by Griff Hosker
“He is dependable and he will not take risks.” He gave me a worried look as though he had just realised why I had asked the question. “You are concerned that he has not returned?”
“I am.” I shrugged, “We can do little about it. Let us get out of this mail before it completely rusts.” I waved Aiden over. “I have a task for you young Aiden. I need my mail cleaning and oiling.”
He grinned with delight as he took my mail. He revelled in such tasks. I knew he would never be a warrior who could fight in a shield wall but he had other skills which were even more valuable.
I went to the hall with the oval table and spread out the map. I weighted it down with my sword and seax. It was time to make the charcoal marks permanent. We had discovered inks and quills in the monks’ quarters and I had them with me. I could not write but I could copy and make marks on the vellum. I had nought else to do and I found that it was relaxing to have to focus on the detail. It was when I had finished and stood back to examine my work that I saw the marks. I frowned when I first saw them as I thought that I had been careless with the inks and the quill. There was a blue dot and a yellow one. Even as I was berating myself I realised I had used neither colour. They had been on the original map.
My annoyance changed to interest as I looked at where the dots were. They looked to be where the pudgy finger of the priest had pointed. The map showed that the coastline looked like the gaping mouth of a wolf. There were two peninsulas which jutted out at each end of the coast. Half way down there appeared to be a blue river; it looked to be as large as the Dee although the map may have been representative rather than realistic. The blue dot was in the mountains to the north of the river while the yellow dot was almost in the river. As I examined the map I could see more yellow dots and some were in the river but there was just one blue dot. I remembered the priest’s finger as he had jabbed the map. It was where the blue dot was.
Aiden came in, “I have put your cleaned armour in your quarters, my lord.”
“Good lad.” He began to turn to leave but I said, “Aiden, you have young eyes and a young mind. Come here and look at this map.”
I do not think he had ever seen a map before and he peered with undisguised awe at the beautiful work. The sea monsters painted around the side were so vivid that they seemed to leap off the vellum. I allowed him a moment or two to take in the work and then I said, “Do you see this blue dot here?” He nodded. “If I told you that was a mine with blue jewels within what would you say these are?” I pointed to the yellow dots.
He looked closely at them and then back at me, “Sir, is this a trick?”
“No, Aiden answer me honestly. There is no correct answer in my mind.”
“Then I would say they were yellow stones or,” suddenly his face lit into a smile, “gold!”
I ruffled his hair, “And that is what I think too. Keep this to yourself young Aiden eh? It will be our secret for a while.”
He nodded seriously, “I will my lord.” He glanced at the map, “Is this where we will get the stone for the sword?”
“Possibly, but not just yet.”
‘Man’ limped into the straits that evening. The sentries alerted us and Jarl Erik and I were on the beach to see the battered boat edge in. It had suffered storm damage but I could also see that it had been attacked. Siggi clambered ashore, his arm in a sling and a bandage around his head. His men carried ashore the four dead bodies of his warriors who had been slain.
Rolf’s men saw to the tying up of the boat and Jarl Erik and I escorted the wounded warrior back to the fort. “What happened, Siggi?”
“We never reached the Saxon stronghold. As we neared the northern coast of the isle two Hibernian ships attacked us.” He waved a hand at the boat, “We did not have a full crew else we could have fought them man to man. We ran. The winds took us south and west towards their cursed land. We outran one of their ships but the other closed with us and they tried to board us. That was when we lost our men and I suffered these wounds.” He gave a smile, “Njoror came to our aid and a storm blew up. It tore us away from the Hibernian. I saw many of their warriors fall to their deaths and then we were driven south. We made landfall on a small island where we repaired our damage and rode out the worst of the storm, protected by the small island. Then we made our way back here.” He bowed his head, “I am sorry I have let you down, lord.”
Jarl Erik shook his head. “No, you did not.” He glanced at me. “It seems we have not finished with these Hibernians, brother.”
