by Griff Hosker
I smiled, "I will return. That I promise."
Kara warned, "Do not tempt the Norns father."
There was something in her voice which worried me, "You have dreamed?"
She shook her head, "No but I sense danger." She paused. "I have had a dream. It has come to me each night since you went to Wessex. There is a knife in the night. It strikes an unprotected back." She hugged Aiden. "I saw no face just a back so you take care too, husband. Watch for treachery!"
Brigid became frightened, "Then do not go!"
I kissed her again, "Kara's words are a warning which we shall heed. I will wear my armour. I will have eyes in the back of my head."
We mounted our horses and we rode down to Úlfarrston.
We rode in silence. None of us wished this journey but it was necessary. Hrolf had volunteered too. After our shared experience in the cave of the witch I knew that our threads were tightly bound. The Norns did not like men to sever the thread they had so carefully spun. Besides which he reminded me of Wolf Killer when he had been young and travelled with me.
Gunnstein and his men were already aboard their drekar. The loyalty of his men was not in question and they knew exactly what we intended. They had sworn an oath to Gunnstein and they would not be foresworn. The three drekar set sail in the middle of the day. We headed north and west to avoid Man. We rowed for the wind was not as strong as we would have liked. It was good for the men in my drekar came closer together as they rowed. They sang the chant of the birth of my sword on that night on Man long ago to invoke the support of Odin. It would make a good beginning to this journey
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 the western coast of my land we separated. Erik and the Ulfheonar would make their way slowly to a cover to the north of Dyflin while Gunnstein and my small drekar, 'Red Snake', made directly for Dyflin.
I wondered what Hakon would make of us as we sailed into his stronghold. I had no doubt that the men of Man who had survived would have reported our sea battle but they would not know who had survived. I doubted that he had any spies in my land and he would not know where I was. Aiden had been giving me lessons in how to keep a smiling face when all that I felt was scorn and anger.
I spied the masts of eight drekar as we entered the anchorage. I saw the standard of Man on one of them. That might make things interesting. I guessed that, from the number of drekar, there could be four hundred or so warriors there. How many were Hakon's loyal followers? I had to trust in my men and my plan.
We entered slowly and with no shields displayed. We wore neither war paint nor helmets. Our swords and our seaxes were our only weapons. There were two berths at the far end of the river on the opposite side to the Manxman. That too suited for it meant we would have to be ferried across the river and our two drekar would be safer. Dyflin was a sprawling town and almost as big as Wintan-ceastre. There were many ferrymen eager to earn coins and my standard, at my stern, signified who we were. I went across first with Aiden, Gunnstein and four of his oathsworn. Aiden carried the buccina. I would keep that gift until later on. I wanted Hakon intrigued by it.
We stood on the wooden jetty while the rest of our men were ferried across. "Jarl, look at the ship from Man."
I looked to where Aiden pointed. The ship with the three legs of Man was preparing for sea. We had frightened them.
"I wonder how Hakon will explain their presence?"
Gunnstein said, "I think it confirms his involvement."
"Aye, you may be right."
Normally Hakon would welcome us but this time he did not. He sent his squint eyed lieutenant, Arne the Twisted. It was not an attractive name and had been given because of the way he had been born. His face had a twisted look. It was said his mother had upset a witch and his birth had been difficult. Gunnstein had told me that his nature now matched his name.
Arne the Twisted gave a half bow, "The Jarl was not expecting you, Jarl Dragonheart."
I gave the practised smile which Aiden had taught me. "I promised that I would return his drekar, his men and his share of the profits."
He looked eagerly across the river. "Shall I have them ferried across, Jarl Dragonheart?"
Shaking my head I said, "Let us wait for daylight. It would not do to have them spill into the river eh?" I laughed as though this was a joke.
"Of course, so you will be staying the night?"
"Unless it is a problem?"
"No, not a problem. If you would like to follow me I will take you to the Jarl."
My new bodyguard followed me closely. They were taking their temporary duties very seriously. I saw Aiden smile.
