by Griff Hosker
"Had he done so he would have taken more than he did. He attacked but two settlements.. It is no matter. No the reason I come to you is that I am going to raid. The Saxon lands proved a rich source of treasure I would go with more drekar next time. I wondered if you had any young men who might wish to join my venture."
"Mercia?"
"Perhaps. We have yet to decide. If any wish to come with me then they will be told after we sail."
"You are a careful man. But warriors like to know the dangers before they sail."
"Then I do not want such warriors. Those who sail with me must expect to sail beyond the western sea."
"I see. I will ask then."
I took the sword from my belt. "As a gift for your support in this matter I have had a sword made for you." All of Bjorn's swords were well made. I had paid for two particularly fine specimens. It was not just a generous gesture, others would see the blade and they would wish to buy them from Bjorn. He was now the richest man in my land.
"A generous gift. I will do as you ask and encourage my young men to see such an adventure."
As we walked back I could see his cunning mind at work. There would be dissatisfied young men in his land. If they came with me he would be rid of them. He would be more secure and he would have put me in his debt. I understood the way his mind worked. It was why I had not mentioned Egbert or Wessex. I suspected that he knew something of the matter.
That evening Haaken was in fine form. He sang the saga of the death of Magnus the Foresworn.
Brave men fight for a Jarl who is strong
Whose sword is sharp and reach is long
They row and fight for honour and glory
When they do not then their end is gory
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
With a heart as black as Hel's domain
Magnus Foresworn brought death and pain
He killed the weak and ran away
Hiding deep in Din Guardi
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
Standing high atop a rocky mound
The castle was built on perfect ground
With no way in save through the gate
The killer hid from his well earned fate
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
Dragonheart led with light of blue
Ten Ulfheonar brave and true
Beneath the sea and black of night
They sought their way to the castle's light
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
When the sea surged high and lapped the feet
A boon of Odin they did entreat
When the waters fell and the door they found
They entered the castle and made not a sound
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
Up to the tower remote and cold
They went well armed with hearts so bold
The traitor fled, he tried to run
To the east and the rising sun
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
Ragnar's Spirit flashed in the night
Bringing death bloody and bright
The traitor fell to the rocks below
He tumbled long and he tumbled slow
The warriors fought King Eanred's men
Taking Saxon god with them
Odin moved the sea and sand
To help the noble wolf warrior band
They rode away with heads held high
And praised great Odin in the sky
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
Ragnar's Spirit the legend blade
Ragnar's Spirit by Odin made
The men of Dyflin banged their tables and demanded three more recitals. I saw Hakon the Bald give a nod of approval as he stood and said, "A fine saga and worthy of the great Haaken One Eye. Jarl Dragonheart looks for a crew to join him on a raid of the Saxon shores. I will provide the drekar, who will join the crew?"
The story had worked and we had a goodly crew. Gunnstein Berserk-Killer was the one they chose as captain. Despite his dramatic title he was a relatively young man but I liked him straight away. He had honest eyes and his handshake was firm.
"I will lead a crew and we will follow you for a raid." Hakon nodded and went to fetch more ale. Gunnstein then added quietly, "I grow tired of living off whores and Hibernians. I am a warrior and I would take heads of my own. Where do we raid?"
"Bring your drekar to Úlfarrston by the end of the month and we will have decided by then."
Like me he was not drunk and he smiled, "It is good that you keep your counsel. Jarl Hakon welcomes many guests here in Dyflin and I would not drink with some of them!"
Enigmatically he left it at that.
The next morning as we headed north Snorri said, "I did as you asked, Jarl, and I listened. King Egbert sent emissaries to Hakon last year. It seems he asked Hakon to poison you. Hakon said he would think about it."
I was under no illusions. If Hakon had thought he could have killed me and not suffered for it he would have done so but I still inspired a little fear in him. "You did well and I am glad that I did not reveal all to him."
I sat next to Haaken who was rowing. "It was a good saga although, as I recall it did not happen exactly the way you said."
"It is the licence of the singer and the composer. It worked did it not?"
"Aye. Repeat it again at Ljoðhús and we may have another crew."
Thorfinn Blue Scar was the jarl at Ljoðhús. He was the opposite of Hakon the Bald. For a start he was trustworthy and secondly he was a warrior. I had fought alongside him. I could happily tell him of our enemy.
As we entered the bay I noticed that there was but one drekar moored. We tied up to the jetty and Thorfinn himself came to greet us. "My friend! What brings you here?"
I took the sword I had for him. It was better than the one I had given Hakon,. This one had a dragon etched onto the blade and the pommel stone was a blue stone. It was not the same as mine but a deeper blue. "Here is a present for you."
He took it and ran his fingers along the etched dragon. This is a fine sword." His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What do I have to do to earn this prize?"
I laughed, "It is yours to keep and we will sail back to our own home now if you wish."
"No, my friend, stay the night and tell me what you really came for."
Once inside I told him of the attack by Harald Iron Shirt. "I know of him. He is a hired sword who leads a band of brigands to do the work of the highest bidder. He fought alongside Alpín mac Echdach. Had I found him I, too, would have given him the blood eagle. The world is better off without him."