I wondered about that. “What we do not know is if they were trying to capture us or attack the Saxons. When ‘Wolf’ returns we will try a different approach. We will use it as bait to tempt any prowling Hibernians. Until then Siggi, get you and your men healed and rested. We will have revenge on these pirates.”
After he had gone Jarl Erik and I went to the large hall. Outside the rain was still slicing down but here was a large fire burning. It might be late summer but the fire was welcome.
“So, Dragon Heart, does this change our plans?”
I stood with my back to the fire to let the heat dry my clothes. “I think so. We will take all three ships towards Hibernia. If we are not attacked then we will land on the northern coast of the island and continue to collect the grain and slaves.”
“And the Saxons?”
“If they come then we will fight them.” I went to one of the seats by the fire and sat down. “We have already collected more than I had hoped. Whatever else we gather will be welcome.” As Jarl Erik sat down I leaned over to him. “I think the island would be a good place for our people. My men have said it already; there is more room there for us than on Man.” I swept a hand around the hall. “The land here is more like the land of the fjords. I think some of our people would wish to settle here. It is not far from our home and we would protect it.”
“You are right and I yearn for somewhere of my own to rule.”
I looked at him sharply. “And Prince Butar?”
“I still bend the knee to him but, Dragon Heart, he has made it quite clear that you rule when he is gone.”
“And you would not wish to serve me. I understand.”
I realised I had spoken sharply when he suddenly began to apologise, “No, I did not mean that. I would like my son to have the chance to do the deeds you have. Your adventures will inspire him. Already on this voyage I have learned much. If I rule on Anglesey then I will still bow the knee to the Prince but I will have other jarls bow their knee to me.”
“I am sorry, I misunderstood. Good. Then we can plan for that in the spring. If we have emptied the larders of the Saxons then they will be so much weaker next year.”
I felt deceitful for in my mind was the thought that I would be able to visit the mines marked on the map when next we came. Jarl Erik would be pacifying his land and I could take the Ulfheonar on my own quest.
“Good. When Haaken and my men return we will journey to Anglesey once more and finish this.”
Chapter 7
Two of Siggi’s men succumbed to their wounds and were buried in a second mound. The rest of Jarl Erik’s men were keen for revenge. When my boat returned there were four more warriors on board. They had come from Olaf the Toothless’ settlement, keen for glory and treasure. I was pleased I had allowed my men a brief visit home; they all looked eager for action. When they heard it was the Hibernians they were desperate to bring the pirates within a sword’s length again. We sailed together until we cleared the straits and then we rowed alone leaving the other two ships almost below the horizon. They would be able to see our mast head but a ship approaching us would have no idea that two such ships were waiting.
Erik Short Toe was high on the mast whilst Cnut Sweynson was at the prow. They both had sharp young eyes. My men rowed with mail on and weapons to hand. If the bait was taken I wanted us to be ready to fight instantly. Rolf and Jarl Erik followed some distance behind us. If we were attacked then they would be able to close but we would h
ave to beat off the initial attack. It was why I had chosen the Ulfheonar. Warrior for warrior we were the best.
We had just turned west when Erik’s voice drifted down. “Two ships to the north east.”
That made sense. They would have the wind on their quarter and could catch any ship attempting to sail around Anglesey. This was an ambush not aimed at either the Saxons or us but any unwary ship trying to sail between the islands of the north and Anglesey.
“Ulfheonar, I want you to row badly. Pretend you are Saxons.”
They dutifully laughed. “I would need a sheep to do that properly!” Cnut always had some quip up his sleeve.
We kept steadily on our course. I wanted them to think that they had surprised us. When they began to attack I would steer badly to allow them to close. Our job was to hold them long enough for my other two ships to reach us.
I saw them as they raced like greyhounds across the grey seas. They were rounder than our drekar and, normally, not as swift but I guessed they had two men on each oar. They would have power when they needed it. Their sails were billowing with the powerful wind and would soon catch us. I turned away from them, as a worried captain might. “Up the rate a little, Cnut. Let us not make it too easy for them.”
