by Griff Hosker
"And who rules there now?"
"Jarl Erik Eriksson."
Could it be my nephew; the son of Erika's brother? "And how are their warriors?"
"Shaken and unhappy since you defeated them. They curse the name of Hakon the Bald. They know he died and their one ally is gone. Gunnstein Berserk-Killer has shut Dyflin to them. They will have to raid Wales in winter."
"They told you this?"
"No Jarl Dragonheart, I worked it out. There was little food and naught to trade. They looked enviously at our knarr. We left as soon as we could. We called in at Dyflin and Gunnstein told me that all those who supported Hakon have now left his land. He knows not where they have gone but he has rid his land of them."
We spoke of all the other news he had gathered. When Brigid came in to say goodnight we all retired. "I would have you all come to celebrate Christmas with us here at Cyninges-tūn."
"Christmas, my lady?"
My wife smiled, "Yes, Olaf Grimsson, you call it Yule. My husband is allowing us to celebrate it this year."
There was an air of triumph in her voice. I did not mind her the victory. My life would be much easier as a result. They all gratefully accepted the invitation.
I went to visit Haaken at his farm in the week before Brigid's feast. He had recovered, at least his body appeared healed, but I worried about his mind. Although it had not been spoken I thought that he had died, gone to the Otherworld and returned. I knew from my own wound that I had come close. I felt strong enough to be a warrior again; would my oldest friend?
His wife, Unn, was a lovely girl. Haaken had married her when she was but fourteen summers. They had six children but only one boy. She always seemed to be a little afraid of me, I knew not why. She was flustered when I entered Haaken's hall. "Jarl had I known I would have prepared food I...."
I smiled, "It is a brief visit and I need no food. Some of your fine warmed ale will suffice. It is Haaken I need to see."
When she had scurried off Haaken smiled, "She is like a frightened little mouse at times yet when I am away she is like a she-wolf guarding my bairns."
"That is women the world over. I come to invite you to visit with us over Yule. My wife is holding a feast for her White Christ."
"And you approved?"
"I celebrate Yule."
He laughed, "As practical as ever. We shall be there." He examined me. "I heard you, too, came close to death."
"Aye I did. A seax in the back!"
"I am sorry Jarl I was not there to protect you."
"That was my decision. Each of my Ulfheonar has said the same thing but my plan would only work if I was not protected." I waved my left arm to show that the wound had healed. "It is passed. " I examined him in much the same way he had looked at me. "I am here to ask if you wish to raid with us when we sail after the snow has gone?"
He looked puzzled, "Why should I not?" He tapped the side of his head. "This does not bother me and Bjorn has made a helmet which will afford me more protection."
"We are the oldest and the last of the original Ulfheonar. We have both had warning from Odin that we are not immortal. Do you not wish to see your children grown?"
"Aye I do but I would shrivel and die within if I were left behind. I will not let you down, my oldest friend."
"I know and I do not doubt you but I came here today to tell you that I would understand if you chose to stay behind."
"I will be by your side when you sail."
Unn brought in the ale and I told him the news Raibeart had brought. I smiled when I saw how excited he became. He could not stay at home. It was not in his nature. Haaken would die in battle as would I. Like me he was fascinated by Hrolf's dream and the sword I told him I was having made for Hrolf. "Perhaps we should have Aiden etch a dragon on your blade."
I shook my head, "The gods have touched it. Let us leave it at that."
I left happy in the knowledge that Haaken would fight at my side once more. I would feel safer in battle and if we fell... we fell but we would fall as we had fought all these years, together.
Chapter 16
I think that I was as excited as Brigid when Yule came about. I had my surprises all ready. Our guest had been arriving for some days. Brigid, now quite rotund, had enjoyed organising them. She had grown up a servant, a glorified slave, watching her royal relatives enjoying such rituals. Now she was queen of this land and she could be a generous and a kind hostess. The only guests who were missing were Wolf Killer and his family. I had invited him but he had barely finished his new hall at Windar's Mere. He was keen to make that as strong as possible. I understood. I promised to visit when we had celebrated Yule.