Hakon the Bald was in his hall and it was filled with warriors. There were not four hundred within, it was more like eighty. The other crews must have been elsewhere but I saw that these were his best warriors. Arne said, "I will go and speak with the Jarl!" He scurried across the hall like a demented crab eager for a meal. As we drew close I saw him pointing and whispering. I had no doubt he was preparing Hakon.
"Jarl Dragonheart and Gunnstein Berserk Killer, Arne the Twisted tells me that you have had a successful raid. Where are your other ships?"
"We suffered storms and we were attacked."
"Attacked!" he feigned shock very well. "Who dared to attack the warrior wielding the sword touched by the gods?" He could not keep the sarcasm from his voice. I might have missed it before but now I was attuned to such nuances.
I was direct in my answer. "The men from Man." I stared at him the smile leaving my face. "Did I not see one of their ships tied to your jetty?"
He feigned an expression of surprise, "So that is why they left so quickly! Had I known I would have detained them. You are an ally and a friend."
"No matter. We shall pay them back! That was not our purpose in coming here."
He looked at the warriors behind me, "Where are the Ulfheonar?"
It was my turn to feign surprise, "I did not think I would need them if I was to visit a friend."
"Of course not but we enjoy Haaken One Eye's stories."
"Haaken was badly wounded in Wessex. He is at home recovering." I spoke the truth. Haaken was back on his farm.
"That is sad. He is a great warrior and bard." He gestured towards the table where he normally sat. "Come, you two shall sit at my right and left hands and I will hear of your glorious adventures."
"And our men?"
He waved a hand towards a long empty table at the far end of the room. "They can sit there." He made it sound casual but I understood why he did it. We would have no protection. If there was treachery then they would not be able to reach us. More importantly Aiden would find it harder to read Hakon's mind. I just smiled, "Aiden, take our men to that table yonder."
Aiden nodded. He would command my men if trouble began. I saw Hrolf try to follow me but Aiden spoke in his ear and he complied.
I watched Hakon's servants carefully as they poured the ale. I made sure that they also topped up Hakon's from the same jug. I did not wish to be poisoned. The servant poured Hakon's and them mine. "So, Jarl did you fight King Egbert?"
"Aye. He brought his army." I noticed that the table of Hakon's oathsworn stopped speaking to listen to us. "He has brave men who follow him. Were Haaken here he would tell the tale far better than I could. King Egbert did not impress me
as a leader. He sent men to do his fighting and he remained safe from harm. That is not how I view a leader of warriors."
I knew I had hit a nerve when Hakon coloured. He had not led his men in battle for at least ten years. "Then you defeated him?"
I shook my head, "We were betrayed. He came to fight us earlier than he should. Someone had told him what we were about. He brought his whole army but we killed many of them and we escaped with our lives and much of his treasure."
I noticed Arne the Twisted shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Hakon said, innocently, "How do you know you were betrayed? Perhaps it was the Weird Sisters toying with you."
"No, my friend. When we took Hamwic we were told that the King was in Corn Walum fighting King Mark. Even had someone from Hamwic reached him, and none did, then it would have taken him many more days to reach us than he did. He must have started for Wintan-ceastre the day after we landed. We were betrayed."
"But I thought you trusted all of your men?"
"I know it was not one of my men. All of my drekar were with me. No man could have reached Egbert save by a fast ship. No, we were betrayed by someone closer to home and when I find the traitor I will tear his treacherous heart from his body."
"The world is a sad place when we cannot trust our friends." He shook his head, "Come let us drink and enjoy this evening."
I gave a slight nod to Gunnstein Berserk-Killer. "Jarl Hakon the drekar you loaned us needs repair. There was so much weed on her hull that it slowed down the Jarl's fleet. Perhaps 'Dragon's Breath' would have been a better drekar to use. She is the fastest drekar in Dyflin. Why, I would bet she could beat any of the Jarl's ships."
He looked into his ale as though seeking the answer. "But surely you would have had to sail at the speed of the knarr you took."