I knew that ‘Bear’ and ‘Man’ would still be hidden from the Hibernians. I could see their mastheads and they would have seen my change in direction. I had told them that I would only change direction when we were attacked. With the larger crews available to them they would soon catch up.
The two ships pursuing us began to diverge. They were trying to sail on either side of us. It was the sensible thing to do. If we tried to turn then one of them would be able to cut us off. “They have taken the bait!”
I saw that there were rocks on the Anglesey side. I could use them to our advantage. I edged us a little further away from the rocks and the ship furthest away from the island compensated and headed to cut us from a break to the north. I feigned panic and turned back towards Anglesey. The second ship mirrored my move. I straightened us up for I now had one ship where I wanted it.
“Erik, take in the sail a little.” I wanted us to slow down and let them approach closer. The ship to our steer board side had now closed to within fifty paces from us. The reef in the sail had slowed us down sufficiently to allow that. “Ready shields!”
My men would drop their oars and take their shields up as soon as I ordered it. The pirates would use arrows next. That would slow us down. I made the slightest of adjustments to the steering board and we moved marginally closer to the rocks. The other captain would not have seen the movement and he sailed ever closer to us.
Aiden shouted, “Arrows!”
I gave the command, Shields!” and raised mine aloft along with the others.
In one movement my men racked their oars and pulled their shields above their heads. “Aiden, in front of me!”
As the youth scrambled around to my front a shower of arrows cascaded down upon us. I felt one ping off my helmet while two more thudded into my shield. “Take the steering board, Aiden. When I shout the order put the steering board hard over, aim for the island and then I will order you to turn again.”
“Aye, my lord. I will not let you down.”
The action of my warriors had brought the pirate next to us. He had to pull his oars back on board or risk them shattering when our hull struck his. “Prepare to repel boarders!” I could see the half naked warriors as they lined the side of the ship.
“Now Aiden!” Just as the first man prepared to jump the bow of our boat veered away and headed for the island. I saw one pirate overbalance and fall to a watery grave. The pirate captain mirrored our move. I glanced behind. The second pirate risked ramming our stern. That manoeuvre could sink us both and he had to put his steering board hard over. As soon as I saw his bow move I shouted, “Now Aiden!” and our move was reversed. Our dragon prow ploughed into the side of the first pirate just behind the bow. The dragon prow was one solid piece of timber and it ripped through the clinker built pirate hull.
I had no time for self congratulation for the pirates leapt aboard our ship. In some cases it was an act of desperation as they tried to avoid their own damaged ship. I just had time to swing my shield around and draw my sword before half a dozen tattooed warriors raced towards me. I did not back off; I had to protect Aiden who was steering the ship. I lunged forward swinging Ragnar’s Spirit as I did so. It was longer than all of their curved swords and it sliced through the necks of two of them. I punched at another two with my shield and saw them fall to the deck. A sword swung at me and cracked into my helmet. Had I not had the protection of the leather cap within I would have been stunned. The last man stabbed at me and his sword struck my mail but did not penetrate.
They had not expected that and I hacked at one, severing his arm at the shoulder and then stamped on the knee of one of the men struggling to his feet. The blow to my shield was so slight I barely felt it and it exposed the warrior to a thrust under his arm. I must have struck his heart for blood poured from the wound making the deck slippery. As the last two men fell I despatched them both easily. I saw that Rolf had his ship alongside one pirate while Jarl Erik was driving the second pirate toward the rocks. There was an audible crunch as it ripped its keel out. ‘Man’s’ sail came down in an instant. Jarl Erik watched the Irish warriors struggling in the sea. Any who survived the waters would be slaughtered by his men.
And then it was over. The last few warriors on my deck were killed as Rolf captured the pirate vessel. Many of the crew took to the sea but they did not last long. Our archers picked off the ones who moved away from the carnage.
