunity to scout out that side of the river. I saw Asbjorn and Eystein as they drove their captives and treasure along the northern bank. We had succeeded. We would now have enough food to last some time. What we needed was a knarr to transport it back to our home.
When we reached the camp and had unloaded the captives and the animals I saw that we had a problem. We needed a pen to contain them all. I set the monks to building a wooden fence under the supervision of Haaken. We built a tower for the guards who would watch over our valuable human treasure. More animals were slaughtered and, along with the hunks of horsemeat we had taken, we ate well.
I took off my armour and went to the river to wash. I watched Erik ferry Snorri and his men across. "Is there aught worth raiding yonder?"
Snorri shook his head. "A few farms but that is all and the weapons these warriors use are poor."
"Perhaps the Emperor or the King of the Franks keeps the better warriors close to hand. Remember the Emperor of the Romans in the East? His bodyguards were the better armed warriors."
"Aye you may be right."
"Erik, you had better erect your mast again. Tomorrow we sail up river." I returned up the hill. I waved over Asbjorn. "Have your drekar and 'Red Snake' moored in the middle of the river. Use a half crew. We can use the fishing boats to change them. I want no ships in or out of the river. We charge a heavy price for any ship which wishes to use this river now. We own it. Tomorrow we take 'Odin's Breath' and 'Heart of the Dragon' to spy out this mighty city upriver."
"We are all rich men already. The monastery had metal candlesticks and plates as well as a chest of gold."
"There is more yet to be had fear not. We make the most of this raid for in the future they will protect against the likes of us."
Young Hrolf wandered over as Asbjorn left. He held up a helmet which was too big for him and his short sword. "I am a warrior now, Jarl."
I laughed, "Listen to Rollo and you will be."
He nodded seriously. "And one day, Jarl, all of this land will be mine and I shall make these people bow the knee to me." Many people would have ;laughed at such a bold statement but there was something about this young Viking that made me take him seriously. He reminded me of myself. Taken as a slave but destined for greater things. Perhaps the Norns had put him in my way. Was I a thread in someone else's web?
We gathered all the treasure together and sorted it into chests. Although it was my raid and I had the right to claim it all that was not my way. I had four chests and we divided the treasure into equal amounts. One was for me, one for the crew of my drekar, one for Asbjorn's and one for the 'Red Snake'. When we had sold the slaves and the Holy Books we would divide all that way too. When we returned home then each man would be given his share once the leaders and the captains had taken their share. It would spread throughout our people and we would al
l be richer. I cast my eye over the treasure. I always hoped for a link to my past. I sought blue stones and the symbol of the wolf. Sadly there were none.
That night Haaken sang one of his songs. The younger warriors yearned to be named in one of his sagas.
The Saxon King had a mighty home
Protected by rock, sea and foam
Safe he thought from all his foes
But the Dragonheart would bring new woes
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
The snake had fled and was hiding there
Safe he thought in the Saxon lair
With heart of dragon and veins of ice
Dragonheart knew nine would suffice
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
Below the sand they sought the cave
The rumour from the wizard brave
Beneath the sea without a light
The nine all waited through the night
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
When night fell they climbed the stair
Invisible to the Saxons there
In the tower the traitors lurked
Dragonheart had a plan which worked
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
With Odin’s blade the legend fought
Magnus’ tricks they came to nought
With sword held high and a mighty thrust
Dragonheart sent Magnus to an end that was just
Ulfheonar never forget
Ulfheonar never forgive
Ulfheonar fight to the death
Ulfheonar never forget
After he had finished and been applauded, he sat with Olaf Leather Neck and Rolf Eriksson. They told him their tale. He would begin composing a new song. Rolf would be immortalised. When he died and went to Valhalla then others would know of his courage. Hlif, the girl he and Olaf had fought over, was now a distant memory. When he returned she would hear the song and wonder if she should have taken him when she had the chance. Perhaps her father would be happier with her settling for a farmer.
With 'Red Snake' fully crewed and waiting in the estuary entrance we took the other two drekar and headed up stream. We had left enough guards to cow the captives; if danger threatened then 'Red Snake' would come to their aid. As we headed up the river I could see why it might take three days to travel overland. The river was wide and had enormous loops. Apart from the two monasteries we saw little which looked as though it might reward a raid. There were farms and if we found nought else we would take what little they had.
"Jarl Dragonheart, on the river bank, look!"
Karl Karlsson, the ship's boy who was seated on the top of the mast, pointed to the north. I saw riders watching us. We had been seen. From the scale armour I took at least two of them to be nobles, They rode parallel to us. The wind was with us and the men were taking advantage of the rest. I did not like the idea of us being shadowed.
"Haaken, have the men on the oars. Let us exercise these Franks and see how determined they are."
My men enjoyed a challenge and soon the oars were cutting through the water. Asbjorn saw what we did and, he too, copied us. I smiled as I saw the riders urging their horses to match our pace. It was an impossible challenge. When we came to the larger bends in the river they had to travel further than we did and soon we left them behind. We were almost at the walled town we had heard was the main settlement in the area when we encountered the Frankish ships. There were four of them.
Erik shouted, "Down sail!"
I shouted, "Oars in and prepare for battle!"
We were both longer and lower in the water than the four ships but they had an aft castle in which archers would wait. We had not expected a river battle but we were prepared for one.