He had tripped himself up, "Who said we took knarr with us?"
He looked at me, startled, "Why you did or Gunnstein."
"No, we did not. How did you know?"
"Someone must have told me."
"Someone who was spying on us?"
"I get many visitors here, who remembers where we hear such things."
"And you are not friends with Man?"
"Of course not."
"Then what was the drekar doing in your port?"
"Jarl Dragonheart, this is my hall and I will not be spoken to like this. I have no idea where I heard about your knarr and the men of Man are not my allies."
I nodded, "Perhaps I was mistaken." I stood and shouted, "Aiden."
Aiden stood and left the table carrying the leather bound gift. Hakon looked worried, "What does you galdramenn bring, Jarl Dragonheart?"
"A gift. It is something we discovered in a Roman fort and I thought it might amuse you."
Aiden placed the horn before me and then whispered in my ear, "The spirits have spoken. He lies but we knew that anyway."
I whispered back to him, "I know. Have the men be ready for my signal."
"I like not whispers at my table, Jarl Dragonheart. They hint at conspiracy and plots."
I smiled, "I apologise but he had information which he knew that I needed."
"Information?"
"He is a galdramenn. He reads minds and he speaks with the spirits."
"Reads minds?"
I ignored him and took out the horn. "See this fine horn. The Romans used it in battle to send orders to their men. Interesting eh?"
"Yes, " he said suspiciously.
"Much as you were sent orders by King Egbert," I smiled as I said it and he was discomfited. He started as though he had been pricked.
"That is a lie!"
Keeping my voice calm I said, "Think of your words before you accuse me of lying." I picked up the horn and stood. "I have not used this much but it makes an interesting sound, listen." I blew it. The noise made some warriors jump. It was loud as I knew it would be. I blew a long strident note. The Romans had designed them well and the sound could carry a long way. I had no doubt it reached my Ulfheonar as they waited beyond the gates.
I laid it down and looked at Hakon the Bald. "I accuse you, Jarl Hakon the Bald, of betraying me and serving King Egbert of Wessex. I accuse you of conspiring with the men of Man to attack not only my men but your own warriors, Gunnstein Berserk-Killer and his men."
There was a chilling silence in the hall. His men had heard me accuse the Jarl of treachery and he had not denied it. He shook his head and his voice was quiet as he spoke. "I did not. It is a lie."
I drew my sword. "I told you before that you do not accuse me of lying but we have a way of settling this." I turned to the room. "I have accused your Jarl of treachery. He says I lie. He is your Jarl but I challenge him to mortal combat. Warrior to warrior. Jarl to Jarl! I would not spill the blood of any others but I want no interference!"
Still Hakon sat, his hands on the table. "I will not spill the blood of a warrior who is deluded." His eyes darted around the room looking for support.
I would not kill a man out of hand. If I slew this Hakon the Bald while his sword lay sheathed, even though he was guilty then I would make enemies of all of his men and Gunnstein would not become jarl. I reached down and tore Hakon's purse from his belt. Laying my sword down I opened the purse and emptied the coins on the table. It was a gamble but one worth taking. I picked one up and held it for all to see.
"A coin from Wessex. A golden coin. A coin which bought this jarl's treachery." I threw it to a warrior on the next table and picked up another. "And a second." I threw it to another table. "And third!" As I threw this to another table I ran the rest of the coins through my fingers. "Each one tells me that this man betrayed me. I offer to fight and he declines. Why do you follow a faithless jarl? Why do you follow a man who sends his own warriors, like Gunnstein Berserk-Killer to their deaths?"
A murmur ran around the room and I saw fear in the face of Hakon the Bald as he sensed the mood change. I saw his eyes flicker behind me as he went for his sword. As I reached for mine I felt a searing pain in my back as Arne the Twisted, who was seated next to me, rammed his seax under my left arm and into my back.