We were in her hands for the day she celebrated the birth of the White Christ, the one they called Jesus. Yule was not a day, it was a time. I allowed Brigid to own the one day. Scanlan and Seara, my headman and his wife had toiled for days preparing the hall and the food. We gathered in my hall and she had had our servants and slaves prepare spiced honeyed cakes filled with dried fruits we had brought back from Vasconia. They were the last of our supplies and she had guarded them jealously, I now saw why. She had had the cured meat of wild boars cooked in duck fat over a hot plate. The smell of the spices and the frying pig filled my hall and we had descended like wolves. Kara and Aiden brought Ylva from their hall and I could see that the two were impressed by the feast. The aroma of fresh bread added to the wave of smells which reached every corner. Brigid's goat butter was well known and we feasted in convivial conversation.
I spied, out of the corner of my eye Hrolf, sitting by the door. He had been surprised to be invited. I was about to join him when I saw Aiden leave Kara and sit beside him. That was good. The three of us shared a bond. We had all grown up without blood families and been taken in and adopted. Aiden would help the young orphan.
When the food had been devoured and the beer heated with a hot iron had been drunk, Brigid clapped her hands. "I would like to thank you all for coming, Most of all I would like to thank my husband, Jarl Dragonheart for I know he has broken with tradition to humour his Christian wife." I gave a mock bow and all laughed. The ale and the wine were working. It is traditional amongst my people to give a gift to others on this day." She saw the look of horror on the faces of the women who had brought nothing. Brigid held up her hands, "I give these gifts to you to remind you of this day. There is no other reason. I will not try to change you. You are people who cling to the old ways and I appreciate what fine people you are to have allowed me to live amongst them." She stepped back and the servants moved amongst them. She had had made bone combs for them all. Uhtric was a fine carver of bone and she had had him making them since the summer. She had planned well. Each one was slightly different and all had either a wolf or a dragon carved on them. Everyone was pleased; even the men.
The hall was filled with my friends talking, not of war but of inconsequential things, combs, hair, food they had never tasted before and a new ritual. I could almost see Haaken preparing to tell one of his sagas. I raised my hands. It was almost as though they had been waiting for me to speak. They stepped back in a circle around me. I smiled, I was Jarl.
I had placed a chest under the table upon which the food had been served. Now that the food had been cleared, save for crumbs, it was empty. I lifted the chest on to the table. I smiled as I saw the looks of concern. Would my shoulder hold? I had worked hard on my arm and my back. I was stronger than ever and besides the chest was not heavy.
I opened it. Turning to the chamber I said, "When my wife told me what she intended I thought it was a good idea." I gestured to Haaken. "Haaken wears about his neck a wolf Aiden made for me. All my Ulfheonar do. It binds them to me. I have bound others here in similar ways. There are some I have not." I went to the box. Aiden had made a gold setting for the green stones and it set them off well. The leather he had used for the thong was the finest doe hide. I took one from the chest and placed it around Brigid's neck. "This will match your eyes." She began to cr
y. I smiled. That was the baby. I took a second for Kara. "And this, my daughter is for you." She kissed me on the cheek as I gave it to her.
I think they all thought that my generosity was over at that point. Bjorn had had his grandson make a setting for the red stone I would give to Aiden. I had made the thong myself. "Aiden you have saved my life this year as well as that of Haaken. You told me that this stone had power. I give it to you so that you may continue to save the lives of my people."
I could see that he was visibly touched.
"Thank you Jarl. This is a great gift. You cannot know."
"But you do and that is what is important." I returned to the chest and then faced them all. Raibeart and Olaf Grimsson." They stepped forward and looked perplexed. I went to the chest and looked in as though searching for their gift. Then I turned. "Your gifts are too big to fit in this chest. Olaf you are a fine captain and have served me well. Erik Short Toe and Snorri have told me of your skill. I would give you the drekar we captured from the men of Man. She is yours to command. You can name her too. What say you?"