"Snorri, archers!" I pointed to the aft castle of the nearest ship which was making directly for us. It was only later I deduced that they must have been heading down the river to engage with us and our encounter was just wyrd. Perhaps the Norns thought we had had it too easy.
I donned my helmet and picked up my shield. The Franks had made a grave error of judgement. They outnumbered us but they did not have the skills for a sea battle. We did. Snorri and his archers could loose an arrow further than any other archer I knew and soon they were releasing a rain of death upon the castle of the nearest ship. When it had been cleared Snorri switched to the next target.
"Erik, put us next to the first ship Snorri and his archers hit."
"Aye Jarl."
I shouted to my crew, "Men of Cyninges-tūn let us see what treasure they have aboard these apologies for ships." Their roar should have warned the Franks what was about to be unleashed upon them. "Snorri, attack the other ship!" While Snorri and his archers kept one ship busy we would board the other.
Olaf Leather Neck had the grappling hook ready. He hurled it. One of the Franks tried to grab it but missed and it bit through his hand and into the wood. I heard him screaming. He was pinned and could not move as Olaf and a dozen men pulled us closer together. The side of the Frankish ship canted over with their efforts and the weight of men on their deck. It meant the two decks were the same height. I jumped up onto the strake and grabbed the rigging with my shielded left hand. I held my sword in my right. Spears were thrown at me but the shield I held before me deflected them all. When the gap was less than two paces I leapt across the water to land on the Frankish deck. I swung my sword sideways and felt it bite into the arm of the man who was racing to gain the glory of killing a Viking Jarl.
I punched with my left hand at the three warriors who advanced towards me. I brought my sword over my head as I pushed at the three of them. It smashed through the shoulder of the middle warrior and he fell screaming to his death in an ever widening pool of blood. I was no longer alone as my Ulfheonar joined me. There were just six of us on the deck of the Frankish ship but that did not daunt us. We charged the men before us. With our mighty shields and superior swords we could both attack and defend better than our opponents. Our mail meant that any blows which we did not deflect did not harm us.
We began to harvest the Franks. Our swords cracked on theirs but we were stronger and our enemies were forced to take a step back. On the moving deck of the ship that could lead to disaster. As the man I fought struggled to keep his feet I punched with the metal boss of my shield. His had none. My blow made him fall and as he fell backwards I lunged forward to rip open his gut. By now even our new warriors had joined the fray and numbers were levelled. Although they did not enjoy mail and good helmets they were well trained and ferocious warriors. The Franks leapt into the water to escape the wrath of the Viking warriors.
Erik's voice came to me, "Jarl! We are in danger!" I saw that the Frank had boarded my drekar.
"Cnut Cnutson, hold the ship." I pointed my sword at those around him. "You six help him!"
As we raced back to our own ship I knew that Cnut would be able to do as I had asked. He had served with Erik for two years. He was a fine sailor. Our deck was now lower than the Franks. I stood on the side of the Frank's ship and launched myself like a bird to the deck below. I crashed atop four men who had surrounded Einar the Red. I heard the spine of one of the Franks snap as my mailed body hit him. I became a whirling killer as I laid about me with sword and shield. The two of us slew the remaining three.
Einar hefted his shield around and followed me into the fray. Erik and his crew were beleaguered at the steering board. Our sudden appearance took the Franks by surprise and we charged their unprotected backs. With the Ulfheonar next to us we made a great slaughter. The survivors tried to clamber back aboard their own ship but its higher sides made it hard for them and we cut them down as they did so. The Frankish ship disentangled itself and head
ed back up stream to the Frankish stronghold. It drifted like a ghost ship for its warriors lay dead upon the deck of my vessel or their corpses floated down the river towards the sea. The fishes would feast upon their flesh.
I ran to Erik. "Have you losses?"
He pointed to the two dead ships' boys. "They died protecting me."
"Then they will be in Valhalla." I looked across to 'Odin's Breath'. Asbjorn had also managed to capture a Frank. "Erik turn us around. Signal the others. We will return to the mouth of the estuary."
I had thought to scout out the stronghold but they would be ready for us. In my mind I formulated a plan. If we fled down the river they would think they had hurt us. I would lure them to us the next day by using 'Red Snake' as bait. We had two more ships now and could actually begin to sail our cargo to the port of Lundenwic and sell them there. Once more the gods smiled on us. I remembered that I owed them a Blót. I would remedy that when we reached our camp.
The current was with us and my men rested. Haaken stood by me. "We could have attacked the town."
I shook my head and pointed to the sky. "We did not have surprise upon our side. Our warriors are spread out in four ships. It would have been difficult to coordinate the attack. I believe I see the web of the Norns and the hands of the gods in all of this. We have had a victory now. And we know that the Franks know we are loose in their land. We eat, we rest, tomorrow we set a trap and, if all goes well, we may yet sack their town." I looked back up the river. This had been meant to be. My plan had been a good one but the Weird Sisters had other plans for me and my war band.
Chapter 3
We left the two drekar at the mouth of the estuary and used the two captured Frankish vessels to ferry our men to the camp.
On the way downstream the crews of the captured ships had stripped the bodies and flung them in the river. Cnut Cnutson looked proud of himself as he ferried me to shore. "Thank you for your trust, Jarl Dragonheart."