"Treachery!" Gunnstein lunged across me to stab the assassin in the neck. Hakon swung his sword at me but I managed to deflect it. The pain in my back was dull but I could feel the blood trickling down beneath my kyrtle. There was mayhem in the hall. My men, led by Aiden, raced over towards me. Gunnstein's men followed. I punched Hakon the Bald hard in the face with my left hand and he reeled back. I brought Ragnar's Spirit over above my head as he fell. He barely blocked the blow and my blade left a tiny wound on his bald head. His blood dripped down to his nose. He tried to wriggle backwards to evade my attack.
"That is right! Wriggle like the snake that you are but I will end your squirming this night!"
Behind me I heard Aiden give a second and third blast to the horn. It was the signal that I was in danger. Hakon tried to kick my legs from under me as one of his warriors thrust his sword at my unprotected right side. I blocked it and Hakon regained his feet. Suddenly a Danish war axe swung over and took the sword from my attacker. Rolf Horse Killer could maim warriors too.
Hakon took advantage of my distraction and lunged at me. Years of good eating and indolence had dulled and slowed his reflexes. I swept his blade aside and, pulling his carcass towards me I head butted him. I knew that the wound was weakening me. As Hakon reeled back I ended it by bringing my sword horizontally across his neck. His reflexes were not quick enough and my sword took his head cleanly.
There was a moment's silence as his men took in the death of their jarl. He had already eliminated many of the leaders who might have opposed him and there was indecision. I heard two shouts. First Gunnstein shouted, "Jarl Hakon is dead! I claim this hall!"
Then I heard, from the far door the shout, "Ulfheonar!"
Confusion reigned as even Hakon's men began to fight amongst themselves. Those who still saw themselves as Hakon's oathsworn, threw themselves at us. This was not a battlefield. We had neither shi
eld nor helmet. Most men had no armour. The benches and the tables proved as dangerous as traps and pits in a ditch and, even worse, you did not know who were your enemies.
Aiden, Rolf and Hrolf stood behind me to protect my back. I was wounded and it would have been foolish to range far. We would have to endure this attack. If the Weird Sisters wished me dead then they would sever my thread and I would join my comrades in Valhalla. The four of us had our backs to a table. I heard a thump as someone jumped on top of the table. I was about to turn when I heard Aiden say, "It is Erik Wolf Claw!" I felt his hand as he jammed it beneath my mail. "I have a cloth. I will try to staunch the bleeding. You should hide beneath the table!"
"Jarl Dragonheart does not die hiding from his foes! If this is my day to die then I face them on my feet looking them in the eye!" Two warriors ran at me even as I spoke. One stabbed at my eyes with his sword as the second tried to gut me like a fish. A warrior worries about his eyes and I blocked that blow. I saw a seax deflect the second sword down and then Hrolf's new blade ripped open the warrior. I grabbed the first warrior and pulled him close to me. I brought up Ragnar's Spirit and it came out at his neck. "You chose to follow a poor leader my friend but you were brave enough. Go to Valhalla!"
It was a terrifying scene before me. The hall was filled with whirling men and blades. I saw warriors stabbed in the back by those they thought were friends a moment earlier. I could see my Ulfheonar carving a path towards me but there was still an army of enemies between us. "Aiden, sound the horn until I tell you to stop!"
My galdramenn began blowing as though his life depended upon it. Men looked up as the strident notes filled the hall. Many stopped fighting and then so did the others. I shouted, "Stop." When the notes stopped they seemed to eerily echo around the hall. "Stop fighting! You men of Dyflin you are brothers fighting brother! You can follow Hakon the Bald no longer and his assassin lies dead. I order you to follow Gunnstein Berserk-Killer; he is a true leader and worthy to be your jarl!" I raised my sword. "This is the sword touched by the gods! If I speak an untruth then let Odin himself strike me down!"
I raised the sword. It was an effort. I felt my life leaving me but I gritted my teeth. If I fell now then a massacre would ensue. There was silence at first one and then another, men sheathed their swords while others began to bang the tables with their swords and chanted, "Dragonheart!" over and over. I sheathed my sword. Snorri led my Ulfheonar to race to my side.