His eyes widened and he dropped to his knee, "Jarl I am not worthy. When I remember how Rolf and I behaved and yet you have rewarded me and helped me."
"I saw the stone and I polished it, that is all."
He touched the chape on the scabbard of Ragnar's Spirit. "I swear to serve you with my new drekar," he looked up at me, "'The King's Gift'".
"I am no king."
"You are to us."
I nodded and turned to Raibeart. "I hope that you will continue to sail in the winters and fetch us news from afar but I give to you 'Red Snake'. She is small but she is a good drekar."
Like the others he was bereft of words.
I think they all thought that I had finished. Aiden knew I had not and I saw him seek out Hrolf and stand hard by him. "I have one gift left. Hrolf, come." He hesitated until Aiden propelled him forward. "You have not been with us for long and you will be leaving us soon but the Norns had intertwined our threads so that you are one of us. You may travel far and we may never see you again but you will be in our hearts. I have a gift in this chest for you. I hope that you will use it to carve out your own land. I doubt not that you will succeed. I have been lucky enough to be favoured by the gods and I believe that you have been chosen as well."
I reached in and brought out the blade. Only Aiden knew what I was about and I was happy with the gasps which hissed around the hall. Aiden and Bjorn had outdone themselves. The blade was slightly shorter than mine and the blade a little narrower. There was a depression running down the middle of both sides of the blade. Bjorn and Aiden had designed it that way to make the blade a little lighter and to enable the blood to run down it. On one side a horse reared along the blade, its mane flowing behind like a dragon's tail. On the other was a small warrior with a wolf cloak. Aiden had confided in me, "He is young. This will remind him whence he came. It is right that you are on the blade."
I handed it to him, "Here, Hrolf son of Gerloc, take Heart of Ice and strike fear into your enemies."
He touched it as though it might burn. He ran his fingers down the highly polished blade and his fingers followed the etched design. Finally his eyes stopped on the stone. "It is the stone from Wessex!"
"Aye, and it is one of the many things which tie us together."
The men gathered around Hrolf to examine, enviously, the sword. It was one of the finest Bjorn had ever made. Kara and Brigid joined me. They both kissed me on the cheek at the same time. Brigid said, "You are a kind man, my husband. All of this was well done."
Kara nodded, "I can think of no other who would have put so much thought into such things. We are not worthy of you, father."
I shook my head, "I do it all for my family. Everything I do, I do for my family and my people."
Brigid hugged me, "And I have given you nothing! Nothing but the sharp edge of my tongue!"
I stroked her bump, "I deserve your tongue and you have given me a daughter. If she is half the woman my other daughter is then I will be happy."
The whole day was one of feasting, drinking and songs. I know not how I got to my bed but I awoke the next morning with a throbbing in my head that made me wonder if Aiden had placed a plate there during the night. Our guest all departed and the hall felt emptier. But it was wyrd. We had joined together for the one day and we would be bound together forever.
The next morning the weather descended. Within a few hours our home was sealed from the world by a blanket of white. By the end of the week the hills were filled with the howling of wolves and we endured another wolf winter. The last had resulted in many deaths. This one did not. We had learned our lesson. As soon as the weather abated sufficiently for us to leave our warm and cosy halls I took my Ulfheonar and we visited those farms which were close to us and then headed for Windar's Mere. Although we had heard wolves we found no tracks. They were not close to us but our vigilance did not stop. When we had visited Wolf Killer, we would hunt the wolves before they could hurt our people.
I was relieved that there were no tracks anywhere near my son's hall and he and his family were well. We stayed the night and told each other how we had celebrated Yule. The next day Wolf Killer headed south and east to see his people and hunt the wolves there while I headed north west to the Grassy Mere. We had cleared them from the Loughrigg and Úlfarrberg but that did not mean they would not return.
Hrolf was with us. He attached himself to my Ulfheonar whenever he could. As we headed close to the farm of Audun Thin Hair I said, "This will be dangerous, Hrolf. We cannot watch you when we hunt."