"Aye."
"And you want to find the man who paid him?"
Something in his voice told me that he knew who it was. "You have an idea who it was?"
"Three months since a ship came from Wessex. King Egbert let it be known that he would make an ally of anyone who brought him the head of your son and return to him his wife, Elfrida."
"You told him no."
"Of course. Like you I am never foresworn."
"Then I can tell you that I intend to pay back this Egbert and I will lead a raid on his land. I would, with your permission, offer the chance of glory to any of your young men who wish to go A-Viking."
He nodded, "Most of my drekar are away raiding the Irish. But my youngest son has a drekar. When would you want them?"
"We sail at the end of the month."
"Almost winter eh? A clever strategy. My drekar will be returned by then. If my son and his crew wish to join you then they will be ready by the end of the month. But for tonight we will fete and feast you. I would hear more of your voyages and your raids. Every trader who visits us tell us
something new. Sometimes they are exaggerated so much they are hard to believe."
"Then I will tell you the true version and after you shall hear Haaken's version." He laughed.
It was a good feast. We got on better with these brethren who lived on the exposed island where life was hard and the warriors harder still. I met his son, Gunnar Thorfinnson. He agreed to join our raid even before he heard Haaken's song. I saw a little of Wolf Killer in him for he lived in the shadow of a famous father and was keen to make a name for himself. Haaken's sagas, he sang two of them, were received even more rapturously than in Dyflin. He positively glowed with the adulation or perhaps that was the ale.
As we boarded our drekar the next morning Gunnar promised to come to Úlfarrston at the end of the month in his father's drekar, 'Raven Wing'. We had our warriors. Now I needed Aiden to choose the target.
Chapter 8
Half a month seems a long time but not when you are preparing to raid. My jarls told me who would be joining my raid. Ketil took the drekar of Sigtrygg for my southern jarl had the early winter sickness. He coughed constantly and both Kara and Aiden advised that he stay in his hall. They gave him potions to heal him. It meant his ship, 'Crow' was crewed by two war bands. Wolf Killer and Asbjorn both offered to come too. Eystein the Rock sailed with Olaf on 'Red Snake'. We double crewed where we could. With ship's boys we would have almost four hundred men. It would be the largest raid I had ever led. I had to make sure we got things right.
Aiden and I pored over the maps and charts. The new one we had found in St. Asaph gave us added information. We knew from traders and gossip that King Egbert was in the far west of his kingdom subjugating the land of Corn Walum. That mean that his heartland, around Wintan-ceastre, would be undefended. There were nunneries and monasteries close by. We counted on the fact that he would keep part of his treasury there too. We would need to capture the port of Hamwic but from what Aiden had discovered it was not likely to be well defended.
"Will you travel with us, Aiden, or do you intend to stay here with your family? It is your decision."
"I will come with you for I am keen to see what I can discover. It is the centre of Wessex and there may be knowledge for me there."
"Good. My warriors always prefer a galdramenn with them."
I was only taking a hundred or so of my own men and so we were able to leave thirty warriors to guard our home. Bjorn and his smith were also doughty fighters. My home would be safe. Arne's numbers, at Thorkell's Stad, had also grown. He and his men did not wish to raid. We had a ready force should someone like Harald Iron Shirt return.
We left just as the harvest was being gathered. It would be a good time to strike Wessex; with the King away most of his men would be working in their fields. With luck we would have a grain harvest too. Siggi and Coen Ap Pasgen's captain, Raibeart, accompanied us as we set sail. I anticipated great rewards and they would bring back more than we could carry in our drekar. The one problem with taking the knarr was their speed. We had to stop twice on the way south. We knew many deserted beaches and landing sites. As we had so many ships and warriors we were not worried. Perhaps this was the way we needed to raid in future. I could not envisage a danger to us. Once we left the safety of the sea then there would be danger but with our drekar close by we were safe.
The last leg of the journey took us close by the cave of the witch. Aiden sensed her presence but the Norns allowed us to travel east without incident. We did not travel as fast as we might have done. I wanted to land at night and take Hamwic without alerting the countryside. I knew that we were observed but as we had never raided Wessex before I gambled on the fact that they would think we were heading for Frankia. Our raids there were well known. There was a Frankish price on our heads!
Aiden had the maps and Erik was the best captain. Under furled sails we rowed up the channel between the island of Vectis and the mainland. The sun had set behind us and we had a ship's boy in the bows watching for the tell tale white foam that would mark breakers. There were two rivers, the Test and the Itchen. We knew that Hamwic lay on the Itchen. Our plan was to sail up the Test and cross over the narrow neck of land and attack the port from the landward side. We saw no fishing ships as we rowed up the channel. It was wide and there appeared to be no danger from either fort or warship. We went in one long line. That had been my decision; if we struck any hidden danger then only one drekar would be damaged. The gods were with us and we struck neither hidden reef nor rock.