“Quickly, tie us to the pirate and stuff something in the hole. We can save her!”
The shore was close enough for us to beach her. The presence of our ships on either side gave her buoyancy. I saw Erik Short Toe and Snorri leap aboard the damaged ship. They knew what to do. We had done it once before when Saxons had attacked us. They would ram pieces of cloaks and cloth into the hole to slow down the water which was pouring in.
Cnut threw a rope to one of Rolf’s men and secured one end to our stern.
“Back on the oars and row.”
They rowed hard. I steered us dangerously close to the shore and then shouted, “Cast off!” As soon as the rope was cast off I pushed hard on the steering board and ordered half of the rowers to back water. Miraculously we did not hit any underwater obstruction.
The men on board the pirate ship used the oars to propel them, somewhat sluggishly towards the beach. When I saw the bow strike the sand I ordered our sail lowered. We had sprung the trap and captured a ship.
We all pulled our ships on to that beach on the north coast of Anglesey. Jarl Erik’s men stood guard as we made safe the pirate ship.
Once out of the water we could see the damage that we had caused. The planks had not been breached but they had sprung. The men skilled in such things set to with hammers and nails to repair it. There was little in the pirate ship worth saving apart from a few poor weapons. They would provide ballast until Bjorn Bagsecgson could use the metal to make something useful.
I sent Cnut and Haaken with the Ulfheonar to find some farms to raid. I waved over Snorri and Erik Short Toe. “You two did well today. When we return home then it will be time for your training as a warrior. Erik and you, Snorri, may be ready for the shield wall.”
He looked disappointed, “I hoped to be Ulfheonar.”
I nodded, “I know but that will come when you have killed your first wolf.” I saw a furtive glance to the island. I laughed, “I think the only wolves on Anglesey are us. When we return to the mainland ask Beorn if he has seen wolf sign.”
That brightened the young warrior. He had many of the skills needed to be Ulfheonar. The killing of a wolf would show that.
When Cnut returned he was not alone. He had a family with him and they pulled a cart with produce upon it. They had yokes around their necks. They were slaves. “We foun
d a farm. There were two men and they fought us. These slaves surrendered.” He shrugged apologetically, “I do not speak Saxon.”
I approached the woman. She looked to be about Maewe’s age. She did not look Saxon. The two boys were about Arturus’ age and they had fierce dark eyes which were not afraid of this gang of armed men. I spoke in Saxon. “Who are you?”
She was not Saxon. I could hear it in her accent. “I am Megan and my people lived by the mountain before the Saxons came. My man was hunted and killed by the Saxons and they enslaved us when these were babies. Who are you? Are you Saxon?”
I liked that she was unafraid of me. “No, I am Dragon Heart and I come from Man.” I turned to Cnut. “Free them.” When the wooden yokes came from their necks their expressions changed from one of mistrust to one of curiosity.
I spread my arm, “You are free.”
She laughed, “Free to do what? Hide from the Saxons again? I am marked as a slave even without the mark of the thrall.”
I could see that she spoke the truth. “Then what would you have me do.”
She looked at her boys and then back at me. “I would live somewhere I can be free to raise my boys. You freed me. If I lived in your land would I be free?”
“You would. Is that something you desire?”
She dropped to her knees. “I beg you my lord. Save me and my family. We follow the old ways and here the followers of the White Christ are cruel to our kind. It was a black day when I was taken from the mountain. It protected us.”
I lifted her up. “Then you can come to Man with us. We have no holy mountain but we do follow the old ways.” I turned to Aiden. “They will be coming with us. Watch over them and try to teach them some of our words.”
Aiden was the best choice for he had recently learned our language and he had been a young boy when we had first found him. He smiled at the two youngsters and said, “I will, my lord.” He had obviously picked up a little Saxon for he said, in Saxon. “Come with me. Food.” To emphasise his words he mimed eating and the three of them went off happily.