"I do not need watching. If I am to be a jarl and wield Heart of Ice then I need to be as hard as my blade. Besides I wish to watch the Ulfheonar. They are the greatest Viking warriors and I would copy them when I am jarl."
He knew his own mind. He had a boar spear with him but I hoped he would not need to use it. A wolf, in its lair was a dangerous creature. It was more dangerous than a berserker sometimes. Snorri found the tracks of the wolf pack to the west of the Rye Dale. Lang's Dale had been where they had first appeared and where we had first cleared them. From the tracks they had returned. We had a dilemma for we found them at noon. If we followed them then we might be stuck in the hills overnight but if we left them then there might be a snowfall which would mask them.
"We go on. If we have to spend the night here then so be it."
The only one with us who had not killed a wolf was Hrolf and Olaf and Ulf made sure they flanked him. It looked strange for Hrolf rode a small pony and my two Ulfheonar towered over him. He rode well. My Ulfheonar always rode as though they were a sack of grain which might fall off at any time but not Hrolf. He looked as though he had been born on a horse. Of course growing up in Neustria he had been around horses for they were the horse people. Perhaps that was where the dream came from.
When the trail we followed began to climb among the rocks we found a stunted stand of small trees and tethered our horses. I thought to ask Hrolf to guard them but I knew he would not wish to miss the wolf hunt. We were the wolf warriors and when he left us he would never experience again the skill of such warriors.
"Hrolf, stay behind me and keep your boar spear in both hands."
"Aye Jarl."
I could hear the fear in his voice. It made his actions even braver for a man who was afraid and still went into danger was a truly brave man. When he grew to lead then men would follow him.
We had done this many times. Beorn and Snorri were on the two flanks with strung bows and knocked arrows. Haaken, Olaf and I were in the middle. We were well wrapped against the cold and the wind but it would also act as a barrier should the wolves attack us. The problem was that it restricted our movement. We wore no helmets but had fur hats upon our heads. They kept us warm but muted the sounds. We went half a mile and the tracks kept swinging from side to side as though the pack was seeking any predators either before or behind. As we climbed the pack's trail the smell of wolf grew.
I knew that we must be close to their lair for their spoor was everywhere. This was their territory. When they went into single file we became wary. No sound would be made from now on. It would be hand signals only.
We took to placing our feet before us. If we were to attack or be attacked then we needed a firm footing. This would be my first opportunity to test my left arm and shoulder. Although the seax had entered my back Aiden had told me that my left arm might be affected. So far it did not. A sudden snow flurry filled our faces as we closed with the rocky wall to our left. It made visibility poor. I was about to order us to retire when there was a black shadow which launched itself at Olaf Leather Neck. Two bowstrings twanged as Snorri and Beorn loosed their missiles. Olaf's spear missed and the wolf lunged at him its flank pierced by two arrows. Finni was next to Olaf. He speared the wolf in the side at the same time as I fixed mine behind its skull. Even as it died a young wolf leapt at Finni. It bowled him down the slope its teeth trying to tear his throat out.
Hrolf was the only one who was close and he bravely thrust his spear into the side of the wolf. It hurt it but did not stop it. The young animal turned its gaze towards Hrolf, A smaller piece of meat and a danger to the wolf it advanced to end the threat. I drew my sword and began to move to help Hrolf. My feet struggled in the snow, "Take out your sword!"
At that moment the rest of the pack attacked my men. Hrolf and I would be alone. The snow seemed to drag me back and slow down time. The wolf leapt when I was but three paces from them. Hrolf stood his ground and swung Heart of Ice towards the flying animal. The blade hacked across the shoulder of the wolf biting deep to the bone but it was not dead. If fell upon Hrolf who had the wind knocked from him. I raised Ragnar's Spirit and as the wolf's teeth began to descend to Hrolf's throat I brought my blade down across its neck. I could not use a full swing for fear of severing the wolf's head and hitting Hrolf. I felt the hot blood spray me and, when my blade struck bone I pulled back and then sawed forward. The wolf lay still. It was dead.