We used hand signals and the oars were lifted from the water so that Erik could lay us alongside the muddy bank. I felt the keel as it grounded. That was not a problem. Once we had disembarked she would ride higher in the water anyway. As soon as the keel touched Snorri and Beorn the Scout led ten of our young warriors to leap ashore and spread out in a thin line. They would warn us of any danger. I followed with the Ulfheonar. The mud tried to suck us down. The tide was on its way out. We struggled to the grassy bank and I waited for the others to join us. With so many drekar it would take some time to land all of our men.
As soon as Asbjorn and his men joined me I led us all towards the distant port. We could smell the wood smoke and see the slight glow from the huts and halls. Snorri and Beorn took off with their young scouts close by. They all had bows and if there were any guards or sentries then they would die. It was scrubby ground we crossed. From the cow pats and sheep droppings it was used, during the day, for grazing. That told me that there would be animal pens close by. We could use those for cover. We had travelled but five hundred paces when I began to make out the wooden palisade. To our left I heard the sound of animals. They were the animal pens. I waved Asbjorn and his men to the left. They could use the animals to mask any noise and movement. I went for the gate.
Snorri and Beorn rose like wraiths beside me. They pointed to the gates and drew their fingers across their throats. The sentries were dead. From the lack of noise on the other side of the palisade I guessed that it was the part which would be busy during the day; the workshops and warehouses. I drew my sword and ran to the gate. While my young scouts clambered over the low palisade we prepared to launch ourselves into the heart of the Saxon settlement.
Ketil and his men appeared behind me. We now had at least three crews ready to fight. The people of Hamwic had no idea what was about to descend upon them. The gates opened silently and we entered. We made not a sound. I wanted to be as far in as I could get before we were noticed. If we could reach the Itchen side of the town then we could stop anyone escaping and giving the alarm. It was my eager young scouts who gave us away. They were so eager to impress me that they burst out of the narrow alley and were seen by some men who were by the fire in the heart of the town, talking. My young warriors released arrows but the shout still went up. "Vikings!"
There was no longer any need for secrecy or quiet and the Ulfheonar howled like wolves as we fell upon the Saxons. I had been right, most of the warriors were with the King but there were still enough to make a defence. Bagsecg Rolfsson had raced too far ahead and he was hacked in two by a warrior who led six others. None had mail but they handled their weapons like seasoned veterans.
"On me!"
My Ulfheonar flanked me and we ran at them as they tried to allow time for their families to flee. We hit them at speed and they stood still. The blow from the sword struck my shield but the sheer weight of me and my armour drove my sword deep within the leader's body, I felt my sword scrape his spine and he died. I lowered my sword and allowed his body to slip from it. My other, younger warriors, had heeded the death of Bagsecg and they moved together. They reached the gates and shut them. Hamwic was ours. By the time dawn had broken we had slain all of the men and gathered the women and children in the centre of the settlement.
"Ketil, take your men and bring around the drekar. This harbour is a better one in which to wait."
Asbjorn, begin to gather the grain, animals and treasure. We will send it back to Úlfarrston."
Gunnar Thorfinnson a
sked, "Do we not divide it now?"
"We will gather it at Úlfarrston. That is close enough to all our homes. You and your father will get your share. I am Jarl Dragonheart; trust to my word."
He bowed his head a little, "Sorry Jarl. This is the first raid where I have served another Jarl."
"We will divide the captives here and you may use your share as servants while we are here."
Gunnstein Berserk-Killer smiled, "Then we raid more? Good. I thought that this was it and my sword has only tasted blood once."
"As soon as the knarr is loaded then we leave for Wintan-ceastre. I would strike there before word is out that there are Vikings in the heart of Wessex."
Gunnar Thorfinnson said, "But surely we contained them all."
Olaf Leather Neck snorted, "Some will have escaped. The boys who secured the gate found it open. The men of Wessex will be drawn here."
"Aye, I want five men from each boat to stay here and guard the drekar and the town. Erik Short Toe, my captain will command."
Snorri and Beorn were sent to find horses. Aiden took out his maps. "There should be a Roman Road running north. It is twelve Roman miles to Wintan-ceastre."
"We can be there before noon?"
Aiden smiled, "You and the Ulfheonar can but I fear that the ones who are like me may struggle."
"It will be a good test of the warriors we lead." Snorri and Beorn the Scout rode up. "Take the road north and scout out Wintan-ceastre. It should not take you long. One reports back to me. We will be on the road. The other can remain to watch the town."
"Aye Jarl."
We ate while the captives were divided and set to work. I addressed the men who were the guards. "You must hold Hamwic and the drekar for us. We are nothing without our ships. Those whose swords have yet to drink will soon have the chance." They banged their shields.
With the prospect of more treasure and battle everyone ate quickly and I led the column north along the Roman road. We went at a fast pace. I had found a horse for Aiden. He rode with us. My men did not mind and the new warriors had heard of the power of this galdramenn. They watched him warily. I had given Gunnar Gunnarson the honour of carrying my banner. He had shown himself to be a doughty warrior when we had fought the men of Strathclyde. It lay easily across his shoulder as we headed north. It would be the only banner we fought beneath. We wanted King Egbert to get the message; do not anger the wolf with the heart of a dragon.